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A review by youfelinedevil
They're Not Like Us, Vol. 1: Black Holes for the Young by Eric Stephenson
3.0
I'm glad I stuck with this because overall I liked it but I really did not like the characters at first. I mean, besides Syd. She/the writing gets kind of preachy at the end, but I really do like her. I like the story, also, but it isn't anything especially innovative. Kind of reminds me of Oliver Twist, with its Fagin-like antagonist. There's a lot that's like, paraphrasing here, "Oh you thought I was crazy and I'm not so you shouldn't treat me badly." Which kind of sucks if you're, you know, actually mentally ill. I get that it's kind of an analogy but when you're presenting this world in which these abilities and mental illness both exist, it doesn't really work as a fucking analogy, it just hurts.
However, a lot of this is more present in the dialogue than the narrative. Syd says a lot of things that are impulsive, desperate, and not censored, because she's a messed up, terrified kid. It makes sense. The book doesn't feature, like, people with mental illnesses engaging in dangerous behavior.
ANYWAY I largely stuck with it because the art is so so so gorgeous, even if the kids all have basically the same body types. Not great.
I like Syd, I like where this story seems to be going, I'm willing to overlook the things I didn't like with the hope that they will be somehow resolved or explained. For now, at least. I like a lot of the other characters, and I'm interested and empathize with the ones I don't love. I LOVE the art.
(What is up with Misery Kid??)
However, a lot of this is more present in the dialogue than the narrative. Syd says a lot of things that are impulsive, desperate, and not censored, because she's a messed up, terrified kid. It makes sense. The book doesn't feature, like, people with mental illnesses engaging in dangerous behavior.
ANYWAY I largely stuck with it because the art is so so so gorgeous, even if the kids all have basically the same body types. Not great.
I like Syd, I like where this story seems to be going, I'm willing to overlook the things I didn't like with the hope that they will be somehow resolved or explained. For now, at least. I like a lot of the other characters, and I'm interested and empathize with the ones I don't love. I LOVE the art.
(What is up with Misery Kid??)