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Cretaceous
When a Tyrannosaurus Rex is separated from its family unit, it embarks on a harrowing journey to reunite with them before the raw, real dangers of the Cretaceous Era separate them for good. This heart-wrenching story takes to the skies and dives into the sea—and explores everywhere in between—in this research-based, fictional account written and illustrated by Tadd Galusha (TMNT/Ghostbusters 2).
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 30, 2018
Eat or be eaten. Survival of the fittest...
Life during the cretaceous period belonged to the giants at large or the smaller vicious ones stealing and vying on prey in groups.
Cetaceous opens with a T-Rex hunting in a brutal scene for the next family meal. With dangers looming in every corner and vegetation, there are always those who will try to surprise attack for the next meal.
As the reader follows this wordless graphic novel solely on illustrations, it speaks volumes about survival of the fittest no matter on which side you stand. Sympathy is to be gained for either of those creatures as they are purely following instincts to survive. The circle of life is illustrated and completed with other non-reptile species that play along the sideline.
The colors and graphics are definitely gorgeous whilst brutal but not gross. A nice visual to read over and over to admire the artwork while envisioning a glimpse of what it could have been during that time.
No specific age of audience is suggested for this graphic novel. To be safe I’d recommend mature upper elementary and up. There is a nice guide of the featured dinosaurs in the back of the graphic novel.
Enjoy!
Pictures are on my blog.
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/clas...
I received a digital copy of the novel from Netgalley n exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!
Life during the cretaceous period belonged to the giants at large or the smaller vicious ones stealing and vying on prey in groups.
Cetaceous opens with a T-Rex hunting in a brutal scene for the next family meal. With dangers looming in every corner and vegetation, there are always those who will try to surprise attack for the next meal.
As the reader follows this wordless graphic novel solely on illustrations, it speaks volumes about survival of the fittest no matter on which side you stand. Sympathy is to be gained for either of those creatures as they are purely following instincts to survive. The circle of life is illustrated and completed with other non-reptile species that play along the sideline.
The colors and graphics are definitely gorgeous whilst brutal but not gross. A nice visual to read over and over to admire the artwork while envisioning a glimpse of what it could have been during that time.
No specific age of audience is suggested for this graphic novel. To be safe I’d recommend mature upper elementary and up. There is a nice guide of the featured dinosaurs in the back of the graphic novel.
Enjoy!
Pictures are on my blog.
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/clas...
I received a digital copy of the novel from Netgalley n exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!
October 1, 2025
Not a word of dialogue, but so much was said. The pages of this graphic novel are a wonderful yet extremely bloody depiction of what life could have been in the times of the terrible (deinos) lizards (saurus): the Cretaceous.
As we follow a mama T-Rex while hunting for her youngsters, we encounter triceratops bulls fighting for dominance, then we're chased by a band of hungry raptors. Keeping away from the drama, Mama reaches her nest with still enough of her meaty cargo to feed all the little ones, but what seems like a happy ending is just the start of a desperate fight for survival: the smell of fresh blood has attracted a group of Albertosaurus, and they are not afraid of mama T-rex. Now is up to papa to rescue what’s left of their litter.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. As I first said, there’s no dialogue and only a few words here and there, but the tension and the story are as strong as if we could understand the thoughts of the reptilian protagonists.
The drawings are really good. Tadd Galusha surely spent a lot of time researching the creatures he wanted to depict, and it shows, in the life like sequence and dynamism of the frames. He took his liberties in putting so many species in such close quarters. But hey, this is fiction, so I won’t hold the academic departure against him.
Interestingly, looking at the frames I wondered if mammals, who made an appearance or two, could had made to the top of the food chain without the help of that faithful meteorite.
A must read if, like me, you’re fascinated by dinosaurs. Just one word of advise, because there are not words even the youngest of children can follow the story, but some of the pictures are perhaps too violent for them.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
As we follow a mama T-Rex while hunting for her youngsters, we encounter triceratops bulls fighting for dominance, then we're chased by a band of hungry raptors. Keeping away from the drama, Mama reaches her nest with still enough of her meaty cargo to feed all the little ones, but what seems like a happy ending is just the start of a desperate fight for survival: the smell of fresh blood has attracted a group of Albertosaurus, and they are not afraid of mama T-rex. Now is up to papa to rescue what’s left of their litter.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. As I first said, there’s no dialogue and only a few words here and there, but the tension and the story are as strong as if we could understand the thoughts of the reptilian protagonists.
The drawings are really good. Tadd Galusha surely spent a lot of time researching the creatures he wanted to depict, and it shows, in the life like sequence and dynamism of the frames. He took his liberties in putting so many species in such close quarters. But hey, this is fiction, so I won’t hold the academic departure against him.
Interestingly, looking at the frames I wondered if mammals, who made an appearance or two, could had made to the top of the food chain without the help of that faithful meteorite.
A must read if, like me, you’re fascinated by dinosaurs. Just one word of advise, because there are not words even the youngest of children can follow the story, but some of the pictures are perhaps too violent for them.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
January 8, 2019
I was sent this book as an advanced copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
If this review was a flow chart, and I asked you, "Do you like dinosaurs?" and your answer was Yes, then there'd be a handy arrow that would point you to the option "read this graphic novel".
If you've ever seen illustrations of a dinosaur and the first word out of your mouth was "COOL!!!!", then this book is for you.
Maybe I'm a little dramatic or maybe my whole childhood and consequently my whole life has been heavily influenced by Littlefoot's mom's death in The Land Before Time, but when I saw how stunning the title page was (not the cover, which is kind of...not good, compared to the art inside) I didn't even care what the story would be about, I just knew I would love it if the whole book had art Like That in it. And I was not disappointed.
The fact that this book has no dialogue in it might make you think it's a children book about cute dinos running about their lives, but I wouldn't say this is for kids. Teens, maybe, if they can handle the gore. But basically, you should only go into this if you're prepared to be the powerless witness to the brutality of a nature without finality or purpose, and leave your own human ideals in the Anthropocene where you belong. This is the Cretaceous, baby.
If this review was a flow chart, and I asked you, "Do you like dinosaurs?" and your answer was Yes, then there'd be a handy arrow that would point you to the option "read this graphic novel".
If you've ever seen illustrations of a dinosaur and the first word out of your mouth was "COOL!!!!", then this book is for you.
Maybe I'm a little dramatic or maybe my whole childhood and consequently my whole life has been heavily influenced by Littlefoot's mom's death in The Land Before Time, but when I saw how stunning the title page was (not the cover, which is kind of...not good, compared to the art inside) I didn't even care what the story would be about, I just knew I would love it if the whole book had art Like That in it. And I was not disappointed.
The fact that this book has no dialogue in it might make you think it's a children book about cute dinos running about their lives, but I wouldn't say this is for kids. Teens, maybe, if they can handle the gore. But basically, you should only go into this if you're prepared to be the powerless witness to the brutality of a nature without finality or purpose, and leave your own human ideals in the Anthropocene where you belong. This is the Cretaceous, baby.
November 26, 2018
They had me at "When a Tyrannosaurus...". So, this, was fucking amazing! It needed no dialogues, sentences, it is wordless, pure and brilliant and I think I am going to read it again, right now. Because, yeah. You could force me to choose in comic book store between any Batman book/Lemire's work/Saga book and Cretaceous, and I would take this without thinking. Twice. Because the dinosaurs.
It was action-packed, dark, gory, heartful, emotional - I cried a little for a few times; refreshing, wonderful, interesting, educational, simply it is definitely a must read if you are fascinated by dinosaurs! The artwork in this is beautifully illustrated. And I'm truly sorry for people who say there is lack of the story. You poor little blind creatures...
It was action-packed, dark, gory, heartful, emotional - I cried a little for a few times; refreshing, wonderful, interesting, educational, simply it is definitely a must read if you are fascinated by dinosaurs! The artwork in this is beautifully illustrated. And I'm truly sorry for people who say there is lack of the story. You poor little blind creatures...
July 18, 2019
Bezeslovná jednohubka z časů, kdy slov nebylo potřeba.
Jednoduchá revenge story s T-Rexem v hlavní roli. Je krásné vidět, co všechno Galusha beze slov zvládl. Jsou sice místa, která mě spíše rozesmála než zaujala, ale je jich minimum.
Pokud se vám líbí dinosauři a máte místo na jeden kousek v knihovně, tak bych vám určitě raději doporučil Putování s dinosaury, ale pokud se najde místo na kousek číslo dvě, tak by vás mohl potěšit právě Cretaceous.
Mohlo by se vám líbit, pokud:
-máte málo dino-komiksů
- chcete vidět, co všechno se dá vyrobit beze slov, ale zato se spoustou násilí
Spíš vás zklame, pokud:
- chcete raději něco informativního než prvoplánově akčního
Jednoduchá revenge story s T-Rexem v hlavní roli. Je krásné vidět, co všechno Galusha beze slov zvládl. Jsou sice místa, která mě spíše rozesmála než zaujala, ale je jich minimum.
Pokud se vám líbí dinosauři a máte místo na jeden kousek v knihovně, tak bych vám určitě raději doporučil Putování s dinosaury, ale pokud se najde místo na kousek číslo dvě, tak by vás mohl potěšit právě Cretaceous.
Mohlo by se vám líbit, pokud:
-máte málo dino-komiksů
- chcete vidět, co všechno se dá vyrobit beze slov, ale zato se spoustou násilí
Spíš vás zklame, pokud:
- chcete raději něco informativního než prvoplánově akčního
November 19, 2018
no wordings, just amazing art to tell the story. what an amazing artwork!
May 18, 2019
Ακόμα κι αν δεν σας πολυαρέσουν οι δεινόσαυροι, αυτήν την απεικόνισή τους θα την λατρέψετε. Γενικά από τα ωραιότερα κόμικ του είδους. Χωρίς άσκοπα πέρα δώθε, με πλοκή και ιστορία που μπορείς να την ακολουθήσεις, με ακριβέστατες (σύμφωνα με τα τελευταία ευρήματα) απεικονίσεις των διάφορων ζώων. Ακόμη και οι επιλογές που έχει κάνει είναι ζώα που όντως έζησαν ταυτόχρονα και στον ίδιο γεωγραφικό χώρο (κι όχι ανακατεμένα πράγματα που απλώς τα αγαπάμε όλοι, αλλά έζησαν είτε 200 εκατομμύρια χρόνια το ένα από το άλλο είτε 200.000 χιλιόμετρα το ένα από το άλλο). Θα ξαναδιαβαστεί σύντομα και είμαι σίγουρη πως το απολαύσω το ίδιο όπως και την πρώτη φορά.
December 27, 2021
Stunning artwork defines this wordless nature story of dinosaurs' struggle for survival in a harsh and indifferent landscape.
Most of the action is of the "shock and awe" side of nature--there is a life-or-death battle every couple of pages and we don't see as much of the "downtime" that is also going to be part of the lives of creatures both prehistoric and modern--resting, grazing, grooming, and building nests/dens.
There are enough species represented here to please any dino-fan--the mega-stars like T. rex and Triceratops, and lesser-known species like Albertosaurus and Quetzalcoatlus.
Most of the action is of the "shock and awe" side of nature--there is a life-or-death battle every couple of pages and we don't see as much of the "downtime" that is also going to be part of the lives of creatures both prehistoric and modern--resting, grazing, grooming, and building nests/dens.
There are enough species represented here to please any dino-fan--the mega-stars like T. rex and Triceratops, and lesser-known species like Albertosaurus and Quetzalcoatlus.
November 19, 2018
It is a nice wordless comic book about the life of dinosaurs. I don't think the illustrations are for children but the story is about "Let the best win" in this big and dangerous world.
Thanks to Netgalley for this copy.
Thanks to Netgalley for this copy.
January 16, 2020
I love dinosaurs. And I love comics. But would I love comics about dinosaurs? That's tricky. I looked forward to this comics for a long time. Now I've finally finished it. And I'm bit let down. The story is nice, there are many dinos and the art is nice too. But it didn't feel right. First, it felt overpopulated. You can't walk ten steps and not to step or bump into another dinosaur. Yes, it was a prosperous time, stable warm wet climate and stuff, but that feels more like cretaceous ZOO than cretaceous wildlife. It feels staged too. Second thing - aggression - all drama here is almost completely by violence. Again, you can't walk ten steps and not be attacked by something or attack something. I know that nature wasn't very compassionate, but nature isn't dumb either. And all "predators" act like they didn't eat for weeks all the time. Cretaceous is just too much intense and staged. It looks good, but it does not feel natural. I still enjoyed the story, but I feel a bit disappointed by that. And there is the third issue. Build of panels and their sequences. The author got very active and creative with them, so sometimes it's a bit confusing how the panels are in sequence. The flow of reading is a bit wobbly thanks to that. And if you figure out the right order in confusing setups, you ain't completely there. The author got wild with a camera, so there are multiple different shots on each page. And the continuum of the environment is not good too. Made up, but not far from reality: dino jumps from higher branch to stump with branch upward. Next panel, he lands on a stump with branch downward and the view is from another side. This stuff just goes against the sequential art - your brain can't fill the space between two panels if they do not match. It needs to focus and try all possible scenarios and the flow is just gone. Cretaceous is comic for dinosaur fans, with quite nice art and good (but simple) story, but technically lacking. At least for me.
May 1, 2020
Reminds me why for me Jurassic Park is a horror movie.
January 16, 2019
I have loved dinosaurs 🦖 since I was a young girl and so was very excited to read this graphic novel written and illustrated by Tadd Galusha. Thank you to Oni Press for making it available via NetGalley as a ‘Read Now’. It will be released in paperback on 26 March 2019.
There is quite properly no dialogue as while fictional it is research-based, so don’t expect any anthropomorphic dinosaurs. However, there is the occasional noise illustrated with words. Sniffs and meaty crunches.
After setting the scene through a series of violent encounters between various creatures, it provides an account of a T-Rex after they are separated from their family unit and their efforts to reunite by travelling through a treacherous terrain.
The illustrations are beautiful though quite brutal in places with plenty of biting and blood. I found that I was especially moved by the mortally wounded Triceratops that seeks out a graveyard filled with the bones of its fellows.
I would probably advise that it is one for older children given the level of violence depicted. I would think an excellent tool for teachers covering that period as so many ‘popular’ dinosaurs are depicted.
Tadd Galusha concludes with a Cretaceous Field Guide giving details of the creatures and including human silhouettes for scale. Certainly shows that some reptiles and sharks have changed very little.
I felt it was excellent and certainly heart-wrenching. When released I plan to buy a copy as it is just stunning.
There is quite properly no dialogue as while fictional it is research-based, so don’t expect any anthropomorphic dinosaurs. However, there is the occasional noise illustrated with words. Sniffs and meaty crunches.
After setting the scene through a series of violent encounters between various creatures, it provides an account of a T-Rex after they are separated from their family unit and their efforts to reunite by travelling through a treacherous terrain.
The illustrations are beautiful though quite brutal in places with plenty of biting and blood. I found that I was especially moved by the mortally wounded Triceratops that seeks out a graveyard filled with the bones of its fellows.
I would probably advise that it is one for older children given the level of violence depicted. I would think an excellent tool for teachers covering that period as so many ‘popular’ dinosaurs are depicted.
Tadd Galusha concludes with a Cretaceous Field Guide giving details of the creatures and including human silhouettes for scale. Certainly shows that some reptiles and sharks have changed very little.
I felt it was excellent and certainly heart-wrenching. When released I plan to buy a copy as it is just stunning.
December 29, 2018
4.5/5
Awesome.
Cretaceous impressed me with a research-based, action-packed and heart-wrenching account of a young T-Rex separated from its family. We follow it as it tries to make its way back to its family.
Galusha showed dinosaurs’ lives and the story through illustrations only. His story needs no words to shine, thrill or terrify. He shows a savage life of the Cretaceous era and pulls no punches.
Hunters become hunted, predators become prey. Despite lack of dialogue, the story delivers a genuine and deep experience.
I loved the art that beautifully depicts the harsh, brutal life of when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Galusha brings their world to life and fills it with a sympathetic cast of savage reptilian heroes.
A must read.
ARC through NetGalley
Awesome.
Cretaceous impressed me with a research-based, action-packed and heart-wrenching account of a young T-Rex separated from its family. We follow it as it tries to make its way back to its family.
Galusha showed dinosaurs’ lives and the story through illustrations only. His story needs no words to shine, thrill or terrify. He shows a savage life of the Cretaceous era and pulls no punches.
Hunters become hunted, predators become prey. Despite lack of dialogue, the story delivers a genuine and deep experience.
I loved the art that beautifully depicts the harsh, brutal life of when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Galusha brings their world to life and fills it with a sympathetic cast of savage reptilian heroes.
A must read.
ARC through NetGalley
November 15, 2018
A wordless comic book about dinosaurs going around with their lives. There’s no really story here, more or less just dinosaurs eating and attacking each other. The illustrations were great, but I had trouble finding who the author/illustrator intend to be the readers of this book, because being wordless and basically no story you think about a younger public, but there’s scene that are kind of gore and may not be suitable for kids. So who will or should read it... I’m not sure. Did I enjoy it, yes but would not really recommend it because of its lack of story.
July 1, 2019
Without any words, Tadd Galusha managed to tell a simple yet brutal story from Jurassic times.
Beautiful art and lush colors, a must read for any fan of dinosaurs.
Beautiful art and lush colors, a must read for any fan of dinosaurs.
January 6, 2019
The artwork, particularly the individual dinosaurs, was really well done. My grievances with this graphic novel lie mostly in how violent the entire book is. Every few pages there is violence/blood/death and I'm just not into that. Honestly it made the book very myopic as it greatly implies the only aspect of dinosaur life is fighting/death. Well, that would make it so that they were the only species to ever exist on this planet to live in a constant state of war. Unfortunately it was obviously drawn by someone more interested in gore than anything else. Subsequently gore/death is literally the only story to be found here. 1 star rating upped due to the artwork.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
November 29, 2020
'Cretaceous' with story and art by Tadd Galusha is a wordless graphic novel about survival in the Cretaceous era.
The story centers around a Tyrannosaurus Rex out hunting. When it gets separated from its parents, it is left in a dangerous world. The story features a chain reaction of dinosaurs eating and being eaten. All the great dinosaurs are featured in this story, but how will the story end for our T-Rex friend?
I had a great time reading this. The lack of text didn't hurt the story at all because the artist conveys so much with the art. And the art is really great.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
The story centers around a Tyrannosaurus Rex out hunting. When it gets separated from its parents, it is left in a dangerous world. The story features a chain reaction of dinosaurs eating and being eaten. All the great dinosaurs are featured in this story, but how will the story end for our T-Rex friend?
I had a great time reading this. The lack of text didn't hurt the story at all because the artist conveys so much with the art. And the art is really great.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
October 27, 2024
“Holy shit it’s a graphic novel.”
That was the first thing that came out of my mouth when I started reading. I hadn’t done much research on this book, only reading the very short description on Amazon.
Cretaceous is a short graphic novel following a family of dinosaurs in what I can only guess is the Cretaceous period (look it up,) What makes this one special however is that this book has NO DIALOGUE, none whatsoever (I don’t usually read graphic novels so it’s kind of new to me)
It’s a tale of birth, death, vengeance, and heartbreak, and although there is no dialogue, leaving some moments up to the reader’s interpretation, you can almost imagine what would be said in certain situations, and the thoughts the characters have. The art style is definitely the best part of this story, I was blown away with every single panel, leaving me enthralled until the very end. If you liked Deadlands, or you just love dinosaurs or xenofiction, then this is a book you can’t miss!
That was the first thing that came out of my mouth when I started reading. I hadn’t done much research on this book, only reading the very short description on Amazon.
Cretaceous is a short graphic novel following a family of dinosaurs in what I can only guess is the Cretaceous period (look it up,) What makes this one special however is that this book has NO DIALOGUE, none whatsoever (I don’t usually read graphic novels so it’s kind of new to me)
It’s a tale of birth, death, vengeance, and heartbreak, and although there is no dialogue, leaving some moments up to the reader’s interpretation, you can almost imagine what would be said in certain situations, and the thoughts the characters have. The art style is definitely the best part of this story, I was blown away with every single panel, leaving me enthralled until the very end. If you liked Deadlands, or you just love dinosaurs or xenofiction, then this is a book you can’t miss!
May 17, 2023
A wordless ruthless prehistoric epic.
February 8, 2023
Astounding!
The sheer amount of research and imagination for this WORDLESS graphic novel is jaw-dropping. Without saying a single word Tadd Galusha portrays the story of 'survival of the fittest'. Though it may sound quite ironic (because it's a tragic story), each frame is a visual treat! If you have spare time give it a try.
The sheer amount of research and imagination for this WORDLESS graphic novel is jaw-dropping. Without saying a single word Tadd Galusha portrays the story of 'survival of the fittest'. Though it may sound quite ironic (because it's a tragic story), each frame is a visual treat! If you have spare time give it a try.
December 31, 2018
Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Rtc
Rtc
February 9, 2019
“Cretaceous” is much more than just a cool-looking dinosaur-eat-dinosaur picture book—this is an exhilarating, visceral exploration of the dinosaurs, rodents, reptiles, insects, and marine life of the Cretaceous period by an expert visual storyteller. The stories of Cretaceous predators and prey are conveyed through a series of seamless cinematic transitions through immersive environments and gripping scenes that tug at the senses.
The added field guide in the back offers an informative description of the biology and territories featured in book.
The added field guide in the back offers an informative description of the biology and territories featured in book.
November 22, 2023
Well I didn’t expect to cry for dinosaurs today but boy did this hit me in the feels. So much violence. I enjoyed the John Wick of dinosaurs.
December 18, 2023
Graphic novel about dinosaurs- what’s there not to love about it?
November 27, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Honestly when I first requested this book, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I have never read a graphic novel that tells a story through pictures. I have read a picture book before, but never a book with 160 pages worth of pictures. The cover this kind of a basic designed cover, which could have been better for a graphic novel. ( I am not judging anybody or anyone's financial standards.)
I really enjoyed this story that was told. I don't say it often because sometimes you get lost along the way when it comes to picture stories. It actually told a story though, one of a very sad nature. The design of the pictures will leave you speechless. Without ruining anything the ending is one to die for. I would recommend this book to anybody who loves a good story but it is not recommended for anybody 4 & under.
Honestly when I first requested this book, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I have never read a graphic novel that tells a story through pictures. I have read a picture book before, but never a book with 160 pages worth of pictures. The cover this kind of a basic designed cover, which could have been better for a graphic novel. ( I am not judging anybody or anyone's financial standards.)
I really enjoyed this story that was told. I don't say it often because sometimes you get lost along the way when it comes to picture stories. It actually told a story though, one of a very sad nature. The design of the pictures will leave you speechless. Without ruining anything the ending is one to die for. I would recommend this book to anybody who loves a good story but it is not recommended for anybody 4 & under.
March 4, 2022
Who doesn’t love a dinosaur comic? I think Delgado’s Age of Reptiles is still a bit better, as I like the art a touch more and AoR isn’t a stand alone, but this is very good.
October 10, 2019
I have a soft spot for dinosaurs, and one of my favorite novels of all time, Raptor Red, is told almost completely from the point of view of dinosaurs. So a graphic novel completely from the point of view of one of these ancient creatures seemed right up my alley. And for the most part, "Cretaceous" is amazing -- gorgeously drawn and epic to follow. It's not perfect, but it's still a great read.
"Cretaceous" is a wordless graphic novel (well, wordless save some onomatopoeia) whose central characters are a family of Tyrannosaurs Rexes -- a mated pair and their chicks. But the Cretaceous is a dangerous time, and when a pack of roving predators attacks their nest, one of the adults and all but one of the chicks is slaughtered. Separated and terrified, parent and child search the jungle and beach looking for one another. And they're not the only ones -- other hunters are looking for easy prey, and though T. Rex may be the king of the dinosaurs, an injured Rex and a chick could be easy pickings...
The artwork in this graphic novel is gorgeous, fantastically portraying both the dinosaurs and their environment. The colors are vivid and beautiful, and I appreciated that the artist got creative with the dinosaurs' coloring and markings instead of going for generic shades of green and brown. Action scenes were well laid-out, and the sound effects were well-done and not distracting.
The story is told entirely through the pictures, and the animals in this book act not like humans in animal costumes but actual animals. It's an epic story that wouldn't look out of place in a nature documentary, and captures the thrill and horror of these creatures. I do think that the violence is a bit overdone -- surely the dinosaurs weren't killing each other every fifteen minutes in real life -- but then again, just watching dinosaurs wander around for the entire book would have been boring.
If you're a dinosaur lover, you'll enjoy "Cretaceous." It's gorgeously drawn and well-plotted, and while heavy enough on gore that I wouldn't hand it to a young child, it's great for fans of "Jurassic Park" and "Walking With Dinosaurs."
"Cretaceous" is a wordless graphic novel (well, wordless save some onomatopoeia) whose central characters are a family of Tyrannosaurs Rexes -- a mated pair and their chicks. But the Cretaceous is a dangerous time, and when a pack of roving predators attacks their nest, one of the adults and all but one of the chicks is slaughtered. Separated and terrified, parent and child search the jungle and beach looking for one another. And they're not the only ones -- other hunters are looking for easy prey, and though T. Rex may be the king of the dinosaurs, an injured Rex and a chick could be easy pickings...
The artwork in this graphic novel is gorgeous, fantastically portraying both the dinosaurs and their environment. The colors are vivid and beautiful, and I appreciated that the artist got creative with the dinosaurs' coloring and markings instead of going for generic shades of green and brown. Action scenes were well laid-out, and the sound effects were well-done and not distracting.
The story is told entirely through the pictures, and the animals in this book act not like humans in animal costumes but actual animals. It's an epic story that wouldn't look out of place in a nature documentary, and captures the thrill and horror of these creatures. I do think that the violence is a bit overdone -- surely the dinosaurs weren't killing each other every fifteen minutes in real life -- but then again, just watching dinosaurs wander around for the entire book would have been boring.
If you're a dinosaur lover, you'll enjoy "Cretaceous." It's gorgeously drawn and well-plotted, and while heavy enough on gore that I wouldn't hand it to a young child, it's great for fans of "Jurassic Park" and "Walking With Dinosaurs."
October 31, 2023
CZ&EN
Když jsem před pár lety viděl pár stránek z komiksu Cretaceous, tak jsem věděl, že ho musím mít. Kresba je skvělá a anotace tvrdí, že komiks vychází z výzkumů. Vypadá to, že téma dinosaurů komiksům beze slov vládne. Kromě Cretaceous (což je v překladu Křída, coby vývojové období Země, které následovalo po Jurském období) tady jsou komiksy Age of Reptiles, Love - Dinosaurus, a vlastně také i Gon. Obsah všech je v podstatě stejný - ulovit a sežrat. Větší žerou menší a smečka žere jednotlivce. Většinou je to taky pěkně drsné a krvavé. V tomto ohledu rozhodně vede právě komiks Cretaceous. Stejně jako v komiksu Love - Dinosaurus se děj odehrává během jediného dne a nesledujeme v něm jenom Tyrannosaura Rexe na trestné výpravě, ale také řadu jiných dinosaurů. Asi vás nepřekvapí, že osudy všech se toho dne nějak protnou a můžete si být jistí, že to celé neskončí žádným happyendem. Souboje jsou pěkně rozkreslené a hodně se mi líbily panely, na kterých je zachycen děj nad vodní hladinou, i pod ní. Kniha vyšla jako malý paperback (menší než standardní sešit).
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Few years ago I saw some pages from the comics Cretaceous and I knew that I needed it. Art is amazing and annotation say that it’s based on research. It looks like dinosaurs are one of the most popular themes for silent comics. Except Cretaceous we have silent comics like Age of Reptiles, Love - Dinosaur and partially also Gon. The content of all of them is the same in fact - hunt and eat. The bigger eats smaller and the pack is eating an alone animal. It's mostly pretty rough and gory. In this aspect is comics Cretaceous on the top. Like in comics Love - Dinosaur also here it’s story of one day. We are not only following T-Rex on his revenge mission but also other dinosaurs and mammals. It probably won't surprise you that everyone's fates will somehow intersect that day, and you can be sure that it won't end with a happy ending.The fights are nicely phased and I really liked the panels that show the action above and below the water surface. The book was published as a small paperback book (smaller than a standard issue).
Když jsem před pár lety viděl pár stránek z komiksu Cretaceous, tak jsem věděl, že ho musím mít. Kresba je skvělá a anotace tvrdí, že komiks vychází z výzkumů. Vypadá to, že téma dinosaurů komiksům beze slov vládne. Kromě Cretaceous (což je v překladu Křída, coby vývojové období Země, které následovalo po Jurském období) tady jsou komiksy Age of Reptiles, Love - Dinosaurus, a vlastně také i Gon. Obsah všech je v podstatě stejný - ulovit a sežrat. Větší žerou menší a smečka žere jednotlivce. Většinou je to taky pěkně drsné a krvavé. V tomto ohledu rozhodně vede právě komiks Cretaceous. Stejně jako v komiksu Love - Dinosaurus se děj odehrává během jediného dne a nesledujeme v něm jenom Tyrannosaura Rexe na trestné výpravě, ale také řadu jiných dinosaurů. Asi vás nepřekvapí, že osudy všech se toho dne nějak protnou a můžete si být jistí, že to celé neskončí žádným happyendem. Souboje jsou pěkně rozkreslené a hodně se mi líbily panely, na kterých je zachycen děj nad vodní hladinou, i pod ní. Kniha vyšla jako malý paperback (menší než standardní sešit).
—
Few years ago I saw some pages from the comics Cretaceous and I knew that I needed it. Art is amazing and annotation say that it’s based on research. It looks like dinosaurs are one of the most popular themes for silent comics. Except Cretaceous we have silent comics like Age of Reptiles, Love - Dinosaur and partially also Gon. The content of all of them is the same in fact - hunt and eat. The bigger eats smaller and the pack is eating an alone animal. It's mostly pretty rough and gory. In this aspect is comics Cretaceous on the top. Like in comics Love - Dinosaur also here it’s story of one day. We are not only following T-Rex on his revenge mission but also other dinosaurs and mammals. It probably won't surprise you that everyone's fates will somehow intersect that day, and you can be sure that it won't end with a happy ending.The fights are nicely phased and I really liked the panels that show the action above and below the water surface. The book was published as a small paperback book (smaller than a standard issue).
November 26, 2018
Cretaceous is a fascinating take on prehistoric life in the day of dinosaurs. Without using any words, Tadd Galusha weaves a story that feels immediately emotional, and genuinely painful at times.
I was under the impression when I went into this book that for some reason it was going to be kid-friendly and it definitely seems to be geared more to teens and adults (although kids who like their dinosaur stories with a bit of extra gore and feeling might find themselves enjoying this one, especially if they struggle to read usually). At times I found myself having to go over a page a few times to make sure I was seeing everything correctly, but that's more so because I personally need extra time to comprehend images without words.
The story itself was really dark and emotional, with a lot of circle of life stuff going on, but as someone who can be emotional about that sort of thing, it definitely had me teary-eyed. The way it veered in between the core story and the big picture was interesting, and I found it especially immersive, although it did make it hard for me to visually follow a couple of times.
Artistically, this story was stunning. The dinosaurs were all rendered in an incredibly believable way, and they seemed relatively true in design to what they would have been in real life based on nonfiction I have read. The scenery, in particular, was quite breathtaking. The events often got bloodier than I really anticipated going in, so there were a few scenes early on that had me cringing slightly, but mostly I adjusted to it, I just hadn't expected it.
The information section in the back that identified each of the creatures depicted and gave additional information about them was helpful and especially interesting. I didn't expect to see that in the end, but I definitely appreciated its presence.
Overall, this is something that I did find myself enjoying a lot, especially once I started really getting into the thick of it. Anyone looking for a believable dinosaur story need look no further.
I was under the impression when I went into this book that for some reason it was going to be kid-friendly and it definitely seems to be geared more to teens and adults (although kids who like their dinosaur stories with a bit of extra gore and feeling might find themselves enjoying this one, especially if they struggle to read usually). At times I found myself having to go over a page a few times to make sure I was seeing everything correctly, but that's more so because I personally need extra time to comprehend images without words.
The story itself was really dark and emotional, with a lot of circle of life stuff going on, but as someone who can be emotional about that sort of thing, it definitely had me teary-eyed. The way it veered in between the core story and the big picture was interesting, and I found it especially immersive, although it did make it hard for me to visually follow a couple of times.
Artistically, this story was stunning. The dinosaurs were all rendered in an incredibly believable way, and they seemed relatively true in design to what they would have been in real life based on nonfiction I have read. The scenery, in particular, was quite breathtaking. The events often got bloodier than I really anticipated going in, so there were a few scenes early on that had me cringing slightly, but mostly I adjusted to it, I just hadn't expected it.
The information section in the back that identified each of the creatures depicted and gave additional information about them was helpful and especially interesting. I didn't expect to see that in the end, but I definitely appreciated its presence.
Overall, this is something that I did find myself enjoying a lot, especially once I started really getting into the thick of it. Anyone looking for a believable dinosaur story need look no further.
Read
December 2, 2018Originally posted at ragdollreads.co.uk
For the dinosaur lover in your life.
TL;DR – A superb book about living life, the dinosaur way.
Ragdoll Rating: 5/5 Buttons
Recommended For: Dinosaur fans, folks who appreciate the comics as a medium
About the Book…
Cretaceous is my best guess at the perfect use of the comics medium. The story follows a t-rex as he goes about his daily life, doing t-rex things in a t-rex way. It’s full of dinosaurs and drama and it’s super freakin’ sweet.
What I thought…
The first thing that needs to be said about this book is it includes no dialogue. Not. One. Word. No speech, no narration, NOTHING. And yet this book is absolutely soaked in drama and emotion.
We follow a T-rex, a loving, family-oriented T-rex, who goes out hunting to support its family. But disaster strikes! His partner and babies are slaughtered by opportunistic dinosaurs! Tragedy! What follows is an exploration of life in the past, mixed with a tale of revenge. We also follow a triceratops in its battle for survival.
The art in this book is beautiful and so expressive – it moves me better than words ever could. I felt like I had a deep understanding of the characters by the end of this book, and they don’t even have names. Galusha expertly uses his art to tell stories of love, revenge, survival and family, all without saying a word.
To top it off, at the back there is a little section telling you what all the creatures were and compares their height to an average human, which was a great touch.
Final Thoughts…
I loved this book, and if you appreciate the comics medium, you should definitely give it a go.
For the dinosaur lover in your life.
TL;DR – A superb book about living life, the dinosaur way.
Ragdoll Rating: 5/5 Buttons
Recommended For: Dinosaur fans, folks who appreciate the comics as a medium
About the Book…
Cretaceous is my best guess at the perfect use of the comics medium. The story follows a t-rex as he goes about his daily life, doing t-rex things in a t-rex way. It’s full of dinosaurs and drama and it’s super freakin’ sweet.
What I thought…
The first thing that needs to be said about this book is it includes no dialogue. Not. One. Word. No speech, no narration, NOTHING. And yet this book is absolutely soaked in drama and emotion.
We follow a T-rex, a loving, family-oriented T-rex, who goes out hunting to support its family. But disaster strikes! His partner and babies are slaughtered by opportunistic dinosaurs! Tragedy! What follows is an exploration of life in the past, mixed with a tale of revenge. We also follow a triceratops in its battle for survival.
The art in this book is beautiful and so expressive – it moves me better than words ever could. I felt like I had a deep understanding of the characters by the end of this book, and they don’t even have names. Galusha expertly uses his art to tell stories of love, revenge, survival and family, all without saying a word.
To top it off, at the back there is a little section telling you what all the creatures were and compares their height to an average human, which was a great touch.
Final Thoughts…
I loved this book, and if you appreciate the comics medium, you should definitely give it a go.
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