24 Panels

by Kieron Gillen, Alan Moore, Al Ewing

In June 2017, the Grenfell fire killed 72 people in a 24-story tower block in West London. 24 Panels is an anthology comic to support the PTSD needs of the survivors. Curated by Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine), it features 24 stories, each no longer than 24 panels. Half drawn from professional creators who volunteered their time and half drawn from open submissions, 24 Panels is about community, hope, and (most of all) raising as much money as possible.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Short Stories, Comic Book, Fiction, Sequential Art, Graphic Novels Comics

112 pages, Paperback

First published November 27, 2018

About the author

Kieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.

Reviews

[Alex Sarll]

With the best will in the world, benefit anthologies can be a very mixed bag, artistically. They're prone to containing a lot of pieces reminding you that yes, that bad thing which happened? It was bad, wasn't it? This becomes even more glaring when, as with the Love Is Love book in response to the Pulse nightclub shooting, it subsequently becomes clear that everyone had the wrong end of the stick about the initial outrage, and you've done a book proclaiming that gay love is just as valid as straight in response to a murderous dickhead who would have been equally happy shooting up a straight club and so, in a ghastly sort of way, was already in full agreement on that point. Thank heavens, then, for 24 Panels, which funds therapy for the PTSD suffered by the survivors of the Grenfell fire. And as such, tries its best to avoid the sort of restatements of the awfulness which would be liable to set off that PTSD. There are stories here which respond to the incident in an oblique fashion, for instance by celebrating the overlooked communities which grow up in neglected tower blocks. There are others which lack even that link – one particularly lovely piece written by Paul Cornell is entirely conflict-free, and all about the joy he finds in cricket matches. Other contributors range from Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie to first-timers picked from an open call for submissions, and yet the quality variation is if anything less than in many such books which recruited from the usual suspects.
(And my copy has absolutely none of their signatures, despite my attending the launch party and purchasing my copy that day, because sometimes my planning twists around and defeats itself)

[Rebecca Gransden · Rating 4 out of 5]

24 Stories was a short story anthology put together in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and its immediate aftermath. 24 Panels is a companion project, this time featuring comic book and graphic novel artists each given the space of the titular 24 panels to give their interpretation and response to the event.

I particularly like the stark black and white contributions, with very few words, or none at all.

Trying to make sense is a noble aim, and this collection is a varied and enquiring attempt. Generally a reflective tone, using the routine incidences of the everyday to explore questions of normalcy and how to digest an event of such high traumatic impact. A thoughtfully curated collection.

[⠀annie. ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel bad rating this with only three stars because of the purpose of this,, but i only like a few of the stories tbh

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was offered this comic anthology and I was very excited to read this because of the reason this was put together. On June last year, the Grenfell fire killed 72 people in a 24-story tower block in West London. This was created to raise funds and support the PTSD needs of the survivors. Impressive art work and short storylines - with some stories I wish they were a bit longer than it was, but they were great nonetheless.. It was difficult to choose a favourite but I really liked Bagan Burma 2040, a culturally infused Burmese comic, I also enjoyed Dream Job which was a choose your own adventure type comic and They Say which is an important story that demonstrates how everyone has their own story half the time things that are said about you may not be true as people really don’t truly know what happens behind the scenes - everyone is dealing with their own battles you don’t know about.. A great collection of comics, great illustrations, story lines - recommended to graphic novel and comics fans..

[Kazima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection is amazing! A real gem of great little stories and wonderful artwork that are so optimistic, heart-warming and hopeful, despite being cast upon such a tragic canvas that will sadly be relevant for a quite a time. But art, expression and communication help us grow toward the future. So read this book and buy it for all your family and friends - not only to support the survivors of the Grenfell fire, but because there are some lovely and powerful slices of humanity among these pages that need to be shared.

[Dave Parry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this after I went to a day’s workshop with the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service, describing their work & how they were set up in the wake of the fire. It was a powerful & inspiring day & the proceeds from this publication go to the work of all organisations addressing the needs of people involved & affected by the psychological consequences of the fire. It’s a companion volume to ’24 Stories of Hope for Survivors of the Grenfell Tower Fire’, edited by Kathy Burke, which I’m reading & enjoying in between other books this year.

This consists of a series of graphic stories, each using no more than 24 panels, echoing the 24 storeys of the Grenfell Tower (& possibly, I wondered, the panels of disastrous, flammable cladding on the building). Some directly reference the fire, the response of the authorities & the experiences of the individuals & community affected; others describe different traumatic & troubling events, the effects of which parallel those of the fire. Some seem to strand alone & all portray one or combinations of the themes of solidarity, persistence, hope, community, frustration, anger, pain, positivity & unity. Some try to explain, others condemn, others just sit with the pain.

I’ve not read a graphic novel or comic like this before; it’s instantly accessible, colourful, striking, shocking, sobering, hopeful & insightful. The styles are varied, some quite stark & monotone, others rich & colourful; some of the images are terrifying, macabre & frightening, others are soft, innocent & soothing. Some are sequential comic book narratives, others are single or interconnected images; there’s even a very clever ‘choose your own story comic’ which leads you through different options about starting in a new job!

There’s validation, condemnation, humour & innovation here; it feels young, modern, relevant & respectful. I read it quite quickly once I started it & I can see myself dipping into it again many times in order to experience its full benefit & impact. Utterly unique in my year’s reading so far, I might consider getting a copy of the graphic novel that was in the Booker Prize longlist (‘Sabrina’ by Nick Drnaso) on the strength of this. Well worth getting a copy (if only to support the cause) & rewards open-minded consideration.

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of stories for a good cause.

November 25, 2023 – page 19
"I wouldn't worry about it. you guys are in eighth grade. Nobody makes good decisions in eighth grade.
Maybe they'll invite you over to dance, and maybe they won't.
A year from now, it won't matter - all that will matter is whether you had fun."

November 25, 2023 – page 26
"They seem not to know about a lot of things.
But They love to talk about them anyways."

November 25, 2023 – page 60
"Like facets of a jewel they catch the light,
With all their precious moments kept intact,
And every hug and each unselfish act
Shall long outlive the stars, if Einstein's right."

November 25, 2023 – page 67
"Being human was a pretty steep learning curve.
I had to make most of it up as I went along."

[Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Standouts:

- "They Say", by Alex de Campi (words and letters), Ro Stein and Ted Brandt (art), and Triona Tree Farrell (color)
- "Kinship", by Liam Donnelly
- "People First", by Antony Johnston (words), Robin Hoelzemann (art), and Pippa Mather (color)
- "Dream Job", by Lizz Lunney
- "Human Child", by Laurie Penny (words), Gavin Mitchell (art), and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (letters)
- "Untitled", by Erika Price
- "The Favelas", by Daniel Santos (words), Debora Santos (art), and Toben Racicot (letters)
- "Scratchcards", by Dan Watters (words), Sarah Gordon (art), and Hassan Otsamne-Elhaou (letters)

[Rob McMonigal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I had liked this better. I'm generally a fan of anthologies, especially those designed to help others, but the problem here is that the 24 panels isn't consistent from story to story and the other part of the theme is too broad. So instead of feeling like you're reading a carefully edited anthology, it's more like "here are a series of stories."

That being said, Alan Moore's contribution is really cool.

As a way to help others, this was great. As a comic, there's just not enough here to recommend it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think raising money for trauma support for the Grenfell Tower survivors is an incredible thing to put a charity anthology together for. Some of the comics featured here really capture that spirit, as well as the spirit of community and recovery. That said, as with many anthologies, it can be a bit of a mixed bags, with some of the comics not standing out at all or standing out as poor examples.

I probably wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this, but I definitely wouldn't recommend against it either, and I do think the cause is great.

[Paul Allard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charity comic collection on the disaster of Grenfell Tower - good on the whole.

With this type of comic collection, consisting of many short pieces by a variety of writers and artists, there are bound to be likes and dislikes. The overall effect is that something laudable has been created with the best intentions. Some of the pieces are hard to grasp, others simple stories, some of which not necessarily connected to the Grenfell fire and deaths.
Worth a look - and your support.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anthology put together to help those suffering from PTSD after the Grenfell fire in England killed 72 people. The gist here is that you have 24 panels to tell your story so the stories are short. Most of the stories don't even mention what happened. They are about other things completely. For instance, Paul Cornell's is about cricket. The stories are just OK but that wasn't really the point. The point was to raise some money to help those suffering.

[Mark Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great anthology for a very worthy cause. It's such a wide variety of artists and writers that there's probably going to be something in here you like and anything you don't is so sorry it won't bother you. This variety also means it serves as a fantastic introduction to modern comics if it's something you haven't yet tried out.

[Elle Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the aftermath of a terrible apartment building fire in London in 2017, this offering is a collection of 24 stories dealing with themes such as hope, community and unity, as a tribute to the survivors of the tragedy. The stories are all very different but each connects to the reader in a heartfelt way that makes the collection a privilege to read.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of stories!

I had my doubts about the book considering a number of the comics or amateur but they're all thoughtful, short, and poignant. There's a story here that will pluck at least one of your heart strings.

[Hayley Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always tricky to rate/review anthologies because the content varies quite a lot. There were a few stories in this that really moved me but in others it felt like there was a tension between the comics' tone and the cause being supported.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

Poignant panels, some light, some crushing and often political but carrying the themes of loss and survival through a collection of short stories.

[Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the stories is drawn by Alan Moore

[Tabrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork with uplifting stories that aim to help people with their PTSD, depression and anxiety.

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

it took a while to read but i really enjoyed this one :)) some of the mini-stories didn’t really connect with me but i loved most of them so ty waterstones for letting me find this !!

[Will Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since it's a collection, some are better than others. Some are really meaningful, though.

[Kang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all the different styles and short stories.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

would buy this book for literally just one of the stories

[Anisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved seeing all the different artwork and stories for a good cause.

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

"24 Panels" takes a fairly simple idea and produces an interesting and entertaining sampling of current comic art and writing. Originally conceived as a fundraising project after the 2017 tragedy at the Grenfell tower block this book has lasting merit and is well worth reading .

Each story is short, never more than 24 panels, - hence the name. The wide diversity of art and storytelling styles is notable and the constituent stories vary greatly from each other. Most do not even directly reference the tragedy at Grenfell. What they do have in common, though , is a common thread of hope and faith in the ability to improve the future.

All of these stories are worth reading, though some are more accessible and / or interesting than others. My top four personal favorites are "They Say" , "If Einstein's Right", "The Favelas and "A Logical Conclusion".

[Sean Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An anthology held together by honest to goodness good faith. A collection of powerful, sweet and vibrant stories.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a comic anthology, especially if it benefits a good cause. This collection is no exception. Stand out pieces for me were: They Say (Alex de Campi, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt and Tritons Tree Farrell,) If Einstein’s Right (Alan Moore, Melinda Gebbie, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou,) and The Favelas (Daniel Santos, Débora Santos, and Toben Racicot)