grid's review against another edition
3.0
Wow, was this ever depressing.
It seems to me this is trying to do too many things. It’s telling a depressing anecdote from history, which is interesting, and sure, has merit. It’s giving a bit of the mythology of the time, or maybe hints of mythology from before that time (but not probably enough that the story is useful for that). It’s also telling a story, but it’s one too gruesome and depressing for my tastes. Basically, I don’t think any of the elements (or all of them together) add up to a thing I wanted to read. I have the second book here, so I’m reserving some judgement (see my review of it for my final conclusion), but by itself, this is probably my least favorite Gene Yang work to date.
It seems to me this is trying to do too many things. It’s telling a depressing anecdote from history, which is interesting, and sure, has merit. It’s giving a bit of the mythology of the time, or maybe hints of mythology from before that time (but not probably enough that the story is useful for that). It’s also telling a story, but it’s one too gruesome and depressing for my tastes. Basically, I don’t think any of the elements (or all of them together) add up to a thing I wanted to read. I have the second book here, so I’m reserving some judgement (see my review of it for my final conclusion), but by itself, this is probably my least favorite Gene Yang work to date.
nglofile's review against another edition
3.0
Not certain this book should be assessed on its own. I may need to reevaluate after I've had opportunity to read Saints.
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
4.0
Boxers-Saints is a two-part graphic novel series about the Boxer Rebellion, a late 18th/early 19th century Chinese rebellion against Western colonialism. I read Saints (part 2) first, but it didn’t really matter. The two halves tell the same story from two different perspectives.
Boxers tells the story of Little Bao, a teenager who wants a China free of Western colonizers. Gene Luen Yang mixes historical fiction with magical realism as all of the rebels became avatars of Chinese mythology.
Boxers is double the length of Saints but just as good. Yang is a great storyteller. This is my third graphic novel I’ve read by him and all three have been great.
Boxers tells the story of Little Bao, a teenager who wants a China free of Western colonizers. Gene Luen Yang mixes historical fiction with magical realism as all of the rebels became avatars of Chinese mythology.
Boxers is double the length of Saints but just as good. Yang is a great storyteller. This is my third graphic novel I’ve read by him and all three have been great.
hao_ming_zi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have lots of thoughts and a desperate desire to learn more. Reading this in conjunction with and because of the fact that I'm also reading Blackshirts and Reds has been a whirlwind of an experience. The artistry in this graphic novel serves the magical realism well and the way Yang is able to explore the themes of brotherhood, loyalty, revolting against oppressive colonialism and imperialism in a way that that honors Chinese religions and history truly fucked me up in beautiful and horrifically depressing and infuriating ways. I wish more people talked about how Christianity (all fundamentalist religions but especially Christianity) lend themselves to exploit, abuse, and oppress people in the name of salvation and restoration. While reading this book with Blackshirts and Reds (by Michael Parenti), I find myself drawing comparisons between the way Capitalism and Fascism work together and how Christianity serves the same purpose, specifically addressed in the quote about fascist ideologies that disguise their violent and oppressive functions behind the goal of "revitalizing society and sweeping away the old order and build the new."
champagneghost's review against another edition
3.0
18. A comic not published by Marvel, DC, or Image
nakedsushi's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I read 3/4 of this but got bored and sidetracked into other books. Then I had to return it to the library.
This just didn't grab me as I thought it would. I guess historical fiction comic books are not for me.
I read 3/4 of this but got bored and sidetracked into other books. Then I had to return it to the library.
This just didn't grab me as I thought it would. I guess historical fiction comic books are not for me.
risabella's review against another edition
5.0
Didn't know what to expect at all but I really enjoyed the art style and the story! The little bits of magical realism and the "opera gods" - loved it. I'm intrigued by the Boxer's Rebellion and hoping to get some more research done on my own.
fionak's review against another edition
4.0
The genius of this duology isn't apparent until the end of the second volume and I think it a shame this wasn't published as a single book.