Wander

by Jenn Manley Lee

Dicebox, an online graphic novel by Jenn Manley Lee, tells the story of an eventful year in the lives of Griffen & Molly who started off as a couple of itinerant factory workers in a space-traveling future. Currently on Chase, Book Two of Four. Wander, Book One, can be read online in its entirety here and also bought as a printed volume there.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Webcomic, Fiction

316 pages, Paperback

First published December 29, 2011

Reviews

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my household's fave queer graphic novels, and also fave graphic novels with a sci-fi setting. Dicebox follows Molly and Griffen, itinerant space station workers, as they bounce from one job to the next. Molly is the level-headed one who has strange visions, Griffen is the tempestuous one with a complicated past that, by the end of this first book, may be coming back to haunt her. Lee slowly builds a complex world out of characters of various genders, pasts, and interests. It's working class lives set in space, very queer (including regular use of varied pronouns), with female characters who have complex and interesting personalities.

Someday there will be a second volume, I'm certain... Book 1 was 9 parts when published online as a webcomic, Book 2 is up to 7 parts so maybe we're close? C-Man and I are waiting patiently. Well, almost patiently.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely, marvelously, wonderful; a beautifully lavish graphic novel. It starts off very, very slowly; one just meanders through this world with these folks, watching their oddly mundane interactions with the world around them, yet ever so slowly we get to know them, and then the fantasticalness of their world begins to seep through the banality of it in the cleverest of ways. And then one slowly realizes that absolutely nothing can be taken for granted, certainly not gender, or sexuality, or family life. The artwork is soooo luscious; it worked like no other to draw me in. I can so clearly see those eye rolls, those shoulder shrugs, the passing warmth of a quick caress. And the characters are so fully formed, so real, and their relationships are so touching! It is simply a masterpiece. Exquisite artwork, intensely drawn characters, intriguing plot – absolute perfection – now I just need the rest of it, now!

[Clare K. R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I review this book? I've been a fan of the webcomic for years. The book is (somewhat to my surprise) even better than the webcomic; it's beautifully designed, the pages are big and colorful, and it's got all this great extra stuff. There's a glossary in the back! Plus, all the "asides" (by other artists), most of which I hadn't read.

I'll try to describe the story a bit. The main characters are Molly and Griffen, a pair of interplanetary itinerant factory workers. The sci-fi elements are at the same time subtle and right there in your face; Molly and Griffen take everything for granted, since it's the world they grew up in, but there are advanced communications/internet devices, and hopping from planet to planet, and ways to download information into your head... I also adore the social elements. Molly and Griffen are married, and all the people they have sex with tend to think that they're just being borrowed from each other, but the only odd thing there is that they don't actually have sex with each other. Same-sex and poly relationships are easily accepted (one character refers casually to having two husbands). Wherever Molly and Griffen go, they find friends, as well as occasionally enemies.

It's hard to describe the plot without giving things away, since it sort of creeps up on you subtly (this is book one of a planned four-book series), but the plot isn't really important. The beautiful art, the world, the characters--they'd be worth reading even if it never went anywhere at all.

[Outis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dicebox is a criminally underrated webcomic I've never rated here in spite of having followed it for years, probably because it used not to be an actual book as well.
It's one of these wacky comics with a meandering, twisty plots so I'm not going to spoil it here. But expect general weirdness, relationship stuff... and above all surprises. The tone is nevertheless naturalistic.

I shouldn't like Dicebox because it's got one of those SF settings with magitech and preposterous economics (which features somewhat proeminently). But I do like it somehow. How come?
I guess the characters are simply brillant. That and art. But most of all, I think what I love is the remarkable creativity which is most apparent in all those tasty details. Just read it!

[Bob Folker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel mostly focuses on the characters and relationship of Griffen & Molly, two married women. These characters are fascinating in their own right. However, they interact with various others enough to keep things stirred up (Griffen in particular tends to cause problems for herself). And the future setting is amazing. No aliens, so far, but humanity comes in various flavors: clone families, space adapted, etc. This story is #1 in a series; the story continues online - it is my favorite on-line serial.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good way through this before I had a feel for what was actually going on, but I'm definitely glad I stuck with it. Like any good novel, the things I didn't understand were (with allowances for the fact the this is book one of four) explained through the course of the story, making this not just a good read overall, but one that would definitely stand up to re-reading, as I expect that I'll find and appreciate things every time through that I didn't even see the first time. It wasn't easy to start, but it is highly enjoyable and shows great promise.


I received this free through Goodreads First Reads (thanks!).

[Sam Wescott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very impressive artwork, with great character development, and obviously a ton of work that went into the world -building for this series. My only real complaint is that this book takes "show, don't tell" to the farthest extreme and there is NO exposition. I found myself very confused through large chunks of the novel and only really tied up the strings in that last chapter. It's a very detailed world, but I could have used a bit more hand-holding at the beginning to show me what's what. There are a few things I'm still a bit confused about.

I love the two main characters though. Very complicated, interesting relationship. <3

[Nathalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of Dicebox quite a while ago, but I simply could not get into it. Since i'm pressed for time, i'm going to write this review in a quick bullet list:

Pros:
- The artwork is absolutely stunning.
- The attention to detail is fantastic! I just love how one of the protagonists changes her hair within every scene.
- I did enjoy the sci-fi elements.

Cons:
- I can't believe i'm saying this, but there was far too much talking and not enough action. This was one of the main reasons why it took me so long to get through the comic.
- It took far too long for me to understand what was going on.
- I read a lot of science fiction and I do appreciate the different names of races, businesses and organizations that the artist came up with. However, placing a reader within a new environment and slapping them across the face with new terminology only makes the reader confused and removes them from the comic in its entirety.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frst of all, I got this book as part of Goodreads' ARC giveaway.

This book is a 'dead-tree' bversion of the Dicebox webcomic. The title of this first installment is 'Wander', and I was surprised at how accurate the title is. The story just meanders along, not seeming to be in any hurry to get anywhere- BUT! Don't take this comment as a criticism! Somehow, the casual pace works well, giving us plenty of time to get to know the protagonists without bombarding us with facts and figures.
Sure, it's a casual trip, but I felt comfortable wandering along with it.

[Lilian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the webcomic up to the most recently updated page (as of Friday 20th January), and loved it. The artwork is beautiful, and the paperback is high up on my 'to buy' list next month. Full review will come then.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a little while to get into this web comic collection, but once I did, it found it fascinating. I'll be catching up online and ordering the next collection when it becomes available,

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into this one. Seemed well done, but nothing grabbed me about what was going on.

[SA · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the finest ongoing webcomics available today.