Flight, Vol. 1

Flight #1

by Kazu Kibuishi (Editor), Enrico Casarosa (Contributor), Jacob Magraw-Mickelson (Contributor)

Flight Volume One features stories by professionals and non-professionals alike, all playing on the theme of flight in its many incarnations. From the maiden voyage of a home-built plane to the adventures of a young courier and his flying whale to a handful of stories about coming of age and letting things go, this first volume of Flight is full of memorable tales that will both amaze and inspire.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Graphic Novels Comics

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 24, 2004

About the author

Kazu Kibuishi (born 1978) is an American graphic novel author and illustrator. He is best known for being the creator and editor of the comic anthology Flight and for creating the webcomic Copper. He has also written (drawn) the Amulet series. The webcomic artist and noted critic Scott McCloud has said that some of Kazu Kibuishi's work is so beautifully drawn that "it hurts my hands when I look at it".

Reviews

[Jesse (JesseTheReader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5)
I've read another short story collection put together by Kazu Kibuishi that I loved, so I kind of went into this one hoping that I'd like it just as much, but that wasn't really the case. These stories just didn't really have the wow-factor that I was looking for. I did enjoy the variety of art styles, but I really only enjoyed four of the stories.

[Tina Haigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology is why I read comics. Some were funny, some were poignant, some were mystical, some were artsy, and it was amazing. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes comics and needs a break from all the superhero material out there. It was the change I needed. Thanks Kazu. I look forward to Vol. 2 :)

[Dov Zeller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of short sequential art stories, all loosely based on, in some way. or at least brushing their feathers against the topic of flight.

While I appreciated many of the stories and fragments, I found it hard to stay attentive to the book as a whole. Though there is some thematic stuff holding these many disparate pieces together, well, I'm not sure the concept works for me. Maybe because I was expecting a series more along the lines of Amulet.

Some of the stories I couldn't access and the ones I could, ended just as I was beginning to feel engaged. Most of the stories aren't fully developed, nor do they add something to the whole, they are just there because they touch upon the theme. I do sometimes really enjoy comic anthologies and I am trying to make sense of what made this anthology unappealing to me.

Will try to read the second volume this weekend (I got the first two volumes out of the library), but I am not so looking forward to it.

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was searching my favorite online bookseller's graphic novel section for the Astro Boy titles I've ordered, I kept noticing this book and since I have no will power when it comes to used books, I ordered it too.

This is the first volume in a series of graphic novels with the theme of flight, interpreted in various ways by the artists the editor has chosen. I have since done a bit of research about this series and about editor (and graphic novelist) Kazu Kibuishi, and I can tell I will be buying more titles not only in this series, but in others he has edited.

I liked this book a lot. The pictures, the colors, the stories were all so interesting and creative. One of my favorites was Jake Parker's Hugo Earheart, featuring a young boy who had both a flying whale named Grim AND a flying pig (named Limburg). In this story Hugo is notified by a hummingbird that there is a package to be taken by relay to The Great Seer, and Hugo is supposed to carry it for the first leg of the journey. Will Hugo, Grim and Limburg succeed?

Maiden Voyage by Kibiushi was another favorite. Poor Fred, such a worrywart! Joel Carroll's Wing was a stunning little masterpiece, and Jen Wang's Paper And String, about two kite fliers, was also clever. Overall, I can't really think of one story here that I did not like.

I've already ordered Volume 2. I may never manage to get any others in the series, (Volume 3 has been Wish Listed by 50 people!!) but I am definitely going to keep checking and get them whenever I can. And of course I will check on the other titles edited by Kibuishi.

Told you I have no Book Will Power! lol

[Speedtribes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all the volumes, I have to say that the first volume was the most interesting to me simply because this was an anthology where the majority of the artists are females drawing in styles that aren't typically noticed in the Superhero, male, and floppy format dominated American comics industry. These are fellow artists in my age group who I've seen online and at conventions -- I wanted this volume in support of them and their work. I applaud them just for the very existence of this book-- and I applaud Kazu for continuing the book to many more volumes. It has become the 'must be in' anthology in mainstream American comics.

Volume one has a number of great little stories in a variety of very distinct styles, even though you can tell that the group is pretty split between animators and illustrators. As my personal tastes tend towards the more gestural, the more painted, or illustratory, I was unhappy that they seemed to vanish from later volumes. I personally dislike the American animation style, with its broad and thick flat lines and super flat colors in a printed format (I love it on TV, just not on paper.) so it was a disappointment to note that by the 4th volume, almost all the stories would be done in an animated-looking style and there were a lot fewer female creators.

Still, considering the print quality and the page count, it has a lot of bang for the buck and even the later volumes are worth buying. I hope that more of these types of anthologies will appear in the future. I believe that it is these sorts of anthologies that will open the way a much broader range of comics that will be read by many more people in the future.

[Melissa Chung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this graphic novel anthology a few weeks ago. Glad to have finally finished it. Giving this collection of graphic short stories a 3 star because not all of them were good. Some were boring, strange or just too confusing. I'll share my favorites below.

My favorite short story from this collection was 'Maiden and the River Spirit'. This is a fable that of course has a moral. What I loved about it is there is a tiny twist at the end that made me giggle. It starts off as your typical fable. But like I said that twist ending was the best. The fable goes... if you drop something into a lake and the water spirit goes to retrieve it for you, you should always answer honestly.

My second favorite was 'The Bowl' this one was drawn beautifully. This is also a fable set deeply in either an Indian or Aztec culture. It didn't say so I'm guessing on what I'm familiar with. A man is fishing with nets. A crow is watching. The man sees the crow and offers it a fish. The crow then turns into a god/spirit. The god/spirit grants the man 3 wishes. The short story is in pictures only so I was slightly lost toward the ending. I enjoyed it anyway.

Last favorite was 'Outside My Window' I'm assuming this short story could be interpreted differently to many people. The story is about a little girl who is kidnapped by a robot. He creates a replica of her house and tries to make her happy. The girl just wants to go home. She knows the robot is trying, but it's all an illusion.

The rest of the short stories like I said were either kind of dull, too weird or just plain confusing. We got to sample a lot of different forms of illustrations and mediums. Most of the panels were beautiful.

I recommend this graphic novel short story collection for the illustrations alone. Beautifully done.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthologies are difficult to review. Do I rate by the best of the collection or the worst? Luckily, Flight solves my problem by having almost uniformly good and, more to the point of the collection, beautifully illustrated stories. There's a wide variety here. The thread that binds them together is the concept of flight, very very loosely defined. So in the same collection, we have adventures aboard an airship and reflections on faith. There's also a huge range of art styles, including collage-inspired and gorgeous paintings. Honestly, it's worth just looking at it. Really a very enjoyable collection.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 2 out of 5]

First you need to know that while I'm a huge fan of the graphic novel, I am neither a fan of short stories nor anthologies, and that is what this book is. A collection of graphic stories. I did not know that going in. Mea culpa.

The stories are all about flight in one way or another, and while I quite liked the art, many of the stories in this collection were really weak. That being said, there is wide variety of stories and artistic styles, and for that reason alone it might make sense to grab a library copy and give it a look-see.

I've got the next book in the series waiting for me, and will report back if I like it better.

[Práxedes Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely anthology from assorted graphic novelists, most of which centered their craft around the theme of flight. I was pleasantly surprised to see several female writers/illustrators in the mix!

The art was sublime in its variety and richness. The stories could use a little work, but at least they did not distract.

Occasionally I am asked to speak in class before students begin a unit on Graphic Novels; this is a perfect book to start the conversation.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day, when I was ten or so, alone in the dinnertime quiet of our suburban cul-de-sac, I reclined in the seat of an upturned Big Wheel and let my gaze wander upwards. My head lay on the warm pavement, which hummed with the day's dissipating heat and, far below, the slow engine of the turning earth. Staring past the handlebars, I watched as the pane of blue ahead, just a dusty ceiling an hour ago, began to slowly sink away, giving way to a distance I'd considered but never quite conceived. I felt small, as you do, but also exhilarated and emboldened by the realization that the sky was somewhere—a place you might go.

Flight is a series of meditations on that somewhere. With the license granted by the sequential-art form, these graphic artists use words and pictures to plumb those heights and dramatize the brash act of flying. The collection delivers flights of fancy as well as grounded drama, and there's something for everyone, regardless of experience and comfort with comic art. Some may even be surprised to find within it some reflection of themselves; flight is as old as dreams (though, by that token, so is showing up to class naked), and every one of us has had his turn playing amid the clouds. And because we're not really supposed to be up there, and we can never stay for long, there is nascent in every flight, however brief or commonplace, the possibility of wonder, and the impertinence of childhood.

So the next time you fly, do what I do and gloat a little. Strapped to your assigned slice of steel and trundled to the very edge of the ground, keep your head high and your eyes open and, as the floor beneath you rises and the world beneath it falls away, kindly but firmly tell gravity to suck it. You'll be back in a while, but just now you have somewhere to be.

[Drew Canole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Argh. I hate these anthologies that have a guiding story topic. I mean, how about just selecting great comics?

This one all of the stories in some way related to flight. And all of the creators were young (at the time). McCloud in an afterword makes a point of stating the average age was 24 and each creator biography states their age.

The flight idea is dumb, but I guess the idea of anthologizing and giving young artists a wider audience is nice. I don't feel compelled to seek out any of their work based on this book though.... "Paper and String" by Jen Wang was really cool actually.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

A graphic novel anthology.... Very odd and unfortunately, not very enjoyable. Most of the stories left me extremely confused. I liked the art of some but didn't like them on others and found some to be way too crowded and busy. Of the whole anthology, I probably only really enjoyed three, maybe four, stories.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 2 out of 5]

These stories varied a lot in their quality, but even the best ones didn't stick into my mind all that well.

[Lychee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was super cool seeing the different art styles but I definitely disliked more of the stories than I liked.

“The Maiden and the Water Spirit” contains a slur.

Another slur in “Tug McTaggart, Circus Detective”

[Magila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I was crushed by my lack of overall love for this graphic novel. It wasn't bad. However, I wasn't a fan of every one of the comics. I probably was a big fan of about a third, enjoyed a third ok, and wouldn't have minded a third being edited out. So, I liked this, but I didn't love it.

As a compilation, it's worth picking up. I was exposed to three new artists that I really enjoyed, and found some of their art I plan to check out in other comics. So give this volume a shot, but don't bump it to the top of the list.

[High Plains Library District · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flight is an amazing series of graphic short stories by various talented artists. It features a diverse array of genres, stories, characters and artistic styles. The one common factors are that they are beautiful to look at and wildly imaginative.

While you don't have to read them in order, there are a few stories that are consistently featured from one volume to another, and they occasionally build on one another. Some stories are early versions that launched into graphic novel series of their own.

If you're looking for a quick read, but just aren't sure what you're in the mood for, it's hard to go wrong with Flight.

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am considerably new to the idea of graphic novels, although I have always loved the concept ever since I read the "Bone" series way back when (I want to read it again, just for grins). Seeing 'Flight' on StumbleUpon, I was absolutely intrigued at the idea of an anthology of different artists, and as such, asked for Volume One for Christmas, and received.

Once again, because I am relatively new but already know that I like them, this was something fantastic to me. I loved the diversity of the different styles, the stories, and how some artists could tell a story solely through pictures, no words (and those were stories I tended to enjoy the most).

That said, there was something of everything. Every story was different. Some were funny. Some were thought provoking. Some were kind of moving. Some were beautifully crafted. Some were flat out weird. But all were good. The beauty of the anthology aspect is that you could adapt to each different writer and artist separately, and gather a sense of taste of what I myself enjoyed, and what I might enjoy in the future. Some of my favorites were by the main guy I guess, Kazu Kibiushi, Vera Brosgol, Bengal, Chris Appelhans, Catia Chien, Phil Craven, Kean Soo, and Clio Chiang. And right there I've already named about 3/4 of all the authors/artists/whatever. All were great, but those were my favorites.

In short, I was not disappointed, and I will definitely be going for Volume 2...and 3, and 4...

[Matt Graupman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2017, Kazu Kibuishi's "Flight" anthology is a staple in school libraries and bookstores everywhere. When it was published way back in 2004, though, it wasn't such a sure bet. Compiling short comics on the theme of flight by a diverse collection of mostly (at the time) unknown talents - some of whom would go on to huge success, like Vera Brosgol, Hope Larson, Derek Kirk Kim, and Kibuishi himself - "Flight" was a gamble that mostly paid off. Like any anthology, there are highs and lows but this inaugural volume definitely follows the theme more closely than later books. There's a lot of creativity in these pages, so it's no surprise that a lot of these creators have become household names (at least nerdy households, like mine). Plus, it's just a beautifully put together book: colorful, vibrant, and boasting very high production values (bonus points for Scott McCloud's tongue-in-cheek concluding essay written from 2054).

FAVORITES:
"I Wish..." by Vera Brosgol - A young woman who dreamed of flying as a child somehow grows real wings and struggles with how to use her new endowments.
"Tumbleweed" by Catia Chien - A painterly and surreal tale about a bike ride.
"The Bowl" by Clio Chiang - An animated, exhilarating, and near wordless piece about a native's wishes that are granted in unexpected ways.

[Heidi Cullinan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My one-word review of this book would have to be "charming." I picked it up because I kept seeing it on the shelf at the library, and the cover looked so beautiful I finally had to give in. And the cover sold the book accurately, because the book is beautiful, enchanting, and deceptively easy to slide into. Essentially these are short stories told in graphic form: a few have no words at all or very, very few. The styles of art vary between pieces, sometimes radically. The types of stories are all different, too. The only unifying theme is "flight," and even this is sometimes very, very loose.

It is, simply, a piece of art on every level. It is not pretentious, but nor is it simple. I believe it would be enjoyed both by lovers of graphic novels and comics, but also by anyone who simply loves story, told with both words and with visual art.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

read as 3.5 stars.

What do you know? sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover. I was drawn to this series by the amazing cover art (and now that I've finished volume 1, I'm glad that I picked up volume 2 at the same time.).

Basically a graphic novel anthology of short stories that are all somehow related to flight of one sort or another. Some authors took the idea very literal while others were more playful. I have to say there isn't a stinker in the bunch. I enjoyed every story in the collection. Each story had its own voice and none of them strayed too close to cliche. The art also showcases a lot of talent. Many different styles are on display, though a lot of the stories (in this volume, at least) do tend more towards an animation sort of style.

Looking forward o jumping in to volume 2...

[Sonja P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology about flight that allowed people to explore this new medium and to explore different styles. I really loved some of the art and stories, and some of them, I didn't care for so much.

However, one of the things that makes this so interesting is that there are a lot of different voices here. In graphic novels, most of the voices tend to be white males. This one is filled with people of different perspectives, and the art and stories reflect that, which is important. The graphic novel needs to expand in this way, because it helps tell better stories about more expansive universes, not just the ones we are used to seeing.

So, I would definitely check it out, if you are a fan of the medium, or you want to see where some people got their start;)

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kazu Kibuishi (ed.), Flight, vol. 1 (Image, 2004)

Interesting collection of graphic shorts, varying in quality (of course) but most relatively strong. Interestingly, I liked Kibuishi's the best (usually I find editors who include their own work in anthologies use second-rate stuff they couldn't get published elsewhere); appealing characters, strong storyline, manga-style artwork without being overly cute or cloying. But Kibuishi's two stories are by no means the only reason to pick this up; there are a number of solid artists represented here. Open to a random page and you're likely to like what you see. *** ½

[Sophie_The_Jedi_Knight · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at like 20%

Uggghhh.

I guess a lot of these were parts of series because each of the stories I read were either depressing, confusing, or both. The series ones annoyed me because they had nothing to them - nothing happens unless you’ve read the rest, I guess. One story is about a girl who gets angel wings and that’s it; literally nothing else happens. Nothing at all. Also, I didn’t like these new drawing styles. Not for me I guess? Oh well. When’s the next Amulet book coming out again?

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a great book i enjoyed it a lot. this book has multiple stories in it so if you dont like a story you can go to the next one. i think this book was cool because all the stories were all about flying or in the air.
i gave it a 4 star rateing because it was a good book and it kept my intrest throughout the whole book. i would reccemend this book to anybody who like to read a book with a lot of stories in it

[Nate D · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anthology of a certain loose community of cartoonists and illustrators, mostly connected via work that they've displayed online. At the time, I was pretty excited about it, since I was following that stuff and it was the only published work from various people I admired, but it's not really anything I feel a need to go back to.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, the "Flight" series, especially this first one, is very entertaining and well drawn. The women artist in this, which is most every story, seem to show more feeling and dynamic quality in their art in this issue than the later issues to follow. Love the coloring most of all, and the cover is very epic and amazing.

[Julia França · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am disappointed.

There were many stories, but most too short or weird for me to get the idea behind it or even care. I appreciate the variety of the art, but the content should be more than that. I'm sad about it, my last graphic novel of the year had to be a good one. Well, I guess I still have time for a new try.

[Trin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the other two volumes I’ve read, I found the majority of the art very beautiful, but the stories they illustrate kind of bland and forgettable. My favorite from this volume was the one about the girl who grows wings (yes, wingfic, ha ha), but for me that was really the only standout.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not normally a comic book or even graphic novel person but this was a lovely distraction. The artwork is wonderful and the stories are good - some weird, some fun, some poignant and some silly. They are worth owning.

[Krystle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really neat! Takes a look at graphic novel illustrations a different way as well as storytelling. Some of the stories are obviously better than the others but they're all refreshing to read and this is a great gem of graphic novel anthologies.