Reviews

Black River by Josh Simmons

emilychau's review

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.75

knightofswords's review against another edition

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5.0

A little shocked that one of the best graphic novels from 2015 is rated so low on this site.

Maybe y'all would prefer it if it was a YA post-apocalyptic comic featuring a plucky Extra Special and Most Important Teenage Protagonist Who Has A Special Gift and sits around Talking About Trauma with their pals instead?

Transgressive art is supposed to make you uncomfortable!

rodneywilhite's review against another edition

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4.0

Grim. I loved the art, but the pace just zips so fast that it's hard to keep track of the characters. Some very poetic touches though.

bigdreamer_897's review

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4.0

In un futuro post-apocalittico un gruppo di donne lotta per la sopravvivenza. Crudo, violento, angosciante. A parlare sono soprattutto le immagini e i silenzi.

saidtheraina's review against another edition

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3.0

Do not be deceived by the purple flowerly flowy cover on this baby.
This is a GRIM story.

Or do. It'll be more shocking that way.

We find ourselves plopped down in the middle of the post-apocalypse. No context, just a band of survivors making their way across a snowy wilderness. Basically, Mad Max: Fury Road, but cold. And less styled.
This particular band of travelers happens to be made up mostly of female-presenting individuals. Badass ladies, as it were.

This is a gritty, violent, graphic, sexually explicit story. All told in Simmons partly gorgeous, partly abrasive illustrations. Our characters run into some nasty post-civilizations -- and I would never call our protagonists heroes, themselves.

Read this with [b: The Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439197219s/6288.jpg|3355573], [b: The Eleventh Plague|10369932|The Eleventh Plague|Jeff Hirsch|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1300474622s/10369932.jpg|15185764], and myriad other postapocalypic tales you've been meaning to get to.

guylou's review against another edition

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2.0

A Miniature Poodle is lying on a fluffy blanket with a softcover book to the right and a decorative human skull above the book. The book is Black River By Josh Simmons

I purchased a copy of BLACK RIVER by Josh Simmons at my local library's book sale. I picked it up, thinking it would be a good read for the spooky season. However, it was not exactly what I expected. This graphic novel offers a harrowing journey through a post-apocalyptic wasteland, showcasing a dark and bleak narrative that is not for the faint-hearted. Simmons delves into the depths of human suffering, particularly focusing on women, crafting a story devoid of hope or respite. The graphic novel follows a group of survivors navigating this desolate world, where the collapse of civilization is shrouded in a supernatural haze, leaving characters teetering on the edge of sanity. The lack of character development and intentional distancing from the reader may contribute to a sense of detachment but amplifies the feeling of helplessness, mirroring the characters' experiences. The black and white art, with its contrasts and textures, adds a tangible layer to the grim tale, enhancing the bleakness. However, the unrelenting brutality and misery, lacking a deeper purpose or point, make this a challenging read, testing my limits of discomfort and leaving me questioning its meaning and value amidst the darkness. This graphic novel is not for the faint of heart.

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postfireresidue's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

gunstreet's review against another edition

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2.0

I quite liked the art but did we really need another story where women are raped and murdered in a post-apocalyptic hellscape?

numberoneblind's review against another edition

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1.0

A white man wrote about women characters being raped and murdered by men in a post-apocalyptic world. Wish I read the reviews before buying and reading this comic.

tangiblereads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No

4.0

Black River is an odd dystopian book that is really graphic and gory.  This group of travelers, mostly ladies, have to make some tough choices for survival.  And sanity if definitely a luxury they don't have.  The wierd sex scene was funny also.  The black and white illustrations are perfect to depict the harshness of their reality.  This book has minimal dialogue, which I appreciated.  I mean, not much to say when your world has been destroyed and you are just surviving day by day.  I enjoyed this book even if I didn't get what really was meant by the ending. 
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