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Chimera: Book One - The Righteous and the Lost
Haunted by their pasts, a crew of thieves is hired for a covert mission in the midst of a galaxy being ripped apart by an interstellar holy war. If they want to survive - much less succeed - they must navigate hostile worlds, vengeful aliens, a deranged demon, and betrayal from within. Collects the first six issues of the acclaimed sci-fi/fantasy series, as well as a pin-up and cover gallery. Perfect for fans of STAR WARS, FIREFLY, or SAGA.
164 pages, ebook
First published July 13, 2018
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November 25, 2018
Chimera
is one of those graphic novels that is quite unpredictable because there are a lot of unexpected twists in the story. At first, I was uncertain whether to check out this or not. But I've read a lot of good reviews and positive rating feedback, therefore, I go with my instincts to read it immediately.
I was not dismayed by what this comic book has to offer because it will surprise you especially at the end of this book one. The only problem I encountered is reading the fonts in the speech bubbles because of the typefaces used and size. Overall, I would recommend this to fans of fantasy/science fiction genre and to other fellow comic book enthusiasts.
I was not dismayed by what this comic book has to offer because it will surprise you especially at the end of this book one. The only problem I encountered is reading the fonts in the speech bubbles because of the typefaces used and size. Overall, I would recommend this to fans of fantasy/science fiction genre and to other fellow comic book enthusiasts.
June 3, 2018
Dune, Egypt and Star Wars wrapped neatly in a packaged comic
"There's a brother who's ball deep in killer robots, and a sister who's the lapdog of god himself."
We have a rebel group, and instead of the Empire, we have the Conclave. What I love about "Chimera" is that the rebels aren't all good and the Conclave isn't all bad. The beings in this universe are looking for the mystical chimera, a planet which will bring riches beyond one's wildest measures. The large dragon goat is hounding them on.
We follow Alice, her brother and a dog-person named Russel. There's also a MacGuffin called a looking glass intertwined within the plot.
The planet is a Tatooine-like place with a lot of atmospheric potential, but the drawings very much zoom-in on character creation and detract from the world itself.
Russel: The essence and soul of a well-drawn character
"Thievery, engineering, cards...anything you're not good at?"
Russel is a beautifully crafted character with the complexities of a person found in a 500-page novel. I think that his characterisation and development were skillfully interwoven to form a well-rounded being.
Losing my Religion
"Don't look at me like that. When you do that thing like you're looking into my goddamned soul."
"I never took you for the type to believe in the soul"
"Which god damned yours? You've certainly got a buffet like of options.
Throughout the story, religion is often discussed and debated around, but in no way that I found thought-provoking.
Romance: Careless Whisper
I enjoyed the romance in this one quite a bit.
Conclusion
Honestly, the world is beautiful and it's unlike anything I've experienced before; it seeps with immersion and fresh thought, but the characters are bland and the point-of-view zips back and forth too quickly for me to follow.
There are sweet, emotional moments but the plot it patchwork and motley at best. The character do not develop, and the politics of the system don't present with a very fresh take.
I'd recommend this book to any comic lovers. The world building is great, even though it lacks in the character department.
"By the grace of the conclave, this monastery and its apostate refugees have been allowed to live out their devotion to their absurd faith"
I received this book for NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
"There's a brother who's ball deep in killer robots, and a sister who's the lapdog of god himself."
We have a rebel group, and instead of the Empire, we have the Conclave. What I love about "Chimera" is that the rebels aren't all good and the Conclave isn't all bad. The beings in this universe are looking for the mystical chimera, a planet which will bring riches beyond one's wildest measures. The large dragon goat is hounding them on.
We follow Alice, her brother and a dog-person named Russel. There's also a MacGuffin called a looking glass intertwined within the plot.
The planet is a Tatooine-like place with a lot of atmospheric potential, but the drawings very much zoom-in on character creation and detract from the world itself.
Russel: The essence and soul of a well-drawn character
"Thievery, engineering, cards...anything you're not good at?"
Russel is a beautifully crafted character with the complexities of a person found in a 500-page novel. I think that his characterisation and development were skillfully interwoven to form a well-rounded being.
Losing my Religion
"Don't look at me like that. When you do that thing like you're looking into my goddamned soul."
"I never took you for the type to believe in the soul"
"Which god damned yours? You've certainly got a buffet like of options.
Throughout the story, religion is often discussed and debated around, but in no way that I found thought-provoking.
Romance: Careless Whisper
I enjoyed the romance in this one quite a bit.
Conclusion
Honestly, the world is beautiful and it's unlike anything I've experienced before; it seeps with immersion and fresh thought, but the characters are bland and the point-of-view zips back and forth too quickly for me to follow.
There are sweet, emotional moments but the plot it patchwork and motley at best. The character do not develop, and the politics of the system don't present with a very fresh take.
I'd recommend this book to any comic lovers. The world building is great, even though it lacks in the character department.
"By the grace of the conclave, this monastery and its apostate refugees have been allowed to live out their devotion to their absurd faith"
I received this book for NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 12, 2018
Check out more manga and graphic novel reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Four thieves are hired for a job that is practically suicidal and outside the skill level of any other crew... They are looking for the Chimera, a mysterious object desired by many different factions. A Rebel group is vieing for it as is the "one true God" who is waging an interstellar war on the universe. Will they be able to escape the war and deliver the Chimera for their freedom?!
I quite enjoyed the art! You know I had to start with that! It's similar to manga art in that there is a simplicity to it, except the characters, whose designs bring them to life. The world is pretty much a sci-fi hodge podge similar to Star Wars, Firefly and Saga (which are the series the publisher related Chimera to...) mixed with Egypt... which suits the world they spend a lot of time on... a desert world we've seen before with dangers that are all new. I'm okay with that, not everything can be new in a series. And it's the characters I'm interested in! And I was intrigued by all of them (the art going a long way here) even though one particular character hogs the spotlight... Russell.
The plot pretty much focuses on our "terrier like" Russell who reminds you of an Egyptian god. He's a morally grey character who is not as cold as he appears. We learn that there is some heavy manipulation going on. We don't really understand what roles the major players hold... but one creepy guy is called a god and wants everyone to worship him for it! Is he a nasty being who is using the people who believe in him?! And who is that other creepy guy he keeps in the tank?! A lot of questions are raised and even though they aren't necessarily answered we are left with a decided cap on Russell's story that I didn't see coming...
I admit that the various happenings with the different villains (there are even more than in Saga) kept me tense and wanting to read more. It was a total side story of one of the god's priestesses that I most wanted to see the outcome on and boy... it totally says everything about this story! I also absolutely loved Charlie and his new relationship after losing his lover! It's a little creepy but that is a plus with this story... it all is a little creepy and keeps you on your toes. What the hell is chimera, well you may guess early on but its connected to some more creepy guys! It's not horror but just a little creepy, using the alienness of the races and individuals to the most dramatic.
While the other 3 main characters (other than Russell) Alice, Wex and Charlie aren't the most scintillating they do have potential. Wex is an ex-monk connected to the chimera, Alice used to serve the creepy god and Charlie has a soft heart even though its gotten him in trouble before. Their stories are just starting and I want to learn more! This isn't a shallow cast, but quite diverse and rich with villains and amoral characters that make events unexpected and fun.
Chimera was unexpectedly quite good at laying down questions and not quite answering them but making the journey fun and worthwhile nevertheless! I look forward to reading the next compilation of issues... I'm hoping the story has a lot more to tell us about our four thieves and all sorts of trouble to get them embroiled in!
⋆⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tension
⋆⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my manga and graphic novel reviews in a special feature called Saturday Morning Cartoons...
June 2, 2018
A wonderful blend of Saga, Star Wars, Firefly, and even a little Stargate. The art and coloring are spectacular. They really bring this world to life. It's full of those "Ack! I can't believe he just did that!" moments, wonderful characterization, and fantastic world-building.
The galaxy is in the midst of a religious war. Four pirates have been deceived into tracking down the one device that will allow "God" to conquer the rest of the galaxy, the Chimera, a device capable of opening up portals between worlds.
Received an advance copy from Commicker Press and NetGalley. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
The galaxy is in the midst of a religious war. Four pirates have been deceived into tracking down the one device that will allow "God" to conquer the rest of the galaxy, the Chimera, a device capable of opening up portals between worlds.
Received an advance copy from Commicker Press and NetGalley. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
July 31, 2018
Special thanks to NetGalley for giving me the free ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
Star Wars meets The Guardians of Galaxy meets Greek mythology. Yeah, I know THIS IS SO FREAKING AWESOME. Another unexpected fave for this year!
I've been nursing this reading slump of mine and finally, I get to read NORMALLY again after this beauty! Chimera narrates the adventure of a crew of thieves heading on an almost suicide mission in order to gain their desired freedom from the war. What more can I say? A group of misfits in a suicide mission is too enthralling for my part. I love the overall pacing of this graphic novel, the inclusion of a twisted Christian theme really got me, as well as the diversity of every character and how they were fleshed out in a digestible manner. It's not overdone, it is just right for my taste. Other than that, I really reaaaaallly love how some of the characters were named after Greek myth personas and how they actually fit w/ the character. OMOOO
The whole graphic novel also uses an amazing array of colors and graphics. They're really pretty to look at and had established the world effectively through it. This is my cup of tea and I really enjoyed reading this. DO NOT BE DISSUADED BY THAT HARMLESS COVER.
Star Wars meets The Guardians of Galaxy meets Greek mythology. Yeah, I know THIS IS SO FREAKING AWESOME. Another unexpected fave for this year!
I've been nursing this reading slump of mine and finally, I get to read NORMALLY again after this beauty! Chimera narrates the adventure of a crew of thieves heading on an almost suicide mission in order to gain their desired freedom from the war. What more can I say? A group of misfits in a suicide mission is too enthralling for my part. I love the overall pacing of this graphic novel, the inclusion of a twisted Christian theme really got me, as well as the diversity of every character and how they were fleshed out in a digestible manner. It's not overdone, it is just right for my taste. Other than that, I really reaaaaallly love how some of the characters were named after Greek myth personas and how they actually fit w/ the character. OMOOO
The whole graphic novel also uses an amazing array of colors and graphics. They're really pretty to look at and had established the world effectively through it. This is my cup of tea and I really enjoyed reading this. DO NOT BE DISSUADED BY THAT HARMLESS COVER.
"There's good and there's evil but it seems like those lines are constantly being bent or blurred. Or is that just me being overly skeptical?"
November 2, 2018
Sick day! Chest cold and laryngitis. Time to rest, read, and review.
The art is nice and rather evocative of Fiona Staples' work on Saga, but the actual words pasted over the pictures were sheer drudgery to read. A ragtag Guardians of the Galaxy-type group of oddballs takes on a gang of gods in a race to secure a McGuffin called the Chimera. None of the characters have much by way of personalities, and I certainly didn't care how any of them fared in any of the violent confrontations.
The art is nice and rather evocative of Fiona Staples' work on Saga, but the actual words pasted over the pictures were sheer drudgery to read. A ragtag Guardians of the Galaxy-type group of oddballs takes on a gang of gods in a race to secure a McGuffin called the Chimera. None of the characters have much by way of personalities, and I certainly didn't care how any of them fared in any of the violent confrontations.
April 22, 2018
I was raised on comic books. Nowadays, I don’t read them often, but I still enjoy a good graphic novel. Experiencing the story and world building through plot, art and dialogue feel great when it’s done well. Let’s take a look at Terry Ellis’ Chimera Vol. 1.
When a covert mission goes wrong, a crew of thieves finds themselves caught in the middle of a vicious, interstellar holy war involving a self-proclaimed god, the Resistance Coalition, and the Zodiacal Conclave. There’s a traitor in the group, and each character has a troubled past.
The story is definitely character driven. Each of characters is flawed, but they're great as a team. Throughout the story, we get a glimpse into characters' backstories. They’re placed and used in a way that serves the plot and doesn’t jar the narrative. In short, the heroes are hard to resist, especially when you have a soft spot for troubled rogues.
Art is good and tight. There’s plenty of vibrant details, and some panels are a thing of beauty. On the other hand, some were bizarre and less attractive but, overall, I think the art is this novel's forte.
The plot is interesting, mostly unpredictable and compelling. I wouldn’t call it innovative but Sci-fi, fantasy and horror elements are used skillfully. An essential theme of the book is religion and its potential to devastate everything. It’s close to the way I see things, and I appreciate this kind of social commentary.
Chimera Vol. 1 is an entertaining and somewhat smart graphic novel that uses science fiction and fantasy elements to create a compelling package. Not all questions are answered, but that’s a good thing. It means a sequel may be written in the future. I’ll be sure to read it.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When a covert mission goes wrong, a crew of thieves finds themselves caught in the middle of a vicious, interstellar holy war involving a self-proclaimed god, the Resistance Coalition, and the Zodiacal Conclave. There’s a traitor in the group, and each character has a troubled past.
The story is definitely character driven. Each of characters is flawed, but they're great as a team. Throughout the story, we get a glimpse into characters' backstories. They’re placed and used in a way that serves the plot and doesn’t jar the narrative. In short, the heroes are hard to resist, especially when you have a soft spot for troubled rogues.
Art is good and tight. There’s plenty of vibrant details, and some panels are a thing of beauty. On the other hand, some were bizarre and less attractive but, overall, I think the art is this novel's forte.
The plot is interesting, mostly unpredictable and compelling. I wouldn’t call it innovative but Sci-fi, fantasy and horror elements are used skillfully. An essential theme of the book is religion and its potential to devastate everything. It’s close to the way I see things, and I appreciate this kind of social commentary.
Chimera Vol. 1 is an entertaining and somewhat smart graphic novel that uses science fiction and fantasy elements to create a compelling package. Not all questions are answered, but that’s a good thing. It means a sequel may be written in the future. I’ll be sure to read it.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 28, 2018
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
"There's a brother who's ball deep in killer robots, and a sister who's the lapdog of god himself. Who do ya wanna rescue first?"
It took me a little while to warm up to this title, but once I did it was a really great read. A really interesting story about a being waging war to become the 'one true god' in a galaxy with many planets and many other gods, not to mention all the other people and creatures that get sucked up into its plans. This volume did a good job of introducing the characters and the world and the art and character design is absolutely gorgeous. I'll definitely be checking out the next volume of this!
"There's a brother who's ball deep in killer robots, and a sister who's the lapdog of god himself. Who do ya wanna rescue first?"
It took me a little while to warm up to this title, but once I did it was a really great read. A really interesting story about a being waging war to become the 'one true god' in a galaxy with many planets and many other gods, not to mention all the other people and creatures that get sucked up into its plans. This volume did a good job of introducing the characters and the world and the art and character design is absolutely gorgeous. I'll definitely be checking out the next volume of this!
August 21, 2018
I received this book for free in exchange for my library card. No, actually I read it for free on comickerdigital.com and then I checked-out the physical copy to re-read it and show it to friends.
First off, this is both written and drawn by one person, which is always impressive, and it appears to be his first publication, which is often a warning. No fear: this is good. The art is lovely. The story is good, though a little confusing because there are lots of characters and it jump-cuts between time periods. I caught much more on the second reading.
Has a very similar look and feel to Saga. While I love Saga, I actually didn't love it at the beginning, starting from the first volume. It took me a while. This one, on the other hand, I liked very much from the very first issue. We'll see whether it can keep me hooked as it goes on.
Since Saga is going on hiatus after issue #54, this is a good choice to try to fill your bright color space fantasy needs while waiting for that to come back.
First off, this is both written and drawn by one person, which is always impressive, and it appears to be his first publication, which is often a warning. No fear: this is good. The art is lovely. The story is good, though a little confusing because there are lots of characters and it jump-cuts between time periods. I caught much more on the second reading.
Has a very similar look and feel to Saga. While I love Saga, I actually didn't love it at the beginning, starting from the first volume. It took me a while. This one, on the other hand, I liked very much from the very first issue. We'll see whether it can keep me hooked as it goes on.
Since Saga is going on hiatus after issue #54, this is a good choice to try to fill your bright color space fantasy needs while waiting for that to come back.
June 20, 2018
First Off, HAPPY RELEASE DAY to this book!
I really liked this. The art was solid, the story line was engaging, thought-provoking and most importantly, unpredictable. I adored the subtle nods to the queer characters and I’ll admit that sealed the 5-star rating for this book.
I must say, that the ending threw me for a loop and you best believe I’ll be looking for the next books in this series. Great work Tyler Ellis! You have a new fan!
~ARC Graciously Provided By Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased Review~
I really liked this. The art was solid, the story line was engaging, thought-provoking and most importantly, unpredictable. I adored the subtle nods to the queer characters and I’ll admit that sealed the 5-star rating for this book.
I must say, that the ending threw me for a loop and you best believe I’ll be looking for the next books in this series. Great work Tyler Ellis! You have a new fan!
~ARC Graciously Provided By Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased Review~
May 7, 2018
3 stars
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story! It reminded me of Marvel’s Gurdians Of The Galaxy, AND YAS, they are my favourites!
Basically, we follow 4 thieves who are sent on a suicidal mission, when in the meantime, there’s a war starting, bc this creepy thing called “the God”, wants to be the true & also the only one in the whole universe - and he can achieve that just with this mysterious object called the “Chimera”. And yeah, you guessed right, the quartet of our thieves is also trying to find this major object.
The characters are amazing, every single one of them has its own backstory (sometimes the past and present was confusing but nothing I couldn’t handle), flaws & sufferings....
My favorite character was Russel, for sure. This “doggy” creature ( really reminded me of the Egyptian god Anubis ) was just precious. His story was the most interesting & also, I would say the hardest one.
Alice... warrior who vanished from the “God´s” sight as far as she realised something was really off.
Wex... intelligent reptile & translator who has its own demons & is trying to forget about it by helping these 3 individuals.
Charlie... Alice’s brother who was just an ordinary boy, but one day everything changed after he lost his love & home at the same time.
The adventure was really enjoyable, great plot twists (time to time I was just like “What!?” “Are u kidding me?”) & OMG the ART... just wow. All those colors & details... I am speechless.
When i was a kid I’ve never read comic books... but after this novel, I think, it will definitely change.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story! It reminded me of Marvel’s Gurdians Of The Galaxy, AND YAS, they are my favourites!
Basically, we follow 4 thieves who are sent on a suicidal mission, when in the meantime, there’s a war starting, bc this creepy thing called “the God”, wants to be the true & also the only one in the whole universe - and he can achieve that just with this mysterious object called the “Chimera”. And yeah, you guessed right, the quartet of our thieves is also trying to find this major object.
The characters are amazing, every single one of them has its own backstory (sometimes the past and present was confusing but nothing I couldn’t handle), flaws & sufferings....
My favorite character was Russel, for sure. This “doggy” creature ( really reminded me of the Egyptian god Anubis ) was just precious. His story was the most interesting & also, I would say the hardest one.
Alice... warrior who vanished from the “God´s” sight as far as she realised something was really off.
Wex... intelligent reptile & translator who has its own demons & is trying to forget about it by helping these 3 individuals.
Charlie... Alice’s brother who was just an ordinary boy, but one day everything changed after he lost his love & home at the same time.
The adventure was really enjoyable, great plot twists (time to time I was just like “What!?” “Are u kidding me?”) & OMG the ART... just wow. All those colors & details... I am speechless.
When i was a kid I’ve never read comic books... but after this novel, I think, it will definitely change.
September 11, 2018
Chimera is a graphic novel told over (at least) three time periods wherein the main characters are trying to keep an extremely powerful object out of an evil god's hands. One of the other timelines is a very different story: a priestess of the god "accidentally" sets free the most dangerous prisoner of all time. One assumes, that later in the series, these two storylines will meet up.
Chimera: Book One was very confusing. Granted, I'm not the biggest fan of graphic novels, and I struggle with the nuances of the medium, but I had a very hard time following the multiple storylines. This is partially because of the rapidity between which they switched. Additionally, the language is unnecessarily vulgar. I'm okay with the occasional f-bomb, but they swear like sailors in Chimera.
Chimera: Book One was very confusing. Granted, I'm not the biggest fan of graphic novels, and I struggle with the nuances of the medium, but I had a very hard time following the multiple storylines. This is partially because of the rapidity between which they switched. Additionally, the language is unnecessarily vulgar. I'm okay with the occasional f-bomb, but they swear like sailors in Chimera.
July 13, 2018
Note: I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In this graphic novel we follow a group of four thieves, in possesion of the 'Chimera' and on the hunt for a looking glass. These characters are quite well developed, especially for a graphic novel. Each of them has some backstory which shows they reader their struggles and stakes in the mission. Russel, a dog-like character really stands out with his grey morality.
Religion plays a big role in this story. One of the four thieves used to be a monk, and one of the creepy villains is something that calls itself a God and is worshipped as such... but may not be one. Added to that is some ugly dragon like creature, another supposed to be God in a different religion. I am not religious myself and it is something that can easily annoy me in books. However, that did not happen in this case. So jeey.
There is a little bit of romance, which again can quite annoy me, and again it didn't. I actually quite appreciated it. It was never overpowering throughout the story, but it did add to the character. So jeey again.
I did like the art style. It wasn't anything special, but it worked well for the story. The wide variety of species portrayed was awesome, but there was too little attention given to the different worlds.
Overall, this has huge potential for an awesome series. The plot could be a bit tighter, but this was for a large part due to the many flashbacks which served to introduce the characters. This is a very fun and enjoyable read and I am defenitely curious to what happens next.
In this graphic novel we follow a group of four thieves, in possesion of the 'Chimera' and on the hunt for a looking glass. These characters are quite well developed, especially for a graphic novel. Each of them has some backstory which shows they reader their struggles and stakes in the mission. Russel, a dog-like character really stands out with his grey morality.
Religion plays a big role in this story. One of the four thieves used to be a monk, and one of the creepy villains is something that calls itself a God and is worshipped as such... but may not be one. Added to that is some ugly dragon like creature, another supposed to be God in a different religion. I am not religious myself and it is something that can easily annoy me in books. However, that did not happen in this case. So jeey.
There is a little bit of romance, which again can quite annoy me, and again it didn't. I actually quite appreciated it. It was never overpowering throughout the story, but it did add to the character. So jeey again.
I did like the art style. It wasn't anything special, but it worked well for the story. The wide variety of species portrayed was awesome, but there was too little attention given to the different worlds.
Overall, this has huge potential for an awesome series. The plot could be a bit tighter, but this was for a large part due to the many flashbacks which served to introduce the characters. This is a very fun and enjoyable read and I am defenitely curious to what happens next.
December 5, 2018
If you thought Chimera looked sorta like a Saga knock-off, you would be 100% right. It's an absolute dead ringer for Saga, from the Fiona Staples-esque art to the intergalactic war to the uncompromisingly weird aliens to the white, handwritten text on the occasional page.
But! But. Chimera is still really good. Sure, it's similar to Saga in a lot of ways, but they're good ways! And the ways that it's different are also good! Chimera stars a clan of erstwhile thieves who are after the Chimera, a mysterious device that creates portals between planets. As with any Macguffin, details on what the Chimera is and why it's important are hazy. Our friendly thieves are up against two competing religious sects, one composed of an all-powerful, formless god and the other composed of Zodiac-like gods who are pretty fucking mean. All characters are complex and diverse - it's a good group to hang out with! The dialogue alone is pretty great.
Just like Saga, the twists and turns are intense and fun and sometimes awful, but it's the character moments that really shine. I'm not really sure where the story is going from here, and yet I am fully on board because these characters seem like fascinating people worth following. Tyler Ellis might be telling something of a copycat story here, but it is an excellent copy well worth seeking out.
But! But. Chimera is still really good. Sure, it's similar to Saga in a lot of ways, but they're good ways! And the ways that it's different are also good! Chimera stars a clan of erstwhile thieves who are after the Chimera, a mysterious device that creates portals between planets. As with any Macguffin, details on what the Chimera is and why it's important are hazy. Our friendly thieves are up against two competing religious sects, one composed of an all-powerful, formless god and the other composed of Zodiac-like gods who are pretty fucking mean. All characters are complex and diverse - it's a good group to hang out with! The dialogue alone is pretty great.
Just like Saga, the twists and turns are intense and fun and sometimes awful, but it's the character moments that really shine. I'm not really sure where the story is going from here, and yet I am fully on board because these characters seem like fascinating people worth following. Tyler Ellis might be telling something of a copycat story here, but it is an excellent copy well worth seeking out.
April 25, 2018
3,5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for an honest review
Volume 1 of Chimera is the collection of the first six issues of this graphic novel series. Based on the synopsis, a crew of thieves and sci-fi, I got instant Six of Crows and Firefly vibes. It wasn’t quite that good. But I am interested in more.
Let us start with the art which drew me to click on this book on Netgalley on the first place. It has solid art for the most part, all in color. I did think that in the first two issues the drawn motion of full body and falling rocks felt stiff and unnatural. But as I was absorbed by the story I can’t remember seeing more of this later on in the volume. In the back there are a few gorgeous illustrations, including the front cover. They are stunning.
As mentioned this story focuses on a crew of thieves who are send on a difficult mission of retrieving something called the Chimera. Unwillingly this draws them into a holy war that is drawn out over various planets. The story is told through now and then pieces. There was a bit too much changing between the timelines for me which made it hard to keep all the lines straight as it concerned some of the back story of our cast. I also felt there was a bit too much religious going on but that is a personal feeling.
I wasn’t sure about the characters initially but as the story continued they started growing on me and I especially took a liking to rough Russel. For that reason I hate the ending because, ouch, right in the feels.
There is still a lot left to explore in the world building, these characters and the plot. And I can’t wait to see where this is all going.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for an honest review
Volume 1 of Chimera is the collection of the first six issues of this graphic novel series. Based on the synopsis, a crew of thieves and sci-fi, I got instant Six of Crows and Firefly vibes. It wasn’t quite that good. But I am interested in more.
Let us start with the art which drew me to click on this book on Netgalley on the first place. It has solid art for the most part, all in color. I did think that in the first two issues the drawn motion of full body and falling rocks felt stiff and unnatural. But as I was absorbed by the story I can’t remember seeing more of this later on in the volume. In the back there are a few gorgeous illustrations, including the front cover. They are stunning.
As mentioned this story focuses on a crew of thieves who are send on a difficult mission of retrieving something called the Chimera. Unwillingly this draws them into a holy war that is drawn out over various planets. The story is told through now and then pieces. There was a bit too much changing between the timelines for me which made it hard to keep all the lines straight as it concerned some of the back story of our cast. I also felt there was a bit too much religious going on but that is a personal feeling.
I wasn’t sure about the characters initially but as the story continued they started growing on me and I especially took a liking to rough Russel. For that reason I hate the ending because, ouch, right in the feels.
There is still a lot left to explore in the world building, these characters and the plot. And I can’t wait to see where this is all going.
August 13, 2018
Maybe a 2.5-2.75 star rating? Reduced mostly due to so much hopping back in forth in time in one to two-page scenes, that I often didn’t know when or where in the storyline we currently were. Nice bright illustrations and I most likely would have enjoyed the combination caper-plot and religious intrigue had it been smoother in pacing.
Not too much a fan of cursing, especially when it feels like it’s just cursing for cursing’s sake. But I’m most likely a minority here. Just invent some sci-fi swear words pls!
Won’t be continuing this, but I might recommend it for patrons who are looking for more Saga and Rat Queens adult graphic novels.
Not too much a fan of cursing, especially when it feels like it’s just cursing for cursing’s sake. But I’m most likely a minority here. Just invent some sci-fi swear words pls!
Won’t be continuing this, but I might recommend it for patrons who are looking for more Saga and Rat Queens adult graphic novels.
April 18, 2018
I received a free copy of this book through Net Galley.
I liked it more than I thought I would. This book collects the first 6 issues, and the first issue was interesting but nothing too amazing. As this volume continued and started to get deeper into the plot, I found that I genuinely wanted to know where things would go. I like the art, the characters seem like they could be interesting (even if only a few of them grabbed me in this volume), and overall I think this is a solid start to a series.
I liked it more than I thought I would. This book collects the first 6 issues, and the first issue was interesting but nothing too amazing. As this volume continued and started to get deeper into the plot, I found that I genuinely wanted to know where things would go. I like the art, the characters seem like they could be interesting (even if only a few of them grabbed me in this volume), and overall I think this is a solid start to a series.
March 16, 2025
Beautiful colors and clear inspiration from Saga. Sadly, this feels like a c tier version of saga and much less original. Too many ideas (time jumps, multiple worlds and characters) which makes 6 issues feel like 30 and not in a great way. I am happy Saga style comics are going to be made and inspire new creators but this one was kind of a lemon. I do have to respect the artist for creating some nice looking characters.
July 21, 2018
Loved it! The art style was great! The storyline was interesting. The characters were dynamic.
Just right when the story got more interesting and thrilling, I didn't notice - IT'S THE LAST PAGE!
That was a cliffhanger and I am sad for what happened to Russell!
Also, this reminds me of Star Wars!
Just right when the story got more interesting and thrilling, I didn't notice - IT'S THE LAST PAGE!
That was a cliffhanger and I am sad for what happened to Russell!
Also, this reminds me of Star Wars!
May 9, 2018
Clever SF/F war story with an interestingly eclectic cast and lots of high concepts.
November 4, 2018
Interesting book but nothing that makes you want to continue to follow the series.
October 15, 2024
Gorgeous art.
May 23, 2018
Inhalt
In einer Galaxie, die von einem mächtigen Gott und seinem Spiel mit der Macht bestimmt ist, sind vier Diebe auf der Suche nach dem Artefakt, das ihn stoppen kann. Die Chimera ist das Puzzlestück, das ihnen fehlt. Doch im religiösen Krieg drohen ihnen von allen Seiten aufkommende Gefahren. Und die Vergangenheit holt auch sie ein …
Meine Bewertung
Normalerweise bin ich ja wirklich ein großer Fan von Comics aller Art, aber „Chimera“ war für mich ein einziges Durcheinander. Tyler Ellis‘ Comic vereint Elemente aus Star Wars und Firefly. Er bildet eine irrwitzige Mischung zwischen religiösem Fanatismus, Krieg und Sarkasmus – und konnte mich trotz dieser vielversprechenden Ausgangslage doch nicht packen.
Der einzige Pluspunkt, den ich dem Comic zugestehe, sind die wirklich tollen Illustrationen. Schon das Cover des Sammelbands hat mich gefangen genommen, Tyler Ellis versteht sich darauf, seine Welt zu skizzieren. Die Farben, die Figuren, die Handlungen – alles war wunderbar dargestellt, die Panels nicht zu groß, klein oder überladen. Vor allem der Sarkasmus der Charaktere war auch an ihren Mienen deutlich ablesbar.
Allerdings endet mein Begeisterungssturm dort auch schon. Denn die Story hat bei mir ein einziges Fragezeichen im Kopf hinterlassen. Ich kam von Anfang an nicht richtig rein, und die ständigen Zeitsprünge zwischen Gegenwart und einer nicht näher bestimmten Vergangenheit waren für mich unheimlich anstrengend mitzuverfolgen. Ich habe den Überblick über die Chronologie schon nach den ersten Szenen komplett verloren, und die ständigen Wechsel zwischen den Charakteren halfen da auch nicht mit.
So konnte mich auch kein Charakter nachhaltig beeindrucken – einen Tag nach dem Lesen weiß ich nicht mal mehr ihre Namen. Alles war total ominös und angedeutet, der Gott erschien mir total lächerlich und nicht wirklich interessant. Ich bin einfach nur heillos verwirrt von dem, was mir da präsentiert wurde.
Alles in allem war „Chimera“ für mich hübsch anzusehen, aber die Geschichte ist glatt durchgefallen. Die Illustrationen sind das Einzige, was mich begeistern konnte, die Storyline hat mich hingegen absolut nicht gepackt und eher für viel Verwirrung bei mir gesorgt. Der Comic und ich werden wohl keine Freunde mehr.
In einer Galaxie, die von einem mächtigen Gott und seinem Spiel mit der Macht bestimmt ist, sind vier Diebe auf der Suche nach dem Artefakt, das ihn stoppen kann. Die Chimera ist das Puzzlestück, das ihnen fehlt. Doch im religiösen Krieg drohen ihnen von allen Seiten aufkommende Gefahren. Und die Vergangenheit holt auch sie ein …
Meine Bewertung
Normalerweise bin ich ja wirklich ein großer Fan von Comics aller Art, aber „Chimera“ war für mich ein einziges Durcheinander. Tyler Ellis‘ Comic vereint Elemente aus Star Wars und Firefly. Er bildet eine irrwitzige Mischung zwischen religiösem Fanatismus, Krieg und Sarkasmus – und konnte mich trotz dieser vielversprechenden Ausgangslage doch nicht packen.
Der einzige Pluspunkt, den ich dem Comic zugestehe, sind die wirklich tollen Illustrationen. Schon das Cover des Sammelbands hat mich gefangen genommen, Tyler Ellis versteht sich darauf, seine Welt zu skizzieren. Die Farben, die Figuren, die Handlungen – alles war wunderbar dargestellt, die Panels nicht zu groß, klein oder überladen. Vor allem der Sarkasmus der Charaktere war auch an ihren Mienen deutlich ablesbar.
Allerdings endet mein Begeisterungssturm dort auch schon. Denn die Story hat bei mir ein einziges Fragezeichen im Kopf hinterlassen. Ich kam von Anfang an nicht richtig rein, und die ständigen Zeitsprünge zwischen Gegenwart und einer nicht näher bestimmten Vergangenheit waren für mich unheimlich anstrengend mitzuverfolgen. Ich habe den Überblick über die Chronologie schon nach den ersten Szenen komplett verloren, und die ständigen Wechsel zwischen den Charakteren halfen da auch nicht mit.
So konnte mich auch kein Charakter nachhaltig beeindrucken – einen Tag nach dem Lesen weiß ich nicht mal mehr ihre Namen. Alles war total ominös und angedeutet, der Gott erschien mir total lächerlich und nicht wirklich interessant. Ich bin einfach nur heillos verwirrt von dem, was mir da präsentiert wurde.
Alles in allem war „Chimera“ für mich hübsch anzusehen, aber die Geschichte ist glatt durchgefallen. Die Illustrationen sind das Einzige, was mich begeistern konnte, die Storyline hat mich hingegen absolut nicht gepackt und eher für viel Verwirrung bei mir gesorgt. Der Comic und ich werden wohl keine Freunde mehr.
May 18, 2025
As someone who enjoys a good graphic novel, I found Chimera to be an fun reading experience.
The story follows a team of flawed individuals who all seem to have something they’re running from in the past. The characters’ pasts are revealed through a series of flashbacks throughout the novel. Sometimes these flashbacks were disorienting because I didn’t realize the story had jumped back into the past.
The art style of this graphic novel is stunning. It’s full of bright colors and detailed drawing that really pull you into the story and provide detailed world building. The different effects on the text bubbles were very cool and effective in identified how things were being spoken.
This story explores the effects of religious ideology in a sci-do world. The view of religions was somewhat cynical, and the novel explores how religion can take over life as it is known and reshape it into anything that it desires. The story was a little difficult to follow at times and it left some questions unanswered, but overall it was a very strong first installment into a new graphic novel series, and I am very excited to see where it goes.
The story follows a team of flawed individuals who all seem to have something they’re running from in the past. The characters’ pasts are revealed through a series of flashbacks throughout the novel. Sometimes these flashbacks were disorienting because I didn’t realize the story had jumped back into the past.
The art style of this graphic novel is stunning. It’s full of bright colors and detailed drawing that really pull you into the story and provide detailed world building. The different effects on the text bubbles were very cool and effective in identified how things were being spoken.
This story explores the effects of religious ideology in a sci-do world. The view of religions was somewhat cynical, and the novel explores how religion can take over life as it is known and reshape it into anything that it desires. The story was a little difficult to follow at times and it left some questions unanswered, but overall it was a very strong first installment into a new graphic novel series, and I am very excited to see where it goes.
May 25, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of Chimera in exchange for an honest review.
It's my first ever ARC *hyped*!
Chimera has been compared to Saga, Vol. 1 and ooooh yeeesss ; it's as good if not better.
Most of all, I loved how complex the world seems. As in Saga, multiple POVs and plot-lines are wound together, and the result is an action-packed but beautifully told story. To me, Chimera was hilarious, innovative and heartbreaking. I seriously can't wait for the second installment!
Although I loved Saga, Chimera got me excited. I'm invested in the characters already after reading book one, and the plot seems like it can go any which way at this point. Similarly to Saga, Chimera has violence, swearing and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. But dissimilarly, there are no explicit sex scenes which just mmm I'm grateful for.
Highly recommend!
It's my first ever ARC *hyped*!
Chimera has been compared to Saga, Vol. 1 and ooooh yeeesss ; it's as good if not better.
Most of all, I loved how complex the world seems. As in Saga, multiple POVs and plot-lines are wound together, and the result is an action-packed but beautifully told story. To me, Chimera was hilarious, innovative and heartbreaking. I seriously can't wait for the second installment!
Although I loved Saga, Chimera got me excited. I'm invested in the characters already after reading book one, and the plot seems like it can go any which way at this point. Similarly to Saga, Chimera has violence, swearing and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. But dissimilarly, there are no explicit sex scenes which just mmm I'm grateful for.
Highly recommend!
October 22, 2019
Initially I kind of liked this, but by about the halfway point on I just found it rather bland and a bit annoying. Some thoughts:
-- It feels like it is trying too hard to be "edgy", especially with all the swearing, and especially with all the swearing coming from "gods" or their close servants. I've never read the comic book series Saga, but it feels sort of like the same kind of thing, a comparison raised by the back cover blurb and other reviews.
-- The whole warring gods angle is pretty dumb, especially because-- surprise, surprise-- it is shown that the "gods" are less than they claim to be, and all unrepentant assholes, utterly lacking in nuance or character or anything to make them particularly interesting. I suppose the twist could be that the one singular god is actually god (though obviously not an omnipotent one), but it would be a very unsatisfying twist, since he's a jerk.
-- In my opinion, a better angle-- if the religious war angle is really necessary-- would be to have the main powers just be high priests or chosen ones, claiming to act for their gods (like they do in real life); pretending to be a god without the power to really back it up is just setting yourself up for failure. Comparisons that come to mind: Heroes Die has a mortal who is making himself into a god, in a setting where gods of various levels of power or mortality are expected, which works much better. And in Anne Leckie's books, like Ancillary Justice or Provenance, we have an epic space setting where religion exists, but cultural and historical differences provide a more interesting, more nuanced, and more believable basis for conflict. Also, Anaander Mianaai isn't a god, but practically is with their multiple bodies sharing a linked consciousness.
-- "What is Chimera?" is a question that hangs over most of the book. The revelation that it is a portal to a planet of the same name is kind of underwhelming; one obvious reason being that it is not some sort of biological hybrid as the name suggests. But also because we have to be bluntly told that "portals don't exist", necessitated by the fact that there is not enough background detail incorporated into the work for a reader to judge what should or shouldn't be possible in the setting of the story.
-- The cover art looks cool, but I think it is indicative of the overall quality of this work that it actually just depicts a minor villain of the setting, and not something really important or central; this work has a lot more visual style than it does real depth. Though, I could be wrong about the character; I thought it (he?) didn't have a name, but looking back that is not the case: it's Koho Menk. And he is kind of persistent in the story as it exists so far, but in personal and political power he just doesn't stack up against the major villains, and he seems about comparable in power to the better protagonists, only winning because of surprise and better preparation.
-- It feels like it is trying too hard to be "edgy", especially with all the swearing, and especially with all the swearing coming from "gods" or their close servants. I've never read the comic book series Saga, but it feels sort of like the same kind of thing, a comparison raised by the back cover blurb and other reviews.
-- The whole warring gods angle is pretty dumb, especially because-- surprise, surprise-- it is shown that the "gods" are less than they claim to be, and all unrepentant assholes, utterly lacking in nuance or character or anything to make them particularly interesting. I suppose the twist could be that the one singular god is actually god (though obviously not an omnipotent one), but it would be a very unsatisfying twist, since he's a jerk.
-- In my opinion, a better angle-- if the religious war angle is really necessary-- would be to have the main powers just be high priests or chosen ones, claiming to act for their gods (like they do in real life); pretending to be a god without the power to really back it up is just setting yourself up for failure. Comparisons that come to mind: Heroes Die has a mortal who is making himself into a god, in a setting where gods of various levels of power or mortality are expected, which works much better. And in Anne Leckie's books, like Ancillary Justice or Provenance, we have an epic space setting where religion exists, but cultural and historical differences provide a more interesting, more nuanced, and more believable basis for conflict. Also, Anaander Mianaai isn't a god, but practically is with their multiple bodies sharing a linked consciousness.
-- "What is Chimera?" is a question that hangs over most of the book. The revelation that it is a portal to a planet of the same name is kind of underwhelming; one obvious reason being that it is not some sort of biological hybrid as the name suggests. But also because we have to be bluntly told that "portals don't exist", necessitated by the fact that there is not enough background detail incorporated into the work for a reader to judge what should or shouldn't be possible in the setting of the story.
-- The cover art looks cool, but I think it is indicative of the overall quality of this work that it actually just depicts a minor villain of the setting, and not something really important or central; this work has a lot more visual style than it does real depth. Though, I could be wrong about the character; I thought it (he?) didn't have a name, but looking back that is not the case: it's Koho Menk. And he is kind of persistent in the story as it exists so far, but in personal and political power he just doesn't stack up against the major villains, and he seems about comparable in power to the better protagonists, only winning because of surprise and better preparation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2019
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
On another day, I might have rated this book higher. It's a sci-fi book that starts out as a caper and integrates some interesting alien species. There are some high level moments involving religious sects and various gods. I enjoyed the characters. The designs for the different species are all well done. And the interactions between the different groups really bring the setting to life. It hits a lot of story beats that usually appeal to me.
My problem with this book comes from the storytelling method. I found it tiring to read another book where there is this big problem and the reader isn't privy to enough information about everything involved. I understand the creators can't give everything away at the beginning, but by the time things started to get interesting I didn't care what was happening in this world. Despite that, when I got to the end of this book it had me hooked. I can't say I loved it though and I'm not sure I'd be willing to read the next part of the story.
On another day, I might have rated this book higher. It's a sci-fi book that starts out as a caper and integrates some interesting alien species. There are some high level moments involving religious sects and various gods. I enjoyed the characters. The designs for the different species are all well done. And the interactions between the different groups really bring the setting to life. It hits a lot of story beats that usually appeal to me.
My problem with this book comes from the storytelling method. I found it tiring to read another book where there is this big problem and the reader isn't privy to enough information about everything involved. I understand the creators can't give everything away at the beginning, but by the time things started to get interesting I didn't care what was happening in this world. Despite that, when I got to the end of this book it had me hooked. I can't say I loved it though and I'm not sure I'd be willing to read the next part of the story.
July 4, 2024
This book really, REALLY wants to be Saga. Unfortunately, it doesn't give us the charm, flavour, or excellent world building and premise that Saga do. It has some excellent art and flashy pages, which I enjoyed. The character designs are so-so, with one or two being complete rip-offs of Saga characters, but there were definitely some cool aliens and costuming. Story wise, it seems to be another mediocre space opera with a lot of swearing and underexplained plot elements - please note that I really don't mind swears in books, but the dialog in this book is stunted by poorly-placed swearing that makes it sound cringy, like when you hear a middle schooler trying to use the 'F' word for the first time in a cool way, only for it come out sounding awkward.
Overall, it was an okay read. I will not be continuing into the series, though after reading this, I suddenly have a craving to re-read the Saga series as it's come out so far.
Overall, it was an okay read. I will not be continuing into the series, though after reading this, I suddenly have a craving to re-read the Saga series as it's come out so far.
June 30, 2020
'Chimera' with story and art is a graphic novel set in a different time and place.
This story revolves around an intergalactic crew of thieves after a priceless artifact. They have to be cautious because this is hostile world with very vengeful gods. The story unfolds between the past and the present.
I liked a lot of the bones of this story. The worldbuilding and religions seemed solid enough. The character design and crisp art design was really nice to look at. The story fell apart for me with all the thrashing back and forth in time. It kept throwing me a bit out of the story, but I did like the story that was told.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Comicker Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
This story revolves around an intergalactic crew of thieves after a priceless artifact. They have to be cautious because this is hostile world with very vengeful gods. The story unfolds between the past and the present.
I liked a lot of the bones of this story. The worldbuilding and religions seemed solid enough. The character design and crisp art design was really nice to look at. The story fell apart for me with all the thrashing back and forth in time. It kept throwing me a bit out of the story, but I did like the story that was told.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Comicker Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
May 23, 2018
This was one of the most enjoyable graphic novels I’ve ever read. The characters are all cleverly written and the story balances out creepy as hell evil, heart warming moments and general hilarity.
The illustrations are a perfect fit for the story, my favourite aspect being that the women are drawn to be powerful rather than sexy (always a good way to judge a graphic novel).
The story flips back and forth between ‘then’ and ‘now’, which tells us how the ragtag group of alien and human thieves got together and found themselves on a mission to steal a mysterious artefact. The synopsis isn’t wrong when it suggests that fans of Star Wars and Firefly will enjoy this story, it’s got all the best bits of those series and a fascinating slant to it.
The illustrations are a perfect fit for the story, my favourite aspect being that the women are drawn to be powerful rather than sexy (always a good way to judge a graphic novel).
The story flips back and forth between ‘then’ and ‘now’, which tells us how the ragtag group of alien and human thieves got together and found themselves on a mission to steal a mysterious artefact. The synopsis isn’t wrong when it suggests that fans of Star Wars and Firefly will enjoy this story, it’s got all the best bits of those series and a fascinating slant to it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews