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Finder #1
Finder, Vol. 01: Sin-Eater 1
Finder details the life of Jaeger, aboriginal detective, a scout and tracker of powerful loyalties but few allegiances. Sin-Eater throws him into the vortex of a complex and unravelable plot that he may have set in motion himself.
Finder is a drawn book that reads like a movie storyboard. Extensive notes and commentary by the author are included.
168 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 1999
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May 27, 2021
#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. (Collect them all!)
From the March 1998 edition with a theme of "Sui Generis":
INTRODUCTION
A German centaur who fought in World War I. A shaman who talks like a 1940's detective. An inscrutable wanderer caught up in a domestic squabble on a bizarre planet that blurs the line between fantasy and science fiction. An easy-going Greek philosopher who tutors a young Alexander the Great and who finds himself caught up in the affairs of the gods.
It's readily apparent: these aren't your father's comic books. No superheroes. No tights. No precedents. The comics I'll be looking at this month are truly sui generis. Latin for "of its own kind," sui generis means unique or individual. ("The American Heritage Dictionary: Second Collegiate Edition," Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1985, p. 1216.) Cover shots of any of the following books could easily serve as the illustration for that dictionary entry.
LOST AND LOVIN' IT
FINDER #1-8 (Lightspeed Press)
While reading a book or watching a movie, I often find myself analyzing the plot and trying to predict which twist will come next and how the whole story will resolve. The more boring the story, I find, the more I engage in this mental game and the more accurate my predictions become. As you can probably guess, I look forward to those stories which avoid all the cliches and hoary old plot devices. I want to be challenged, not pandered to. Discovering a writer I cannot second-guess is a magical experience; and I've found the magic in Carla Speed McNeil's FINDER.
Right off the bat, I'm challenged by having to describe FINDER. It's science fiction, except it's also fantasy. It's about a wandering loner, and yet its primary focus is a domestic drama. Most of the characters are good people, unless they're being bad. And it all seems to make perfect sense, but it always leaves me confused.
Bare bones, the plot is simple. The world of FINDER consists of crumbling domed cities separated by vast wastelands. Jaeger Ayers is a nomad who scours the badlands finding items to sell in the cities. In the city of Anvard, Jaeger has found shelter with the family of an old soldier buddy. The family is damaged goods in a multitude of ways. The parents had married across clan lines, and now that they have separated, the mother and her daughters are outcasts from both clans. The mother spends much of her time in a trance reciting stream of consciousness nonsense under the observation of a holographic artificial intelligence. The father, Brigham, who has only recently been released from prison, subjected the family to intense mental torture to keep them dependent upon him. Now he's stalking them with the help and/or under the scrutiny of Jaeger.
My summary may make it sound like I understand this book fairly well, but Speed's characterization, setting, pacing, dialogue, and transitions all serve to keep me slightly off-kilter. For instance, McNeil never outright explains the origins or structure of Jaeger's world. Instead, she tantalizes the reader with a few tiny fragments or clues in every issue, leaving one wanting answers to burning questions. What created the wastelands? Where do the non-humans in the cast come from? Indeed, McNeil is a master of the same intriguing inscrutability which brings me back to "The X-Files" week after week.
The motivations of all the characters in FINDER are very human and very muddled, treading the fine line between good and evil. Jaeger's sincerity toward the family is constantly undercut by scenes where he displays that same sincerity while running con games. His magnanimous benevolence toward the family is juxtaposed with his survivalist nature and a murderous rampage early in the series. Brigham's obvious psychosis appears only in fits and bursts, giving him the appearance of being a reasonable and caring man much of the time. The daughters very credibly vacillate between independence and helplessness. The realism of the characters makes their actions unpredictable; I'm never sure what the next scene will reveal. They are so engaging, I cannot wait to turn the next page.
I'm a latecomer to FINDER. Carla Speed McNeil first caught my eye last year with her contributions to MYTHOGRAPHY (Bardic Press). Her "Mystery Date" serial is the best part of that fantasy anthology. In "Mystery Date," a student making her way through college by working as a prostitute has fallen in love with her non-human professor. My respect for McNeil's work is so strong, I couldn't resist ordering the two FINDER starter packs offered through PREVIEWS, despite knowing next to nothing about the book. Well, I was not disappointed. And now it turns out that "Mystery Date" and FINDER might be set on the same planet. Even better.
I hope you'll find it in your heart to give FINDER the same chance I did. While I don't always know what's going on in FINDER, I do know I like it.
Grade: B+
From the March 1998 edition with a theme of "Sui Generis":
INTRODUCTION
A German centaur who fought in World War I. A shaman who talks like a 1940's detective. An inscrutable wanderer caught up in a domestic squabble on a bizarre planet that blurs the line between fantasy and science fiction. An easy-going Greek philosopher who tutors a young Alexander the Great and who finds himself caught up in the affairs of the gods.
It's readily apparent: these aren't your father's comic books. No superheroes. No tights. No precedents. The comics I'll be looking at this month are truly sui generis. Latin for "of its own kind," sui generis means unique or individual. ("The American Heritage Dictionary: Second Collegiate Edition," Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1985, p. 1216.) Cover shots of any of the following books could easily serve as the illustration for that dictionary entry.
LOST AND LOVIN' IT
FINDER #1-8 (Lightspeed Press)
While reading a book or watching a movie, I often find myself analyzing the plot and trying to predict which twist will come next and how the whole story will resolve. The more boring the story, I find, the more I engage in this mental game and the more accurate my predictions become. As you can probably guess, I look forward to those stories which avoid all the cliches and hoary old plot devices. I want to be challenged, not pandered to. Discovering a writer I cannot second-guess is a magical experience; and I've found the magic in Carla Speed McNeil's FINDER.
Right off the bat, I'm challenged by having to describe FINDER. It's science fiction, except it's also fantasy. It's about a wandering loner, and yet its primary focus is a domestic drama. Most of the characters are good people, unless they're being bad. And it all seems to make perfect sense, but it always leaves me confused.
Bare bones, the plot is simple. The world of FINDER consists of crumbling domed cities separated by vast wastelands. Jaeger Ayers is a nomad who scours the badlands finding items to sell in the cities. In the city of Anvard, Jaeger has found shelter with the family of an old soldier buddy. The family is damaged goods in a multitude of ways. The parents had married across clan lines, and now that they have separated, the mother and her daughters are outcasts from both clans. The mother spends much of her time in a trance reciting stream of consciousness nonsense under the observation of a holographic artificial intelligence. The father, Brigham, who has only recently been released from prison, subjected the family to intense mental torture to keep them dependent upon him. Now he's stalking them with the help and/or under the scrutiny of Jaeger.
My summary may make it sound like I understand this book fairly well, but Speed's characterization, setting, pacing, dialogue, and transitions all serve to keep me slightly off-kilter. For instance, McNeil never outright explains the origins or structure of Jaeger's world. Instead, she tantalizes the reader with a few tiny fragments or clues in every issue, leaving one wanting answers to burning questions. What created the wastelands? Where do the non-humans in the cast come from? Indeed, McNeil is a master of the same intriguing inscrutability which brings me back to "The X-Files" week after week.
The motivations of all the characters in FINDER are very human and very muddled, treading the fine line between good and evil. Jaeger's sincerity toward the family is constantly undercut by scenes where he displays that same sincerity while running con games. His magnanimous benevolence toward the family is juxtaposed with his survivalist nature and a murderous rampage early in the series. Brigham's obvious psychosis appears only in fits and bursts, giving him the appearance of being a reasonable and caring man much of the time. The daughters very credibly vacillate between independence and helplessness. The realism of the characters makes their actions unpredictable; I'm never sure what the next scene will reveal. They are so engaging, I cannot wait to turn the next page.
I'm a latecomer to FINDER. Carla Speed McNeil first caught my eye last year with her contributions to MYTHOGRAPHY (Bardic Press). Her "Mystery Date" serial is the best part of that fantasy anthology. In "Mystery Date," a student making her way through college by working as a prostitute has fallen in love with her non-human professor. My respect for McNeil's work is so strong, I couldn't resist ordering the two FINDER starter packs offered through PREVIEWS, despite knowing next to nothing about the book. Well, I was not disappointed. And now it turns out that "Mystery Date" and FINDER might be set on the same planet. Even better.
I hope you'll find it in your heart to give FINDER the same chance I did. While I don't always know what's going on in FINDER, I do know I like it.
Grade: B+
January 30, 2017
This is probably the weakest of the Finder collections. Notice how many stars I give it, regardless?
The only problem with this story is that the first issue is visually and metaphorically overflowing with images, narratives, and ideas. It was overwhelming and confusing the first time I read it; it's a bit overwhelming now. After that first issue, though, Carla hits her stride. She has never lost a step since. Finder is perhaps the most perfect virtuoso performance of a writer-artist in the comics medium. Some might consider her unambitious, since she's "only" telling these strange sci-fi stories. I think she's one of the most ambitious and successful creators alive. The label of "anthropological science fiction" does apply, a genre that McNeil may well have created from whole cloth, but these stories do not stop there. Whether her characters are lion women, genetic constructs, or superhumans, they are some of the most human and intricate creations in all of fiction.
This volume is where Jaeger Ayers' story begins. A man of remarkable personal complexity, the Jaeger Monster fascinates from the beginning. Hairy, strong, sexy, smart, stubborn, flexible, angry, kind, blind, self-justifying-- Jaeger's personal morality is always consistent, and yet so alien and difficult to grasp that I never tire of looking at it. Whatever else is true, remaining true to himself is a true challenge, one that makes Jaeger's life very difficult once he inserts other human beings into the mix. He doesn't make the same decisions you or I would, but it's definitely because of integrity rather than for convenience.
For more on comics, horror, humanity, morality and the world check out The Stupid Philosopher, aka a place where I put my words.
The only problem with this story is that the first issue is visually and metaphorically overflowing with images, narratives, and ideas. It was overwhelming and confusing the first time I read it; it's a bit overwhelming now. After that first issue, though, Carla hits her stride. She has never lost a step since. Finder is perhaps the most perfect virtuoso performance of a writer-artist in the comics medium. Some might consider her unambitious, since she's "only" telling these strange sci-fi stories. I think she's one of the most ambitious and successful creators alive. The label of "anthropological science fiction" does apply, a genre that McNeil may well have created from whole cloth, but these stories do not stop there. Whether her characters are lion women, genetic constructs, or superhumans, they are some of the most human and intricate creations in all of fiction.
This volume is where Jaeger Ayers' story begins. A man of remarkable personal complexity, the Jaeger Monster fascinates from the beginning. Hairy, strong, sexy, smart, stubborn, flexible, angry, kind, blind, self-justifying-- Jaeger's personal morality is always consistent, and yet so alien and difficult to grasp that I never tire of looking at it. Whatever else is true, remaining true to himself is a true challenge, one that makes Jaeger's life very difficult once he inserts other human beings into the mix. He doesn't make the same decisions you or I would, but it's definitely because of integrity rather than for convenience.
For more on comics, horror, humanity, morality and the world check out The Stupid Philosopher, aka a place where I put my words.
February 19, 2011
Wow was the first word I could think to say upon finishing this. Finder isn't so much of a graphic novel as it is an experience. Finder immerses you within Speed's world, and it is not only a world: it is a world with a history, and fully developed cultures that all must interact with one another. It's a world that you get no introduction to, you're simply thrust within it and expected to keep up. I think I suffered culture shock while reading it, it's really THAT complex.
I for one cannot wait to get my hands on the remainder of this series. If an anthropologist ever quit their job and decided to put all of their experience and expertise into a graphic novel, Finder would be the result.
I for one cannot wait to get my hands on the remainder of this series. If an anthropologist ever quit their job and decided to put all of their experience and expertise into a graphic novel, Finder would be the result.
December 27, 2007
3.5. I think I came to this book with too-high expectations? It's a really, really interesting world (made even more so by reading the notes at the end of the book), but plot-wise (and character-wise, really), SO MUCH is left unexplained, or half-explained, and I don't do well with that. Basically, you're just thrown into this world full of interesting people and ideas, and you never quite get your footing. Threads are presented that are never picked up again. Nothing is resolved. It's just like this mish-mash of futuristic pop culture mixed with mythology. And again, while the world that's created is innovative and a lot of the scenes are interesting, I'm not good at just going along for the ride and enjoying the lack of plot. I need something to ground me -- I guess I'm old-fashioned that way.
This book's gotten pretty excellent reviews, though, so Comic Folk might want to check it out anyway. Although I'm reading an increasing amount of comics/graphic novels, I still always have the feeling like my lack of background in them leaves me missing things, or unable to appreciate certain things fully. Don't get me wrong, there have been some comics that have blown me away, but lots of other supposedly great ones do feel like they're going over my head.
This book's gotten pretty excellent reviews, though, so Comic Folk might want to check it out anyway. Although I'm reading an increasing amount of comics/graphic novels, I still always have the feeling like my lack of background in them leaves me missing things, or unable to appreciate certain things fully. Don't get me wrong, there have been some comics that have blown me away, but lots of other supposedly great ones do feel like they're going over my head.
May 13, 2010
Just not my taste. a bit too out there/nonlinear. Illustration style a bit too utilitarian. plot line a bit too disconnected. also, I have trouble when dialect is written into the text. takes me out of the story.
July 2, 2019
When I began reading comics & graphic novels again 5 years ago, this was among the first I saw that seemed to have been highly recommended. I've slept on it since then, now deciding to check it out. The writing dialogue is incredibly dull & lengthy. If I wanted to read novella length dialogue, I'd read a novella. Story, plot & characters are not very interesting. Narrative seems to be disjointed & disconnected. The art is okay. It reminds me a lot of some of the dull uninteresting crap I've read in older Heavy Metal 'zines.
I really try to finish what series I start & am not sure I'll finish this one. I may try. I'd hope dialogue & art improves as it progresses.
I really try to finish what series I start & am not sure I'll finish this one. I may try. I'd hope dialogue & art improves as it progresses.
June 27, 2019
I read this as part of Finder library omnibus. This is the only part I finished. Generally graphic novels aren’t a chore to read. This one was. The illustrations are beautiful but the story isn’t much of a story. This entire book is all lead in to something I no longer have the patience for.
April 17, 2022
Reread 2022.
September 14, 2025
I picked this up on a whim knowing nothing about the author or this series. It’s not the easiest read, and there are lots of dense diversions and threads that require flipping back and forth to the appended annotations, as if DFW thought he’d take a stab at a comic. there were portions I found frustrating, but it’s hard to not be charmed by jaeger and this soup of a universe he inhabits. I get the sense that speed-Macneill was overwhelmed with world building inspiration, and that can make it hard to keep up, but there’s so many good ideas here that I cant fault her. I’m looking forward to reading the next volume and seeing where she takes it!
October 20, 2017
The world of Anvard and the Finder is an amazing place I return to over and over again. This tale in particular, speaking of a family with cracks and one man, a part of but apart from, seeking to make things right and second guessing his every move. Lovely and I look forward to more from Carla.
November 12, 2025
I found this very difficult to follow and can't really say that I understand the plot line.
The illustrations are great, but the story was hard to read. I doubt that I will continue reading the series, which is a shame, seeing that it is highly regarded.
The illustrations are great, but the story was hard to read. I doubt that I will continue reading the series, which is a shame, seeing that it is highly regarded.
January 2, 2017
It's definitely dated in parts and definitely feels like an indie comic (not a bad thing) but it was really charming and a lot more immersive than I was expecting it to be.
January 1, 2019
Finder kickstarted my development from reader of simple narratives to someone who loves complex, messy worlds and discovering them with the writer. Love everything in this series!
July 27, 2024
Very dense, with mature themes about abuse and identity, in an oddball and very intriguing world, but also told in an often-confusing manner. What an odd and interesting book!
October 8, 2011
As I was reading this for the first time, I thought there was a lot of interesting things going on, but I mostly found the story very confusing: many of the characters look alike, it jumps around in time a bit, there's lots of side stories that may-or-may-not relate the the main plot, some pages had dozens of references to odd things (most of which I still don't get), and many of the characters display unconventional morality. Then I found the author's notes at the end (annotated by page by page), figured out what the author was actually going for, and absolutely fell in love.
Now, on one hand, I consider it somewhat amateurish to make these sorts of notes necessary. On the other hand, it's a result of Ms. McNeil trying to tell an incredibly ambitious story and I can't fault her for refusing to 'settle' on a story that can be complete in-and-of-itself.
So what is it about?
Well, the titular character is Jaeger, an enigmatic mixed-breed who wanders from the wilderness into the city at the start of the plot. He was raised by 'Asicians' which are basically native-Americans in a world where "America" hasn't existed for quite some time. In their culture he is/was a "sin-eater", which means he occupies the lowest rung in their (short) social hierarchy, and it was his responsibility to take other people's sin as his own. He's also a "finder", which means he part of a secret society of ranger/detectives and would occupy the highest rung of their society, expect it's a secret society so nobody's supposed to know.
One of both of these duties gets him involved with the Grosvenor-Lockhart's, a broken family where the Emma (wife) claims the Brigham (husband) was abusive; Brigham claims Emma was crazy; Brigham wants to reconcile but Emma is terrified (or would be if she knew he was out of jail) and there's three kids caught in the middle. Jaeger (who's sleeping with Emma and best buds with Brigham) decides to investigate what went on, who's at fault and (most importantly) what's best for the future of the family.
Did I mention this takes place is the post-post-post apocalyptic domed city of Anvard, a city ruled by genetically uniform clans (the Grosvenor-Lockhart marriage was cross clan and contentious from the beginning), with lots of weird tech and non-human species running around?
Now, on one hand, I consider it somewhat amateurish to make these sorts of notes necessary. On the other hand, it's a result of Ms. McNeil trying to tell an incredibly ambitious story and I can't fault her for refusing to 'settle' on a story that can be complete in-and-of-itself.
So what is it about?
Well, the titular character is Jaeger, an enigmatic mixed-breed who wanders from the wilderness into the city at the start of the plot. He was raised by 'Asicians' which are basically native-Americans in a world where "America" hasn't existed for quite some time. In their culture he is/was a "sin-eater", which means he occupies the lowest rung in their (short) social hierarchy, and it was his responsibility to take other people's sin as his own. He's also a "finder", which means he part of a secret society of ranger/detectives and would occupy the highest rung of their society, expect it's a secret society so nobody's supposed to know.
One of both of these duties gets him involved with the Grosvenor-Lockhart's, a broken family where the Emma (wife) claims the Brigham (husband) was abusive; Brigham claims Emma was crazy; Brigham wants to reconcile but Emma is terrified (or would be if she knew he was out of jail) and there's three kids caught in the middle. Jaeger (who's sleeping with Emma and best buds with Brigham) decides to investigate what went on, who's at fault and (most importantly) what's best for the future of the family.
Did I mention this takes place is the post-post-post apocalyptic domed city of Anvard, a city ruled by genetically uniform clans (the Grosvenor-Lockhart marriage was cross clan and contentious from the beginning), with lots of weird tech and non-human species running around?
September 28, 2014
I just went back and read this (and volume 2) for the third time. After having read all rest of the books in the series, this was much easier and more rewarding to read.
The story takes place in an extremely complex world and centers on some emotionally fractured characters with rich backstories. The reader is thrown in with little preparation, so lots of things are hard to understand at first. The story, or intersecting stories, are told via flash-backs, flash-forwards, dream sequences, etc., and it is easy to get lost. Some people will not care for that. But it is worth continuing. After a while, it all does make sense. I promise.
Anyone new to the series should probably start with Finder, Vol. 09: Voice, Finder, Vol. 04: Talisman or Finder: Third World. After you learn to understand the way the world works, the issues that the characters are facing in these first books, especially the effects on the characters of being in a mixed-clan family. It is clear that the world was fully built before this first story was drawn.
Read the footnotes. They are almost as important to the story as the notes in Pale Fire!
The black-and-white drawings are gorgeous and richly detailed. And these volumes also contain copious amounts of text. (The most recent story has much reduced the use of text.) Look for them in the full-size versions as the smaller size of the later collected version would be hard on old eyes.
Disclosure: I've known Carla since High School.
The story takes place in an extremely complex world and centers on some emotionally fractured characters with rich backstories. The reader is thrown in with little preparation, so lots of things are hard to understand at first. The story, or intersecting stories, are told via flash-backs, flash-forwards, dream sequences, etc., and it is easy to get lost. Some people will not care for that. But it is worth continuing. After a while, it all does make sense. I promise.
Anyone new to the series should probably start with Finder, Vol. 09: Voice, Finder, Vol. 04: Talisman or Finder: Third World. After you learn to understand the way the world works, the issues that the characters are facing in these first books, especially the effects on the characters of being in a mixed-clan family. It is clear that the world was fully built before this first story was drawn.
Read the footnotes. They are almost as important to the story as the notes in Pale Fire!
The black-and-white drawings are gorgeous and richly detailed. And these volumes also contain copious amounts of text. (The most recent story has much reduced the use of text.) Look for them in the full-size versions as the smaller size of the later collected version would be hard on old eyes.
Disclosure: I've known Carla since High School.
February 7, 2009
Finder is an immensely ambitious, occasionally frustrating but mostly thoroughly entertaining read. Carla Speed McNeil has crafted a pretty immense world here, and it's clear from reading the comic pages and the annotations that there's so much more than she's able to get into the book.
That's good in that the world feels fully realized, and bad in that, as others have noted, the story sometimes feels maddeningly vague or incomplete. Without the annotations at the back, some of the story cues in the comic (like when it's a flashback or a dream, or even what a particular character is doing) are unclear or even downright impossible to figure out.
However, even without knowing fully what's going on, there are a lot of neat sci-fi ideas and some amazingly fleshed-out characters. McNeil does fall into the "tell, not show" problem with the characters from time to time, but even without her notes, you can pick up on a lot of inner conflict and flaws in the various characters. These characters feel more real than most fiction can manage, and that goes a long way in terms of making this a favorite.
In addition, McNeil's artwork is beautiful, reminiscent of Terry Moore in its adoration (but not objectification) of the human form, male or female and her mastery of expression, whether it's subtle facial expression or more broad physical movement. And while her panel structure is generally straightforward, she's not afraid to break the pattern in order to show off a chaotic moment, an expansive backdrop or a character experiencing something spiritual.
That's good in that the world feels fully realized, and bad in that, as others have noted, the story sometimes feels maddeningly vague or incomplete. Without the annotations at the back, some of the story cues in the comic (like when it's a flashback or a dream, or even what a particular character is doing) are unclear or even downright impossible to figure out.
However, even without knowing fully what's going on, there are a lot of neat sci-fi ideas and some amazingly fleshed-out characters. McNeil does fall into the "tell, not show" problem with the characters from time to time, but even without her notes, you can pick up on a lot of inner conflict and flaws in the various characters. These characters feel more real than most fiction can manage, and that goes a long way in terms of making this a favorite.
In addition, McNeil's artwork is beautiful, reminiscent of Terry Moore in its adoration (but not objectification) of the human form, male or female and her mastery of expression, whether it's subtle facial expression or more broad physical movement. And while her panel structure is generally straightforward, she's not afraid to break the pattern in order to show off a chaotic moment, an expansive backdrop or a character experiencing something spiritual.
June 6, 2011
(This review refers to both volumes of the story.)
The bare bones of the story: Jaeger, a scout/detective with regenerating powers, comes to the domed city of Anvard. He's sworn to help an old army friend, Brig, find his wife, Emma, and daughters. Problem is, Emma and her daughters walked two hundred miles to get away from Brig.
McNeil talks about a lot in this story: class, gender, race, religion, coming of age, stranger in a strange land, cities, mental illness, family dynamics, artistic expression, colonialism, domestic violence, and more, and they all intersect in interesting, unexpected ways. It's ambitious, and if there are rough edges here and there, they're forgiveable because of the parts that work. McNeil includes copious notes in the back that are necessary reading.
There are certain elements that some might find offputting (furries, mixing science fiction with fantasy) but they're mainly in the background.
McNeil's art is remarkably expressive. I don't think anybody in comics today has her command of expressions.
The bare bones of the story: Jaeger, a scout/detective with regenerating powers, comes to the domed city of Anvard. He's sworn to help an old army friend, Brig, find his wife, Emma, and daughters. Problem is, Emma and her daughters walked two hundred miles to get away from Brig.
McNeil talks about a lot in this story: class, gender, race, religion, coming of age, stranger in a strange land, cities, mental illness, family dynamics, artistic expression, colonialism, domestic violence, and more, and they all intersect in interesting, unexpected ways. It's ambitious, and if there are rough edges here and there, they're forgiveable because of the parts that work. McNeil includes copious notes in the back that are necessary reading.
There are certain elements that some might find offputting (furries, mixing science fiction with fantasy) but they're mainly in the background.
McNeil's art is remarkably expressive. I don't think anybody in comics today has her command of expressions.
December 19, 2012
Carla Speed McNeil's webcomic takes us to a future world of domed cities where a hierarchical clan system supports society. Our protagonist is Jeager, an aboriginal living outside the metropolises, drifting from place to place. Among his people Jaeger is a sin-eater, a man who takes the blemishes of others to bear, contaminated but respected.
McNeil's storytelling is messy and poorly paced, but she does have some interesting ideas about culture and the form different class systems can take and how they can effect the society as a whole as well as the individuals within it.
The biggest failing here is the protagonist. Jaeger is a fatefully clichéd character taken straight out of a really poor romance novel. Incredibly handsome, resourceful and sexually successful, yet lonely, secretly sensitive and gloomy. The heroism of a wild outsider feels way too familiar. Can this romanticized, Mary Sueish rebel character ever become something fleshy and real? Time will tell, but here his presence undermines much of what the story around him is trying to ambitiously accomplish.
McNeil's storytelling is messy and poorly paced, but she does have some interesting ideas about culture and the form different class systems can take and how they can effect the society as a whole as well as the individuals within it.
The biggest failing here is the protagonist. Jaeger is a fatefully clichéd character taken straight out of a really poor romance novel. Incredibly handsome, resourceful and sexually successful, yet lonely, secretly sensitive and gloomy. The heroism of a wild outsider feels way too familiar. Can this romanticized, Mary Sueish rebel character ever become something fleshy and real? Time will tell, but here his presence undermines much of what the story around him is trying to ambitiously accomplish.
August 28, 2007
i gave this 3 stars but I reckon I will give the sequel 4, as it takes a while to get a grip on the characters' world. plus the artwork is not jaw-dropping (and b/w), and you have to get used to the ubiquitous presence of furries, which i admit is aggravating.
but all that aside, the attention to detail in the artwork and storytelling is amazing. the intricacies of the setting itself are much deeper than one might give credit for at face value-- if you read it, you really have to go through the endnotes afterwards to get the whole feel. as this was the first part, and had do a lot of stage-setting, i don't mind that it wasn't particularly plot-driven. i still whipped through it, can't wait to see the land outside the city in the next one.
but all that aside, the attention to detail in the artwork and storytelling is amazing. the intricacies of the setting itself are much deeper than one might give credit for at face value-- if you read it, you really have to go through the endnotes afterwards to get the whole feel. as this was the first part, and had do a lot of stage-setting, i don't mind that it wasn't particularly plot-driven. i still whipped through it, can't wait to see the land outside the city in the next one.
January 14, 2021
Brilliant well constructed speculative fiction of the future with amazing internal cohesiveness. Believable characters dealing with everyday issues not seen in real life or other fiction.
I ended up just reading the soft cover edition. It was easier. Every time I read this, I'm amazed at how good it is. The characters have great depth and individuality. The world is unique and fleshed out. The art is beautiful, too. I plan to reread all of the books in series. This will be the first time I've done this.
I'm rereading the soft cover while referencing notes on the Kindle edition. I think this is my fourth rereading. For some reason, Goodreads won't let me post both versions as reading at the same time.
I ended up just reading the soft cover edition. It was easier. Every time I read this, I'm amazed at how good it is. The characters have great depth and individuality. The world is unique and fleshed out. The art is beautiful, too. I plan to reread all of the books in series. This will be the first time I've done this.
I'm rereading the soft cover while referencing notes on the Kindle edition. I think this is my fourth rereading. For some reason, Goodreads won't let me post both versions as reading at the same time.
March 19, 2010
Random library grab, along with volumes 4 and 5 (why don't they number the covers?). Kept my interest, though I did skim a lot of sections that were too much 'clever' text or philosophizing. Felt like a lot of set-up (although very vague and unclear set-up), maybe something actually happened in volume 2? Also had that plotless feel of a webcomic, which I guess it started out as.
As far as world-building, you get the impression that the author did a lot of thinking about it, but what we actually see on the page is very unclear and unfocused and I still don't know what's going on with the setting.
The art is unsophisticated but acceptable. Lively. I'm not a fan of heavy crosshatching though. Improves over the course of the volume.
As far as world-building, you get the impression that the author did a lot of thinking about it, but what we actually see on the page is very unclear and unfocused and I still don't know what's going on with the setting.
The art is unsophisticated but acceptable. Lively. I'm not a fan of heavy crosshatching though. Improves over the course of the volume.
October 24, 2009
I LOVE the Finder series. Carla Speed McNeil has a complete world in her volumes. It's thought out and interconnected, along with footnotes in the back of the volume for extra info. I really like that aspect as it's not important to the story to know every piece of info, but if you're curious about one thing or another it adds an extra dimension. I am always voraciously curious about such things so I love it.
The characters vary; this one is set with the main character of most of the volumes, whether he is physically in the story or not.
The characters vary; this one is set with the main character of most of the volumes, whether he is physically in the story or not.
June 11, 2011
In terms of the depth of the fictional world it creates, the closest thing I can compare it to is Ursula LeGuin's _Always Coming Home_. Even without reading the extensive notes at the end of the book, you can see that McNeil seems to have developed a backstory not only for every character, but also for most elements of the physical world they live in. However, where LeGuin doesn't attempt an overarching narrative and lets the depth of the world be the point, McNeil has a central story, but it seems fairly static. Impressive in its depth of the world, but much less compelling as a narrative.
August 17, 2011
I got the impression after reading this that the author has a very rich, detailed world envisioned in which this story takes place. This world is full of years and years of history and social quirks which, unfortunately for the read, you are dumped into the middle of and given very little explaination or introduction to. I felt like I was on the outside of a very funny inside joke the entire time I spent reading this story. Perhaps future volumes of this series will bring the reader up to speed, but it should have been done in this first volume.
February 21, 2014
I actually expected this to be a lot rougher than it ended up being. Don't get me wrong... it still is a bit rough, but in may ways it's a promising beginning, and the world-building is definitely impressive. I am very glad that I was able to get a library copy of this volume, rather than the hardcovers which were unfortunately shrunk down to "digest-size." There's already more detail than you can easily absorb even at full-size! Reading a reduced version would have driven me nuts. Wish they would just keep reprinting comics with the intended dimensions instead.
October 10, 2013
When I asked her about it, Carla herself said to me, "I tried to do too much here." If that is true, it is only evident in the astonishing density of this story. Every page of it is packed with detail, such that it becomes overwhelming and you must soak in it. I didn't fully understand the story until I had read it a few times. The good news, though, is that it's a fast read, with excellent notes. Also McNeil's art gets better and better.
March 6, 2011
I found Carla Speed McNeil as a random purchase in a battered comic book store, and Sin-Eater was probably one of the greatest things to ever grace it's shelves. I loved the concept, the artwork, and the moxie it took for her to get published, or however that works; I haven't read all of the series, because finding them was once upon a time hard work, but I plan to. Worth the effort, certainly.
November 29, 2011
This got so much love back in the day, but when I finally tried it I found the narrative almost completely missing and the visual flow confounding. Probably one of the worst comics reading experiences I can recall.
March 14, 2012
A little hard to get into at first, and some of the art is kind of raw. But this series will reward the dedicated reader with lots of very interesting ideas and the art and story gets better with each volume.
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