What do you think?
Rate this book
Hexagon Bridge
After explorers Jacob and Elena Armlen find themselves trapped in a strange parallel dimension, their clairvoyant daughter Adley and sentient robot Staden embark on a dangerous mission to rescue them. Pushing onward, they encounter mischievous beings amidst uncanny shifting landscapes and discover a world beyond belief. This collected edition contains a cover gallery and an extensive selection of concept art, storyboards, and character designs. Collects HEXAGON BRIDGE #1-5
Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2024
4 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Richard Blake
74 books68 followersA pseudonym of Dr Sean Gabb.
Richard Blake is a writer, broadcaster and teacher. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
For Hodder & Stoughton, he has written the following six historical novels: "Conspiracies of Rome" (2008), "Terror of Constantinople" (2009), "Blood of Alexandria" (2010), "Sword of Damascus" (2011), "Ghosts of Athens" (2012), "Curse of Babylon" (2013). These have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Greek, Slovak, Hungarian, Indonesian, and Chinese.
In 2015, Hodder & Stoughton republished all six novels in two omnibus volumes: "Death of Rome Saga 1" and "Death of Rome Saga 2."
As Sean Gabb, he has written these novels: "The Column of Phocas" (2006 - historical), "The Churchill Memorandum" (2011 - alternate history thriller), and "The Break" (post-apocalyptic science fiction). This novel was published in 2014, and nominated for the Prometheus Award, but has now been acquired by Caffeine Nights and withdrawn for republication in 2016 under the name Richard Blake. A further novel, "The York Deviation" (alternate history fantasy), is awaiting publication.
He also writes for Endeavour Press. His first historical novel for Endeavour, "Game of Empires," was published in May 2015. His next in this series, "Death in Ravenna," was published in August 2016. Hist next, "Crown of Empire," will be published in April 2016.
You can follow him on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richard.blak...
You can also follow him on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BlakeTheWriter
His personal website is - http://www.richardblake.me.uk/
Richard Blake is a writer, broadcaster and teacher. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
For Hodder & Stoughton, he has written the following six historical novels: "Conspiracies of Rome" (2008), "Terror of Constantinople" (2009), "Blood of Alexandria" (2010), "Sword of Damascus" (2011), "Ghosts of Athens" (2012), "Curse of Babylon" (2013). These have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Greek, Slovak, Hungarian, Indonesian, and Chinese.
In 2015, Hodder & Stoughton republished all six novels in two omnibus volumes: "Death of Rome Saga 1" and "Death of Rome Saga 2."
As Sean Gabb, he has written these novels: "The Column of Phocas" (2006 - historical), "The Churchill Memorandum" (2011 - alternate history thriller), and "The Break" (post-apocalyptic science fiction). This novel was published in 2014, and nominated for the Prometheus Award, but has now been acquired by Caffeine Nights and withdrawn for republication in 2016 under the name Richard Blake. A further novel, "The York Deviation" (alternate history fantasy), is awaiting publication.
He also writes for Endeavour Press. His first historical novel for Endeavour, "Game of Empires," was published in May 2015. His next in this series, "Death in Ravenna," was published in August 2016. Hist next, "Crown of Empire," will be published in April 2016.
You can follow him on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richard.blak...
You can also follow him on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BlakeTheWriter
His personal website is - http://www.richardblake.me.uk/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 23, 2024
Lots of beautiful geometric art, that starts to feel a bit samey after a couple of pages. Same goes for the story and the characters, which are arresting on first encounter, but don't really develop in an interesting way.
The whole thing feels quite European in style, and reminds me of The Obscure Cities, but without that series' sense of control on its world building.
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
The whole thing feels quite European in style, and reminds me of The Obscure Cities, but without that series' sense of control on its world building.
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
August 11, 2024
معمولا خیلی پیش میاد که یک آلبوم موسیقی رو گوش کنم و به خودم بگم این آلبوم می‌تونست به عنوان رمان یا فیلم هم چیز جالبی باشه، اما برعکسش خیلی کم پیش اومده برام. این کمیک می‌تونست یک آلبوم الکترونیک/آمبینت خوب باشه، تصورش برام راحته که بندی مثل بوردز اف کانادا {۱} یا یانگرز برادرز {۲} این ایده رو تبدیل به آلبوم کنن و همه لذت ببرن. این شاید مهم‌ترین نکته‌ی این کمیک بود.
داستان نسبتا ساده‌ای داره، هوش‌های مصنوعی تونستن یک بعد جدید پیدا کنن و برن اونجا. مادر و پدرِ شخصیت اصلی هم برای نقشه برداری این بعد جدید اونجا رفتن و گم شدن. حالا شخصیت اصلی که قدرت‌های ذهنی خاصی داره سعی می‌کنه اون‌ها رو پیدا کنه.
داستان خاصی نبود، حتی پایان بندی جالبی هم نداشت. ولی به نظرم اصلا هدف هم قصه گفتن نبود توی این کمیک، بیشتر می‌خواست فضا بسازه.
نوعِ خالی بودن و تنهایی‌ای که توی این دنیا هست رو من قبلا توی قصه‌هایی از لوپ {۳} و دورانِ آشغال جمع‌کن‌ها {۴} (قطعا ترجمه‌ی اشتباهیه، ایکاش گودیدز یکم بهتر از فارسی پشتیبانی می‌کرد تا مجبور نشم به این کار) دیده بودم. جایی که انسان‌ها و ربات‌ها از اون مرحله‌ی درگیری کلاسیک تا حدودی رد شدن، تمرکز داستان روی یک فضای بی‌هدفیه که نه انسان‌ها می‌دونن باهاش چیکار کنن نه ربات‌ها. به طور کلی این کمیک بیشتر از خونده شدن، برای نگاه کردن بود.
1- Boards of Canada
2- Younger Brother
3- Tales from the Loop
4- Scavengers Reign
داستان نسبتا ساده‌ای داره، هوش‌های مصنوعی تونستن یک بعد جدید پیدا کنن و برن اونجا. مادر و پدرِ شخصیت اصلی هم برای نقشه برداری این بعد جدید اونجا رفتن و گم شدن. حالا شخصیت اصلی که قدرت‌های ذهنی خاصی داره سعی می‌کنه اون‌ها رو پیدا کنه.
داستان خاصی نبود، حتی پایان بندی جالبی هم نداشت. ولی به نظرم اصلا هدف هم قصه گفتن نبود توی این کمیک، بیشتر می‌خواست فضا بسازه.
نوعِ خالی بودن و تنهایی‌ای که توی این دنیا هست رو من قبلا توی قصه‌هایی از لوپ {۳} و دورانِ آشغال جمع‌کن‌ها {۴} (قطعا ترجمه‌ی اشتباهیه، ایکاش گودیدز یکم بهتر از فارسی پشتیبانی می‌کرد تا مجبور نشم به این کار) دیده بودم. جایی که انسان‌ها و ربات‌ها از اون مرحله‌ی درگیری کلاسیک تا حدودی رد شدن، تمرکز داستان روی یک فضای بی‌هدفیه که نه انسان‌ها می‌دونن باهاش چیکار کنن نه ربات‌ها. به طور کلی این کمیک بیشتر از خونده شدن، برای نگاه کردن بود.
1- Boards of Canada
2- Younger Brother
3- Tales from the Loop
4- Scavengers Reign
February 4, 2024
This series has some FANTASTIC art, but unfortunately falls flat in the writing department. The worldbuilding is interesting but the story itself is hard to follow (at least month to month) and the last issue doesn’t really land. The whole thing seems like a setup for something else. Still, if this story continues somehow, I’d probably give it a try.
July 20, 2024
Art is literally all this had going for it. It was boring and there was like no reason to care about any of the characters. But it appears to be just the beginning of a series.
June 3, 2024
I have mixed opinions about "Hexagon Bridge". The art is beautiful. I was amazed by the coloring and designs. It is absolutely gorgeous and very well done. It effectively showed the worldbuilding, which was another strength of the book.
Indeed, it was great to explore the world of Hexagon Bridge. It's an intriguing dimension with AIs and cities that are like our own, but also both beautifully futuristic (not surprising, given that the story takes place in 4040) and surreal. The imagery felt like Inception, Paprika, and other films in that regard. I also like the usage of shared consciousness and the way that the technology worked.
With that said, I wasn't a huge fan of the characters. I didn't dislike them, but felt that there wasn't much character development in it. We don't learn very much about Jacob or Elena. We see a lot of focus on Adley and how brilliant she is - as well as the A.I. who she shares consciousness with, Staden. However, the story is much more plot-driven and there isn't much growth or depth given for either Adley or Staden.
The story itself was good. I was intrigued and engaged throughout. I kept wondering what Staden and Adley would see next and how their experiences would go. I like their interactions with others, especially Gerardus and Dutois. There was good backstory and intrigue.
However, the story ended pretty abruptly. I'm guessing that there will be a sequel. However, the ending did not feel like a cliffhanger or a book ending (more like the ending to a middle or later chapter). The pacing of the story was a bit slow and consistently slow - which I'm okay with - but the ending was a bit jarring.
I hope the next book, if there is a sequel, will wrap up the story and provide answers as well as some more character development. There is a lot of promise with this story and a solid foundation as a result of its worldbuilding.
Indeed, it was great to explore the world of Hexagon Bridge. It's an intriguing dimension with AIs and cities that are like our own, but also both beautifully futuristic (not surprising, given that the story takes place in 4040) and surreal. The imagery felt like Inception, Paprika, and other films in that regard. I also like the usage of shared consciousness and the way that the technology worked.
With that said, I wasn't a huge fan of the characters. I didn't dislike them, but felt that there wasn't much character development in it. We don't learn very much about Jacob or Elena. We see a lot of focus on Adley and how brilliant she is - as well as the A.I. who she shares consciousness with, Staden. However, the story is much more plot-driven and there isn't much growth or depth given for either Adley or Staden.
The story itself was good. I was intrigued and engaged throughout. I kept wondering what Staden and Adley would see next and how their experiences would go. I like their interactions with others, especially Gerardus and Dutois. There was good backstory and intrigue.
However, the story ended pretty abruptly. I'm guessing that there will be a sequel. However, the ending did not feel like a cliffhanger or a book ending (more like the ending to a middle or later chapter). The pacing of the story was a bit slow and consistently slow - which I'm okay with - but the ending was a bit jarring.
I hope the next book, if there is a sequel, will wrap up the story and provide answers as well as some more character development. There is a lot of promise with this story and a solid foundation as a result of its worldbuilding.
January 20, 2025
I’ve never wanted exposition so bad in my life. The art is gorgeous, and it’s an amazing concept with a lot of potential. But both the concept and the characters too underdeveloped and under communicated to truly give any weight or feeling to the book.
July 19, 2024
This was a jumbled narrative with some good art.
June 5, 2024
Hexagon Bridge is the debut comic from Richard Blake, a commercial artist turned comic artist. The lack of name recognition probably resulted in this book flying under the radar, but rest assured that this is a confident outing for Blake. It's a high-concept sci-fi story with minimal action and mostly exploration rooted into it, with gorgeous artwork to accompany it. It is a dry read to be sure so expectations should be tempered accordingly, but for those who are truly into science fiction as a genre there is a lot here that they will find refreshing.
The premise behind the comic is that a mysterious bridge opens to the Earth, not from another planet or dimension, but rather as a simple construct. It's a recognizable trope popularized by 2001: A Space Odyssey and the like, and Hexagon Bridge dives headfirst into the exploration angle. Humans first send drones across the construct before they succumb to the temptation of exploring it themselves. Among the humans lost to the bridge are Adley's parents, a pair of cartographers who seek the chart the beyond. Adley grows up without her parents but with a deep-seeded desire to learn what happened to them. And she also happens to have some psychic abilities too that allows her to commune with an AI named Staden, and the pair serve as the primary protagonists of the series.
There's a lot here and unfortunately the short nature of this series does not allow for all elements to come together neatly. It's also a bit meandering of a read with minimal action or sense of tension, making this a tougher sell than it needs to be. In a way, Hexagon Bridge is a carrier for Blake's artwork which is filled with splendid vistas of surreal landscapes and minimalistic industrial designs. It has a very bande dessinée flair to it with the use of quaint painted colors and fine lines. It's a beautiful looking comic that is somewhat hampered by the lack of defined story, but true science fiction heads will enjoy the conceptual aspects along with the true sense of exploration that this comic evokes.
The premise behind the comic is that a mysterious bridge opens to the Earth, not from another planet or dimension, but rather as a simple construct. It's a recognizable trope popularized by 2001: A Space Odyssey and the like, and Hexagon Bridge dives headfirst into the exploration angle. Humans first send drones across the construct before they succumb to the temptation of exploring it themselves. Among the humans lost to the bridge are Adley's parents, a pair of cartographers who seek the chart the beyond. Adley grows up without her parents but with a deep-seeded desire to learn what happened to them. And she also happens to have some psychic abilities too that allows her to commune with an AI named Staden, and the pair serve as the primary protagonists of the series.
There's a lot here and unfortunately the short nature of this series does not allow for all elements to come together neatly. It's also a bit meandering of a read with minimal action or sense of tension, making this a tougher sell than it needs to be. In a way, Hexagon Bridge is a carrier for Blake's artwork which is filled with splendid vistas of surreal landscapes and minimalistic industrial designs. It has a very bande dessinée flair to it with the use of quaint painted colors and fine lines. It's a beautiful looking comic that is somewhat hampered by the lack of defined story, but true science fiction heads will enjoy the conceptual aspects along with the true sense of exploration that this comic evokes.
Read
May 28, 2024Very pretty in a dreamy Eurocomics sort of way, to the extent of including a flying 2CV, and with hints of Inception when reality starts breaking down - but slow with it, a reminder of the extent to which decompression can take the piss, even against backdrops this easy on the eye. The story is familiar, going on YA: a doorway to another world has been found, inexplicably they sent through both parents of a child, contact was lost, now she's grown up and wants to rescue them. But mainly I'm annoyed that it claims to be set in the 4040s and yet, bar the key novum of the Bridge and one humanoid robot, everything looks much the same as the 2020s, which unless you make it a plot point, is just stupid - call it 2040, maybe 2070, and you'd be fine.
(Edelweiss ARC)
(Edelweiss ARC)
December 24, 2024
Gorgeous art and a hugely inventive story about human consciousness that never really takes off. The large scale ideas are paired with great mesmerizing art but it falls flat for me
November 19, 2024
After reading the premise, I was interested in this book. It turned out different than I thought it would. I don't know if it was just me, but it felt like not much happened in this book. There were a lot of panels and pages of just traveling, without any text. The artwork was nice.
November 6, 2024
Hexagon Bridge is a remarkable book. To the best of my knowledge, Richard Blake is a newcomer to the world of North American comic books, and he does his best to make a strong first impression. Completely lacking any hype or advance warning, he simply appeared, and this is his first comic. Rather remarkable, no?
If for no other reason, Blake's minimalistic art style makes this book worth a look. He gets a lot of mileage out of his simple linework and strong compositions. The art also has an European softness to it. Scale, most notably, is depicted excellently here. Blake does a great job contrasting the smallness of his protagonists with the world they wander through. It's a simple thing but works wonders. And Blake is afforded the ability to pace his book as he however he desires. Often, he lets scenes languidly yet gracefully flow across the page. His grasp on sequential storytelling is very good, and it accentuates the sense of exploration the story gives. His figure work is solid too, managing to easily communicate a character's emotion through body language and simple gestures—a lost art among too many consummate "professionals" in big two comics.
My only complaint about the art is rather singluar: I don't know where I am.
That critique should sound strange in a book about exploration—which, make no mistake, Hexagon Bridge is no doubt about—but I'm not refering to a concrete sense of groundedness. That's not an issue here. If the book didn't evoke the feelings of msytery and wonder around every corner, that would be an issue. I'm refering more to the idea of progression and progress. Simply put, Blake's narrative and art lacks landmarks. In turn, this lack of waymarkers make any asserted progress feel vapid and unsatisfying.
I'm told The Obscure Cities feels similar to this book, but, in my reading experience, my mind gravitates to Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei. It is yet another comic where the protagonist spends the length of it wandering through a sci-fi futurescape without discernible direction. The difference between Blame! and Hexagon Bridge is the major landmarks and storybeats punctuating the former. The placement of those moments (visual and narrative) provide the feeling of progress to the reader. Nihei accentuates the feeling further through his shift in architectural stylings for different sections of Blame!'s world. One likely finds it easy to recall the stitched together network of bridges dangling from the ceiling of a level of the megastructure or the planet sized chamber later in the series. These are distinct locations. And distinction is unfortantely something Blake's settings lack. For all the art's beauty, the world has a habit of blending together too much. It just looks far too similar.
In contrast to the art, I feel like I have little to say about the narrative other than the complaints I had above could be echoed yet again. Blame! doesn't have much of a story, but Nihei constantly reinforces his themes through his art, panel composition, and presentation. One can understand Blame! and what it's saying without stricktly understanding the narrative. I believe Hexagon Bridge lacks thematic meat on which to chew. I don't think there's enough books that successfully and organically capture the feeling of wonder that comes with exploring the unknown, but that idea alone isn't enough to carry a book. The relationships in the book don't offer enough either to get you through it. Blake pays lip service to ideas of transcendance and development, but those nods only come in the last five or so pages. Right before the book, just, ends.
One last addendum: the lettering here ain't it. Blake's a great artist and graphic designer. Take notes Jonathan Hickman, this is truly appealing minimalistic graphic design that grabs and holds the high. But Blake isnt' an letterer, and it shows. The lettering feels stiff. I'm no expert, nor am I well versed in lettering as an art, but I imagine having an expert letterer on board would have further improved the book.
All said, I left Hexagon Bridge wanting more—in the good way. For a first outing, this comic is remarkable. Even more so as a solo effort. While ultimately disappointing in its middle stretch and conclusion, I enjoyed this book and am eagerly anticipating the next time Blake decides to grace the comic rack with another slice of his imagination (hopefully accompanied by a letterer).
Final Score: 4/10
If for no other reason, Blake's minimalistic art style makes this book worth a look. He gets a lot of mileage out of his simple linework and strong compositions. The art also has an European softness to it. Scale, most notably, is depicted excellently here. Blake does a great job contrasting the smallness of his protagonists with the world they wander through. It's a simple thing but works wonders. And Blake is afforded the ability to pace his book as he however he desires. Often, he lets scenes languidly yet gracefully flow across the page. His grasp on sequential storytelling is very good, and it accentuates the sense of exploration the story gives. His figure work is solid too, managing to easily communicate a character's emotion through body language and simple gestures—a lost art among too many consummate "professionals" in big two comics.
My only complaint about the art is rather singluar: I don't know where I am.
That critique should sound strange in a book about exploration—which, make no mistake, Hexagon Bridge is no doubt about—but I'm not refering to a concrete sense of groundedness. That's not an issue here. If the book didn't evoke the feelings of msytery and wonder around every corner, that would be an issue. I'm refering more to the idea of progression and progress. Simply put, Blake's narrative and art lacks landmarks. In turn, this lack of waymarkers make any asserted progress feel vapid and unsatisfying.
I'm told The Obscure Cities feels similar to this book, but, in my reading experience, my mind gravitates to Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei. It is yet another comic where the protagonist spends the length of it wandering through a sci-fi futurescape without discernible direction. The difference between Blame! and Hexagon Bridge is the major landmarks and storybeats punctuating the former. The placement of those moments (visual and narrative) provide the feeling of progress to the reader. Nihei accentuates the feeling further through his shift in architectural stylings for different sections of Blame!'s world. One likely finds it easy to recall the stitched together network of bridges dangling from the ceiling of a level of the megastructure or the planet sized chamber later in the series. These are distinct locations. And distinction is unfortantely something Blake's settings lack. For all the art's beauty, the world has a habit of blending together too much. It just looks far too similar.
In contrast to the art, I feel like I have little to say about the narrative other than the complaints I had above could be echoed yet again. Blame! doesn't have much of a story, but Nihei constantly reinforces his themes through his art, panel composition, and presentation. One can understand Blame! and what it's saying without stricktly understanding the narrative. I believe Hexagon Bridge lacks thematic meat on which to chew. I don't think there's enough books that successfully and organically capture the feeling of wonder that comes with exploring the unknown, but that idea alone isn't enough to carry a book. The relationships in the book don't offer enough either to get you through it. Blake pays lip service to ideas of transcendance and development, but those nods only come in the last five or so pages. Right before the book, just, ends.
One last addendum: the lettering here ain't it. Blake's a great artist and graphic designer. Take notes Jonathan Hickman, this is truly appealing minimalistic graphic design that grabs and holds the high. But Blake isnt' an letterer, and it shows. The lettering feels stiff. I'm no expert, nor am I well versed in lettering as an art, but I imagine having an expert letterer on board would have further improved the book.
All said, I left Hexagon Bridge wanting more—in the good way. For a first outing, this comic is remarkable. Even more so as a solo effort. While ultimately disappointing in its middle stretch and conclusion, I enjoyed this book and am eagerly anticipating the next time Blake decides to grace the comic rack with another slice of his imagination (hopefully accompanied by a letterer).
Final Score: 4/10
June 6, 2024
The art in this is really good, but it didn't quite feel like it hit its stride to me. There was insufficient tension I feel for the hint of suspect resolution we got at the end. Or perhaps insufficient context.
June 2, 2025
Beautiful art with very unique sci-fi world building
February 23, 2025
Came for the short scifi graphic novel with lovely jewel tones, stayed for the koala.
Recommend for fans of Stranger Things who want a pretty, menacing, multi-dimensional not-quite-a-romp.
Definitely doesn't feel complete, and I definitely would read a follow-up if there were one!
Recommend for fans of Stranger Things who want a pretty, menacing, multi-dimensional not-quite-a-romp.
Definitely doesn't feel complete, and I definitely would read a follow-up if there were one!
February 28, 2025
Beautiful, beautiful art and visual. However, I didn’t really connect with the characters and plot and kept expecting a bit more to happen. Looking forward to the artist’s next project though, there’s real potential here.
December 7, 2024
Four stars...for potential. And style. Hexagon Bridge looks absolutely swell. Does it make sense? Er, um, well.
In the far future, we've created a bridge to a, uh, let's call it an alternate universe. Or a pocket universe. Or whatever. It's some Interstellar shit. Two explorers of this alternate universe never returned and now, several years later, their daughter is deemed the best explorer to go after them. Within this universe is all kinds of mathematical nonsense (the landscape often resembles a geometry textbook), plus roving gangs of AI (sometimes good, sometimes bad).
It's high concept for sure. Reminded me a bit of Simon Stalenhag's stuff in that there's not really a story to tell, just a vibe to explore. And Hexagon Bridge does a great job of that.
In the far future, we've created a bridge to a, uh, let's call it an alternate universe. Or a pocket universe. Or whatever. It's some Interstellar shit. Two explorers of this alternate universe never returned and now, several years later, their daughter is deemed the best explorer to go after them. Within this universe is all kinds of mathematical nonsense (the landscape often resembles a geometry textbook), plus roving gangs of AI (sometimes good, sometimes bad).
It's high concept for sure. Reminded me a bit of Simon Stalenhag's stuff in that there's not really a story to tell, just a vibe to explore. And Hexagon Bridge does a great job of that.
November 1, 2024
I have no idea how to review this.
July 23, 2024
"Hexagon Bridge" to debiutancki komiks Richarda Blake'a, który przenosi czytelnika do niezwykłego, równoległego wymiaru. Głównymi bohaterami są Adley, obdarzona darem jasnowidzenia, oraz jej towarzysz, inteligentny robot Staden. Razem wyruszają na misję ratunkową, aby odnaleźć zaginionych w nieznanym świecie rodziców Adley, Jacoba i Elenę Armlenów.
Fabuła "Hexagon Bridge" osadzona jest w roku 4040, kiedy to ludzkość odkrywa przejście do równoległego wymiaru. Blake stworzył intrygujący świat o zmiennej strukturze, pełen surrealistycznych krajobrazów i futurystycznych miast, które przypominają scenerie z filmów takich jak "Incepcja" czy "Paprika". Eksploracja tego świata stanowi główny element komiksu, który jest bardziej skupiony na budowaniu atmosfery i odkrywaniu niż na dynamicznej akcji.
Jednym z największych atutów "Hexagon Bridge" jest jego oprawa graficzna. Blake, jako artysta, stworzył piękne i szczegółowe ilustracje, które doskonale oddają niezwykłość przedstawionego świata. Kolorystyka i design są na wysokim poziomie, co sprawia, że każda strona jest wizualną ucztą. Szczególne uznanie należy się za zdolność do tworzenia atmosfery i tonalnej kontroli, które wyróżniają ten komiks.
Niestety, mimo imponującej oprawy graficznej, "Hexagon Bridge" cierpi na pewne problemy fabularne. Postacie, choć interesujące z założenia, są słabo rozwinięte. Adley i Staden nie przechodzą znaczącej przemiany w trakcie historii, a ich motywacje pozostają powierzchowne. Dialogi są często uproszczone i nie zawsze pchają fabułę do przodu, co sprawia, że tempo opowieści jest nierówne.
Komiks kończy się nagle, co może być frustrujące dla czytelników oczekujących satysfakcjonującej konkluzji. Zakończenie bardziej przypomina przerwanie opowieści niż zamknięcie wątków, co sugeruje, że może być planowana kontynuacja. Niemniej jednak, dla mnie to zbyt duży zawód.
"Hexagon Bridge" to dzieło, które z pewnością przyciągnie uwagę fanów science fiction, zwłaszcza tych, którzy cenią sobie piękne ilustracje i skomplikowane światy (w tym ja). Choć fabuła i rozwój postaci pozostawiają wiele do życzenia, wizualne mistrzostwo i bogata wyobraźnia Blake'a sprawiają, że komiks ten jest wart uwagi.
Sam się męczyłem przy tak trywialnym prowadzeniu narracji i mało angażujących bohaterach lecz byłem zachwycony stroną wizualną (o czym zaznaczyłem powyżej).
Przyjemność 2,7/5
Styl: 3,6/5
Historia: 3,5/5
Ocena: 3,24/5
goodreads - 3/5
thestorygraph - 3,25/5
lubimyczytac - 6/10
Fabuła "Hexagon Bridge" osadzona jest w roku 4040, kiedy to ludzkość odkrywa przejście do równoległego wymiaru. Blake stworzył intrygujący świat o zmiennej strukturze, pełen surrealistycznych krajobrazów i futurystycznych miast, które przypominają scenerie z filmów takich jak "Incepcja" czy "Paprika". Eksploracja tego świata stanowi główny element komiksu, który jest bardziej skupiony na budowaniu atmosfery i odkrywaniu niż na dynamicznej akcji.
Jednym z największych atutów "Hexagon Bridge" jest jego oprawa graficzna. Blake, jako artysta, stworzył piękne i szczegółowe ilustracje, które doskonale oddają niezwykłość przedstawionego świata. Kolorystyka i design są na wysokim poziomie, co sprawia, że każda strona jest wizualną ucztą. Szczególne uznanie należy się za zdolność do tworzenia atmosfery i tonalnej kontroli, które wyróżniają ten komiks.
Niestety, mimo imponującej oprawy graficznej, "Hexagon Bridge" cierpi na pewne problemy fabularne. Postacie, choć interesujące z założenia, są słabo rozwinięte. Adley i Staden nie przechodzą znaczącej przemiany w trakcie historii, a ich motywacje pozostają powierzchowne. Dialogi są często uproszczone i nie zawsze pchają fabułę do przodu, co sprawia, że tempo opowieści jest nierówne.
Komiks kończy się nagle, co może być frustrujące dla czytelników oczekujących satysfakcjonującej konkluzji. Zakończenie bardziej przypomina przerwanie opowieści niż zamknięcie wątków, co sugeruje, że może być planowana kontynuacja. Niemniej jednak, dla mnie to zbyt duży zawód.
"Hexagon Bridge" to dzieło, które z pewnością przyciągnie uwagę fanów science fiction, zwłaszcza tych, którzy cenią sobie piękne ilustracje i skomplikowane światy (w tym ja). Choć fabuła i rozwój postaci pozostawiają wiele do życzenia, wizualne mistrzostwo i bogata wyobraźnia Blake'a sprawiają, że komiks ten jest wart uwagi.
Sam się męczyłem przy tak trywialnym prowadzeniu narracji i mało angażujących bohaterach lecz byłem zachwycony stroną wizualną (o czym zaznaczyłem powyżej).
Przyjemność 2,7/5
Styl: 3,6/5
Historia: 3,5/5
Ocena: 3,24/5
goodreads - 3/5
thestorygraph - 3,25/5
lubimyczytac - 6/10
September 5, 2024
Hexagon Bridge presents a familiar science fiction narrative, where the protagonist’s parents vanish into an alternate dimension. Here one of them encounters an A.I. named Geradus and the other trapped in stasis beneath a house. We follow Adley, our main character, and her A.I., Staden, as they grow up and prepare for their mission to find them. This story is beautifully supported by stunning artwork and vibrant color palettes. The first steps of this mission and the introduction of what appears to be the main cast for the rest of the story are laid out here. All the elements are in place for a potentially great narrative, and I have no doubt it will develop into something remarkable as the series progresses. However, this trade, which collects the first five issues, runs into some areas where the story falls a bit short.
As a setup book, certain parts feel somewhat rushed. The moments that should flesh out our newly introduced characters seem truncated, giving readers only a basic glimpse rather than a deeper connection. Even the main characters suffer from this, though their motivations are more clearly established. A notable example is two characters introduced in a later chapter only have their names given in the Concept Art and once these names are revealed it provides crucial context for their actions. The author/artist excels in world-building and creating stunning set pieces, but this focus on the environment comes at the expense of character development. While the art is gorgeous and the panels flow well, maintaining momentum between action beats and exploration, I found myself wishing for more exposition and time with the other characters to round out the story.
Despite these flaws, I plan to continue with future collected trades of this series, hoping to see further world development and character growth as the story progresses. I’m relieved I wasn’t reading this in single issues, as the slow pacing would have been more frustrating. The trade format works better for this narrative, and perhaps when it’s eventually collected in an omnibus, it will come together more cohesively but that remains to be seen.
As a setup book, certain parts feel somewhat rushed. The moments that should flesh out our newly introduced characters seem truncated, giving readers only a basic glimpse rather than a deeper connection. Even the main characters suffer from this, though their motivations are more clearly established. A notable example is two characters introduced in a later chapter only have their names given in the Concept Art and once these names are revealed it provides crucial context for their actions. The author/artist excels in world-building and creating stunning set pieces, but this focus on the environment comes at the expense of character development. While the art is gorgeous and the panels flow well, maintaining momentum between action beats and exploration, I found myself wishing for more exposition and time with the other characters to round out the story.
Despite these flaws, I plan to continue with future collected trades of this series, hoping to see further world development and character growth as the story progresses. I’m relieved I wasn’t reading this in single issues, as the slow pacing would have been more frustrating. The trade format works better for this narrative, and perhaps when it’s eventually collected in an omnibus, it will come together more cohesively but that remains to be seen.
August 23, 2024
3.5*
It's a gorgeous book, there's no denying that. Basing it off the art alone it'd be an absolutely outstanding comic. It even has some genuinely interesting and somewhat unique ideas which are pretty rare around AI and .
But I still found that I had to force myself to finish it. I put it down around halfway through and didn't pick it back up again until I had pretty much cleared out the rest of my to read shelf. I even stopped at something of a cliffhanger to help compel myself to keep it going. I'm not sure if I wish it were shorter and snappier or longer and more detailed, but as it is, it just felt a little toothless. The characters felt like they only existed to give context for the world building, or to create excuses for the art to do something interesting. Like the cardboard cutouts used in sport stadiums in 2020 to make the broadcasts less empty, the characters just seemed there to populate the pages.
I know that sounds pretty damning, but after finishing the book I definitely count it as an enjoyable read. But it's an enjoyable read for people who like world building far more than character driven storytelling. For people who want to see delightfully intricate and abstract cities suspended in ethereal space.
It's a breezy read, and if you enjoy great art and a bit of sci-fi you'll enjoy it. The biggest problem you are likely to have is not that you didn't, but that you wish you enjoyed it more.
It's a gorgeous book, there's no denying that. Basing it off the art alone it'd be an absolutely outstanding comic. It even has some genuinely interesting and somewhat unique ideas which are pretty rare around AI and .
But I still found that I had to force myself to finish it. I put it down around halfway through and didn't pick it back up again until I had pretty much cleared out the rest of my to read shelf. I even stopped at something of a cliffhanger to help compel myself to keep it going. I'm not sure if I wish it were shorter and snappier or longer and more detailed, but as it is, it just felt a little toothless. The characters felt like they only existed to give context for the world building, or to create excuses for the art to do something interesting. Like the cardboard cutouts used in sport stadiums in 2020 to make the broadcasts less empty, the characters just seemed there to populate the pages.
I know that sounds pretty damning, but after finishing the book I definitely count it as an enjoyable read. But it's an enjoyable read for people who like world building far more than character driven storytelling. For people who want to see delightfully intricate and abstract cities suspended in ethereal space.
It's a breezy read, and if you enjoy great art and a bit of sci-fi you'll enjoy it. The biggest problem you are likely to have is not that you didn't, but that you wish you enjoyed it more.
September 26, 2025
A not very successful attempt at storytelling.
I found this book ranked quite high on a list of best comics of 2024 and I was captivated by the premise and a few images. Unfortunately, just because it looks good and sounds good in theory, doesn't mean it delivers.
The worst thing is the story. It reminds me of the book Piranesi and the video game Control. The premise is good, but the story is insuficiently thought out, the execution is poor, the characters are flat and the dialogue terrible. Moreover, this volume is just a (very long) prologue to something I don't care to read.
The illustration, inspired by Moebius, is highly praised, but... I have my complaints here. The colors are fantastic, the architecture is impressive and the technical skill for human figures is on point, but... the characters lack expressiveness. They strike perfect poses, like in a fashion moodboard, but they don't live, they don't feel and they don't elicit emotion in the reader.
I also have some issues with the transitions between panels - sometimes it lacks an anchor or flow or coherence. It feels like a gallery of concept art, instead of cursive visual storytelling. And there are way too many panels that are beautiful (a la Moebius), but don't build the story - the comic is bloated, the pahe count is there, but the story is not.
The intention was good, but the result is lacking. Maybe the author can pair with a writer for the next volume.
I found this book ranked quite high on a list of best comics of 2024 and I was captivated by the premise and a few images. Unfortunately, just because it looks good and sounds good in theory, doesn't mean it delivers.
The worst thing is the story. It reminds me of the book Piranesi and the video game Control. The premise is good, but the story is insuficiently thought out, the execution is poor, the characters are flat and the dialogue terrible. Moreover, this volume is just a (very long) prologue to something I don't care to read.
The illustration, inspired by Moebius, is highly praised, but... I have my complaints here. The colors are fantastic, the architecture is impressive and the technical skill for human figures is on point, but... the characters lack expressiveness. They strike perfect poses, like in a fashion moodboard, but they don't live, they don't feel and they don't elicit emotion in the reader.
I also have some issues with the transitions between panels - sometimes it lacks an anchor or flow or coherence. It feels like a gallery of concept art, instead of cursive visual storytelling. And there are way too many panels that are beautiful (a la Moebius), but don't build the story - the comic is bloated, the pahe count is there, but the story is not.
The intention was good, but the result is lacking. Maybe the author can pair with a writer for the next volume.
July 21, 2024
Why do the most beautiful books always end up being the most shallow?
I feel like I slept through this entire book. There really isn't much of a story, but I'll try to explain what it's actually about for people who are interested in picking it up.
Adley is a psychic (this is never explained), and she can see and guide people through a parallel sci-fi dimension. Her parents are missing there, so they build a robot to psychically link with her so he can travel in the other dimension while she guides him to where her parents might be (Why? This is also never explained). The first half of the book is them preparing for the journey, and the second half of the book is him traveling in said world while Adley does nothing but say "Okay, go this way. Now go that way."
Aaaaand I just spoiled everything that happens in Hexagon Bridge. It really is 120 pages of nothing happening with some pretty imagery. The characters rarely talk, and they have *zero* personality. When the story finally gets a bit interesting, it abruptly ends. It turns out this is just part 1 of a larger story because it ends on a lame cliffhanger.
Richard Blake clearly wanted to make an art book but tacked on a lazy story with possibly the most forgettable characters ever in order to sell it as a comic. I'd skip this.
I feel like I slept through this entire book. There really isn't much of a story, but I'll try to explain what it's actually about for people who are interested in picking it up.
Adley is a psychic (this is never explained), and she can see and guide people through a parallel sci-fi dimension. Her parents are missing there, so they build a robot to psychically link with her so he can travel in the other dimension while she guides him to where her parents might be (Why? This is also never explained). The first half of the book is them preparing for the journey, and the second half of the book is him traveling in said world while Adley does nothing but say "Okay, go this way. Now go that way."
Aaaaand I just spoiled everything that happens in Hexagon Bridge. It really is 120 pages of nothing happening with some pretty imagery. The characters rarely talk, and they have *zero* personality. When the story finally gets a bit interesting, it abruptly ends. It turns out this is just part 1 of a larger story because it ends on a lame cliffhanger.
Richard Blake clearly wanted to make an art book but tacked on a lazy story with possibly the most forgettable characters ever in order to sell it as a comic. I'd skip this.
January 12, 2025
Explorers, cartologists by training encounter new worlds in other dimensions, part artificial, part real, and populated by unrestricted Artificial Reality (AI). The concept is timely. The premise: can humans navigate AI that they haven't created and don't control? The artwork is saturated with vague images of cities and buildings and something like buildings that hang in the air, changing constantly. There is more going on than can be seen. An advanced robot with a psychic link to a woman whose parents, with similar abilities, are lost in this strange AI world that is unlike any traditional world. It's all very interesting, but like most comics that find some success as a compilation into a graphic novel, they are short on dialogue and long on art. The two art forms often complement each other, although the art can be distracting. I get the feeling that the authors use this to good effect because a lot has to be inferred from the way the artwork represents the elements of the story, with minimal dialogue or explanations in words. But that's the future of reading, isn't it?
Read
June 23, 2024I really wanted get into this. While the sci-fi canvas Hexagon Bridge paints is fascinating and the art is thoughtful and absorbing, there's a lack of character depth here that's hard to get over. While I've seen critics compare that quality to Hickman's work, this strikes me as basically a misread: Hickman's work is never emotionally static, just removed. The story amounts to little, beyond the characters having a goal which they quickly achieve with little-to-no friction. There's just not much Aboutness, even though the sci-fi details are genuinely engaging.
As far as I can tell, this is Blake's first published comic. I'm excited to see where his career takes him next, and I hope that the industry (Direct Market or otherwise) can find a way to nurture his clear talents for atmosphere, worldbuilding, and tonal control in the same way that it could nurture Hickman a couple decades ago.
As far as I can tell, this is Blake's first published comic. I'm excited to see where his career takes him next, and I hope that the industry (Direct Market or otherwise) can find a way to nurture his clear talents for atmosphere, worldbuilding, and tonal control in the same way that it could nurture Hickman a couple decades ago.
June 6, 2024
It's a fun adventure/exploration series. The interior art in this is gorgeous. Absolutely love the overall design of this whole book. I like that this comic skips all the boring exposition and lets us piece things together for ourselves. The world is strange, but it's also grounded with modern science and technology (A.I., alternate dimensions, robotics) that readers will understand. The art is the main attraction, but the writing is good, and I like that the author strikes a balance between pages with only art and pages with words. The weakest part of this series are probably the characters. We’re not really given anything much about them. The story as well, although felt like an adventure didn’t really have anything much to say. Overall, I think it’s worth the read.
December 6, 2024
3.5 stars overall; 4.5 stars for the art, less so for the story
I'm not actually sure why I don't like this more than I do, after all the artwork throughout is gorgeous, absolutely stunning, but the story itself reads fairly flat, without much in the way of thrill or 'challenge' I guess. The idea of the The Bridge itself is intriguing and at the beginning, to me at least, there was some misdirection going on, with the intent of Gerardus hinted at not being necessarily friendly.
I guess my biggest problem with it is that it's set in 4040, but we don't get to see the world beyond, there's no context to the lives of Adley or what her parents Jacob & Elena left behind when they went map-making and exploring in the Hexagon Bridge, except for Adley herself. Disappointing.
I'm not actually sure why I don't like this more than I do, after all the artwork throughout is gorgeous, absolutely stunning, but the story itself reads fairly flat, without much in the way of thrill or 'challenge' I guess. The idea of the The Bridge itself is intriguing and at the beginning, to me at least, there was some misdirection going on, with the intent of Gerardus hinted at not being necessarily friendly.
I guess my biggest problem with it is that it's set in 4040, but we don't get to see the world beyond, there's no context to the lives of Adley or what her parents Jacob & Elena left behind when they went map-making and exploring in the Hexagon Bridge, except for Adley herself. Disappointing.
March 8, 2025
This was a bit confusing, and I guess this was the purpose.
The story is about explorers Jacob and Elena Armlen who get stuck in a weird parallel world with strange landscapes and changing buildings, filled with tricky creatures. Their daughter Adley, who can see the future, and a smart robot named Staden go on a risky mission to save them, facing a world where reality keeps changing.
I was expecting more of the story, BUT you have to go have a look at the book for its stunning art. The author mixes floating buildings, impossible geometry, and futuristic and Victorian elements.
I really like how he tried to convey the idea of parallel worlds in architecture drawings. I don't think I had seen it done this way before. Gorgeous and so relevant.
The story is about explorers Jacob and Elena Armlen who get stuck in a weird parallel world with strange landscapes and changing buildings, filled with tricky creatures. Their daughter Adley, who can see the future, and a smart robot named Staden go on a risky mission to save them, facing a world where reality keeps changing.
I was expecting more of the story, BUT you have to go have a look at the book for its stunning art. The author mixes floating buildings, impossible geometry, and futuristic and Victorian elements.
I really like how he tried to convey the idea of parallel worlds in architecture drawings. I don't think I had seen it done this way before. Gorgeous and so relevant.
April 22, 2025
I’d give the art is a solid 5 stars, and the story 3 stars. The world building (literally and figuratively here) is astounding and it feels like Blake has created something he could come back to if desired. The story is a little hard to follow at times, but the wonderful art helps and even carries the load for multiple wordless pages through beautiful, eerie worlds that inspire the imagination. There are panels I’d love to explore more themselves as they speak to incredible worlds we only just glimpse in this story. This is good “big concept” sci-fi, and the worlds explored are incredible, but don’t expect a tightly woven, intricate narrative. This is a graphic novel that I want to explore again after I’ve had some time to think about it.
December 24, 2024
The art is stunning, I loved the aesthetic clash of XXth century architecture with the creative geometry, androids and all that Inception-inspired jazz. I'm tempted to print out some of the panels and pages, it's really that good.
The plot however... it's threadbare, almost non-existent and just kind of fizzles out with no apparent resolution. Not that the setup was compelling. It feels like a Rick Remender premise, but without his character work, or a Hickman story with much less refined and daring sci-fi ideas.
I'm curious what the author can achieve in the future with better scripts - either his own, or teamed up with others.
The plot however... it's threadbare, almost non-existent and just kind of fizzles out with no apparent resolution. Not that the setup was compelling. It feels like a Rick Remender premise, but without his character work, or a Hickman story with much less refined and daring sci-fi ideas.
I'm curious what the author can achieve in the future with better scripts - either his own, or teamed up with others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews