auntblh's review
3.0
This was only my second graphic novel. It was definitely graphic. The artwork was very detailed. The story was good although there were some parts that I didn't quite understand.
jbojkov's review
4.0
This had a very gothic, spooky feel to it for me. Some of the imagery was very graphic and disturbing- but probably not extreme within this genre. I liked the more modern take on Frankenstein. I think at the end I felt emotionally drained tinged with a bit of hopefulness.
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review
4.0
I enjoyed the art in this comic so much! It's to the point of wanting printings of the different individual issue covers! I need to give the book 4 stars based on the art alone. I don't think I'll give it the final star because I think the story needed to be fleshed out a bit more. For example, I think that the storyline about Akai being murdered by the police needed to be discussed more, nothing happened as far as justice or punishments. Akai got to live again because of his mother so that is an ending that I really like.
alyssalizarraga's review
4.0
While the summary of this book describes it as a modern re-telling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, I would argue that LaValle takes it one meta step further. Destroyer is set in a world where Frankenstein’s monster is fact rather than fiction, and the consequences of both the creature himself and the consciousness behind his creation are just as real. The book follows a grieving scientist as she grapples with the losses in her life and uses her genius to fight the prejudices, physical and mental decay, and brutality that conspire to take everything away from her.
This book had one of the most captivating opening sequences that I’ve ever read (seen? I don’t know the language of graphic novels). There was something so unsettling about the visual combination of human gore and mechanical destruction that gave LaValle’s story a deep sense of gruesomeness. This book took me more than one read to really grasp, and I’m still not sure I understood all of the relationships and the timeline of the intertwining storylines. Another few chapters or volumes of this story would be greatly welcome. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes they could have seen Frankenstein’s monster learn about the iPhone and battle a sentient Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robot.
This book had one of the most captivating opening sequences that I’ve ever read (seen? I don’t know the language of graphic novels). There was something so unsettling about the visual combination of human gore and mechanical destruction that gave LaValle’s story a deep sense of gruesomeness. This book took me more than one read to really grasp, and I’m still not sure I understood all of the relationships and the timeline of the intertwining storylines. Another few chapters or volumes of this story would be greatly welcome. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes they could have seen Frankenstein’s monster learn about the iPhone and battle a sentient Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robot.
endlesstbr's review
5.0
Strong storytelling following the moral discussions of Shelley's Frankenstein and astounding and compelling visuals to match.
jhstack's review
4.0
Lots of great things to dig into with 'Destroyer', from the modernization of the Frankenstein mythos to science gone awry to the unjustified killings of black children (a la Tamir Rice). All in all, I would have wanted a little more (either a bit of breathing room or another issue or both), but this was a solid debut from Victor LaValle.
ninj's review
4.0
Frankenstein's monster is still alive, in modern Antarctica. Gets mixed up with modern day USA, and genetic / nanotech experiments by an angry researcher.
majabwds's review
3.0
Read for the TIAB R4 readathon. Interesting story. A scientist creates her own "Frankenstein's Monster" after her son is killed by the police. We also follow the original monster as he goes on a rampage. I enjoyed the art. I was missing some worldbuilding and character-building details but I think that is due to the medium the story is told in.
orangerful's review
4.0
Unique continuation of the 'Frankenstein' story, tackling not only the topic of science and ethics, but also racism. The only disappointing thing was that this is the only volume.