daretodream03's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
joshgauthier's review
4.0
2020 reread before starting volume 2.
Rucka and company take a familiar enough concept and imbues it with complex characters and themes that rise above the action set pieces. With distinctive art and some truly effective scenes, The Old Guard is an engaging series with a lot of potential for where it goes next.
Rucka and company take a familiar enough concept and imbues it with complex characters and themes that rise above the action set pieces. With distinctive art and some truly effective scenes, The Old Guard is an engaging series with a lot of potential for where it goes next.
keeper_of_dark_materials's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
cnohero's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
katieg4's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Violence
courto875's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
mccrowley16's review
4.0
4.25 stars. I really liked this graphic novel. I picked it up after watching the Netflix movie which I thought was excellent. I love the principal of being effectively immortal and how that wears on people. I love Joe and Nicky and their relationship. I wasn’t a big fan of the art style since it was hard to look at at times. Like the details seemed to be gone from it. But overall, I can’t wait to read the next one!
danilanglie's review
4.0
I always feel at a disadvantage reviewing comics/graphic novels because I don't interface with this medium very much. Early on the book, I wasn't enjoying it very much... it took a while to pick up momentum for me, and I think there are two key reasons why. 1) Yes, I came here from watching the movie, and so my brain was trying to overlay images and characterizations between the two. And 2) The character designs are... ugly? Like, I think they're ugly on purpose, very angular, exaggerated features, every single character seems grim and stark and larger than life. I'll admit I find a more cartoon-y style of character design more palatable.
BUT. As I kept reading, I found myself astonished by the way color was being used in the art, the use of silhouette, the muted tones, the panel lay-outs that went wide and granular all at once. It was such a cool visual experience and once I gave it a chance, things really snapped into focus for me.
In terms of story/theme, I'll admit that the film did a better job of sort of hitting on a couple of key points. The comic is missing a character arc for Nile, who is remarkably chill about joining in with this gang of warriors, whereas the movie shows her grappling more with her decision, not just in terms of leaving her family, but with the utter violence of this way of life, after the traumatic experience of shooting someone as a marine. Secondly, the film has an arc about Andy's world-weariness that points in perhaps a more focused, hopeful direction, with this idea of seeing the consequences of actions played out... we know that Andy matters, because what she does pays itself forward into the future, and we see the results. I don't know if that's a theme that gets touched on in future issues of the comic, but I liked it in the movie and I will say it felt like it was somewhat missing here.
As much as I did enjoy the film, though, I will say that Andy is an even cooler character in the comics, and now I'm pissed off that they didn't let the movie version be quite as feral and unhinged, because that was really fun to see. I also thought the camaraderie, the trust, was conveyed very well with very little space to do it. Andy seems world-weary and done with everything, but she calls Joe and Nicky "her boys" and it's clear she means it. I loved that stuff. I also loved Andy's backstory with Achilles, although I understand why it didn't make the cut in the movie.
I'm sorry to make so many comic/film comparisons, but the movie is what brought me here in the first place! I had fun with this one and I'll have to pick up the second volume at some point.
BUT. As I kept reading, I found myself astonished by the way color was being used in the art, the use of silhouette, the muted tones, the panel lay-outs that went wide and granular all at once. It was such a cool visual experience and once I gave it a chance, things really snapped into focus for me.
In terms of story/theme, I'll admit that the film did a better job of sort of hitting on a couple of key points. The comic is missing a character arc for Nile, who is remarkably chill about joining in with this gang of warriors, whereas the movie shows her grappling more with her decision, not just in terms of leaving her family, but with the utter violence of this way of life, after the traumatic experience of shooting someone as a marine. Secondly, the film has an arc about Andy's world-weariness that points in perhaps a more focused, hopeful direction, with this idea of seeing the consequences of actions played out... we know that Andy matters, because what she does pays itself forward into the future, and we see the results. I don't know if that's a theme that gets touched on in future issues of the comic, but I liked it in the movie and I will say it felt like it was somewhat missing here.
As much as I did enjoy the film, though, I will say that Andy is an even cooler character in the comics, and now I'm pissed off that they didn't let the movie version be quite as feral and unhinged, because that was really fun to see. I also thought the camaraderie, the trust, was conveyed very well with very little space to do it. Andy seems world-weary and done with everything, but she calls Joe and Nicky "her boys" and it's clear she means it. I loved that stuff. I also loved Andy's backstory with Achilles, although I understand why it didn't make the cut in the movie.
I'm sorry to make so many comic/film comparisons, but the movie is what brought me here in the first place! I had fun with this one and I'll have to pick up the second volume at some point.
nicojdee's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
briannadasilva's review against another edition
4.0
Like a lot of people probably, I saw the movie before reading the comic it was based on. And I was pleasantly surprised to find they're incredibly similar.
In fact, the movie is almost beat-for-beat the exact same story as the comic. I had wondered, for example, if some of the diversity of the film had been added in for the adaptation, but nope! It's all here, too.
If anything, I might like the comic even more than the movie. The movie had moments that came across as a little cheesy, but the comic was just damn cool. My only criticism of the comic is I wasn't in love with the art style, but it did the job.
Really looking forward to reading the second book in the series, and really hoping a second movie is coming too!
In fact, the movie is almost beat-for-beat the exact same story as the comic. I had wondered, for example, if some of the diversity of the film had been added in for the adaptation, but nope! It's all here, too.
If anything, I might like the comic even more than the movie. The movie had moments that came across as a little cheesy, but the comic was just damn cool. My only criticism of the comic is I wasn't in love with the art style, but it did the job.
Really looking forward to reading the second book in the series, and really hoping a second movie is coming too!