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Motor Girl #1-10
Motor Girl
LA NUEVA OBRA DEL AUTOR DE STRANGERS IN PARADISE
Samantha tiene una vida de lo más peculiar. Trabaja en un desguace en medio del desierto, su mejor amigo es un gorila que habla y recientemente ha recibido la visita de hombrecillos verdes del espacio. Pero su vida de fantasía chocará con la realidad y su doloroso pasado cuando un poderoso personaje quiera hacerse con el desguace.
Terry Moore (Strangers in paradise, Echo, Rachel Rising) regresa con una fascinante historia sobre superación, fantasía y estrés postraumático.
Samantha tiene una vida de lo más peculiar. Trabaja en un desguace en medio del desierto, su mejor amigo es un gorila que habla y recientemente ha recibido la visita de hombrecillos verdes del espacio. Pero su vida de fantasía chocará con la realidad y su doloroso pasado cuando un poderoso personaje quiera hacerse con el desguace.
Terry Moore (Strangers in paradise, Echo, Rachel Rising) regresa con una fascinante historia sobre superación, fantasía y estrés postraumático.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2018
4 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Terry Moore
824 books649 followersFollowing the examples of independent comic creators such as Dave Sim and Jeff Smith, he decided to publish Strangers in Paradise himself through his own Houston-based "Abstract Studios" imprint, and has frequently mentioned a desire to do a syndicated cartoon strip in the authors notes at the back of the Strangers in Paradise collection books. He has also mentioned his greatest career influence is Peanuts' Charles Schulz.[1] Some of Moore's strip work can additionally be found in his Paradise, Too! publications.
His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including receiving the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 1996 for Strangers in Paradise #1-8, which was collected in the trade paperback "I Dream of You".
It was announced on June 15th, 2007 that Moore would be taking over for Sean McKeever as writer of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane series starting with a new issue #1. On July 27th, Marvel announced that Moore would also take over for Joss Whedon as writer of Marvel's Runaways.[2]
On November 19th, 2007 Terry Moore announced in his blog that his new self-published series would be named Echo and its first issue would appear on March 5th, 2008.[3]
His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including receiving the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 1996 for Strangers in Paradise #1-8, which was collected in the trade paperback "I Dream of You".
It was announced on June 15th, 2007 that Moore would be taking over for Sean McKeever as writer of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane series starting with a new issue #1. On July 27th, Marvel announced that Moore would also take over for Joss Whedon as writer of Marvel's Runaways.[2]
On November 19th, 2007 Terry Moore announced in his blog that his new self-published series would be named Echo and its first issue would appear on March 5th, 2008.[3]
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 31, 2025
Again an incredible story by Terry Moore about a strong yet damaged young woman. And again, humor turns into horror when it turns out that things are not always what they appear to be. Funny, sad, crazy, clever and simply great!
4.5 stars.
4.5 stars.
October 18, 2021
Esta obra trata del trastorno de estrés postraumático de una joven veterana de guerra.
Una historia narrada con emoción y delicadeza, y personajes que aportan un punto de ternura.
Hay partes de la trama que no me han convencido.
Lo mejor, el personaje del gorila.
Recomendable: 3,5🌟
Una historia narrada con emoción y delicadeza, y personajes que aportan un punto de ternura.
Hay partes de la trama que no me han convencido.
Lo mejor, el personaje del gorila.
Recomendable: 3,5🌟
March 9, 2019
In 10 issues, Moore tells the story of Sam, a veteran of Iraq working in a scrapyard with his friend Mike the gorilla, that said gorilla belongs to his imagination becomes part of the brilliance of the story. Sam is a strong and capable female character, compassionate, and with great problems at the same time. Livvy -the owmer- is an old woman who does not let herself be intimidated and who wants more than anything to help Sam. Meanwhile, those little extraterrestrial green beings also seem to be in trouble, especially when an individual insists on taking Livvy's land.
There are funny moments, other serious, other touching and unreal. The story has us doubting until the end between reality and fiction in the mind of this soldier with post traumatic stress. As someone mentioned, the worst thing is that this is undoubtedly true for many.
Sometimes it's hard to let others help us no matter how much we need it.
I loved the way of drawing the story, simple and at the same time expressive.
There are funny moments, other serious, other touching and unreal. The story has us doubting until the end between reality and fiction in the mind of this soldier with post traumatic stress. As someone mentioned, the worst thing is that this is undoubtedly true for many.
Sometimes it's hard to let others help us no matter how much we need it.
I loved the way of drawing the story, simple and at the same time expressive.
March 6, 2022
4.5/5
PTSD, UFO, imaginary friends, and drama. You get all of it and more. In Terry Moore's Motor Girl, comedy and drama overlap in a moving examination of psychological trauma. Sam is an Iraq veteran. She lives and works in a scrapyard somewhere in the desert. And someone wants this piece of land, no matter the cost.
I loved it, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in graphic novels or getting into Moore's books.
PTSD, UFO, imaginary friends, and drama. You get all of it and more. In Terry Moore's Motor Girl, comedy and drama overlap in a moving examination of psychological trauma. Sam is an Iraq veteran. She lives and works in a scrapyard somewhere in the desert. And someone wants this piece of land, no matter the cost.
I loved it, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in graphic novels or getting into Moore's books.
March 30, 2018
For whatever reason, and I've read comics since the 80s, I've never read a Terry Moore comic. I was blown away by this book! The cartooning is perfect. Terry does more with simple line work than I would have thought possible. The characters come to life almost immediately and I felt a real connection to each.
The storyline weaves a pitch perfect roller coaster ride of PTSD, the supernatural, science fiction, and the innocent casualties of a continuing war that sadly has become the new normal in our slice of history.
Motor Girl is a quick read that I found impossible to pause once started. It's a must read for anyone that enjoys comics.
The storyline weaves a pitch perfect roller coaster ride of PTSD, the supernatural, science fiction, and the innocent casualties of a continuing war that sadly has become the new normal in our slice of history.
Motor Girl is a quick read that I found impossible to pause once started. It's a must read for anyone that enjoys comics.
October 25, 2021
Well damn, thats a well told story. Loved every minute and will definitely read again.
October 5, 2020
Un poco ingenuote a ratos, pero entretenido.
July 8, 2022
(Zero spoiler review) 2.25/5
I take no joy in apportioning such a low score and a rather unflattering review to the works of Terry Moore. That said, I've now read a considerable portion of his work, and despite Strangers in Paradise, which was a flawed yet much cherished read of mine, everything else I've read of his has been of significantly lower quality. Not to mention being filled with tropes that in SiP, where able to be passed off as minor annoyances amidst a more interesting story. Sadly, in these lesser works, they are far more annoying and far more pervasive.
Terry Moore needs to stick to slice of life, period! Every story of his has been a slice of life tale, with varying levels of supernatural or extraordinary occurrences. Very good slice of life stories that are tarnished, lessened, even ruined in my opinion, by the need to force in these fantastical elements which are poorly executed. It should be mentioned now, that the only Moore story I've yet to read is Rachel Rising. A story with supernatural themes that may buck this trend. Sadly now, I don't exactly have my hopes up.
Never is this more apparent than Motor Girl. Aliens? Really? It's not a spoiler, the things on the front cover. If you can read this story, come to the end, and think that the aliens were in anyway appropriately done, much less necessary, than you and I have very different opinions on what constitutes competent story writing, or themes necessitating inclusion to make a narrative work. It was Dumb with a capital D. For those who have read this, I'm aware of the ending, but that doesn't change their implementation throughout the story. This could have been a nice little slice of life about a woman (because that's all Terry Moore ever writes, and we'll cover that shortly), struggling with a few different issues. Sure, work in some drama, some conflict as needed for the narrative. But aliens? Nope. It doesn't appear Moore has it in him to pull such a story off convincingly. Tell me the best bits about SiP wasn't the suburban will they/won't they of Francine and Katchoo. Sure, you need stuff happening around this to fill out the main narrative and give it its longevity, but the fantastical elements in that, which I won't spoil here. Easily the weakest part of it. It's the same thing, over and over again in his stories, and I'm getting a little sick of it by now.
The other main Terry trope, which is, as expected, in full affect here, is his girl boss/all men one dimensional assholes schtick, which again, I'm really, really sick of. Seriously, find me a man in a Terry Moore story that isn't a one note caricature of the nuance and subtleties of a real man/male character. Maybe David in SiP. He's probably the most likeable and sympathetic, but he's still subordinate, still cuckolded by the women whenever it suits, which is often. The men in this story are incredibly poorly written, uninspiring, ineffectual, unintelligent... I could go on. In short, poorly written foils for girl boss main character. Seriously, if you think the main villain, or even the two other flip flopping twits are well written, then I'm glad you can be far more easily placated by poor writing than I me. I almost envy it, really.
The ending itself was reasonably foreshadowed, so it didn't come as a huge surprise, but it was rushed, and stole a lot of the emotion by finishing a few pages sooner than it should. Another missed opportunity there.
It seems all I have left with Terry stories now is the art, which I still really like. Though its a sad indictment on this that the part of the book I liked the most was the glossary of promotional art in the back. His comic strippy style lends so well to the slice of life medium he does pretty well (when he's not sabotaging it with his overused and tired tropes). Plus the main character, who I can't even remember the name of a few days after finishing the book, does look a little too much like Francine, without her more down to earth charm. Tone down the Terry tropes and stick to what you're good at Mr. Moore, and we'll all have a much better time. Sadly, I don't see him stopping the nonsense anytime soon. I really wish I liked this more. I really do. 2.25/5
OmniBen.
I take no joy in apportioning such a low score and a rather unflattering review to the works of Terry Moore. That said, I've now read a considerable portion of his work, and despite Strangers in Paradise, which was a flawed yet much cherished read of mine, everything else I've read of his has been of significantly lower quality. Not to mention being filled with tropes that in SiP, where able to be passed off as minor annoyances amidst a more interesting story. Sadly, in these lesser works, they are far more annoying and far more pervasive.
Terry Moore needs to stick to slice of life, period! Every story of his has been a slice of life tale, with varying levels of supernatural or extraordinary occurrences. Very good slice of life stories that are tarnished, lessened, even ruined in my opinion, by the need to force in these fantastical elements which are poorly executed. It should be mentioned now, that the only Moore story I've yet to read is Rachel Rising. A story with supernatural themes that may buck this trend. Sadly now, I don't exactly have my hopes up.
Never is this more apparent than Motor Girl. Aliens? Really? It's not a spoiler, the things on the front cover. If you can read this story, come to the end, and think that the aliens were in anyway appropriately done, much less necessary, than you and I have very different opinions on what constitutes competent story writing, or themes necessitating inclusion to make a narrative work. It was Dumb with a capital D. For those who have read this, I'm aware of the ending, but that doesn't change their implementation throughout the story. This could have been a nice little slice of life about a woman (because that's all Terry Moore ever writes, and we'll cover that shortly), struggling with a few different issues. Sure, work in some drama, some conflict as needed for the narrative. But aliens? Nope. It doesn't appear Moore has it in him to pull such a story off convincingly. Tell me the best bits about SiP wasn't the suburban will they/won't they of Francine and Katchoo. Sure, you need stuff happening around this to fill out the main narrative and give it its longevity, but the fantastical elements in that, which I won't spoil here. Easily the weakest part of it. It's the same thing, over and over again in his stories, and I'm getting a little sick of it by now.
The other main Terry trope, which is, as expected, in full affect here, is his girl boss/all men one dimensional assholes schtick, which again, I'm really, really sick of. Seriously, find me a man in a Terry Moore story that isn't a one note caricature of the nuance and subtleties of a real man/male character. Maybe David in SiP. He's probably the most likeable and sympathetic, but he's still subordinate, still cuckolded by the women whenever it suits, which is often. The men in this story are incredibly poorly written, uninspiring, ineffectual, unintelligent... I could go on. In short, poorly written foils for girl boss main character. Seriously, if you think the main villain, or even the two other flip flopping twits are well written, then I'm glad you can be far more easily placated by poor writing than I me. I almost envy it, really.
The ending itself was reasonably foreshadowed, so it didn't come as a huge surprise, but it was rushed, and stole a lot of the emotion by finishing a few pages sooner than it should. Another missed opportunity there.
It seems all I have left with Terry stories now is the art, which I still really like. Though its a sad indictment on this that the part of the book I liked the most was the glossary of promotional art in the back. His comic strippy style lends so well to the slice of life medium he does pretty well (when he's not sabotaging it with his overused and tired tropes). Plus the main character, who I can't even remember the name of a few days after finishing the book, does look a little too much like Francine, without her more down to earth charm. Tone down the Terry tropes and stick to what you're good at Mr. Moore, and we'll all have a much better time. Sadly, I don't see him stopping the nonsense anytime soon. I really wish I liked this more. I really do. 2.25/5
OmniBen.
November 27, 2021
Саманта работает на автосвалке посреди невадской пустыни; её лучший друг — Майк, огромная горилла. А ещё она морпех, три раза была в Ираке, и этот опыт не прошёл для девушки бесследно. Хозяйка свалки — очаровательная старушка, которая за словом в карман не лезет, но тут какие-то таинственные личности настойчиво предлагают выкупить у неё никому не нужный участок пустоши, а дальше и вовсе начинается какая-то милая сайфай-чертовщина.
Подходить к Strangers in Paradise, как и к любому долгострою, я всё боюсь, "Воскресение Рэйчел" меня совсем не впечатлило, а вот от "Мотористки" неожиданно оказался в восторге. Здесь автору, прямо как в "Скотте Пилигриме", первом сезоне "Семьи Сопрано" и других гениальных произведениях, удаётся в равных долях сочетать трогательную драму, изобретательную комедию и бодрый боевик. Да, быть может, произведение местами излишне легкомысленное (и я не уверен, что полностью поддерживаю финальный хук), но не всем на свете нужно быть достоевскими.
Очень понравилось, что и общая тональность, и мечтательные беседы, и некоторые сюжетные ходы часто перекликались с моими любимыми "Кальвином и Хоббсом"; парочка главных героев — практически тот самый выросший дуэт, о котором вот уже двадцать пять лет мечтают фанаты легендарных стрипов. Традиционно прекрасен и чёрно-белый рисунок Терри Мура, с тонкими, уверенными линиями и богатыми визуальными приёмами (мини-сценка с зависшим в воздухе Рокстеди совершенно гениальная). Занятно ещё, что это один из очень немногих комиксов, где основной арт выглядит лучше обложек.
В общем, я ничего особо не ждал, заказывая книгу, а теперь немного жалею, что комикс — лимитка. Наше издание, кстати, тоже классное; переведённые шутки бьют точно в цель, и ни разу у меня не возникло желания свериться с оригиналом. Рекомендую практически наравне с "Нимоной"; вот небольшая фотогалерея.
Подходить к Strangers in Paradise, как и к любому долгострою, я всё боюсь, "Воскресение Рэйчел" меня совсем не впечатлило, а вот от "Мотористки" неожиданно оказался в восторге. Здесь автору, прямо как в "Скотте Пилигриме", первом сезоне "Семьи Сопрано" и других гениальных произведениях, удаётся в равных долях сочетать трогательную драму, изобретательную комедию и бодрый боевик. Да, быть может, произведение местами излишне легкомысленное (и я не уверен, что полностью поддерживаю финальный хук), но не всем на свете нужно быть достоевскими.
Очень понравилось, что и общая тональность, и мечтательные беседы, и некоторые сюжетные ходы часто перекликались с моими любимыми "Кальвином и Хоббсом"; парочка главных героев — практически тот самый выросший дуэт, о котором вот уже двадцать пять лет мечтают фанаты легендарных стрипов. Традиционно прекрасен и чёрно-белый рисунок Терри Мура, с тонкими, уверенными линиями и богатыми визуальными приёмами (мини-сценка с зависшим в воздухе Рокстеди совершенно гениальная). Занятно ещё, что это один из очень немногих комиксов, где основной арт выглядит лучше обложек.
В общем, я ничего особо не ждал, заказывая книгу, а теперь немного жалею, что комикс — лимитка. Наше издание, кстати, тоже классное; переведённые шутки бьют точно в цель, и ни разу у меня не возникло желания свериться с оригиналом. Рекомендую практически наравне с "Нимоной"; вот небольшая фотогалерея.
March 5, 2019
Sam es una joven veterana de la guerra de Afganistán que sufre de estrés postraumático. Trabaja en como mecánica en un desguace perdido en mitad del desierto y tiene como único amigo imaginario Mike, un gorila con el que habla. Todo transcurre de manera tranquila hasta que un buen día aparece un platillo volante con hombrecillos verdes. ¿Son imaginaciones suyas o son reales?
'Motor Girl' es una obra de superación personal, donde se nos muestra a una heroína con sus fallos y virtudes. Un buen dibujo para una historia que no ha llegado a gustarme del todo. El tema ovni me ha sacado de la trama. Lo mejor, los comentarios de Mike.
'Motor Girl' es una obra de superación personal, donde se nos muestra a una heroína con sus fallos y virtudes. Un buen dibujo para una historia que no ha llegado a gustarme del todo. El tema ovni me ha sacado de la trama. Lo mejor, los comentarios de Mike.
March 23, 2022
Sehr unterhaltsam und gleichzeitig sehr bewegend.
Ich bin an diesen Comic von Terry Moore sehr unvoreingenommen rangegangen. Ich dachte eigentlich, es wäre eine verrückte Sci-Fi-Story, bekommen habe ich aber eine anrührende Geschichte über eine Kriegsveteranin, die mit ihrem Traumata und einem Granatsplitter im Kopf zu kämpfen hat.
An manchen Stellen gerät die Geschichte etwas skurril, am Ende ergibt aber alles Sinn und insbesondere die verrückt-liebenswerten Charaktere habe ich direkt ins Herz geschlossen.
Überraschend anders und sympathisch abgedreht.
Ich bin an diesen Comic von Terry Moore sehr unvoreingenommen rangegangen. Ich dachte eigentlich, es wäre eine verrückte Sci-Fi-Story, bekommen habe ich aber eine anrührende Geschichte über eine Kriegsveteranin, die mit ihrem Traumata und einem Granatsplitter im Kopf zu kämpfen hat.
An manchen Stellen gerät die Geschichte etwas skurril, am Ende ergibt aber alles Sinn und insbesondere die verrückt-liebenswerten Charaktere habe ich direkt ins Herz geschlossen.
Überraschend anders und sympathisch abgedreht.
July 4, 2024
Sam: "I don't need any help! Okay? I carry my own load! No one has to help me! I help them! I am the strongest person in the room! That's how it works!"
Mike: "Really?"
Sam: "Damn straight!"
Mike: "Then why am I here?"
Mike: "Really?"
Sam: "Damn straight!"
Mike: "Then why am I here?"
April 7, 2018
I began reading the Motor Girl series when it began in single issues a little over a year ago. But after the first four issues, I got behind in my reading...but knowing that Moore would collect everything eventually. Now, in this wonderful omnibus edition, I begin again and experience the entire narrative at once. I love Moore's work, his mixtures of visual styles, and his exploration of psychology and social dynamics. This is a more contained story in scope, especially when compared to his previous series, Rachel Rising, and the SiP saga.
September 14, 2018
Je dois être une des plus grandes fans au monde de "Strangers in paradise", la série qui a imposé Terry Moore comme un des meilleurs artistes indie de son époque. En revanche, je dois dire que je n'ai pas adoré ce qu'il a fait par la suite. J'ai suivi tout "Echo" sans grand enthousiasme, et décroché assez rapidement de "Rachel rising". Le trait était toujours aussi chouette, les héroïnes poutraient toujours du gnou, mais les histoires ne m'intéressaient pas.
Du coup, je n'ai même pas su qu'il avait publié une série courte en dix numéros intitulée "Motor girl". Et quand je l'ai découvert, j'ai fait une moue dubitative. Sam, vétéran rentrée d'Irak avec un solide syndrome post-traumatique, tient une casse auto dans le désert avec son meilleur pote, Mike le gorille. Et un jour, elle rencontre des extra-terrestres. Gni? Pour être honnête, je pensais faire l'impasse. Mais quand j'ai vu que Delcourt sortait l'intégrale en français pour la modique somme de 20€, je me suis dit qu'au pire, je me rincerais l'oeil sur les beaux dessins de Terry Moore et glousserais en voyant sa nouvelle femme forte maraver la gueule d'un ou deux méchants.
Oh boy. Je n'étais pas du tout prête à me laisser embarquer dans un tel tourbillon d'émotions. De l'aventure, forcément, avec un pitch pareil; de l'absurde à foison, et de grands éclats de rire à plusieurs reprises. Mais surtout, surtout, la gorge serrée, le coeur gonflé et les yeux qui piquent comme aux plus belles heures de SIP. J'ai lu l'album d'une traite, et je l'ai refermé éperdue d'admiration pour le brio avec lequel l'auteur venait de boucler une histoire complètement dingue en me baladant d'un bout à l'autre de la gamme des sentiments. Je connais peu de créateurs capables de parler de traumatismes psychiques d'une manière aussi réaliste à travers des scénarios qui le sont si peu, et quasiment aucun homme dont chaque oeuvre soit une telle déclaration d'amour au sexe féminin.
Mon blog lecture: http://l4nn3x3.blogspot.com/2018/09/m...
Du coup, je n'ai même pas su qu'il avait publié une série courte en dix numéros intitulée "Motor girl". Et quand je l'ai découvert, j'ai fait une moue dubitative. Sam, vétéran rentrée d'Irak avec un solide syndrome post-traumatique, tient une casse auto dans le désert avec son meilleur pote, Mike le gorille. Et un jour, elle rencontre des extra-terrestres. Gni? Pour être honnête, je pensais faire l'impasse. Mais quand j'ai vu que Delcourt sortait l'intégrale en français pour la modique somme de 20€, je me suis dit qu'au pire, je me rincerais l'oeil sur les beaux dessins de Terry Moore et glousserais en voyant sa nouvelle femme forte maraver la gueule d'un ou deux méchants.
Oh boy. Je n'étais pas du tout prête à me laisser embarquer dans un tel tourbillon d'émotions. De l'aventure, forcément, avec un pitch pareil; de l'absurde à foison, et de grands éclats de rire à plusieurs reprises. Mais surtout, surtout, la gorge serrée, le coeur gonflé et les yeux qui piquent comme aux plus belles heures de SIP. J'ai lu l'album d'une traite, et je l'ai refermé éperdue d'admiration pour le brio avec lequel l'auteur venait de boucler une histoire complètement dingue en me baladant d'un bout à l'autre de la gamme des sentiments. Je connais peu de créateurs capables de parler de traumatismes psychiques d'une manière aussi réaliste à travers des scénarios qui le sont si peu, et quasiment aucun homme dont chaque oeuvre soit une telle déclaration d'amour au sexe féminin.
Mon blog lecture: http://l4nn3x3.blogspot.com/2018/09/m...
November 29, 2019
Fantastic read, great art-work and great writing.
Give this one a chance!
Terry Moore does what he does best, combining comedy with gut-punching "trauma".
10/10 Would read again!
Give this one a chance!
Terry Moore does what he does best, combining comedy with gut-punching "trauma".
10/10 Would read again!
May 11, 2021
I was immediately sucked into this and thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 7, 2018
Questa è stata una vera sorpresa, non mi aspettavo tutte le emozioni che ho provato nel corso della lettura di questa graphic novel. Samantha, veterana della guerra in Iraq, vive in uno sfasciacarrozze nel mezzo del nulla, accompagnata da Mike, un gorilla parlante. Peccato che diventa subito evidente come Mike non sia altro che il frutto dell'immaginazione della ragazza, ancora profondamente segnata, non solo emotivamente ma anche fisicamente, dai traumi della sua vita - la prematura scomparsa del padre, anche lui membro delle forze armate, gli orrori della guerra e dei dieci mesi di prigionia nelle mani di terroristi: una sindrome da stress post-traumatico mai completamente risolta che finisce per segnare anche la sua vita quotidiana e che la porta a chiudersi in se stessa, a rifiutare l'amore di chi vorrebbe starle vicino. A rendere il tutto ancora più complicato c'è la comparsa di strani piccoli alieni, sulle cui tracce ci sono anche degli strani tizi che collaborano con il governo a qualche strano progetto top secret per avere il controllo completo dello spazio aereo e che vogliono a tutti i costi comprare il terreno sui cui si trova lo sfasciacarrozze. Solo alla fine veniamo a capo di tutta la vicenda.
Questa è una storia che colpisce dritta al cuore, che mette in luce il problema dei veterani - persone che hanno combattuto per il loro paese e che spesso tornano profondamente ferite dai loro turni sul campo di battaglia, bisognosi di supporto medico e psicologico. Si tratta di una lettura molto veloce, ma che suscita tantissime emozioni (è scesa più di una lacrima) e ho amato il modo in cui Terry Moore ha trattato temi tanto delicati, senza mai cadere nel patetismo. Assolutamente consigliato!
Questa è una storia che colpisce dritta al cuore, che mette in luce il problema dei veterani - persone che hanno combattuto per il loro paese e che spesso tornano profondamente ferite dai loro turni sul campo di battaglia, bisognosi di supporto medico e psicologico. Si tratta di una lettura molto veloce, ma che suscita tantissime emozioni (è scesa più di una lacrima) e ho amato il modo in cui Terry Moore ha trattato temi tanto delicati, senza mai cadere nel patetismo. Assolutamente consigliato!
March 25, 2020
This is by Terry Moore, who was the creator of one of my favourite comic book series of all time, 'Strangers in Paradise'... do yourselves a favour and give this a go.
Anyhoo... I digress. This fifn't disappoint, although I'd have given it 4.5 stars if Goodreads let us have half-stars, but decided to be nice (for once).
The story concerns Sam, who is a veteran marine, having served 3 tours of Iran. She suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome. She lives in the desert, with her elderly friend Libby (who plays a minor role in Stragners in Paradise... you don't need to have read it), who runs a scrap yard and Sam looks after it. She speaks to an imaginary gorilla. Have I lost you yet?
A weathy buyer who wants to buy the scrap yard. Some flying saucers and aliens, some incompetent hitmen... and a really perfect ending... More than that would spoil it too much.
Terry Moore is a hell of a Talented fella... and I love his work. This, like Strangers in Paradise, is in black & white and is all the better for it... Strangers in paradise tried going colur for a while under Image and while it was nice... it's not the same.
This, just like Strangers in Paradise, is recommended to those of you who aren't into comics and would maybe like to try it. It's not superheroes with massive boobs and a 12-pack, with impossibly small waists all doing 'super hero landings'. It's a poignant story about the human condition.
Read it. You'll see.
Anyhoo... I digress. This fifn't disappoint, although I'd have given it 4.5 stars if Goodreads let us have half-stars, but decided to be nice (for once).
The story concerns Sam, who is a veteran marine, having served 3 tours of Iran. She suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome. She lives in the desert, with her elderly friend Libby (who plays a minor role in Stragners in Paradise... you don't need to have read it), who runs a scrap yard and Sam looks after it. She speaks to an imaginary gorilla. Have I lost you yet?
A weathy buyer who wants to buy the scrap yard. Some flying saucers and aliens, some incompetent hitmen... and a really perfect ending... More than that would spoil it too much.
Terry Moore is a hell of a Talented fella... and I love his work. This, like Strangers in Paradise, is in black & white and is all the better for it... Strangers in paradise tried going colur for a while under Image and while it was nice... it's not the same.
This, just like Strangers in Paradise, is recommended to those of you who aren't into comics and would maybe like to try it. It's not superheroes with massive boobs and a 12-pack, with impossibly small waists all doing 'super hero landings'. It's a poignant story about the human condition.
Read it. You'll see.
January 2, 2020
Senza dubbio una lettura emozionante
Sam è una veterana della guerra in Iraq e vive in uno sfasciacarrozze insieme al gorilla Mike.
È chiaro fin da subito che la ragazza soffre di stress post traumatico, dovuto alle torture subite durante i dieci mesi di prigionia in Iraq e alla guerra in generale.
A questo si aggiungono dei piccoli alieni e dei tizi, che lavorano per un'associazone governativa, che vogliono catturarli per farne delle cavie da laboratorio.
Le parti divertenti si mescolano alle tematiche più serie, fra cui la situazione che tantissimi reduci di guerra sperimentano: sono spesso abbandonati a loro stessi e si trovano a fare i conti con traumi fisici, ma soprattutto psicologici.
Consiglio assolutamente questa graphic novel!!!
Sam è una veterana della guerra in Iraq e vive in uno sfasciacarrozze insieme al gorilla Mike.
È chiaro fin da subito che la ragazza soffre di stress post traumatico, dovuto alle torture subite durante i dieci mesi di prigionia in Iraq e alla guerra in generale.
A questo si aggiungono dei piccoli alieni e dei tizi, che lavorano per un'associazone governativa, che vogliono catturarli per farne delle cavie da laboratorio.
Le parti divertenti si mescolano alle tematiche più serie, fra cui la situazione che tantissimi reduci di guerra sperimentano: sono spesso abbandonati a loro stessi e si trovano a fare i conti con traumi fisici, ma soprattutto psicologici.
Consiglio assolutamente questa graphic novel!!!
May 20, 2025
I went into this book without knowing what I was getting into and I think that was the right way to read this. The story is well-paced and moves fairly gracefully between the goofy hijinks, actual danger, and traumatic flashbacks. Sam as a character is very well-rounded. It's clear that she's intelligent, physically capable, and very haunted.
I was a little let-down at the end.
I was a little let-down at the end.
September 19, 2021
Un divertido cómic lleno de personajes entrañables sobre el estrés pos-traumático.
La protagonista, una ex marine que trabaja en un desguace y cuyo mejor amigo es un gorila parlante. La trama, alienígenas que aparecen cuando quieren comprar los terrenos por mucho más de lo que vale...
Fantasía, humor y aventuras disparatadas que sirven de excusa para hablar de los veteranos y su difícil regreso a casa.
La protagonista, una ex marine que trabaja en un desguace y cuyo mejor amigo es un gorila parlante. La trama, alienígenas que aparecen cuando quieren comprar los terrenos por mucho más de lo que vale...
Fantasía, humor y aventuras disparatadas que sirven de excusa para hablar de los veteranos y su difícil regreso a casa.
March 21, 2022
Samantha tiene una vida de lo más peculiar. Trabaja en un desguace en medio del desierto, su mejor amigo es un gorila que habla y recientemente ha recibido la visita de hombrecillos verdes del espacio. Pero su vida de fantasía chocará con la realidad y su doloroso pasado cuando un poderoso personaje quiera hacerse con el desguace.
Terry Moore (Strangers in paradise, Echo, Rachel Rising) regresa con una fascinante historia sobre superación, fantasía y estrés postraumático.
Terry Moore (Strangers in paradise, Echo, Rachel Rising) regresa con una fascinante historia sobre superación, fantasía y estrés postraumático.
March 4, 2021
Awesome! I <3 Mike and want him for my imaginary friend as well. This is terrific writing.
September 12, 2024
Una historia sobre la vida de una veterana que se ve extrañamente influenciada por la llegada de un pequeño ser verde. Buen desarrollo de personajes, buen argumento y una gran obra de la mano de Terry Moore, como siempre.
November 6, 2024
I love Terry Moore's artwork. Stil, this story shouldn't work for me. It does a narrative trick I usually hate, but it didn't bother me here at all. The reason is I loved these characters, I loved the world and just wanted it to go on longer. He's woven an exploration of PTSD into a whimsical, funny and moving adventure. This balancing of depth of theme and lightness of tone isn't easy to do but like in many great works he makes it seem easy and natural.
January 11, 2019
Holy shirt, do I ever love Terry Moore. His clean, brisk, but highly detailed art, which goes from realistic to cartoony in a moment; his wild sense of humor; his utterly boss, bad-ass female characters. And I love everything about this deeply wacky story, which includes little green aliens, a talking gorilla, a senior citizen playing tennis in ruffle-butt panties, and some surprisingly poignant thoughts on trauma, PTSD, and the military-veteran experience. This one's a short, wild ride that kept me guessing the entire time, and it's great. It's also a terrific introduction to his work, which is normally much longer and more in-depth: it's got all these familiar Moore hallmarks, but in accessible bite-size.
March 27, 2023
Terry Moore is a great storyteller. Each of his books are unique and explores different genres. He has done romance, horror, science fiction and now he is exploring the psyche of a war veteran. Sam is amazing, nothing can stop her, and it helps that her best friend is a talking Gorilla. The story takes you on a wild ride with a wonderful conclusion. I want to spend more time with Sam and Mike and hopefully I will get that chance in other books in the Terryverse.
April 15, 2022
C'était une histoire très émouvante et à la fois tellement originale et fantastique. J'ai lâché ma petite larme. 3 (mérite un 10/5☆)
November 26, 2019
"Motor Girl" di Terry Moore è una storia veramente imperdibile, di quelle capaci di toccarti dentro.
Samantha, detta Sam, è la "Motor Girl" del titolo: si occupa di riparazioni in uno sfasciacarrozze ai margini del deserto, coadiuvata dal gorilla Mike.
E Mike è qualcosa più che un gorilla: è una persona con la quale confrontarsi e discutere, un sostegno. Ecco, Mike è un amico. Di più, Mike è praticamente l'unico amico per Sam.
La faccio breve: un giorno speculatori, delinquenti di mezza tacca e alieni (di quelli che viaggiano sugli UFO, che all'autore piacciono tanto) iniziano a movimentare la loro quotidianità. Libby, la vecchia proprietaria dello sfasciacarrozze, viene pressata per vendere quel pezzo di terra e chiede l'opinione di Sam in proposito.
Ne ottiene un diniego e, proprio da questo momento, la storia si si fa spessa perché Sam è una reduce dall'Iraq, segnata sia fisicamente che mentalmente dalla guerra, e quel luogo è il suo personale rifugio: ci viene raccontato il presente e il passato di Sam, i combattimenti su uno e sull'altro fronte si sovrappongono nella sua mente fino a convergere nell'epilogo.
Epilogo che vi lascerà singhiozzanti e liberi.
Questa è una storia sulla fragilità umana, ad alto impatto emotivo: personalmente ho trovato una forte assonanza con "I kill giants" di Joe Kelly e J. M. Ken Niimura nella rappresentazione della solitudine delle protagoniste e della loro capacità di plasmare realtà che permettano loro di continuare a sopravvivere ai propri traumi (che siano guerre o malattie), per poi arrivare alla guarigione dalle proprie ferite, alla ricostruzione di sè stesse e alla riconciliazione con il proprio passato, ormai pronte ad affacciarsi a un nuovo possibile futuro,
Di estremo interesse anche la "colonna sonora" che accompagna la storia nella forma di citazioni sparse dall'autore: tra i tanti pezzi, trovate pure "Fragile" di Sting e "I Talk to the Wind" di Giles, Giles & Fripp con Judy Dyble (cioè i King Crimson prima dei King Crimson).
Vi lascio con una citazione di Ambrose Bierce, che l'autore colloca in testa al secondo capitolo: "Siamo tutti folli, ma chi riesce ad analizzare la propria pazzia è chiamato filosofo".
Bik.
Samantha, detta Sam, è la "Motor Girl" del titolo: si occupa di riparazioni in uno sfasciacarrozze ai margini del deserto, coadiuvata dal gorilla Mike.
E Mike è qualcosa più che un gorilla: è una persona con la quale confrontarsi e discutere, un sostegno. Ecco, Mike è un amico. Di più, Mike è praticamente l'unico amico per Sam.
La faccio breve: un giorno speculatori, delinquenti di mezza tacca e alieni (di quelli che viaggiano sugli UFO, che all'autore piacciono tanto) iniziano a movimentare la loro quotidianità. Libby, la vecchia proprietaria dello sfasciacarrozze, viene pressata per vendere quel pezzo di terra e chiede l'opinione di Sam in proposito.
Ne ottiene un diniego e, proprio da questo momento, la storia si si fa spessa perché Sam è una reduce dall'Iraq, segnata sia fisicamente che mentalmente dalla guerra, e quel luogo è il suo personale rifugio: ci viene raccontato il presente e il passato di Sam, i combattimenti su uno e sull'altro fronte si sovrappongono nella sua mente fino a convergere nell'epilogo.
Epilogo che vi lascerà singhiozzanti e liberi.
Questa è una storia sulla fragilità umana, ad alto impatto emotivo: personalmente ho trovato una forte assonanza con "I kill giants" di Joe Kelly e J. M. Ken Niimura nella rappresentazione della solitudine delle protagoniste e della loro capacità di plasmare realtà che permettano loro di continuare a sopravvivere ai propri traumi (che siano guerre o malattie), per poi arrivare alla guarigione dalle proprie ferite, alla ricostruzione di sè stesse e alla riconciliazione con il proprio passato, ormai pronte ad affacciarsi a un nuovo possibile futuro,
Di estremo interesse anche la "colonna sonora" che accompagna la storia nella forma di citazioni sparse dall'autore: tra i tanti pezzi, trovate pure "Fragile" di Sting e "I Talk to the Wind" di Giles, Giles & Fripp con Judy Dyble (cioè i King Crimson prima dei King Crimson).
Vi lascio con una citazione di Ambrose Bierce, che l'autore colloca in testa al secondo capitolo: "Siamo tutti folli, ma chi riesce ad analizzare la propria pazzia è chiamato filosofo".
Bik.
April 17, 2019
Some day, and the pessimist in me says sooner rather than later, I'll get busted for my reading while at work. Give me a crisis, I get those fixed. Baby sit employees-annoying, but done. Lets say if you're organized and calm this isn't rocket science.
With a new series by Moore on the horizon, and a mention that he was planning to bring in bits from his other titles I'm going to be binge reading his work. I had low expectations for a title which makes the reader question the perceptions of reality for our characters. Yes, reality does get sorted out in the end. I plan to avoid spoilers, but give you an idea of what is happening.
Sam is a discharged USMC, after three Iraq tours and all the physical and psychological damage that entailed for her. Libby gave Sam a job running Libby's desert junk yard. Sam's best friend is the talking guerilla Mike (who becomes a very endearing character very quickly).
Add in alien abductions, someone trying to buy Libby's land, two strong arm men for the land grabber, and oh yes-aliens.
What is real, and what isn't? By the end of this fun, engaging ride you'll know.
But, I'm not going to tell you.
p.s. next to finish the last three volumes of Rachel Rising.
With a new series by Moore on the horizon, and a mention that he was planning to bring in bits from his other titles I'm going to be binge reading his work. I had low expectations for a title which makes the reader question the perceptions of reality for our characters. Yes, reality does get sorted out in the end. I plan to avoid spoilers, but give you an idea of what is happening.
Sam is a discharged USMC, after three Iraq tours and all the physical and psychological damage that entailed for her. Libby gave Sam a job running Libby's desert junk yard. Sam's best friend is the talking guerilla Mike (who becomes a very endearing character very quickly).
Add in alien abductions, someone trying to buy Libby's land, two strong arm men for the land grabber, and oh yes-aliens.
What is real, and what isn't? By the end of this fun, engaging ride you'll know.
But, I'm not going to tell you.
p.s. next to finish the last three volumes of Rachel Rising.
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