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rhonig's review
5.0
This first volume of Aama is truly the start of something special. Aama 1: The Smell of Warm Dust is Big, Weird Science-Fiction in the tradition of The Incal, by way of the same dreamy, existential pondering that Peeters brought to previous works, like Pachyderme. The plot is riveting and full of mysteries, told in an intricately layered way, full of stories within stories. Again Peeters knocks it out of the park in the art department, with gorgeous alien vistas and refreshing, unique character designs. I am eagerly looking forward to how this story will play out over the next volumes.
gfox3737's review
5.0
Fantastic European sci-fi with mind expanding art. I can live off of this - and did, while inside a library for the last few hours. I’m satisfied:)
dustyloup's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
Solid sci fi with a trippy, emotional twist. Definitely
Definitely makes me want to know more about what happened and what will happen! I'm not the biggest sci-fi fan so the fact that I find it engaging says something about the quality. Looking forward to volume 2
Overall rating for the series:
Four stars even though I didn't love it because I really want to read it again in paper format.
E-version led to a strange combo of overwhelm and fragmented focus.
Even though he's not such a great guy, we all think we'd be more like Verloc than his brother (minus all the failures, i mean in terms of rejecting the status quo) and not sure how Peeters managed it but somehow the cheesy spoiler* wasn't as cheesy as it could've been. Probably because the visuals were so rich. Loved the clothing design. Futuristic without copying previous sci-fi works.
*Jesus-like symbolism and message about self sacrifice for (family and) humanity
Definitely makes me want to know more about what happened and what will happen! I'm not the biggest sci-fi fan so the fact that I find it engaging says something about the quality. Looking forward to volume 2
Overall rating for the series:
Four stars even though I didn't love it because I really want to read it again in paper format.
E-version led to a strange combo of overwhelm and fragmented focus.
Even though he's not such a great guy, we all think we'd be more like Verloc than his brother (minus all the failures, i mean in terms of rejecting the status quo) and not sure how Peeters managed it but somehow the cheesy spoiler* wasn't as cheesy as it could've been. Probably because the visuals were so rich. Loved the clothing design. Futuristic without copying previous sci-fi works.
*Jesus-like symbolism and message about self sacrifice for (family and) humanity
suvij's review
5.0
Я в захваті.
Науково-фантастична історія, дуже живо намальована.
Є майбутнє, вдосконалені люди, корпорації і злидарі, міжпланетні мандрівки, і навіть книжки!
Продовження англійською я ще не бачив, але якщо побачу, читатиму.
Науково-фантастична історія, дуже живо намальована.
Є майбутнє, вдосконалені люди, корпорації і злидарі, міжпланетні мандрівки, і навіть книжки!
Продовження англійською я ще не бачив, але якщо побачу, читатиму.
riverwise's review
4.0
Extremely promising first volume of a French SF graphic novel. Will report more when all four are done
francoisvigneault's review
5.0
A great sci-fi story that manages to be both discursive and action-packed. Planetary exploration, genetic manipulation, alien ecology, conspiracy, etc. It's the real deal... It ends with a bang, not a whimper. A cool and unique art style too, very grounded even when things start to get wild (it's a complete story in 4 volumes).
Available in English from Self Made Hero.
Available in English from Self Made Hero.
ederwin's review
4.0
All 4 volumes tell one single story which I read straight through (in the English translation), so I'll comment on the whole thing at once. (No spoilers).
The artwork is very clear and beautiful. The drawings of the future city and it's inhabitants are quite nice, and who wouldn't like a cigar-smoking robot ape. But the real stunner for me is the freaky, hallucinatory landscapes and creatures on the strange planet. The creatures are truly alien-looking and imaginative, reminding me of the animated French films Fantastic Planet and Time Masters. (This aspect is most pronounced in volumes 2 and 3.)
The story is told in multiple levels of flashbacks, and even in dreams. And yet it was easy to follow which time period you were in at all times. That was masterful. That doesn't mean I understood everything. I don't think you are supposed to.
In interviews, the author/artist cites as top inspirations [a:Ray Bradbury|1630|Ray Bradbury|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1445955959p2/1630.jpg] and [a:Stanislaw Lem|15179291|Stanislaw Lem|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and those influences seem clear. As in their work, the story takes precedence over issues of absolute scientific plausibility. I will never be able to accept the plausibility of microscopic machines that can manipulate reality at a molecular level, at least not to the extent displayed here.
The final volume was a bit disappointing to me. It does tie the story together in a logical way -- though I had to re-read volumes 1 to 3 to see that -- but it was just a bit more of an action story, almost a superhero story, than the rest, and felt like a let-down.
I very much look forward to reading more from this author/artist.
The artwork is very clear and beautiful. The drawings of the future city and it's inhabitants are quite nice, and who wouldn't like a cigar-smoking robot ape. But the real stunner for me is the freaky, hallucinatory landscapes and creatures on the strange planet. The creatures are truly alien-looking and imaginative, reminding me of the animated French films Fantastic Planet and Time Masters. (This aspect is most pronounced in volumes 2 and 3.)
The story is told in multiple levels of flashbacks, and even in dreams. And yet it was easy to follow which time period you were in at all times. That was masterful. That doesn't mean I understood everything. I don't think you are supposed to.
In interviews, the author/artist cites as top inspirations [a:Ray Bradbury|1630|Ray Bradbury|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1445955959p2/1630.jpg] and [a:Stanislaw Lem|15179291|Stanislaw Lem|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and those influences seem clear. As in their work, the story takes precedence over issues of absolute scientific plausibility. I will never be able to accept the plausibility of microscopic machines that can manipulate reality at a molecular level, at least not to the extent displayed here.
The final volume was a bit disappointing to me. It does tie the story together in a logical way -- though I had to re-read volumes 1 to 3 to see that -- but it was just a bit more of an action story, almost a superhero story, than the rest, and felt like a let-down.
I very much look forward to reading more from this author/artist.
leahrosereads's review
4.0
aama 1. The Smell of Warm Dust
Written and illustrated by: Frederik Peeters
Translated by: Edward Gauvin
First, before the review, I believe this is the first graphic novel I have read where the author and the illustrator are the same person. I think that Frederik Peeters has done a really decent job at both parts of this book. The art isn't as pretty as some of the comics I'm currently reading, but it's nice nonetheless. The writing was exceptional though, and I think that Peeters has done a great job telling this story.
The Cast of Characters:
Verloc Nim - Main character, addict, will not win father of the year.
Conrad Nim - Verloc’s baby brother, works for giant evil corporation (Muy-Tang) as a communications liaison.
Churchill - Robotic ape bodyguard. BAMF award goes to him (probably always).
Professor Woland - Not really here, but seems extremely important. The creator of the AAMA experiment.
Professor Kaplan - Lady seems to have gone a bit crazy. Master Manipulator.
Fulmine - Biorobotics Researcher. Kaplan’s right hand man.
Pilgrimm - The colony’s math and computer whizz.
Myo - Biotech professor. Also a manipulative lady (by choice or necessity, hope to find out in #2).
Dr. Frienko - Colony’s physician.
The mysterious little girl - Mute. Looks identical to Lilja, Verloc’s daughter.
Silika - Verloc’s wife (they’re separated). Her boyfriend is the one that helped her to keep Verloc from Lilja (Silika and Verloc’s daughter).
Lilja - Mute, daughter, kept from her father.
aama takes place in a distant future, and it starts with Verloc already on another planet - Ona(ji). The story is told through his memories, by him reading entries in his journal.
We see Verloc as this really depressing main character, and honestly, not a character I would ever see as a hero. He wallows in his self loathing and despair, drinking his loneliness away. That is, until his brother comes along, and give Verloc an adventure he didn’t really want, but decided to go on, nonetheless. After all, he didn’t have much going for him in his current situation anyway.
Conrad had been tasked by his company, Muy-Tang, to visit an uninhabited planet, Ona(ji) and to contact a colony that had settled there for the research and experiment conclusions of the colony’s leader, Professor Woland. The colony had shipped out to this isolated planet five years ago, and prior to the Great Crisis (some type of economical collapse).
Verloc, Conrad, and Churchill make their way to Ona(ji), and that’s really where the story begins to unfold, both in plot developments and setting. When they reach Woland’s colony, they discover a lot has happened in the Colony’s five years of isolation on this lonely planet.
The biggest discovery is that the Colony’s leader, Woland, is no longer there. She had taken her project (AAMA) and left.
Why? Well, no freaking clue. The Smell of Warm Dust is definitely a book filled with world building and plot build-ups, and character developments. It should have been a boring book to me, but the artwork, and the writing really kept the story very engaging. I was truly consumed with wanting to know more about the characters and where the story was going, and when I reached the end, I really wanted to just pick up the next one and get back into this world ASAP.
However, I knew if I did that, I wouldn’t end up writing out this review, and I really wanted to. This book is definitely worth looking into, but be prepared that it does take a little bit to get going, and with only 88 pages, I think some of the build-up was unnecessary.
But, who knows? I’m hoping that a lot of this build-up gets used in Book 2, and if that’s the case, then of course, it was important.
I’m really looking forward to continuing Verloc’s story. I think he’s going to end up being an unlikely hero, a character that redeems himself, and becomes someone that I will admire and respect. I hope so anyway.
Written and illustrated by: Frederik Peeters
Translated by: Edward Gauvin
First, before the review, I believe this is the first graphic novel I have read where the author and the illustrator are the same person. I think that Frederik Peeters has done a really decent job at both parts of this book. The art isn't as pretty as some of the comics I'm currently reading, but it's nice nonetheless. The writing was exceptional though, and I think that Peeters has done a great job telling this story.
The Cast of Characters:
Verloc Nim - Main character, addict, will not win father of the year.
Conrad Nim - Verloc’s baby brother, works for giant evil corporation (Muy-Tang) as a communications liaison.
Churchill - Robotic ape bodyguard. BAMF award goes to him (probably always).
Professor Woland - Not really here, but seems extremely important. The creator of the AAMA experiment.
Professor Kaplan - Lady seems to have gone a bit crazy. Master Manipulator.
Fulmine - Biorobotics Researcher. Kaplan’s right hand man.
Pilgrimm - The colony’s math and computer whizz.
Myo - Biotech professor. Also a manipulative lady (by choice or necessity, hope to find out in #2).
Dr. Frienko - Colony’s physician.
The mysterious little girl - Mute. Looks identical to Lilja, Verloc’s daughter.
Silika - Verloc’s wife (they’re separated). Her boyfriend is the one that helped her to keep Verloc from Lilja (Silika and Verloc’s daughter).
Lilja - Mute, daughter, kept from her father.
aama takes place in a distant future, and it starts with Verloc already on another planet - Ona(ji). The story is told through his memories, by him reading entries in his journal.
We see Verloc as this really depressing main character, and honestly, not a character I would ever see as a hero. He wallows in his self loathing and despair, drinking his loneliness away. That is, until his brother comes along, and give Verloc an adventure he didn’t really want, but decided to go on, nonetheless. After all, he didn’t have much going for him in his current situation anyway.
Conrad had been tasked by his company, Muy-Tang, to visit an uninhabited planet, Ona(ji) and to contact a colony that had settled there for the research and experiment conclusions of the colony’s leader, Professor Woland. The colony had shipped out to this isolated planet five years ago, and prior to the Great Crisis (some type of economical collapse).
Verloc, Conrad, and Churchill make their way to Ona(ji), and that’s really where the story begins to unfold, both in plot developments and setting. When they reach Woland’s colony, they discover a lot has happened in the Colony’s five years of isolation on this lonely planet.
The biggest discovery is that the Colony’s leader, Woland, is no longer there. She had taken her project (AAMA) and left.
Why? Well, no freaking clue. The Smell of Warm Dust is definitely a book filled with world building and plot build-ups, and character developments. It should have been a boring book to me, but the artwork, and the writing really kept the story very engaging. I was truly consumed with wanting to know more about the characters and where the story was going, and when I reached the end, I really wanted to just pick up the next one and get back into this world ASAP.
However, I knew if I did that, I wouldn’t end up writing out this review, and I really wanted to. This book is definitely worth looking into, but be prepared that it does take a little bit to get going, and with only 88 pages, I think some of the build-up was unnecessary.
But, who knows? I’m hoping that a lot of this build-up gets used in Book 2, and if that’s the case, then of course, it was important.
I’m really looking forward to continuing Verloc’s story. I think he’s going to end up being an unlikely hero, a character that redeems himself, and becomes someone that I will admire and respect. I hope so anyway.
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