Reviews

Incognegro: Renaissance by Mat Johnson

shelfofunread's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

booksteader's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 don't typically read graphic novels but I was absorbed from the first page, and happily so. Thanks to this book, I intend to seek out more graphic novels to read in the future. This novel tells the story of a journalist investigating the suspicious death of a black writer at the home of a white writer during a scandalous interracial party. The journalist is able to "pass" due to his light skin and with a few disguising tricks. Set during the Harlem Renaissance, the language is authentic but jarring at times and the culture and attitudes are difficult to stomach, though we still hear similar statements and witness identical attitudes daily in present times. The history, the mystery, and the dialogue all make this novel engaging, exciting, and un-put-downable. I read it in just a couple of hours, and I'm eager to read more from these authors and about that time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Homophobia

tangiblereads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Incognegro Renaissance is a prequel to Incognegro A Graphic Mystery.  I enjoyed it a lot.  The black and white is perfect for this story. It covers racism and the concept of “passing” from both a male and female perspective.  Book has an interesting mystery with cultural appropriation/exploitation, queer representation which is in it’s novelty in the 1920s/1930s, and discusses the benefits of “passing” and the toll it takes on the passer. I enjoyed this quick read a lot.

lalanier's review against another edition

5.0

As usual, thoroughly enjoyed it! May say more later...

pageglue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This prequel to Incognegro depicts Zane’s origin story. Starting out as a columnist for the social pages, he gets invited to a book launch of a white author who has written a book set in Harlem. But one of the attendees is found dead, dismissed by the police as a suicide. But Zane is suspicious and wants to investigate, but as a journalist for a Black newspaper, he doesn’t get very far. In order to get access to people and places, he needs to pass as white.

The best thing about this prequel are the characters and the setting. Zane is inspired by the up-and-coming writers of the Harlem Renaissance and wants to be a part of that scene, so it was really cool to have that as the backdrop of the story. The mystery in this book wasn’t as good as the first one. It was decent, kept me engaged the whole way through, but without the jaw-dropping gasps like the first one.

anscha3000's review

emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

mrjess_bhs's review against another edition

4.0

Another fascinating look at how a passing Black man might have navigated Jim Crow era in pursuit of Justice. This one isn’t quite at the level of the original as he exposed the violence of lynchings, but it is very good and covers similar themes and some new ones.

thedoctorsaysrun's review against another edition

4.0

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2021 Task #19: Read a historical fiction with a POC or LGBTQ+ protagonist

leomill1977's review

3.0

How it All Began

This is a good story that lets readers know why Zane decides to Incognegro. I did enjoy reading this prequel.

locpressedbooks_'s review against another edition

3.0

The only thing that I can say that takes away from this book for me the the transition from one setting to another. It’s so jarring, you would think that you skipped a page or two. I enjoyed the mystery of it all, but it was kinda obvious to me, but at the same time the message was received and still very relevant to today. I liked this comic, and definitely continue to read and support.