aashkevr's review against another edition
2.0
I received an electronic copy of this graphic novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought that the concept of this comic was awesome. Haunted by the ghosts of literary characters? what's not to love? I was pretty sure this was going to be absolutely wonderful.
Unfortunately, it wasn't really what I was hoping for/expected.
The incorporation of the 'ghosts' of the literary characters was a lot less interesting than I expected. I thought there would be strong connections and interesting allusions, but, although they had their roles, the literary aspect of the ghosts didn't seem to make a big difference.
So, while the premise was an instant hook, I found that the aspects I was most interested in were not a significant part of the product.
The "pulpy" art style isn't my favorite, but I have no complaints regarding execution.
The character development I found lacking. It was difficult for me to feel for the characters. Also, like many comics, the portrayal of women was very one-dimensional and stock.
I went into the comic expecting something with a deep, literary value. It wasn't what I look for in comics, but I think my disappointment was largely due to a misconception. I was expecting a literary romp that would cater to bibliophiles and favor the educated.
With different expectations, and a better appreciation for the style the illustrator employed, I think this could be an enjoyable read.
I thought that the concept of this comic was awesome. Haunted by the ghosts of literary characters? what's not to love? I was pretty sure this was going to be absolutely wonderful.
Unfortunately, it wasn't really what I was hoping for/expected.
The incorporation of the 'ghosts' of the literary characters was a lot less interesting than I expected. I thought there would be strong connections and interesting allusions, but, although they had their roles, the literary aspect of the ghosts didn't seem to make a big difference.
So, while the premise was an instant hook, I found that the aspects I was most interested in were not a significant part of the product.
The "pulpy" art style isn't my favorite, but I have no complaints regarding execution.
The character development I found lacking. It was difficult for me to feel for the characters. Also, like many comics, the portrayal of women was very one-dimensional and stock.
I went into the comic expecting something with a deep, literary value. It wasn't what I look for in comics, but I think my disappointment was largely due to a misconception. I was expecting a literary romp that would cater to bibliophiles and favor the educated.
With different expectations, and a better appreciation for the style the illustrator employed, I think this could be an enjoyable read.
kellylynnthomas's review against another edition
2.0
The idea behind this is cool, but I found the execution lacking. I like the idea enough that I'll read volume 2, but volume 1 suffers from some serious lady problems, mainly that there really aren't any ladies.
Lady problem #1: Fabian Gray is haunted by 5 literary ghosts and NOT A SINGLE ONE IS A LADY. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? Like, there are no women in literature who can do cool things? Seriously?
Lady problem #2: Fabian Gray is all about saving his sister, who seems to have been a scrappy street urchin at some point, but now is wasting away in a bed because her spirit got stolen by the dream stone thing they stole and got implanted in his chest (thereby making him haunted by said male literary ghosts). Ultimately lame.
There was one other lady in this book, at the beginning. She roughed some dudes up, so there's some hope for her. She is the only reason I am going to read volume 2, really.
Lady problem #1: Fabian Gray is haunted by 5 literary ghosts and NOT A SINGLE ONE IS A LADY. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? Like, there are no women in literature who can do cool things? Seriously?
Lady problem #2: Fabian Gray is all about saving his sister, who seems to have been a scrappy street urchin at some point, but now is wasting away in a bed because her spirit got stolen by the dream stone thing they stole and got implanted in his chest (thereby making him haunted by said male literary ghosts). Ultimately lame.
There was one other lady in this book, at the beginning. She roughed some dudes up, so there's some hope for her. She is the only reason I am going to read volume 2, really.
jobinsonlis's review against another edition
2.0
I found the basic concept of this interesting (thief can call on the abilities of famous literary figures through a magical artifact) but man was this sloppy in its execution. Sloppy artwork, sloppy writing, and a sloppy plot. I felt like I was missing a whole earlier volume, one where I would have learned more about Fabian and his sister, but the author just decided to start this up in a super-confusing way and to keep going with no time for character development. Also I may be at my limit for magical Nazis. I know that sounds crazy but I might be there. I'm definitely over wise magical Asian helpers who show up to explain things to the hero and then fuck off or die because why would they use their superior knowledge and skill for anything useful when the hero can just bumble his way into the solution?
bettyafterdark's review against another edition
3.0
It was okay. I liked the art more than the writing, but there is some potential. Assuming he can make the protag less loathsome. Interesting concept all around though.
jake_cornelius's review against another edition
2.0
I like the idea of an adventurer possessed by various literary figures, as well as the whole concept of the Dreaming and cross-culturally shared creativity, but the execution is sooooo generic, made all the more frustrating to me because I feel like that premise promises so much more than, say, Robin Hood's ghostly face appearing every time Fabian Gray fires an arrow (and...that's pretty much it). It just doesn't really do anything that feels new, and I'm surprised by that, considering what I see as plenty of potential.
I'll give volume 2 a fair shake to see if it gets better, but ehhhh.
I'll give volume 2 a fair shake to see if it gets better, but ehhhh.
wizardowl's review against another edition
1.0
I picked this up because I thought it would be kind of a tongue-in-cheek homage to classic adventures stories. Like, nothing with a premise this corny sounding would take itself 100% seriously, right? It'd be kind of a parody? Sadly, no.
This comic is confusingly cliche. I mean, it's actually so cliched that I was literally confused about how it even got published. And not just boring cliches, but racist and sexist cliches too!
We have our English adventurer protagonist, Fabian gray, who we see with a naked woman draped over him near the start of the book, which is the 'subtle' cue that he's supposed to be sexy. We learn that his sister is stuck in a magically induced coma, in order to provide him with a tragic source of angst. He encounters some evil black native tribesmen who worship an evil spider god, then a mystical east asian magician rescues him and teaches him about his powers, only to die nobly after serving that single purpose in the story. Fabian somehow passes a series of mystical trials of the soul (the trials are so simplistic that literally anyone off the street could have passed them with ease, and they had so little emotional relevance to the character or the readers that it's actually laughable), then we finish off the story by discovering that Nazis are plotting to get their hands on him.
I honestly don't think I could make a comic this sexist, racist, trite, and poorly written if I tried to. The only redeeming feature was the art, which I found very nice (though not not really exceptional). I hope the poor artist gets to work with writers that can actually write next time.
This comic is confusingly cliche. I mean, it's actually so cliched that I was literally confused about how it even got published. And not just boring cliches, but racist and sexist cliches too!
We have our English adventurer protagonist, Fabian gray, who we see with a naked woman draped over him near the start of the book, which is the 'subtle' cue that he's supposed to be sexy. We learn that his sister is stuck in a magically induced coma, in order to provide him with a tragic source of angst. He encounters some evil black native tribesmen who worship an evil spider god, then a mystical east asian magician rescues him and teaches him about his powers, only to die nobly after serving that single purpose in the story. Fabian somehow passes a series of mystical trials of the soul (the trials are so simplistic that literally anyone off the street could have passed them with ease, and they had so little emotional relevance to the character or the readers that it's actually laughable), then we finish off the story by discovering that Nazis are plotting to get their hands on him.
I honestly don't think I could make a comic this sexist, racist, trite, and poorly written if I tried to. The only redeeming feature was the art, which I found very nice (though not not really exceptional). I hope the poor artist gets to work with writers that can actually write next time.
old_tim's review against another edition
1.0
A poorly told story full of racist and sexist tropes.
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2013/10/sometimes-theres-reason-why-they-dont.html
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2013/10/sometimes-theres-reason-why-they-dont.html
a_chickletz's review against another edition
2.0
This had so much potential to be something truly amazing, but it suffers from being vague, confusing and a failure at being engaging. The only thing that it doesn't fail in is bringing that pulp vibe from 1950's adventure comics and nicking off Indiana Jones-esque traits.
I heard it was supposed to be a TV show and that and the comic are sitting in development hell. Hopefully if it does become a TV show they fix the thing before it bleeds out a mortifying death.
I heard it was supposed to be a TV show and that and the comic are sitting in development hell. Hopefully if it does become a TV show they fix the thing before it bleeds out a mortifying death.
bookrobin's review against another edition
3.0
Though this felt like an original idea, some elements were a tad cliche- Nazi villians, a couple of Idiana Jones moments. But overall I would say it is a good read, really like the idear of 'The Dream'
angeliki6's review against another edition
3.0
Listen, is Barbiere reinventing the wheel in Five Ghosts? Yeah kinda but it's a wheel I'm very fond of so I'm not holding it against him.