What do you think?
Rate this book
Moonshadow
Moonshadow, um dos maiores clássicos das histórias em quadrinhos, criado por J.M. Dematteis e Jon J Muth, retorna em edição definitiva pela editora Pipoca & Nanquim.
Acompanhe a trajetória de Moonshadow, um jovem romântico, fruto do relacionamento de uma terráquea com um ser alienígena, durante sua jornada do despertar.
Tendo vivido boa parte da existência em um zoológico espacial que reúne espécimes abduzidos de todo o cosmo pela misteriosa raça de esferas sorridentes conhecidas simplesmente como Des-Mesus, o inocente Moon — cujo conhecimento das coisas se baseia apenas em livros e no que sua mãe hippie lhe contava — parte em uma aventura ao lado do canalha Ira e do fiel gato Frodo, para descobrir que a vida é muito diferente do que ele imaginava. Para bem ou para mal. Ao longo de um mar de desbravamentos, vai-se costurando uma narrativa que discute vários assuntos de interesse humano, ao mesmo tempo em que Moonshadow amadurece e avança rumo ao seu destino. Política, religião, filosofia, sexo, amor, guerra, morte e vida são alguns dos temas habilmente abordados pelos autores conforme o nosso herói e sua trupe se envolvem nas mais distintas e fantásticas situações.
O volume lançado pela editora, baseado em arquivos digitalmente restaurados, é apresentado em capa dura com verniz localizado e acabamento de luxo. Além de compilar as doze edições originais da minissérie, esta versão definitiva reúne o conto ilustrado Adeus, Moonshadow, que se passa anos após o término da saga, um prefácio exclusivo de J.M. Dematteis, páginas originais do roteiro e as ideias preliminares que deram origem a uma das maiores e mais lembradas histórias de ficção e fantasia dos quadrinhos de que se tem notícia. Um conto de fadas para adultos que precisa estar na coleção de todos os leitores de HQs.
Acompanhe a trajetória de Moonshadow, um jovem romântico, fruto do relacionamento de uma terráquea com um ser alienígena, durante sua jornada do despertar.
Tendo vivido boa parte da existência em um zoológico espacial que reúne espécimes abduzidos de todo o cosmo pela misteriosa raça de esferas sorridentes conhecidas simplesmente como Des-Mesus, o inocente Moon — cujo conhecimento das coisas se baseia apenas em livros e no que sua mãe hippie lhe contava — parte em uma aventura ao lado do canalha Ira e do fiel gato Frodo, para descobrir que a vida é muito diferente do que ele imaginava. Para bem ou para mal. Ao longo de um mar de desbravamentos, vai-se costurando uma narrativa que discute vários assuntos de interesse humano, ao mesmo tempo em que Moonshadow amadurece e avança rumo ao seu destino. Política, religião, filosofia, sexo, amor, guerra, morte e vida são alguns dos temas habilmente abordados pelos autores conforme o nosso herói e sua trupe se envolvem nas mais distintas e fantásticas situações.
O volume lançado pela editora, baseado em arquivos digitalmente restaurados, é apresentado em capa dura com verniz localizado e acabamento de luxo. Além de compilar as doze edições originais da minissérie, esta versão definitiva reúne o conto ilustrado Adeus, Moonshadow, que se passa anos após o término da saga, um prefácio exclusivo de J.M. Dematteis, páginas originais do roteiro e as ideias preliminares que deram origem a uma das maiores e mais lembradas histórias de ficção e fantasia dos quadrinhos de que se tem notícia. Um conto de fadas para adultos que precisa estar na coleção de todos os leitores de HQs.
540 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
74 people are currently reading
1740 people want to read
About the author
J.M. DeMatteis
1,908 books230 followersAlso Credited As:
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally
Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.
Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.
Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally
Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.
Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.
Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
August 15, 2022
Moonshadow is billed as a fairy tale for adults. However, it's more of a Dickensian tale set in outer space. Told allegorically with planet-sized malls called GimmeGimme, each issue focuses on a different subject as Moonshadow comes of age, consumerism, death, war, sex, etc. The comic is told as Moonshadow's memoirs and is more illustrated novel than a comic. As the book labored on over it's 500+ page run, I found myself getting more and more perturbed with Moonshadow's pacivity as he continually just lets these awful people do horrific things to him. He's nothing more than a punching bag. Moonshadow does have a furry sidekick who is obsessed with sex. It's not graphic visually, but the prose can be. The star here is Jon J. Muth's dreamy watercolors. The story here just isn't very interesting, but it is worth flipping through the book for the art.
Originally released in the mid 1980's by Epic Comics, then re-released in the Compleat version a decade later by Vertigo, now collected all together once again by Dark Horse.
Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Originally released in the mid 1980's by Epic Comics, then re-released in the Compleat version a decade later by Vertigo, now collected all together once again by Dark Horse.
Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
January 4, 2016
This is probably one of the weirdest books I've ever read. Moonshadow was born in an intergalactic zoo, the offspring of a drug-addled, Brooklyn-born hippie who calls herself "Sunflower" and a "grinning ball of light," an alien creature who may or may not be entirely capricious (read: absent father extraordinaire). At the zoo, Moonshadow slavishly follows around some lecherous, foul-mouthed, cigar-smoking, bowler hat-wearing, Wookie-like creature named Ira, and together they have some adventures after Moonshadow's father springs them from the zoo and gives them a spaceship in one of his random appearances. Oh, and Moonshadow's cat Frodo emerges every twenty or so pages, out of nowhere.
The story is told from the point of view of an old--and I guess alcoholic--Moonshadow, who is forever droning on about his "awakening." Young Moonshadow ("Moonshit," as Ira calls him) proceeds to lose his innocence in every way imaginable: loved ones die; virginity is lost; patriotism is a sham; chivalry is gone; rulers are crazy; war is brutal and pointless; faith is lost; friends betray you; horrible things happen for no apparent reason. But he also makes some good friends and grows up and, to some extent, finds out what he's made of.
The whole thing is embarrassingly earnest and emo and hippie-dippy and meaningful. It's inspired by a Cat Stevens song, for Christ's sake. The story feels familiar, but that's probably because it reverberates with literary allusion. It's also got some Star Wars/ Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy thing going on.
I have to admit that part of me was riveted by it. It was certainly never predictable. Some of the ideas were wonderfully imaginative, and the art--moody, impressionistic watercolors--was frequently stunning. Teen Moonshadow looks like a young David Bowie, and that never hurt anything.
Luckily I knew better than to expect some sort of grand and satisfying revelation at the end. Part of me is relieved that it is finally over, but another part is sad that I will no longer be surprised by the twists and turns of Moonshadow's melodramatic and overly meaningful coming-of-age.
(Whoa, apparently I had a lot to say about this after all.)
The story is told from the point of view of an old--and I guess alcoholic--Moonshadow, who is forever droning on about his "awakening." Young Moonshadow ("Moonshit," as Ira calls him) proceeds to lose his innocence in every way imaginable: loved ones die; virginity is lost; patriotism is a sham; chivalry is gone; rulers are crazy; war is brutal and pointless; faith is lost; friends betray you; horrible things happen for no apparent reason. But he also makes some good friends and grows up and, to some extent, finds out what he's made of.
The whole thing is embarrassingly earnest and emo and hippie-dippy and meaningful. It's inspired by a Cat Stevens song, for Christ's sake. The story feels familiar, but that's probably because it reverberates with literary allusion. It's also got some Star Wars/ Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy thing going on.
I have to admit that part of me was riveted by it. It was certainly never predictable. Some of the ideas were wonderfully imaginative, and the art--moody, impressionistic watercolors--was frequently stunning. Teen Moonshadow looks like a young David Bowie, and that never hurt anything.
Luckily I knew better than to expect some sort of grand and satisfying revelation at the end. Part of me is relieved that it is finally over, but another part is sad that I will no longer be surprised by the twists and turns of Moonshadow's melodramatic and overly meaningful coming-of-age.
(Whoa, apparently I had a lot to say about this after all.)
September 5, 2007
Yeah, it's a comic book. One with more depth, humor, and relevance than 90% of mainstream literature as found on NYT lists or NPR.
January 22, 2023
Cómic ilustrado que narra el tránsito de la infancia a la adultez de Moonshadow, el protagonista, hijo de una hippy y una ausente bola de luz, habitantes de un zoo alienígena.
Y con estos antecedentes, no podía ser como mínimo una historia original e impredecible. El despertar de la inocencia del protagonista en sus viajes y aventuras conlleva muchas decepciones y amarguras, para nada es una historia Disney.
Lo mejor, sus ilustraciones en acuarela.
3,5⭐
Y con estos antecedentes, no podía ser como mínimo una historia original e impredecible. El despertar de la inocencia del protagonista en sus viajes y aventuras conlleva muchas decepciones y amarguras, para nada es una historia Disney.
Lo mejor, sus ilustraciones en acuarela.
3,5⭐
August 25, 2019
It's so rare to find a graphic novel that works on more than one level, but when you do, it's wonderful. On the one hand, there’s the gorgeous watercolor art, some of it literally breathtaking, one the other, there’s the solid story that tackles various important topics while still being exciting, engaging and occasionally humorous.
Sci-fi fans will no doubt find the story fascinating. It’s the “journey of awakening” of 15-year-old Moonshadow, the child of a hippy earth-born mother and a giant grinning ball of light alien father. Kicked out from the space Zoo he was born and raised in, he’s forced to face the world and embarks on an amazing - and often tragic - adventure through space along with his cat Frodo and a lecherous, self-serving, Chewbacca-like creature named Ira.
Moonshadow is an emotional roller coaster. The overlay of hope and humor generally does little to alleviate the sad story underneath, a story of bullying, death, war, abuse, betrayal and lost innocence. Moon’s journey is paved with disappointment and tragedy, and his hopes and dreams are always met with uncaring responses: Ira, the cynical, traitorous, furry beast in which Moon tries to find the father he never had only to be disillusioned again and again, the rarely seen and whimsical father (a gigantic grinning alien balloon, part of a race of unpredictable kidnappers called the G’l-Doses, who helps him along the way but never fills the void of a parent), the unforgiving world with its repeated let downs and betrayals.
["Is this my mother?" I wondered and concluded that it could not be. This was a house, once lived in, now abandoned. A coat cast off. The essence of Sheila Fay Bernbaum had fled.]
Faced with hostility and deception, Moon never loses hope though, because he knows that "the human (and inhuman and semi-human) heart is a complex and unfathomable thing: a miniature G'l-Doses beating within us. Just when we believe we know someone, understand his motivations, the strange urges that drive him... he does the unexpected."
Sadly, this book is awfully hard to find. It’s been out of print for years, but I guess this makes it even more precious. (ETA: bookdepository has it from time to time; you just need patience and wait for it to come back in stock.)
EDIT: A new "definitive" edition came out this year (2019), more info & pics here.
Sci-fi fans will no doubt find the story fascinating. It’s the “journey of awakening” of 15-year-old Moonshadow, the child of a hippy earth-born mother and a giant grinning ball of light alien father. Kicked out from the space Zoo he was born and raised in, he’s forced to face the world and embarks on an amazing - and often tragic - adventure through space along with his cat Frodo and a lecherous, self-serving, Chewbacca-like creature named Ira.
Moonshadow is an emotional roller coaster. The overlay of hope and humor generally does little to alleviate the sad story underneath, a story of bullying, death, war, abuse, betrayal and lost innocence. Moon’s journey is paved with disappointment and tragedy, and his hopes and dreams are always met with uncaring responses: Ira, the cynical, traitorous, furry beast in which Moon tries to find the father he never had only to be disillusioned again and again, the rarely seen and whimsical father (a gigantic grinning alien balloon, part of a race of unpredictable kidnappers called the G’l-Doses, who helps him along the way but never fills the void of a parent), the unforgiving world with its repeated let downs and betrayals.
["Is this my mother?" I wondered and concluded that it could not be. This was a house, once lived in, now abandoned. A coat cast off. The essence of Sheila Fay Bernbaum had fled.]
Faced with hostility and deception, Moon never loses hope though, because he knows that "the human (and inhuman and semi-human) heart is a complex and unfathomable thing: a miniature G'l-Doses beating within us. Just when we believe we know someone, understand his motivations, the strange urges that drive him... he does the unexpected."
Sadly, this book is awfully hard to find. It’s been out of print for years, but I guess this makes it even more precious. (ETA: bookdepository has it from time to time; you just need patience and wait for it to come back in stock.)
EDIT: A new "definitive" edition came out this year (2019), more info & pics here.
December 31, 2017
Van Morrison’s Moon Dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFxG...
Cat Steven’s Moon Shadow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGNxK...
“Piping down the valleys wild
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,
And he laughing said to me:
‘Pipe a song about a lamb!”
So I piped with merry chear
‘Piper, pipe that song again!’
So I piped; he wept to hear.”—Blake
The Compleat Moonshadow is a kind of fictional/fantasy (auto)biography of Moonshadow, which the author John Marc DeMatteis says is a story of his own awakening, illustrated in dreamy watercolors by Jon Muth, though sometimes the drawing is also a little cartoony and silly to fit the playful mood. There’s increasingly quite a bit of sex in it, you will be happy or dismayed (check one) to find. I am in the former category, because it is honest, and not offensively done, all sort of dreamy soft watercolor, so not too “graphic”. It’s the story of one young man’s awakening, which includes sexuality, and it moves back and forth between fantasy and “reality.”
There’s too many words, usually, for my taste, which makes it seem more like an illustrated story than a comic. It’s a combination of lovely, haunting, strange, a comics classic, produced in single issues from 1985 through 1987, released in 1998 in this “compleat” version. It’s romantic, Blakean, with nods to all the romantics, including Shelley and Yeats, but there’s also a shout-out to The Brothers Karamazov. The vibe feels more sixties that eighties, for sure. It was in part inspired by the Cat Steven’s song, above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFxG...
Cat Steven’s Moon Shadow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGNxK...
“Piping down the valleys wild
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,
And he laughing said to me:
‘Pipe a song about a lamb!”
So I piped with merry chear
‘Piper, pipe that song again!’
So I piped; he wept to hear.”—Blake
The Compleat Moonshadow is a kind of fictional/fantasy (auto)biography of Moonshadow, which the author John Marc DeMatteis says is a story of his own awakening, illustrated in dreamy watercolors by Jon Muth, though sometimes the drawing is also a little cartoony and silly to fit the playful mood. There’s increasingly quite a bit of sex in it, you will be happy or dismayed (check one) to find. I am in the former category, because it is honest, and not offensively done, all sort of dreamy soft watercolor, so not too “graphic”. It’s the story of one young man’s awakening, which includes sexuality, and it moves back and forth between fantasy and “reality.”
There’s too many words, usually, for my taste, which makes it seem more like an illustrated story than a comic. It’s a combination of lovely, haunting, strange, a comics classic, produced in single issues from 1985 through 1987, released in 1998 in this “compleat” version. It’s romantic, Blakean, with nods to all the romantics, including Shelley and Yeats, but there’s also a shout-out to The Brothers Karamazov. The vibe feels more sixties that eighties, for sure. It was in part inspired by the Cat Steven’s song, above.
July 28, 2009
Imaginative, with interesting pictures, at times very beautiful. I would easily give this 4 stars if I had not taken so long to feel attached to the story or characters. By the end, I did feel attached, to varrying degrees. During the first third of the book I felt incredibly annoyed with the pompous writing. I think this book is overrated yet I would still recommend it to fantasy lovers.
March 31, 2013
What does one write when one knows he couldn't possibly give a book justice.
Wouldn't it be fun if we all lived in a Disney Animated Movie nd could simply burst out into song instead... in fact, I do believe that is exactly what I am going to do...
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if.... I won't have to work no more.
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if.... I won't have to cry no more.
Oh I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin' and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if.... I won't have to walk no more.
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if.... I won't have to talk...
Oh I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin' and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?
Oh I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin' and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
ok, I'll stop now
Moonshadow (the song)
written by Paul Simon, performed by Cat Stevens
Wouldn't it be fun if we all lived in a Disney Animated Movie nd could simply burst out into song instead... in fact, I do believe that is exactly what I am going to do...
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if.... I won't have to work no more.
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if.... I won't have to cry no more.
Oh I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin' and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if.... I won't have to walk no more.
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if.... I won't have to talk...
Oh I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin' and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?
Oh I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin' and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
ok, I'll stop now
Moonshadow (the song)
written by Paul Simon, performed by Cat Stevens
May 2, 2020
Llevaba 30 años deseando leer Moonshadow, desde que me enteré de su existencia en algún complemento de las series Epic que publicaba Forum. Y la lectura me ha dejado un regustillo amargo. Su fama me parece merecida. Este relato de crecimiento personal abarca con sabiduría multitud de temas: los prejuicios sobre el amor, el sexo y las relaciones, y sus consecuencias; la manipulación individual y social; las pérdidas personales; la guerra y la violencia... mientras mantiene el equilibrio entre complejidad y el tono ingenuo de la historia. Y las ilustraciones de Jon J Muth están a la altura de lo esperado: muchas son deslumbrantes, con una mezcla muy efectiva entre impresionismo y caricatura. Mi problema es que también he chocado con un formato que, a ratos, es más próximo al relato ilustrado que al cómic. Lo que es un poco frustrante porque cuando tiene viñetas y bocadillos, la narración fluye. Sin embargo los omnipresentes y recargados textos de apoyo terminan como prescindibles muchas veces. Creo que DeMatteis se gusta demasiado.
Para disfrutar con calma... y pausas a cada capítulo.
Para disfrutar con calma... y pausas a cada capítulo.
November 30, 2014
The best comic book series I ever read, the one to which I compare all others. Even five stars isn't enough.
October 4, 2007
Under the editorship of visionary Archie Goodwin, Marvel's Epic Comics line, with titles such as Dreadstar, Coyote, and Starstruck, showcased some of the best and most innovative comics of the 1980s.
Premiering in 1985, the fully painted twelve-issue fairy tale Moonshadow by writer JM DeMatteis and artist Jon J. Muth continued that bold tradition.
The chronicles of the young, naive Moonshadow's life continued in 1986. Orphaned and raised by strange aliens and befriended by a cantankerous, foul smelling, hairy creature, by story's end Moonshadow uncovered his true nature through his experiences with fantastic literature and surreal worlds.
DeMatteis incorporated elements of his own life along with the works of William Blake and the Romantics. The captions throughout rhapsodize 19th-century writings. Muth's subtle use of color and emphasis on Victorian style art are the perfect complement to the text. Though pretty and passionate, Moonshadow can be at times rambling and dull. DeMatteis manages to rescue the book with well-placed bits of crude and funny humor.
Not only was Moonshadow the first fully painted comic book, it, along with Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, ushered in a new era of horror comics, stories that were not for children and appealed to both longtime comic book fans and newer adult readers.
Before 1986 there were no comics like this. Sadly since then, very few comics have approached this combination of artistic and literary tour-de-force.
(This review originally appeared on RevolutionSF.)
Link: http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.h...
Premiering in 1985, the fully painted twelve-issue fairy tale Moonshadow by writer JM DeMatteis and artist Jon J. Muth continued that bold tradition.
The chronicles of the young, naive Moonshadow's life continued in 1986. Orphaned and raised by strange aliens and befriended by a cantankerous, foul smelling, hairy creature, by story's end Moonshadow uncovered his true nature through his experiences with fantastic literature and surreal worlds.
DeMatteis incorporated elements of his own life along with the works of William Blake and the Romantics. The captions throughout rhapsodize 19th-century writings. Muth's subtle use of color and emphasis on Victorian style art are the perfect complement to the text. Though pretty and passionate, Moonshadow can be at times rambling and dull. DeMatteis manages to rescue the book with well-placed bits of crude and funny humor.
Not only was Moonshadow the first fully painted comic book, it, along with Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, ushered in a new era of horror comics, stories that were not for children and appealed to both longtime comic book fans and newer adult readers.
Before 1986 there were no comics like this. Sadly since then, very few comics have approached this combination of artistic and literary tour-de-force.
(This review originally appeared on RevolutionSF.)
Link: http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.h...
August 9, 2020
3.75 stars
Moonshadow is a fantastical coming-of-age tale with splashes of sci-fi drama. It wasn't perfect, but it was an interesting ride overall.
Let's talk about the main feature first: the artwork. It was lovely! The watercolors were beautiful. The color palette seemed fitting for the setting of the story. I also enjoyed the character designs. There was an old-school charm to it that I can't exactly put my finger on. Moonshadow was a cool thing to flip through simply for the art alone.
The story itself was actually quite a bit more dense than I had expected. I think it was fleshed out well in some parts, whereas other snippets were oddly vague. A lot of that is probably due to the personality of the narrator, but I do wish the attention to detail was more evenly spread. I also have to mention that the font wasn't my favorite. It became hard on the eyes after a while. I was definitely intrigued enough with the story to push past that, but it was something that I constantly noticed throughout my reading experience.
My concluding thoughts are that I am glad I read this. I appreciated the level of work that the creators put into this. You can really tell that this was something that they were passionate about, and that's always nice to feel that passion come through the pages. Not a bad read considering that this was 100% a random cover grab from the library.
Moonshadow is a fantastical coming-of-age tale with splashes of sci-fi drama. It wasn't perfect, but it was an interesting ride overall.
Let's talk about the main feature first: the artwork. It was lovely! The watercolors were beautiful. The color palette seemed fitting for the setting of the story. I also enjoyed the character designs. There was an old-school charm to it that I can't exactly put my finger on. Moonshadow was a cool thing to flip through simply for the art alone.
The story itself was actually quite a bit more dense than I had expected. I think it was fleshed out well in some parts, whereas other snippets were oddly vague. A lot of that is probably due to the personality of the narrator, but I do wish the attention to detail was more evenly spread. I also have to mention that the font wasn't my favorite. It became hard on the eyes after a while. I was definitely intrigued enough with the story to push past that, but it was something that I constantly noticed throughout my reading experience.
My concluding thoughts are that I am glad I read this. I appreciated the level of work that the creators put into this. You can really tell that this was something that they were passionate about, and that's always nice to feel that passion come through the pages. Not a bad read considering that this was 100% a random cover grab from the library.
Read
April 18, 2023What a journey! Moonshadow's journey begins before his birth, with her mother's and perhaps with his great aunt's journeys on Earth. In Brooklyn, to be specific. His hippie, peace-loving, war-hating mother is abducted by whimsical, spherical aliens to become a part of their intergalactic zoo, where she marries one of the giant orbs and Moonshadow's born! Moon grows up in the zoo, but when he's 15, he's forced to go on a journey. So Moon, his mother, his loyal cat, and a raunchy, irreverent alien called Ira are given a dinky spaceship to wander in space. They soon land in a planet fashioned after a mall and get in a lot of trouble soon after. Trouble brings trouble and the team suffers quite a lot of political intrigue, imprisonment, active war, POW camps, and more. Along the way, Moon's supposed to learn hard lessons about being human, friendship, family, love, hate, and war.
It's hard to say if Moon really learns his lessons. He certainly remains a little naive, a little optimistic despite it all. He makes the same mistakes over and over again (like trusting Ira). And though he learns loss and grief, he manages to live a happy life thereafter. Perhaps the most meaningful character arc is Ira's, though it's developed much later in the complete collection. Ira remains a selfish jerk and a traitor until almost the end, but eventually love transforms him.
The story's melancholy and melodramatic at times, partly because it's told in retrospective first person POV, where an aged Moonshadow tells his story. Some of the monologs and exposition pieces are repetitive and too long, but fit the illustrated nature of the story (rather than a comic-style graphic novel with a lot of panels and speech bubbles).
The art is beautiful. Watercolors are haunting and exquisite. The style often adds to the absurd and comical nature of the story. Sometimes Ira's just a giant ball of brown fur in the panel with his cigar permanently attached to his mouth. The king of the mall planet and his wife and their children are brilliantly rendered. The war scenes are gruesome.
Overall, The Compleat Moonshadow is a journey. It matters not how it ends or begins. The delight is in the intergalactic romp.
It's hard to say if Moon really learns his lessons. He certainly remains a little naive, a little optimistic despite it all. He makes the same mistakes over and over again (like trusting Ira). And though he learns loss and grief, he manages to live a happy life thereafter. Perhaps the most meaningful character arc is Ira's, though it's developed much later in the complete collection. Ira remains a selfish jerk and a traitor until almost the end, but eventually love transforms him.
The story's melancholy and melodramatic at times, partly because it's told in retrospective first person POV, where an aged Moonshadow tells his story. Some of the monologs and exposition pieces are repetitive and too long, but fit the illustrated nature of the story (rather than a comic-style graphic novel with a lot of panels and speech bubbles).
The art is beautiful. Watercolors are haunting and exquisite. The style often adds to the absurd and comical nature of the story. Sometimes Ira's just a giant ball of brown fur in the panel with his cigar permanently attached to his mouth. The king of the mall planet and his wife and their children are brilliantly rendered. The war scenes are gruesome.
Overall, The Compleat Moonshadow is a journey. It matters not how it ends or begins. The delight is in the intergalactic romp.
August 8, 2024
Ten fakt, že vďaka tomuto komiksu začal marvel písať vekové odporúčania na prednú stránku kvôli tomu, že si tam nejaká chlpatá fantasy postava mastí kládu. Mad respec.
February 27, 2021
This is a whoppingly big graphic novel that originally came out in serialised form during the 80s. First off the artwork is beautiful, and throughout the book it evolves from being childlike and cartoonish and then eventually becomes more delicate and intricate... which shows Moonshadow's journey from being a child into death. I've seen some reviews criticise this because Moonshadow is a "punching bag" and is just getting knocked from pillar to post and has no control over his destiny.... also some have said that the whole thing is pretty macho or masculine; though to me it seemed more about how young boys will read about heroes in fiction and then try to emulate them. It's very tragic that he never lives up to his own expectations of himself, and by the end of it the poor guy is so broken down by all the tragedy and mistakes he's made.
I'm not much into naval-gazing macho fiction (see my recent reviews of Peter Milligan comics) though it always works for me when it has a self defeating edge to it. I've not even mentioned all the political subtext to it, the way it trounces war, capitalism, religion, monarchy and pretty much everything.... there's very little that Moonshadow doesn't encompass.
I read this in one day and it's huge (with a lot of text in it too), it's not too expensive if you can find a copy on Ebay... I would have happily have read another 100 installments of it, though I'm also happy it's so self-contained.
I'm not much into naval-gazing macho fiction (see my recent reviews of Peter Milligan comics) though it always works for me when it has a self defeating edge to it. I've not even mentioned all the political subtext to it, the way it trounces war, capitalism, religion, monarchy and pretty much everything.... there's very little that Moonshadow doesn't encompass.
I read this in one day and it's huge (with a lot of text in it too), it's not too expensive if you can find a copy on Ebay... I would have happily have read another 100 installments of it, though I'm also happy it's so self-contained.
December 26, 2011
Dude who runs the hobbie shop said this was his favourite comic ever. That's high praise for a major nerd! Plus he gave me a discount. Sweet!
Dec. 25, 2011
The ending to this book actually bumped it up from beige 3 star read to 4 stars. I expected so much more from this when I started it. The artwork is really whimsical, a perfect fit to the story. But as I read further and futher, I couldn't stand how pretentious the narrator was. Ugh! Get over yourself. Throughout the book, the narrator breaks the fourth wall to talk to his readers and in one of them he even mentions his worry that the readerrs will think he's prentious...that one made me laugh. This would have been one of my all time favourite comics if it weren't for the tone of the book.
But tone aside, it had a great story. Kind of a coming of age, but in space. Everything is better in space! My favourite character by far is the furry, chubaka-like, porn-loving companion of Moonshadow, Ira.
Dec. 25, 2011
The ending to this book actually bumped it up from beige 3 star read to 4 stars. I expected so much more from this when I started it. The artwork is really whimsical, a perfect fit to the story. But as I read further and futher, I couldn't stand how pretentious the narrator was. Ugh! Get over yourself. Throughout the book, the narrator breaks the fourth wall to talk to his readers and in one of them he even mentions his worry that the readerrs will think he's prentious...that one made me laugh. This would have been one of my all time favourite comics if it weren't for the tone of the book.
But tone aside, it had a great story. Kind of a coming of age, but in space. Everything is better in space! My favourite character by far is the furry, chubaka-like, porn-loving companion of Moonshadow, Ira.
June 7, 2011
Moonshadow is a 1985–1987 limited series written and created by J. M. DeMatteis and illustrated by Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams as well as George Pratt. It was later released as a trade paperback currently entitled The Compleat Moonshadow. The comic was inspired by the Cat Stevens song of the same name. It takes the form of a bildungsroman with elements of satire.
The first issue of this come out while I was on my own bildungsroman, and the echo and significance of this was not lost on me. It was also the first time I realized this was a story being told through watercolor paintings! Painting as a storytelling medium! I felt like I’d discovered a new planet. Shhhh; I know. I pour over Muth and Kent’s work to this day, analyzing and pirating any clues to mastering the medium.
The first issue of this come out while I was on my own bildungsroman, and the echo and significance of this was not lost on me. It was also the first time I realized this was a story being told through watercolor paintings! Painting as a storytelling medium! I felt like I’d discovered a new planet. Shhhh; I know. I pour over Muth and Kent’s work to this day, analyzing and pirating any clues to mastering the medium.
October 26, 2007
Undoubtedly one of my favorite comics ever, I was unaware of its influence when I first discovered a copy in a box at an antique/junk shop. One of the first comics to feature fully painted artwork, it featured a complex adult storyline that melded poetry, crude humor, fairy tale, and science fiction into a wistful story of reminiscence, a coming of age tale set in space. It does suffer from a rambling plot that at times lacks cohesion, but Muth's gorgeous art binds it together beautifully, and Matteis's writing is generally quite engaging. Each issue began with an excerpt from a poem or story, which lent a kind of seriousness to the form that, even today, is not always seen.
December 28, 2008
Definitely an overlooked, imaginative, unique, creative, funny, with some depth, sci fi, coming of age graphic novel. Ira is quite the character in and of himself- he's a sarcastic, funny, impulsive, selfish, lecherous alien and he is the pretty much unwilling companion to Moonshadow, the main character, a young boy trying to figure out where he belongs. The artwork is also quite talented. This is one of the best books I bought impulsively from the used section at a bookstore. Maybe this comic isn't for everyone, but there's a certain innocence to it that is appealing.
Also, it kinda reminded me of a less offensive, more childlike Transmet (Transmet review also on my list).
Also, it kinda reminded me of a less offensive, more childlike Transmet (Transmet review also on my list).
January 19, 2009
This is a great graphic series. I can't say what I loved more if it is DeMatteis' words or Jon J. Muth's incredible watercolers. This series has a great mixture of comedy and tragedy that is almost like I. B. Singer's books in comparison. DeMatteis has written many series since, but this remains my favorite because of the way it tells the story of a childhood innocence forced to confront grown up reality. Though told in very fantasy terms, this is a realistic view of love, life and death, and grief that can't be put down. A fully realized novel that I can't believe he got a major company, Marvel comics, to publish. A great read from beginning to end.
January 25, 2015
The watercolour illustrations in this book are alone are captivating, and as it turns out, the story is also very beautiful. As many commentators have noted, this is an original and haunting coming of age story. Moonshadow, the main character, and the book itself are innocent and full of wonder. Because this is a story of awakening, it is also full of confusion, heartache, sorrow, betrayal and pain. The artwork, the author's prose, and even Moonshadow himself created such an atmospheric experience, that I feel I am just emerging from some kind of drug-induced dream-like state. Quite the experience!
May 5, 2013
This raucous and magical coming of age story is one of my all time favourite books. First read it in the 1980's and I've reread it a dozen times since discovering new things every time. The artwork is gloriously gentle except when it isn't, the story is charmingly whimsical, except when it isn't. This book has everything, poor parenting, sex and debauchery, war and violence, love and peace, happiness and misery and in the end acceptance. DeMatteis' writing is heavily autobiographical, one has to imagine and he is clearly writing what he knows, even though in a most fantastical setting and Jon J Muth matches him artistically every step of the way.
June 8, 2011
This is definitely something I would call an illustrated novel rather than a comic. It's sort of strange, and my favourite part is the artwork. Wasn't compelled by the story much and found myself thinking of stories that I've written in the past that could probably measure up to this one. That's not to say the work isn't good, it's definitely got its charms, but it was the illustrations that compelled me to keep turning the pages.
October 23, 2011
I'm not a comic book fan in general, but the 90s DC Vertigo comics were something special, and MoonShadow is no exception. This one along with The Sandman by Neil Gaiman were my favorites. There is something sweet to this one with its exploration of character. The watercolors are beautiful. Even now, 16 years later, I still have these on display around the home.
September 21, 2011
Deliciosamente surreal, DeMatteis mergulha-nos nas poéticas aventuras e desventuras de um rapaz nascido num zoo galáctico que, à solta entre planetas, tem de se descobrir a si e aos sentidos da vida. História de crescimento pessoal disfarçada de narrativa fantasista, tem um carácter feérico sublinhado pela aguarela expressiva do ilustrador John J. Muth.
October 5, 2013
I originally read this series many years ago when it came out in individual issues. I wanted to see what I thought of it years later.
The artwork has a very dreamy, water-washed effect, which I do find very beautiful. I remember the story to be much less heartbreaking...it is very unique and also has an odd dream-like quality to it.
The artwork has a very dreamy, water-washed effect, which I do find very beautiful. I remember the story to be much less heartbreaking...it is very unique and also has an odd dream-like quality to it.
August 3, 2014
Reread for the Frisco Public Library's graphic novels book club. Incredible book, all the more impressive on multiple readings. I have my good friend and former student David Walton, for introducing me to Moonshadow...as well as other great DeMatteis books.
May 2, 2012
everyone should read this book. one of the most imaginative stories i've ever read with an inconceivable amount of gorgeous watercolors to accompany it. gives me chills just thinking about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews