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Displaced Persons
From the Eisner-nominated creators behind Tori Amos' Comic Book Tattoo comes Displaced Persons, the story of a uniquely twisted and tragic family history spanning the most turbulent hundred years in the history of mankind - the twentieth century saw 99 wars, 19 pandemics, 14 genocides, and one family lost hopelessly in time!
168 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2014
80 people want to read
About the author
Derek McCulloch
19 books5 followersDerek McCulloch is an author of graphic novels, including STAGGER LEE and GONE TO AMERIKAY. He is not now and never has been Uncle Mac of the BBC, so whoever keeps adding THAT Derek McCulloch's books to this page, please stop doing so.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 31, 2019
(Review first published in Shelf Awareness)
Displaced Persons, a stunning graphic novel by Eisner-nominated writer Derek McCulloch (Stagger Lee; Gone to Amerikay), follows three stories that overlap at various points spanning 120 years. Though the characters first meet in 1879, through the means of time travel, they cross paths again in unexpected ways in 1909, 1939, 1969 and 1999. Illustrating with a predominantly monochromatic palette, artist Anthony Peruzzo uses slightly different era-specific highlight colors for each timeline. When characters from one era are temporally displaced, they bring with them the colors of their age, creating a striking visual cue that identifies them as time-travelers.
These displaced characters wander without the benefit of their own memories, relying on the people they meet to help them piece together a past they can no longer access. Their one anchor point is a house in which they have all lived. It's the only feature of any new world that the time-travelers recognize upon arriving in their new era, though they can't recall why it's familiar. They do not fit, but they have no way to return home (wherever or whenever that may be). Without this sense of their own origin, they take on new names, create new identities, live and die without knowing it's not amnesia they have--they just don't belong. The few people who could identify them often find them too late in life, or not at all.
The brilliance of McCulloch's story is that readers are kept wondering exactly when these displaced people originated, and the story does not reveal the fullness of itself until the very last page.
Displaced Persons, a stunning graphic novel by Eisner-nominated writer Derek McCulloch (Stagger Lee; Gone to Amerikay), follows three stories that overlap at various points spanning 120 years. Though the characters first meet in 1879, through the means of time travel, they cross paths again in unexpected ways in 1909, 1939, 1969 and 1999. Illustrating with a predominantly monochromatic palette, artist Anthony Peruzzo uses slightly different era-specific highlight colors for each timeline. When characters from one era are temporally displaced, they bring with them the colors of their age, creating a striking visual cue that identifies them as time-travelers.
These displaced characters wander without the benefit of their own memories, relying on the people they meet to help them piece together a past they can no longer access. Their one anchor point is a house in which they have all lived. It's the only feature of any new world that the time-travelers recognize upon arriving in their new era, though they can't recall why it's familiar. They do not fit, but they have no way to return home (wherever or whenever that may be). Without this sense of their own origin, they take on new names, create new identities, live and die without knowing it's not amnesia they have--they just don't belong. The few people who could identify them often find them too late in life, or not at all.
The brilliance of McCulloch's story is that readers are kept wondering exactly when these displaced people originated, and the story does not reveal the fullness of itself until the very last page.
August 19, 2014
I received a free copy of the book by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A generally good read, enjoyable and a bit of fun. Fair warning though that this comic is most certainly one for adults, it uses a great deal of profanity which is something I don't tend to enjoy though others may well do. My favourite character was that of the detective who is more than a little strapped for cash and still hires the services of his friend, much to his wife's horror. The book has a good twist at the end which made it worth the while of reading, though I don't think I will be reading it again any time soon.
This was quite enjoyable, but there were more than a few problems with my version of the book. To start with, it was blurry which made the text barely legible at some points and made the story confusing to understand. The book also journeys through various time periods introducing lots of new characters and at times it's hard to remember what is happening to whom, where and when. This is greatly helped by the different colouring of characters who have been 'displaced' in the story into another time period/place. It has small titles and timelines indicating when a change in time period is occurring and if not for those I would be extremely confused!
A generally good read, enjoyable and a bit of fun. Fair warning though that this comic is most certainly one for adults, it uses a great deal of profanity which is something I don't tend to enjoy though others may well do. My favourite character was that of the detective who is more than a little strapped for cash and still hires the services of his friend, much to his wife's horror. The book has a good twist at the end which made it worth the while of reading, though I don't think I will be reading it again any time soon.
This was quite enjoyable, but there were more than a few problems with my version of the book. To start with, it was blurry which made the text barely legible at some points and made the story confusing to understand. The book also journeys through various time periods introducing lots of new characters and at times it's hard to remember what is happening to whom, where and when. This is greatly helped by the different colouring of characters who have been 'displaced' in the story into another time period/place. It has small titles and timelines indicating when a change in time period is occurring and if not for those I would be extremely confused!
August 17, 2014
A wonderful book, and much like McCulloch's other works, this one is sophisticated, complex, and benefits from multiple readings. Also like some of his earlier comics, Displaced Persons relies heavily on temporal shifts and incursions of one time period into another. This is one of those books that begs you to take notes, to write out timelines (most of which the book already provides) and family trees, and mark instances of key images (e.g., time pieces, a locket, a toy horse) that link everything together. We are interviewing McCulloch and Anthony Peruzzo for The Comics Alternative, so this book -- which I would have read anyway -- is in prep for the recording.
November 7, 2020
I am embarking on writing on my first graphic novel, and my collaborator, Douglas Gorney, recommended this. It's set in the noirish Sunset district of San Francisco, where our story is also set. It's about a cursed family that becomes unhinged in time, stretching across the history of San Francisco and the American West.
April 19, 2016
I got so wonderfully wrapped up in this book one evening I ended up reading it twice in one sitting. A worthy place to get lost. A perfect piece to read right before or after a book like Daytripper.
December 30, 2022
Fun graphic novel, interesting concept and story line that goes many directions yet comes together nicely by the end of the novel. At first I sort of didn't dig the art, but as I got into the story and paid greater attention to the art, I really liked the style, and fluidity of the art helps really drive the story and keeps reader involved.
Want to read
April 14, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 15, 2015
What an enjoyable read! This book pulled me in and kept me guessing until the end. It tells the stories of an American family, spanning multiple generations. And part of that intergenerational experience includes a tendency for family members to mysteriously disappear.
At first I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep track of who's who and from whence they came. There's a helpful timeline laid out and I thought the story would require me to remember all of the details from it, as background knowledge. But as I settled into the story, I found that the details emerged as part of the story itself and the timeline was just a handy reference.
In fact, the entire design of the book - from the inclusion of the timeline, to the narrative structure, to the details of the art - is purposefully constructed to guide the reader's discovery of how these stories are interconnected. I really enjoyed how the connections between the characters were so elegantly woven across the time periods. And the time periods were made distinct through interesting visual cues like the colors the artist used and the way the characters were dressed and through the language that they used (which was at times jarring because of how dated it was, especially when referencing homosexuality).
If you're into books that challenge the reader with innovative use of the graphic novel medium, you might really enjoy this book. I know I did.
NOTE: I received a free copy of the book by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
At first I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep track of who's who and from whence they came. There's a helpful timeline laid out and I thought the story would require me to remember all of the details from it, as background knowledge. But as I settled into the story, I found that the details emerged as part of the story itself and the timeline was just a handy reference.
In fact, the entire design of the book - from the inclusion of the timeline, to the narrative structure, to the details of the art - is purposefully constructed to guide the reader's discovery of how these stories are interconnected. I really enjoyed how the connections between the characters were so elegantly woven across the time periods. And the time periods were made distinct through interesting visual cues like the colors the artist used and the way the characters were dressed and through the language that they used (which was at times jarring because of how dated it was, especially when referencing homosexuality).
If you're into books that challenge the reader with innovative use of the graphic novel medium, you might really enjoy this book. I know I did.
NOTE: I received a free copy of the book by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2014
'Displaced Persons' is a graphic novel about a cursed family. The book includes three larger stories that overlap, and some intermittent smaller ones. While I liked the concept, it was only just okay.
There are timelines of the family throughout the book to keep the family members straight. In 1939, we have a detective hired to find a missing heiress. In 1969, we have the story of a couple twin brothers involved in a drug deal from two different angles. One is a cop, the other is not. The final story is about a woman whose husband wants to borrow against the family home for a stock opportunity. He becomes increasingly violent towards her during the story. Throughout the stories, strange visitors show up who are confused about their surroundings. It's an interesting element to the story and confusing at first, but makes sense as things move along.
The art was interesting and the color tone used to interesting effect to denote time. The stories were good, but felt incomplete. I know that also fits with the story, but it felt a little unsatisfying as a reader. Overall I liked it, but I didn't love it. Your mileage my vary.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
There are timelines of the family throughout the book to keep the family members straight. In 1939, we have a detective hired to find a missing heiress. In 1969, we have the story of a couple twin brothers involved in a drug deal from two different angles. One is a cop, the other is not. The final story is about a woman whose husband wants to borrow against the family home for a stock opportunity. He becomes increasingly violent towards her during the story. Throughout the stories, strange visitors show up who are confused about their surroundings. It's an interesting element to the story and confusing at first, but makes sense as things move along.
The art was interesting and the color tone used to interesting effect to denote time. The stories were good, but felt incomplete. I know that also fits with the story, but it felt a little unsatisfying as a reader. Overall I liked it, but I didn't love it. Your mileage my vary.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
September 9, 2014
The three stories that make up the larger narrative in this graphic novel would be great on their own, and the accidentally time-traveling family that brings them together just make it better. Like a meditation on life, Displaced Persons is all in the details; details in the dialog, the style and dress of each decade, and the way our characters interact. A huge amount of humanity is contained in just a few pages.
This book felt unique in many ways, and I just really loved it. The art is nearly monochromatic (each story, at least, has a main color, with new colors introduced where the stories interact) and the sketchiness of style seemed angular, at first. I quickly grew to really appreciate it for the expression it contained. The stories kept me drawn in, and I would recommend reading it twice (once for the narrative, the second time knowing the narrative and how the pieces fit together). The authors were able to build intrigue and curiosity very well for such a few pages (think of it like three comic novellas), and it has a great feel of time and place. Fans of history, ethnography, and indies are going to love this.
This book felt unique in many ways, and I just really loved it. The art is nearly monochromatic (each story, at least, has a main color, with new colors introduced where the stories interact) and the sketchiness of style seemed angular, at first. I quickly grew to really appreciate it for the expression it contained. The stories kept me drawn in, and I would recommend reading it twice (once for the narrative, the second time knowing the narrative and how the pieces fit together). The authors were able to build intrigue and curiosity very well for such a few pages (think of it like three comic novellas), and it has a great feel of time and place. Fans of history, ethnography, and indies are going to love this.
June 28, 2015
I kind of expected a lot more from this book. The premise and general story structure were really very cool and there were some pretty neat choices in the art. Ultimately though I think it tried to be too many things at once. It was bit confusing in places and the characters and story lacked depth. It might have been better as a limited series or something so that it had more time to explore its world and characters. Also I felt like some of the characters were problematic in the way that they fed into stereotypes and there were a few points in the book where the language made me a bit uncomfortable. I understand that a lot of the story takes place during times when those things were more openly excepted and maybe they were tying to stay authentic to the time, but there are ways contextualize those things and critique them without losing authenticity. I was also hoping for a lot more San Francisco history and culture in the book. It felt rather arbitrary that SF was the setting. There are so many ways that this book could have been amazing and it's a real bummer it wasn't.
August 24, 2014
This comic book collection consist of a series of inter-connected stories, the first dealing with a 1940s private investigator and a tricky case. The next deals with an extended family, drug dealing and a pair of brothers on either side of the law. It’s also about people displaced through time and the impact that they have on the new lives that they lead.
Unfortunately the lettering was difficult to read in the digital version. The artwork in this version is mainly black and white line drawings, quite well-executed but it is sometimes difficult to distinguish which character is which.
Reasonably enjoyable. I was not over-enthralled by this book but found it moderately interesting.
Unfortunately the lettering was difficult to read in the digital version. The artwork in this version is mainly black and white line drawings, quite well-executed but it is sometimes difficult to distinguish which character is which.
Reasonably enjoyable. I was not over-enthralled by this book but found it moderately interesting.
September 2, 2014
I'm not entirely sure whether to be impressed or disappointed by this book. It's got a good sense of San Francisco and a good sense of history. A number of interesting characters move through the story and they each have stories that are worth reading.
However, the book is also somewhat bigger than that. It's about people displaced through time and about families through the generations. Unfortunately, it never feels like these other elements are fully developed, and so we get a story that has piles of potential but which ultimately falls short.
Nonetheless, I'll probably hold onto this book and read it again, and see it comes together better on a second read.
However, the book is also somewhat bigger than that. It's about people displaced through time and about families through the generations. Unfortunately, it never feels like these other elements are fully developed, and so we get a story that has piles of potential but which ultimately falls short.
Nonetheless, I'll probably hold onto this book and read it again, and see it comes together better on a second read.
October 3, 2014
This book starts off a little weird and even as you read, you're still like "what?", but what you do get is that everything revolves around a tree that temporally displaces people. The book follows various generations of one family and you will see the interaction between future and past generations as they all come in contact with this tree.
Displaced Persons OGNThe people of the past never know they are interacting with someone from the future. It trippy and a unique concept so it's worth checking out. The art is all in what would be considered black and white, except it uses sepia, grayish blue or blackish gray at different points in the timeline.
Rating 3.5 out of 5
Read@Book
Displaced Persons OGNThe people of the past never know they are interacting with someone from the future. It trippy and a unique concept so it's worth checking out. The art is all in what would be considered black and white, except it uses sepia, grayish blue or blackish gray at different points in the timeline.
Rating 3.5 out of 5
Read@Book
October 5, 2014
From ''Stagger Lee'' to this in a few foul steps. Quite what the point of this weird triptych was, I never discovered – it certainly involves the history of the same family, with missing persons turning up here and there, but it's not an easy read. That wasn't helped by the e-arc to hand for reviewers – semi-legible script at best, and the square format not liking the idea of being blown up to full-screen. There's an artistry I suppose in creating the sustained tone of the piece, but when that's a strong flavour to the work as opposed to the favour of a coherent plot and reason, then for me it's not enough.
August 24, 2014
Oof, skip this one. A multi-generational story with detectives and time travelers. Sounds great right? Unfortunately uses a lot of derogatory terms used in relation to LGBT folks and women, who are also portrayed in wooden, stereotypical ways. Bumped my rating *up* one star because the illustrations are filled with lots of lovely details like grandparents hunching over a cribbage board, and seductive smoke curls, and a VW bus at a vintage movie drive in.
Read
September 1, 2014Pretty good book. It ran to tedious in some sections but overall was an interesting read. The book follows the member of a curse family as they travel back and forth through time locked into a series of repeating events that will never end, or alter.
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January 5, 2015
I had a bit of a hard time keeping all the characters straight, but I loved the interconnected, cyclical storylines! I feel like I need to read it a few more times to experience this story fully. Very inventive with beautiful, realistic art.
October 2, 2015
Probably a book I need to re-read as there is so much covered in words and pictures that I lost track of who was who and what was happening when.
Time travel is often confusing, but it is worth it most of the time. Will try this again later.
Time travel is often confusing, but it is worth it most of the time. Will try this again later.
August 27, 2014
7/26/14 (Full?) Review tk.
8/27/14 http://www.iwantmytwodollars.com/2014...
8/27/14 http://www.iwantmytwodollars.com/2014...
February 24, 2016
Awesome twist!! Nothing special with the artwork but the colors playing to showed different times are amazing.
*Got it from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*Got it from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 14, 2014
At first, I was like, "hm." Then I was like, "ok." Then was like, "whoa, no, dude!" Then I was like, "MIND BLOWN."
August 31, 2014
I wrote about this comic here. Beware spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews