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mogojojo1013's review against another edition
3.0
Good story, entertaining to read and a great art style, but I felt like the ending was disappointing and kind of just unsatisfying.
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
In the sequel to Far Arden, Army Shanks finds himself a hunted, depressed fugitive battling Serbians who may have arrived in Newfoundland to either steal oil or launch a rocket to the moon. There are clueless bureaucrats, deceived astronauts, possibly a long lost love, and a girl named Wendy, who just wants to go to Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter.
If it all sounds madcap and zany, it is. At times it feels like a Marx Brothers comedy with a great deal of swashbuckling and saving the day thrown in for good measure. There's an International summit, and the Canadian Arctic Space Agency, or CASA (a completely made up agency) attempts to launch a rocket to the moon first to beat the Siberians.
The art by Kevin Cannon is fabulous, with lots of great black and white detail and the story is hilarious, and touching and sad. You don't need to read Far Arden first (I didn't), but you will probably want to after meeting the mighty Army Shanks. Highly recommended.
If it all sounds madcap and zany, it is. At times it feels like a Marx Brothers comedy with a great deal of swashbuckling and saving the day thrown in for good measure. There's an International summit, and the Canadian Arctic Space Agency, or CASA (a completely made up agency) attempts to launch a rocket to the moon first to beat the Siberians.
The art by Kevin Cannon is fabulous, with lots of great black and white detail and the story is hilarious, and touching and sad. You don't need to read Far Arden first (I didn't), but you will probably want to after meeting the mighty Army Shanks. Highly recommended.
kjboldon's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this sequel to Far Arden. Army Shanks is a depressed wreck who perks up when he recognizes a woman from his past. There's a Siberian ship in Canadian waters, claiming it's going to shoot a rocket. The story weaves together an improbably web of stories: a multi-nation summit, space travel, astronauts in training, a young girl saving money to visit Europa (yes, the moon of Jupiter). Cannon overlaps them all, switching strands like a pro, braiding them together, switching from each story on phrase that works for both. A number of noir-ish elements including not one but two femme fatales, but they're offset a bit by a plucky young heroine named Wendy. Impressively put together, and fun to read (though sad at the end, but in a satisfying, not soul-crushing, way.)
tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
4.0
Although the plot's no less convoluted and absurd than that of [b:Far Arden|6333755|Far Arden|Kevin Cannon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347326471s/6333755.jpg|6519517], this one's more tightly woven and seems more under Cannon's control. And the ending is both less tragic and more effecting, because it feels so plausible in a bittersweet and satisfying way.
Also, as a loather of plots driven by characters refusing to use their words like grownups, I appreciated Cannon pushing that trope to its most absurd extreme with the Drake-Richter plotline. I'm still laughing about that two days later.
Another rollicking and constantly enjoyable read from this talented writer and artist.
Also, as a loather of plots driven by characters refusing to use their words like grownups, I appreciated Cannon pushing that trope to its most absurd extreme with the Drake-Richter plotline. I'm still laughing about that two days later.
Another rollicking and constantly enjoyable read from this talented writer and artist.
erat's review
5.0
I loved Far Arden. It's possible I loved this one more. It's been a while so my memory may be fuzzy on that. Hopefully Mr. Cannon will grace us with another volume of Army Shanks' dork-ass adventures.
hollowspine's review
4.0
The sequel to Far Arden, Carter XV, once again draws readers in the bizarre life of Canadian hero Army Shanks. Although there is less polar bear fighting, this book is if not more violent, then perhaps a bit more...psychologically and emotionally damaging for poor Shanks.
Still suffering the loss of his nephew Alastair Cavendish after the Far Arden tragedy Shanks has fallen into a deep depression and finally, after salacious rumors involving him stealing meat, whiskey and newspapers, decides to buy a one way ticket to Antarctica.
However, just when he's about to ship out he meets, Wendy, a kid who doesn't want to escape to Antarctica, but escape the planet entirely. At the same time Shanks is being called on by the RCAN to investigate the mysterious tanker that is loitering in Canadian waters. While scouting the vessel Shanks spots his long lost first love from his days at the orphanage. Desperate to save her Shanks battles through siberian agents, ice-bergs and vicious seabirds (I made that last bit up) to reach her side.
But, is she really his lost love? Or a spy!? Obviously there is a lot going on in this thick graphic novel, the art, like Far Ardent was awesome and funny and perfect for telling this slightly dark, slightly zany tale. I especially loved Shanks visit from Lord Beardmore.
Still suffering the loss of his nephew Alastair Cavendish after the Far Arden tragedy Shanks has fallen into a deep depression and finally, after salacious rumors involving him stealing meat, whiskey and newspapers, decides to buy a one way ticket to Antarctica.
However, just when he's about to ship out he meets, Wendy, a kid who doesn't want to escape to Antarctica, but escape the planet entirely. At the same time Shanks is being called on by the RCAN to investigate the mysterious tanker that is loitering in Canadian waters. While scouting the vessel Shanks spots his long lost first love from his days at the orphanage. Desperate to save her Shanks battles through siberian agents, ice-bergs and vicious seabirds (I made that last bit up) to reach her side.
But, is she really his lost love? Or a spy!? Obviously there is a lot going on in this thick graphic novel, the art, like Far Ardent was awesome and funny and perfect for telling this slightly dark, slightly zany tale. I especially loved Shanks visit from Lord Beardmore.
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