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jnikolova's review
2.0
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
This is definitely one of the weirdest series that I have read. I remember enjoying the first volume, but I can't really say the same about the second one.
Basically, I felt like the series is going nowhere in particular. It has gone very far away from the original idea of the first volume and is now residing in the land of WTF and bitchslapping Buddas.
No single issue made all that much sense - all of the characters are scattered, their stories are becoming really crazy, and there doesn't seem to be something bigger actually going on. We see is murder, kidnappings by drug lords and separatists, mushrooms, a bunch of dead teenagers, and so much more, and yet, there's no general idea behind all of it. At this point, it's every character for themselves, and we see very little that's of any substance.
The main character seems to be Charlene, because she is the one that is in the center of most issues, be it her trying to murder people, or her trying to figure out her place in the unwelcoming society. Yes, from that point of view, the volume offers a good commentary of society. However, that gets lost quickly when the storm of weirdness, craziness and nonsense starts.
This is definitely one of the weirdest series that I have read. I remember enjoying the first volume, but I can't really say the same about the second one.
Basically, I felt like the series is going nowhere in particular. It has gone very far away from the original idea of the first volume and is now residing in the land of WTF and bitchslapping Buddas.
No single issue made all that much sense - all of the characters are scattered, their stories are becoming really crazy, and there doesn't seem to be something bigger actually going on. We see is murder, kidnappings by drug lords and separatists, mushrooms, a bunch of dead teenagers, and so much more, and yet, there's no general idea behind all of it. At this point, it's every character for themselves, and we see very little that's of any substance.
The main character seems to be Charlene, because she is the one that is in the center of most issues, be it her trying to murder people, or her trying to figure out her place in the unwelcoming society. Yes, from that point of view, the volume offers a good commentary of society. However, that gets lost quickly when the storm of weirdness, craziness and nonsense starts.
whitecat5000's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
4.0
Well this took a turn for the weirder.
honguan's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bbpettry's review
5.0
This is the most surprising and moving trade I've read this year. For real.
Series:
A fresh departure from the futuristic dystopia flavor of the day, No Mercy is story that dwells in the possible, digs its heels in and never stops reminding you of its plausibility. DeCampi avoids the trap of portraying teens as one dimensional quip machines, shaping each intricate character from panel one. That authenticity plants the seed for wild anxiety once things start to go wrong. The characters are truly diverse, and their personal struggles are as twisty and dangerous as the terrain they find themselves stranded in. With references in art and word to manga, teen movie tropes, and millennial stereotypes, No Mercy manages to flow from youthful comedy to the darkest of observations with ease. Easily the most surprising series Image has going right now (Fall 2017.)
Series:
A fresh departure from the futuristic dystopia flavor of the day, No Mercy is story that dwells in the possible, digs its heels in and never stops reminding you of its plausibility. DeCampi avoids the trap of portraying teens as one dimensional quip machines, shaping each intricate character from panel one. That authenticity plants the seed for wild anxiety once things start to go wrong. The characters are truly diverse, and their personal struggles are as twisty and dangerous as the terrain they find themselves stranded in. With references in art and word to manga, teen movie tropes, and millennial stereotypes, No Mercy manages to flow from youthful comedy to the darkest of observations with ease. Easily the most surprising series Image has going right now (Fall 2017.)
glitterandtwang's review
5.0
Alex de Campi is great. This volume built on the previous issues in a way that I really wasn't expecting - especially the brief detour into the world of "troubled teen" camps, which are something that I have been reading more and more about over the last few years. I'm not sure where this series is going, but I'm definitely in it for the long haul.
annaonthepage's review
3.0
This was a tough read. Not as much fun as the first book where the gimmicks are fresh. I'm pretty tired of reading rape stories and characters that are unrealistically backwards. The whole bunch of people refusing to believe in transgender identity or homosexuality was just beyond me. I kind of switch off when characters are so immovably stupid and violent.
ederwin's review
4.0
The bus crash was just the beginning! The authors have lots more for these kids to go through.
The final episode of this collection (single issue #9) is the most moving as it deals with a teen caught in a hellish "treatment" facility which is worse than most prisons. Sadly it is based on real-life examples. The final pages contain a list of names of kids who have died in these facilities as well as the name of an organization tracking such abuses. http://www.residentialtreatmentcenterabuse.com/
The final episode of this collection (single issue #9) is the most moving as it deals with a teen caught in a hellish "treatment" facility which is worse than most prisons. Sadly it is based on real-life examples. The final pages contain a list of names of kids who have died in these facilities as well as the name of an organization tracking such abuses. http://www.residentialtreatmentcenterabuse.com/
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