howardtaftmd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book was deeply unsettling. Glad I read it but probably would not revisit.
jekutree's review against another edition
4.0
Upgrade Soul is a fantastic science fiction story that explores themes of identity and what it means to be human. The plot is very original and engaging, Ezra Clayton Daniels is a fantastic story teller and all the characters are well rounded and complex.
This is one of the bests pure sci-fi stories I’ve read in comics, it really questions what’s ethical and if we can do it, should we do it? Very thought provoking read and I’d highly recommend it.
Most of my cons are minor nitpicks like a kind of slow beginning and a few weirdly placed flashbacks but it’s overall such a solid read.
9/10
This is one of the bests pure sci-fi stories I’ve read in comics, it really questions what’s ethical and if we can do it, should we do it? Very thought provoking read and I’d highly recommend it.
Most of my cons are minor nitpicks like a kind of slow beginning and a few weirdly placed flashbacks but it’s overall such a solid read.
9/10
jrholden's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
novelerachavela's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
afalos's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
justcarthy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kitschykatey's review against another edition
4.0
What...did I just read?
This was one of those stories that will stay with me for a few days. I was not emotionally prepared for this journey.
This was one of those stories that will stay with me for a few days. I was not emotionally prepared for this journey.
thunderdone's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An overall intriguing book! I really enjoyed the layers to the different themes, between the more philosophical questions about what constitutes a truest version of ourselves and the ideas of being born disabled into a world not built for you, attempting to find love in spite of the world's animosity toward you.
However, for me the ending feels like it cut those conversations short. The ending itself is intriguing, but feels far too clear cut with what I was hoping for. I think I wanted more ambiguity to each of the characters experiences to match the ambiguity to each of the other themes considered.
The art is fascinating to me as well. It feels rather evident that the artist has done a lot of animation in the past, the pacing of the panels is slow, and rather uniform. The color palettes shine, and I will absolutely be stealing them to practice with at some point. There were some incredible panel designs, as when one of the main characters wakes up after the procedure, but most of them felt a little too static for my personal tastes.
One detail I like: There was a biology-expert consulted for this, you can find their name in the colophon at the back of the book. I love to see it! Overall, at least this book will stick in my head for a while.
However, for me the ending feels like it cut those conversations short. The ending itself is intriguing, but feels far too clear cut with what I was hoping for. I think I wanted more ambiguity to each of the characters experiences to match the ambiguity to each of the other themes considered.
Spoiler
I wasn't really a huge fan of the Hamlet-bloodbath.The art is fascinating to me as well. It feels rather evident that the artist has done a lot of animation in the past, the pacing of the panels is slow, and rather uniform. The color palettes shine, and I will absolutely be stealing them to practice with at some point. There were some incredible panel designs, as when one of the main characters wakes up after the procedure, but most of them felt a little too static for my personal tastes.
One detail I like: There was a biology-expert consulted for this, you can find their name in the colophon at the back of the book. I love to see it! Overall, at least this book will stick in my head for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Ableism
Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Death
thomw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0