Reviews

Barbarella Vol. 1: Red Hot Gospel by Mike Carey

villyidol's review

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2.0

Since real life has been a real-life-asshole these last few days, and thus pushing me dangerously close to a reading slump, I decided to turn to campy sci fi for bailing me out. Campy sci fi with pictures.

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It worked. Sort of.

I mean, this wasn’t really a good read. But it isn’t crap either. Barbarella’s "crash landing" on Parosia, her escape from prison, in which she got into because she has a vagina (what’s wrong with you Parosians?!), her subsequent uncovering of a planned genocide and the attempt to stop it, had actually some fun moments. And with fun moments I mean funny moments, first and foremost.

It looked quite promising in the beginning.

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But I didn’t really get the adventure I was looking for. And the way the characters are drawn made this look pretty ugly, most of the time. But at least I had a few laughs.

The fourth and last issue that’s collected here tells a different story and was drawn and colored by different artists as well. I liked the look of that one much better and it is also a (short) space adventure, which is clearly more the thing I was looking for when I picked up this book. Unfortunately everything got resolved much too easily, because of its short length, and so it was once again the funny moments which saved it from being dull.

Overall, pretty mediocre.
2.5 stars
But at least I’ve got some reading done.

I don’t think I’ll read the next volume, though. Sorry, Barbarella!

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nelolis's review

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adventurous reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

nharkins's review

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4.0

Obviously campy, but definitely fun! And contains some actual social commentary!

larakaa's review

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3.0

Hum not sure what to think about this one. It’s not overtly sexist and tries to paint her as an independent and strong willed woman. But the male gaze is still strong. Kenan Yarar‘s art in the first story is inconsistent yet not too off putting. Jorge Fornes art in the second story are more simple and paired with the colors by Celeste Woods remind me of Lazarus. Hum. Like I said not sure.
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