From the creator of Netflix original series Dead Paranormal Park comes the graphic novel series that started it all!
“DeadEndia is immediately appealing with its colorful art, unique setting, and funny jokes, but I especially loved the complicated emotional arcs of the characters and the weird, spooky magic underlying everything!” —Molly Knox Ostertag, creator of The Witch Boy
“Heart-warming, heartbreaking, heart-pounding, and heartfelt!" —Marika McCoola, The New York Times bestselling author of Baba Yaga’s Assistant
Barney Guttman’s life has been turned upside down. His family is struggling to fully embrace his trans identity, but thanks to his best friend Norma, he’s just landed a job at Phoenix Parks, a Dollywood-esque amusement park inspired by the long life and career of mysteriously youthful actress and singer Pauline Phoenix. Soon, Barney and his dog, Pugsley, secretly move into the haunted house attraction. Little does Barney know, the house contains a portal to the demonic planes of Hell. When Courtney, Barney’s devilish new roommate, invites a demon king to Earth through the portal, they offer Barney and Norma as flesh vessels for the king, but in a strange twist, Pugsley is possessed instead! It’s a race through the park to save Pugsley—and the world—from the demon king’s reign of terror that leaves Pugsley with strange and magical side effects. With all of this chaos going on, Barney is also discovering he has crush on park employee, Logan, so he must face his biggest fear of all… talking to someone he likes.
Follow the lives of this diverse group of friends in this hilarious and moving graphic novel series, complete with talking pugs, vengeful ghosts, and first love.
Part workplace comedy, part supernatural horror adventure, with a splash of LGBTQ+ romance, The Watcher’s Test is perfect for fans of author Hamish Steele’s TV series Dead Paranormal Park who are in search of more adventures, for graphic novel lovers who want more diversity in their reads, or simply as an introduction to the zany, creative, and laugh-out-loud funny world of DeadEndia.
Jako osoba autystyczna mam duży problem z czytaniem niektórych komiksów, bo często nie rozumiem decyzji i wypowiedzi postaci. Nawet kiedy bardzo się skupiam i analizuję wszystko po kolei - nadal mierzę się z zupełną blokadą na emocje, które powinnom odczuwać podczas czytania.
Super reprezentacja queerowa i neuroatypowa. Różnorodność kulturowa, etniczna (mc ma nawet świąteczny sweter z chanukiją) i ważne tematy. Ją też zaimki neutralne!
WARTO CZYTAĆ DLA BOHATERÓW
TW sam0okaleczanie, kryzys bezdomności, tr4nsfobia (mało), krew, śmierć
Wacky stories featuring a group of friends fighting angels and demons at a hellmouth in the center of an amusement park. This was odd, really odd, yet I liked it, even with art where everyone looks like they are related to Bert of Bert and Ernie fame. Very LBGTQ+.
Received an advance copy from Nobrow and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Ah well this was all kinds of crazy. Demonic pugs, a Dollywood inspired theme park which is a portal to a thirteen dimensional world ( something like that ) ... it is pretty hard to logically follow the larger plot machinations here but as someone that normally eschews cartoons of any kind I actually had some fun with this.
This comic has a very warm heart but ultimately I think it maybe lost control of it's demonic storyline in the end there, poor Pugsley !
Komiksy zazwyczaj nie robią na mnie większego wrażenia – fajnie przeczytać szybko jakąś historię, ale logiczne, że to nigdy nie może być bardzo dopracowane, bo przedstawione pojedynczymi kadrami i krótkimi wypowiedziami.
Przez Martwy Punkt się popłakałam.
(Martwy) punkt wyjściowy (hehehe) jest taki, że mamy coś na kształt wesołego miasteczka, a główną atrakcją w tymże jest właśnie Martwy Punkt, taki a'la dom strachów. A'la lalala bo jednak faktycznie taki dom strachów: budynek jest jednocześnie jakimś magicznym portalem wielowymiarowym, z którego przełażą diabły i dusze. No i tu kogoś opęta, tu kogoś chce pozbawić życia, takie to fantastyczne przygody. Rozdziałów jest 8, teoretycznie każdy o czymś innym, z innym głównym wątkiem, ale w praktyce zgrabnie się to na koniec łączy i jeszcze przewijamy do pierwszego rozdziału, bo tam przecież już ktoś coś takiego mówił, już taka jakaś ilustracja była, i mamy takie "Aaaa to o to chodziło! To on jest!".
No ogólnie fabularnie komiks mnie zaskoczył, jakoś się tego największego plot twistu nie spodziewałam, napultali tam podróży w czasie i między wymiarami jak w jakim Marvelu i What If (OBSERWATOR W TYTULE, NO HELOŁ) czy w innym Doctorze Who, ale smutne momenty też były. Poruszono także kwestię bardziej psychologiczną, strach przed nieznanym, obawy przed oceną innych, stany lękowe. Mamy też reprezentację LGBTQ+: mlm, osoby transpłciowe i postać niebinarną.
Całość tak trochę daje klimatem Wodogrzmotów Małych, Pora na przygodę albo Steven Universe, szczególnie jeśli chodzi o kreskę, czasem sceny są absurdalne, czasem żarty, że się leży na podłodze ze śmiechu, innym razem trochę z zażenowania, bo to zawsze mam przy żartach o kupie. Ale zadowolona jestem i bardzo chcę już sięgnąć po kolejny tom, bo się to trochę tak skończyło ni z gruchy ni z pietruchy.
A, i jest serial animowany, na Netflix, właśnie na podstawie tego komiksu. Nie jest to ekranizacja kropkę w kropkę, wydarzenia troszkę inaczej poprowadzone, a wręcz całkowicie się rozjeżdżają, dodatkowo Norma przedstawiona wyraźniej jako osoba autystyczna, a Courtney już nie używa zaimków onu. Komiks podobał mi się bardziej, no ale vibe podobny, no i mają musicalowy odcinek, taki totalnie zrobiony pod Upiora, a w polskim dubbingu robi chociażby Maciej Dybowski, Sebastian Machalski czy Krzysztof Szczepaniak jako długonoga blondyna.
Triggery: trochę przemocy i umierające zwierzątka (już wiecie, dlaczego płakałam, podziękujcie Wydawnictwo Nowa Baśń, bo to przez #współpraca z nimi i mnie nie ostrzegli, że mam mieć chusteczki)
*Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book!*
If you’re looking for a quite light and fun read, this graphic novel would definitely be a good choice. I haven't read a graphic novel in a hot minute but this really reminded me why I love them.
Starting this book felt like being thrown in at the deep end, and I do think it was a little bit of an abrupt beginning. We get no real build up of the events that follow, no backstory really from our characters, and the fantasy elements just come out of nowhere. While it was a little silly and fun, I do wish it had had a bit more meat to it and some more substance to what was happening to help me engage with the story a bit better. It just all felt really random, I’m not sure I followed what was happening all that well despite focusing on it. It had a lot going on, mabe with a less hectic convoluted fantasy element this would have worked better. It was funny though, I’ll give it that. It made me smile even when I didn’t have a clue what was happening.
I think that the representation in here was really nice to see, and some of the different struggles different characters go through being highlighted. I do think at times the conversations could have run a little deeper as they felt surface level, but I guess I have to appreciate the formatting of the story that might not have been feasible. This was filled with very bizarre but very loveable characters, I liked how they all interacted, and the friendships that get highlighted to us are really sweet. One relationship I’ll say I didn’t really enjoy though was the romance. I felt that the two characters involved had barely even spoken a word to each other really, and then all of a sudden they were kissing and there was supposed to be chemistry there? That just came out of left field for me and didn’t work. Everything else was very wholesome though.
Really beautiful art, funny dialogue, and a fun set of characters to take you on a quick little adventure. I might have to dip into the Netflix show next!
So, I picked up this book two days before the end of 2019. I read it, I loved it, and I was completely changed by it. It has a pretty typical, Cartoon Network-esque plot, but the kind diversity and unique life lessons elevated it. The artwork is fun and fantastic, allowing itself to be emotional without betraying its cartooness. I've never read a book with a trans male main character that I connected with as deeply as Barney. This is not a story of Barney's struggle or pain. Instead, we get to see his growth as he shares things he's learned and is still learning as he transitions. This being a webcomic that got published (By an actual publishing company!) is incredible and rare, and I can't wait to see where the story of DeadEndia goes in the future. (I'm crossing my fingers for a show, and since DeadEndia originated as a short for Cartoon Hangover, that fantasy seems likely.) Kudos to Hamish Steele for creating one of my favorite comics, and one of my favorite stories, ever.
Stand by it! 5 stars all the way, this is a HIGHLY underrated comic, y'all need to try this out! Also, going to be a Netflix show in 2021, so excited to see this adaptation and expansion!
First Read - 10/15/2018
HOLY SCHNIKES.
This was so freaking good! Some young 20 somethings work at DeadEndia, a "haunted house" in the middle of a theme park. Oh, and it is also a portal into hell.
This comic has everything: Amazing artwork Humor Diversity Demons Time Travel
The series starts out as a "monster of the week" type formula as we get to know the main ensemble, but little do you know that this wild story arc is woven in the whole time. I'm just so impressed, this series has so many layers.
This is a wild ride of a book, and it appears to be just the first in a series. Barney, who named himself after the purple dinosaur, has left his home, because he can't live there, with his parents not accepting his sexuality. He gets a job at a theme park that is actually a portal to the demon world. Oh, and his dog gets pocessed by one of the demons and learns to talk and has magic powers.
And through all this, Barney is falling in love.
It is a strange book, but once you get into it, it was a lot of fun.
Give it a try. It is very different, and that is a complement.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
My favorite thing about this book was the two main characters, best friends Barney and Norma. They are misfits who were drawn together in high school and now both work at the same eccentric, haunted amusement park: Pollyland. My least favorite thing about this book is that it was originally a script for an animated TV show. The structure of each chapter still heavily reflects the format of a 10 minute Cartoon Network style episode, which makes for awkward pacing in a book. Scenes which could have used more space and time are packed in back to back, and the emotional rollercoaster at the end is not earned. Also, spoiler: a dog dies.
A fun concept but the delivery didn’t do it for me. It felt rather rushed and sped through the character development, focusing instead on action sequences and dashing about the theme park. I did enjoy the overall tone and drawing style (other than the noses, where, in my head, coloring them red/pink denotes alcoholism in cartoon language...).
Will read the second as there was a bit of a cliffhanger.
*I received a DRC for free from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
[4.5 stars] THIS WAS SO FUN! And really weird. But so diverse! I don't even know how to explain it, but if you like things like Welcome to Night Vale, I think you'd like this. It got characters of color, a trans dude, other queer characters, a girl who wears a hijab, and angels and demons! I mean honestly, what more can you ask for?!
I knocked off half a star because it made me cry. But I seriously can't wait to read more!
2,5⭐️ Rysunki naprawdę przepiękne, ale historia tak pogmatwana, że kilkukrotnie marszczyłam brwi szukając czy czegoś nie ominęłam, bo po prostu się pogubiłam. 5/10 to w sumie idealna jak dla mnie ocena dla tego komiksu
I absolutely adored the show that was based on this book, and was crushed when it was cancelled - shoutout to netflix for breaking my heart, once again. Reading this definitely soothed my heartbreak a bit though.
It didn't bring tears to my eyes like the show does, but I really enjoyed the OG material. I want more Courtney in the next book, but I always want more Courtney. I'm excited to see what's next for these characters!
DeadEndia combines the lighthearted wackiness of Adventure Time and Gravity Falls with the weightier emotional moments of...Adventure Time and Gravity Falls.
It's funny; it's sweet; it's highly inclusive. Deep enough for adults and teens and clean enough for kids, this is going to appeal to wide range of readers. Book 2 can't come soon enough.
Thank you thank you to Nobrow for this fun book about crime-fighting friends! Barney and his best friend Norma are just trying to get by and keep their jobs, but working at the Dead End theme park also means battling demonic forces, time traveling wizards, and scariest of all-their love lives! This book follows the lives of this diverse group of employees of a haunted house, which may or may not also serve as a portal to hell, in this hilarious and moving graphic novel, complete with talking pugs, vengeful ghosts and LBGTQIA love!
Thoughts: I loved the representation in this book! It has a fun and interesting plot, but there are also tons of important life lessons addressed and good diversity. I loved that the main character was transgender and it was fun to see his growth over the book. This book has some short stories in it, but it is connected by an overarching theme and wonderful character development. I loved the artwork in this book and it was a super fun setting. I would say this book is geared towards ages 13-17 and it is a great choice! 4.5 stars!
Ok dobrze, od razu zaznaczę, że sięgnęłam po "Martwy punkt" w dużej mierze z dwóch powodów. Jednym jest to, że to komiks, a ja uwielbiam raz na jakiś czas sięgnąć po powieść graficzną i się przy niej zrelaksować, natomiast drugi to ekranizacja Netflixa. Nie spodziewałam się wtedy, że będę tak bardzo zauroczona tą historią, a "Martwy punkt" jest naprawdę bardzo dobry.
Komiks podzielony jest na osiem rozdziałów z których każdy jest krótszą historią z tymi samymi bohaterami i rozwijającą główną fabułę. Jest tutaj sporo o przyjaźni, lojalności, walki ze swoimi lękami, oddaniu i wielu innych. To wszystko w świecie pełnym magii i demonów, bowiem w Martwym Punkcie znajdują się drzwi do innych wymiarów. Sam świat został bardzo ciekawie zbudowany i świetnie się bawiłam go odkrywając. Mamy demony, anioły, ale także duchy i dziwne stwory, które nie raz zaskoczą. A Pugsley (gadający mops) jest genialny. Jak nic niedługo muszę nadrobić serial!
i'm trying to think how to describe this book in a nutshell, and what i keep coming back to is... Steven Universe, but darker, weirder, and differently gay? Adult swim does Buffy? Honestly, it's probably best described as Steven Universe crossed with Gretchen (Zombillenium #1).
I love the central character (Barney!), and the idea of this kind of character moving into a haunted house/portal to hell setting was a fun twist.
I love the packaging of the graphic novel - matte pages and cover, and it's thick - over 200 pages. Full color, great little character profiles starting each issue or so.
Yummy funness with some great trans representation. :) Great stuff!
Looking at the cover and the art style you might think this is intended for kids. Maybe it is? Like all the best cartoons there are several jokes that are likely only to be understood by adults. This was really fun and funny with a bright and happy colour palette and a cute pug character. It is an inclusive story with a trans main character, POC, and a young woman in a hijab. I would have given it 5 stars but it committed the one thing that is an issue for me (and many others.) I don't want to give anything away but there is a website dedicated to checking if this horrible event occurs in a movie or a book. (If you know you know) I was left sobbing at the end! This won't prevent me from reading the next volume but dammit people can we stop this from happening ever?
3.75 Komiks miał naprawdę świetny klimat ale w drugiej połowie tak się pogubiłam, że niby wiedziałam o co chodzi ale nie do końca... Byłam jak: Nie wiem o co chodzi ale buja haha Mimo wszystko jeśli lubicie klimaty typu "Wodogrzmoty male" to to będzie idealny komiks dla was!!
Barney and Norma work at a theme park that is anything but ordinary. They are a direct connection to the 12 portals between heaven and hell, and every day something new happens. No one is safe, not even Pugsley, Barney's beloved dog, from demons!
Recommended for grades 9-12.
Reviewed by Rebecca, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Hmm… szczerze nie umiem ocenić tego sprawiedliwe, ponieważ jest to komiks, których zazwyczaj nie czytam i nie są raczej w moim stylu.
Uważam, że powieść ma bardzo duży potencjał, ale jak już wspomniałam nie są to moje klimaty. Nie przepadam za mocno fantastycznymi, animowanymi komiksami jak „Martwy Punkt”.
Jednak próbowałam wyciągać z niego pozytywy i stwierdzam, że bardzo dobrze bawiłam się podczas czytania. A o to chodzi! Pomimo lekkości książki poruszała ona ważne i istotne tematy. Jest to historia z reprezentacją bohaterów LGBTQ+.
Komiks jest prześlicznie wydany i szczerze polecam go osobom zainteresowanym taką tematyką.