Scan barcode
karliclover's review against another edition
3.0
I was at my local comic shop one day, browsing through the graphic novels of Image, Dark Horse, and IDW. Somewhere along the lines, I spotted this book. It did a great job of standing out from the other books; it's shorter (in height) and thicker than most of the others around it, which caught my attention. I took note of it and looked up reviews when I got home. I found that people were in love with it, so I took it upon myself to get a copy, excited to see what all the buzz what about.
The use of charcoal is absolutely stunning. I think my favorite panel was the spread on page 153. If there's one thing negative to say about the art, it's that I kept thinking that I would smudge it with my fingers. But that's nothing to hold against the book at all.
The story took a while for me to get interested in it. But once it started going, I was pretty invested in it. I like the whole duality theme that encompasses the entire book (Twain, Lafayette, Camomille, South, etc.).
Admittedly, however, I still don't entirely understand the ending. I kind of get it, but I know I must have missed something. For this reason, I give it 3.5 stars. If and when I find out what happened, I might change it to 4.
It should also be noted that this is an incredibly short read. I would have finished it in one sitting, but I started it around midnight last night, and I got tired at about 2:00am.
Another thing: apparently, this was a webcomic? Nice.
The use of charcoal is absolutely stunning. I think my favorite panel was the spread on page 153. If there's one thing negative to say about the art, it's that I kept thinking that I would smudge it with my fingers. But that's nothing to hold against the book at all.
The story took a while for me to get interested in it. But once it started going, I was pretty invested in it. I like the whole duality theme that encompasses the entire book (Twain, Lafayette, Camomille, South, etc.).
Admittedly, however, I still don't entirely understand the ending. I kind of get it, but I know I must have missed something. For this reason, I give it 3.5 stars. If and when I find out what happened, I might change it to 4.
It should also be noted that this is an incredibly short read. I would have finished it in one sitting, but I started it around midnight last night, and I got tired at about 2:00am.
Another thing: apparently, this was a webcomic? Nice.
kerrygibbons's review against another edition
4.0
This was a pretty quick read (probably 2-3 hours all told) - but really satisfying. The artwork is done almost entirely in charcoals and the rendering of the steamboat is spectacular. A really engaging story that doesn't reveal itself too early.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
4.0
Sailor Twain is the captain of a marvelous ship. He is dedicated and passionate, but his entire life changes as soon as he discovers a beautiful, harpooned mermaid. The drawings in this GN are stunning. Graphic novel lovers will surely appreciate this one.
scarletohhara's review against another edition
4.0
A gripping mystery with great narration and plot!
jasmiinaf's review against another edition
1.0
This comic wasn't bad at all, but the art just wasn't for me.
callieisreading's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I absolutely loved this, found it achingly beautiful and wonderfully drawn. A gorgeous, gorgeous story that really shows the potential of web comics and graphic novels.
scythefranz's review against another edition
4.0
Not a fan of the illustrations but the story is really cool!
saidtheraina's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this more than I did.
It's an epic tale incorporating northeast amerikan myth, literary legends, lustful temptation, slavery politics, and workplace ethics. And it's received a lot of acclaim. Personally, though, I didn't connect.
The art was extremely uneven for me. There are beautiful panels, but caricatured human figures felt like an odd choice for the charcoal aesthetic. Some of the shading work or lack of which got downright dissonant in context. It felt like a mock-up for the color, ink version still to come. But I know I'm in the minority on that.
But really, I've been won over by a lot of disappointing art. Books I've balked at at first, I start and get pulled into the story. And this book should have done that. And it didn't. I kept being distracted by the quality of the art, and a good enough story would have distracted me from that.
I also felt like the women here were overly simplified. They didn't feel real. It's a little too like a fever dream.
I don't know, I wanted to like it. But I didn't. And maybe I'm not the intended audience. So maybe I shouldn't hold my dislike against the book. It clearly has its fans.
It's an epic tale incorporating northeast amerikan myth, literary legends, lustful temptation, slavery politics, and workplace ethics. And it's received a lot of acclaim. Personally, though, I didn't connect.
The art was extremely uneven for me. There are beautiful panels, but caricatured human figures felt like an odd choice for the charcoal aesthetic. Some of the shading work or lack of which got downright dissonant in context. It felt like a mock-up for the color, ink version still to come. But I know I'm in the minority on that.
But really, I've been won over by a lot of disappointing art. Books I've balked at at first, I start and get pulled into the story. And this book should have done that. And it didn't. I kept being distracted by the quality of the art, and a good enough story would have distracted me from that.
I also felt like the women here were overly simplified. They didn't feel real. It's a little too like a fever dream.
I don't know, I wanted to like it. But I didn't. And maybe I'm not the intended audience. So maybe I shouldn't hold my dislike against the book. It clearly has its fans.
nattygsmith's review against another edition
4.0
A captivating, yet bizarre, version of the mermaid myth set on the Hudson River in the steamboat era. I loved some aspects of the artwork and was less enamored of others.
gjmaupin's review against another edition
5.0
Stop reading this review & go read Sailor Twain. Go. I'll wait.
Huh? Am I right? Lovely, yes?
Huh? Am I right? Lovely, yes?