Unsounded - Volume 1: The Zombie & The Brat

Unsounded #1

by Ashley Cope (Artist)

Daughter of the Lord of Thieves, Sette Frummagem is on a mission, and she'll lie, cheat, and steal to make sure it's a success (she'll lie, cheat, and steal anyway). Condemned to aid her in her rotten endeavours is a rotten corpse who seems oddly talented with the supernatural, and oddly not laying motionless in the dirt.

The road is long and no one is what they seem. Never trust a thief, and never trust anyone who won't let you look into their eyes.

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Webcomic, Graphic Novels, High Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Comics Manga

182 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2012

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really cannot recommend Unsounded enough. It's all free (and legal) to read over at www.unsoundedcomic.com.
The art is amazing, the characters are diverse and well thought out and the world is fascinating.

The plot starts off simple but quickly develops into a more complex senario. The basic premise is that Sette Frummagem has been sent by her father, the thief lord of Sharteshane, to find out why her cousin Stockyard has not paid his debt. Accompanying her is the reluctant wright, Duane Adelier, who also happens to be dead. Various problems complicate their journey, and they find themselves caught in a tangle between the Peaceguard and the notorious Red Berry Boys.
The story mixes light and humours elements with more dark and serious matters, something I can't help but love.

This book contains the first three chapters of the story in print, along with a bonus written story with illustrations, and earlier concept art for some of the characters. To my knowledge, there are still a few books available on the website, so if you enjoy Unsounded I fully recommend you buy quickly.
It was worth every penny I spent, and I absolutely intend to buy the next volume if/when it is put into print.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the great re-read has begun! With Book 2, The Red Cost, starting up in January, I gotta refresh my memory. So much has happened since I first started reading this comic!

Unsounded is the tale of our betailed rogue Sette and her attack zombie (bodyguard) Duane Adelier as he escorts her to collect a debt from her cousin on behalf of her crime lord father. But there are mysteries abound within these pages, and not everything is as simple as it seems. War looms on the horizon between the countries of Alderode and Cresce, and Duane seems oddly averse to ever setting foot on Crescian soil. What could lie within these borders to have chased him so far, and that he would risk putting in his lot with a crime lord to keep his secret safe?

What transpires is a tale that is so very dear to my heart and has produced my favorite characters of all time. I cannot recommend this comic enough~ I beg you all to give it a shot. You can read it online for free here (https://www.casualvillain.com/Unsound...), or await its official publication debut and buy it at your local book retailer!

Onward I go!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently something rang a bell in my memory—a story about a zombie man who had to walk around with a young girl for some reason. It was a webcomic that I read in college, ten years ago. After some googling, I found the webcomic—UNSOUNDED—and the three printed volumes, and realized the comic was still ongoing. I bought the first comic for nostalgia’s sake—and lo and behold it’s still incredibly good. The art is wonderful and the worldbuilding is packed full of things that returned to my memory. You can read the webcomic online for free on the author’s website. I will probably see if I can catch up and see what my old friends Sette and Duane have been up to.

Tw: there are some dark and bloody elements to the story.

[Barry Haworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been meaning to read this web comic for some time now and finally got round to it. I read the first five volumes of the web comic, which corresponds to the first book and a half of the printed version.

My verdict. The story has some wonderful art work and a well thought out and original setting. Story wise, though, it didn't grab me. The further I got with it the more complexities there seemed to be added to the storyline, and the harder I found it to keep track, or even keep interested. I see that many other people enjoy it greatly, but for me it just didn't work.

[Fenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading about little rat-tailed mob-daughter Sette and unfortunately undead Duaine online, for this beauty was originally created as a webcomic. However, I'm already looking forward to the next Kickstarter, to obtain the subsequent volumes in print. Ashley Cope creates a complete and consistent world that is so different from any other fantasy series, that it manages to surprise and amaze.

[Nicholas Dehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 3 chapters of Unsounded are definitely interesting. It gives off strong ATLA vibes only it gets way way darker pretty quickly. The art is decent most of the time but occasionally there are incredible pages that more time clearly went into. I wasn’t necessarily fully hooked by the end of this section of the story but I was certainly interested. Plus this all being independent and made by one woman is very impressive

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as a PDF as part of the Unsounded Volume 3 Kickstarter, and I have to say, this series of graphic novels is hands-down one of my favourite comics ever. Excellent drawings, very nice story. Plus, you can read it for free (and legally) online at the Unsounded Website.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent webcomic with complex characters and creative world building and magic systems. Recommend reading it in large chunks because there are a lot of players and plans within plans. It can get a bit gory sometimes.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one unsure of what to expect. What I found was a book buoyed by excellent art, a well-informed world, and a story combining art with a bigger story filled with magic and mystery. An excellent first volume.

[Irina (Lohe Loeb) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was fun!

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley Cope is an amazing author- but unrecognized. Her work is phenomenal!

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fantastic story with great art! I didn't realize how fast I was reading it; I've already read two volumes without knowing it!

[Amy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story is a little slow but extremely interesting regardless. Beautiful art and character development

[Sunny Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm not a total comic geek, I occasionally venture into the world of graphic novels and often stay there longer than I intended to. I was highly entertained by the Amulet series despite my countless issues with it, and I admit that the Winx Club W.I.T.C.H. series practically took over my life at some point (no regrets, hah).

While I enjoyed being obsessed over both series, Unsounded is a whole new level of amazing. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to my favourite graphic novel ever (yes, I say that with 100% confidence). Ashley Cope takes everything you ever love about a comic and skillfully merges them into one brilliant story. Honestly, I don't know how to review this book without sounding like a sales pitch so bear with me here.

WHAT MAKES UNSOUNDED SO AWESOME
(NOT WRITTEN BY ASHLEY COPE)

• Unsounded boasts a world as expansive and well thought out as George R.R. Martin's Westeros in The Song of Ice and Fire. Complete with its own set of deities, races and histories that actually make sense!

• That being said, the artwork of Unsounded is just beautiful. Don't let its mundane cover fool you because it is far more vibrant and detailed on the inside. Bonus eye candies if you read the webcomic version as some of the pages are animated.

• It also makes you root for characters who aren't even supposed to be likable, not by the laws of physics. Take our main character for instance: Sette Frummagem is a loud, obnoxious know-it-all who does nothing but make life miserable for her companion in the first few chapters pages. But you know what, I'm still on her side because Ashley Cope is a master of creating characters who are beyond their assumed identities, even though that's the one side they always show. Almost all the characters are worth rooting for, even the hateful antagonists I enjoy hating on.

• It promises witty and funny dialogue all the way. Thanks to Unsounded, I now know how to insult all kinds of people eloquently.

• Unsounded does this thing where it makes you smile like a foolish person and feel all fuzzy on the inside. Then it just kind of just rips out your heart and stomp on it. And after that... well, rinse and repeat. While Unsounded is funny for the most part, it explores darker (and twisted) themes at the same time, like ethics... and politics. To the people who read the webcomic I say: Duane Adelier. Chapter seven. Enough said.

If you haven't figured it out already, Unsounded is an ongoing webcomic with regular and consistent updates. I'll just leave the link here just in case you decide to invest yourself in this emotional roller coaster that is so worth the ride.

http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounde...

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to another round of Lexie funded a Kickstarter and here is the reward! I'm having a banner time as far as Kickstarter and comics go and Unsounded is no different! Before I go on, you can read chapters 1-7 here at the comic's webpage for free, the first volume collects chaps 1-3 and some misc stuff (like a short story, sketches, such and so). And because I adore Television Tropes webpage as a recreational hobby to explore (can we add that to Goodreads to count as 'reading'?) I spoiled myself something rotten on stuff not in the first three chapters.

I'll point out I can't stand how Sette speaks more than half the time. I'm pretty sure this is intentional on the creator's part as Cope seems to be a cheeky lil' bit when it comes to her comic. Sette speaks...off colorly, but more importantly she over pronounces things. Like 'stupid' is always 'stoopid'.

The first chap sets up our main Duo quite well. We see how recklessly brash Sette can be, how little she cares about anything that isn't on her agenda, how little patience Duane has for her and how close they both are to killing each other. They run into a sentient tree root, which almost ends really bad for everyone and ends really bad for everyone who isn't a main character. Which is actually how it works out in most skirmishes that involve the main characters.

I really like Cope's artwork. What you see above is how most panels look, though she pays special attention to backgrounds, clothing details and will without warning go into a completely different art style for 'splash' pages. Though what is adorably cute to see with Sette being annoyed is horrifyingly disturbing when a child is found brutally butchered.

The first chapter could be seen as an one-shot comic to draw readers in--it has action, magic, terror, brats, zombies, near death, real death, explosions...but chapters two and three prove things to be way more serious. Sette is quite as settled in her role as heir to her Da's infamous empire as she'd like Duane (or the world) to think, Duane isn't the happy-go-lucky Galit (not to be confused with a zombie) he...well okay he never appears to be happy-go-lucky. Mostly grumpy, irritated and rude. The slavers aren't quite slavers.

The land is not quite forgiving or welcoming.

Its a ball of fun! Definitely check out the series (hey you can read it for free). I have no idea if Cope is going to be printing MORE of the first volume, but I hope she prints volume 2. I'll definitely be chipping in again!

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben, my housemate who hooks me up with many fine comics (along with the many other things they do), has pointed me towards Unsounded, a most excellent webcomic. In addition to offering beautiful eye-candy (check out the designs for the covers of Chapters 1 and 2), this is a comic that already feels like a window onto a deeply thought out and well crafted world. Maybe it's only skin deep, but I doubt it.

Admittedly, I recommend this webcomic to you on the strengths of the printed collection of the first three chapters. It's remotely possible that there is some difference between the book and the webcomic version, perhaps simply in the act of holding the physical book in my hands, that changes how I feel about the comic. Actually, if anything it would have to be the collected early sketches and two short stories added to the end of the book that would change my opinion. But those only make me feel more certain that this is something deep and complex that I don't yet know enough about to be able to appreciate fully... and I say that knowing that I already plan to read the rest of Unsounded's archives.

So if you're at all interested in reading about the stories of a young thief on a quest to prove herself to her crime lord father, and her magic-using zombie escort who's been blackmailed into protecting her, then I suggest that you get reading. Still not sold? Let me put it this way: I have examined nearly every page I've read so far, looking at the little details, searching for another little hint, because I cannot kick the lurking feeling that I'm missing something that signals far more yet to come. Ashley Cope has done a marvelous job so far of building a story world that all feels like it holds together, revealing new treats around every corner and hinting at far more yet to come, all without ever falling into the classic expository trap of telling instead of showing. It's worth reading just to see the quality of her craft. Check it out.

Originally posted on Fistful of Wits

[Marie Blanchet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazingly good webcomic. I started reading this years ago when I was in Cegep, then lost all my bookmarks when my laptop crashed and for some reason didn't return to it until earlier this year, when the memory of amazing artwork and delightful characters prompted me to google vague search terms in hope of finding this again.

Unsounded is the story of Sette, a lion-tailed thief girl reminescent of both Lyra Belaqua (His Dark Material) and Storine (Storine), who is on a quest! with her bodyguard Duane, a gentleman zombie spellcaster. But danger lurks! On their way, they encounter slavers, soldiers, scoundrels and all manner of strange and unusual wonders.

The world building in this webcomic is ah-meh-zing. I was a bit sad not to have a map, until I discovered the wiki, and besides the sprawling world reveals itself to us piece by piece, just enough to keep you hooked and never enough to overwhelm.

I bought the first book, and then couldn't wait and read all the rest online. I was pleasantly surprised because I had forgotten how Fun the website's layout was, with some pages of the comic seamfully integrated with the background, with characters and events sometimes spilling out of the pages. This website makes reading unsounded even more of a delight. Seriously, if you've only read it paper, its worth checking out the digiral version.

Also did I mention that the art is glorious?

[Kayla Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsounded is a quirky, yet horrifying tale of odd couple Sette Frummagem and her undead bodyguard Duane Adelier as they travel to the western part of a continent rife with war and crime. Sette is a young girl whose sole desire in life is to convince her crime-lord father that she is a worthy heir, while Duane simply wants to live a life of obscurity. The two do not get along, and the trip is filled with comedic bickering. However, their journey quickly becomes more complicated when they accidentally stumble on a sinister human trafficking operation, and must put a stop to it.

I liked Unsounded, though it wasn't the most well-written graphic novel I've read. I couldn't connect with Sette at all, because she was a stubborn little curmudgeon that kept getting everyone into trouble. In the end, it was Duane that made the whole story worth reading because of the mystery surrounding him and his curse. He also has a high sense of morality that is genuine without being overly patronizing. The art in the graphic novel was beautifully done. It actually forced me to slow down and study every panel to find subtle little symbolism on the pages. However, this is not a good graphic novel to read if you're looking for something light and airy. It has some very dark themes, such as rape, human trafficking and some excessive violence. Reader beware…

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read this yet, I recommend reading it as a webcomic first. Ashley Cope takes full advantage of the web format and it'd be a shame to miss. Equal parts dark and heart-warming, tear-jerker and hilariously funny, this is not a graphic novel that you want to miss.

That being said... it also is quite, well, graphic. Not for the faint of heart, but a true gem for those willing to brave the gore.

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of this in print, so that I may continue to support someone so talented in both art and writing.

[Emily Beaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember stumbling upon this webcomic when it first started. I absolutely love the characters the bond between Sette and Duane. The artwork completely brings the story together. The amount of details in each scene is amazing! There is magic, adventure, and even heartbreak. You will immediately find yourself falling into this incredible world that Ashley has created. The pictures float off of the pages and become more than just a story with action and endless amounts of sass. You will not be disappointed!
The characters are not your typical standard hero and sidekick. If anything, they are far better. Each held down by their own flaws and insecurities, Ashley does a fantastic job at portraying them all! The diverse group of characters makes the story even more enjoyable and exciting.

[Ryan Vollrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read on the recommendation of friends, as I do with most comics. This has some of the best character writing I've seen in a while. The artwork is super colorful and pairs really well with characters' dialogue and actions. The protagonists of this volume, Sette and Duane, each have very different priorities on their journey yet manage to make a humorous and cooperative team.

Beyond my love of the characters, the universe of Unsounded is innovative and neat. I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll just say that the magic system and political intrigue of this volume promises great adventures later in the series!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not having read the comic before, I bought a copy of this blind, as it were, and am really glad I did. The story's intriguing, the art is gorgeous and has a certain flexibility which adds unexpected depth and tone, and the world building's excellent. Here's hoping Ashley Cope decides to publish further chapters in tpb.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friends have been trying to get me to read this strip for AGES. Finally my wife dropped Volume One into my hands.

Now I'm hooked. Dang it.

This is awesome. The art is lovely, the story deeply compelling (scary, with a lot of whimsy), and the characters terrific. Even if you do kind of root for Adelier to boot Sette over another cliff...

[Outis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous art. A fascinating world and a baroque, free-wheeling fantasy story I don't want to spoil.
The beginning isn't all that great but it gets better, and a lot more complex. Check it out: http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is not only one of the best webcomics available online, but genuinely one of the best graphic novels I've read too.

The characters are engaging and mysterious and the composition and art style compliments this by being of superior quality.

[Kurdaneva · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful piece, both with it's artwork and it's story line. If you enjoy fantasy, give this a shot. A dark piece, mind you, this is no fairytale, but an enjoyable piece none the less. I stayed up all night reading, until my alarm went off, twice!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I loved this!!! Could not stop reading and that became a problem when my internet wasn't working ( I was reading it on her website and boy does she work it) it's a must read