We Called Them Giants

by Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans (Artist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer)

We Called Them Giants is a story of communication across a chasm at the end of the world.

Lori wakes to find the streets empty. Everyone has gone. Or at least, nearly everyone. She’s thrown into a world where she has to scrape by in the ruins of civilization, nearly starving, hiding from gangs when…

They arrive.

The award-winning team behind dark fantasy smash DIE release their first stand alone original graphic novel.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

104 pages, Hardcover

First published November 12, 2024

About the author

Kieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.

Reviews

[MagretFume · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hauntingly beautiful. 

The art was mesmerising and I loved the premise, but I missed something in the execution. 

I wanted to know more, about the Giants or or the characters, I'm not sure, but I needed more to feel really engrossed in in the story. 

It somehow felt incomplete.

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 3 out of 5]

People really do love their pets, is what we seem to have here. And then your pet will get you killed.

Lovely art by Hans, as is to be expected. Kind of a ho-hum story by Gillen, that'll remind you of a lot of stuff you'll already have read and watched. I expect more from Gillen, I guess.

(Thanks to Image Comics for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley

[Chantaal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous art from Stephanie Hans, which is no surprise, but overall it was missing something.

This is the story of what happens after a rapture, when there are few people left trying to survive. There is a stoic character, a hopeful one, a trusted adult, a roving gang of awful people, and...Giants?

While I think I can see what metaphor was being attempted here, I feel the execution did not work out. I felt little to no emotion for any of the characters, nor for the events unfolding. There wasn't enough information given about anything to make me care.

A disappointing read from Kieron Gillen.

Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for proving an eARC for review.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations here are breathtaking. I just wish the actual story had held up. The premise is right up my alley, so I’m disappointed I didn’t like it more. The main character is hard to root for, although she certainly has the right to be cynical. The story just didn’t do it for me, and the ending just made me angry. I would have liked to learn more about the giants, but alas…

3.5, bumped up to 4 because the artwork is so beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for an advance copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork, but story wasn't that good

[Ian Payton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about disconnection, communication, power, trust, and found family.

Lori has spent a life moving from one foster family to another. Her take-away lesson from all of this is that, ultimately, people will leave you. And then they did. All of them. She wakes up one day to find streets and houses deserted - except for a school friend, Annette. They scavenge and try to survive as best they can, and avoid the gang who call themselves the Dogs.

Then one day, inexplicably, two alien craft land. The intent of their giant occupants, or their reasons for being there, remaining mysterious. Lori, Annette and Beatrice form an uneasy acquaintance with one of the giants. The giant seems benevolent, but his purpose remains unknown, and communication seems impossible, despite effort on both sides.

Then there is the inevitable conflict - which, of course, resolves by the end of the story. But there is much that remains unexplained. What caused the disappearance of a majority of the population? Where did the giants come from, and were they somehow responsible for the disappearance, or have they arrived because of it?

The story appears to be a metaphor for some of the feelings and life experience that Lori has had in the hands of a care system that has hardened her against love and attachment - and it also seems to signal this in quite a heavy-handed way towards the end of the story. But for me this made the story neither one thing nor another: there is too little detail for the story around the appearance of the giants, and I didn’t really feel the emotional connection with Lori.

So while the visuals were gorgeous, the story really wasn’t for me.

Thank you #NetGalley and Image Comics for the free review copy of #WeCalledThemGiants in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It ended abruptly, it's bleak, pretty hopeless and makes NO sense. Do not go into this expecting ANY answers.

Also, the MC is the reason the ending goes south, so there is that. Maybe the moral is "be more trusting"? IDK, whatever it was, it was too much of a downer for me.

If you like twisted, less than happy endings, but not bad endings, then this will work for you. It was too dark for me, but it wasn't bad. The artwork wasn't bad and the characters didn't deviate much from who they were, but they didn't grow enough in time either...

I'm waffling on the rounding, up or down from 2.5, but I liked it more than I disliked it, so I'll round up.

3, interesting but frustratingly few answers to a LOT of questions, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stand alone graphic novel with an intriguing story..possibly needed it be a bit longer to really empathise with the characters and their situation.

[Silvana · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork was pretty cool (except the human eyes, a bit scary, arent't they?) but the story was pretty bland and rather pointless. Gillen's 4th or 5th story that I read and I think he's overrated. Most the better ratings I gave to his works were because of the artworks.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're expecting a lot of "whys" answered in this sci-fi/dystopian graphic novel, you won't get that. Who are the giants, what is their endgame, and what happened to humanity? Readers are left in the dark along with the ragtag bands of humans who are trying to survive in this strange new world.

Mild spoilers ahead:
However, GIANTS is not only gorgeous to look at, but it is clever in the way it gradually reveals that the humans in this story are clearly meant to represent stray cats. Other than the main character making an offhand comment at the story's beginning that her foster family had promised her a pet cat and had not delivered--a recurring theme in her life--and the younger girl's habit of wearing a knit cap with feline ears, the clues aren't immediately decipherable. But as the story goes on, the red giant, with its offering of warmth, shelter, and good food--in trade for the humans' inability to leave the giant's dwelling for the hazard-filled world outside. The three humans at the story's center are even recognizable rescue "types"--the kitten who knew nothing but love, is bewildered by the loss of her only home, and just wants the comforts of being cared for again; the senior cat who is done with running and just wants a warm cozy place by the fire; and the wary semi-feral who trusts no one and wants to make a break for it every time the door is opened, even if it causes catastrophe.

[ari ୨♡୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

We Called Them Giants is a nice read with artwork that truly sets the scene beautifully. The premise is great and full of potential, but it falls short in the storyline department. The story moves way too fast, making it feel like you're missing chapters of important information. While the art is impressive and the concept intriguing, the narrative could use more development to fully realize its potential.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in advance 🤍

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overall interesting title. The art is wonderful. Like a trippy acid filled trip through a dark and almost mad max type area. I really dug the art, designs, and all of that. The story though sadly is where it lost me. None of the characters clicked for me, I felt like they could have had SO much more depth to make me care when someone is in danger or dies. But the art itself makes this a book to read through even if the story can't measure up.

[Valéria. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn’t have the quality of Die at all, but it was nice. I think I’d like it more if we got to know characters a bit more, some backstory for Giants, just something deeper. The artwork is beautiful.
3/5

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Stunning art, beautiful colors, average story and characters.

[Lexi Denee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think that I have read a comic or graphic novel as an adult. This was an entirely new genre for me and I was instantly gripped up by the cover when I saw it on NetGalley. The premise sounded perfect for me, so I jumped in!

I was absolutely blown away by this beautiful story. It took me a minute to figure out how to “read” this format as my eyes and brain were a bit overloaded with the amazing illustrations. Once I got into a rhythm, I discovered a story that devastated me (in the best way.)

We Called Them Giants is a beautiful exploration of communication and humanity. The characters were very ~real~ and Beatrice almost made me cry just from being so adorable. I loved all the feels and vibes I was able to get from this one in just over 100 pages. What an amazing introduction to the genre - if you have any recommendations on comics or graphic novels that lean towards sci-fi (or horror,) please drop them below!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for the eARC of this unique title!!**

[Scotts Shelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

We Called Them Giants has a great concept and a dream team behind it, but whilst this is an endearing story about survival & empathy I wish there was more... I've read plenty of Kieron Gillen stories where there have been 30+ issues and the amount of depth he can develop the characters over this amount of issues is so impressive and whilst I understood the relationships and emotions behind this story, I felt the intended heart tugs were lacking due to this being such a fast, short read.

If you're a fan of KG or Stephanie Hans, then by all means, read this story, but I don't think you'll rate it as highly as their other works.

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great graphic novel with beautiful art and a very Beautiful story. With most stories like these I always find myself wishing it was just a tad bit longer. With it only being around 100 pages it can make it hard to fully Connect w/ the characters and the plot. Other than that very happy to have picked this one up!
Thank you netgalley as well as the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth Cato · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a graphic novel finalist in the Hugo Awards.

This was a fast read. The art is lush and gorgeous, the subject matter post-apocalyptic in nature. I was left frustrated by the unknowns in the plot, but the emotional arc resolves nicely.

[Dan P · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun metaphorical premise that would be perfect for a one-shot comic, but feels somewhat stretched to full graphic novel length. Probably a nice gift for the cat-loving comic reader in your life

[Alex Sarll]

The team behind Die return with a self-contained story that opens simply enough: a prickly foster child, who has long since internalised the lesson that everyone leaves, wakes one day to find that everyone really has. Or almost everyone; she meets one kid she knows, and soon there's a gang holed up in the mall, but the vast mass of humanity has vanished. And then, as the title and cover suggest, something else appears.

It's a hard one to talk about without giving too much away, but how's about this: on one level it's surprisingly long considered as a single unit from Gillen, a debut original graphic novel from someone who's already had a substantial career in single issues. And if you squint you can see where the chapter breaks might have come, but the mood definitely benefits from not being obliged to contort around them. At the same time, it's also quite short - this would have been, what, four issues, when even his miniseries usually run to five. Meaning the characters are of necessity done in broader strokes, though never to the extent of feeling sketched; they're real people, it just feels a little odd not knowing what their favourite bands are, y'know? Considered in plot terms, this could easily have been a Future Shock, but I don't mean that in the damning way I often do for Image SF books. Apart from anything else, that would have meant fewer pages of Stephanie Hans art, and especially in this quieter, emptied-out world she's doing a lot of the lifting. Just past a hundred pages is the perfect balance; short enough to be a one-sitting read, long enough to get sufficiently invested that the ending hits as hard as it needs to, and the experience can burrow its way in, the better to subsequently haunt.

SPOILERS from here on, though I'll try to keep them as pointers rather than full reveals: possibly it's the precise mulch of creative input I've had over the years, a particular strand of misanthropic sixties and seventies SF combined with a specific strain of apparently wholesome posts on Tumblr &c about animals, but I was way ahead of the narrator on what the giant wanted from the humans, and the deeply frustrating attempts at communication between the two species (some excellent work from letterer Clayton Cowles here). And I like that she never turned to camera and did the encapsulation of what was going on. But I honestly don't know whether it was meant to come as a surprise at any point, though the journey was beautiful enough and the pace judged sufficiently well that I didn't mind either way.

(Netgalley ARC - and if anyone knows why Image is currently putting some stuff on there half a year in advance, and others on Edelweiss in the month of release, I'd love to be filled in on the thinking, though in the meantime I'm certainly not going to look gift review copies in the mouth, and I don't just mean because ebooks don't have mouths)

[rose ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“everything up to this point had been subtraction. this was addition. my life would never be the same again.”

a lifetime in the foster system has taught lori one thing: people will leave you. then she wakes up one morning to find everyone—well, almost everyone—gone. she and a handful of others are left behind to attempt survival in a world filled with new threats: roaming gangs, starvation, the elements. then the giants arrive.

the illustrations here are so gorgeous and captivating, i just wish the story measured up. i quite liked the premise and i think the themes of communication, loss, and abandonment have a lot of potential, but the story itself is lacking somehow—it’s very bare bones compared to the lovely artwork, and the ending, while touching, is rather abrupt. i wanted more.

that said, if this was the first in a series, i would read the sequel without hesitation.

thank you to netgalley and image comics for the eARC!

rating: 3.5/5.0 stars

“we never truly understand each other, not really.”

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We Called Them Giants" is a moderately paced apocalyptic tale that is both poignant and thought provoking. Expect an angry narrator, a benevolent supernatural patron, a blighted Winter landscape, threats from every angle and a ray of iridescent hope.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Image Comics, for providing, me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded to 4.

[Korynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art was beautiful but the story was lacking something. I liked the apocalyptic setting but the plot felt incomplete, and I didn’t quite understand what the author was trying to communicate with the ending.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt.like something was missing from the story. I don't mind that it's mysterious with the disappearance, the food and the Giants. But what was the story 'about'?

I enjoyed reading it but I do expect more from this creative team. Hans I guess did all they could. Art and colours were great.

[CadmanReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Image Comics for the ARC.

I have to start by saying how much I absolutely loved the front cover of We Called Them Giants. It’s stunning, and the art style immediately drew me in—it’s the kind of cover that practically whispers, “Pick me up!” even if you don’t know anything about the story inside. That’s exactly what happened to me. I went in completely blind, just trusting the beauty of the illustrations.

And I’m so glad I did. The art throughout the graphic novel is just as mesmerizing as the cover, perfectly capturing the story's mood. It has this mix of grandeur and melancholy that lingers with you long after you’ve finished reading. Using colour and detail made every page feel alive, and I found myself pausing just to take it all in.

The story itself feels like a modern myth, blending themes of loss in a post-apocalyptic world. The titular giants are both interesting and well-designed but I also like the other groups that have formed as part of this world. It's a multilayer story where everything isn't fully explained which kept the story engaging.

The story is poignant, emotional, and thought-provoking. But honestly, it was the art that hooked me and kept me turning the pages.
If you’re someone who appreciates graphic novels with breathtaking visuals and a story that feels timeless, I can’t recommend this enough. Even if you go in, like me, knowing nothing about the plot, the journey will surprise and move you. We Called Them Giants is a treasure of a book, and I’m so glad the cover convinced me to give it a chance.

[Dane Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just have to start with, even though all Stephanie Hans draws, is gorgeous. This was top tier. I mean, insanely haunting and beautiful.

It's a story about an apocalyptic event that's not really the point. Which is my favorite kind of apocalyptic story. What happened/how it happened isn't the point, and doesn't matter. Survival does. If you're looking for answers, you will be disappointed or let down. Survival, skepticism, communication, and the unknown make up this story of two young women navigating a new world and new visitors. It poses questions like, "What happens when your worst fears about safety and love come true?" That you can be loved and not all will let you down. Whether they be human or not.

I would love to see more in this world if Gillen and Hanz ever decide to expand more, but I'll take a short, simple (yet deep) beautiful one-shot tale any day.

Thanks to NetGalley and Image for the ARC. Will def pick up a physical copy on release.

[nellied_b · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

"Anything smells good when you're starving."

I wasn't sure what exactly to expect from this, but I trusted Kieron enough not to write a bad story and of course, it didn't disappoint.

In a world where a large portion of the population has disappeared and a fierce gang - 'The Dogs' - run rampant, hoarding and killing, Lori and Annette are simply trying to survive.

Thats when they arrive.

Two giants, red and emerald, unable to communicate with humans. No one knows why they're here or where they came from or what they want, but the unknown is dangerous and Lori doesn't know who to trust.

This was a beautiful story about grief and communication, love and loss, and how our experiences shape our outlook. The artistry was as gorgeous as the writing and brought the coldness of winter and the intensity of the final battle between Red and Emerald.

The ending was short and succinct without being rushed or feeling out of place. Very much enjoyed every inch of this story and honestly it's just made me want to get a physical copy to admire it even further.

Thank you Image Comics & NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this comic - all opinions are my own.

[Cloude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most gorgeous graphic novels I've ever read. I want to frame every panel on my wall! The use of colour, in particular, is chefs kiss.

The story was pretty fun. You follow a girl who wakes up to find most of humanity is just *gone*. She pairs up with another girl and they try to survive by scavenging for tins of food and avoiding violent gangs. Fairy early on, they discover these two enormous giant 'creatures' have come from the sky, and the rest of the story follows them trying to figure out who they are, what they want, and what it means for their world.

Without wanting to give anything away, there is a pretty funny theme that runs as an undercurrent beneath this story, and i'm not sure if its actually trying to say anything, but the parallels were fun to uncover all the same.

It's only just now that I'm realising we don't really get any definitive conclusions to a lot of the mysteries that are presented in the story. I hope they'll do a sequel to tie up those loose ends.

I'm going to head out and devour everything by illustrator Stephanie Hans now ✌

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Summer (speaking_bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began and finished this graphic novel in one sitting. At about 100 pages this is easily digestible. The creators of this book also created the graphic novel series DIE. I’ve only read the first few volumes of that series but one thing I can say for it is that the art style is stunning and the storyline super inventive. Those same attributes were found in We Called Them Giants.

I believe this is a standalone story but it packs a punch. The story takes off at a breakneck speed and the reader is never really sure how the events in the world got the way they are but the focus is really on how the characters faced that adversity. I’ll warn you that the ending will HURT but the journey is totally worth it. If anything what this story lacks is meat- I wanted more but at the same time I think it stands well as it is. Highly recommend.

[Aquila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen in exchange for my honest feedback.

Right out of the gate, I was floored by the art in this book. It is vivid, vibrant, and strangely ethereal. I enjoyed following Lori's journey and seeing her grow through the trials she encounters as she navigates a new world where the old one once stood.

I think my only qualm with this book is that I wanted to know more. I wanted to have some hint of what happened to the world. I wanted some idea of what the giants were or where they came from. If we ever get to read more of this world, I will do so happily, but if this is ultimately all we get, I'm still glad I had the opportunity to read it.