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Paradiso #1-4
Paradiso, Vol. 1: Essential Singularity
A cataclysmic event, now remembered only as 'The Midnight', led to the collapse of civilization. Now, centuries after, the remnant of a mega-city named Paradiso, is the only place on earth where humanity still thrives. When Jack Kryznan arrives at the outskirts with a mysterious device capable of bringing dead technology to life, his arrival sets off a power struggle that threatens to embroil the human settlers, bionic creatures known as Guardians and Paradiso herself. Jack and his companions will begin their journey of self-discovery through this living city even as the city itself strives to understand what it means to be alive.
Collects issues 1 through 4.
Collects issues 1 through 4.
128 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2018
6 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Ram V
485 books350 followersRam V (Ramnarayan Venkatesan) is an author and comic book writer from Mumbai, India. His comics career began in 2012 with the award-nominated Indian comic series, Aghori. A graduate of the City University of London’s Creative Writing MA, he has since created the critically acclaimed Black Mumba and the fantasy adventure series, Brigands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 19, 2018
Paradiso is a refreshingly brilliant post-apoc cyberpunk. Influenced by Mad Max, The Terminator, and The Matrix. With robots, cyborgs, machine sentience, and alternative physics, to name a few. The artwork is sketchy expressionism, detailed, and high contrast coloring. A great start!
May 4, 2018
This is a graphic novel where the story is told through the brilliant artwork and the introduction. It portrays a futuristic world with lots of hidden ideas in the various storyboard panels. A little tough to follow.
August 17, 2021
Ram V is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Grafity's Wall to The Swamp Thing (2021-) #1; his writing is so varied. Wonderful sci-fi story set in an intriguing setting, with a strong script.
The beginning of this novel was a little gloomy. As well as dismal and muddy sceneries that are dark in hue or have shadows cast over them. It involves plenty of heavy inking, especially along the borders of panels and outlining profiles, among other things. But gradually it goes away, or you grow used to it, and it ceases to be a problem early in the process. If you've never heard of Paradiso before, you're in for a real treat.
The beginning of this novel was a little gloomy. As well as dismal and muddy sceneries that are dark in hue or have shadows cast over them. It involves plenty of heavy inking, especially along the borders of panels and outlining profiles, among other things. But gradually it goes away, or you grow used to it, and it ceases to be a problem early in the process. If you've never heard of Paradiso before, you're in for a real treat.
May 26, 2018
The story leaves me with a feeling that I've not grasped all there is it. We are not given the whole story of what is going on, leaving the reader with many questions by the end. I did enjoy the read though and would continue on. It's not post-apocalyptic but rather apocalyptic as this world is so many thousands of years after the event called "The Midnight". This primitive lifestyle is the now and the upcoming events will be its apocalypse. There appear to be giant humanoid machines guarding the city but they and our main character know about "her", the force behind it all.
April 29, 2018
Good Fun for a Patient Reader
This is a very entertaining post-apocalyptic tale with cyberpunk goodies, an alt-science macguffin, a sentient city, virtually indestructible cyborg guardians, Mad Max style scavengers, a semi-amnesiac hero, double-dealing sidekicks, conflicted villains, and big all-over-the-page style. BUT, the story is non-linear and set up through flashbacks, monologues, expository dialogue, fever dreams, hashed memories, and some puzzling panels that hold clues.
That means that the reader has to be patient, be willing to wait for things to clear up, and often be willing to backtrack and reread parts. I'm usually game for some of that and this was neat enough that I was willing to stretch my patience to the limit. On the upside, just as you get ready to throw in the towel everything comes together well enough, and the action becomes clear enough, that the ride gets easier. Plus, since some of the characters, especially in action scenes, are hard to tell apart, you get familiar enough with them and how they're drawn that they become more recognizable and easily distinguishable at this same point. So after that it's smooth sailing.
There are a lot of moving pieces in this tale, with numerous important characters and lots players at odds with each other. The macguffin looks like an old vacuum tube, but it brings dead tech back to life, and everyone wants it. Where it came from, how it works, why our hero has it - all of this will be answered, if at all, at some later point. In this volume we basically put together our crew of questers, and head off for the heart of Paradiso. Is it like the Wizard of Oz? Well, yeah. But what isn't?
This book started off rather dark. And I mean dark, like shadows, dark colors, and gloomy muddy scenes. Lots of heavy inking, including around the edges of panels and outlining profiles and so on. But, it eventually clears up and/or you get used to it and it stopped being an issue early on. (I'm getting older and I like to be able to see this stuff.) Once I got beyond that I especially appreciated some of the big spreads and full page shots. Paradiso is very cool and I suspect it will be even more vivid and arresting as we get deeper into it.
So, this is a big adventure, with an open, epic sort of feel. I'm keen to keep an eye on where it goes.
(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is a very entertaining post-apocalyptic tale with cyberpunk goodies, an alt-science macguffin, a sentient city, virtually indestructible cyborg guardians, Mad Max style scavengers, a semi-amnesiac hero, double-dealing sidekicks, conflicted villains, and big all-over-the-page style. BUT, the story is non-linear and set up through flashbacks, monologues, expository dialogue, fever dreams, hashed memories, and some puzzling panels that hold clues.
That means that the reader has to be patient, be willing to wait for things to clear up, and often be willing to backtrack and reread parts. I'm usually game for some of that and this was neat enough that I was willing to stretch my patience to the limit. On the upside, just as you get ready to throw in the towel everything comes together well enough, and the action becomes clear enough, that the ride gets easier. Plus, since some of the characters, especially in action scenes, are hard to tell apart, you get familiar enough with them and how they're drawn that they become more recognizable and easily distinguishable at this same point. So after that it's smooth sailing.
There are a lot of moving pieces in this tale, with numerous important characters and lots players at odds with each other. The macguffin looks like an old vacuum tube, but it brings dead tech back to life, and everyone wants it. Where it came from, how it works, why our hero has it - all of this will be answered, if at all, at some later point. In this volume we basically put together our crew of questers, and head off for the heart of Paradiso. Is it like the Wizard of Oz? Well, yeah. But what isn't?
This book started off rather dark. And I mean dark, like shadows, dark colors, and gloomy muddy scenes. Lots of heavy inking, including around the edges of panels and outlining profiles and so on. But, it eventually clears up and/or you get used to it and it stopped being an issue early on. (I'm getting older and I like to be able to see this stuff.) Once I got beyond that I especially appreciated some of the big spreads and full page shots. Paradiso is very cool and I suspect it will be even more vivid and arresting as we get deeper into it.
So, this is a big adventure, with an open, epic sort of feel. I'm keen to keep an eye on where it goes.
(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
February 13, 2020
How am I expected to follow a story with such a large cast, unfamiliar tech, strange ways of living and alien lore? Give me some background, explain some stuff. This is how the Sherlock Holmes stories were made accessible to regular humans - thanks to the perfectly normal Watson. There's no Watson here, nor Holmes really, only a truck-load of information, names and objects that I 'may' figure out by the end. Again, may. I just feel like I won't take anything from this story but a feeling of confusion. Screw it! Life it too short to waste on crap.
After an event called the Midnight, only the sentient city of Paradiso is left standing. It's a place everyone is drawn to, including Jack Kryznan, but it's also dangerous. Android guards oppose anyone who tries to enter. Jack haggles with Kruge to get into Paradiso. All seems well until he is witnessed by Noira when using a Pneumas - an electronic device that can fix and enhance other electronics. She tries to use this information to also get into Paradiso, but Hazard the gang leader isn't one negotiate.
After an event called the Midnight, only the sentient city of Paradiso is left standing. It's a place everyone is drawn to, including Jack Kryznan, but it's also dangerous. Android guards oppose anyone who tries to enter. Jack haggles with Kruge to get into Paradiso. All seems well until he is witnessed by Noira when using a Pneumas - an electronic device that can fix and enhance other electronics. She tries to use this information to also get into Paradiso, but Hazard the gang leader isn't one negotiate.
May 29, 2018
Futuristic story centered on a man trying to get to a city that still functions in a country where most technology based things stopped working long ago. Some things still work, but the infrastructure to build and maintain many things is long gone. But our hero, Jack, knows something, or does he? We get some hints about the story of what happened in the past as we follow Jack's adventure and see there are those trying to stop him. Lots of mystery about what is going on and how Jack fits in. In for volume 2 when it comes.
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May 14, 2018Three centuries after a nanotech apocalypse brought technological civilisation crashing down, wonders remain in the grand, half-ruined cityscape of Paradiso - but anyone wanting in must run a gauntlet of desperate scavengers, fearsome augmented guardians, and the sheer strangeness of the city itself. And it's that setting, the way it recalls the excesses of the London skyline by way of Thomas Cole's Architect's Dream with a serious hangover, that's the main draw here. Though the people are fascinatingly rendered too - there are times when Pramanik's art recalls nineties 2000AD, but others when I thought of Kevin O'Neill, or Leila del Duca, or even Hugo Pratt, and that sounds like it should be a disjointed mixture, but somehow it really isn't.
(Edelweiss ARC)
(Edelweiss ARC)
June 10, 2021
Dripping with sci-fi post-apocalyptic cyber-punk action-hyphen brilliance.
5 stars for coloring and pencils. So gooey.
Tokyo Ghost vibes but with 100% less clowning and chemming.
5 stars for coloring and pencils. So gooey.
Tokyo Ghost vibes but with 100% less clowning and chemming.
May 15, 2018
Post-apocalyptic tale which is slightly confusing but deliberately so?
This comic collection deals with Jack trying to get to Paradiso with the Pneumas which repairs and powers machines and which is coveted by many different types. A variety of characters get involved from scavengers to Guardians of the city. There's plenty of action, mainly fighting, as well as a good deal of mystery (to be explained later presumably) and betrayal.
Artwork is reasonably clear and colourful and the story moves along at a fair pace with flashbacks. Quite good but I prefer my plot easier to understand from word go. Volume 2 might make things a bit clearer – I hope so.
This comic collection deals with Jack trying to get to Paradiso with the Pneumas which repairs and powers machines and which is coveted by many different types. A variety of characters get involved from scavengers to Guardians of the city. There's plenty of action, mainly fighting, as well as a good deal of mystery (to be explained later presumably) and betrayal.
Artwork is reasonably clear and colourful and the story moves along at a fair pace with flashbacks. Quite good but I prefer my plot easier to understand from word go. Volume 2 might make things a bit clearer – I hope so.
August 6, 2019
This was an interesting concept, but, ultimately, there was just too much left between the lines to make a coherent, compelling story. I also find it interesting that the "Old West" is being tied to futuristic things now. Perhaps it's due to the new iteration of West World. That said, I'm unsure how much of a fan I am of it. It's all rehashing and brings nothing new to the table. Feels like it's just done to fit into a trend, which, in my opinion, is never a good thing.
May 22, 2018
Warnings: violence
This first volume of Paradiso introduces us to a post-apocalyptic city that is alive in a way, and the humans that live inside and outside it. Paradiso is supposedly a haven, but is fiercely guarded by bionic creatures called Guardians (who are like spare parts stacked on each other inside a trench coat, literally!) and the entry for which is very difficult for those living on the outskirts. Jack, a man with a fragmented memory of his childhood, is in possession of a miraculous piece of tech called Pneumas, and is looking for entry into the city. But the very piece of tech is a hurdle to him, with the humans outside wanting to possess it, and the Guardians trying to take it from him.
The first thing I would like to comment upon with this graphic novel is the art -it is a splendid piece of work, with each panel lovingly detailed and colored, and a gritty tone overall to it that is reminiscent of the Mad Max: Fury Road aesthetic. It is the best part of the graphic novel, to be honest. When it comes to the story, though, it starts off very confusing - and because it tries (operative word) to establish some sort of allegorical meaning of life through the city, it gets lost in that and doesn't establish the world until well half-way through it. See, the thing is, in the start, I don't even know which of the characters are inside the city, which are outside, and it did not click in until like the 4th chapter. The plot is slow to unfold, and leaves more questions than answers by the end of the volume.
In short, impressive artwork, good plot, but slow and confusing build up.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Image Comics, via Edelweiss.
This first volume of Paradiso introduces us to a post-apocalyptic city that is alive in a way, and the humans that live inside and outside it. Paradiso is supposedly a haven, but is fiercely guarded by bionic creatures called Guardians (who are like spare parts stacked on each other inside a trench coat, literally!) and the entry for which is very difficult for those living on the outskirts. Jack, a man with a fragmented memory of his childhood, is in possession of a miraculous piece of tech called Pneumas, and is looking for entry into the city. But the very piece of tech is a hurdle to him, with the humans outside wanting to possess it, and the Guardians trying to take it from him.
The first thing I would like to comment upon with this graphic novel is the art -it is a splendid piece of work, with each panel lovingly detailed and colored, and a gritty tone overall to it that is reminiscent of the Mad Max: Fury Road aesthetic. It is the best part of the graphic novel, to be honest. When it comes to the story, though, it starts off very confusing - and because it tries (operative word) to establish some sort of allegorical meaning of life through the city, it gets lost in that and doesn't establish the world until well half-way through it. See, the thing is, in the start, I don't even know which of the characters are inside the city, which are outside, and it did not click in until like the 4th chapter. The plot is slow to unfold, and leaves more questions than answers by the end of the volume.
In short, impressive artwork, good plot, but slow and confusing build up.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Image Comics, via Edelweiss.
July 16, 2021
I feel slightly bad for giving this one star because the art obviously took a long time and I can sort of see what they were going for, but even then things faded into barely saturated browns and overly shaded steampunk-esque apocalyptic mud.
But nevermind the artwork, this thing is so, so annoying to read. It's the kind of thing where the creator is /obviously/ in love with their world-building, so like fifteen different concepts get shoved into the first however many pages of story. There's barely time for characters to explore basic motivations, instead, we have mystic fog that makes you dream, a bright glowing green thing with barely defined powers, action robots, moving bridges, etc. It's action movie stuff with no actual payoff and set-up; sure it looks cool, but one after another over and over it gets super repetitive and really annoying and boring.
Also another thing that really, really annoyed me? This place is basically an honest-to-goodness fantasy world, and it's chock-full of modern profanity for literally no reason. I hate when fantasy books do this because??? it's not good world-building, and it gives off "i'm too cool" vibes, like the book is "so mature" that it has to show the "real grit" of it's story world without being hindered by, like, good storytelling. It's not cool, it's annoying and genuinely bad writing.
But nevermind the artwork, this thing is so, so annoying to read. It's the kind of thing where the creator is /obviously/ in love with their world-building, so like fifteen different concepts get shoved into the first however many pages of story. There's barely time for characters to explore basic motivations, instead, we have mystic fog that makes you dream, a bright glowing green thing with barely defined powers, action robots, moving bridges, etc. It's action movie stuff with no actual payoff and set-up; sure it looks cool, but one after another over and over it gets super repetitive and really annoying and boring.
Also another thing that really, really annoyed me? This place is basically an honest-to-goodness fantasy world, and it's chock-full of modern profanity for literally no reason. I hate when fantasy books do this because??? it's not good world-building, and it gives off "i'm too cool" vibes, like the book is "so mature" that it has to show the "real grit" of it's story world without being hindered by, like, good storytelling. It's not cool, it's annoying and genuinely bad writing.
November 30, 2018
I asked Ram V, at a comics event (NICE Con) about his name and he quite rightly put me in my place. He was right, I couldn't even attempt to pronounce the full version. I immediately bought his book half through embarrassment but also I am always interested in post-apocalyptic novels.
I stumbled over the first two pages as I misread them. I went back and realised - my fault. After that, I was drawn along with our protagonist into this superbly well-developed world of Paradiso. It still rings like a Western town and maybe that's intentional.
I warmed to the main characters and loved the way in which Ram et al introduce concepts and characters - which includes the city itself with its many avenues. The artwork is amazing and the colours work so well in this setting
I look forward to reading Volume two
I stumbled over the first two pages as I misread them. I went back and realised - my fault. After that, I was drawn along with our protagonist into this superbly well-developed world of Paradiso. It still rings like a Western town and maybe that's intentional.
I warmed to the main characters and loved the way in which Ram et al introduce concepts and characters - which includes the city itself with its many avenues. The artwork is amazing and the colours work so well in this setting
I look forward to reading Volume two
May 26, 2022
2.5/5 - The story is interesting but at times hard to follow. Sadly, I didn't connect to most of the characters because we don't get to know enough of their background story (apart from the main character). The only two characters that I started to become more interested in were the two guradians, but only towards the end of volume one. I would love to get to know more about them and the two female characters. The artwork suits the dystopian setting and is very detailed but is not my personal favorite because it's very rough and edged. I loved the artwork in the cover gallery at the end of volume one, though.
There's just one more volume, so the series is short and it's not too much of a time investment to finish the series which is why I'll dive into volume 2 right away.
There's just one more volume, so the series is short and it's not too much of a time investment to finish the series which is why I'll dive into volume 2 right away.
April 25, 2018
*galley received from Image*
Paradiso vol. 1 establishes a fascinating post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk world inhabited by great characters--human and otherwise--all overlaid with a dynamic mystery at the center. Supplementing this is an engaging and visual art style which fits the story well. Unfortunately, the plot delivery often feels cursory and abrupt, for my tastes, decreasing my overall enjoyment of the volume.
Paradiso vol. 1 establishes a fascinating post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk world inhabited by great characters--human and otherwise--all overlaid with a dynamic mystery at the center. Supplementing this is an engaging and visual art style which fits the story well. Unfortunately, the plot delivery often feels cursory and abrupt, for my tastes, decreasing my overall enjoyment of the volume.
February 24, 2019
Hell yeah: robotics, “post-apocalypse” but no longer “apocalyptic, and a living breathing city (or something more) known as PARADISO. Every panel is a philosophical query about life and sentience, as Jack and a few friends try to determine their place in PARADISO. Jack’s memories come and go, but somewhere in PARADISO he hopes the mysterious device he inherited will unlock his mind and, just maybe, the city.
August 3, 2023
I only have half an idea of what's happening yet I still dig it. It's a post apocalypse comic where technology is defunct except in this one city that no one can get into, Paradiso. We only get a little glimpse in this city of floating skyscrapers and basically no people other than a few robotic guardians. I hope things are explained better in the back half of this. The art has this 90's Valiant vibe to it and I'm all for it. Now if the storytelling were as good...
May 23, 2018
*I received this book as an eARC from Image Comics via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
I could not get into this post-apocolyptic story. The artwork is very cool. It has a grungy, dirty feel to it. Quite appropriate to the setting. I just could not get into the story. I was confused, and my attention was not held. I give this volume a 2/5.
I could not get into this post-apocolyptic story. The artwork is very cool. It has a grungy, dirty feel to it. Quite appropriate to the setting. I just could not get into the story. I was confused, and my attention was not held. I give this volume a 2/5.
July 29, 2018
He said that a god lived within the city, and in her heart, she held memories of all the people who ever lived, and so no one was truly lost.
I’m not sure how I feel about this yet, but it’s intriguing enough that I’d like to read the next in the series.
May 29, 2019
Too many characters I didn’t care about and gore that didn’t seem necessary. But the architecture concepts were badass.
January 5, 2020
Interesting premise and first act, let's see where this series is going.
March 9, 2020
Beautiful art with massive world-building, though there are many questions unanswered.
May 18, 2020
Fascinating future tale set after the world suffers a technology based disaster leaving the world in an almost pre-industrial era state
June 1, 2021
Interesting art, terrible storytelling
March 6, 2022
Is it another steam-punk I thought to myself. But enjoyed this thoroughly. About to get the next volume
March 20, 2022
Incomprehensible. I had no idea what was going on or why. Nice artwork.
August 4, 2022
A world fell apart and began a slow rebuild- I never connected with the characters and wasn’t interested enough and picking up the second collection
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews