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posies23's review against another edition
4.0
Far Arden is a unique mix of comedy, adventure, and classical tragedy, all held together with a wonderful cartoony comic book style.
On the surface, it appears to be a wacky melodrama based in the Canadian Arctic, featuring orphans, damsels in distress, and a brave hero with a dark past. And it is that, but it's also a meditation on fate, secrets, and lost opportunities. There are a LOT of references to classic novels, and I found it interesting that it would probably resonate differently for people who are well-read vs. those who miss most of the references. I don't mean to make it sound like it's a book that I slogged through, because it wasn't. There are some wonderful moments of wacky humor, and the plotting is very engaging.
I enjoyed it a lot, although I can see how some people were turned off by the ending, I thought it was actually a very interesting way to wrap up the story. (That's about all I can say without adding any spoilers!)
On the surface, it appears to be a wacky melodrama based in the Canadian Arctic, featuring orphans, damsels in distress, and a brave hero with a dark past. And it is that, but it's also a meditation on fate, secrets, and lost opportunities. There are a LOT of references to classic novels, and I found it interesting that it would probably resonate differently for people who are well-read vs. those who miss most of the references. I don't mean to make it sound like it's a book that I slogged through, because it wasn't. There are some wonderful moments of wacky humor, and the plotting is very engaging.
I enjoyed it a lot, although I can see how some people were turned off by the ending, I thought it was actually a very interesting way to wrap up the story. (That's about all I can say without adding any spoilers!)
saidtheraina's review against another edition
2.0
Crazy tale of a group of characters trying to find a mythical land high in the arctic. Lots of Canadian references, plenty of misogynist characters. Notable use of description words instead of noise words for actions (i.e. instead of "pow," the word "hit") - kind of distracting, but kind of neat.
carlyisclary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
hoperu's review against another edition
3.0
An adventure story set in an alternate version of the Canadian High Arctic. Some humor, some pathos, some adventure and action.
therewillbenewsuns's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
tiamatq's review against another edition
4.0
Check out my review on No Flying, No Tights: http://noflyingnotights.com/?p=9869
tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
3.0
So much happens in this book. The plot twists come thick, fast, and usually ridiculous, and the humor is earnest and goofy. Which is why the downer ending comes as a slap in the face--with all the book's near-misses and miraculous recoveries, to end the way it does comes out of left field. It's not an unsatisfying ending, per se, just not one that, IMO, fits that well with the book's previous tone.
keidae99's review against another edition
3.0
A bit of irreverent fun in the style of old adventure novels/movies with a weirdly depressing ending.
neven's review against another edition
3.0
Nice art, solid writing. The book has a bit of an identity crisis regarding its tone, but it's a fun read overall.
xterminal's review
4.0
Kevin Cannon, Far Arden (Top Shelf, 2009)
For some reason, I was expecting Far Arden to be one of those hip-cynical, all-too-self-aware comics when I picked it up. So when I ended up with a hare-brained adventure story, to call it a pleasant surprise would be something of an understatement. It's kind of slight in the final analysis, but it's often humorous, the characters are a lot of fun to hang around with, and the story, however simple, is a compelling one that's powered many a quest narrative over the centuries (the search for Utopia, in this case in the guide of Far Arden, a tropical paradise hidden in the arctic). It's a fun book, even if it does get a tough heavy-handed at times. Graphic novel fans will want to pick this one up. *** ½
For some reason, I was expecting Far Arden to be one of those hip-cynical, all-too-self-aware comics when I picked it up. So when I ended up with a hare-brained adventure story, to call it a pleasant surprise would be something of an understatement. It's kind of slight in the final analysis, but it's often humorous, the characters are a lot of fun to hang around with, and the story, however simple, is a compelling one that's powered many a quest narrative over the centuries (the search for Utopia, in this case in the guide of Far Arden, a tropical paradise hidden in the arctic). It's a fun book, even if it does get a tough heavy-handed at times. Graphic novel fans will want to pick this one up. *** ½