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Nod Away, Vol. 1
In this sci-fi graphic novel, a woman seeks to develop a way to move the “innernet” (internal internet”) hub from a human child to an electronic nexus. Nod Away is set on a near-future version of earth. A deep space transport has been developed to take a small crew to an earth-like, habitable planet in a nearby system in an attempt to begin colonization/repopulation. The internet is now telepathic and referred to as the “innernet.” When the hub is revealed to be a human child, Melody McCabe is hired to develop the new nexus on the second International Space Station. Working within the structure of sci-fi, Nod Away moves back and forth between physical and psychological worlds, utilizing traditional and abstract storytelling styles to explore what consciousness could be, where it could possibly be located, and what function or point it might serve. Black & white illustrations throughout
230 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2016
11 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Joshua W. Cotter
17 books24 followersJoshua W. Cotter lives in rural Northwest Missouri with his wife, children, cats, and an acute sense of impending mortality. They keep him making comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 6, 2016
The first of seven volumes of an indie comic, black and white, that is also a sci fi story set in the near future. One arc focuses on a man wandering through a desert, with no dialogue; we don't know much about this one yet, but it creates atmosphere. The second arc takes place on a space station, the background of which is the attempt to go to a new planet since our natural resources are used up.
The lead character of this second arc, Dr. Melody McCabe, is a scientist whose relationship back on earth is falling apart; she's a train wreck, but as a scientist she's apparently capable, and interesting.
There's a lot of science talk in this volume. Scientists. I'm not a scientist and don't know the science of space, but it seems believable. The internet is now telepathic. There's a human child on board, not sure what she is about, exactly. Some inter-project and interpersonal squabbles make the world come alive.
My taste in comics tends to the use of as few words as possible, but these folks talk a lot, the panels are dense with solid drawing and word bubbles. Maybe the intent is to make us feel the claustrophobia of living in space? Anyway, we in one one arc encounter this abstract, atmospheric storytelling, no words, and in the second arc a sci fi/political intrigue. What's it all about, the science, the interpersonal issues, something about the nature of consciousness, I think, but it's that vague for me at this point. Oh, I kind of liked it, though it is pretty wacky at this point.
The lead character of this second arc, Dr. Melody McCabe, is a scientist whose relationship back on earth is falling apart; she's a train wreck, but as a scientist she's apparently capable, and interesting.
There's a lot of science talk in this volume. Scientists. I'm not a scientist and don't know the science of space, but it seems believable. The internet is now telepathic. There's a human child on board, not sure what she is about, exactly. Some inter-project and interpersonal squabbles make the world come alive.
My taste in comics tends to the use of as few words as possible, but these folks talk a lot, the panels are dense with solid drawing and word bubbles. Maybe the intent is to make us feel the claustrophobia of living in space? Anyway, we in one one arc encounter this abstract, atmospheric storytelling, no words, and in the second arc a sci fi/political intrigue. What's it all about, the science, the interpersonal issues, something about the nature of consciousness, I think, but it's that vague for me at this point. Oh, I kind of liked it, though it is pretty wacky at this point.
April 22, 2022
In the 90s, the “cool kids” like me were into Fantagraphics comics and indie rock (often
stylized as “grunge”. The world was ready for big changes. 30 years later, grunge begat Nickleback and non-superhero comics are fairly limited to that Zombie one and not much else.
So I was excited to dive into some new Fantagraphics titles and that it was sci-fi was an exciting twist.
Nod Away is ambitious. Cotter writes it and draws it. His art is amazing though it does fall in line with the Crumb/Clowes/Bagge indie comic art, and unfortunately is so great it feels generic.
I don’t want to hate this ambitious book. I did something I never do and looked at the patreon page for this work.
It is as Cotter says his life work, his story to tell. Maybe he says that about all of his books. But then it clicked for me.
Nod Away is Cotter’s book, yes, and as someone more used to writing music reviews, I can’t help the comparison. This book is like Billy Corgan’s Smashing Pumpkins- the iteration where Billy has kicked everyone out of his band and is releasing 90-track albums. Look, I love you Billy but this is too much.
To extend the music metaphor, there is a reason Fleetwood Mac albums sell more than Lindsey Buckingham albums. There is a reason Prince’s worst albums are where he has jettisoned everyone from the studio.
This is Cotter’s story but dang how much better would it be if he had someone to focus his ideas. Nod Away felt accessible, ends with a cliffhanger and even tries to balance indie comic drama into the big ideas, but it was much too dense for me. Like the worst parts of indie comics, I never felt attached to the characters, the celebration of the mundane felt mundane, and the art was so great and felt really undistinguished.
So this one wasn’t for me, but others might love it.
June 7, 2016
Honestly, I have no idea what I just read. I started off hating Nod Away and contemplated marking it as DNF, but once I got to the end I realised I was eager to see a second volume. Though I am not entirely sure why... It's a scifi story about a group of scientists on a space station, but also a narrative about a strange man wandering a desert. It's about a form of innernet that is run through the brain of a little girl, but also an unrelated interdimensional breach. It's about a snarky, lonely, heading towards a breakdown scientist and her bad coping mechanisms.
Not a huge fan of the art as it's a bit too busy for me, but the strange desert panels look quite nice.
Not a huge fan of the art as it's a bit too busy for me, but the strange desert panels look quite nice.
February 21, 2022
Fantagraphics does a sci-fi! Well, Fantagraphics has explored the outer fringes of sci-fi before, but this book is out and out sci-fi.
There's some fun ideas here, a new form of VR confusingly called 'streaming' that uses a small girl for its operating hub, an interstellar gate that goes hilariously/gorily wrong.
It's a lot, and I'm not sure it all adds up. Let's see what happens in volume 2.
There's some fun ideas here, a new form of VR confusingly called 'streaming' that uses a small girl for its operating hub, an interstellar gate that goes hilariously/gorily wrong.
It's a lot, and I'm not sure it all adds up. Let's see what happens in volume 2.
March 10, 2016
This is an intricately illustrated and sophisticated narrative. We reviewed it recently on The Comics Alternative, http://comicsalternative.com/episode-..., and we didn't know at the time that this is the first a projected seven-volume series. Had I known that, my comments on this book -- all positive -- would have been a little different. I emphasized the equivocal ending of this book, which would have been fine. But knowing that this story goes on does make a difference. The author, Joshua Cotter, contacted me after the podcast episode went up to say that this is the first of a multi-volume series. However, he mentioned that neither he nor Fantagraphics did much to let folks know that this is not a one-off text. What a difference narrative context makes.
April 2, 2018
Well.
That was weird . . .
That was weird . . .
January 30, 2024
chilling! masterfully drawn. i look forward to reading part 2.
December 2, 2020
The first volume of Nod Away by Joshua W. Cotter is a captivating sci-fi mystery come space opera come horror. There are two story arcs, one of a man wandering a desert, and the other of Dr. Melody McCabe. We don't learn much about the man in the desert in this volume. He seems to be in some sort of suspended sleep when the system ejects him and though he knows what to do with all the equipment, he doesn't seem to be able to speak (perhaps because he never has or he hasn't in a long time). We don't know. Dr. Melody McCabe's story is front and center. She arrives at the space station where the gateway to long-distance travel in space is being developed. The same genius who developed the "innernet" is also developing this technology. But Melody is there not quite for the gateway, but to work with the little girl who is the "hub" for the innernet, a truth that later comes out and causes a huge ethical debacle. Melody's company is trying to develop an artificial replacement for the girl(s), so they are not (basically) enslaving these children for their innernet tech. Melody's love life back on Earth seems to be falling apart, and she finds herself starting a relationship with a fellow scientist. Her personal life, her work with the girls, the gateway's opening ceremony all come to a head with somewhat disastrous, and certainly interesting results.
The story is complex with interesting characters with distinct voices, many mysterious and suspenseful developments, some twists, and a good amount of foreboding. Just what happened during the opening of the gateway? And how is Melody involved with the fiasco? And how are these girls a hub for the innernet? Who is the wandering man and what does he have anything to do with Melody? These and many questions remain to be answered. I'm looking forward to volume 2.
The art is detailed and there's a great deal of beautiful crosshatching that gives the panels depth. My one qualm was that Melody looked a bit like another female coworker. But this was outweighed by the fact that there was a cat cafe on this space station!
Overall, Nod Away Vol 1 is a great read. Recommended for those who like cats, strange creatures from outer space, hermit scientists, and cartoons.
The story is complex with interesting characters with distinct voices, many mysterious and suspenseful developments, some twists, and a good amount of foreboding. Just what happened during the opening of the gateway? And how is Melody involved with the fiasco? And how are these girls a hub for the innernet? Who is the wandering man and what does he have anything to do with Melody? These and many questions remain to be answered. I'm looking forward to volume 2.
The art is detailed and there's a great deal of beautiful crosshatching that gives the panels depth. My one qualm was that Melody looked a bit like another female coworker. But this was outweighed by the fact that there was a cat cafe on this space station!
Overall, Nod Away Vol 1 is a great read. Recommended for those who like cats, strange creatures from outer space, hermit scientists, and cartoons.
June 26, 2018
I really had to force myself through this one. Cotter's prior output was as much encouraging (Skyscrapers of the Midwest) as it was discouraging (Driven by Lemons), so I came to Nod Away hopeful, but a little wary. The premise of the "innernet" was intriguing in the projections it drew from our very over-connected society. There was little in the book which was unbelievable in terms of the technological "advancements" and societal trends. Make no mistake: this is where we're headed, absent some massive upheaval.
Where the book failed to engage me was in its characters, its dialogue, and its rather staid artwork. Nine-panel pages crammed with "realistic" dialogue and exposition, spoken by characters who mostly had the same bored expression on their faces, centered around a protagonist who is always annoyed. This is only the first volume? Of seven volumes!? Boy, I don't think I'll be returning for the next one.
Where the book failed to engage me was in its characters, its dialogue, and its rather staid artwork. Nine-panel pages crammed with "realistic" dialogue and exposition, spoken by characters who mostly had the same bored expression on their faces, centered around a protagonist who is always annoyed. This is only the first volume? Of seven volumes!? Boy, I don't think I'll be returning for the next one.
March 21, 2019
This is only volume one?!?! Thank goodness. I need to know what happens from here.
Read
November 21, 2021Genuinely couldn't get into this, not the worst thing I've read though.
April 28, 2022
Incredible, I can only hope the world survives long enough for him to finish the whole 7 volumes...
May 11, 2023
I had a similar experience as in My Favorite Thing Is Monsters where I was under the impression that this was a self contained single story but it is actually the first volume of a series. So I have to renege on some of my judgments, because I was like where is this going??? This doesn’t feel like it’s wrapping up??
Summary for myself because idk how long it’ll be til I get around to the next volumes:
I’m into sci-fi stuff like this, but this does feel derivative of many other things and is not, so far, an improvement or reimagining. The child especially reminds me of the ESP kids from Akira. The concept of one child suffering so that everyone else can live comfortably is also a common sci fi trope, from Omelas to Snowpiercer to the Fifth Season. I wanted to know more about the girl/s but we don’t get too much information in this volume about how she functions or who she is. Hopefully more information in future volumes.
I really liked the sequences in between where the hippie guy (is that Dr. Earnest? I wasn’t sure) is crawling around the uninhabited planet. It is much more interesting than the fairly banal interpersonal drama going on on the SS Integrity.
The art style is very detailed and intricate, almost like an r. Crumb style. It is REALLY text heavy and it’s entirely dialogue. The dialogue was very unique actually. They talked the way real people talk, which is in some ways a detriment. Have you ever read a transcript of an interview and thought it made no sense or that the person sounded dumb but then if you watch the footage of the same exact interview you can completely understand what the person is trying to convey because the body language and affect fill in the gaps? The dialogue here is painfully realistic with characters saying half formed thoughts and unfinished sentences and cutting each other off and trailing away etc. Which is cool, but when the entire story is dialogue you need at least a teeeny bit of hokey exposition dialogue. I mean maybe you don't, maybe I’m dumb and need things spoon fed to me. I sounded flippant about the interpersonal drama on the ship earlier, mostly because I am more interested in what’s going on on the planet and what’s the deal with Drs. Serious and Earnest and their projects. But I am interested in Melody. She’s clearly a talented scientist or she wouldn’t have this job, but she’s kindof a hot mess and her coping skills are popping THC pills and fucking her coworkers. Anyway I feel pretty neutrally so far but am hopeful for future volumes.
Summary for myself because idk how long it’ll be til I get around to the next volumes:
I’m into sci-fi stuff like this, but this does feel derivative of many other things and is not, so far, an improvement or reimagining. The child especially reminds me of the ESP kids from Akira. The concept of one child suffering so that everyone else can live comfortably is also a common sci fi trope, from Omelas to Snowpiercer to the Fifth Season. I wanted to know more about the girl/s but we don’t get too much information in this volume about how she functions or who she is. Hopefully more information in future volumes.
I really liked the sequences in between where the hippie guy (is that Dr. Earnest? I wasn’t sure) is crawling around the uninhabited planet. It is much more interesting than the fairly banal interpersonal drama going on on the SS Integrity.
The art style is very detailed and intricate, almost like an r. Crumb style. It is REALLY text heavy and it’s entirely dialogue. The dialogue was very unique actually. They talked the way real people talk, which is in some ways a detriment. Have you ever read a transcript of an interview and thought it made no sense or that the person sounded dumb but then if you watch the footage of the same exact interview you can completely understand what the person is trying to convey because the body language and affect fill in the gaps? The dialogue here is painfully realistic with characters saying half formed thoughts and unfinished sentences and cutting each other off and trailing away etc. Which is cool, but when the entire story is dialogue you need at least a teeeny bit of hokey exposition dialogue. I mean maybe you don't, maybe I’m dumb and need things spoon fed to me. I sounded flippant about the interpersonal drama on the ship earlier, mostly because I am more interested in what’s going on on the planet and what’s the deal with Drs. Serious and Earnest and their projects. But I am interested in Melody. She’s clearly a talented scientist or she wouldn’t have this job, but she’s kindof a hot mess and her coping skills are popping THC pills and fucking her coworkers. Anyway I feel pretty neutrally so far but am hopeful for future volumes.
May 7, 2016
Wow, this was an incredible book! It has all the elements that make up an excellent comic (in my opinion, anyway). Great drawing, story, writing, presentation, etc. I'm not 100% sure I knew what was happening at all times (went back and reread parts after finishing it), but that's not a negative. Apparently this is the first part of a series, so I guess more will be revealed.
Being steeped in the underbelly of comics, I appreciated the nods to various indie comic artists hidden within the story. They're not integral to understanding the story, but fun to stumble on.
Being steeped in the underbelly of comics, I appreciated the nods to various indie comic artists hidden within the story. They're not integral to understanding the story, but fun to stumble on.
June 29, 2023
Joshua Cotter's clearly an author who has faith in his readers. That's apparent not just from his ambitious goal of making "Nod Away" a 7-volume series despite it taking him ~5 years to make each instalment, but also from the uncompromising audacity with which he opens this initial volume. The first 30 pages of this comic are abstract – some would even say opaque. Anyone expecting a straightforward, accessible sci-fi adventure is going to be perturbed by this opening segment, which consists of semi-coherent fragments of text alongside inscrutable imagery and is well into the realm of "art comics".
Notwithstanding occasional sequences in this more enigmatic style, the comic actually goes on to deliver a gripping high-concept plot, as well as an abundance of compelling human drama. In fact, for my taste, it strikes the perfect balance between being intellectual and exciting, brilliantly bridging the gap between alternative comics and genre comics. I love the bold, evocative expressionism of the more abstract parts, but their value is amplified by the fact that they're used in service of a highly compelling plot.
Without a doubt, this is full-blown science fiction, set in a future where humans are colonizing space and exploring the use of artificial wormholes for long-distance travel. And I mean serious science fiction, exploring the philosophical implications of technology in the tradition of Isaac Asimov, Stanisław Lem and Philip K. Dick. This isn't just a space opera or a pulpy futuristic action comic – though it does deliver a thrilling, adrenaline-fuelled final act. All of that said, rather than getting lost in big themes, the story remains grounded in the perspective of its protagonist, a youngish female scientist whose personal life is just as compelling as the scientific stuff. In that way, it reminds me of the excellent "Lure" by Lane Milburn, which I like to call "mumblecore sci-fi" for the way it combines the sci-fi genre with meandering depiction of young people's everyday lives.
However, even when being more narratively conventional, Cotter demonstrates his faith in his readers in the way that he tantalisingly ekes out details of the plot, backstory and wider setting, gradually building everything up through oblique hints and passing references. This creates a great sense of mystery, leaving the reader constantly guessing what exactly is going on and why. Less patient readers might get frustrated, but the approach had me completely hooked – and I really appreciate the absence of extraneous exposition and clumsy lore dumps.
I'm a big fan of the artwork, too. Cotter uses a lot of dense lines, hatching and crosshatching in a way that reminds me of Robert Crumb and Joe Sacco, making even panels of talking heads visually interesting. The more abstract segments are where the artwork really shines, providing awesome pages with bold compositions that interrupt the comic's usual rhythm (defined by 9-panel grids) to fantastic effect.
Although this is really a truly excellent comic, I do want to mention one small gripe with the dialogue. Cotter is clearly keen for each character to have a distinctive voice, but in my opinion he overdoes it, resulting in caricature that doesn't suit the work's otherwise serious tone. The most egregious examples include two incidental characters who are presumably supposed to be German and Cockney respectively, whose speech is clearly based on absurd Hollywood stereotypes, as well as a more significant character who talks in a robotic, overly formal manner very akin to Judah Mannowdog from BoJack Horseman.
But really, that minor complaint pales in comparison to how much I enjoyed every other aspect of this comic. I can’t wait to read the second volume – and not just because of this volume's cliffhanger ending. I just hope that Cotter's faith in his readership proves to be justified, and that he’s able to continue this series to its natural conclusion, because I think that if he does, this could really end up as a monumental work.
Notwithstanding occasional sequences in this more enigmatic style, the comic actually goes on to deliver a gripping high-concept plot, as well as an abundance of compelling human drama. In fact, for my taste, it strikes the perfect balance between being intellectual and exciting, brilliantly bridging the gap between alternative comics and genre comics. I love the bold, evocative expressionism of the more abstract parts, but their value is amplified by the fact that they're used in service of a highly compelling plot.
Without a doubt, this is full-blown science fiction, set in a future where humans are colonizing space and exploring the use of artificial wormholes for long-distance travel. And I mean serious science fiction, exploring the philosophical implications of technology in the tradition of Isaac Asimov, Stanisław Lem and Philip K. Dick. This isn't just a space opera or a pulpy futuristic action comic – though it does deliver a thrilling, adrenaline-fuelled final act. All of that said, rather than getting lost in big themes, the story remains grounded in the perspective of its protagonist, a youngish female scientist whose personal life is just as compelling as the scientific stuff. In that way, it reminds me of the excellent "Lure" by Lane Milburn, which I like to call "mumblecore sci-fi" for the way it combines the sci-fi genre with meandering depiction of young people's everyday lives.
However, even when being more narratively conventional, Cotter demonstrates his faith in his readers in the way that he tantalisingly ekes out details of the plot, backstory and wider setting, gradually building everything up through oblique hints and passing references. This creates a great sense of mystery, leaving the reader constantly guessing what exactly is going on and why. Less patient readers might get frustrated, but the approach had me completely hooked – and I really appreciate the absence of extraneous exposition and clumsy lore dumps.
I'm a big fan of the artwork, too. Cotter uses a lot of dense lines, hatching and crosshatching in a way that reminds me of Robert Crumb and Joe Sacco, making even panels of talking heads visually interesting. The more abstract segments are where the artwork really shines, providing awesome pages with bold compositions that interrupt the comic's usual rhythm (defined by 9-panel grids) to fantastic effect.
Although this is really a truly excellent comic, I do want to mention one small gripe with the dialogue. Cotter is clearly keen for each character to have a distinctive voice, but in my opinion he overdoes it, resulting in caricature that doesn't suit the work's otherwise serious tone. The most egregious examples include two incidental characters who are presumably supposed to be German and Cockney respectively, whose speech is clearly based on absurd Hollywood stereotypes, as well as a more significant character who talks in a robotic, overly formal manner very akin to Judah Mannowdog from BoJack Horseman.
But really, that minor complaint pales in comparison to how much I enjoyed every other aspect of this comic. I can’t wait to read the second volume – and not just because of this volume's cliffhanger ending. I just hope that Cotter's faith in his readership proves to be justified, and that he’s able to continue this series to its natural conclusion, because I think that if he does, this could really end up as a monumental work.
January 21, 2025
Гениальный доктор (случайно) изобретает ультимативный интернет, где люди вживляют себе шунт в затылок, как в "Матрице", и подключаются к вселенскому потоку сознанию, мгновенному обмену мыслями. Некоторые (пока) несовместимы, и всё ещё продолжаются дебаты о том, хорошая эта технология или плохая. В центре общественных прений находится неудобный для сервис-провайдера факт использования ребёнка, который каким-то сверхъестественным образом не то фильтрует, не то направляет весь этот поток.
Но всё это — лишь одна из сюжетных линий необычной, я бы даже сказал артхаусной комикс-фантастики. Помимо "иннернета" ("внутринета") здесь ещё есть бытовая часть, где новая научная сотрудница прилетает на космическую станцию работать с тем самым секретным ребёнком, и есть практически абстрактные фрагменты, где какой-то мужик бредёт по инопланетно-пустынному ландшафту, неизвестно откуда и куда.
Собственно, этот необычный, немейнстримный подход может быть для вас как плюсом, так и (для меня) минусом. Потому что автор не просто не стремится ничего толком объяснить читателю, но ещё и заканчивает первый том практически на самом интересном месте. А во втором, вместо того чтобы продолжить, даёт гигантскую, на 300 страниц, опять же, бытовую драму с другими героями (которая, как позже понимаешь, служит предысторией), но сама по себе она достаточно тяжёлая, с тематикой абьюза, и к "основному" фантастическому сюжету имеет весьма опосредованное отношение.
Более того, примерно тот же финт происходит и в конце второго тома — нельзя сказать, что там нет финала, но ничего толком не разрешается (особенно, для бродяги по авангардным пустошам), и судя по всему, автором задуман ещё третий том (как минимум). Нарисован хотя бы комикс достаточно неплохо. Автор, кстати, не молодой парень, как можно было бы ожидать, а такой прям крепкий дядька, да ещё и с южанской глубинки (что находит своё отражение в частично невразумительных диалогах второго тома). Прикладываю небольшое превью.
UPD: Пишут, что автор замахнулся на 7 томов, выходящих раз в 5 лет. Автору на вид за 60.
Но всё это — лишь одна из сюжетных линий необычной, я бы даже сказал артхаусной комикс-фантастики. Помимо "иннернета" ("внутринета") здесь ещё есть бытовая часть, где новая научная сотрудница прилетает на космическую станцию работать с тем самым секретным ребёнком, и есть практически абстрактные фрагменты, где какой-то мужик бредёт по инопланетно-пустынному ландшафту, неизвестно откуда и куда.
Собственно, этот необычный, немейнстримный подход может быть для вас как плюсом, так и (для меня) минусом. Потому что автор не просто не стремится ничего толком объяснить читателю, но ещё и заканчивает первый том практически на самом интересном месте. А во втором, вместо того чтобы продолжить, даёт гигантскую, на 300 страниц, опять же, бытовую драму с другими героями (которая, как позже понимаешь, служит предысторией), но сама по себе она достаточно тяжёлая, с тематикой абьюза, и к "основному" фантастическому сюжету имеет весьма опосредованное отношение.
Более того, примерно тот же финт происходит и в конце второго тома — нельзя сказать, что там нет финала, но ничего толком не разрешается (особенно, для бродяги по авангардным пустошам), и судя по всему, автором задуман ещё третий том (как минимум). Нарисован хотя бы комикс достаточно неплохо. Автор, кстати, не молодой парень, как можно было бы ожидать, а такой прям крепкий дядька, да ещё и с южанской глубинки (что находит своё отражение в частично невразумительных диалогах второго тома). Прикладываю небольшое превью.
UPD: Пишут, что автор замахнулся на 7 томов, выходящих раз в 5 лет. Автору на вид за 60.
July 6, 2025
**This review covers volumes 1 and 2**.
Taking place in version of the modern day with accelerated technology, an invention called the "innernet" has been developed that allows those who are compatible to communicate and share knowledge via telepathy. The initial narrative explores this world in each volume via distinct perspectives; the first from a innernet researcher aboard a space station, and the second from a man whose disturbed lover is "treated" by an early version of the technology. Both perspectives intersect during a devastating event which threatens to upend the world's established order.
While it's always hard for me to establish a firm opinion on an unfinished work, especially one surrounding unresolved mysteries so early on in its planned narrative, this series does a very capable job at developing compelling standalone volumes. While the content of the first installment is less engrossing in isolation, they are both intriguing reads that could be enjoyed on their own even if the series doesn't conclude or satisfy the *potential* of the inciting work. Cotter's art, with a pencilling technique reminiscent of Stokoe and Crumb, is the star of the show with exceptional character and setting depictions framed by evocative and abstract transitions. I love how Cotter often deconstructs the line work of connected compositions to evoke a sense of lossy surreality or a transition in memory. The characterization is also quite good, even excellent in the latter half of the second volume, but I did find the first half of the second narrative unnecessarily slow and one of the main characters frustratingly opaque. While I could see my opinions on the series greatly wavering depending on the narrative's resolution it's hard to deny the craft in these works and the intriguing world developed.
Taking place in version of the modern day with accelerated technology, an invention called the "innernet" has been developed that allows those who are compatible to communicate and share knowledge via telepathy. The initial narrative explores this world in each volume via distinct perspectives; the first from a innernet researcher aboard a space station, and the second from a man whose disturbed lover is "treated" by an early version of the technology. Both perspectives intersect during a devastating event which threatens to upend the world's established order.
While it's always hard for me to establish a firm opinion on an unfinished work, especially one surrounding unresolved mysteries so early on in its planned narrative, this series does a very capable job at developing compelling standalone volumes. While the content of the first installment is less engrossing in isolation, they are both intriguing reads that could be enjoyed on their own even if the series doesn't conclude or satisfy the *potential* of the inciting work. Cotter's art, with a pencilling technique reminiscent of Stokoe and Crumb, is the star of the show with exceptional character and setting depictions framed by evocative and abstract transitions. I love how Cotter often deconstructs the line work of connected compositions to evoke a sense of lossy surreality or a transition in memory. The characterization is also quite good, even excellent in the latter half of the second volume, but I did find the first half of the second narrative unnecessarily slow and one of the main characters frustratingly opaque. While I could see my opinions on the series greatly wavering depending on the narrative's resolution it's hard to deny the craft in these works and the intriguing world developed.
December 21, 2023
Man, I don't even know where to start with this. Part sci-fi, part slice of life, part psychological thriller... The book starts with a thirty page abstract intro sequence, which kind of sets the mood for the project, but also just proves Cotter's versatility. The rest of the book switches between the main storyline, following Melody and her arrival on the USS Integrity to work on a neural network project of sorts, and the side story of a man who wakes up from a cryogenic tank in a seemingly desert world. It's a weird mix of things, that probably wouldn't work in the hands of most other creators, but he really goes to town on it. You kind of expect everything to go wrong at some point, just because of the nature of scifi stories, but I definitely didn't expect this turn of events. But even through its twist and turns, it remains very alt comic adjacent. The art certainly had a lot to do with it, sitting somewhere between Burns and Sacco. Even when it's all talking heads and expository speech bubbles, it still manages to remain captivating. Melody's character introduction, with the old lady talking her head off and taking all the visual real estate while our main character only manages to squeeze in a couple of disinterested nods was absolutely masterful. I don't know how much I can really say about the story itself. The intrigue only gets started at the very end of this book, and it's supposed to be seven or eight books, so we're only at the start of this thing. I'm ordering book two as I type this for sure
April 11, 2023
A solid start to an interesting sci-fi series. There's a lot to admire with Cotter's Nod Away with respect to the scope, atmosphere and general creativity to the storytelling. The story follows Dr. Melody McCabe, a scientist who flees her own personal problems on Earth to live on a space station which aims to colonize a new planet for habitation. The sci-fi elements are present mostly in the backdrop, instead Cotter is interested in telling a much more human story about relationships and political intrigue. Not that the sci-fi elements are fully in the backseat here, there's plenty of science rambling to make hardcore sci-fi fans happy.
My main issue with Nod Away is the rather laborious pacing. The excess dialogue is crammed into small boxes and many of the scenes don't really contribute towards propelling the plot forward. It can make for a bit more tiring of a read, and it doesn't feel like that was necessary. Still, I admire the sprawling scale Cotter constructs with this opening volume. The last several pages was immaculately tense stuff, and made the whole read worth it for me. I'm definitely interested in continuing on, and perhaps Vol. 2 will make me re-assess my thoughts on this volume since there's so much table setting going on here.
My main issue with Nod Away is the rather laborious pacing. The excess dialogue is crammed into small boxes and many of the scenes don't really contribute towards propelling the plot forward. It can make for a bit more tiring of a read, and it doesn't feel like that was necessary. Still, I admire the sprawling scale Cotter constructs with this opening volume. The last several pages was immaculately tense stuff, and made the whole read worth it for me. I'm definitely interested in continuing on, and perhaps Vol. 2 will make me re-assess my thoughts on this volume since there's so much table setting going on here.
April 7, 2023
Ambitious, richly-detailed science fiction that examines themes of identity and consciousness in a near future heavily dependent on technological connections. There are shades of Arthur C. Clarke (particularly Childhood's End) and Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo (in themes rather than artwork); speaking of, the illustrations here are expansive and crawling with detail, and it's rare to see such a serious work of high-concept sci-fi rendered in crumpled inkwork akin to Robert Crumb.
This first volume isn't quite standalone, as it relies on Volume 2 to draw out some of its conclusions, so I would highly recommend reading both volumes, as it's an excellent, intelligent series.
This first volume isn't quite standalone, as it relies on Volume 2 to draw out some of its conclusions, so I would highly recommend reading both volumes, as it's an excellent, intelligent series.
March 7, 2023
3.5 stars
This sci-fi story centered around a communications technology with Omelas-like implications is ambitious and cryptically intriguing, but there’s too much promise and not enough substance in this first volume to excite me about reading six more (particularly if the five year gap between vol 1 and 2 holds and the series isn’t finished until the late 2040s). Cotter’s art style is pleasantly busy and meticulously lined in the crusty cartoony style of older alt comic, and his panels are claustrophobically loaded with lots of slice-of-life dialogue.
This sci-fi story centered around a communications technology with Omelas-like implications is ambitious and cryptically intriguing, but there’s too much promise and not enough substance in this first volume to excite me about reading six more (particularly if the five year gap between vol 1 and 2 holds and the series isn’t finished until the late 2040s). Cotter’s art style is pleasantly busy and meticulously lined in the crusty cartoony style of older alt comic, and his panels are claustrophobically loaded with lots of slice-of-life dialogue.
March 13, 2017
Okay, one: "Innernet" isn't even a good pun. It doesn't even sound distinct from "internet" when said out loud in casual conversation - if your pun only works on paper, you chose poorly.
And two: I feel like the advertisement for this book is not as clear as it should be that this is a series. I didn't know until I looked it up on Goodreads; I'd hoped, given the overt cliffhanger, but I wasn't sure.
On to the more in-depth review - as others have said, this is a very dense comic. Each panel is packed to the brim, which I suppose might be appropriate if the author wanted to create an almost claustrophobic feel to mimic the sense of being in a tin can floating in space, versus the wide-open-and-empty scenes with the man wandering through the desert, where there is almost no dialogue whatsoever. I mostly found it distracting, though not so much that I couldn't finish the book.
I'm almost interested. Why almost? Because each time the plot crept forward, I found myself caught up again, but there is so much filler and in-between chatter in here that it was hard to stay interested. Funnily enough, what I'm mostly interested in is the wound on Melody's leg - I want to know if she's been infected in some way, because I love horrible monsters - but I'm a hair's breadth away from caring about the rest of it, too. Hopefully the next installment comes out in a timely manner.
And two: I feel like the advertisement for this book is not as clear as it should be that this is a series. I didn't know until I looked it up on Goodreads; I'd hoped, given the overt cliffhanger, but I wasn't sure.
On to the more in-depth review - as others have said, this is a very dense comic. Each panel is packed to the brim, which I suppose might be appropriate if the author wanted to create an almost claustrophobic feel to mimic the sense of being in a tin can floating in space, versus the wide-open-and-empty scenes with the man wandering through the desert, where there is almost no dialogue whatsoever. I mostly found it distracting, though not so much that I couldn't finish the book.
I'm almost interested. Why almost? Because each time the plot crept forward, I found myself caught up again, but there is so much filler and in-between chatter in here that it was hard to stay interested. Funnily enough, what I'm mostly interested in is the wound on Melody's leg - I want to know if she's been infected in some way, because I love horrible monsters - but I'm a hair's breadth away from caring about the rest of it, too. Hopefully the next installment comes out in a timely manner.
October 20, 2018
I picked this up in the spur of the moment, and regret nothing. Joshua W. Cotter is a visually fascinating comics creator and his science fiction story unfolds slowly in ways both big and small. From this one reading, I am very much assuming that subsequent readings would enhance the experience and reveal more, with regards to the many ... I almost hesitate to call them plot threads, as some of the seem more closely related to elements representing the human unconscious ... and at the same time not. It is this oscillation between the almost mundane depiction of an admittedly fantastic future, given some of the technological advances, and the almost phantasmagorical journey of a man through a seeming dreamscape, which gives the work much of its impact. And when the walls between the two states sometimes crumbles slightly, it reveals something.
There are things I do not want to say, as I do want to keep this spoiler free, but I will say that I am not sure what I make of the ending. Part of me feel let down by it, to be sure, but I am at the same time not entirely convinced that it might not in fact be absolutely genius. Perhaps a repeated reading or more, somewhere down the line, will make me revise the given grade upwards, but at the moment it stands as is.
All things said, however, do read this. It is well worth your time.
There are things I do not want to say, as I do want to keep this spoiler free, but I will say that I am not sure what I make of the ending. Part of me feel let down by it, to be sure, but I am at the same time not entirely convinced that it might not in fact be absolutely genius. Perhaps a repeated reading or more, somewhere down the line, will make me revise the given grade upwards, but at the moment it stands as is.
All things said, however, do read this. It is well worth your time.
February 9, 2019
A wonky science fiction with ambiguous readerly rewards. In the usual way of significantly incomplete narratives, Nod Away both compels readers onward to the next volume (which... doesn't exist yet?) while it proves radically and disappointingly unfinished on its own right. I picked this up on a whim from the library, but wouldn't ever touch it again, I don't think.
January 24, 2021
At first I was lost about what was going on, but I was hooked by the intricate artwork work and intriguing storyline. Having recently streamed “Lazarus”, I was reminded of the joy of just sitting back and enjoying the journey that the art and artist are taking me on. I’m looking forward to the rest of the journey.
October 13, 2025
Sci-fi graphic novels usually miss for me, so I picked this one up with pretty low expectations. A lot of nothing happened in the first half, and I put it down for a good two months, unconvinced that it was for me. But after revisiting it during a trip, the story picked up speed and I surprised myself with wanting to read the next one.
April 5, 2018
Beautifully drawn and expertly written. The vague sense of unease at the beginning of this builds and builds with a ticking time bomb type of intensity, but it's way more than just a thriller or a horror story. Really curious to see where future volumes go.
June 5, 2021
Not a conventional narrative, same for the pacing, and I spent much of the book in a non-committal state regarding whether I was enjoying it or not. By the end though I was all in and cannot wait for the next volume to arrive.
December 20, 2016
This is definitely a lot of set up for the rest of the series but it made me interested to see what would happen. I liked Melody as the main character and the slow buildup.
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