Scan barcode
huckleberryrk's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.75
Very dark, VERY intriguing.
sparklequeer's review
5.0
A complex take on forgiveness, redemption, and love, with nuanced characters and a unique, powerful art style. One of my favorite graphic novels.
annelisegordon's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
barb4ry1's review
4.0
Excellent story with stunning art. It gives a unique perspective on things people are ready to do for those they love. It provides an excellent supernatural twist: gods are real, they rule the city, some feed on people's memories.
Well worth a read.
Well worth a read.
thesaltiestlibrarian's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When it comes to graphic novels, I'm a hard sell. For a few reasons, but the most important being I have to love the art. I admit, a lot of "comic book" style art in American graphic novels really just...I'm sorry, it's ugly. It's not unique, the lines piss me off, and I hate the way expressions are drawn. Okay? Okay. There.
Often the best art I've seen is in either "younger" bracketed graphic novels or something that gets a lot of attention because of its stand-out style (i.e. Persepolis). So imagine my surprise when I cracked this bad boy open and instantly was taken with the art.
Look. That's what makes a graphic novel, right? The story can be "meh" and if the art is mind-blowing, it gets a bit of a pass. Admittedly the hardest thing about a graphic novel is telling a cohesive story. You really only have so much room to do so. With BLISS, we have a decent balance between a horror-magical realism setting and a story that, if rushed, makes sense. Did I mention the art?
Because the art is incredible. It would be no hard task to convince me to hang framed panels from this in my room. Facial expressions are perfect. The individual people are easy to identify and are realistic enough to be convincing, but stylized enough to work for the story. Backgrounds and lighting and perspectives? Just...UGH, it's perfect.
So why four stars and not five? The story is a bit wobbly near the end. Things happen that aren't exactly explained, and the ending rushed up way too quickly for its own good. If it had been given more breathing room and allowed to expand, allowed to develop and resolve at a natural clip, BLISS would easily have been a 5-star immediate buy for me.
As it is, though, it's still well worth the ride.
When it comes to graphic novels, I'm a hard sell. For a few reasons, but the most important being I have to love the art. I admit, a lot of "comic book" style art in American graphic novels really just...I'm sorry, it's ugly. It's not unique, the lines piss me off, and I hate the way expressions are drawn. Okay? Okay. There.
Often the best art I've seen is in either "younger" bracketed graphic novels or something that gets a lot of attention because of its stand-out style (i.e. Persepolis). So imagine my surprise when I cracked this bad boy open and instantly was taken with the art.
Look. That's what makes a graphic novel, right? The story can be "meh" and if the art is mind-blowing, it gets a bit of a pass. Admittedly the hardest thing about a graphic novel is telling a cohesive story. You really only have so much room to do so. With BLISS, we have a decent balance between a horror-magical realism setting and a story that, if rushed, makes sense. Did I mention the art?
Because the art is incredible. It would be no hard task to convince me to hang framed panels from this in my room. Facial expressions are perfect. The individual people are easy to identify and are realistic enough to be convincing, but stylized enough to work for the story. Backgrounds and lighting and perspectives? Just...UGH, it's perfect.
So why four stars and not five? The story is a bit wobbly near the end. Things happen that aren't exactly explained, and the ending rushed up way too quickly for its own good. If it had been given more breathing room and allowed to expand, allowed to develop and resolve at a natural clip, BLISS would easily have been a 5-star immediate buy for me.
As it is, though, it's still well worth the ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Racism and Pregnancy
graypeape's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
I enjoyed this. It's a trippy allegory about forgiveness and the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions, as well as a look at how people use addictions to escape that responsibility, and about the things people are willing to do to save those they love. This last part escalates into something horrible, but it does make you think: would I be able to make the choices the father made in this story? And I really can't answer that. I've never been a parent, and I can't judge someone making the choices this character did, I can't even imagine it.
As I said, this is an allegory, so you can expect some symbolism. We have uncaring gods who manipulate humans to suit their whims and use us for sustenance, a magical drug that makes people forget the bad things they've done or that have happened to them, otherworldly courts where we will be judged for our transgressions, a trip through the underworld, and a battle not between good and evil, but between forgiveness and the desire for vengeance (or something like that). I don't wanna go into explaining the plot, just read the publisher's blurb, that's all you need to know going in. I enjoyed the story, it made me think while it entertained me.
The art is beautiful and a bit strange, kinda dream-like, and really suited the story well. I liked seeing the inspiration gallery at the end, which included the "cast" of the illustrations, something I don't recall seeing before in a graphic novel. The illustrator is very good at capturing people and expressions, and while the choice to "cast" Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the role of a minor character is a bit disconcerting, it also makes sense given the personality and (to a certain extent) the actions of said character. I mention this because it kinda startled me, so be warned, review reader! It did take me out of the story a bit, but not much.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this!
As I said, this is an allegory, so you can expect some symbolism. We have uncaring gods who manipulate humans to suit their whims and use us for sustenance, a magical drug that makes people forget the bad things they've done or that have happened to them, otherworldly courts where we will be judged for our transgressions, a trip through the underworld, and a battle not between good and evil, but between forgiveness and the desire for vengeance (or something like that). I don't wanna go into explaining the plot, just read the publisher's blurb, that's all you need to know going in. I enjoyed the story, it made me think while it entertained me.
The art is beautiful and a bit strange, kinda dream-like, and really suited the story well. I liked seeing the inspiration gallery at the end, which included the "cast" of the illustrations, something I don't recall seeing before in a graphic novel. The illustrator is very good at capturing people and expressions, and while the choice to "cast" Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the role of a minor character is a bit disconcerting, it also makes sense given the personality and (to a certain extent) the actions of said character. I mention this because it kinda startled me, so be warned, review reader! It did take me out of the story a bit, but not much.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this!
lucsbooks's review
4.0
"Bliss" is a story about justice and forgiveness and if those can coexist or if one should supersede the other on every occasion. I liked this book because it felt like instead of reading about the hero/antihero/villain of a book, "Bliss" chose to focus on the aftermath of his choices and how the people who love him and the people hurt by his actions are coping, particularly his son and his victims. At the same time, it's also a story about the trauma parents pass to their children and trying to heal and make amends so the next generation suffers less as the author makes clear at the end with his personal testimony.
I loved the art and the way the author drew people that felt real, that you knew and recognized from your own street, particularly the main character Asian man that wasn't the stereotypical martial arts fighting, pale skin, traditionally beautiful Asian lead we've seen copy-pasted across all kinds of media but a completely unique, complex person.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Image Comics for this DRC.
Rating: 4/5"Bliss" is a story about justice and forgiveness and if those can coexist or if one should supersede the other on every occasion. I liked this book because it felt like instead of reading about the hero/antihero/villain of a book, "Bliss" chose to focus on the aftermath of his choices and how the people who love him and the people hurt by his actions are coping, particularly his son and his victims. At the same time, it's also a story about the trauma parents pass to their children and trying to heal and make amends so the next generation suffers less as the author makes clear at the end with his personal testimony.
I loved the art and the way the author drew people that felt real, that you knew and recognized from your own street, particularly the main character Asian man that wasn't the stereotypical martial arts fighting, pale skin, traditionally beautiful Asian lead we've seen copy-pasted across all kinds of media but a completely unique, complex person.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Image Comics for this DRC.
Rating: 4/5
I loved the art and the way the author drew people that felt real, that you knew and recognized from your own street, particularly the main character Asian man that wasn't the stereotypical martial arts fighting, pale skin, traditionally beautiful Asian lead we've seen copy-pasted across all kinds of media but a completely unique, complex person.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Image Comics for this DRC.
Rating: 4/5"Bliss" is a story about justice and forgiveness and if those can coexist or if one should supersede the other on every occasion. I liked this book because it felt like instead of reading about the hero/antihero/villain of a book, "Bliss" chose to focus on the aftermath of his choices and how the people who love him and the people hurt by his actions are coping, particularly his son and his victims. At the same time, it's also a story about the trauma parents pass to their children and trying to heal and make amends so the next generation suffers less as the author makes clear at the end with his personal testimony.
I loved the art and the way the author drew people that felt real, that you knew and recognized from your own street, particularly the main character Asian man that wasn't the stereotypical martial arts fighting, pale skin, traditionally beautiful Asian lead we've seen copy-pasted across all kinds of media but a completely unique, complex person.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Image Comics for this DRC.
Rating: 4/5
mel_books's review
5.0
Bliss centers on father-son drama. It’s a sad and dark story of family, drug addiction, redemption, and forgiveness.
In a kind of futuristic neighborhood, where crime and mafia rule the streets, a new drug called Bliss is taking over. Mabel and Benton live there with their sick son. To pay medical bills, Benton must make some tough decisions.
Stunning and very creative art. Depictions of horror and torment are haunting but excellent. Bliss collects eight issues of this graphic novel. At the end, we can read the author’s story that inspired it. I liked to see all the real-life people that were models for characters in this graphic novel.
I would recommend Bliss to readers who like a good, original story and mixed genres. Here, family drama blends with crime mystery, fantasy, and mythology.
CW: violence, blood, death, profanity, drug abuse
Thanks to Image Comics for the ARC and the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.
In a kind of futuristic neighborhood, where crime and mafia rule the streets, a new drug called Bliss is taking over. Mabel and Benton live there with their sick son. To pay medical bills, Benton must make some tough decisions.
Stunning and very creative art. Depictions of horror and torment are haunting but excellent. Bliss collects eight issues of this graphic novel. At the end, we can read the author’s story that inspired it. I liked to see all the real-life people that were models for characters in this graphic novel.
I would recommend Bliss to readers who like a good, original story and mixed genres. Here, family drama blends with crime mystery, fantasy, and mythology.
CW: violence, blood, death, profanity, drug abuse
Thanks to Image Comics for the ARC and the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, and Drug abuse