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Tabatha #1-3
Tabatha
Luke works as a mailman in Los Angeles and moonlights as a thief - the empty houses on his postal route are rich, easy pickings for him and his friends. Everything goes to plan until one house turns out to not quite be so empty. The situation spirals out of control, leaving the happy go lucky thieves battling for their lives. And all because of Tabatha
140 pages, Unknown Binding
First published November 3, 2015
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52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
April 24, 2017
Thanks Jessica voor het geven van je graphic novel! Bijzonder luguber verhaal, mooie art-style.
December 21, 2015
I thought that this was a very good comic. I loved how dark and sinister it was. I was hooked from the first page and the comic held my attention throughout the entire story. The story was very well done but I do think Neil Gibson could have made it better. The characters felt a little underdeveloped and one-dimensional but overall I still really liked this comic. The artwork is brilliant, I especially loved the colours that went into the graphics. There were a lot of little details that were perfectly fine-tuned and I was really impressed at the attention to detail. I would recommend this and I would definitely read more from Neil Gibson.
*I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
*I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I've been reading the Twisted Dark series, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to read some stand alone graphic novels as well. This is one of those.
After they find something fishy during a routine B&E, things get out of hand. Quickly.
The story just worked for me. Even though the main characters did some very stupid things it didn't annoy me. It's the classic story of how things end up not going as you expected and everything goes terribly wrong. There's a nice little twist at the end. It certainly kept me entertained.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've been reading the Twisted Dark series, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to read some stand alone graphic novels as well. This is one of those.
After they find something fishy during a routine B&E, things get out of hand. Quickly.
The story just worked for me. Even though the main characters did some very stupid things it didn't annoy me. It's the classic story of how things end up not going as you expected and everything goes terribly wrong. There's a nice little twist at the end. It certainly kept me entertained.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
August 27, 2015
I just couldn't get into this one. I just felt like the characters were stereotypical and poorly written. The art was good but nothing really stood out to me. I felt like Tabatha was just there for a cool title and cover because she didn't turn out to be much of an important character.
August 14, 2015
First of all, I want to thanks Netgalley for allowing me to obtained this ARC and in exchange, I will give my honest opinion and review.
First impression about this comic when I read this I felt that it deals with very simple issue on how the male character fall in love at the first sight with the girl that he met and how he can't seemed to forget about her. I'm kinda feeling off at that moment but later on, the dynamic of the plot start to change and we see the changes in the characters as well. What I thought and foresee was totally different for the characters as well as the plot. The style and art of this comic can be a little grim and gory, but that what makes it more interesting for me because I can see that the story itself reflected by the arts and colours. I gave this one 4 stars. I enjoyed reading this.
First impression about this comic when I read this I felt that it deals with very simple issue on how the male character fall in love at the first sight with the girl that he met and how he can't seemed to forget about her. I'm kinda feeling off at that moment but later on, the dynamic of the plot start to change and we see the changes in the characters as well. What I thought and foresee was totally different for the characters as well as the plot. The style and art of this comic can be a little grim and gory, but that what makes it more interesting for me because I can see that the story itself reflected by the arts and colours. I gave this one 4 stars. I enjoyed reading this.
August 21, 2017
Twisted and dark.
Hard to put down once I started reading it. Excellent pacing.
Just like Don't Breath and other similar movie plots, a bunch of crooks happens to choose the wrong house to break into. And thus, suffers the consequences.
I loved how the authors made the psycho dude appear like a normal guy. Hence, enhancing the creepiness factor.
Hard to put down once I started reading it. Excellent pacing.
Just like Don't Breath and other similar movie plots, a bunch of crooks happens to choose the wrong house to break into. And thus, suffers the consequences.
I loved how the authors made the psycho dude appear like a normal guy. Hence, enhancing the creepiness factor.
January 18, 2025
I was given this by a coworker who writes his own comics, and he mentioned that he wasn’t very impressed with Tabatha. Because of that, I went into it with low expectations, but I ended up really enjoying it! I can easily see this being adapted into a movie that I would definitely watch. It was a fun and original read.
May 14, 2016
Tabatha follows a mail man and a group of friends who stumble across something that they shouldn't have which will leave them in hot water.
The plot of the story was quite fast paced and I really enjoyed it. This is not normally a book that I would normally go for as I don't often read creepy or horror like books so I was a surprise when I did enjoy the plot. It is set in LA and I enjoyed this as I have not read anything set in this city before and this definitely added to the plot making it a lot more interesting. I also enjoyed the plot of the story as I did enjoy the creepy nature to the novel as it definitely kept me at the edge of my seat at times which meant that I wanted to keep reading. The plot was both surprising at times especially in the beginning however at the end the plot is predictable and you can often see where the story was going. The end itself however was a nice ending to the story.
The characters in this graphic novel were also enjoyable and I did enjoy the flip side to the characters especially in the beginning as it made it more interesting for me. The characters however I found were not often well-developed and the story was was more focused on single characters which meant that some were under developed which harmed parts of the story.
I did enjoy the artwork in the story and I did think that it added to the story however the artwork itself was one that it quite common in graphic novels and is not a completely new style. The artwork on the cover is also really well done but the extent it matches what is inside the novel is debatable.
Overall, Tabatha is a enjoyable graphic novel with a fast-paced and interesting plot.
The plot of the story was quite fast paced and I really enjoyed it. This is not normally a book that I would normally go for as I don't often read creepy or horror like books so I was a surprise when I did enjoy the plot. It is set in LA and I enjoyed this as I have not read anything set in this city before and this definitely added to the plot making it a lot more interesting. I also enjoyed the plot of the story as I did enjoy the creepy nature to the novel as it definitely kept me at the edge of my seat at times which meant that I wanted to keep reading. The plot was both surprising at times especially in the beginning however at the end the plot is predictable and you can often see where the story was going. The end itself however was a nice ending to the story.
The characters in this graphic novel were also enjoyable and I did enjoy the flip side to the characters especially in the beginning as it made it more interesting for me. The characters however I found were not often well-developed and the story was was more focused on single characters which meant that some were under developed which harmed parts of the story.
I did enjoy the artwork in the story and I did think that it added to the story however the artwork itself was one that it quite common in graphic novels and is not a completely new style. The artwork on the cover is also really well done but the extent it matches what is inside the novel is debatable.
Overall, Tabatha is a enjoyable graphic novel with a fast-paced and interesting plot.
September 26, 2015
I received this as a read for review copy from Netgalley.
The synopsis of Tabatha doesn't give much away, yet it still shocked me when I didn't receive what I was expecting. For one, the art style was completely different in the story than it shows on the cover. I know this is a common thing in comic books and graphic novels, but it still bugs me nevertheless, especially, like in this case, when I find the main story art to be less attractive than that of the cover.
Secondly, the way the cover is displayed does not show the themes of the story. I was expecting some fantasy, crazy witchcraft stuff that, granted, isn't stated in the synopsis, but something I'd still kind of imagined from how the cover looks. The creators were initially going to go for a darker, devil worshipping theme and I honestly think that the story would have been better if they stuck to that notion.
Even through my disappointment and the use of a simple plot, once I got into it, I found it enjoyable, quick to read and entertaining. This was mainly during the later half of the comic. It just didn't deliver that punch for me as I found the characters weren't that well developed and the simple story line didn't make too much sense without the use of some fantastical element.
It was interesting enough, but certainly not a masterpiece.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! ^.^
Gén
The synopsis of Tabatha doesn't give much away, yet it still shocked me when I didn't receive what I was expecting. For one, the art style was completely different in the story than it shows on the cover. I know this is a common thing in comic books and graphic novels, but it still bugs me nevertheless, especially, like in this case, when I find the main story art to be less attractive than that of the cover.
Secondly, the way the cover is displayed does not show the themes of the story. I was expecting some fantasy, crazy witchcraft stuff that, granted, isn't stated in the synopsis, but something I'd still kind of imagined from how the cover looks. The creators were initially going to go for a darker, devil worshipping theme and I honestly think that the story would have been better if they stuck to that notion.
Even through my disappointment and the use of a simple plot, once I got into it, I found it enjoyable, quick to read and entertaining. This was mainly during the later half of the comic. It just didn't deliver that punch for me as I found the characters weren't that well developed and the simple story line didn't make too much sense without the use of some fantastical element.
It was interesting enough, but certainly not a masterpiece.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! ^.^
Gén
January 1, 2024
I mean it was entertaining i guess
August 25, 2015
First things first disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. (Although I believe everyone can read this for free at tpub.co.uk/comics.htm).
This book has a fair few twists and changes in tone that I don't want to ruin for potential readers so I'm going to be quite vague when talking about this, hope you don't mind.
This is a horror-comedy graphic novel, which I had to admit through me a little in that the title page for chapter one is very noir-y in that its a red page with the black silhouette of a cityscape, but then the book starts and its a cutesy awkward story about an average joe (Luke the postman) who is adorably awkward around a girl he likes. But incredibly quickly (first 20 pages) the tone changes making the book much more dark but still humorous. (See what I mean about being vague).
A this point I want to talk about the art which is engaging and dynamic especially during the action scenes, (some of the character designs reminded me of Rob Guillory's art in the Chew comics). But even during more ordinary panels the art added a lot of the comedy of the book by having a lot of nerdy references in the background (one of the characters is a visual effects artist so a lot of it makes sense thematically).
I'm not going to go into plot specifics of this one as I said I think the main fun in this book is the twists and turns.(This does mean however that some of the very plot specific problems I have with this book will have to go unsaid.) I will also say that I found the final twist the most predictable of all, which left the book on a little bit of a clichéd note. To be honest with comedy horror and with a plot this fast paced I expect a few plot holes so its not such a big deal. But there were a few things I found to be a bigger issue for me:
A disappointing thing I found with this comic was the 2 dimensional nature of the female characters it is a short standalone so I appreciate we cant go into depth with every character but still, it felt like they were there to be sexual/victims and that's about it really. (I think the creators were aware of this one of the first female characters we meet is later literally in a fridge*, but it doesn't make the characters any more well rounded). I was expecting a little bit more partially because the edition I read had a gorgeous cover which implied to me that Tabatha was the main character which she certainly isn't. In a few short panels we got a great sense of Luke and his brothers relationship but I never got a feel for the brother-sister relationship which is also in the book.
There was also a moment with brother where its set up that he is going to ask women out using a rape joke, his sister says 'women might find creepy' which seems like the understatement of the century. I get that the character is supposed to be annoying but I don't think I'm supposed to dislike him as much as this made me.
I also didn't find the main antagonist that scary, even though he had the potential to be terrifying. The character fit into the entitled nerd stereotype which if pushed further and explored properly could have made him very scary. (I've seen real life instances of women and minorities being put through hell because of these type of people just because they dared to have an opinion on a nerdy piece of media). But this book seemed too interested in trying to set him up as a sympathetic character, which just didn't work for me. There is a moment when he talks about his wife using really transphobic language about his wife, in which I think we're supposed to be on his side but obviously I very much wasn't.
In conclusion I enjoyed the fast paced nature of this, and the comedic horror tone of this book worked for me. The plot was overall interesting but there were times when it was definitely more predictable than others. I found a lot of the characters a little 2d, and I would have liked the villain to be scarier.
Would I recommend this book?: Well seeing as the creators are putting it out for free on there website which is a super cool move on their end, if your even a tiny bit interested then I would say yes, go for it.
Generally when I'm reading a stand alone graphic novel/comics mini series I like to think about whether I would read another by the same creative team, with this book I'm not sure. I think I would if I heard the female characters were fleshed out more than they were in this book, but if I hear there are similar problems I may personally stay away.
I gave this book 2/5 on my goodreads, which you can friend/follow me on here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8...
*If you haven't heard of the Women in refrigerators trope here is a good place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_i...
This book has a fair few twists and changes in tone that I don't want to ruin for potential readers so I'm going to be quite vague when talking about this, hope you don't mind.
This is a horror-comedy graphic novel, which I had to admit through me a little in that the title page for chapter one is very noir-y in that its a red page with the black silhouette of a cityscape, but then the book starts and its a cutesy awkward story about an average joe (Luke the postman) who is adorably awkward around a girl he likes. But incredibly quickly (first 20 pages) the tone changes making the book much more dark but still humorous. (See what I mean about being vague).
A this point I want to talk about the art which is engaging and dynamic especially during the action scenes, (some of the character designs reminded me of Rob Guillory's art in the Chew comics). But even during more ordinary panels the art added a lot of the comedy of the book by having a lot of nerdy references in the background (one of the characters is a visual effects artist so a lot of it makes sense thematically).
I'm not going to go into plot specifics of this one as I said I think the main fun in this book is the twists and turns.(This does mean however that some of the very plot specific problems I have with this book will have to go unsaid.) I will also say that I found the final twist the most predictable of all, which left the book on a little bit of a clichéd note. To be honest with comedy horror and with a plot this fast paced I expect a few plot holes so its not such a big deal. But there were a few things I found to be a bigger issue for me:
A disappointing thing I found with this comic was the 2 dimensional nature of the female characters it is a short standalone so I appreciate we cant go into depth with every character but still, it felt like they were there to be sexual/victims and that's about it really. (I think the creators were aware of this one of the first female characters we meet is later literally in a fridge*, but it doesn't make the characters any more well rounded). I was expecting a little bit more partially because the edition I read had a gorgeous cover which implied to me that Tabatha was the main character which she certainly isn't. In a few short panels we got a great sense of Luke and his brothers relationship but I never got a feel for the brother-sister relationship which is also in the book.
There was also a moment with brother where its set up that he is going to ask women out using a rape joke, his sister says 'women might find creepy' which seems like the understatement of the century. I get that the character is supposed to be annoying but I don't think I'm supposed to dislike him as much as this made me.
I also didn't find the main antagonist that scary, even though he had the potential to be terrifying. The character fit into the entitled nerd stereotype which if pushed further and explored properly could have made him very scary. (I've seen real life instances of women and minorities being put through hell because of these type of people just because they dared to have an opinion on a nerdy piece of media). But this book seemed too interested in trying to set him up as a sympathetic character, which just didn't work for me. There is a moment when he talks about his wife using really transphobic language about his wife, in which I think we're supposed to be on his side but obviously I very much wasn't.
In conclusion I enjoyed the fast paced nature of this, and the comedic horror tone of this book worked for me. The plot was overall interesting but there were times when it was definitely more predictable than others. I found a lot of the characters a little 2d, and I would have liked the villain to be scarier.
Would I recommend this book?: Well seeing as the creators are putting it out for free on there website which is a super cool move on their end, if your even a tiny bit interested then I would say yes, go for it.
Generally when I'm reading a stand alone graphic novel/comics mini series I like to think about whether I would read another by the same creative team, with this book I'm not sure. I think I would if I heard the female characters were fleshed out more than they were in this book, but if I hear there are similar problems I may personally stay away.
I gave this book 2/5 on my goodreads, which you can friend/follow me on here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8...
*If you haven't heard of the Women in refrigerators trope here is a good place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_i...
August 17, 2015
* I recieved a e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
My overall thoughts on this book were that it was a very dark and creepy graphic noveL that is unlike anything I have ever read before. This book has a lot of gore in it which some readers might not find enjoyable. This book left me on the edge of my seat while reading it that it was so late at night that I had to stop teading because I could have gotten nightmares which has never happend to me before.
Plot
The plot was very well paced and got more and more complex as the story line progressed. The dialogue that Neil Gibson uses for each and every character fits the characters very well. Caspars drwaings helped me to visualize what was going on in the story which helped my overall enjoyment of this graphic novel. I was never bored in this book which helped me a lot because I was getting put of my reading mood? I cant judge the writing style because in a graphic novel you don't really need to have a writing style but just dialogue. I really liked the art style and it reminded me of my copy of batman endgame.
Characters
The characters didn't feel that real to me which brought me to the conclusion of giving this book a lower rating. The most realistic characters were the main villain and the main characters brother. I don't have much to say about the characters because this book still has me mind blown.
Ending
I really liked how they gave a sendoff to the characters and how they got their happy ending. I won't say much more about this book because you need to check it ou when it comes out on November 3,2015
Final Rating4.5/5 stars
My overall thoughts on this book were that it was a very dark and creepy graphic noveL that is unlike anything I have ever read before. This book has a lot of gore in it which some readers might not find enjoyable. This book left me on the edge of my seat while reading it that it was so late at night that I had to stop teading because I could have gotten nightmares which has never happend to me before.
Plot
The plot was very well paced and got more and more complex as the story line progressed. The dialogue that Neil Gibson uses for each and every character fits the characters very well. Caspars drwaings helped me to visualize what was going on in the story which helped my overall enjoyment of this graphic novel. I was never bored in this book which helped me a lot because I was getting put of my reading mood? I cant judge the writing style because in a graphic novel you don't really need to have a writing style but just dialogue. I really liked the art style and it reminded me of my copy of batman endgame.
Characters
The characters didn't feel that real to me which brought me to the conclusion of giving this book a lower rating. The most realistic characters were the main villain and the main characters brother. I don't have much to say about the characters because this book still has me mind blown.
Ending
I really liked how they gave a sendoff to the characters and how they got their happy ending. I won't say much more about this book because you need to check it ou when it comes out on November 3,2015
Final Rating4.5/5 stars
March 6, 2016
'Tabatha' by Neil Gibson, with art by Caspar Wijngaard is another trippy, super dark journey that fits well with Gibson's other work. There is plenty of humor, which at times feels strange in such a dark tale.
Luke works as a mailman in Los Angeles. This gives him plenty of time to figure out which houses are empty so he and his friends can go back and burglarize them. When they find the house of a Hollywood special effects man, things spiral in a strange direction. They discover real body parts, and a lifesized doll, known by the owner as Tabatha. He is using his guile and craft to try to bring her to life, and Luke and his friends have stumbled into his dark life. Ignoring the rules of horror films, Luke and his friends find themselves caught in a horror show with a crafty killer who will stop at nothing to bring his creation to life.
The cover is bright and doesn't depict the darkness in the story, but if you are familiar with TPub and the Twisted Dark series, you know the kind of thing you are in for. It's hard to feel sympathetic for Luke, his friends, or the deranged killer who views the world through his rose-tinted glasses. The humor is the book is odd and oddly placed. Luke is in peril and chooses to sarcastically taunt his captor, who is wielding an axe, so the consequences seem predetermined. The book also pokes fun at the strange types that live in L.A. I did like it though.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, TPub, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Luke works as a mailman in Los Angeles. This gives him plenty of time to figure out which houses are empty so he and his friends can go back and burglarize them. When they find the house of a Hollywood special effects man, things spiral in a strange direction. They discover real body parts, and a lifesized doll, known by the owner as Tabatha. He is using his guile and craft to try to bring her to life, and Luke and his friends have stumbled into his dark life. Ignoring the rules of horror films, Luke and his friends find themselves caught in a horror show with a crafty killer who will stop at nothing to bring his creation to life.
The cover is bright and doesn't depict the darkness in the story, but if you are familiar with TPub and the Twisted Dark series, you know the kind of thing you are in for. It's hard to feel sympathetic for Luke, his friends, or the deranged killer who views the world through his rose-tinted glasses. The humor is the book is odd and oddly placed. Luke is in peril and chooses to sarcastically taunt his captor, who is wielding an axe, so the consequences seem predetermined. The book also pokes fun at the strange types that live in L.A. I did like it though.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, TPub, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Read
April 8, 2017I've been a fan of Neil and everyone at Tpub since I met them at London Comicon several years ago. I'm on their mailing list and if you haven't already I recommend you read their Twisted Dark and Twisted Light comics. The storytelling is fantastic.
Tabatha is a lot of fun to read. This isn't a superhero comic and there isn't a risk of the world ending which is very refreshing after reading lots of Marvel and DC comics. The story focus around a crazy prop designer who is trying to bring a sex doll to life. He kidnaps four teenagers and they eventually stop him... or do they?
The characters are fun and likeable. There's lots of humour and lots of stand out moments for me that made me love the comic. If you're looking for a refreshing read then this is the comic for you.
Tabatha is a lot of fun to read. This isn't a superhero comic and there isn't a risk of the world ending which is very refreshing after reading lots of Marvel and DC comics. The story focus around a crazy prop designer who is trying to bring a sex doll to life. He kidnaps four teenagers and they eventually stop him... or do they?
The characters are fun and likeable. There's lots of humour and lots of stand out moments for me that made me love the comic. If you're looking for a refreshing read then this is the comic for you.
December 13, 2015
I am so unexpectedly impressed with this short horror graphic novel. It was truly a page turner. I wasn't able to put it down because it was so dark and intense. The illustrations were pretty fantastic too. Although, I think the dark aspect of the plot could have been divulged more to achieve the full potential of the story.
All in all, it was entertaining, though I think it could have been so much darker than it already is.
All in all, it was entertaining, though I think it could have been so much darker than it already is.
September 9, 2015
I received an advance copy of this graphic novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What an interesting graphic novel! It was fun, fast paced, and the illustrations were great. The messed up mad man always makes for a great story, and I loved this one.
What an interesting graphic novel! It was fun, fast paced, and the illustrations were great. The messed up mad man always makes for a great story, and I loved this one.
November 16, 2024
Second time reading it as it had been ages since I read it the first time. Just as amazing this time compared to the first. Still worthy of the 5 stars given.
September 21, 2019
Tabatha is a graphic novel published by TPublications, written by Neil Gibsion, and featuring artwork by The Artist. The book tells the story of Luke and his friends, and the awful series of events that they find themselves in.
Luke is a mailman in Los Angeles, and has been using his job to scope out houses on his route that can provide an easy target. Luke and his friends have been moonlighting as thieves in order to raise funds for an operation that the mother of two of the group needs (thank you once again shitty American healthcare system). When the group comes across the home of a movie special effects technician they think they've hit the jackpot, but come across the remains of more than a dozen brutal murders. Obviously shaken by what they find the group's lives are forever altered when the killer targets them, and draws them into his crazed plots.
Tabatha is, at it's core, a story about how things can spiral out of control, and how simple decisions can have huge, life changing repercussions. But, it's also something of a horror story. Gustav, the man behind all of the awful events of the book, is a scary figure because of how real he is. Okay, so he's trying to bring his sex doll companion to life by putting her 'consciousness' inside a real woman, which is obviously not a real thing, but his motivations and his journey to that point are.
He's scared to get out and meet people. He's shy and tucked away in his own world. He's unlucky with women, views himself as unattractive, believes he deserves love and sex, and resorts to physical violence when he thinks these things are beyond him. He's an Incel. Now, Tabatha was first published in 2014, the same year as the mass killing by Incel Elliot Rodger, and so this story would have been worked on long before Incels became as known to the general public as they are today; as such I can't say whether the creators intended for Gustav to be an Incel, or if his behaviour just happened to fall inline with them. Either way, the fact that there have been at least four mass killings by men like him, with dozens of deaths, makes him an antagonist that's more frightening than most horror characters. He's not a monster or some kind of creature. He's the same kind of person as some who are out in the real world, ready to hurt and kill others because of their unhappiness.
It's in part thanks to this very real scenario that makes Tabatha feel oppressive when you're reading it. The artwork and colouring also adds to this, with many of the panels having little to no background other than dark colours. The result is a book that's dark in not just tone but in look too. There's a simplicity to the art style used that doesn't clutter the panels, that doesn't provide distractions to give the reader a break from the horrors that are happening. Yes, there are a few panels that have wonderfully intricate views of Gustav's home, filled with movie nods and references, but once the terror begins the backgrounds fall away, forcing you to stay in the horror of the moment.
Tabatha isn't a groundbreaking story, it doesn't do anything that challenges the genre or wows the reader, but it does entertain. Which is the most important thing. The characters don't get a huge amount of development, outside of the antagonist, and whilst that's something of a shame you do find yourself caring about their survival. Tabatha is a fun little read that proves to be an entertaining way to spend an hour or two.
Luke is a mailman in Los Angeles, and has been using his job to scope out houses on his route that can provide an easy target. Luke and his friends have been moonlighting as thieves in order to raise funds for an operation that the mother of two of the group needs (thank you once again shitty American healthcare system). When the group comes across the home of a movie special effects technician they think they've hit the jackpot, but come across the remains of more than a dozen brutal murders. Obviously shaken by what they find the group's lives are forever altered when the killer targets them, and draws them into his crazed plots.
Tabatha is, at it's core, a story about how things can spiral out of control, and how simple decisions can have huge, life changing repercussions. But, it's also something of a horror story. Gustav, the man behind all of the awful events of the book, is a scary figure because of how real he is. Okay, so he's trying to bring his sex doll companion to life by putting her 'consciousness' inside a real woman, which is obviously not a real thing, but his motivations and his journey to that point are.
He's scared to get out and meet people. He's shy and tucked away in his own world. He's unlucky with women, views himself as unattractive, believes he deserves love and sex, and resorts to physical violence when he thinks these things are beyond him. He's an Incel. Now, Tabatha was first published in 2014, the same year as the mass killing by Incel Elliot Rodger, and so this story would have been worked on long before Incels became as known to the general public as they are today; as such I can't say whether the creators intended for Gustav to be an Incel, or if his behaviour just happened to fall inline with them. Either way, the fact that there have been at least four mass killings by men like him, with dozens of deaths, makes him an antagonist that's more frightening than most horror characters. He's not a monster or some kind of creature. He's the same kind of person as some who are out in the real world, ready to hurt and kill others because of their unhappiness.
It's in part thanks to this very real scenario that makes Tabatha feel oppressive when you're reading it. The artwork and colouring also adds to this, with many of the panels having little to no background other than dark colours. The result is a book that's dark in not just tone but in look too. There's a simplicity to the art style used that doesn't clutter the panels, that doesn't provide distractions to give the reader a break from the horrors that are happening. Yes, there are a few panels that have wonderfully intricate views of Gustav's home, filled with movie nods and references, but once the terror begins the backgrounds fall away, forcing you to stay in the horror of the moment.
Tabatha isn't a groundbreaking story, it doesn't do anything that challenges the genre or wows the reader, but it does entertain. Which is the most important thing. The characters don't get a huge amount of development, outside of the antagonist, and whilst that's something of a shame you do find yourself caring about their survival. Tabatha is a fun little read that proves to be an entertaining way to spend an hour or two.
January 17, 2019
I first read this comic after reading some of the other comics by TPub and Neil Gibson. What drew me in initially to this comic was it's artwork and premise about a mailman who uses his daytime job to help plan his nighttime 'job' as a thief.
One of the things I like about this comic is that you're unsure of which way the story is going to go and it makes you wonder constantly what is going to happen next in the story (I really didn't expect the story to go in a certain direction from reading the blurb). I also really enjoy the artwork of this comic, especially the use of colour in the panels.
Whilst I think there could have been a bit more character development for some of the characters, there was still enough there for me to care about what happens to them. This is quite a dark story (with a bit of gore) but I also found parts of it quite funny, especially in regards to some of the character actions and dialogue. All in all, I really enjoyed this comic and would recommend it to people who like dark stories with a unique plot.
One of the things I like about this comic is that you're unsure of which way the story is going to go and it makes you wonder constantly what is going to happen next in the story (I really didn't expect the story to go in a certain direction from reading the blurb). I also really enjoy the artwork of this comic, especially the use of colour in the panels.
Whilst I think there could have been a bit more character development for some of the characters, there was still enough there for me to care about what happens to them. This is quite a dark story (with a bit of gore) but I also found parts of it quite funny, especially in regards to some of the character actions and dialogue. All in all, I really enjoyed this comic and would recommend it to people who like dark stories with a unique plot.
April 8, 2021
Neil Gibson never fails to make me feel a little bit disgusted of myself. Whenever I see it coming, how could I think that way? Whenever I don't, how can I be so naive? When I like something, how could I admit it? Whenever I am revolted, why would I willingly want to read this?
It's easy. I am human.
What Neil does best is take the simplest of human nature, turn it on itself, and offer it up as literary autosarcophagasm. Oh, sometimes I feel bad about being entertained by such viewpoints, however, in my defense the stories contain the every day. Just a little bit twisted.
The Artist, who I believe that I have identified by their prior work, conveys so much without revealing too much. His skill is definitely in portraying the scenes succinctly whilst employing the most powerful tool in their toolbox: the reader's own imagination. It is not the simple act of leaving certain details out but the guiding of the reader's mind in his chosen direction. To be honest, this is where both artist and writer skill sets overlap.
It's easy. I am human.
What Neil does best is take the simplest of human nature, turn it on itself, and offer it up as literary autosarcophagasm. Oh, sometimes I feel bad about being entertained by such viewpoints, however, in my defense the stories contain the every day. Just a little bit twisted.
The Artist, who I believe that I have identified by their prior work, conveys so much without revealing too much. His skill is definitely in portraying the scenes succinctly whilst employing the most powerful tool in their toolbox: the reader's own imagination. It is not the simple act of leaving certain details out but the guiding of the reader's mind in his chosen direction. To be honest, this is where both artist and writer skill sets overlap.
July 4, 2019
Ένα όμορφο οπτικά graphic novel (χωρίς να φτάνει όμως εσωτερικά την ποιότητα του πανέμορφου εξωφύλλου) με αρκετά σκοτεινά panel δεδομένης και της κυρίας ιδέας και πολύ καλοσχεδιασμένους χαρακτήρες, ειδικά αν σκεφτούμε ότι είναι από μια σχετικά άγνωστη εκδοτική, ειδικά στην Ελλάδα. Σεναριακά, όμως, πάσχει αρκετά. Εκτός του ότι διαβάζοντας την περιγραφή περίμενα μια πιο σύνθετη και "βαθιά" ιστορία και βλέποντας το εξώφυλλο περίμενα κάτι πιο φαντασίας ίσως και με λίγη μαγεία μέσα ή έστω κάτι ανάλογα μεταφυσικό, η δράση (η οποία ομολογουμένως είναι χορταστική) εκτυλίσσεται κατά 95% σε ένα σπίτι, χωρίς όμως ν�� βγάζει το μέγεθος της κλειστοφοβίας που θεωρώ ότι πρέπει να βγει σε μια τέτοιου τύπου ιστορία. Επίσης το όποιο χιούμορ υπάρχει, είναι αρκετά παιδαριώδες (με την κακή έννοια) για τα δικά μου γούστα.
May 8, 2023
Terrible dialogue. Never got any emotion from any of the characters because of the constant terrible quips and references. The concept is fun enough, but it isn't as dark or grotesque as you would want from something like this. Plays it too safe, doesn't seem to want to take any risks, and also doesn't particularly look very good. It's not horrendous, but it is forgettable.
November 6, 2018
not a fan of how this book treated women
June 23, 2020
Was not a fan of the artwork or the story. The title character is not a huge part of the story and an odd part at that.
March 31, 2021
not worth the read. book is filled with slurs that just take away from anything interesting that was going on in the book.
Want to read
April 16, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 4, 2022
Fun, fast paced, and creepy. Nothing groundbreaking but definitely entertaining
August 7, 2024
kinda prefer Agatha myself
August 20, 2015
Luke works as a mailman in Los Angeles and moonlights as a thief - the empty houses on his postal route are rich, easy pickings for him and his friends. Everything goes to plan until one house turns out to not quite be so empty. The situation spirals out of control, leaving the happy go lucky thieves battling for their lives. And all because of Tabatha.
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Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: creepy, gorgeous, witty artwork; realistic and believable dialogue; a terrifying exploration of obsession, mental illness, and the "mad scientist" cliche; inventive, engaging, and highly entertaining read
Many thanks to Netgalley, Diamond Book Distributors, Neil Gibson (writer) and Caspar Wijngaard (illustrator) for this reading opportunity!
I've been trying to expand my horizons in the graphic novels/comics genre, so when I discovered this on Netgalley as a “Read Now” title, I immediately snatched it up. The blurb was so intriguing, I NEEDED to know what happened—and why.
Immediately stepping into this world was easy; the story starts out practically in the middle, setting readers up with the mood and theme. The artwork stands out immediately: the characters are a rich blend of “graphic” and “realistic,” while the villain maintains a sort of Joker-esque grin throughout that left me shivering.
The panels are also unique and inventive, often taking different or unusual perspectives and always leaving my eye wanting to see more, to know more, to find more. Shots from, for instance, a peep hole, with the character on the other side bent or elongated to fit the proper angle, had me both giggling and in awe of the artistic talent. Implementing stylistic choices like layered panels, color washes, and shifting sizes also helped keep me entertained and reading the panels correctly—I didn't have to guess at or work to figure out the sequence.
The artist also took care to use color to full advantage; this works especially well when viewing the world through a certain characters eyes, as color shifts help keep readers (without stating the obvious or including other tells) knowing which character is speaking at specific moments. The reasoning behind certain colors was revealed in the “extras” section at the end of this novel, which I appreciated and found relevant.
The characters are also complex; even the villain has a heartbreaking, almost endearing backstory, and while I don't condone at all the actions he took, I at least was able to understand and empathize with him a little better at the end. The main circle of friends is engaging, entertaining, and entirely too much trouble for their own good—just as any awesome friendship should be. I loved the witty banter, the sparks of humanity, and the emphasis on strength (both personal and as a whole) throughout. None of these characters are "perfect" or "completely honest"; they're HUMAN, and that made this read a ton of fun. Their motives are realistic, their hearts are easy to read, and they all make mistakes; this was refreshing, and helped create a more "realistic" graphic novel.
This is a witty, spine-tingling tale that is bound to leave readers pondering—as per any good horror/psychological thriller, the ending is ambiguous and left open to interpretation. I found a few of the chapter openers a bit difficult to follow (the first jump backward in time sort of confused me, though I caught on fairly quickly after that) but I understand the need for these—the backstory of each character/relationship is as important as the story taking place in current day, and helped me to better understand each character's motivations. The examination and exploration of popular cliches (rose-tinted glasses play a BIG part in this story) was both engaging and entertaining.
While creepy (and please, if you don't like gore, you might want to really think about reading this, as some of the scenes are rather bloody and grotesque), the story still managed to grasp at my heart and make me FEEL things. It wasn't ALL about the blood, the violence, the scares—it was also about being human, making choices we might regret, and the ways our personalities are shaped by those we let into our lives.
This was an awesome, engaging, and terrifying read, and I'm so happy I found it. I will be getting this for my shelves in the future, after it's released. If you love graphic novels/comics, horror or psychological thrillers, this is something you should definitely look into! I'd also recommend to lovers of Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Clive Barker.
This title will be available for purchase on Amazon November 5th, 2015.
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Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: creepy, gorgeous, witty artwork; realistic and believable dialogue; a terrifying exploration of obsession, mental illness, and the "mad scientist" cliche; inventive, engaging, and highly entertaining read
Many thanks to Netgalley, Diamond Book Distributors, Neil Gibson (writer) and Caspar Wijngaard (illustrator) for this reading opportunity!
I've been trying to expand my horizons in the graphic novels/comics genre, so when I discovered this on Netgalley as a “Read Now” title, I immediately snatched it up. The blurb was so intriguing, I NEEDED to know what happened—and why.
Immediately stepping into this world was easy; the story starts out practically in the middle, setting readers up with the mood and theme. The artwork stands out immediately: the characters are a rich blend of “graphic” and “realistic,” while the villain maintains a sort of Joker-esque grin throughout that left me shivering.
The panels are also unique and inventive, often taking different or unusual perspectives and always leaving my eye wanting to see more, to know more, to find more. Shots from, for instance, a peep hole, with the character on the other side bent or elongated to fit the proper angle, had me both giggling and in awe of the artistic talent. Implementing stylistic choices like layered panels, color washes, and shifting sizes also helped keep me entertained and reading the panels correctly—I didn't have to guess at or work to figure out the sequence.
The artist also took care to use color to full advantage; this works especially well when viewing the world through a certain characters eyes, as color shifts help keep readers (without stating the obvious or including other tells) knowing which character is speaking at specific moments. The reasoning behind certain colors was revealed in the “extras” section at the end of this novel, which I appreciated and found relevant.
The characters are also complex; even the villain has a heartbreaking, almost endearing backstory, and while I don't condone at all the actions he took, I at least was able to understand and empathize with him a little better at the end. The main circle of friends is engaging, entertaining, and entirely too much trouble for their own good—just as any awesome friendship should be. I loved the witty banter, the sparks of humanity, and the emphasis on strength (both personal and as a whole) throughout. None of these characters are "perfect" or "completely honest"; they're HUMAN, and that made this read a ton of fun. Their motives are realistic, their hearts are easy to read, and they all make mistakes; this was refreshing, and helped create a more "realistic" graphic novel.
This is a witty, spine-tingling tale that is bound to leave readers pondering—as per any good horror/psychological thriller, the ending is ambiguous and left open to interpretation. I found a few of the chapter openers a bit difficult to follow (the first jump backward in time sort of confused me, though I caught on fairly quickly after that) but I understand the need for these—the backstory of each character/relationship is as important as the story taking place in current day, and helped me to better understand each character's motivations. The examination and exploration of popular cliches (rose-tinted glasses play a BIG part in this story) was both engaging and entertaining.
While creepy (and please, if you don't like gore, you might want to really think about reading this, as some of the scenes are rather bloody and grotesque), the story still managed to grasp at my heart and make me FEEL things. It wasn't ALL about the blood, the violence, the scares—it was also about being human, making choices we might regret, and the ways our personalities are shaped by those we let into our lives.
This was an awesome, engaging, and terrifying read, and I'm so happy I found it. I will be getting this for my shelves in the future, after it's released. If you love graphic novels/comics, horror or psychological thrillers, this is something you should definitely look into! I'd also recommend to lovers of Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Clive Barker.
This title will be available for purchase on Amazon November 5th, 2015.
March 4, 2017
Dark and twisted.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews