Scan barcode
lsparrow's review against another edition
2.0
i found I had lost track of the story by this volume. Too much looping of time and storylines.
unladylike's review against another edition
4.0
I really didn't know this would be the final volume of Shutter when I went into it, honestly. There are more great character designs and interesting plot reveals in these issues, and Leila del Luca continues to be the shining star that makes Shutter worthwhile. So many instances of really clunky, cliche, and unprofessional writing still keep it from having been great. Have you ever known a friend whose creative ideas are pretty wonderful, like maybe they're a good song writer, and you're glad they're making music, but they naturally assume the role of singing vocals even though their voice is cringe-worthy to hear? I've known several people like that, and I feel that way about Keatinge's role throughout this series. I honestly wish I had documented the parts that I read multiple times and made a horrified expression at, so that I could give some hilarious, concrete examples. But I know I read comics selectively, based primarily on there being a great writer involved, so my standards are quite high in that department. Withing the profession of writing comics across the whole, I'm sure Joe Keatinge is well above the median on the scale of talent.
A few notable things found in this final volume: one issue is a crossover special featuring a strange, sappy cafeteria scene with a handful of other Image characters that have been around a while. I think it was for the 25th Anniversary of the publishing company or something. Spawn and that green dragon guy were the only two I recognized though, and the script reads like a corny narrator's monologue at the end of a Lifetime after school special, with gems like this taking up 2-page spreads:
"There's never enough time."
"Well, sure."
But that's the thing, right?"
Maybe there's never enough."
But we had the time we had."
And we have the time we have."
Like, did *anybody* except Joe Keatinge get teary-eyed at that, or think it was some eloquent utterance of profundity deserving of size 36 font? That little Hallmark speech comes from Kate, who remains throughout the entire series a very visually striking protagonist, but is never given the justice of saying or doing anything terribly interesting. Most of her speech bubbles could have been written by a slightly precocious 7th grader.
At least we've got Huckleberry, Alain, and Cassius (aka Alarm Cat) to provide more interesting scenes. The final two issues are rather tidy epilogues, showing what becomes of each of the remaining characters shortly after the "End" of the story. Some of the coolest design stunts are seen in these issues, helping wrap things up while giving us glimpses of potential future stories being launched, in very 4th-dimension-breaking style.
Shutter is short enough, and attractive and fun enough, that if you enjoy the first few issues, you'd might as well read the whole story. But it's not a series I'll be looking to own physical copies of. I *would* love to just look through the character designs and certain action sequences, or Huckleberry's solo scenes, with some good fan-fic captions written in!
A few notable things found in this final volume: one issue is a crossover special featuring a strange, sappy cafeteria scene with a handful of other Image characters that have been around a while. I think it was for the 25th Anniversary of the publishing company or something. Spawn and that green dragon guy were the only two I recognized though, and the script reads like a corny narrator's monologue at the end of a Lifetime after school special, with gems like this taking up 2-page spreads:
"There's never enough time."
"Well, sure."
But that's the thing, right?"
Maybe there's never enough."
But we had the time we had."
And we have the time we have."
Like, did *anybody* except Joe Keatinge get teary-eyed at that, or think it was some eloquent utterance of profundity deserving of size 36 font? That little Hallmark speech comes from Kate, who remains throughout the entire series a very visually striking protagonist, but is never given the justice of saying or doing anything terribly interesting. Most of her speech bubbles could have been written by a slightly precocious 7th grader.
At least we've got Huckleberry, Alain, and Cassius (aka Alarm Cat) to provide more interesting scenes. The final two issues are rather tidy epilogues, showing what becomes of each of the remaining characters shortly after the "End" of the story. Some of the coolest design stunts are seen in these issues, helping wrap things up while giving us glimpses of potential future stories being launched, in very 4th-dimension-breaking style.
Shutter is short enough, and attractive and fun enough, that if you enjoy the first few issues, you'd might as well read the whole story. But it's not a series I'll be looking to own physical copies of. I *would* love to just look through the character designs and certain action sequences, or Huckleberry's solo scenes, with some good fan-fic captions written in!
hwks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
I really wanted to like this, and I thought I was going to. But as so many others have mentioned, the plot structure was so weird, climax, resolution, new climax, endings that weren't really endings. Honestly, it was so confusing and I really lost the plot (and any investment I had in this bizarre family structure). The interpersonal parts of the story I think were the only things I really liked, the overarching mission of all of this never really connected and always felt like an intentionally obscure backdrop. This was okay, better to read them all in quick succession - I think I would have been horrifically lost had I waited between volumes.
ericawrites's review against another edition
3.0
More like a 2.5. Shutter is a messy book plot-wise.
jsandy's review against another edition
4.0
Never have I cried so much over the death of a talking cat alarm clock.
elizabethrichey's review
4.0
I devoured all five volumes in this series and loved them. The art is incredible, and the story is like Indiana Jones meets Sandman. This final volume was the best one in a lot of ways, although I didn't like one familiar trope in one of the characters' story arcs.
More...