Mariko Between Worlds

by Matthew Erman, Liana Kangas (illustrator)

Mariko and Rem are breaking up but they have one last night together in the Mall of Portals, an inter-dimensional consumerist heaven full of unending vice, before Rem takes his new job doing data entry on the Moon of Plenty. With a couple hours to spare, no personal repercussions and entire dimensions at their fingertips -- what's the worse that could happen?

This out of this world rom-com is straight out of the year 2099, but speaks to a feeling that time will never change. The fear of loss. Artist Liana Kangas teams up with author Matthew Erman to create a world of lust and star dust. Find yourself navigating the human condition with the most out of this galaxy characters. Mariko Between Worlds is a realistic down to earth graphic novel completely off the wall swarming with magic portals and sexy aliens.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comics, Adult

Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

Matthew Erman is a writer from Columbus, Ohio. Erman is known for his unique storytelling style which often blends humor and heart with the surreal and sometimes disturbing. He co-created the critically acclaimed horror series, "Long Lost,” and the roadtrip fantasy "Witchblood" with his wife, Lisa Sterle as well as being the sole creator for the sci-fi coming-of-age graphic novel “Bonding”. Erman also has written for popular properties such as Power Rangers and The Dark Crystal and has upcoming comics with Mad Cave Studios, IDW, and more.


You can find him online at www.matthewerman.com or in-line at your local Arby’s.

Reviews

[michelle (travelingbooknerds) · Rating 4 out of 5]

mariko, our main character, finds out her inter-dimensional visa gets denied so she cannot accompany her partner, rem, to their new job on the moon of plenty, so they decide to spend the time they have together before rem must leave to report to their new job by traveling through portals to different worlds having a night fun, but also possibly for another reason…

the art by liana kangas is absolutely stunning, full color all the way through. the worlds each so unique, distinct, and intricate as mariko and rem travel through each one. it was so exciting to discover what each little world looks like, the denizens that inhabit and frequent the locations mariko and rem travel to—the creativity and visual joy each panel presents is awe-inspiring. the color palate and images have been swirling around my brain all day since i finished reading last night before bed.

my favorite aspect of the text, and what i think is the most impactful thing i walk away with from this text upon completion, is how healthy the depiction and process of a relationship ends is a prevalent theme this piece. this graphic novel is going to help and impact so many young adults and people who need more access to examples of creative content illustrating healthy ways to diverge and grow apart from people as opposed to fighting or perpetuating this continued proliferated idea that all break ups must be construed as a negative or considered a failure when they are absolutely not. sometimes circumstances occur or people grow and change in their wants and desires for themselves and the future which no longer aligns with the dreams and goals you have yourself. the adult mature thing is to check in with self and with partner continuously to ensure you still desire what you desire and are on the same page as your partner. as depicted in mariko between worlds, there may need to be conversations and adjustments. i personally never learned that lesson until way later in life because i didn’t have parents who resolved conflict in a healthy way, so to see how people can be kind, thoughtful, and respectful of each other even when choosing different paths after arriving together at a fork in the road at as a teen or young adult honestly makes me feel a little emotional in the best way.

i related to mariko a lot and really loved her chaotic but lovable personality and i thought writer matthew erman did a great job with rem’s dialogue and their whole relationship and how they communicate just felt so real and grounded in this place that sent me back in time to my own lived experiences that mirrored the one depicted in the text. just this whole piece is so subtle and well-balanced in showing us through the course of the story that the ending is earned and i felt so happy for all the characters and where they end up by the conclusion of the story.

i loved the diversity and representation. speculative fiction and graphic novels are such great genres and mediums because i truly believe they are so much more understanding, accepting, and consistently working in diversity and inclusion into their storytelling since day one. it’s such a stunning way to allegorically introduce ideas to people who may not be inclined to pick up books exploring themes of diversity and inclusion from an alternative approach and i’m all for it!

very excited for everyone of all ages to enjoy this graphic novel. i definitely see myself reaching for it again for rereads as a comfort read.

endless thanks and raucous cheers to mad cave studios and netgalley for a copy of this stunning e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not the graphic novel for me. I had a very hard time following it and staying interested in the story because I felt like there were a lot of gaps that didn't seem to get filled in. It read (for me) more like a novel adaptation - which it isn't - than like a complete graphic novel. I also expected more romance somehow than was in the book. I would have been ok with that, if there had been more world building but I also didn't feel like the space in which the characters lived was fleshed out enough either. I will agree with the book description as off the wall because that was definitely the vibe from start to finish.

All in all, I did not enjoy this one and had a really hard time getting from front to back without taking some healthy pauses for a story that was more satisfying.

I will add the caveat that I need a graphic novel to be more complete so maybe that's on me. It's the same reason that I don't do comic books because they tend to have a collection of incomplete stories and I can't tie them all together well.

* I received an ARC via NetGalley

[Radwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had the potentional to be a good story, but I always felt like I was missing something, like I'm reading the 2nd pr 3rd volume of a series. There's no explanation to what's happening at all, and I felt nothing towards the two main characters, which are supposedly in love and are breaking up and decide to spend a last night of fun before one of them flies off to the moon?

I liked the art, I just wish the story was more coherent.

[Gab · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Mariko Between Worlds tells the story of a relationship coming to a turning point, forcing the two to reevaluate whether they truly want to be together anymore.

I really enjoyed the colourful art style and the complicated but interesting world building. I also think the unhealthy relationship was portrayed in a believable way, how sometimes people can get stuck in familiar settings and forget to question whether it's making them really happy.

Unfortunately, the characters didn't feel consistent and the humour was too "on the nose" for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two people take a wild ride through different dimensions on the last night of their relationship. Sci-fi, heartbreak, and crazy partying? Yes, please!

I really liked the concept and story idea. I think it's important to not only focus on the romantic stages of relationships, or relationships ending because of inconsolably horrible actions of one partner. I enjoyed how Mariko realized they were not great for each other, and how Rem could appreciate the end of the relationship as something enabling him to grow.
The journey itself, however, was a little too chaotic for me, visually as well as writing-wise. The art style is on the rougher side, which in itself is neither good or bad, but there was so much going on that it was hard to follow at times. The pacing also felt a little off: the scene changes were so frequent while the comic book was very short, so no location could really be explored. The characters and their relationship likewise felt underdeveloped and I think that with a little more time, Mariko Between Worlds could've turned into a really emotionally rich story. This way, it was entertaining and gave me glimpses of a cool world, but I couldn't really get into it. Though I liked the ending a whole lot!

- ARC provided by NetGalley -

[Jillianne Prescott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mariko Between Worlds is a great look at relationships and defining yourself in and out of a relationship. Mariko and Rem need to find themselves before the night ends and they choose what their future will look like. It was well written but at times the font used made it difficult to smoothly read the dialogue.

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-arc from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you MetGalley and Mad Cave Studios!

This book was so fun! Reminiscent of Brian K. Vaughan’s Saga with a dash of Sally Rooney’s Normal People and gorgeous illustrations, this book worked well for me.

I expected this book to be a multiversal rom-com, but it’s not quite that. It’s definitely about love, but was a more nuanced approach in how love can change or look different over time.

Mariko’s journey felt fairly realized by the end of the book and cohesive in the way her story was told. That being said, the axolotl himbo boyfriend was an absolute highlight.

[Breanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

this graphic novel is beautiful! i absolutely love the colors and art style. granted, this is my first graphic novel i've ever read but i enjoyed it! i related to Mariko a lot, and i empathized with her trying to understand her own self-worth. some of the dialogue felt a little cringey, but i think it was because it's supposed to be cringey. some parts ended abruptly which took me out of the story at times. i liked the character designs a lot, especially Mariko's style at the end. also, big fan of Psychic Refrigerator.

[Paul Bard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Always-cheerful bi ex boyfriend was unrelatable and female character always awesome and scifi stuff happens with a friendly ending. Colourful confusing art. Also pc. Not interested.

[blok sera szwajcarskiego · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an arc from NetGalley, thanks!

Mariko Between Worlds is about human Mariko and non-human Rem that needs to break up. Before that, they go into one last night, full of portals, strange creatures and complicated feelings, which may or may not change their decision.

I loved that part very dearly. The idea for a story is simple but very good, not something you see daily in romcoms, and it hooked me from the very first moment. Character designs are something worth loooking for, too, and the overall world-building was very nice.

But I wish it went deeper. I wish we had a chance to meet with it all for longer, that more was shown to us. I know the idea behind this story is meant to be short/one-night-stand, yet I can't pain to imagine what we could have get. It's definitely too short and too fast, especially when you look how much of backstory there waits.
Graphically it's not... the best. Chaotic is a good word to describe both art and plot. There's still a lot to enjoy, but sometimes the art style went messy, and details were blurry. Color pallette was great, though.

Overall, if you're looking for something quick and different, you should give this story a chance. I wish it was more than that, though, as there was a time a place for it.

[A Little Mystery Book ᰔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel was interesting. There were some parts that I liked about it like Mariko’s relationship with Rem, and how Mariko had to go on this little adventure to figure out that her relationship with Rem was not going to work. Now, the only downside is that I would have liked to have more of a background on how Mariko and Rem met instead of starting the story with them in the middle of their relationship. Overall, still a good read!

[Syd · Rating 3 out of 5]

my first netgalley! 🥲
this graphic novel is so beautifully made and the concept is awesome! but it felt waaaay too underdeveloped / rushed and rushed for me. the artwork is truly stunning and the world seems so unique, I just didn't feel as fully immersed as I want to with a graphic novel / sci-fi experience.
I wanted a lot more from it. while the story / content is so interesting and good and valuable, I just felt generally unconnected to the characters. but I do LOVE the ending! it just all could've had more impact.

[stacie alcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and wild ride! Mariko and her boyfriend are breaking up but they decide to take one last hurrah through the Mall of Portals. Fun story with such a loveable and relatable main character. Fantastic artwork and such a unique concept. This could go in so many directions with all the different portals and potential worlds and creatures. I hope to see more adventures that Mariko takes.

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very very fast paced! I thought it was funny, soul-touching, and very thought provoking. I read this when I needed it the most. I love the character development between both of the main characters. At times, the pace was so fast that I felt as if some of the plot was skipped or some things just ended really abruptly. I teared up while reading this.. It left me feeling warm and happy. The graphics and world-building are beautiful I just wish there was more. Overall, an amazing and very quick read.

[Derek Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're into sci Fi you'll love this book. Quirky and fun. Also a very cute coming of age story!

[zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.75 stars*

[Cassidy]

Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and NetGalley for this ARC! Mariko Between Worlds by Matthew Erman, Liana Kangas, Rebecca Nalty, and Micah Meyers comes out on August 22, 2023!

[Kayla Zabcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

72%

A book about....finding yourself, I guess? There's a lot going on here, and it fells a bit like starting a tv show in its third season - things are tense, nuanced, and you're trying to piece the history back together so you can understand what's going on in front of you. Basically, Mariko (human) is in a relationship with Rem (alien) and she's trying to save their 4-year relationship, but is realizing that maybe there isn't much worth saving. The issue here is that since there's little to no context of their relationship pre-breakup, we're learning all their relationship problems very abruptly, leaving us little time to develop any attachment to any of the characters and their problems.

That being said, I did enjoy the artistic details of the book: in a scene involving thievery there were subtle little arrows pointing at the stolen items, and in a scene where Mariko is discussing her stagnant life there's a funny little gravestone stating she "never amounted to much". These sorts of details were really fun to spot and I thought they were pretty clever.

~Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.~

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a DNF. It just cannot hold my attention. We start off with our character who I believe is Mariko getting told that their government form has been denied and they can’t be with their true love. They’re true love is not human and always optimistic but then they started talking about God. It’s just turned me off, and I have no desire to finish this.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received an ARC of this book, courtesy of the publisher. All ideas expressed are my own.***

This one was surprising, which is saying something nowadays. Honestly, there's not a lot of story. It's situational. Kind of a one-day, big-realization, coming-of-age thing. But there's some very interesting world-building happening almost in a secondary way. There's a lot of interesting experimentation with different art styles. And despite the blurb, the main characters' relationship is not the primary purpose of the story. It's a quick read! I'd recommend it for something quirky, interesting, and a little different!

[Evee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A special thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the ARC!

This was a beautifully drawn graphic novel of personal growth and moving on.

Mariko is a woman with a breaking heart: Rem, her axolotl boyfriend of four years, is moving away for a new job, and she was just denied the visa to follow him. To her, their relationship is over; there is no point in trying long distance when he's going to another realm that she doesn't even have access to. Together, they decide to spend one more night with each and make the most of a sad situation: a fantastic end having fun and partying the night away. This plan starts out fine until Mariko is given an offer she can't refuse: discreetly deliver a package in exchange for the visa she wants so badly. The only catch is being forced to confront herself in what she actually wants and needs: piece of cake, right?

The use of color in the graphic novel utterly captures the out of this world, alien landscape of the story's setting; it's like a loving throwback to a mix of 50s scifi and 80s pastel and neon aesthetics. The character designs are charming, and the personality and depth to their thoughts and actions come across well in both words and image.

I enjoyed reading Mariko's personal journey, and I hope to read more from the team behind it!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mariko Between Worlds is at it's core a story about when every sign points to your relationship not working out, and that even you at your core knowing this relationship isn't what you want or need but continuing to push on despite that, at the detriment to both you and your partner.

The art style for this book is gorgeous, it keeps you captivated and depicts emotions amazingly.

I think if you like "The Night is Short, Walk On Girl" Directed by Masaaki Yuasa. You will enjoy this graphic novel. It has the same quick paced energy, and types of eccentric characters you see in the film. While the mood is different I found myself thinking back on this film often.

[Skylar C. R. Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the second time I got to read something coming from Mad Cave Studios and this ARC hasn’t let me down either. I loved Paper Planes and this graphic novel, which has been made by Matthew Erman and Liana Kangas is something I liked quite too. It’s been quite an intergalactic adventure to see Mariko and Rem just enjoy their last day together before parting ways. It’s great c:

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this graphic novel, we follow Mariko and Rem as they spend one last night together before breaking up for good. They spend their time in the Mall of Portals, where everything is available for a price.

This was such a fun graphic novel! If you're a sci-fi fan, I think that you would enjoy this one. There was a lot of fun artwork throughout and the story was pretty good too.

[mad mags · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

With her boyfriend Rem about to start a new job at the Moon of Plenty, and the government denying her a visa so that she can relocate with him, Mariko sees no other option but to break up. But why not enjoy one last wild night together, dimension hopping at the Mall of Portals?

A carefree evening turns into a fight to hold onto their years-long relationship when a sketchy stranger offers Mariko a shiny new visa - if she'll deliver a mysterious package for him. Mariko's journey involves no small amount of self-reflection and, by the end of the night, she's questioning the very love she set out to save.

The artwork is easily the best thing about MARIKO BETWEEN WORLDS - arresting and vibrant, Erman and Kangas have created a 'verse populated by aliens that are by turns glamorous and gorgeous, treacherous yet beguiling. Yet the plot line leaves a lot to be desired. For all its ambition, it feels surprisingly empty. There are tons of gaps; for example, something is obviously afoot at the Moon of Plenty (is Rem going to hell?), but we never learn what. Rem just appears in the epilogue, some two years later, surprisingly well adjusted.

At its core, MARIKO BETWEEN WORLDS is a story about losing yourself in a relationship, and then unexpectedly finding yourself again. The rest just feels like window dressing. Really pretty and kind of bizarre, but ultimately unnecessary.*

* Though I have to admit, I really dug the "Jesus take the wheel" bit.

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mariko Between Worlds" is a candid look at the dissolution of a romantic relationship set against a fantastical and chaotic background. At its core this is a story about love, loss and self realization. However, although the delivery is charming and the main character mostly likeable, the book lacks both substance and subtilty.

This book plays out as the titular character finds out that her visa application has been rejected and she will not be able to follow her boyfriend, Rem, to the dimension where his new job is located, Faced with a forced separation, Rem and Mariko decide to spend a last crazy night together as they wander the Mall of Portals,
the interdimensional crossroads in which they have been slumming and working dead end post-college jobs for the last few years. As they go clubbing across dimensions Mariko is quickly drawn into illegal hijinks in the hopes of improving her chance of staying with Rem. The resulting storyline is far less interesting than it should be and the reader is left wondering why even bother since the fate of the romantic relationship which powers the action in this book is clearly obvious within the first few panels.


Three and a half stars rounded to three.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Mad Cave Studios, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I have very mixed feelings about this graphic novel. I loved the world-building, the locations were all fantastical in a sci-fi type of way. I liked how they made average things like a record shop, a food court or a club feel futuristic to the reader but an everyday location to the characters. But the plot itself was sort of meh. The plot synopsis describes it as a "rom-com" but nothing was all that funny or romantic. I liked Mariko, and I emphasized with her a bit. She keeps doing things even if they make her life worse because that is what she thinks is the correct thing to do. Rem on the other hand...annoyed me. I'm not sure if the reader is supposed to dislike Rem, but his entire attitude annoyed me. He really felt like the living embodiment of "toxic positivity". The overarching plot was a bit confusing, and nothing felt all that connected. I understood what the end goal was for Mariko, but the events to get there felt very randomized. The art style was fine. It's not my favorite in the world, but it was nice to look at.

[Ags · Rating 2 out of 5]

A weird fever dream that never came together for me.

I like the portal element to this, and the idea of figuring out if the two characters are going to break up while zapping between strange locations: in this huge, spectacular, cacophonous multiverse, the heart of the story is this tender, human dilema. That is very cool.

The art does a lot of heavy lifting for this graphic novel: the locations are all very vibrant and distinct, and the characters are captured really well (e.g., humorous body language, expressions that help tell the story). So, the concept and excellent art kept me wanting to re-read sections because I was thinking: I know this is supposed to be poetic and uncanny and smart! Why don't I get it!

For me, this was just hard to follow, and not in a poetic way, but just in a confusing way. Sometimes I didn't follow big scene shifts (e.g., there's suddenly a social media monster made out of the visa the main character is after? I'm sure there's something thoughtful here, but I didn't understand) and sometimes I didn't follow from one panel to another (I don't think my confusion was useful to the storytelling; I was just confused).

[Irene ➰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

- Huge thanks to the author and publisher for approving me a copy of this book through NetGalley -

A beautifully crafted and visually stunning colorful world with a quite deep story concept.
What I wasn't feeling was the development of said story.
Sometimes we had to read too much between the lines to fully understand what was happening.
The characters were well executed and the art is truly beautiful.

I felt the story was too rushed and I kinda had a feeling there where so many ideas to put together in a small space. The result is a mix of all these ideas but none fully developed.
I think that to be fully appreciated more pages where needed, it's like I read a summary of the main story. Story that as I said, I found actually kinda deep considering we talk about how in a bad relationship it is possibile to lose ourselves and we have to fight with our feelings to take back and in control our lives without being scared of taking action.

Mixed feelings for this one.

[ania | hellishreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mariko Between Worlds is a very sweet graphic novel about two characters going through a breakup — not by choice — where they have one last day together. It follows them through the revelations that maybe their breakup, while not by choice, is the right thing for both of them to grow as people.

It’s a very honest and sweet story about loving someone and being loved by them, but not being right for each other despite of that — and that parting ways can, in the end, be the better choice for everyone.

Not only was the actual story good, but I also absolutely loved the art too. It’s very expressive and colourful, and it fits the story and world really well.

// ARC received through NetGalley.