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jliby0's review
4.0
This was like a mild fever dream of a read, which was actually really enjoyable. The characters are, for the most part, endearing and funny, which creates a wonderful juxtaposition with the often mature and serious topics and issues they all face. From the trauma of displacement (from a cult, no less) to the simple ideas of paying rent and considering internships, this was an enjoyable, tongue-in-cheek read.
sydneyrp143's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
missloflipo's review
5.0
Hay una escena de Fleabag en la que la protagonista confiesa entre lágrimas que lo que realmente necesita es alguien que cada mañana le diga qué ropa llevar, cómo comportarse, qué pensar, a quién votar.
En frío y fuera de contexto algo así suena horrible, pero puede llegar a entenderse esa necesidad de renuncia cuando la vida te sobrepasa y anhelas la (falsa) sensación de (extraña) libertad que da el no tener que decidir nada y tan solo asumir que las cosas son como son; disociar y vivir el momento justo en el que Sísifo observa cómo cae la roca ladera abajo una vez más.
Algo parecido sienten algunos personajes del cómic de Deforge cuando Richard, el líder de una extraña secta ubicada en un valle, los expulsa para siempre por romper una de las mil reglas absurdamente impuestas.
Tener que dejar el hogar implica para ellos el desarraigo más cruel, renunciar al amor y la protección de Richard, exponerse al mundo real donde ni las personas o animales ni los lugares resultan tan amables.
Es genial cómo el autor va conduciendo este delirio y muestra a estos animalillos viviendo una especie de 'come to age' forzoso para denunciar problemas auténticos que se imponen en las ciudades de hoy (aunque en el cómic se refleja Toronto): falta de espacios naturales, gentrificación, hostilidad, capitalismo, aislamiento, falta de comunidad.
'Más allá del valle de Richard' se disfruta a diferentes niveles, ya sea desde la ilustración o la técnica mixta con fotocopia tan chula de algunas viñetas como con los diálogos y los propios personajes a los que es inevitable no adorar.
Ternura y oscuridad en estas páginas, un combo al que no me resisto. Ojalá podáis echarle un ojo, aunque solo sea para ver cuánto brilla la cubierta o para sentiros menos solxs en vuestra ciudad.
En frío y fuera de contexto algo así suena horrible, pero puede llegar a entenderse esa necesidad de renuncia cuando la vida te sobrepasa y anhelas la (falsa) sensación de (extraña) libertad que da el no tener que decidir nada y tan solo asumir que las cosas son como son; disociar y vivir el momento justo en el que Sísifo observa cómo cae la roca ladera abajo una vez más.
Algo parecido sienten algunos personajes del cómic de Deforge cuando Richard, el líder de una extraña secta ubicada en un valle, los expulsa para siempre por romper una de las mil reglas absurdamente impuestas.
Tener que dejar el hogar implica para ellos el desarraigo más cruel, renunciar al amor y la protección de Richard, exponerse al mundo real donde ni las personas o animales ni los lugares resultan tan amables.
Es genial cómo el autor va conduciendo este delirio y muestra a estos animalillos viviendo una especie de 'come to age' forzoso para denunciar problemas auténticos que se imponen en las ciudades de hoy (aunque en el cómic se refleja Toronto): falta de espacios naturales, gentrificación, hostilidad, capitalismo, aislamiento, falta de comunidad.
'Más allá del valle de Richard' se disfruta a diferentes niveles, ya sea desde la ilustración o la técnica mixta con fotocopia tan chula de algunas viñetas como con los diálogos y los propios personajes a los que es inevitable no adorar.
Ternura y oscuridad en estas páginas, un combo al que no me resisto. Ojalá podáis echarle un ojo, aunque solo sea para ver cuánto brilla la cubierta o para sentiros menos solxs en vuestra ciudad.
jekutree's review
5.0
Leaving Richard’s Valley is one of the most unique comics I’ve ever read. It tells the story of the animals of Richard’s Valley, a cult that lives in a park in Toronto under the enigmatic, manipulative Richard.
Michael Deforge tells his story through a great sense of humor and his one of a kind stylized cartooning. The story presented here on the surface seems pretty basic. 4 animals get ejected from Richard’s Valley and need to make their due in the city. They have trouble fitting in due to their sheltered life in the Valley. The story ramps up in complexity when the side plots of the snake and Caroline frog get introduced, the short one page asides on Richard’s history and the amount of symbolism and thematic depth everything in the story has.
Leaving Richard’s Valley explores themes of cults, gentrification, fitting in, pollution and much more. Deforge addresses all of these in smart ways that connect instantly to the reader. He never feels preachy or pushy with what he’s talking about and he attacks these in his well developed characters and sense of humor.
All of the characters are extremely likable and Deforge gives equal attention to the core cast of characters allowing for everyone to have a different favorite. My personal favorite, Ellie Squirrel, is an optimistic squirrel that’s a little naive at times. She adds a really wholesome sense of humor to the book that’s I greatly appreciated.
Michael Deforge gets a chance to tell a touching story that is so uniquely him. I haven’t read everything he’s done, but his voice shines through so clearly in this genius graphic novel.
Best book of 2019
10/10
Michael Deforge tells his story through a great sense of humor and his one of a kind stylized cartooning. The story presented here on the surface seems pretty basic. 4 animals get ejected from Richard’s Valley and need to make their due in the city. They have trouble fitting in due to their sheltered life in the Valley. The story ramps up in complexity when the side plots of the snake and Caroline frog get introduced, the short one page asides on Richard’s history and the amount of symbolism and thematic depth everything in the story has.
Leaving Richard’s Valley explores themes of cults, gentrification, fitting in, pollution and much more. Deforge addresses all of these in smart ways that connect instantly to the reader. He never feels preachy or pushy with what he’s talking about and he attacks these in his well developed characters and sense of humor.
All of the characters are extremely likable and Deforge gives equal attention to the core cast of characters allowing for everyone to have a different favorite. My personal favorite, Ellie Squirrel, is an optimistic squirrel that’s a little naive at times. She adds a really wholesome sense of humor to the book that’s I greatly appreciated.
Michael Deforge gets a chance to tell a touching story that is so uniquely him. I haven’t read everything he’s done, but his voice shines through so clearly in this genius graphic novel.
Best book of 2019
10/10
chelseamartinez's review
4.0
A personality cult among cute animal creatures in the forest; eventually a small crew escapes to the big, less pretty, but more free city outside of Richard's grasp. I'm reading Birds of Maine right now, which is more ambitious and a bit harder to follow but shares the same interest in utopian visions and failures, though it doesn't challenge our own capitalistic present as directly.
I love the black and white of these strips. The spiders are impossibly adorable and it makes sense when one of them becomes a hand model.
I love the black and white of these strips. The spiders are impossibly adorable and it makes sense when one of them becomes a hand model.
likeable_luddite's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ash_hernick's review
5.0
When I picked up this book I thought it would be a goofy brick of a graphic novel that I'd finish in a day or two. And I did finish it in a day - but it was anything but simply "goofy". Leaving Richard's Valley is a stunning story about escaping a cult of personality, the effects of gentrification, and finding your way in life in a world that doesn't seem to care about you. Full of sweet art and great lines, Leaving Richard's Valley is a heart-wrenching piece of fiction that everyone should read.
odoggywhatwhat's review
4.0
Usually I go to Michael Deforge to feel a stunning sense of body horror, dread, dystopian absurdism, and an ever-expanding style of art. But this is a lot more straightforward than his usual work. What I found instead here was something that made me smile wider than anything has in a while. Something that is instantly quotable and matches it’s cynical view of city life with so much hope. I was never at quite the right place or time to flip through a Calvin & Hobbes book front to back and feel like it was for me but I imagine this is what that would feel like.
rowanine's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.5