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Drome
Jesse Lonergan rewrites the rules of graphic novels with Drome, a visually mind-blowing epic about war, love, and death in a fledgling world.
First, there was nothing. Then, humanity was born, and an endless cycle of violence began. From the depths of the ocean, a mighty demigoddess is called forth to rein in humankind’s destructive impulses, and teach a language of peace and harmony. Civilization quickly takes root, a great city rising from the desert. But the balance between chaos and order is a fragile one, and there are higher powers at work in this strange new world.
Creator Jesse Lonergan pushes the boundaries of the comics medium in this visually spectacular epic. In turns pulse-pounding and heart-wrenching, Drome is a creation myth for the modern age.
First, there was nothing. Then, humanity was born, and an endless cycle of violence began. From the depths of the ocean, a mighty demigoddess is called forth to rein in humankind’s destructive impulses, and teach a language of peace and harmony. Civilization quickly takes root, a great city rising from the desert. But the balance between chaos and order is a fragile one, and there are higher powers at work in this strange new world.
Creator Jesse Lonergan pushes the boundaries of the comics medium in this visually spectacular epic. In turns pulse-pounding and heart-wrenching, Drome is a creation myth for the modern age.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2025
About the author
Jesse Lonergan
51 books62 followersI grew up in Saudi Arabia and Vermont, attended Hampshire College, was a Peace Corps volunteer, and have always been an only child. I'll never be a real uncle, but I'll be a pretend to be one to my friends' children. I like Star Wars, Elvis, and black coffee. I don't like waiting in line, whistling, or writing biographies about myself. I'm worried about the state of modern America and the individualism and self-importance that has become the norm. There seems to be a lot of loneliness out there and a lot of anger too, but then again, maybe I just like to worry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
December 23, 2025
The Savage She-Hulk and Red Hulk play out a version of the Gilgamesh epic and cross paths with Cain and Abel in this extended fight scene cum creation myth.
Not something I really needed . . .
(Best of 2025 Project: I'm reading all the graphic novels that made it onto one or more of these lists:
• Washington Post 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2025
• Publishers Weekly 2025 Graphic Novel Critics Poll
• NPR's Books We Love 2025: Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels
This book made the WaPo list.)
Not something I really needed . . .
(Best of 2025 Project: I'm reading all the graphic novels that made it onto one or more of these lists:
• Washington Post 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2025
• Publishers Weekly 2025 Graphic Novel Critics Poll
• NPR's Books We Love 2025: Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels
This book made the WaPo list.)
December 21, 2025
بهترین کمیک ۲۰۲۵ بود، شک دارم هم هیچ چیزی بخونم که از این بهتر باشه.
همینقدر میتونم بگم که اون جملهای که توی توضیحاتشه و داره میگه کلا کمیک رو به شکل جدیدی تصور کرده و دیده اغراق نیست، همینقدر نوآورانه و جدیده.
داستان هم تقریبا بینقصه، فقط میتونم توضیح بدم که بیشتر مربوط میشه به "اساطیر نو" و خیلی رفرنس داره به اساطیر بین النهرین و آفریقا. داستان هم قوی تر از اونی بود که انتظار داشت، اینطوری نیست که جدا باشه از طراحی یا پنل ها، همشون ترکیب شدن با هم دیگه.
حتما بخونین، حتی اگه از کمیک خوشتون نمیاد احتمالا این براتون جالبه.
همینقدر میتونم بگم که اون جملهای که توی توضیحاتشه و داره میگه کلا کمیک رو به شکل جدیدی تصور کرده و دیده اغراق نیست، همینقدر نوآورانه و جدیده.
داستان هم تقریبا بینقصه، فقط میتونم توضیح بدم که بیشتر مربوط میشه به "اساطیر نو" و خیلی رفرنس داره به اساطیر بین النهرین و آفریقا. داستان هم قوی تر از اونی بود که انتظار داشت، اینطوری نیست که جدا باشه از طراحی یا پنل ها، همشون ترکیب شدن با هم دیگه.
حتما بخونین، حتی اگه از کمیک خوشتون نمیاد احتمالا این براتون جالبه.
October 22, 2025
Drome is Jesse Lonergan's longest individual piece yet, and it utilizes his penchant for cosmic level storytelling and ambitious paneling to its full extent. A landmark work from Lonergan has been Hedra, a short one-off one-shot issue where he flexes his ability to deliver a wordless story through an expert unique use of sequential storytelling. The emphasis on layered grids, repeating panels and breaking of formalism allowed for a showcase of a much more unique contemporary artist, though this hasn't really led to repeat quality in the years that followed the release of Hedra. Lonergan has collaborated with others on various comics, but it seems that his best work continues to be pieces he has full narrative control on (see also Planet Paradise and Faster as two short comics featuring his vibrant paneling and layouts).
But with Drome, Lonergan gets to really push himself to the same level that he reached with Hedra. A creation myth of sorts, Drome opens with a pair of gods creating life and time, and witnessing the carnage that follows. The universe crafted is unfamiliar to our own, having undergone some form of divergent evolution whereby a barbarian-esque society functions with high fantasy and sci-fi elements, but the mythology works well within Lonergan's artistic voice. The gods create a few demigod/minor deities as well, who serve as the primary characters of the largely wordless story. The civilization we observe is warlike and violent, so the action is prevalent and engaging as Lonergan depicts every scene with captivating energy and explosiveness. It's also with the vibrant use of color that Lonergan continues to shine, shifting from deep colors in the recesses of space to a muddier palette for the grime and gore of the world below the gods of creation. And despite the relative lack of dialogue and text, Drome is a relatively simple follow along with some nice subversive twists that work even despite the lightness of the narrative.
But with Drome, Lonergan gets to really push himself to the same level that he reached with Hedra. A creation myth of sorts, Drome opens with a pair of gods creating life and time, and witnessing the carnage that follows. The universe crafted is unfamiliar to our own, having undergone some form of divergent evolution whereby a barbarian-esque society functions with high fantasy and sci-fi elements, but the mythology works well within Lonergan's artistic voice. The gods create a few demigod/minor deities as well, who serve as the primary characters of the largely wordless story. The civilization we observe is warlike and violent, so the action is prevalent and engaging as Lonergan depicts every scene with captivating energy and explosiveness. It's also with the vibrant use of color that Lonergan continues to shine, shifting from deep colors in the recesses of space to a muddier palette for the grime and gore of the world below the gods of creation. And despite the relative lack of dialogue and text, Drome is a relatively simple follow along with some nice subversive twists that work even despite the lightness of the narrative.
June 15, 2026
A cosmic Form God plants the seed of life on a lifeless new planet. Different forms of life grow out of the seed, and the first human to come out kills the next one almost instantly, then ensue’s an long cycle of violence and war between all living things, led by said first man. A spirit Goddess comes along and decides to give them control in the form of a hulking female warrior from the sea, who defeats them, subdues them, and teaches them language. She protects them from monsters, and helps them build a city/kingdom as their new Queen.
Both Gods create a cosmic system involving a bull(Night) and a horse(Day) to represent the passage of time, and propagate growth, civilization and peace. The spirit Goddess notices that the Queen is lonely, so she makes her an equal but wild male companion from the earth. The wild man stays in the wild with animals until the Queen finds him one day, and they fall in love after an epic battle, then return to the kingdom together. The warrior brother of a hunter, the wild man had hurt in defense of a deer while he was still in the wild, challenges the wild man to Justice by combat, which is their law. They fight, the wild man manages to win, but doesn’t kill the other guy, then the Form God decides to create a creature from fire to spice things up.
We see that the guy who was killed by the first man had fallen back into his seed, was remade, and has been dying by various means, and regenerating ever since, while his killer, the first man, continued to live and thrive in the queen's city, secretly bedding and mutilating multiple women(how the fuck did we get here). The Queen and her wild mate are informed of a fire monster that has been destroying towns, so they both head out to stop it. The evil first man, having seen the form God create the fire monster, prays to the form God for power, and seizes the opportunity to take over the kingdom in the queen's absence. On their way to the Fire monster, they meet and save the regenerating man, who points them to the fire monster. They work together and manage to defeat it by utilizing their respective elements, water and earth.
The Queen and the wild man return to the kingdom to find it under the first man’s control, and have to fight through various traps and warriors to get to him. When they do, the first man is revealed to now have the whip the Form God uses to control the cosmic bull of night, and he makes the bull attack them with it. The bull kills the wild man, and the enraged queen manages to strangle the bull with the whip. With the bull dead, the sun never sets, and the planet starts becoming uninhabitable. So the Queen finds the regenerating man and asks for directions to the Gods, attempting to bring back her beloved and fix the world. She finds the Gods and sees her lover's soul at rest, but the spirit Goddess only gives her a seed that will either revive her lover or birth a new night bringer, not both.
The evil first man, who had been imprisoned by the Queen after his attempted coup, manages to escape and follows the Queen there. He finds her about to plant the new seed, stabs her, and swallows the seed. The seed turns him into a new cosmic night bull, and the form God makes the bull kills the Queen, returning nightfall to the world and reuniting the queen’s soul with her lover’s. This was just kind of ok storywise, could have been much better. It seems to have taken from multiple familiar stories but doesn’t really do anything noteworthy with what it took. The art on the other hand is what is outstanding: interacting panels that help build the world, visually distinct character designs, and intricate visual world building, we love to see it. A 4-star read, but mainly cause of the art, 3 otherwise.
Both Gods create a cosmic system involving a bull(Night) and a horse(Day) to represent the passage of time, and propagate growth, civilization and peace. The spirit Goddess notices that the Queen is lonely, so she makes her an equal but wild male companion from the earth. The wild man stays in the wild with animals until the Queen finds him one day, and they fall in love after an epic battle, then return to the kingdom together. The warrior brother of a hunter, the wild man had hurt in defense of a deer while he was still in the wild, challenges the wild man to Justice by combat, which is their law. They fight, the wild man manages to win, but doesn’t kill the other guy, then the Form God decides to create a creature from fire to spice things up.
We see that the guy who was killed by the first man had fallen back into his seed, was remade, and has been dying by various means, and regenerating ever since, while his killer, the first man, continued to live and thrive in the queen's city, secretly bedding and mutilating multiple women(how the fuck did we get here). The Queen and her wild mate are informed of a fire monster that has been destroying towns, so they both head out to stop it. The evil first man, having seen the form God create the fire monster, prays to the form God for power, and seizes the opportunity to take over the kingdom in the queen's absence. On their way to the Fire monster, they meet and save the regenerating man, who points them to the fire monster. They work together and manage to defeat it by utilizing their respective elements, water and earth.
The Queen and the wild man return to the kingdom to find it under the first man’s control, and have to fight through various traps and warriors to get to him. When they do, the first man is revealed to now have the whip the Form God uses to control the cosmic bull of night, and he makes the bull attack them with it. The bull kills the wild man, and the enraged queen manages to strangle the bull with the whip. With the bull dead, the sun never sets, and the planet starts becoming uninhabitable. So the Queen finds the regenerating man and asks for directions to the Gods, attempting to bring back her beloved and fix the world. She finds the Gods and sees her lover's soul at rest, but the spirit Goddess only gives her a seed that will either revive her lover or birth a new night bringer, not both.
The evil first man, who had been imprisoned by the Queen after his attempted coup, manages to escape and follows the Queen there. He finds her about to plant the new seed, stabs her, and swallows the seed. The seed turns him into a new cosmic night bull, and the form God makes the bull kills the Queen, returning nightfall to the world and reuniting the queen’s soul with her lover’s. This was just kind of ok storywise, could have been much better. It seems to have taken from multiple familiar stories but doesn’t really do anything noteworthy with what it took. The art on the other hand is what is outstanding: interacting panels that help build the world, visually distinct character designs, and intricate visual world building, we love to see it. A 4-star read, but mainly cause of the art, 3 otherwise.
May 18, 2025
I read this in a NetGalley review copy. It’s one of the most incredible comics I’ve ever seen. The art takes everything you can do with panels, light, color, geometry and pushes them well past the limit. The story is mythic, epic, visceral. Very little dialog but you don’t miss it. I don’t feel like I can really describe the plot or characters, but if you like mindblowing comics, this one is for you. It’s one of the first times I felt like the scope and layout and movement of a comic worked particularly well reading it on a tablet in a digital format.
September 3, 2025
DROME is a graphic novel that really has to be seen to be believed and appreciated. It's an epic of world-shaping sorcery, prehistorically-proportioned creatures, and vengeful gods. It reminded me somewhat of the early '80s animated movie "Heavy Metal," albeit with a less adolescent tone.
Imagine a musical score composed entirely of doom metal and fall into this roiling lava pit of a graphic novel.
Imagine a musical score composed entirely of doom metal and fall into this roiling lava pit of a graphic novel.
January 16, 2026
I read this “as it was written” - kind of - on Jesse’s Patreon. As amazing as it was to see then, having the finished product shows his groundbreaking approach to sequential art and a commitment to letting the story flow. Fantastic.
Read
November 15, 2025Some of the coolest paneling I've ever seen.
September 6, 2025
This book has been years in the making now, and having followed it since its inception on Patreon, it's very cool to finally read it fully and in print.
Clearly a spiritual successor to his excellent Hedra, Jesse Lonergan takes the formal experimentation and applies it to his own creation myth. What was punchy in a 50 page book isn't necessarily over 300 pages, but Lonergan gives himself room to breath, and gives the story more of a focus.
That's not to say that there aren't some gorgeous and exciting visual moments in here, on the contrary. But it's not quite as relentlessly innovative as Hedra was. It's also much sillier, featuring fighting crabs and swinging sharks.
But I think that's what makes it work. It's a pretty hefty book, but I read it in an evening. Obviously, it doesn't have a lot of words, but it also keeps you hooked all the way. And with the way it ends, I'm curious to see if he's got more up his sleeve !
Clearly a spiritual successor to his excellent Hedra, Jesse Lonergan takes the formal experimentation and applies it to his own creation myth. What was punchy in a 50 page book isn't necessarily over 300 pages, but Lonergan gives himself room to breath, and gives the story more of a focus.
That's not to say that there aren't some gorgeous and exciting visual moments in here, on the contrary. But it's not quite as relentlessly innovative as Hedra was. It's also much sillier, featuring fighting crabs and swinging sharks.
But I think that's what makes it work. It's a pretty hefty book, but I read it in an evening. Obviously, it doesn't have a lot of words, but it also keeps you hooked all the way. And with the way it ends, I'm curious to see if he's got more up his sleeve !
June 1, 2026
A god creates humanity and watches their ceaseless conflict until another deity decides they need a powerful entity to guide them. After sending their demigod down to earth to control and lead the people, the gods continue to meddle in humanity's progression by dispatching other aid and challenges. This soon leads to a conflict that requires sacrifice from humanity, the demigods, and the all powerful deities themselves.
Much like it's spiritual successor Hedra, Drome is an exercise in comics formalism that experiments with the interplay between panelling and composition. The choices therein are generally quite satisfying, especially in how characters actions impact the structure / organization of scenes. Drome also did a good job separating itself from Hedra in the application of this effect, using characters to manipulate the scene structure instead of being manipulated by it as was Hedra's predilection. That being said, I didn't find many of the panelling choices quite as novel or effective as I did in Hedra and being spread over a much larger page count made the effect less impactful. Furthermore, panel gutters are often used just to illustrate movement and don't really result in the scenes being framed in an interesting way, though it provides a unique visual aesthetic. If the narrative was more creative or complex then perhaps this wouldn't have mattered to me much, but given the story's simplicity all there really was to focus on was the visual presentation. The structural experimentation did ramp up near the end though and I quite liked the 3D panelling elements and Gerads like use of chromatic aberration.
Much like it's spiritual successor Hedra, Drome is an exercise in comics formalism that experiments with the interplay between panelling and composition. The choices therein are generally quite satisfying, especially in how characters actions impact the structure / organization of scenes. Drome also did a good job separating itself from Hedra in the application of this effect, using characters to manipulate the scene structure instead of being manipulated by it as was Hedra's predilection. That being said, I didn't find many of the panelling choices quite as novel or effective as I did in Hedra and being spread over a much larger page count made the effect less impactful. Furthermore, panel gutters are often used just to illustrate movement and don't really result in the scenes being framed in an interesting way, though it provides a unique visual aesthetic. If the narrative was more creative or complex then perhaps this wouldn't have mattered to me much, but given the story's simplicity all there really was to focus on was the visual presentation. The structural experimentation did ramp up near the end though and I quite liked the 3D panelling elements and Gerads like use of chromatic aberration.
November 29, 2025
An extremely creative and gorgeous book about love and war. A powerful story about sacrifice. Why does god give us the toughest battles, and why are the toughest battles always related to love and loss. How many giant crabs do I need to stab or kingdoms do I need to conquer to be happy when compared to just being in love and finding an equal partner. This is a must read. I will read this again in a few years to see if I can glean more from the story.
January 2, 2026
Visually striking 👌
February 5, 2026
Délire cosmique à la Mobius et Drouillet avec une inventivité graphique virtuose, particulièrement dans la mise en page. Il y a des barbares, des entités cosmiques, des duels, des bibittes, si c'est ton genre, garoche-toi dessus.
4.5/5
4.5/5
September 12, 2025
As an art book I’d rate this 4 stars. As a graphic novel it’s more of a 3. It’s light on story. This one runs mostly on vibes. I respect the artistry and experimentation so I think it deserves a 4.
Many of the 2 page spreads are meant to be sat with for a beat and enjoyed as a whole, rather than focusing on some of the individual panels. Some of the pages get really busy with intersecting negative space white lines. This makes for some unique effects but also sometimes just looks a bit busy. At times the visual storytelling suffers with this approach. On some pages and panels it all comes together and really works.
The ideas behind the story are interesting, but this book is very light in dialogue. There are no text boxes to show characters thoughts. Only reaction shot close ups of their facial expressions.
Lonergan’s art looks great. His style is captivating. Paired with a really good script and some direction/collaboration, Lonergan is capable of making some very iconic graphic novels.
Many of the 2 page spreads are meant to be sat with for a beat and enjoyed as a whole, rather than focusing on some of the individual panels. Some of the pages get really busy with intersecting negative space white lines. This makes for some unique effects but also sometimes just looks a bit busy. At times the visual storytelling suffers with this approach. On some pages and panels it all comes together and really works.
The ideas behind the story are interesting, but this book is very light in dialogue. There are no text boxes to show characters thoughts. Only reaction shot close ups of their facial expressions.
Lonergan’s art looks great. His style is captivating. Paired with a really good script and some direction/collaboration, Lonergan is capable of making some very iconic graphic novels.
November 11, 2025
In many ways, I think Drome is the kind of New Gods book I’ve always wanted, with beings from beyond the stars plucking their random chosen from the violent primordial masses of the pale and hungry world below…
December 30, 2025
4.5 Excellente trame. Le découpage et le montage sont à l’honneur, très audacieux et hyper innovateur. Magnifique œuvre!
May 24, 2026
Jesse Lonergan, "Drom"
Epopeja to rzeczywiście najlepsze słowo na ten komiks!
Proszę państwa, co tu się nie dzieje! Lonergan tworzy własną wersję mitu o stworzeniu człowieka i początkach świata. Opowieść jest mistrzowsko narysowana, pełna akcji i zapierających dech scen walk i pojedynków, bogata w rozliczne konteksty kulturowe, działa silnie na emocje. Co rusz wybuch zachwytów estetycznych gwarantowany! Te kolory! Czysta wizualna orgia! xD
Pierwsi ludzie wg Lonergana zostali stworzeni przez bogów i rzuceni na ziemski padół (dosłownie xD) jako istoty w pełnym rynsztunku - co znamienne odziani w stroje przypominające zbroje. A co za tym idzie z naturalną skłonnością do przemocy (wszyscy ludzie to natural born killers! xD a przynajmniej większość), impulsywnego reagowania, działający na najprostszych emocjach, żądni gromadzenia dóbr wszelakich i dominacji. Ale też jako istoty o bardzo zróżnicowanym wyglądzie - rozmaitych kolorach skóry czy włosów, czasem jako ludzko-zwierzęce hybrydy. Zdecydowanie najbliżej im do drapieżników.
Ze względu na swą brutalność i krwiożerczość łagodna bogini o fizjonomii Ateny Pallas (charakterystyczny hełm), czyli emanacja boskiej mądrości - idąc za tym tropem, zsyła im Strażniczkę/Nadzorczynię, która ma pomóc im okiełznać dzikość i wytworzyć w nich dobre cechy, nawyki i przyswajać potrzebną wiedzę. Czy ten plan może się powieść?
Podoba mi się, jak autor w swojej wizji korzysta/transformuje mity i wierzenia różnych kręgów kulturowych. Dopatrzyłam się wielu nawiązań do mitologii greckiej (zesłane istoty do nadzoru przypominają Tytanów, a pierwsza zesłana przypomina Amazonkę, pojedynki herosów z potworami, są też nawiązania do zejścia do krainy umarłych, płynięcia Styksem, mit prometejski o ujarzmieniu ognia; obecny w wielu mitologiach motyw bogini opłakującej zmarłego ukochanego itd. itp.), indyjskiej (boskie awatary), a nawet sumeryjskiej (Niebiański Byk, para rogaty bóg i bogini) czy mitologii judeochrześcijańskiej (Stary Testament), jak ja to mówię xD
To jednak bardzo oryginalna opowieść, do tego właśnie można się świetnie bawić, tropiąc te różne odniesienia kulturowe. Fun prawie taki jak przy czytaniu "Potęgi mitu" Josepha Campbella xD. Poczułam nawet bardzo odległą, ale jednak, reminiscencję ze "Szninkla" Rosińskiego - ze względu na fabułę łączącą mitologię, fantasy i opowieść o prapoczątkach ludzkości i Ziemi oraz opowieść o wyczynach herosa (tu przede wszystkim heroski, owej "błękitnej Amazonki").
Duży plus dla Lonergena jednak za odwołania do rzeczywistości historycznej. Ukazuje, że kobiety od zarania dziejów były łupem, kartą przetargową, trofeum wysoko postawionych mężczyzn. Komiksiarz subtelnie nasyca historię feministycznym vibe'm - z silną protagonistką a la Wonder Woman wokół, której koncentruje się akcja na "poziomie ziemskim".
Lonergen wymyślił sobie taką opowieść, a la mit założycielski rodzaju ludzkiego, która w przekonujący sposób ukazuje człowieczą niszczycielskość i skłonność do stosowania przemocy, które w sumie są naszymi jednymi z najbardziej charakterystycznych cech w rodzinie zwierząt (a przecież najbliżej nam genetycznie do takiej fajnej przyjaznej małpy jak bonobo! Shame! xD).
Czytając "Drom", przypomniało mi się, co Octavia E. Butler napisała o gatunku ludzkim w swojej kultowej trylogii science-fiction "Xenogenesis". Ludzie mają ogromną skłonność do zniszczenia (w tym samozagłady) ze względu na wrodzoną im inteligencję sparowaną niestety z niesłużącą im potrzebą tworzenia hierarchii.
Dziękuję wydawnictwu Kultura Gniewu za egzemplarz recenzencki.
Epopeja to rzeczywiście najlepsze słowo na ten komiks!
Proszę państwa, co tu się nie dzieje! Lonergan tworzy własną wersję mitu o stworzeniu człowieka i początkach świata. Opowieść jest mistrzowsko narysowana, pełna akcji i zapierających dech scen walk i pojedynków, bogata w rozliczne konteksty kulturowe, działa silnie na emocje. Co rusz wybuch zachwytów estetycznych gwarantowany! Te kolory! Czysta wizualna orgia! xD
Pierwsi ludzie wg Lonergana zostali stworzeni przez bogów i rzuceni na ziemski padół (dosłownie xD) jako istoty w pełnym rynsztunku - co znamienne odziani w stroje przypominające zbroje. A co za tym idzie z naturalną skłonnością do przemocy (wszyscy ludzie to natural born killers! xD a przynajmniej większość), impulsywnego reagowania, działający na najprostszych emocjach, żądni gromadzenia dóbr wszelakich i dominacji. Ale też jako istoty o bardzo zróżnicowanym wyglądzie - rozmaitych kolorach skóry czy włosów, czasem jako ludzko-zwierzęce hybrydy. Zdecydowanie najbliżej im do drapieżników.
Ze względu na swą brutalność i krwiożerczość łagodna bogini o fizjonomii Ateny Pallas (charakterystyczny hełm), czyli emanacja boskiej mądrości - idąc za tym tropem, zsyła im Strażniczkę/Nadzorczynię, która ma pomóc im okiełznać dzikość i wytworzyć w nich dobre cechy, nawyki i przyswajać potrzebną wiedzę. Czy ten plan może się powieść?
Podoba mi się, jak autor w swojej wizji korzysta/transformuje mity i wierzenia różnych kręgów kulturowych. Dopatrzyłam się wielu nawiązań do mitologii greckiej (zesłane istoty do nadzoru przypominają Tytanów, a pierwsza zesłana przypomina Amazonkę, pojedynki herosów z potworami, są też nawiązania do zejścia do krainy umarłych, płynięcia Styksem, mit prometejski o ujarzmieniu ognia; obecny w wielu mitologiach motyw bogini opłakującej zmarłego ukochanego itd. itp.), indyjskiej (boskie awatary), a nawet sumeryjskiej (Niebiański Byk, para rogaty bóg i bogini) czy mitologii judeochrześcijańskiej (Stary Testament), jak ja to mówię xD
To jednak bardzo oryginalna opowieść, do tego właśnie można się świetnie bawić, tropiąc te różne odniesienia kulturowe. Fun prawie taki jak przy czytaniu "Potęgi mitu" Josepha Campbella xD. Poczułam nawet bardzo odległą, ale jednak, reminiscencję ze "Szninkla" Rosińskiego - ze względu na fabułę łączącą mitologię, fantasy i opowieść o prapoczątkach ludzkości i Ziemi oraz opowieść o wyczynach herosa (tu przede wszystkim heroski, owej "błękitnej Amazonki").
Duży plus dla Lonergena jednak za odwołania do rzeczywistości historycznej. Ukazuje, że kobiety od zarania dziejów były łupem, kartą przetargową, trofeum wysoko postawionych mężczyzn. Komiksiarz subtelnie nasyca historię feministycznym vibe'm - z silną protagonistką a la Wonder Woman wokół, której koncentruje się akcja na "poziomie ziemskim".
Lonergen wymyślił sobie taką opowieść, a la mit założycielski rodzaju ludzkiego, która w przekonujący sposób ukazuje człowieczą niszczycielskość i skłonność do stosowania przemocy, które w sumie są naszymi jednymi z najbardziej charakterystycznych cech w rodzinie zwierząt (a przecież najbliżej nam genetycznie do takiej fajnej przyjaznej małpy jak bonobo! Shame! xD).
Czytając "Drom", przypomniało mi się, co Octavia E. Butler napisała o gatunku ludzkim w swojej kultowej trylogii science-fiction "Xenogenesis". Ludzie mają ogromną skłonność do zniszczenia (w tym samozagłady) ze względu na wrodzoną im inteligencję sparowaną niestety z niesłużącą im potrzebą tworzenia hierarchii.
Dziękuję wydawnictwu Kultura Gniewu za egzemplarz recenzencki.
January 4, 2026
Why I read it: We were at a bookstore and we stopped to flip through this. I was immediately arrested by the art style and colour scheme, so of course we bought it.
Thoughts: Wonderful stuff. I want seven more volumes. The story itself is fine. Like, aggressively fine. A couple of gods play out a little creation myth that spins out into unforseen consequences. Nothing super out there, I guess (the gods should really know better by now). But the way the story is told, the colour work, the panelling -- wonderful. Superb. Never read anything like it before. I felt things.
Would I read more from this author: Yes.
Would I recommend it: Yes.
Keep or cull: Absolutely keep. Maybe even keep nearby, like on my nightstand, so I can occasionally flip through it and be wowed all over again.
Thoughts: Wonderful stuff. I want seven more volumes. The story itself is fine. Like, aggressively fine. A couple of gods play out a little creation myth that spins out into unforseen consequences. Nothing super out there, I guess (the gods should really know better by now). But the way the story is told, the colour work, the panelling -- wonderful. Superb. Never read anything like it before. I felt things.
Would I read more from this author: Yes.
Would I recommend it: Yes.
Keep or cull: Absolutely keep. Maybe even keep nearby, like on my nightstand, so I can occasionally flip through it and be wowed all over again.
December 25, 2025
Amazing art style, a good point of view of a very simple and very old story. It doesn't take long to read it, but it takes long to consider it. Being thought-provoking is always a win with me. There are also so many fun little details. Like how Red and Blue weren't a singular colour at that battle close to the city. I think a lot of meaningful details were scattered around in the story that you're gonna have to read to see. Talking about it would spoil all the fun.
And I'm sure different people are gonna walk away from having formed their own different idea of the story, of its meaning and their own take on its details.
And I'm sure different people are gonna walk away from having formed their own different idea of the story, of its meaning and their own take on its details.
August 27, 2025
Almost wordless comic, but entirely coherent narrative. I loved the visual story telling. Quasi biblical, somewhat similar to Johnny Ryan’s Prison Pit. This would be an attractive wordless animation with music. Complete in that it sticks the landing in a one shot.
October 12, 2025
The art, the colors,.the mythos, this was such a unique and beautiful book. I couldn't recommend it more.
January 1, 2026
Genuinely one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read. Lonergan is beyond legendary in his use of panels and layouts and space.
May 3, 2026
Lesse Lonergan kreuje w „DROMie” własną mitologię, która jednak wcale nie jest tak oderwana od istniejących w kulturze archetypów, jak się na pierwszy rzut oka mogło wydawać. Wyłapałem tu m.in. nawiązania do mitów o Prometeuszu, Herkulesie czy Orfeuszu i Eurydyce, motyw rzeki Styks i jej przewodnika, a także echa biblijnych przypowieści o Kainie i Ablu czy proroku Jonaszu. Lonergan ubiera to wszystko w anturaż bliski fantasy i trzeba przyznać, że historia świetnie się klei, a cała ta kosmogonia wygląda bardzo naturalnie.
Jednak „DROM” to przede wszystkim fenomenalny pokaz zabawy komiksową formą. To jak autor nagina dosyć zastane i ustalone zasady porządkujące treść w obszarze medium, jak je przełamuje i urozmaica, może być przykładem kreatywności, jaka cechuje niewielu artystów. Mam wrażenie, że Lonergan dosłownie sponiewierał ideę siatki kadrów w klasycznym komiksowym ujęciu i idącą za nią zasadą przejrzystości, a mimo to całość jest jasna i czytelna. Te zabiegi nie tylko urozmaicają całość, ale wpływają na odbiór i wzbudzają niepokój. Oczywiście nie jest to pierwszy artysta, który bawi się w ten sposób, a jednak „DROM” jest w swojej kategorii rzeczą niezwykle udaną. Czytałem go już trzy razy i za każdym razem wydawał mi się lepszy
Jednak „DROM” to przede wszystkim fenomenalny pokaz zabawy komiksową formą. To jak autor nagina dosyć zastane i ustalone zasady porządkujące treść w obszarze medium, jak je przełamuje i urozmaica, może być przykładem kreatywności, jaka cechuje niewielu artystów. Mam wrażenie, że Lonergan dosłownie sponiewierał ideę siatki kadrów w klasycznym komiksowym ujęciu i idącą za nią zasadą przejrzystości, a mimo to całość jest jasna i czytelna. Te zabiegi nie tylko urozmaicają całość, ale wpływają na odbiór i wzbudzają niepokój. Oczywiście nie jest to pierwszy artysta, który bawi się w ten sposób, a jednak „DROM” jest w swojej kategorii rzeczą niezwykle udaną. Czytałem go już trzy razy i za każdym razem wydawał mi się lepszy
March 17, 2026
An Incal-esque fever dream of love, violence, creation, and gods being gods.
Gorgeous art and a brilliant story told with few words.
Gorgeous art and a brilliant story told with few words.
June 5, 2026
Astoundingly cool. One of the most remarkable graphic novels I've ever read.
December 26, 2025
*** 1/2
April 1, 2026
5 stars is not enough.
All the stars in the sky is still insufficient.
Nobody does motion in comics like Jesse Lonergan. Fascinating page structures tell an interesting story with compelling characters with very few words.
All the stars in the sky is still insufficient.
Nobody does motion in comics like Jesse Lonergan. Fascinating page structures tell an interesting story with compelling characters with very few words.
March 28, 2026
A very bare-bones epic story, but absolutely stunningly illustrated. The only issue I have is with the slightly abrupt ending, but up to that point it just simply flows, in both story and image.
April 2, 2026
Amazing art, innovative panel structure, strong emotion... just not a lot of enjoyment in the reading. From an achievement standpoint, it is breathtaking; but the story is rather simple and not as engaging as Is hoped. Once again, a book to appreciate, not enjoy.
January 24, 2026
Es una joya visual fenomenal. Cada viñeta le da un sentido narrativo y secuencial a la historia de manera que no es necesario tener diálogos para explicar los detalles. Además, el estilo de dibujo de Lonergan es bellísimo. Sí, bien, la historia podría ser algo sencilla, los distintos niveles de interpretación le dan una riqueza para leerlo más de una ocasión. Sin duda es un imperdible para las bibliotecas de quienes gustan de las novelas gráficas y los cómics.
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