What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood Stain #1
Blood Stain Vol. 1
Mad science at its finest. Chemistry major, Elliot Torres has been unable to keep a steady job and eventually accepts a job by a rumored mad scientist Dr. Vlad Stein. Humorous hijinks ensue as their collaboration becomes epic.
121 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2016
30 people are currently reading
1564 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
October 2, 2018
I was going to add this to my Halloween reads but it was more funny than scary at all .... at least yet!
It ended right where I wanted it to continue. *shakes fist* I can't afford the next 2 yet!!
I love the opening sentence:
Somewhere in the asscrack of the Mediterranean 😄
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾🎃
It ended right where I wanted it to continue. *shakes fist* I can't afford the next 2 yet!!
I love the opening sentence:
Somewhere in the asscrack of the Mediterranean 😄
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾🎃
October 22, 2025
A lot of potential.
Saw this on Hoopla and thought it would make a fun Spooktober read, and while I don't regret it, I think it could have been more?
It read less like a campy mad scientist story and more like the author was journaling her inner thoughts and anxieties about not feeling like she was good enough.
I get it, but the entirety of this first volume was spent inside of the main character's mind as she spirals through how she's depressed, can't focus, and can't keep a job. Which leads to more stress, more depression, and more anxiety. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Elliot Torres graduated with a degree in chemistry, but for the past two years has spent her time gaming and getting fired from menial jobs due to her inability to focus. Her sister and her husband are paying the bills in her mother's house, where Elliot also lives, while her mother undergoes some sort of illness. So, you can imagine her sister, who just had a child, is fully fed up with her and insistent that she try a bit harder. <--though they do have an underlying loving relationship
Again, lots of spiraling from Elliot as she attempts to really get out there and try, until the only job available to her is this sketchy assistant position to some scientist that she's been told is creepy.
At the very end of the volume, she finally accepts the job.
So, I really don't know if the investment of my time will be worth it or not, but I've already downloaded the next volume.
I will say that if the art weren't as good as it is, I would have totally chucked this one.
We'll see.
Saw this on Hoopla and thought it would make a fun Spooktober read, and while I don't regret it, I think it could have been more?
It read less like a campy mad scientist story and more like the author was journaling her inner thoughts and anxieties about not feeling like she was good enough.
I get it, but the entirety of this first volume was spent inside of the main character's mind as she spirals through how she's depressed, can't focus, and can't keep a job. Which leads to more stress, more depression, and more anxiety. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Elliot Torres graduated with a degree in chemistry, but for the past two years has spent her time gaming and getting fired from menial jobs due to her inability to focus. Her sister and her husband are paying the bills in her mother's house, where Elliot also lives, while her mother undergoes some sort of illness. So, you can imagine her sister, who just had a child, is fully fed up with her and insistent that she try a bit harder. <--though they do have an underlying loving relationship
Again, lots of spiraling from Elliot as she attempts to really get out there and try, until the only job available to her is this sketchy assistant position to some scientist that she's been told is creepy.
At the very end of the volume, she finally accepts the job.
So, I really don't know if the investment of my time will be worth it or not, but I've already downloaded the next volume.
I will say that if the art weren't as good as it is, I would have totally chucked this one.
We'll see.
May 6, 2020
I love the art and the story and, maybe most importantly, the fantastic humour this volume brought into my life. Cannot wait to read the next one.
Not to be dramatic or anything but what if the Šejić fam adopted me haha... just kidding... unless?
Not to be dramatic or anything but what if the Šejić fam adopted me haha... just kidding... unless?
July 21, 2021
...eventually accepts a job by a rumored mad scientist Dr. Vlad Stein. Humorous hijinks ensue as their collaboration becomes epic.
That doesn't happen here. I guess it must be in book 2? Very nice art, and I liked the idea, but this was weirdly paced and everything in it could have been chapter 1 and then on to the actual *advertised* story of Elly working for the mad doctor. I don't pick up graphic novels to read about bratty twenty-somethings mooching off their families while being "humorously" unable to hold down jobs, which was 80% of the content here.
Disappointed but intrigued?
That doesn't happen here. I guess it must be in book 2? Very nice art, and I liked the idea, but this was weirdly paced and everything in it could have been chapter 1 and then on to the actual *advertised* story of Elly working for the mad doctor. I don't pick up graphic novels to read about bratty twenty-somethings mooching off their families while being "humorously" unable to hold down jobs, which was 80% of the content here.
Disappointed but intrigued?
April 7, 2017
I want you all to know I am a terrible person.
As I read this, I kept thinking to myself: Self, this sounds like something written by someone for whom English is not her first language.
But that couldn't be because while the author mentions her husband is named Stjepan and despite her last name being Šejić (married name, probably), her first name is Linda. So I assumedshe was English/North American/Australian/some other country where the name Linda is super common and had married someone from oh, I don't know. Serbia? Romania? Somewhere where names like Stjepan Šejić are super common.
So, obviously, this woman is just a terribly awkward writer and that's why everything reads just a bit off.
Do you see how terrible I am? I am TERRIBLE!
No, but I get worse, I really do.
I was looking at the art. It's appealing - pretty with that photo realism thing going on. I liked it...only...sometimes it was also off, somehow. It reminded me of a more capable version of my 19-year-old niece's art, the stuff she posts to Deviant, stuff that's still somewhat immature, almost as if there's a template to trace and color that's then digitally manipulated to make a fuller picture.
I don't know how computer art works, but I know that a lot of it can be found online and that some of it is amazing and some not so much - you know, like all types of art - but that this seemed to be done at the hands of someone who is almost masterful at graphic art but...not...just...quite. But this isn't self-published, so...why the capable-and-good-but-not-great computery art style?
(if your body angles like this when you're sprinting in heels, in the rain, you're going to fall on your face)
I'm an asshole.
Because guess what?
This author/illustrator is Croatian, which accounts for the way language is used, and she has a presence on DeviantArt along with her husband who is known for his Sunstone webcomic. This is what they're both known for, this particular style of art.
And so there I was, judging the content kind of harshly when I should have been accepting and not a jerk. I mean, everything I thought was true but, for some reason, I looked at it all from a negative perspective when, in fact, there's nothing negative at all. This is a story told by someone who is not American and doesn't have to cater to what I'm used to getting from graphic novels and who is known for the type of graphic art she produces.
Don't be like me, people. Go into new things with an open mind and a gracious heart. Pretty much, I am the worst.
But enough about me. Let's talk about this tale.
It's fun!
And irritating.
This volume is exceptionally slow (again, I'm using American standards and we tend to not enjoy slow build-ups in our comix stories).
It starts out "Somewhere in the asscrack of the Mediterranean" or something like that (that should have clued me in because what native English speaker/mainstream illustrator sets their story in the Mediterranean but then doesn't stereotype the area?) with a young woman (she's 27) who has been out of college for 2 years with only a degree in chemistry to show for it. She can't keep a job and now she's having problems even finding someone to hire her. She lives with her sister's family and their mother is in the hospital with an unnamed illness, but not one that's expected to be fatal. There's financial strain and sibling rivalry and the like.
Elliot Torres is spunky and cute but, man, is she a shit. Again, I was reminded of my niece. Elly wants things because she thinks she should get them but then she hates on herself when she doesn't get them because she's such a loser. She has left several jobs because they were peopled by employees she didn't like, and has been let go from many more because she couldn't focus long enough to learn skills. Sometimes, it was just bad luck and she was fired because the employer couldn't afford to pay her. But the majority of her employment problem is her.
I sided with her sister, Claire, on this one. Claire is on maternity leave and also taking care of her younger sister while Claire's husband works to pay the bills. Now, Elly should be helping out around the house, and such, but she doesn't. She plays video games. They help her think. Claire's frazzled. It's hard to have a new baby, a giant baby, and a sick mother to worry over and I so understood her situation, minus the actual infant.
Finally, things come to a head and Elly decides to apply for a scientist's assistant position, one for which she's eminently qualified but that she didn't want earlier because someone at the school she used to attend told her the scientist guy was creepy. But, you gotta do what you gotta do, sometimes, and she bites the bullet, has to jump through random hoops, and makes it to the scientiest's lab/home to do her interview, as it were.
End of story.
So, yeah, plot spoilers? Only, not really because that's obviously what's going to happen, it's just that it probably should have happened in the first third of the book...says the impatient American who has been conditioned to believe graphic novels in this genre need to move at a certain pace.
Again, people, don't be like me.
Except do read this.
I'm going to read the second one. I plan to be way nicer to that one.
As I read this, I kept thinking to myself: Self, this sounds like something written by someone for whom English is not her first language.
But that couldn't be because while the author mentions her husband is named Stjepan and despite her last name being Šejić (married name, probably), her first name is Linda. So I assumedshe was English/North American/Australian/some other country where the name Linda is super common and had married someone from oh, I don't know. Serbia? Romania? Somewhere where names like Stjepan Šejić are super common.
So, obviously, this woman is just a terribly awkward writer and that's why everything reads just a bit off.
Do you see how terrible I am? I am TERRIBLE!
No, but I get worse, I really do.
I was looking at the art. It's appealing - pretty with that photo realism thing going on. I liked it...only...sometimes it was also off, somehow. It reminded me of a more capable version of my 19-year-old niece's art, the stuff she posts to Deviant, stuff that's still somewhat immature, almost as if there's a template to trace and color that's then digitally manipulated to make a fuller picture.
I don't know how computer art works, but I know that a lot of it can be found online and that some of it is amazing and some not so much - you know, like all types of art - but that this seemed to be done at the hands of someone who is almost masterful at graphic art but...not...just...quite. But this isn't self-published, so...why the capable-and-good-but-not-great computery art style?
(if your body angles like this when you're sprinting in heels, in the rain, you're going to fall on your face)
I'm an asshole.
Because guess what?
This author/illustrator is Croatian, which accounts for the way language is used, and she has a presence on DeviantArt along with her husband who is known for his Sunstone webcomic. This is what they're both known for, this particular style of art.
And so there I was, judging the content kind of harshly when I should have been accepting and not a jerk. I mean, everything I thought was true but, for some reason, I looked at it all from a negative perspective when, in fact, there's nothing negative at all. This is a story told by someone who is not American and doesn't have to cater to what I'm used to getting from graphic novels and who is known for the type of graphic art she produces.
Don't be like me, people. Go into new things with an open mind and a gracious heart. Pretty much, I am the worst.
But enough about me. Let's talk about this tale.
It's fun!
And irritating.
This volume is exceptionally slow (again, I'm using American standards and we tend to not enjoy slow build-ups in our comix stories).
It starts out "Somewhere in the asscrack of the Mediterranean" or something like that (that should have clued me in because what native English speaker/mainstream illustrator sets their story in the Mediterranean but then doesn't stereotype the area?) with a young woman (she's 27) who has been out of college for 2 years with only a degree in chemistry to show for it. She can't keep a job and now she's having problems even finding someone to hire her. She lives with her sister's family and their mother is in the hospital with an unnamed illness, but not one that's expected to be fatal. There's financial strain and sibling rivalry and the like.
Elliot Torres is spunky and cute but, man, is she a shit. Again, I was reminded of my niece. Elly wants things because she thinks she should get them but then she hates on herself when she doesn't get them because she's such a loser. She has left several jobs because they were peopled by employees she didn't like, and has been let go from many more because she couldn't focus long enough to learn skills. Sometimes, it was just bad luck and she was fired because the employer couldn't afford to pay her. But the majority of her employment problem is her.
I sided with her sister, Claire, on this one. Claire is on maternity leave and also taking care of her younger sister while Claire's husband works to pay the bills. Now, Elly should be helping out around the house, and such, but she doesn't. She plays video games. They help her think. Claire's frazzled. It's hard to have a new baby, a giant baby, and a sick mother to worry over and I so understood her situation, minus the actual infant.
Finally, things come to a head and Elly decides to apply for a scientist's assistant position, one for which she's eminently qualified but that she didn't want earlier because someone at the school she used to attend told her the scientist guy was creepy. But, you gotta do what you gotta do, sometimes, and she bites the bullet, has to jump through random hoops, and makes it to the scientiest's lab/home to do her interview, as it were.
End of story.
So, yeah, plot spoilers? Only, not really because that's obviously what's going to happen, it's just that it probably should have happened in the first third of the book...says the impatient American who has been conditioned to believe graphic novels in this genre need to move at a certain pace.
Again, people, don't be like me.
Except do read this.
I'm going to read the second one. I plan to be way nicer to that one.
October 2, 2018
There's a lot of potential here but so far the story is WAY too slow and the main character is a bumbling idiot who can't hold a job. She has a degree in chemistry but for some reason only tries to get menial jobs such as waitressing. I liked the humor of the series, just wish it was written with a stronger woman in mind. At the end of the volume, Elliot had just finally arrived at the doctor's house. So in one full trade paperback, Elliot managed to find a job and travel to it. The first volume could have been reduced to a single issue.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2017
I've been a big fan of Stjepan Šejić's work for a long time, so when I saw this in my my local comic store, I picked it up. (I'm assuming it's his wife? Sister? It seems unlikely that there would be two illustrators from croatia both named Sejic with similar styles both working in comics....)
Anyway. I enjoyed this one well enough. It's a bit of a slow start (though I shouldn't throw any stones in that regard). But it moves along well, and I'm enjoying the characters.
Perhaps most importantly, I'm genuinely curious where the story is going, and if the second one was available, I'd buy and read it right now....
Anyway. I enjoyed this one well enough. It's a bit of a slow start (though I shouldn't throw any stones in that regard). But it moves along well, and I'm enjoying the characters.
Perhaps most importantly, I'm genuinely curious where the story is going, and if the second one was available, I'd buy and read it right now....
March 9, 2019
actual rating: 2.5
After looking at some other reviews of this title I saw it mentioned that the author and artist of this are 1. not native English speakers [which you could assume from the last name but still] and 2. apparently very popular on DeviantArt. The first I would say is mostly a non-issue as the English in this not BAD by any means, but perhaps a different cultural background explains why the whole thing just seems so awkward to me and also why the pacing is so off. The DeviantArt thing is also not bad in an of itself but ...it certainly explains a lot because while the art is technically very nice the whole thing does have an air of 'extended webcomic some teenager put on their DeviantArt profile circa 2007'. If you're into that then I'm sure that's a major selling point but to me it just made the whole thing seem weirdly dated despite being published only a few years ago.
The plot I think could be interesting if it actually ever went anywhere. The entire first volume has horrible pacing: we basically spend 50+ pages listening to the main character recap horrible jobs she has had, she applies for the job with the mad scientist, decides against it, WORKS AT EVEN MORE RANDOM DEAD END JOBS, and then goes back to apply to the mad scientist again. Then we get an extended scene of her talking to the scientist guy's cook [wut?] as he picks her up from the airport and literally the last page is her seeing the scientist for the first time.
Then the last 40+ pages are like random sketches and asides that remind me of the drawings that are on the chapter title pages / back of manga. Actually the whole thing has a very manga-esque feel with the plot and characterization. Don't get me wrong, I do like manga sometimes, but I feel like overall it's just not as ...serious as western graphic novels I guess? Like nothing against this style of 'humor' but I think that this book would have been better if they had focused more on the horror aspect. I'm sure a lot of people will like it but to me the whole thing was incredibly cringey most of the time.
After looking at some other reviews of this title I saw it mentioned that the author and artist of this are 1. not native English speakers [which you could assume from the last name but still] and 2. apparently very popular on DeviantArt. The first I would say is mostly a non-issue as the English in this not BAD by any means, but perhaps a different cultural background explains why the whole thing just seems so awkward to me and also why the pacing is so off. The DeviantArt thing is also not bad in an of itself but ...it certainly explains a lot because while the art is technically very nice the whole thing does have an air of 'extended webcomic some teenager put on their DeviantArt profile circa 2007'. If you're into that then I'm sure that's a major selling point but to me it just made the whole thing seem weirdly dated despite being published only a few years ago.
The plot I think could be interesting if it actually ever went anywhere. The entire first volume has horrible pacing: we basically spend 50+ pages listening to the main character recap horrible jobs she has had, she applies for the job with the mad scientist, decides against it, WORKS AT EVEN MORE RANDOM DEAD END JOBS, and then goes back to apply to the mad scientist again. Then we get an extended scene of her talking to the scientist guy's cook [wut?] as he picks her up from the airport and literally the last page is her seeing the scientist for the first time.
Then the last 40+ pages are like random sketches and asides that remind me of the drawings that are on the chapter title pages / back of manga. Actually the whole thing has a very manga-esque feel with the plot and characterization. Don't get me wrong, I do like manga sometimes, but I feel like overall it's just not as ...serious as western graphic novels I guess? Like nothing against this style of 'humor' but I think that this book would have been better if they had focused more on the horror aspect. I'm sure a lot of people will like it but to me the whole thing was incredibly cringey most of the time.
April 28, 2016
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
This was a lot of fun! Definitely not what one would expect from a title and a cover such as these, but Blood Stain is a great parody.
Elliot Torres, the main character, is in search of a job after a series of failed attempts(we see hilarious flashbacks of her previous jobs) and she stumbles upon a flier saying that a lab assistant is needed. Her future boss is a weird Frankenstein type of character, who I suppose will turn out to be a big softie.
The entire book is very funny(warning: 30% of this volume is sketches and extras and is not part of the actual story), the characters are definitely comic relief and I don't think they should be taken too seriously. Elliot herself is sometimes slightly annoying and not just slightly lazy, but so am I, so I found this even funnier.
I found the artwork very interesting and different from the things I have read so far. There were attempts at focus in some of the panels, which is not the usual comic book method. Also some of the characters' bubbles were leaking which was funny.
Considering that only about 80 pages out of the entire volume are part of the story, you can assume correctly that it did not go much of anywhere, but I think the humor makes up for that and I'm definitely looking forward to the next issues.
*** 3.5 stars ***
"Somewhere in the asscrack of the Mediterranean..."
This was a lot of fun! Definitely not what one would expect from a title and a cover such as these, but Blood Stain is a great parody.
Elliot Torres, the main character, is in search of a job after a series of failed attempts(we see hilarious flashbacks of her previous jobs) and she stumbles upon a flier saying that a lab assistant is needed. Her future boss is a weird Frankenstein type of character, who I suppose will turn out to be a big softie.
The entire book is very funny(warning: 30% of this volume is sketches and extras and is not part of the actual story), the characters are definitely comic relief and I don't think they should be taken too seriously. Elliot herself is sometimes slightly annoying and not just slightly lazy, but so am I, so I found this even funnier.
I found the artwork very interesting and different from the things I have read so far. There were attempts at focus in some of the panels, which is not the usual comic book method. Also some of the characters' bubbles were leaking which was funny.
Considering that only about 80 pages out of the entire volume are part of the story, you can assume correctly that it did not go much of anywhere, but I think the humor makes up for that and I'm definitely looking forward to the next issues.
May 29, 2016
Blood Stain was a comic I was eager to read when I first read about it a few months ago. Thanks to Netgalley I had a chance to read the first volume. The illustrative work is beautiful, with lots of black and red to add to the dark yet funny story. The story follows Elly, a recovering-gamer who is living with her sister and her sister's family and needs to get a job to help support the household. She tries a few jobs but none of them stick. She is forced to apply for a job as an assistant to a Doctor, and she travels to his house to begin in her new role, her brain telling her she might be making a mistake due to the creepy voice of the Doctor who she'd only spoken to on the phone.
The first volume ends as Elly arrives at her new job, so I was really into the story by then and wanted to see where it went. I can't wait for the second volume of this series. The humour is great, the characters are a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed the little nods to horror and fantasy culture. Really enjoyable, I recommend it for sure. 4/5
The first volume ends as Elly arrives at her new job, so I was really into the story by then and wanted to see where it went. I can't wait for the second volume of this series. The humour is great, the characters are a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed the little nods to horror and fantasy culture. Really enjoyable, I recommend it for sure. 4/5
October 16, 2020
Esta es webcomic que fue publicado como una novela grafica del tipo "slice-of-life", bastante realista si es asi como lo entiendes si fuera la vida una comedia de situaciones y equivocaciones en una miniserie de tv. Y no se dejen llevar por la portada que de terrorifico no tiene nada.
Elliot Torres es una chica como muchas , con un novio, con un grado en quimica , y viviendo con su hermana mayor que tiene un bebe, una madre hospitalizada, y con muchas deudas, que pierde un empleo detrás de otro al parecer por sus continuas ensoñaciones despierta , hasta que decide acudir a su último recurso que es como asistente de un profesor que realiza investigaciones en un instituto y que tiene muy mala reputación.
La mayor parte del primer volumen es esta serie de situaciones absurdas, mientras la hermana la presiona para que trabaje y contribuya como un adulto. Terminando cuando ella llega a la casa del cientifico que para ese entonces ya se ha olvidado que le ha pedido que venga.
Para el segundo volumen al que le encontre más humor, recien vamos conociendo al excentrico y maniatico del laboratorio, a quien Ellie le tiene un miedo atroz al principio imaginandose mil cosas tenebrosas de él, la casa y el sotano.
Elliot Torres es una chica como muchas , con un novio, con un grado en quimica , y viviendo con su hermana mayor que tiene un bebe, una madre hospitalizada, y con muchas deudas, que pierde un empleo detrás de otro al parecer por sus continuas ensoñaciones despierta , hasta que decide acudir a su último recurso que es como asistente de un profesor que realiza investigaciones en un instituto y que tiene muy mala reputación.
La mayor parte del primer volumen es esta serie de situaciones absurdas, mientras la hermana la presiona para que trabaje y contribuya como un adulto. Terminando cuando ella llega a la casa del cientifico que para ese entonces ya se ha olvidado que le ha pedido que venga.
Para el segundo volumen al que le encontre más humor, recien vamos conociendo al excentrico y maniatico del laboratorio, a quien Ellie le tiene un miedo atroz al principio imaginandose mil cosas tenebrosas de él, la casa y el sotano.
December 5, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 *
Okay so...this was a lot of exposition and setting up the story i'd say 90% but the story seems really promising and the art is wonderful! I will be continuing this series for sure!
Okay so...this was a lot of exposition and setting up the story i'd say 90% but the story seems really promising and the art is wonderful! I will be continuing this series for sure!
April 11, 2023
I discovered this comic a few weeks ago when I visited a new comic store near my home. The plot is intriguing: Elliot Torres is an insecure and paranoid girl, unemployed for two years now, willing to accept a job as an assistant for what appears to be on the phone a disturbing individual and who answers by the name of Vlad Stein.
The beginning looks like a horror classic, the characters are well done, rendered very well by spectacular graphics, especially the mad scientist, never clearly seen but always in the shadows in his laboratory. Elliot is nice, sometimes make tenderness, often lost in her reasoning, rendered very well by several cartoons stacked one on top of the other as if to make the chaos of her thoughts. In this first issue we don't see much of the plot, it's more of an introduction to the characters and I'm sure that in the course of the story many will evolve, especially Elliot who could become that confident woman that she seems to aspire to. And Dr. Stein, who knows?
It’s the first time I’ve read something by Linda Šejić, although in the past I have read some works by her husband (e.g. Harleen). Here too I noticed a splendid use of colors, which give life to spectacular scenes. Further interesting is a final part, once the story is over, in which the author talks about how she came up with the ideas for the comic and presents some sketches, to make the reader understand how the characters were conceived and how they changed during the drafting.
A curiosity: at the origin of the story there is a drawing given to her by her husband and a song by Helloween: Dr Stein (1988). I couldn't help but go and look for it: fantastic!!
The beginning looks like a horror classic, the characters are well done, rendered very well by spectacular graphics, especially the mad scientist, never clearly seen but always in the shadows in his laboratory. Elliot is nice, sometimes make tenderness, often lost in her reasoning, rendered very well by several cartoons stacked one on top of the other as if to make the chaos of her thoughts. In this first issue we don't see much of the plot, it's more of an introduction to the characters and I'm sure that in the course of the story many will evolve, especially Elliot who could become that confident woman that she seems to aspire to. And Dr. Stein, who knows?
It’s the first time I’ve read something by Linda Šejić, although in the past I have read some works by her husband (e.g. Harleen). Here too I noticed a splendid use of colors, which give life to spectacular scenes. Further interesting is a final part, once the story is over, in which the author talks about how she came up with the ideas for the comic and presents some sketches, to make the reader understand how the characters were conceived and how they changed during the drafting.
A curiosity: at the origin of the story there is a drawing given to her by her husband and a song by Helloween: Dr Stein (1988). I couldn't help but go and look for it: fantastic!!
April 28, 2023
4,5 STARS ROUNDED UP!
This is SO dang funny!
This is SO dang funny!
April 28, 2016
*** I received a digital copy of this for reviewing. ***
This one was great! So funny! I liked the main character Elliot. She was so down to earth. Her thirst for work was no mare matter. Her sister kept pushing her on it, and she is also right; two years without job can be pretty damaging.
The Doctor looked creepy enough, but I doubt he is evil. I think he would turn out to be a generous person.
There were parody jokes about Adam's Family, Gandalf, and so on. These were fun to read. Also, every work tried by Elliot was hilarious!
Artwork of this issue was alright, paneling was good, main characters were ok.
I think fan of comedy mystery genre will like it, specially comedy fans.
This one was great! So funny! I liked the main character Elliot. She was so down to earth. Her thirst for work was no mare matter. Her sister kept pushing her on it, and she is also right; two years without job can be pretty damaging.
The Doctor looked creepy enough, but I doubt he is evil. I think he would turn out to be a generous person.
There were parody jokes about Adam's Family, Gandalf, and so on. These were fun to read. Also, every work tried by Elliot was hilarious!
Artwork of this issue was alright, paneling was good, main characters were ok.
I think fan of comedy mystery genre will like it, specially comedy fans.
Want to read
January 1, 2017Digital copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 7, 2019This felt like about half of a graphic novel. Could have used some editing down to move forward more quickly in the plot. I'm interested enough to read the next volume though.
September 21, 2017
I don't know why but the first few pages immediately got me hooked.
A woman in her late 20s desperately looking for a job, reluctantly accepts a suspicious opportunity.
Bear in mind, this would be another lame and stupid psycho movie plot if not for her lengthy thoughts and monologues. Every angle is considered. I guess that was what made it realistic for me. And the comedic tone made it more entertaining.
Don't forget to check out the random appendices at the end.
Plenty of funny stuff in that section alone :)
A woman in her late 20s desperately looking for a job, reluctantly accepts a suspicious opportunity.
Bear in mind, this would be another lame and stupid psycho movie plot if not for her lengthy thoughts and monologues. Every angle is considered. I guess that was what made it realistic for me. And the comedic tone made it more entertaining.
Don't forget to check out the random appendices at the end.
Plenty of funny stuff in that section alone :)
November 8, 2020
Fantastic start to a series. Loved the art and the characters so far.
June 2, 2019
Um. Wtf was that? So literally nothing happens in this first novel?
April 15, 2016
An out-of-work college graduate with a chemistry degree has been trying to find a job for two years and desperately reaches out to her last chance, a rumored mad scientist with a creepy voice. This intriguing story idea is the basis for Linda Sejic’s Blood Stain (Volume One), a paperback imprint of Sejic’s webcomic of the same name.
Elliot “Elly” Torres is a twenty-something who does not know what she wants to do with her life or what use her chemistry degree will be to find a job. Living with her mother, sister and brother-in-law, Elly is drifting through life from failed job to failed job while being addicted to online gaming until her mother has to go to the hospital and her sister Claire gives birth. These changes put the entire family in financial straits and Elly has to help make ends meet, it hasn’t gone well for a variety of reasons. Finally in desperation she inquires on a years old job posting from her old college, it’s then that her life gets really interesting and seemingly in jeopardy.
That short description of the first chapter of Blood Stain only gives you a glimpse of what actually transpires in this volume of Sejic’s work. What I can’t elaborate on is the varieties of humor interwoven throughout the approximately 100 pages of story nor the fabulous characters of Elly and her sister Claire that dominate most of the story nor their interactions, which only add depth to their characterizations. In fact the one thing I forgot to mention above in my description is that all the male characters that appear are secondary in this chapter to both sisters, who’s interaction with and reaction to one another drives this first chapter of Sejic’s larger work. It is only when the scene shifts to Elly’s new work place that the rest of the eventual main cast is introduced.
Comics in all forms depend on three things: characters, story, and visuals. Sejic’s art is fantastic not only in her characters but also the scenes in which she sets that add atmosphere to the scenes and layers to the story in their own way. In addition to her work on the story itself, the end of book bonus material finds Sejic showing the creative process of how Blood Stain came about not only the story idea but how ideas turned to sketches that turned to pages. Not only do readers see the evolution of Elly and her two fellow “cast” members, but long time readers of the webcomic get the added pleasure of seeing some of Sejic’s non-continuity one-shot images of humorous and/or sexy nature that she has been inspired to create through her own imaginative process on paper instead of just on their computer screens.
As a longtime fan of Linda Sejic’s webcomic, I could not wait to have Blood Stain (Volume One) in my hands and to see the story in paper. It’s hard for me to articulate to those who have never heard of the webcomic or of the author about why they should buy this book, so I hope at least those who are intrigued by this review will at least search out the Blood Stain webcomic and view it for themselves. That way Linda Sejic’s work will speak for itself more than I ever could.
Elliot “Elly” Torres is a twenty-something who does not know what she wants to do with her life or what use her chemistry degree will be to find a job. Living with her mother, sister and brother-in-law, Elly is drifting through life from failed job to failed job while being addicted to online gaming until her mother has to go to the hospital and her sister Claire gives birth. These changes put the entire family in financial straits and Elly has to help make ends meet, it hasn’t gone well for a variety of reasons. Finally in desperation she inquires on a years old job posting from her old college, it’s then that her life gets really interesting and seemingly in jeopardy.
That short description of the first chapter of Blood Stain only gives you a glimpse of what actually transpires in this volume of Sejic’s work. What I can’t elaborate on is the varieties of humor interwoven throughout the approximately 100 pages of story nor the fabulous characters of Elly and her sister Claire that dominate most of the story nor their interactions, which only add depth to their characterizations. In fact the one thing I forgot to mention above in my description is that all the male characters that appear are secondary in this chapter to both sisters, who’s interaction with and reaction to one another drives this first chapter of Sejic’s larger work. It is only when the scene shifts to Elly’s new work place that the rest of the eventual main cast is introduced.
Comics in all forms depend on three things: characters, story, and visuals. Sejic’s art is fantastic not only in her characters but also the scenes in which she sets that add atmosphere to the scenes and layers to the story in their own way. In addition to her work on the story itself, the end of book bonus material finds Sejic showing the creative process of how Blood Stain came about not only the story idea but how ideas turned to sketches that turned to pages. Not only do readers see the evolution of Elly and her two fellow “cast” members, but long time readers of the webcomic get the added pleasure of seeing some of Sejic’s non-continuity one-shot images of humorous and/or sexy nature that she has been inspired to create through her own imaginative process on paper instead of just on their computer screens.
As a longtime fan of Linda Sejic’s webcomic, I could not wait to have Blood Stain (Volume One) in my hands and to see the story in paper. It’s hard for me to articulate to those who have never heard of the webcomic or of the author about why they should buy this book, so I hope at least those who are intrigued by this review will at least search out the Blood Stain webcomic and view it for themselves. That way Linda Sejic’s work will speak for itself more than I ever could.
February 2, 2022
I'm not going to lie. I picked this up because I was curious about Linda Sejic's work, since I've enjoyed her husband's work (Sunstone, Rat Queens, Death Vigil). Be warned: this volume contains only about 85 pages of story and 30-40 pages of extras. I actually enjoyed the extras, though, since several of the early strips were funny.
Not that there's anything wrong with this, but I've noticed that, with the surge in female readership of comics, many of the comics being released (not including titles like Saga and Sex Criminals) that are oriented towards females skew towards teens and "hip" college women (e.g. Jem, Babs Tarr's Batgirl).
That said, one of the reasons that I enjoyed Blood Stain was that the main character is a realistic adult female, and this comic is oriented towards a post-undergrad crowd. Elly's "late adulthood" woes of living in a family member's home and being unable to find a job that sticks despite a college degree, and the insecurity that comes along with those things likely resonates with many Millienials. Although Elly's insecurity is unappealing, it's sympathetic, and there was enough humor in the book to keep me from becoming annoyed.
There is a noticeable similarity in style between Stjepan and Linda's art, especially in the appearance of the female characters and the characters' expressions, but I don't mind this, because I like the style. (This also makes sense because one of the main inspirations for the series was a drawing that Stjepan made for Linda, as is mentioned in the extras.) I feel that the layouts and visual storytelling in Blood Stain could be more interesting, but I'd bet that they get better over the course of the comic, especially since it was released online.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital review copy.
Not that there's anything wrong with this, but I've noticed that, with the surge in female readership of comics, many of the comics being released (not including titles like Saga and Sex Criminals) that are oriented towards females skew towards teens and "hip" college women (e.g. Jem, Babs Tarr's Batgirl).
That said, one of the reasons that I enjoyed Blood Stain was that the main character is a realistic adult female, and this comic is oriented towards a post-undergrad crowd. Elly's "late adulthood" woes of living in a family member's home and being unable to find a job that sticks despite a college degree, and the insecurity that comes along with those things likely resonates with many Millienials. Although Elly's insecurity is unappealing, it's sympathetic, and there was enough humor in the book to keep me from becoming annoyed.
There is a noticeable similarity in style between Stjepan and Linda's art, especially in the appearance of the female characters and the characters' expressions, but I don't mind this, because I like the style. (This also makes sense because one of the main inspirations for the series was a drawing that Stjepan made for Linda, as is mentioned in the extras.) I feel that the layouts and visual storytelling in Blood Stain could be more interesting, but I'd bet that they get better over the course of the comic, especially since it was released online.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital review copy.
April 11, 2016
Our main character is a brainless, shallow chick that gives women a bad name. She behaves like a teenager, although she is supposed to be 27. You get to see her fail in a variety of jobs, that have nothing to do with her skill set of having graduated from college with a chemistry major. Why doesn't she try to get a job in her field? No idea. The various job escapades are supposed to set a funny vibe, but it was just annoying.
And why does the first panel show a coastal town with the line "Somewhere in the asscrack of the Mediterranean"? The setting is never mentioned again and is completely irrelevant to the story.
The plot doesn't get much better. Well, there really isn't much of a plot, just 80odd pages of prologue, followed by 40 pages of extras. The story never gets off the ground.
As a weekly online serial this might work, as a complete volume it uttlerly failed to draw me in. Based on the cover I expected horror with some humour. Maybe a Frankenstein or vampire story. Instead it was college girl fails at life and runs around like a headless chicken.
The artwork was ok. The black on white writing in the digital version was barely readable. Some nice sketches in the extras.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
And why does the first panel show a coastal town with the line "Somewhere in the asscrack of the Mediterranean"? The setting is never mentioned again and is completely irrelevant to the story.
The plot doesn't get much better. Well, there really isn't much of a plot, just 80odd pages of prologue, followed by 40 pages of extras. The story never gets off the ground.
As a weekly online serial this might work, as a complete volume it uttlerly failed to draw me in. Based on the cover I expected horror with some humour. Maybe a Frankenstein or vampire story. Instead it was college girl fails at life and runs around like a headless chicken.
The artwork was ok. The black on white writing in the digital version was barely readable. Some nice sketches in the extras.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
July 25, 2016
This was fun. Elliot Torres needs a job. Money is tight, but somehow she manages to fail spectacularly at everything she tries. She's desperate for work, so desperate that, when a mad scientist needs an assistant ...
The cover is a bit misleading, or at least I was expecting something more grim and bloody than I got. Not that that's a bad thing. This is funny, even a bit goofy. Honestly, it's a story that, with different art, would be right at home in an issue of Josie and the Pussycats. Some story points don't make a lot of sense, but they serve to bring characters together where they need to be. This entire volume sets things up for what promises to be an even more entertaining second volume, where Ellie gets to know the mysterious Dr. Stein.
Rounding out the volume are all sorts of cool extras, where Linda Sejic reveals the Genesis of the project. I enjoyed these at least as much as, if not even more than, the main story. I'm definitely on board for volume 2.
The cover is a bit misleading, or at least I was expecting something more grim and bloody than I got. Not that that's a bad thing. This is funny, even a bit goofy. Honestly, it's a story that, with different art, would be right at home in an issue of Josie and the Pussycats. Some story points don't make a lot of sense, but they serve to bring characters together where they need to be. This entire volume sets things up for what promises to be an even more entertaining second volume, where Ellie gets to know the mysterious Dr. Stein.
Rounding out the volume are all sorts of cool extras, where Linda Sejic reveals the Genesis of the project. I enjoyed these at least as much as, if not even more than, the main story. I'm definitely on board for volume 2.
May 3, 2016
I really enjoyed this story.
At first I was a bit disappointed that the story never seemed to start. But then, I just got into the story and evolution of Elly. Linda Sejic does a great job of writing (and drawing) Elliot in a way that shows us her life and her changing as a person. And she makes the character (and the things she does) interesting even though she's just dealing with real life stuff.
I'll definitely be looking for the next volume. I mean, I have to find out what's going to happen with Elliot and Dr. Stein!
Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Distributors, and Image Comics for a copy in return for an honest review.
At first I was a bit disappointed that the story never seemed to start. But then, I just got into the story and evolution of Elly. Linda Sejic does a great job of writing (and drawing) Elliot in a way that shows us her life and her changing as a person. And she makes the character (and the things she does) interesting even though she's just dealing with real life stuff.
I'll definitely be looking for the next volume. I mean, I have to find out what's going to happen with Elliot and Dr. Stein!
Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Distributors, and Image Comics for a copy in return for an honest review.
October 25, 2016
I've been following this comic for years on deviantart.com (where you can still check it out for free), but the published version is more polished and I enjoyed reading it again in bulk.
This is a slice-of-life kind of comic about a young woman in desperate need of a job, with a wacky twist. She finds employment with a creepy mad scientist of a doctor and his chef. The characters are cute and the art is lovely.
This is a slice-of-life kind of comic about a young woman in desperate need of a job, with a wacky twist. She finds employment with a creepy mad scientist of a doctor and his chef. The characters are cute and the art is lovely.
December 6, 2016
This was amazing, gothicky, fun and gorgeous -- everything I wanted it to be! I am so gutted I have to wait till September till the next volume though *grabby hands*
December 22, 2021
After spending two years bouncing from job to job, Elliot Torres is exhausted. She can’t keep a job for long, and her sister is getting really tired of it. Strapped for cash, Elliot knows she needs to get it together, especially when her mom gets out of the hospital. She can’t wait for the perfect job to come along… except that one job that sounds way too good to be true.
I recently read Punderworld, so I decided to check this out and see what it’s all about. We follow Elliot, a directionless woman who is looking for the perfect job with a boss who meets her expectations. Unfortunately for her, she’s either not a good fit or she finds something wrong and bows out early. The opening is quite hilarious as we see the different jobs Elliot’s had and why it didn’t work out. It’s mostly her, and her sister is not letting her get away with it because they don’t have the luxury to be picky.
I think Elliot is quite realistic while set in an unrealistic and entertaining situation as she takes the job no one else wants as an assistant to a an allegedly crazy scientist. I had a lot of fun reading this. The artwork is beautiful, and Elliot’s shenanigans are hilarious. While she’s quite flaky and directionless, I really like her. She’s funny, has heart, and means well.
I was not expecting the volume to end where it did since most of it was about all the different jobs and how Elliot finds herself working for Dr. Vlad Stein. When I reached the end, it felt more like it stopped in the middle of the volume. We get to know Elliot pretty well, but we briefly meet all of the other characters, so that felt a little odd as well. That said, I do like it and I’ve already got the second volume, so I’m excited to see where this goes now that the plot is getting rolling.
I recently read Punderworld, so I decided to check this out and see what it’s all about. We follow Elliot, a directionless woman who is looking for the perfect job with a boss who meets her expectations. Unfortunately for her, she’s either not a good fit or she finds something wrong and bows out early. The opening is quite hilarious as we see the different jobs Elliot’s had and why it didn’t work out. It’s mostly her, and her sister is not letting her get away with it because they don’t have the luxury to be picky.
I think Elliot is quite realistic while set in an unrealistic and entertaining situation as she takes the job no one else wants as an assistant to a an allegedly crazy scientist. I had a lot of fun reading this. The artwork is beautiful, and Elliot’s shenanigans are hilarious. While she’s quite flaky and directionless, I really like her. She’s funny, has heart, and means well.
I was not expecting the volume to end where it did since most of it was about all the different jobs and how Elliot finds herself working for Dr. Vlad Stein. When I reached the end, it felt more like it stopped in the middle of the volume. We get to know Elliot pretty well, but we briefly meet all of the other characters, so that felt a little odd as well. That said, I do like it and I’ve already got the second volume, so I’m excited to see where this goes now that the plot is getting rolling.
May 11, 2024
This book was humbling for me. I hope GoodReads is a safe space to confess.
I saw the title, and the art style, and the cover, and immediately assumed this involved vampires. That our heroine would discover her boss sits in the dark, awake all night, covered in red stains because he is a vampire hematologist or someething.
My friends, there is absolutely nothing in this book that is horror-related. Or vampire-related. Or paranormal, or magical, or supernatural, or fantasy, or sci-fi here. It is a straight-up humorous slice-of-life story about a NEET with ADHD getting a job for an eccentric and burnt out academic.
And despite the lack of vampires and/or kinky sex (what can I say? I read the shit out of Sunstone.) I loved the hell out of it. It was non-linear, beautiful, funny, yet very relatable. There's no gross sexism or bigotry. Linda does a better job of differentiating female/femme character designs than her spouse does, too.
It also doesn't hurt that our heroine often imagines her boss as a giant white and red dragon.
I saw the title, and the art style, and the cover, and immediately assumed this involved vampires. That our heroine would discover her boss sits in the dark, awake all night, covered in red stains because he is a vampire hematologist or someething.
My friends, there is absolutely nothing in this book that is horror-related. Or vampire-related. Or paranormal, or magical, or supernatural, or fantasy, or sci-fi here. It is a straight-up humorous slice-of-life story about a NEET with ADHD getting a job for an eccentric and burnt out academic.
And despite the lack of vampires and/or kinky sex (what can I say? I read the shit out of Sunstone.) I loved the hell out of it. It was non-linear, beautiful, funny, yet very relatable. There's no gross sexism or bigotry. Linda does a better job of differentiating female/femme character designs than her spouse does, too.
It also doesn't hurt that our heroine often imagines her boss as a giant white and red dragon.
May 13, 2022
I love Linda and Stepan's other works very much, and not long ago I read the horribly named Punderworld, which features Greek gods and goddesses based directly on the two main characters from Blood Stain - and I liked it! Blood Stain, on the other hand, is ruined by a dreadfully slow pace and basically nothing happening throughout the entire first volume. The entire thing is setup for the protagonist getting a job. That's it. Worse yet, the dialogue sounds like Google translate turned it into English - namely, it could do with a couple dozen conjunctions in place of awkward robotic speech.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews