Spectacle Vol. 2

Spectacle #2

by Megan Rose Gedris

Sisters Anna and Kat return for the second book of Megan Rose Gedris's paranormal circus murder mystery, Spectacle!

A murder is tough thing to solve, even without temperamental performers, supernatural occurrences, and the ghost of the victim giving commentary. But as Kat's only link to the living world, it's up to scientifically-minded Anna to figure out who killed her sister—before any more murders rock the small traveling community. Yet as she gets closer to finding a lead, even more unbelievable events obscure the truth: roustabouts start sprouting horns, performers grow forked tongues, and a demon visits Anna's sleep at night. Does Kat know more than she's letting on? And can Anna keep the circus—let alone herself—safe?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Mystery, LGBT, Young Adult, Ghosts

136 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2019

About the author

Megan Rose Gedris, aka Rosalarian, is a comics writer and artist based in Chicago. She started making webcomics in 2002, with a focus on women and LGBTQ characters, as well as body/sex positivity. Her style is expressive with a penchant for bright colors and textures. She designs fabric for fun. When not making comics, she performs burlesque around the country as “the comic stripper” Florence of a’Labia.

Reviews

[Chad]

Billed as a paranormal, circus murder mystery. If it is one, it's one where nothing happens. The main character doesn't even attempt to try and solve her sister's murder. The plot doesn't progress at all. The only thing that happens is that all of the members of the circus all grow mutations as if they are setting up their circus next to nuclear waste.

I wish the interior art was as good as the cover. Gedris chooses to draw all the characters as if they are muppets from Sesame Street. They all have noses that are different colored and drawn like they are removable. It's off putting to say the least.

[Rod Brown]

The second fantasy series this week where I'm disappointed by a second volume that goes nowhere after a promising first volume. (See also: Norroway Vol. 2: The Queen on the High Mountain by Cat and Kit Seaton.)

The likable enough introverted main character ambles and rambles around the circus and freak show not solving the murder mystery that has linked her to her sister's ghost. We spend more time with the other members of the show, but really don't get to know them beyond the mysterious mutations that have started to plague them all. No one seems particularly concerned about that development, which signals to me that I shouldn't be either.

I see that two more volumes are being released this year, and I have to wonder if the mystery will ever be solved and if I care enough to invest more time. Hmmm.

[Tia]

Quick unedited thoughts

I was so excited to get to this today. After reading the book I realized there must be a third. I'm happy and disappointed. The third book isn't on Hoopla. When I went to Amazon to see how much book 3 cost I saw there's a book 4 being released in the fall. Ugh! I will just wait to read 3 and 4 then. These books are so good. The twins are great characters. I enjoy the ying and yang of their personalities. Flora is a fun character as well. I looked forward to her sections. In this book the hunch I suspected about Kat from book 1 is revealed. I'm desperate to know what Kat doesn't want Anna to remember from their childhood. Who's out to hurt the normies?

[Dev]

A decent enough follow up to the first volume although I feel like not a lot really happened and the main character more just stumbled into the answer to the mystery rather than 'solving' anything. Also the ending seemed very abrupt again. Still, it's a cute enough story and the character designs are very fun, especially with all the people who are getting 'cursed' in interesting ways in this one. I will probably still read the next one but I would like a little bit more action.

[edit 2/24/21: Apparently my library no longer carries this series so I won't be going on to the third volume. It's an okay story but not really good enough for me to spend $15 on the third volume.]

[Rachel]

Anna is still host to the ghost of her twin, Kat, and they are trying to solve Kat's murder. They don't make a lot of progress, but that's at least partly because of the state of the circus - more and more of the performers are developing physical attributes that move them to the freak show. The writing and art are again excellent, and we get to know more about more of the characters. But the murder mystery part is in a lull. I hope it picks up in the next book.

[Alison]

Full review here: https://youtu.be/EcLbuG5Y4Ms
Timestamps in the description for quick navigation

[Loz]

Great stuff! Mystery, drama, amazing colors, and some real good plot. Excited for more!

[Emily]

Nice follow up to the first, with one important reveal and the introduction of a new secret regarding Anna and Kat’s childhood. The mutation storyline is pretty weird, but I’m enjoying Anna’s development as a character and her interactions with Kat and Flora.

[David Edmonds]

The second volume of Megan Rose Gedris’ SPECTACLE doesn’t really do much to move the story along; if nothing else, there are more layers added to a secondary mystery that has no resolution come the end of this volume, let alone finding out anymore about who murdered Anna’s sister, Kat. So, there’s the continued murder mystery, a mystery concerning a demon who has something to do with Kat, a mystery concerning the circus possibly being cursed, and a mystery about when the twins were young girls and something to do with their grandmother. Lots and lots and lots of mysteries. And little to no movement of the story along this volume. My library doesn’t have the next volume, but I discovered the series is serialized on Gedris’ website, so I’ll pick it up there. I’m invested enough now to know what’s going on, I just wish it was moving a bit faster.

[Susan]

OK, now things have gotten weird. All the normals (those circus performers not in the freak show) have started mutating in bizarre ways. There's a demon running around. More bodies have turned up. The original murder mystery has still not been solved. I was kind of expecting this volume to wrap up the story but instead it just added more layers and more questions. I continue to love the art style with its thick black outlines, bright colours and cute characters (especially the flying beaver.) I have no idea what is going on in this circus but I'm intrigued enough to keep reading.

[Melissa Young]

Spectacle Vol. 2 is a good follow-up to the first volume, but sadly yet again this volume has fallen short. The idea of a circus-themed murder mystery is very cool, but Anna doesn’t even attempt to find out more about her sister’s murder. Anything that does happen is pure coincidence.

Unfortunately, the plot didn’t progress very far outside of ‘everyone at the circus is getting cursed with mutations, oh no how is this happening?’. Which is a pretty fun storyline, I enjoyed seeing what was happening to which character and how it was going to affect them and the story, but that is all that happened.

We are introduced to a demon-type monster, this may have been in the first volume but I can’t remember, but it is only present once. In this time it scratches Kat and her arm gets infected. This injury heals over time and the demon isn’t really mentioned again. What it is? Why is it hanging around Kat? Does it have something to do with her murder? I don’t know, nothing is happening!

Sorry, rant over. I will now talk about areas that I did like. Firstly, we are seeing a tiny bit of character development from both Kat and Anna. With the latter learning to be more empathetic and actually try to make a friend. Sidenote: I love Flora.

Secondly, I still really enjoy this art style. Every page is brimming with detail and colour and it’s very fun to look at. These reasons are why I am giving Spectacle Vol, 2 a generous three stars.

Now, despite this slightly negative review, I am going to continue the series. They don’t take long to read, the next volume is on Kindle Unlimited and I got given copies of the last two for review. So I’m not wasting time or money. I do seriously think Spectacle has the potential to be great and I’m hoping that happens in the next volume.

[Prof. Christina]

Spectacle (Book 2) by Megan Rose Gedris continues the paranormal circus murder mystery with a dazzling feast for the eyes, though the narrative itself begins to show some wear.

The absolute standout of this installment is the beautiful artwork. Gedris's illustrations are vibrant, expressive, and perfectly capture the eerie, captivating atmosphere of the traveling circus. The visual evolution of characters—like the roustabouts sprouting horns or performers growing forked tongues—is handled with compelling creativity, making every page a treat to look at. 🎪

The core storyline remains interesting, pulling us further into the bizarre world where scientifically-minded Anna must navigate temperamental performers, supernatural occurrences, and the ghost of her sister Kat to solve a murder. The high stakes and unique premise are still compelling hooks. However, the pacing feels a bit lackluster and repetitive in some areas. Anna encounters obstacle after obstacle, often feeling like minor variations on the same theme, which slows the momentum needed for a thrilling mystery.

Ultimately, the central mystery keeps going but with little conclusion. While the new elements, like the visiting demon and the questions surrounding Kat's honesty, add intriguing layers, they often serve to obscure the truth rather than shed light on it. The book ends leaving too many threads dangling, which can be frustrating. We're left with the sense that while the world-building is rich and the visuals are phenomenal, the plot progression itself is minimal.

If you are a fan of graphic novels with stunning aesthetics and a taste for the paranormal, this is still worth reading for the sheer artistry. Just be prepared for a journey where the destination remains tantalizingly out of reach.

[Olivia Thames]

True intentions, and affections, are center stage in "Spectacle Vol. 2". As mutations spread throughout the circus, and the murderer remains at large, what are Anna, Kate, and Flora to do?

Gedris did an exceptional job in expanding on, and diving deeper into, her characters in this volume. Where volume one was an introduction, volume two offers readers a taste of the plot's entrée. While new faces appear (some quite literally) we also learn more about our primary company of players. Their on-stage facades splinter and shatter, revealing motivations that stem from envy, jealousy, stubbornness, and love.

Some readers, at no fault of their own, may think that the unsub clearly this person or that by the end of this volume, and I hate to say you may be wrong. Personally, I like that solving the mystery seems simple enough as we get to know the members of the circus better, but it ends up being quite the contrary. I enjoy being lead down one way, only to have to start back at square one: the tease is thrilling!

As mentioned in the review for the first volume, I love the art at the end of the book. While the first volume contained prints that echoed vintage circus posters, this time we have "Spectacle" inspired tarot cards.

Who knows when Volume 3 will arrive in my mailbox at the library, but until then I look forward to retracing each step and clue to see what I missed thus far in the "Spectacle" series.

[Pa_tr0_clus]

‘Well that’s just great. Now I have to find a ghost doctor to give me ghost medicine so my ghost infection doesn’t kill me and turn me into some kind of DOUBLE ghost’ 3.5 stars

This was so fun and the art is so dynamic, with its colourful overlapping panels and inverted black and white sections. Also, the tarot card illustrations at the end of the volume are so fun and gives more page space for the characters that had less time in the storyline. On that note, I think the a lot of aspects were set up and then not followed through on. I understand that there must be an overarching storyline, but the only resolution wasn’t due to the protagonist in any way.

Other than that, the dialogue is very fun and age-appropriate, as well as the dynamic between the sisters being engaging and believable.

Read via NetGalley

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads)]

Series: Spectacle #2
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it

This continues Anna and Kat’s journey to find the murder and figure out what is happening to their circus troop. I enjoyed this one more because Anna and Kat are actually talking about what happened and their lives. There are still some secrets to discuss but they are doing better. It is very interesting seeing all the circus performers change and deal with those changes. This has just been a very interesting paranormal murder mystery and I look forward to reading the rest of the series now.

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*

You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.

[Casey Halvorsen]

This story keeps getting more and more intriguing, with more murders, unexpected mutations, and a sudden moss carpet popping up from Kat's blood stain?? I'm hooked and need to know who this killer is right now lol. I'm loving the sisterhood between Kat and Anna, and how much growth Anna's gone through so far since the first issue! Definitely going to need the next installments asap!

The only thing I don't like is the churchy judgey stuff going on. We don't need that irl and I definitely don't want that in the media I consume. Luckily it's only a small part, but I feel so sad for the queer couple in this graphic novel :(

[Jessie Rose M.]

I loved Book Two of the Spectacle series as much as the first book, but I am starting to feel a bit impatient about the murder mystery. I’m glad that characters are being ruled out as suspects and that interesting love stories and friendships are introduced regularly. Still, I find it frustrating that new conflicts are introduced without much resolve to the conflicts that already exist. The end result is that I feel too much anxiety to fully enjoy the read, so I’m speeding through the stories and nit spending enough time with the gorgeous art.

[Kay]

Mutations progress at the Circus as Anna continues to try to solve the mystery of Kat's murder. There are some creepy mysterious flashbacks from Anna & Kat's childhood & some character growth...literally, with the introduction of Lottie (on the back of Gus's head!), and Anna (with Kat's help) learning how to be Flora's friend. <3

Plot-wise, there's an attempted coup by the conjoined twins & Lucy abandons Carl (the B****!), and the circus incorporates the "freaks" into the show.

Now, on to volume 3!

[August Lawson]

I got through this book much faster than the first one and I think it's because the first book is an introduction and then we just get more backstory in the second even though not much got solved not much happened except for everyone turned into "freaks" But I am glad that the girlfriends admitted it

[Stacey]

This is the second of four in this graphic novel series and I really liked this one because it was from the other sisters perspective at the start. You also find out a little bit more about her character development, and the start of obviously a big family secret and the sisters (even though I guessed that one lol). I will be binging the rest of the series today.

[Elia]

The circus performers have begun to mutate, waking up with horns, tails, tentacles and scales. The murders continue, and Anna still has no idea who killer her sister Kat, or that she keeps having nightmares about a shadowy figure that she can't remember in the morning.

[Becky]

Slightly disappointed by this, as I thought it was the last one and I would figure out who the killer was! But I did enjoy learning more about the circus they work in and seeing the mystery develop and deepen, including becoming more supernatural! The last volume is supposed to come out tomorrow

[Shannon]

Stuff happens, but the plot doesn't seem to progress at all. Things get a bit freakier (ha!) in this volume but there are still no answers to be found. Getting a little annoyed with the main character.

[Autism Creations - By Marilyn]

If you enjoy graphic novels give it a try

My first graphic novel and even though I started with book 2, it wasn’t hard to follow. I wouldn’t recommend reading these books on an IPhone.

[Naomi]

This was an interesting follow up, and whilst we didn’t progress further with the murder mystery.. we did move towards more paranormal and body horror in Book 2.

I’m still intrigued to see where the story goes, and enjoyed it more than the initial volume!

[Sheldon Wiebe]

I don't know if it's the art, the story of what, but this just didn't work for me. (Maybe I should have read Vol. 1 first, but this turned up in Dollarama - along with Vol. 4, which I didn't buy - so the price was right for taking a chance...)

[J MaK]

Although not as strong as volume one, I was still intrigued by Anna’s haphazard investigation. The inquiry has actually created both vulnerability and transparency amongst the performers (Anna included). The off beat humor is rather timely, which helps keep this murder mystery light hearted.

[Katrina]

I need the next one NOW. I love the art in Spectacle, and the developments in Vol. 2 were so intriguing!

[Night]

I like it, but I'm not sure I know what's going on.

[Erica]

ugh, still no answers! But I love the art, characters, and setting so I guess I'll stick around. Harrumph.