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panelparty's review
4.0
5 more pages would have served this book well, enjoyable fun story with beautiful art to be hit with "and they all lived happily ever after" 2 page wrap-up. :c
nessma's review
4.0
— thanks to #netgalley and the publisher Europe Comics for providing me with an e-ARC of #asterofpan in exchange for an honest review.
wowow. one of the best graphic novels i’ve ever read. i love dystopian and futuristic graphic novels and this one did not disappoint. the art style here was so aesthetic and the panels and direction of them was very cinematic and easy to read like watching an animated movie. which made me desperate for an animated adaptation of this story, and i would even read a novelization of it! which brings me to another strong point: the plot. i really liked the storyline and world-building of this dystopian world. it felt very real and brought to life by the art sceneries but also the atmosphere and the characters. the characters! i loved the diversity of this splendid cast and enjoyed all of their interactions. they made me laugh and gasp many times.
overall i enjoyed this story a lot, i’ll definitely be picking up more work by this author when i can!
wowow. one of the best graphic novels i’ve ever read. i love dystopian and futuristic graphic novels and this one did not disappoint. the art style here was so aesthetic and the panels and direction of them was very cinematic and easy to read like watching an animated movie. which made me desperate for an animated adaptation of this story, and i would even read a novelization of it! which brings me to another strong point: the plot. i really liked the storyline and world-building of this dystopian world. it felt very real and brought to life by the art sceneries but also the atmosphere and the characters. the characters! i loved the diversity of this splendid cast and enjoyed all of their interactions. they made me laugh and gasp many times.
overall i enjoyed this story a lot, i’ll definitely be picking up more work by this author when i can!
soleadohmbt's review
4.0
Especially relevant in a world where nationalism has spread its influence into Europe, Brazil and the Americas, Merwan's Aster of Pan is the story of a game where the powerful makes the rules, and change them to suit their own purposes. Those who have privilege, in other worlds, create the world to support and increase their privilege. This theme is explored in a story accessible to middle grade students all the way through adult audiences. The art is engaging and active, showing motion and emotion right where you expect it. While the lettering was a little challenging to read for this online reviewer, I don't doubt that it would be an easier experience in print. It's easy to root for the underdog in these stories, but Merwan's story manages to keep the audience in the dark about the final outcome.
melgonvyn's review
2.0
Disappointing dystopian mayhem...
A fairly poor Hunger Games inspired story taking place in a scarcely credible dystopian future. 2068? Really? That’s less than 50 years in the future. As much as I do believe human society can change a lot in so little time (compare 1950s with today), the natural environment seems like it would have taken at least 100 years for the outskirts of Paris, France, to look anything like it is depicted in this graphic novel.
I felt no love for the characters and their relationship was bland at best. The plot seemed to be jumping from one place to the other without purpose and felt very rushed to get a lot of content in as few pages as possible. Going from post-apocalypse hunter-gathering-looting survival to some kind of modified arena-style dodge-ball competition just didn’t make sense to me and made me lose interest in anything the graphic novel had to offer.
Special thanks go to the netgalley team and the publishers for providing this ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review.
A fairly poor Hunger Games inspired story taking place in a scarcely credible dystopian future. 2068? Really? That’s less than 50 years in the future. As much as I do believe human society can change a lot in so little time (compare 1950s with today), the natural environment seems like it would have taken at least 100 years for the outskirts of Paris, France, to look anything like it is depicted in this graphic novel.
I felt no love for the characters and their relationship was bland at best. The plot seemed to be jumping from one place to the other without purpose and felt very rushed to get a lot of content in as few pages as possible. Going from post-apocalypse hunter-gathering-looting survival to some kind of modified arena-style dodge-ball competition just didn’t make sense to me and made me lose interest in anything the graphic novel had to offer.
Special thanks go to the netgalley team and the publishers for providing this ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review.
basicallybisaha's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
let_the_wookie_read's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
carrot_xo's review
3.0
A 3.5 stars.
I'm a fan of the art style where digital art is made to seem as traditional art. I love this gouache/watercolor style of digital art. The artwork is excellent.
I did not give this a 5 stars because there could've been better a world-building, the politics/traditions of Pan could've been explored more. There was no character development. The first 25% of the book was clumsy and then you're smacked right into the Hunger Games-like dodge ball contest. The fact that irked me the most was, Juba didn't even explain the rules of the game before the first cycle. Like really? Not even during the journey to the Ceres? and from there it's just the trope of protagonists (namely Aster and Wallis) who never did the thing in their entire life but they're extremely good at it. I mean, the last 60% was a blur because it was so predictable. We could've had Aster's backstory of being un-pan, Juba's backstory of what made him leave Pan and what happened after leaving.
I did like the story's wrap-up. Like how it was all a myth on which the kid made a presentation. But it could've been taken further instead of a standalone.
26-1-2021 edit: So the artwork is all traditional! This led to the lower quality on zoom but I like that it’s traditionally done! :)
Total time spent: 1 hr.
~ This is my first ARC I received from NetGalley for an honest review.
I'm a fan of the art style where digital art is made to seem as traditional art. I love this gouache/watercolor style of digital art. The artwork is excellent.
I did not give this a 5 stars because there could've been better a world-building, the politics/traditions of Pan could've been explored more. There was no character development. The first 25% of the book was clumsy and then you're smacked right into the Hunger Games-like dodge ball contest. The fact that irked me the most was, Juba didn't even explain the rules of the game before the first cycle. Like really? Not even during the journey to the Ceres? and from there it's just the trope of protagonists (namely Aster and Wallis) who never did the thing in their entire life but they're extremely good at it. I mean, the last 60% was a blur because it was so predictable. We could've had Aster's backstory of being un-pan, Juba's backstory of what made him leave Pan and what happened after leaving.
I did like the story's wrap-up. Like how it was all a myth on which the kid made a presentation. But it could've been taken further instead of a standalone.
26-1-2021 edit: So the artwork is all traditional! This led to the lower quality on zoom but I like that it’s traditionally done! :)
Total time spent: 1 hr.
~ This is my first ARC I received from NetGalley for an honest review.
mousereads's review
4.0
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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aster the Pan was a unique comic in that, initially, I didn’t care for the art style. As my reading progressed, I realized that the art style fit the storyline pretty perfectly. I enjoyed the way that we got world building and back story without it being an outright history lesson. The tournament that the people of Pan have to participate in to maintain their independence was a scary round of dodgeball, and I thought that was a unique take on a classic kids game. I do wish there had been more information on Aster and the aftermath, rather than the way it had been wrapped up. Overall this was a really fun book and I’m grateful for the review copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aster the Pan was a unique comic in that, initially, I didn’t care for the art style. As my reading progressed, I realized that the art style fit the storyline pretty perfectly. I enjoyed the way that we got world building and back story without it being an outright history lesson. The tournament that the people of Pan have to participate in to maintain their independence was a scary round of dodgeball, and I thought that was a unique take on a classic kids game. I do wish there had been more information on Aster and the aftermath, rather than the way it had been wrapped up. Overall this was a really fun book and I’m grateful for the review copy.
seventhchariot's review
2.0
Rating: 2/5
Aster of Pan is a dystopian graphic novel that centers around a game of dodgeball that acts and represents war. The art style wasn't my favorite, and the story wrapped up in a weird way, but I think the overall message was fun and entertaining to read. While I never fully connected with the plot or the characters, I think there was a lot to grasp from the storyline.
This definitely was not a book for me, but by no means was this bad. Others will enjoy it more and it's okay that a book is not for everyone.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Aster of Pan is a dystopian graphic novel that centers around a game of dodgeball that acts and represents war. The art style wasn't my favorite, and the story wrapped up in a weird way, but I think the overall message was fun and entertaining to read. While I never fully connected with the plot or the characters, I think there was a lot to grasp from the storyline.
This definitely was not a book for me, but by no means was this bad. Others will enjoy it more and it's okay that a book is not for everyone.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
amlee9001's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
i love a good dystopian future in a graphic novel. honestly can't get enough and this is a wonderful example.