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En su novela NOS4A2, Joe Hill,
autor galardonado con el Premio Eisner, reveló el aterrador mundo de feria llamado Christmasland y al lunático que no envejece y que allí gobierna: Charlie Manx.
Ahora, Hill y el dibujante Charlie “Talent” Wilson III exploran los retorcidos inicios de Manx, introducen un nuevo y depravado reparto de personajes en Christmasland y conducen a los lectores a un paseo sobre ruedas a 200 km/h por una carretera de pesadilla en un coche sin frenos…
autor galardonado con el Premio Eisner, reveló el aterrador mundo de feria llamado Christmasland y al lunático que no envejece y que allí gobierna: Charlie Manx.
Ahora, Hill y el dibujante Charlie “Talent” Wilson III exploran los retorcidos inicios de Manx, introducen un nuevo y depravado reparto de personajes en Christmasland y conducen a los lectores a un paseo sobre ruedas a 200 km/h por una carretera de pesadilla en un coche sin frenos…
212 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 2014
174 people are currently reading
14163 people want to read
About the author
Joe Hill
505 books29.9k followersJoe Hill's debut, Heart-Shaped Box, won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. His second, Horns, was made into a film freakfest starring Daniel Radcliffe. His other novels include NOS4A2, and his #1 New York Times Best-Seller, The Fireman... which was also the winner of a 2016 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror Novel.
He writes short stories too. Some of them were gathered together in his prize-winning collection, 20th Century Ghosts.
He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with illustrator and art wizard Gabriel Rodriguez.
He lives in New Hampshire with a corgi named McMurtry after a certain beloved writer of cowboy tales. His next book, Strange Weather, a collection of novellas, storms into bookstores in October of 2017.
He writes short stories too. Some of them were gathered together in his prize-winning collection, 20th Century Ghosts.
He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with illustrator and art wizard Gabriel Rodriguez.
He lives in New Hampshire with a corgi named McMurtry after a certain beloved writer of cowboy tales. His next book, Strange Weather, a collection of novellas, storms into bookstores in October of 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 463 reviews
October 19, 2017
Well, that was creepy, gory and cray. I didn't expect it any other way! I will have teeth nightmares!
April 23, 2019
Charles Manx III
I wouldn’t say I’ve been intentionally ignoring Joe Hill’s graphic novels, but...well...I have been. He trapped me like a fly in a Brown Recluse Spider web with this one because Wraith is actually a prequel to his outstanding novel NOS4A2. To entice me even further he tells the backstory of the diabolic, Christmasland caretaker, Charles Manx III.
Somehow it is so much more stomach churning to think that there were two other Manx’s before this one.
Manx drives a Rolls Royce Silver Wraith that is actually a key that takes him through a portal to the place he needs to be. In his case, that generally means he is taken to an abused child who needs to be separated from their parents. Manx induces the child to step into the Wraith and he spirits them away to Christmasland.
Are you getting warm and fuzzy feelings?
Dispel yourself of them.
You know how there are those signs up in towns that proclaim a sister city In Russia, or China, or Thailand? Well if Christmasland is the sister city to Disneyland than Disneyland is in Heaven and Christmasland is in Hell.
Christmasland
So if you see this guy...
...showing up with that car and that license plate. Run. Don’t stop for clothes, money, or the family pet just run like the devil is at your heels...because he is.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
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September 12, 2014
I freaking loved NOS4A2, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Though I bought it in single issues, I didn't get time to read it until the trade came out, and it was completely worth the wait.
If you're already familiar with all the characters and the world of NOS4A2, this will be a supremely satisfying visit to Christmasland, with a chilling look back at Charlie Manx's origin. If you're new to the whole thing, I expect that you'll want to pick up NOS4A2 the instant you finish this.
If you're already familiar with all the characters and the world of NOS4A2, this will be a supremely satisfying visit to Christmasland, with a chilling look back at Charlie Manx's origin. If you're new to the whole thing, I expect that you'll want to pick up NOS4A2 the instant you finish this.
October 20, 2015
THIS. KICKED. ASS. !!
The story, the artwork, it's all top notch. It's a deliciously evil tale which reels you right in, especially if you've already read NOS4A2.
If you want to know more about Christmasland, (as I did), or if you want to know more about the Wraith's history, (as I did), grab this graphic novel compilation. It's a visually stunning book and I know I'll be reading this and gazing at the evil Mr. Charles Talent Manx over and over again.
My highest recommendation!
The story, the artwork, it's all top notch. It's a deliciously evil tale which reels you right in, especially if you've already read NOS4A2.
If you want to know more about Christmasland, (as I did), or if you want to know more about the Wraith's history, (as I did), grab this graphic novel compilation. It's a visually stunning book and I know I'll be reading this and gazing at the evil Mr. Charles Talent Manx over and over again.
My highest recommendation!
December 30, 2015
I read this book not really knowing that it was set in same world as Hill's N0s4A2.
It's a well executed comic, as you'd expect from someone who came out of the gate writing Locke and Key. I enjoyed it even though I hadn't read the novel.
Two warnings:
1. If you intend to read the novel, I'd do that first. I read the comic first, and though I enjoyed it, when I went on and read the novel, I knew too much about the world already, and it ruined certain elements of the book's pacing for me.
2. This is a good story, or rather series of stories. But it's also dark and emotionally brutal. If you have a problem with violence toward children. You should probably steer clear of this one.
It's a well executed comic, as you'd expect from someone who came out of the gate writing Locke and Key. I enjoyed it even though I hadn't read the novel.
Two warnings:
1. If you intend to read the novel, I'd do that first. I read the comic first, and though I enjoyed it, when I went on and read the novel, I knew too much about the world already, and it ruined certain elements of the book's pacing for me.
2. This is a good story, or rather series of stories. But it's also dark and emotionally brutal. If you have a problem with violence toward children. You should probably steer clear of this one.
December 12, 2019
This was creepy, gory and fun! I'm glad to read the Wraith at Christmas time (it felt appropriate with my love of horror and already enjoying other graphic novels by Joe Hill).
This graphic novel addition added to the overall story of NOS4A2 by Hill.
The plot involves 3 escaped convicts and one of the convicts, Dewey Hansom calls Charlie Manx to help rescue him. Charlie shows up in his Wraith and the games begin!
Scissors for the drifter anyone?!
The graphic art by Charles Paul Wilson III was great! The images were creepy and engaging. You just couldn't take your eyes off the art and all the details in the images.
Check this out...
Yeah, creepy huh?!!
Definitely recommend this one if you've already read NOS4A2 and love horror!
This graphic novel addition added to the overall story of NOS4A2 by Hill.
The plot involves 3 escaped convicts and one of the convicts, Dewey Hansom calls Charlie Manx to help rescue him. Charlie shows up in his Wraith and the games begin!
Scissors for the drifter anyone?!
The graphic art by Charles Paul Wilson III was great! The images were creepy and engaging. You just couldn't take your eyes off the art and all the details in the images.
Check this out...
Yeah, creepy huh?!!
Definitely recommend this one if you've already read NOS4A2 and love horror!
November 14, 2015
I didn’t know it when I picked it up but apparently The Wraith: Welcome to Christmasland is a sequel/prequel (as in it was published after but the story is set before) to Joe Hill’s prose novel NOS4A2. Like Nosferatu, geddit? Sheesh, what uninspired “cryptic” wordplay. Well, like father, like son, eh Redrum?
So I haven’t read NOS4A2 which is why I was quite a bit confused with this book - unless people who have read that novel also found this confusing in which case it was just a mess! Charlie Manx (like Charlie Manson - real imaginative, King Jr!) is a pale, monstrous looking driver of a Rolls-Royce Wraith. He picks up some jailers and their prisoners, takes them to Christmasland for some reason, and then just sort of lets the weird vampiric kids play with them. That’s all, folks!
There is a needlessly unpleasant origin story (again, like King Snr!) for Manx, which also reveals him to be a complete moron you couldn’t possibly respect, but it’s unclear just how he came to look so monstrous. He seems to have just been born demonic-looking which is very convenient. Quite how Christmasland came to be is also unclear as is the supernatural Wraith. And the kids as well. Things just happen in this book!
What are Manx/the Wraith/Christmasland/the kids’ motives? Why did Manx take the prisoners/jailers to Christmasland in the first place? No idea. Maybe all that’s explained in NOS4A2 even though The Wraith is supposedly a prequel, but the plot is decidedly lacking here.
The artist Charles Wilson III does some good work even if some of the character designs are derivative. The kids are wearing My Chemical Romance’s Black Parade era gear for no reason and Manx looks a bit like Sam Lesser from Locke & Key in some panels.
Christmasland is so superficially “horror” too. Sad teddy bears, building blocks that spell “DIE”, reindeer with glowing eyes - it’s so corny! It’s lazy creativity that isn’t scary but incredibly bland and stupid. There’s also the least convincing romance ever when the “good” 30/40-something prisoner and the 60+ year old jailer (whose surname is of course Claiborne because we gotta keep referencing Daddy’s more popular books!) fall in love - my eyes nearly rolled out of my head for that one!
If it weren’t for some of Wilson’s art and Jay Fotos’ colours, The Wraith would be a total bust. As it is, it’s just a crap comic, ineptly written and plotted and thoroughly uninteresting. Joe Hill does it again!
So I haven’t read NOS4A2 which is why I was quite a bit confused with this book - unless people who have read that novel also found this confusing in which case it was just a mess! Charlie Manx (like Charlie Manson - real imaginative, King Jr!) is a pale, monstrous looking driver of a Rolls-Royce Wraith. He picks up some jailers and their prisoners, takes them to Christmasland for some reason, and then just sort of lets the weird vampiric kids play with them. That’s all, folks!
There is a needlessly unpleasant origin story (again, like King Snr!) for Manx, which also reveals him to be a complete moron you couldn’t possibly respect, but it’s unclear just how he came to look so monstrous. He seems to have just been born demonic-looking which is very convenient. Quite how Christmasland came to be is also unclear as is the supernatural Wraith. And the kids as well. Things just happen in this book!
What are Manx/the Wraith/Christmasland/the kids’ motives? Why did Manx take the prisoners/jailers to Christmasland in the first place? No idea. Maybe all that’s explained in NOS4A2 even though The Wraith is supposedly a prequel, but the plot is decidedly lacking here.
The artist Charles Wilson III does some good work even if some of the character designs are derivative. The kids are wearing My Chemical Romance’s Black Parade era gear for no reason and Manx looks a bit like Sam Lesser from Locke & Key in some panels.
Christmasland is so superficially “horror” too. Sad teddy bears, building blocks that spell “DIE”, reindeer with glowing eyes - it’s so corny! It’s lazy creativity that isn’t scary but incredibly bland and stupid. There’s also the least convincing romance ever when the “good” 30/40-something prisoner and the 60+ year old jailer (whose surname is of course Claiborne because we gotta keep referencing Daddy’s more popular books!) fall in love - my eyes nearly rolled out of my head for that one!
If it weren’t for some of Wilson’s art and Jay Fotos’ colours, The Wraith would be a total bust. As it is, it’s just a crap comic, ineptly written and plotted and thoroughly uninteresting. Joe Hill does it again!
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October 26, 2014Holy shiznit!! This is read now on Netgalley.
ETA: DAng it!!! I got this book and was so excited. It's one of those you have to download though and I flipping can't see the wording to read it...and I want too!!! ARGGHHHHHHHHH
ETA: DAng it!!! I got this book and was so excited. It's one of those you have to download though and I flipping can't see the wording to read it...and I want too!!! ARGGHHHHHHHHH
March 21, 2023
A dark and delightful companion piece to Joe Hill's novel NOS4R2.
"Know now that there are two kinds of roads, child. There are roads like these, all blacktop and potholes and noisy trucks and tolls and traffic and stink. And then there are the private roads of thought, where emotions are weather, blowing across the landscapes of your imagination"
I've tried graphic novels before and they haven't really worked out very well for me. I'm glad to report that this bucked that trend, spectacularly.
I don't want to write too much as it would be better to experience this yourself.
Wraith was a visually stunning, gory, twisted and well-written piece of work.
It was great to get some backstory on Charles Talent Manx III, his daughters and Christmasland, the theme park you would never want to visit.
If you loved NOS4R2, then no doubt you'll love this. Amazing!
"Know now that there are two kinds of roads, child. There are roads like these, all blacktop and potholes and noisy trucks and tolls and traffic and stink. And then there are the private roads of thought, where emotions are weather, blowing across the landscapes of your imagination"
I've tried graphic novels before and they haven't really worked out very well for me. I'm glad to report that this bucked that trend, spectacularly.
I don't want to write too much as it would be better to experience this yourself.
Wraith was a visually stunning, gory, twisted and well-written piece of work.
It was great to get some backstory on Charles Talent Manx III, his daughters and Christmasland, the theme park you would never want to visit.
If you loved NOS4R2, then no doubt you'll love this. Amazing!
June 18, 2014
Three jailbirds are being transferred when an escape plan goes horribly wrong. With nowhere left to turn, one of the escapees decides to call in a favor and request the assistance of one Charlie Manx. Manx has a talent for making folks disappear so he offers a solution to their problem – only they may not like where he takes them.
I received a free copy from the fine folks at Netgalley for review.
The Wraith is a great companion piece to Hill’s 2013 novel, NOS4A2 and expands on what is already a compelling character in Charlie Manx. With The Wraith, Hill delves into Manx’s history, detailing what drove him to become the man he is, the origin of Christmasland while establishing a face to the holly, jolly land of terror.
The artistic style of Charles Paul Wilson was very reminiscent of Hill’s long time collaborative partner Gabriel Rodriguez (which of course, is a good thing) – with whom Hill worked with on the critically acclaimed series Locke & Key. Wilson thanks Rodriguez within the acknowledgements so it’s possible he played a hand in the style chosen.
If you liked Hill’s NOS4A2, The Wraith is not to be missed. What could’ve easily been a by-the-numbers expansion of the original material feels like a fresh, interesting story from an author who clearly wasn’t done with his creation.
Also posted @ Every Read Thing
I received a free copy from the fine folks at Netgalley for review.
The Wraith is a great companion piece to Hill’s 2013 novel, NOS4A2 and expands on what is already a compelling character in Charlie Manx. With The Wraith, Hill delves into Manx’s history, detailing what drove him to become the man he is, the origin of Christmasland while establishing a face to the holly, jolly land of terror.
The artistic style of Charles Paul Wilson was very reminiscent of Hill’s long time collaborative partner Gabriel Rodriguez (which of course, is a good thing) – with whom Hill worked with on the critically acclaimed series Locke & Key. Wilson thanks Rodriguez within the acknowledgements so it’s possible he played a hand in the style chosen.
If you liked Hill’s NOS4A2, The Wraith is not to be missed. What could’ve easily been a by-the-numbers expansion of the original material feels like a fresh, interesting story from an author who clearly wasn’t done with his creation.
Also posted @ Every Read Thing
December 27, 2021
I don’t even know where to start with this, I just loved it so much and my words are getting tangled up in my head because I just want to spew adoration. NOS4A2 is one of my top 5 novels of all time and my biggest desire every time I reread it is to know more about Manx and how he and Christmasland came to be. And this beautiful graphic novel delivers exactly that, the absolutely fascinating prequel to NOS4A2 that I always wanted. It was everything I hoped it would be and MORE. Evil, sinister and delightfully fiendish, Manx has to be one of my all time favourite villains period. His story just sends shivers down my spine and I grimace a little every time I think of him, he has truly left his mark on me. This story was so bloody damn good and the illustrations brought it to life in the most perfect way. It was like a terrifying Christmas movie flashing before my eyes and I loved every second spent under its spell. The art was absolutely to die for, I took so much time just absorbing all the little details on each panel. I could really ramble on forever about how amazing this graphic novel is and how much you need it in your life but I’ll spare you from that and end it here. But seriously, READ IT.
May 21, 2015
Wow. I bought this 2 days after Christmas. Scary!
Anyway, this is something of a prequel story to the one that we see in NOS4A2. We see Charlie's beginnings and the beginnings of Christmasland, and learn about the children that live there. It's good stuff, and definitely more than a little creepy.
The artwork is great. All the big teeth and black eyes. Awesome. Loved it. It's Joe Hill... what did I expect?
Anyway, this is something of a prequel story to the one that we see in NOS4A2. We see Charlie's beginnings and the beginnings of Christmasland, and learn about the children that live there. It's good stuff, and definitely more than a little creepy.
The artwork is great. All the big teeth and black eyes. Awesome. Loved it. It's Joe Hill... what did I expect?
February 12, 2017
Wraith is actually a prequel to Joe Hill's novel, NOS4A2/NOS4R2, and what a delightfully creepy story! It opens with a little backstory about Charlie Manx, which was just awesome. I totally wanted to know more about the origins of Charlie Manx. It then quickly switches to the main story, involving two prison guards and a group of convicts who are trying to escape. However, their plans quickly go awry and one of the convicts contacts Charlie Manx - someone who is known for helping people disappear. Little do they know they're on their way to Christmasland...
My favourite thing about this graphic novel was, of course, the illustrations. They were mind-blowingly awesome. Often I would just sit and stare in a daze. It was literally like Charles Paul Wilson III crawled into my brain and encapsulated exactly how I imagined Christmasland to be and then put it on the pages. It was beautifully creepy and macabre, and so sinister. I'm in love.
The story itself was fun, with some intriguing characters. I had initially gone into this thinking it was basically an interpretation of the book, so I was a bit disappointed to not encounter Vic McQueen etc, but it was nice to actually experience a different Charlie Manx-centric story. Kinda sad it was so short...I wanted it to go on forever! Overall, a nice quick read (but slowed down by ogling the photos) and I highly recommend for all Joe Hill fans.
My favourite thing about this graphic novel was, of course, the illustrations. They were mind-blowingly awesome. Often I would just sit and stare in a daze. It was literally like Charles Paul Wilson III crawled into my brain and encapsulated exactly how I imagined Christmasland to be and then put it on the pages. It was beautifully creepy and macabre, and so sinister. I'm in love.
The story itself was fun, with some intriguing characters. I had initially gone into this thinking it was basically an interpretation of the book, so I was a bit disappointed to not encounter Vic McQueen etc, but it was nice to actually experience a different Charlie Manx-centric story. Kinda sad it was so short...I wanted it to go on forever! Overall, a nice quick read (but slowed down by ogling the photos) and I highly recommend for all Joe Hill fans.
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January 1, 2020You know, authors, graphic novels and regular novels are different media. A graphic novel is not a novel with the words plopped on top of the illustrations. By which I really mean, I don't want to read block after block of small print text in a graphic novel; if I wanted that I'd get a regular novel and it would be easier on my eyes.
The art was not too my taste (look, more haggard faces; oh, look, more bloody violence) but it's probably fine if you're into horror. This isn't Katsuya Terada quality art, don't expect disgusting-yet-beautiful.
I didn't read the novel that this is linked to. Maybe if I had I would have enjoyed it more. Not sure. Hill's been hit it or miss for me. I loved Welcome to Lovecraft and liked a few of his short stories, but haven't been excited about most other things of his I've tried. I'm more of a psychological horror or dark fantasy person, though, not really into rapes and beheadings. ymmv
The art was not too my taste (look, more haggard faces; oh, look, more bloody violence) but it's probably fine if you're into horror. This isn't Katsuya Terada quality art, don't expect disgusting-yet-beautiful.
I didn't read the novel that this is linked to. Maybe if I had I would have enjoyed it more. Not sure. Hill's been hit it or miss for me. I loved Welcome to Lovecraft and liked a few of his short stories, but haven't been excited about most other things of his I've tried. I'm more of a psychological horror or dark fantasy person, though, not really into rapes and beheadings. ymmv
December 16, 2020
"Magic is not a matter of incantations and boiled frogs! You require only a talisman- an object- that you love so much it is like a dream made real."
This is my first dive into a graphic novel and it was a perfect pick! Nos4a2 is one of my all time favorite books and this prequel is bloody and brutal. Loved getting to see what made Charlie Manx become the big baddie he is & the artwork is gorgeous and pairs perfectly with the festively creepy story. Great quick read for the holidays!
This is my first dive into a graphic novel and it was a perfect pick! Nos4a2 is one of my all time favorite books and this prequel is bloody and brutal. Loved getting to see what made Charlie Manx become the big baddie he is & the artwork is gorgeous and pairs perfectly with the festively creepy story. Great quick read for the holidays!
June 27, 2018
A prequel to NOS4A2 bookended by origin stories for Charlie Manx and Christmasland. In the main story, three escaped criminals call Charlie for a getaway. Little do they know, they will disappear forever. Charlie takes them to Christmasland where he and the gruesome children he's saved feast on those brought there, playing with them until their death. Christmasland is Disneyland in a 103 degree fever dream, a child's hellish version of a nightmare amusement park. Charles Paul Wilson III's art is made for horror, drawing characters with a manic, sallow, gleam to them.
May 3, 2021
Well this was delightfully violent as well as nice and long!
Such a great prequel to the novel, I learned a whole lot about Manx that I always wanted to know. And the prequel to the prequel (technically the epilogue) was equally as entertaining!
I would love to see more Manx graphics eventually.
Such a great prequel to the novel, I learned a whole lot about Manx that I always wanted to know. And the prequel to the prequel (technically the epilogue) was equally as entertaining!
I would love to see more Manx graphics eventually.
February 22, 2019
Wraith is a prequel to Joe Hill's better novel, NOS4A2. Here he tells the backstory of the diabolic caretaker of Christmasland, Charlie Manx. In his formative years, Charlie suffered trauma and escaped into a twisted world of imagination. Later in life, after suffering crushing disappointments (which are explained in the epilogue: an illustrated, but non-comic format epilogue), he regains this world in the form of a creepy amusement park called Christmasland. As an evil chauffeur, he brings children to this amusement park, which unfortunately is a horror show. Once there, the children are transformed, without explanation.
The main story is about a trio of convicts being transported, and their two prison guards. An attempted escape gone wrong forces one of the convicts to call good ol' Charlie Manx for help, who brings them to the nightmare of Christmasland, where things get real ugly, nasty and gory. Ghoulish art, not for the faint-hearted. A little too graphic and too much telling, especially versus the novel, where more was left to the reader's imagination.
The main story is about a trio of convicts being transported, and their two prison guards. An attempted escape gone wrong forces one of the convicts to call good ol' Charlie Manx for help, who brings them to the nightmare of Christmasland, where things get real ugly, nasty and gory. Ghoulish art, not for the faint-hearted. A little too graphic and too much telling, especially versus the novel, where more was left to the reader's imagination.
January 17, 2023
Ridiculously fun read. This was a total blast, and an excellent companion piece to NOS4A2. So glad I picked this up. Loved every second of it.
November 23, 2015
I received a free eARC of this book from NetGalley.
How cool was that? Joe Hill is one of my favorite authors, both for his graphic novels and his stories of prose. Well, this was a blending of the two. Hill takes a favorite villain from his awesome book NOS4A2 by the name of Charlie Manx and gives us his backstory, in comic form.
So yeah. How cool was that?
It came out beautifully too. 4.5 star beautiful. The story wasn't quite as good as that in NOS4A2, but it was still pretty damn compelling. And the artwork from CharlesManx Paul Wilson III was pretty spot on brilliant. This stuff was just as creepy in comic form as I pictured it when reading the novel.
So a prequel bonus for Joe Hill fans, or a great introduction to his work, this fits the bill. And if you like Easter Eggs....
How cool was that? Joe Hill is one of my favorite authors, both for his graphic novels and his stories of prose. Well, this was a blending of the two. Hill takes a favorite villain from his awesome book NOS4A2 by the name of Charlie Manx and gives us his backstory, in comic form.
So yeah. How cool was that?
It came out beautifully too. 4.5 star beautiful. The story wasn't quite as good as that in NOS4A2, but it was still pretty damn compelling. And the artwork from Charles
So a prequel bonus for Joe Hill fans, or a great introduction to his work, this fits the bill. And if you like Easter Eggs....
March 24, 2017
Screwed up, disturbing , nasty and terrifying, a great addition to the N0S4A2 book.
Not only do we get a back story and a side story but we also get a back story to the back story.
The artwork is gory and graphic, reading it definitely worried a few of my fellow train passengers .
A great graphic novel in its own right .
Not only do we get a back story and a side story but we also get a back story to the back story.
The artwork is gory and graphic, reading it definitely worried a few of my fellow train passengers .
A great graphic novel in its own right .
March 22, 2015
I did not read Hill's NOSA42, to which Wraith is a kind of prequel, I am told, an introduction to crazy Charlie Manx and his crazy horror scene, Christmasland, with all of his "babies," children psychos. This is Manx's dreamland, to which he takes people in his Wraith, his Rolls. This is a spare tale for back story, so the art takes the stage, and a bloody stage it is. I would say there is not really much more than a story's worth back story here… and an epilogue, but it feels sort if thin. I mean, his series Locke and Key develops characters and relationships in its horrorscape, and Wraith does less so here; it does give you some back story especially up front and at the end, and that stuff is chilling, but the substance of it, the depth compared to the slashery feels less to me. This feels like batshit crazy horror, and a wild ride, but correct me if I am wrong, but not as rich as some King/Hill horror can be in terms of human depth. I liked it, tuned the pages, read it fast, and it's good horror, and it's visually fun, and Charlie enters the pantheon of horror as a new crazy good character, but it doest yet achieve greatness. Maybe coupled with the novel? But you know, I'm not a real horror fan, not really. I read this because I liked Locke and Key, but this feels like here the Beast itself takes center stage, whereas the family and the complex key world took precedence in Locke.
December 31, 2018
This was such a twisted book! I absolutely loved learning more about Charlie and the art was phenomenal.
August 8, 2017
*The most beautiful book ever; nothing like creepy-ass kids to put fear in your heart!!*
5 Stars
If you loved NOS4A2, then you will love this graphic novel. The visuals come to life. I couldn't ask for anything more.... except for more.
5 Stars
If you loved NOS4A2, then you will love this graphic novel. The visuals come to life. I couldn't ask for anything more.... except for more.
December 31, 2021
NOS4A2 was one of my favorite reads of 2020, and so I went into Wraith with very high expectations and a lot of excitement to learn more about Christmasland. Alas, I was left disappointed. I just couldn't get into the story for the most part, and I couldn't connect with the majority of the characters. I actually found myself constantly checking how many pages were left in the book as I was reading.
However, my good friend Kat read this and enjoyed it very much. She thought it was brutal and added layers and insight into the origins of Charlie Manx. I did like those parts that added depth to Manx and enjoyed learning where the Wraith came from and how Chirstmasland came about. It was just the other side story with the group of criminals that I did not like. Overall, this was a decent read, but I personally was just expecting much more.
However, my good friend Kat read this and enjoyed it very much. She thought it was brutal and added layers and insight into the origins of Charlie Manx. I did like those parts that added depth to Manx and enjoyed learning where the Wraith came from and how Chirstmasland came about. It was just the other side story with the group of criminals that I did not like. Overall, this was a decent read, but I personally was just expecting much more.
June 15, 2016
This has been on my tbr since October (raddest month of the year) 2014! I added it a few short months after reading NOS4A2, one of my favorite books of all time!
I fucking LOVE NOS4A2. With a deep, twisted passion! It was pretty badass to see Charlie Manx & the story of Christmasland visually. I didn't find this as creepy as NOS4A2, but it was delightfully macabre all the same!
Highly recommend Joe Hill for those of you yet to read him. I would definitely read NOS4A2 first, before getting into the graphic novel. This would give too much of the twists & turns away!
I fucking LOVE NOS4A2. With a deep, twisted passion! It was pretty badass to see Charlie Manx & the story of Christmasland visually. I didn't find this as creepy as NOS4A2, but it was delightfully macabre all the same!
Highly recommend Joe Hill for those of you yet to read him. I would definitely read NOS4A2 first, before getting into the graphic novel. This would give too much of the twists & turns away!
January 19, 2019
3.0 Stars
As a prequel, this graphic novel offered more of a backstory into one of the best horror book villains, Charlie Manx. Joe Hill is good storyteller, but I strongly disliked the accompanying artwork style, which greatly reduced my enjoyment of this graphic novel. While not perfect, I would recommend this one to fans of the source material, NOS4A2, who want a glimpse into Christmasland and the very creepy children who live there.
As a prequel, this graphic novel offered more of a backstory into one of the best horror book villains, Charlie Manx. Joe Hill is good storyteller, but I strongly disliked the accompanying artwork style, which greatly reduced my enjoyment of this graphic novel. While not perfect, I would recommend this one to fans of the source material, NOS4A2, who want a glimpse into Christmasland and the very creepy children who live there.
August 6, 2019
“No one ever died wishing they had less fun!”
Okay, creepy Charlie Manx.
I loved NOS4A2 the novel and recently enjoyed the show.
This was a good extension of Manx’s story and shows some of his background. It was gory and gross and well-done horror.
Okay, creepy Charlie Manx.
I loved NOS4A2 the novel and recently enjoyed the show.
This was a good extension of Manx’s story and shows some of his background. It was gory and gross and well-done horror.
January 5, 2015
The fact that I felt I needed to read this after finishing NOS4A2, could be seen as detriment to the latter book.
I loved NOS4A2 but I still felt hungry. Surely that's a good thing, cries you...yes and no.
Sure enough, it was nice to revisit Christmas land but why should I have to? Surely the mouse crusher that was NOS4A2 could/should have given me enough...
I still don't know (and to be honest I don't give a shit) why this Manx back story wasn't included in the original book. I loved NOS4A2 and I enjoyed these 'graphic' novels immensely.
I loved NOS4A2 but I still felt hungry. Surely that's a good thing, cries you...yes and no.
Sure enough, it was nice to revisit Christmas land but why should I have to? Surely the mouse crusher that was NOS4A2 could/should have given me enough...
I still don't know (and to be honest I don't give a shit) why this Manx back story wasn't included in the original book. I loved NOS4A2 and I enjoyed these 'graphic' novels immensely.
November 2, 2015
Bullet Review:
I'm guessing this may be one of those comics that is better after you've read the first medium upon which it is based.
It's okay - not for the faint of heart!
I'm guessing this may be one of those comics that is better after you've read the first medium upon which it is based.
It's okay - not for the faint of heart!
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