I debated if I should mark this or each individual volume as read, but since I got the comic as a complete collection (at her AMAAAAZING concert!!! 🤩) and read it all in one go, I'm going to count this as one book. :3
So this comic is super cool. One of my favorite featured were the QR codes place periodically throughout the comic so you could listen to the song that goes with that part of the story. This was a really fun addition because it solidified the connection between Artemis album and the Artemis comic, which in my opinion you have to do to get the complete experience.
The art is STUNNING and I can't talk about it enough. Every character is beautifully drawn and so is every setting. I love the character design of Artemis the redhead the best because she was relatable and youthful. I relate to her so much and really enjoyed seeing her look change as she went through different phases of her story. Of course, Artemis the goddess and her moon powers are ethereal. She shows such gentleness and power at the same time and it's a wonderful interpretation of her ancient Greek roots. The settings were just as stunning. loved the contrast between the grungy mechanical trenches to the glittery neons and stark blacks of the Upside to the bright and natural colors and lines of the ancient past.
The influences of the design are also a delight to explore. The Greek mythology influence is the most obvious, but it blends impressively well with grunge and futuristic tech. I noticed some possible star wars references too, as well as of course the super fun references to Lindsey's past albums.
My only real complaint is that I wish the story was longer and more thorough. This is a common complaint with graphic novels (the story is as much graphic novel as it is comic), but more time spent fleshing out the incredible world Lindsey created would have immersed the reader in the story even more. The same could be said about the plot, since more detailed explanations of Artemis the redhead's background and the uprising, for example, would help the reader keep up with the plot. It does feel a bit rushed and a tad confusing in places.
All this being said, a large part of the emotional gravity of the story is told through music, which is why I said a reader has to listen to the referenced songs for a complete experience. Both Artemis's journeys are representations of Lindsey's emotional journey over the past few years, especially with grieving the passing of both her father and best friend mere months from each other. You really don't understand the range of intense emotions our main characters go through without listening to the Album.
Even though the writing isn't perfect, I have to give the comic five stars because of the emotional experience Lindsey gave me personally. I've lost people important to me, and Lindsey's obvious longing to be closer to loved ones no longer with her hit me to my core. But the message of love being more powerful than any distance or obstacle helped me feel far closer to my own ones than I have in years and helped me process my own grief. For that, Lindsey deserves all the stars in the sky. And the moon.
"I'll keep you in my life somehow
And even when the lights go down, down
I'm not gonna lose you now
I'm not gonna lose you now." 🌕