Ali-A Adventures: Game On! The Graphic Novel

by Ali-A, Cavan Scott, Aleksandar Sotirovski (Illustrations)

The most popular gamer on YouTube, Ali-A, presents his very own action-packed graphic novel!

It's launch time for the hotly anticipated video game Alien Liberator 2, and who better to invite along than top gamer Ali-A? Ali is promised the biggest game launch ever--but what he doesn't count on is just how real the action is about to get!

When a merciless band of aliens turns up to spoil the party, it's up to Ali to transform from gaming icon to real-life hero. Can he defeat the end-of-game boss and save the day? With a little help from his fans and his very special dog, Eevee, he's going to give it his best shot!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comics, Humor, Childrens, Young Adult

192 pages, Library Binding

First published October 19, 2017

About the author

Alias for Alastair Aiken

Reviews

[Sandra (LadyGrey Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"But that's all impossible, right?"
"Ali, you're having a conversation with a super-powered talking dog..."
"Oh, yeah. Right. Good point."

I started watching Ali-A mainly for his Pokémon Go vlogs last year, but then I got caught up in a lot of the other games he played as well. So I kind of knew that I would probably read this book even if graphic novels aren't my thing. I actually bought it at Gatwick Airport after a weekend in London - and read the whole thing on the flight back to Sweden. Which takes about 2 hours - and I only needed to use half of that time to read.

The story is fast paced and structured like a video game, where Ali's character looses a life whenever he fails a mission, but is also able to find upgrades after saving a certain number of aliens. It has a few unexpected twists and turns, which was entertaining, and the dialogue was spot on. My favourite character was Eevee - seriously, you're going to have to look long and hard for a more sarcastic dog!

But even though I liked the overall feel of the story, I do still have trouble with the graphic novel format. I just feel like there's so much more that could be added by writing it as a non-graphic - but maybe that's just me.
Still, it was an enjoyable read!

[Mehsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Een boek over een gamer/youtuber die de wereld mag redden wanneer een spelletje wel erg echt wordt.

Grappig genoeg dacht ik dat dit een boek was van Ali-B (onder een alias), maar nee, er is echt een Ali-A. *snorts* En nee, ik ken Ali-A niet, maar tja, ik kom ook alleen naar youtube voor de muziek. Oh, en misschien wat Love Live scouting videos. :P

Ik was al een beetje skeptisch voor ik dit boek begon, zelfs mijn verloofde was lichtelijk verbaast dat ik deze toch uit de bibliotheek had geleend. Tja, ik wilde hem toch proberen, wie weet viel het wel mee. En het plot klonk ook nog eens best leuk, ik hou wel van boeken over spelletjes die tot leven komen en dat iemand dan de wereld moet redden.

Helaas was dit boek al veel beter geweest als Eevee gewoon een eind had opgerot. Mijn hemel, ik kreeg vervelende side-kick (Navi) nachtmerries van die hond. Ali! Ali! Ali! Ali doe dit, Ali doe dat, Ali Ali Ali, Ali, Upgrade nu eens, Ali. Hou je bek. Echt. Gaan gewoon weg. Of blijf een schattig stil hondje.

Plus voor iemand die pro-gamer is (want ik gok dat Ali dat is) was ie behoorlijk waardeloos. Ik snap, hij is opeens in een soort van game, maar kom op, je hebt een soortgelijk spel al eens gespeeld, en misschien wel andere spellen, waarom duurt het zo lang voordat je wat doorhebt? Als ik in een spel kom wat ik al eens heb gespeeld, oh man, hou mij dan maar eens tegen. Ik zou zelfs niet eens verrast zijn met dingen die er gebeuren, maar waarschijnlijk gewoon helemaal aan het rondrennen zijn en alles uit aan het proberen. Jep, ik zou helemaal losgaan. Geen instructie nodig.

Ik vond het wel leuk dat hij ook levens had, met die hartjes die je wel vaker in spelletjes voorbij ziet komen.

Tyrantor Prime, goh, waar komt me dat bekend van voor. :P

Leuk dat we ook het POV van Ali's vriendin zien. Die vond ik ook vaak veel interessanter dan Ali A.

Maar ja, verder was dit dus niet heel spannend. En dat eind was zo voorspelbaar, cliché en kom op zeg.

De art was ook niet helemaal mijn favoriet. Het was erg stijf (zonder emotie), soms was er echt teveel detail op een punt, en dan niks op het andere punt. Zoals Eevee die vaak heel simpel werd getekend, maar verder was alles wel met detail getekend.

Dus ja, ik zou hem niet aanraden. Misschien moet je gewoon een fan zijn van die Youtuber om dit boek leuk te vinden.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Rufus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaming was never meant to be as real as this! When a merciless band of aliens shows up at the launch of a hot new video game. It’s up to ali-a to transform from gaming icon into real-life hero. Can Ali defeat the end-of-game boss and save the day.

[Mompop · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure gamers will enjoy this title - disclaimer: I am not a gamer

[Maarit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actionpacked graphic novel about gamer Ali-A, who is attending the launch of the new Alien Liberator II game with his girlfriend Clare and dog Eevee. When Ali is interviewing the games main voice star, something odd happens. The star and everyone else into the room turns into thralls, the helpless alien race from the game, the giant enemy robots come to life and the room itself switches into the first level of the new game. Everyone panics as the robots start to capture the thralls as their slaves and Ali is confused. How come he hasn't changed into a thrall, why his dog can suddenly speak and what on earth is happening? It's up to Ali to become the hero of the game and save the day.

The story is interesting, though very straightforward and it's quite easy to figure out what is going to happen in the end. The art is nice, though at times not that detailed, but the story is easy to follow beacuse of the clear layout. A good action-packed graphic novel, maybe expected a bit more of it, but still had some fun at reading it. 3,5 stars dropping down to 3 stars to this one.

[Pippa Ainsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book this is! It's all too easy for my son to choose to only read school books but this grabbed his attention from the very start and he's barely put it down since. The comic book format really appeals meaning he can read it quickly and he keeps telling me he really wants to know what happens next!
It really appeals to the gaming and YouTube culture that kids love these days, I wasn't aware that Ali-A was a YouTuber but my son soon filled me in.
I often avoid books like this as a bit gimmicky but this is genuinely brilliant and not only my son but his best friend and cousin have all pored over it. It's brilliant. It's also a gorgeous book with high quality illustrations and a real pleasure to pick up, definitely provides a lesson in the pleasure a book can bring for tween readers.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gamers will revel in this story from the man who is a talented gamer and has 13 million subscribers to his You-Tube channels. However, for those of us who aren't gamers or who have only dabbled in gaming, the story line simply holds true to the challenges found in online games with Ali-A moving from level to level, and losing several of his "lives" at certain points even while also receiving special gifts and enhancements at various points. The book opens with the protagonist attending the launch of a new game, but quickly turns into his living out that game as the humans around him start turning into aliens. I liked his self-deprecating humor and his canine sidekick, Eevee. If you're a gamer and need a break from gaming but don't want to deviate too far from your gaming, then this graphic novel might be the ticket.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 2 out of 5]

A famous online gamer is about to launch a new game, but the evil robots from the game come to life at the convention center and take over the crowd. Ali-A must save himself and his fans, with help from his trusty little dog, Eevee. There's a "Press Start" line at the beginning, chapters are Level One, Level Two, etc., and Ali's remaining lives are represented by hearts at the top of the page, which all mimic the graphics in a real game. The illustrations emphasize the action and are full of movement and energy. The author is a popular online gamer with his own channels, so the main character is based on himself.

[Boostamonte Halvorsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's just be clear here: this is obviously for kids, like 13 an under.

But I love Ali. I love Clare too. And Eevee, Darcy, and Olly! (I'm kinda bummed the cats didn't make it into the book.) (Maybe next time...)

SO I read this because I want to support them! It is a good book for kids--probably 5 stars for most kids. I'm just torn...do I 5 star it on that basis, or give it 2 because I really felt, as an adult, this was sub-par....

ugh. The mixed feels are real.

I just compromised and changed it to 4 stars.

Quick read, very UK, and very Ali-A.

Fingers crossed for a sequel!

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read. The gaming elements - unlocking achievements, level-ups, and health bar, etc. - resonated with me as a gamer. Ali-A has to progress through several levels and beat level bosses before he can face the end-game boss and save his girl and the world. While the message of working together overcome the foe is lightly handled in the climatic battle, I think kids will enjoy this story and relish the video game aspects.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I can see 10 year old Ali-A fans love this book! Living inside a game, a cute talking dog, lot's of action and colourful art. Books like this are a great way to keep kids reading! I did not enjoy it that much, but I am definitely not the target audience and I think I would have enjoyed it as a kid. I very much understand why this is a popular book in my public library.

[M. Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeps ypu reading!

This is such a great comic! I couldn't put it down, and seeing Ali, Clare and Eevee on YouTube and knowing their personalities, it made it an even more exciting story.

[Vi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for the main characters.

[Lionheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4.5 stars
Ages 12/13+

[AwesomeBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Don't read much, at all. But read this in 20 minutes. 😊

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great especially since it was like a video game.

[Jehlish · Rating 1 out of 5]

May be a good gamer, but not a good writer.

[Blake Tinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for people which like gaming and reading, recommending it for people

[Lightwhisper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acho que as ilustrações coloridas são bonitas e o desenho fácil de seguir e ler, mas não adorei e talvez por isso seja esta classificação.

[Rhys Frohawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed