Review: Bleed by Kieron Gillen

Title: Bleed

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist(s): Stephanie Hans

Series/Standalone: Die Vol. 4

Genre: Adult, Graphic Novel, Fantasy

Pages: 168

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2021

Format: Paperback Copy (Library)

"We've had dragons. The award-winning bleak deconstruction couldn't end without turning its unblinking eye upon a dungeon. There's no escape. There's only down."

My Rating: 2/5

This volume was really a love letter to tabletop RPG and what they offer their communities. That being said, I feel like through most of this series I was just confused. And that's ok. It doesn't always have to make sense but for graphic novels, I like to have a good time and not have to think too terribly hard (that could be a me problem). I look forward to getting my fiancee to read these as he is an avid DnD player and I'm curious to see his thoughts.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Old Is the New New by Kieron Gillen

Title: Old Is the New New

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist(s): Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson, Stephanie Hans, Andre Likma Araujo, Kris Anka

Series/Standalone: The Wicked + The Divine (Vol. 8)

Genre: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy

Pages: 232

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2019

Format: Paperback Copy (Library Copy)

"Modernist poets trapped in an Agatha Christie Murder Mystery. The Romantics gathering in Lake Geneva to resurrect the dead. What really happened during the fall of Rome. The Lucifer who was a nun, hearing Ananke's Black Death confession. As we approach the end, we start to see the full picture...."

My Rating: 2/5

I just really feel that this volume was such filler. I really couldn't help but feel like this episode was dragging. I look forward to finishing the series and seeing where the final volume will take us, but I'm not sure how I feel about the series overall at this exact moment.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Commercial Suicide by Kieron Gillen

Title: Commercial Suicide

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist(s): Tula Lotay, Kate Brown, Stephanie Hans, Leila del Duca, Brandon Graham

Series/Standalone: The Wicked + The Divine (Volume 3)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult, Urban Fantasy

Pages: 200

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2016

Format: Paperback Copy (Library)

"After the detonation of Fandemonium, the gods-as-pop-stars of THE WICKED + THE DIVINE try living in the long dark shadow.

Team WicDiv is joined by a stellar cast of guest artists to put the spotlight on each of the gods. The multiple Eisner Award-nominated series continues in the only way it knows how darker, weird, faster. Don't worry. It's going to be okay."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This one was it. It really opens up the story to all the different perspectives of the gods and what they went through before entering godhood. I thought the change of artist was interesting although it did throw me off for a bit during the start. It frequently happens that artists are changed in the middle of a graphic novel series and I don't always enjoy it. I look forward to continuing the series. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: The Great Game by Kieron Gillen

Title: The Great Game

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist(s): Stephanie Hans, Clayton Cowles

Series/Standalone: Die Series (Vol. 3)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Adult

Pages: 168

Publisher: Image

Year Published: 2020

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"In the world of DIE, the players are now real players. Countries are their pieces and the board threatens to run red with blood. Who is the Queen and who are the pawns? Who's playing to win? Who's forgotten what they're playing for? And will they do when they're reminded of the real stakes? The critically acclaimed dark fantasy smash hit goes epic in its third volume."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This wasn't my favorite volume of the series, the more we add characters the less I'm certain about where the series is going. I do love the atmosphere of these stories. A fantasy world based on different works of literature is so entertaining to me. I hope that we gain momentum in the last volume in the series. I plan to read it as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Split the Party by Kieron Gillen

Title: Split the Party

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist(s): Stephanie Hans, Clayton Cowles

Series/Standalone: Die (Volume 2)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 168

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2020

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"No one can escape DIE until everyone agrees to go home. Or rather, no one can escape DIE until everyone who is alive agrees to go home. The second arc of the commercial and critical hit of bleakly romantic fantasy fiction starts to reveal the secrets of the world and our heroes' past. Yes, they can't escape DIE. They also can't escape themselves."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This is just such so bleak, dark fantasy. If you love to play Dnd, or other role-playing games this is a great graphic novel for you to pick up. If you enjoy high-stakes scenarios and an interesting world. This is for you. If you want weird magical abilities, this is for you. If you can't handle blood or gore, DO NOT pick this up. The art style is stunning, the story is amazing, I can't wait to continue on with the series.

Thanks for reading, 

Sidny

Review: Fantasy Heartbreak by Kieron Gillen

Title: Fantasy Heartbreaker

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist: Stephanie Hans

Series/Standalone: Die (Volume #1)

Genre: Graphic Novels, RPG, Fantasy, Adult

Pages: 184

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2019

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"The Wicked + The Divine writer Kieron Gillen teams up with artist supernova Stephanie Hans (WicDiv, Journey Into Mystery) for her first ongoing comic. Die is a pitch-black fantasy where a group of forty-something adults have to deal with the returning unearthly horror they only just survived as teenage role-players. If Kieron's in a rush, he describes it as "Goth Jumanji", but that's only the tip of this obsidian iceberg."

My Rating: 4/5

This was a really wonderful introduction to the world and the characters. I absolutely adored the art style and the storytelling method. Seeing the characters in past and present helps to gain suspense as we're wondering what happened fully to them in the past as well as how they ended up where they are in their lives now. I look forward to continuing the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny