Beyond Real: The Complete Series

by Zack Kaplan, Fabiana Mascolo (Illustrator), Toni Fejzula (Illustrator)

The Matrix meets The Wizard of Oz in BEYOND The Complete Series, a mind-bending psychedelic journey through the nature of reality – and who we really are.

QUESTION REALITY.

When struggling artist June is injured in a severe car accident that leaves her boyfriend in a coma, she begins to experience strange visual phenomena. When June discovers that the world she considers “reality” may be a computer simulation, she must set out on a journey of possibility and peril into the metaphysical layers of the simulation to reach the world’s creator and save her true love from death.

Beyond Real explores simulation theory, the creative spirit, the nature of reality, and the struggle for self-determination.

Are we real – or are we living in a computer simulation?

What is reality? Is death an illusion?

Enter the world that is … Beyond Real.

Beyond Real , written by Zack Kaplan ( MINDSET from Vault Comics) is joined by a slate of spectacular artists including Fabiana Mascolo , Toni Fejzula , Jordie Bellaire , Vincenzo Riccardi , Dennis Menheere , Jorge Corona , and Liana Kangas .

Collects the entire six-issue mind-altering and acclaimed series!

For fans Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Matrix, Alice In Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, What Dreams May Come ( Richard Matheson), Promethea (Alan Moore & J.H. Williams III), The Invisibles ( Grant Morrison), Flex Mentallo ( Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely), Ghost in the Shell, Nonplayer (Nate Simpson), Permutation City (Greg Egan), Sea of Tranquility (Emily St. John Mandel), The Restoration Game (Kevin MacLeod), The Peripheral , Agency ,and Neuromancer (William Gibson) , Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow (Gabrielle Zevin), and Neil Gaiman,

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

160 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars and they’re all for the art! The art is absolutely breathtaking, it’s incredible really. The story was painfully lacking for me, it was dry, a little minimal, heavily cliched and a little boring. However, it was the art and the coloring that was the star of the show! Issue #4 is beautiful and standout in terms of the coloring and illustration.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous. Sometimes hard to follow but the art styles were so imaginative and I loved how the narrative flowed from one thing to the next. Beyond Real is about the simulation we all live in, or is it…?

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

June thinks life is some computer simulation. There’s a horrible wreck and her boyfriend is in a coma.
The changing art style is captivating and absolutely marvelous. Seeing how June, Dawn, and Rishis characters change styles are amazing. June is there trying to save her boyfriend in a coma, Dawn wants her love back home to see her light, and Rishi wants to find her dancing again. June is told to find the source and the source will save Eli from the coma. In one of the last places she finds a very tormented version of herself. One full of pain, hurt, anger, and ready to give up. June must make herself realize she will be ok. She realizes a voice told her that she needed the right powers to save Eli, but to only realize that it’s not up to her.

[B.J. Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The graphic novel "BEYOND REAL" is incredibly strange. The concept of a coma-induced, dream-like reality is not original, and the story is predictable with too many cheesy moments. However, the vibrant artwork prevents "BEYOND REAL" from being a complete disaster; the colors stand out on the pages. It's not the best read, but if you're a fan of illustrations (and since it's a graphic novel, you probably are), this graphic novel is likely right up your alley. ╌★★★✰✰

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cool. A couple gets into a car accident and one of them is in a coma. Then June discovers she's in a computer simulation and steps behind the curtain in order to try and save her boyfriend. The art really makes this, changing to a new artist with each new reality she visits. It's very inventive.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

👧🏻reviews: As an avid graphic novel fan, I had a great time reading the ebook version. It is packed with actions, colorful illustrations and intense storyline. There were some sex scenes and since I read with my mom, I thought the story was decent. Not so bad if you overlook the sexual scenes.

[Erin Bookishness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I love a multiverse jumping story and this one did not disappoint! It’s a beautiful story about grief, self determination, and friendship and watching the characters grow was so fun. The real hit of this book though is the art! It is absolutely stunning!

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

gorgeous, bombastic colors. very psychedelic, but the plot itself is lackluster

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beyond Real: The Complete Series by Zack Kaplan is a graphic novel about a woman, June, whose boyfriend is left in a coma after a car accident. After the car accident, June starts to experience strange visual phenomena. She tries to figure out what is causing the images to appear. She discovers that her world which she considers “reality”, is a computer simulation. June will have to journey through the simulation to find the world’s creator and save her true love from death.

The graphic novel was beautifully drawn and very colorful. The story was easy to follow but it was predictable. I thought it was an okay read but a bit boring at times. That said, I wouldn’t go out of my way to read more graphic novels by the author.