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scottpm's review
5.0
Offbeat, wacky, sweet, heroic all wrapped into one fantastic story. Even more stellar is the art. Reminded me a lot of Bill Sienkiewicz
rebelstorm's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
3.8/5
Quality of writing: 4
Plot development: 3
Pace: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of reading: 4
Quality of writing: 4
Plot development: 3
Pace: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of reading: 4
joshgauthier's review
4.0
I went into this knowing nothing about Black Bolt, little about the Inhumans, and with no idea what to expect from the story. I was not disappointed in any way.
Ahmed has created a story that stands effectively without background, and is immensely engaging in plot, character, and theme. The concept of heroes trying to escape a labyrinthine prison is not a new one, but Ahmed uses it to its full potential as a superhero adventure and a deeper examination of crime and imprisonment. The story finds an effective balance of darkness and humor, linking the title character's development to the larger setting and story.
Basically everything here works--the characters are strong, the emotional drive of the story is crafted well, the art is striking, and the plot itself is as exciting as would be expected from a superhero story.
Ahmed has created a story that stands effectively without background, and is immensely engaging in plot, character, and theme. The concept of heroes trying to escape a labyrinthine prison is not a new one, but Ahmed uses it to its full potential as a superhero adventure and a deeper examination of crime and imprisonment. The story finds an effective balance of darkness and humor, linking the title character's development to the larger setting and story.
Basically everything here works--the characters are strong, the emotional drive of the story is crafted well, the art is striking, and the plot itself is as exciting as would be expected from a superhero story.
panelparty's review
5.0
Got this on a whim during Comixology's somewhat recent $0.99 Marvel sale, mostly because I think the fact that Black Bolt's real name is Blackagar Boltagon is hysterical, but WOW. I loved this. I, incredibly cheap purveyor of comics, paid almost full price for Volume 2, which I can't wait to tear into. I was so glad that Lockjaw made an appearance - what a cutie!
Also, naming the Letters Page "Sound Off" instead of "Lettergar Pageagon" was a huge mistake.
Also, naming the Letters Page "Sound Off" instead of "Lettergar Pageagon" was a huge mistake.
mjfmjfmjf's review
3.0
A buddy book in a prison maze in space. But with enough attention to making me care about the characters. A bit slow at times but it ended well. And it tried hard to make good use of Black Bolt. But it's setting definitely worked against it. A nice try though. 3.5 of 5.
iffer's review
4.0
I have an odd soft spot for the Inhumans, though I haven't read that many Inhumans comics, and even though they and their storylines can often be simultaneously hokey and take themselves too seriously. My soft spot extended to Black Bolt, and this storyline is sometimes hokey and sometimes takes itself too seriously, but I enjoyed it!
A large part of my positive experience with this collection was no doubt the artwork. It far exceeded my expectations. I was expecting somewhat bland, standard Marvel artwork, but Christian Ward's's style is so well-suited to cosmic titles. His linework is loose, and combined with a restrained cool color palette carefully punctuated with some warm neons, Ward captures the wonder of outer space, as well the as the confinement of a prison.
Saladin Ahmed's story may not break new ground, and it is obviously political in its close-the-prison storyline, as well as its hope and insistence that people can repent and reform *despite*, not because of*, incarceration and torture, mostly through forming human connection.
A large part of my positive experience with this collection was no doubt the artwork. It far exceeded my expectations. I was expecting somewhat bland, standard Marvel artwork, but Christian Ward's's style is so well-suited to cosmic titles. His linework is loose, and combined with a restrained cool color palette carefully punctuated with some warm neons, Ward captures the wonder of outer space, as well the as the confinement of a prison.
Saladin Ahmed's story may not break new ground, and it is obviously political in its close-the-prison storyline, as well as its hope and insistence that people can repent and reform *despite*, not because of*, incarceration and torture, mostly through forming human connection.