Next Exit Volume 1 (v. 1) by Christy Lijewski

by Christy Lijewski

Welcome to Alkaline, a world where humans are the minority and fragments of memory come to life. Here reality is a whim that can be bent to one’s will. Those who can manipulate reality are governed by those who cannot, and existence is held in a tenuous balance. Join Markesh and Retrab, two young adventurers who may have found the only means to escape this reality—an Exit map leading to an ancient gateway said to release one from the bounds of Alkaline. But escape is never easy. Hunted by the government, attacked by serial killers and haunted by their own pasts, they may have found an Exit, but getting out alive is going to be harder than they ever imagined possible.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga, Fantasy

Mass Market Paperback

First published June 4, 2006

About the author

Christy Lijewski is an American comic book artist and illustrator from Baltimore, Maryland who specializes in OEL manga. She operates on the internet under the pen name and-babel-fell.
Christy Lijewski attended Savannah College of Art and Design for their Sequential Art program. Her big break was Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga contest, in which her entry "Doors" placed runner up. Although this meant that the Lijewski did not win the guaranteed contract with Tokyopop, it did bring her work into the public. Doors was also the genesis of Lijewski's series Next Exit, which Slave Labor Graphics began to publish in 2004. Next Exit is an expanded version of the story in "Doors", the two even sharing the main characters Retrab and Markesh. She was then one of a few runner up artists to enter a deal publishing with Tokyopop, and has written RE:Play as an entirely new series for release. (Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Stephanie Jachymek · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5
This doesn't really go anywhere, but it had some interesting potential?
The art really wasn't amazing and I didn't like the character designs. Plus knock off Hitsugaya was v obvious.
But, since this series is basically dead, I'll never really see where it was headed. I'm not too broken up about it.

[Sparrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lijewski's art is original and interesting. I like it. But I didn't get what the hell was going on in this manga. Random back stories stuffed in at the ending, mixed with weird characters who end up being related (cliche). Then it jaggedly moves from some weird doll story to a larger story concerning a huge corporation. Too much for a first manga. Plus, everything is silly and ridiculous - I can't take any relationships, drama, back story, dialogue, etc. seriously.

Plus...seriously...Markesh's mom TOLD her husband to get out, and then she blamed her son for him leaving. WTF?

Best part was the scene when Retrab was sitting with her brother, telling him that she didn't die. All goes black. Then next scene, all of the crows are dead from the pills and the brother says, "Are you sure?"

[Mellow-osity · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite emerging comic artists. Great story, wonderful art, and imaginative characters; what else do you need?

[Punkie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lijewski deserves a 5 for her artwork, it's strange and beautiful, this particular story however, does not live up to it. I loved all of her other work, but Next Exit is rather empty. Don't get me wrong, it has potential, the last chapter certainly proves that, but since the title was cancelled and this is all we have, it's stunted. I highly recommend her Re:play manga series though, and hope to see more of her work.