Hardears: A Graphic Novel

by Nigel Lynch, Matthew Clarke

Barbadian folklore meets superheroes in Hardears , an Afro-Caribbean fantasy-adventure graphic novel by Matthew Clarke and Nigel Lynch.

Afterword by Cathy Thomas

The story takes place in an alternative world on Jouvert Island; a magical analog of the island of Barbados and begins when a superstorm of unprecedented strength obliterates the island, leaving it totally defenseless.

As the island reels from the devastation, Mr. Harding, the head of the Merchant Guild, charges in and promises to rebuild the economy of the island by creating jobs in his giant corporation. However, it’s soon discovered that Harding is a parasite and is capturing people from the island and using their life essence or vibes to feed his factories.

Bolo, a local hero, saves his love Zahrah from Hardin and cronies but the lovers are then framed as rebels against the state. The state has been compromised by the factories and the workers who know the truth about Harding must go into hiding. If Bolo, Zahrah, and their allies don’t take down Harding and the corrupt government, all will be lost. Together, they must find the strength of their island and ancestors to fight the evil forces that have taken over their homeland.

“The illustrations are detailed, both for figures and setting, evoking superhero comics through the level of action conveyed, and the vibrant colors are perfect for the tropical setting . . . Fans of Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings may eagerly embrace the politics and interactions between the various races of the Hardears Islands.” — Booklist

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Adult

208 pages, Hardcover

Published May 11, 2021

Reviews

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mix of really interesting worldbuilding (using Caribbean magic and myth as a jumping off point) and a really pedestrian plot. Good versus evil and underdog versus corporate evil are in some ways timeless, but despite the fascinating magic and culture it felt like I'd read this story many times before.

**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off I love how Hardears blends different mythology from across the English-speaking Caribbean. Having a basic understanding of Caribbean folklore I was already familiar with some of the types of characters in this story but there's also a character guide included before you jump into reading that's helpful. There's a lot going on in this world and it can be a little overwhelming but I think most of the characters are straight forward so you can debate on whether to read the guide or not.

The story takes place on a Caribbean inspired island called Jouvert Island as a superstorm approaches. The island is destroyed after the storm, people are going missing, and one of the few available jobs left on the island is at Harding's factory. I like how this takes the concept of vibes as not only a mood but the people's very life essence with Mr. Harding feeding off character's vibes.

There were a couple different sets of characters the story follows so I was a little confused at first trying to figure how they tie into the overall plot. Eventually the characters come together to rid the island of Mr. Harding's reign of terror.

This also features an afterward about Black comics, afro-futurism, it's Caribbean ties, and the origin of jouvert which gives a little more incite into some of the things in the comic. The group was your standard rag tag superhero group fighting against the big bad. I thought this was a nice introduction to this world but I just wanted a little more story. Bolo, Zhara, and Duppy have a lot of potential that was untapped here. There were little moments here and there that made me laugh out loud. Some of which I think you would have to be familiar with the culture to understand. The artwork is beautiful and has this classic feeling art style that I really liked. Now that the foundation has been laid I'm ready for us to dive deeper into this world in the next installment.

I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for review
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....

[Shadon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon, even the great hero would learn, Mr. Harding can't burn!

There was so much going on in this book, in the absolute best way possible. A true punch to the face that drops you into a wonderfully cluttered and creative Caribbean-inspired world without any remorse. You figure it out, or you get left behind. You jump on this ride and hold on tight before you get lost and can't find your way back. Hardears is a story of rebellion and revolt, themes culturally relevant to the region it is inspired by. It is a fight against tyranny where underdogs stand up against the evil, exploitative powers corrupting the islands they call home, represented by the titular tophat-wearing Mr. Harding, who refuses to burn.

I have never read anything like the world contained inside the pages of this book, escapism at its finest and most refined. I've never once encountered a world so unapologetically itself that it immediately swept me away. Almost dream-like in its afro-futurist absurdity, it was a fantastical wonderland. A surrealist world popping with colourful, well-crafted artwork and mythical creatures of all kinds, it was a Bajan adventure to the bone. The familiar is made fantastical and the strange becomes brilliantly bizarre as the Caribbean is redrawn into a worldbuilding marvel, rich with life and historical lore, depicted with eye-catching art and bright backgrounds.

The heart of the Caribbean lies within the pages of this book, and I was delighted to see so many cultural aspects perfectly interwoven into the story, from Shaggy Bears and the Landship to Men on Stilts, Tuk Bands, flying fish, and ZRs. It's all in here, and it has no shame in its portrayals, down to even the blustering ministers who think themselves so tall. The mythology and folklore were wonderfully weird and wacky, unabashed in the 'Bajanness' of it all. No major explanation, no long-winded rant - these things just exist, and there's nothing more to be said. Pirates and Vibes and giant robots and bird people abound, better get used to it!

Only in a few places does it falter; the characters are memorable but otherwise very understated. They serve only their main roles in the story and then nothing else. Due to the pace and the length, most of them just exist. What little we get of them is good, but there's so much we don't get. None are explored beyond a surface level due to the nature of the story, but due to strong designs, each one sticks inside your mind like glue. I close my eyes, and I can still see them, even if I couldn't tell you much about them. It's a simple story that asks much of the reader, but an effective one that resonated deeply with me. There is nothing like seeing your culture so carefully captured with care in such a vibrant setting.

The story itself is fast-paced, heart-pounding, and tense, with little time to breathe between pages, buoyed by a political undercurrent and clear commentary on the landscape and history of the region's people, with hurricanes, slave masters, and centuries-long strife. Terrifically tense and thrilling, with sword-wielding action and close combat, I had no idea where the story was going, and I did not want it to end. It is a world easily sucked into, where so much happens that you can't help but turn page after page. There's so much to love, so much to unpack, and all of it is good.

Hardears is a love letter to the region, an action-packed adventure for the ages, a Bajan bacchanal. I need more.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an arc for an honest review.

Hardears is a combination of afro Caribbean folk lore and fantastical elements and I really enjoyed the weaving of these elements together, it was done well and managed to provide not only an interesting story but an originality that I haven't come across before. You can tell that the authors did their research.

There are flying fishes, gigantic tortoises that people ride and people with extraordinary powers. The art style is just stunning, I did not receive the colored version but I just know it will be even more beautiful..

My only criticism is the the writings and dialogue boxed are quite small and it will be difficult for people with vision problems or dyslexia to read such small texts

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew I was in trouble when this opened with like ten pages of explanatory notes.

[Barbara McVeigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this romp through this fantastically-created world, inspired by the culture of Barbados.

Lots of detail and information to the point it can be overwhelming. I hope that this book is the first in a series so all this world-building can be explored!

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hardears is an interesting concept to say the least. No one hears about the Carribean islands or the culture so it's good to be able to explore the area. So the stuff of folklore and myth make a way to present themselves including how a fictionalized concept can apply. Turns out vibes are a way of currency for the numerous peoples and what provide them superhuman abilities. So what happens when a spirit of mixed heritage brings industrialization to fill his vampiric needs to feed on vibes? It's a great world with a lot of potential. The problem is rather than explore it organically, they just put everything up before the story even begins. Then there is a MacGuffin quest some characters not too connected to the main plot are on that's genuinely interesting but it throws off the main plot just to introduce a plot element. As for the illustrations, it seems the artists want to present a scale but don't show how the characters are reacting, just save time and energy on getting the plot forward. There just doesn't seem to be enough character going around to actually get invested in most of the cast.

[Thistle & Verse · Rating 3 out of 5]

An action-filled comic with wonderful art. Wanted more from the characterization. Full review here: https://youtu.be/MA4EOqWE4LM

[Paddy Pikala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardears is an Afro-Caribbean fantasy-adventure graphic novel by Matthew Clarke and Nigel Lynch. The story takes place in an alternative world on Jouvert Island; a magical analog of the island of Barbados and begins when a superstorm of unprecedented strength obliterates the island, leaving it totally defenseless.

I wanted to read this graphic novel because it sounded like nothing I have ever read before. I know nothing about Afro-Caribbean folklore, and the guide at the beginning helped. It is still quite complicated, though, because with its maps and guilds and a large cast of characters, it might as well be a 700-pages-long fantasy novel.

The comic book is set in a world where mystical beings are fully integrated into the modern society and technology (like flying fish that are built into different modes of transport). And it's frigging cool, especially visually. The battle scenes look amazing.

Other elements felt pretty basic: a hero who's just met a lady he's into, a large-scale tragedy that leaves everyone at the mercy of a heartless capitalist, and an evil conspiracy! Now our MCs, including some fierce ladies, have to defeat the capitalists who steal good vibes (quite literally, good vibes is what the island needs to survive). The story is more dystopian than advertised, and I didn’t mind that. I like me some good dystopia, and this one raises the issue of the place of tradition and nature in the modern technologically advanced society.

And I really appreciated the afterword, in which Cathy Thomas talks about Hardears within the tradition of science fiction and fantasy talking about Black lives and mixing technology with nature (we all know Black Panther). It was a good choice to include it.

If you grew up watching the original Star Wars movies and enjoy action packed stories of heroes saving the world, where the technology looks great, but isn't exactly explained, this comic book is definitely for you. And I believe that it's worth reading for the things that make it different from the most popular stories: the Afrofuturism and ethnographic surrealism. (Look at me, using big words.)

[Shaelene (aGirlWithBookss) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very intrigued by the premise of this book, I’ve yet to read anything about Barbados mythology and didn’t know much about it before getting into it.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t wow me.
It felt very overwhelming, too overly complicated and that ended up really dragging the overall story down.

We first learn about the numerous mythological beings and their nature— and there is a lot of them. We are introduced to the different realms or ‘guilds’ of the world, and the politics of them, and how they all interconnect on the island.
And then you have the main story as a whole— a business tycoon with ulterior motives who creates robots and a plant that provides jobs with the guise of bettering the island. And on top of all this, the story goes off into numerous small directions making for a complicated story that’s hard to keep up with and detangle.

I enjoyed the mythology and will certainly search for more books with Barbados / Caribbean mythology. I liked what the book was trying to say in regards to colonialism, inclusiveness, and community- I just felt it became very lost in the story. And I love the main characters, Bolo & Zhara’s romance, I would’ve loved to have seen more of that and Duppy, the sarcastic raccoon.
I also really enjoyed the art style, and would’ve loved to have read this in full color- it would’ve been gorgeous!

Onto the issue of the quality of the file, I experienced a lot of low-quality fuzzy pages that made this extremely hard to read. If the quality was any worse it would’ve been unreadable. I don't know if the publisher is at fault for this issue or NetGalley, it's an issue I’ve been encountering a lot lately and really wish it can be improved upon. I know this is a tech issue and will not reflect upon the final product so I will not deduct any stars.

Overall, 3 stars. It was an ok story, I'd still recommend it for the mythology and artwork.

**ARC provided by Abrams Comics via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very excited for this book and ultimately wanted to like it more than I did. Afro-Caribbean mythology mixed with Afrofuturism? Yes, please. This should have been a series of 3-4 graphic novels with how much they fit into one book. The pace is breakneck. There are no pauses in this whole story and subsequentially, leaves much room for one to get lost in the story. Because so much is thrown at you, character development is lacking. Don't get me wrong, there are many fun and interesting things in this story but it's too rushed. It's like a host leading you from one end of a party to the other, and you're introduced interesting people as you cross the room. However, once you get to the other side of the room, the party's over.
I really enjoyed the art, though.

[Sarah]

The art was gorgeous and the concept is very unique. If you have the hardcover copy as I do, peek under the dust jacket! It's stunning.

Unfortunately, I struggled to understand it at times. Additionally, the combination of super-small text and lots of writing on a page didn't always work for me.

I received a finished copy prior to the publication date and noticed that there are a few spelling discrepancies. For most of the book, the words "baccoo" and "vibes" are used, but early on they were each spelled "bacoo" and "vibez" once. I wonder if this was intentional.

I'm sad to say this book wasn't for me, but you should still pick up your copy today!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This truly was the most beautiful book I have ever held. The full-color artwork was absolutely stunning, the story was like nothing I have ever read before, and the combination of Barbadian folklore with science fiction was exciting and incredibly interesting. I appreciated the author including relevant historical context and background information at the beginning and end of the book for folks like myself who may not be familiar with much Afro-Caribbean folklore. An incredibly beautiful and exciting read!

[Mattison B · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I do not have any knowledge of Caribbean folklore, I thought this was a great story. Personally, I appreciated the breakdown of characters and guilds at the beginning of the book. I did think that the illustrations could be a little "drowning". Whereas it was hard to figure out what was happening during certain scenes. I wish I could have seen more of the other Jumbee characters! I did think the story was a little rushed, but overall I enjoyed the graphic novel!

A good graphic novel to start off my year of reading!

6.5/10

[Kayote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating world. So many characters, none of which got a lot of treatment--they seemed interesting but didn't get a chance to develop or be known. It would have been better taking one story at a time with the large arc always in the background and then weaving them together for a final arc. I really want to like it more--there is so much awesome here--but it was too much too fast just skimming over the tops of potential.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this was not a hit for me. First, the text was too small. No matter how much you zoomed in, you could not distinguish certain letters and it created problems with what is actually said. The story was also disappointing. The plot sounded interesting but it was too messy. Too many characters. Figuring out who belonged to which event plot was difficult.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

[Sean Kottke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly the most ambitious world building of all of the Megascope publications this far. I did not like the several pages of expository material at the beginning to explain every class of character. It made it difficult to get into at first, and the book didn’t need that much explicit exposition to make sense of the story.

[Annalisa Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt there was a little sexism in the way the hero treated his girlfriend when he first met her, but other than that, this was really enjoyable. The illustrations were really interesting and so were the concepts and the world building. I really liked the captain character we followed in the side plot. I would love to see more from this creator.

[lover girl ln]

Very simple storyline but! I was constantly expecting something more or to be taken somewhere different. The quality of pictures 😍 There were a lot of characters too, I loved reading about what each characters purpose was in the beginning, it made me see the story different. I think a 10 year old would love this book & be slightly challenged.

[Ryan]

This book took too much time setting things up before the story really began. And maybe it was because my galley was in black and white instead of full color, but I wasn’t interested and felt no need to continue.

[Kiara Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book with a simple plot. I loved the imagery! I feel like this is a good intro to something more… maybe he could make a second book as if the first book was just a a bedtime being told to someone who lives on Hardear Island? I really want to see more of this. I loved it!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Markus Seaberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Afro-Caribbean futurism at its finest. This is a fantastic fantasy world with amazing creatures. I really enjoyed it.

[Kisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

If nothing else, this is exceptionally cool for the unique Caribbean cultural influence and worldbuilding. Hopefully there will be more.

[Frank Vestal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and 1/2 stars

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this graphic novel through Goodreads. This is not the type of book I usually read. Very good illustrations. If you like this type of book give it a try.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork and designs are really cool but sometimes it is hard to make out details.

[Ava Ameter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Hardears by Nigel Lynch. I read this book for a class at my university and am not experienced with reading comic books, or really any books with pictures anymore, and was pleasantly surprised with not only how much I enjoyed this book, but also how much depth and social commentaries it truly had and how many metaphors, plot lines, and interesting characters there were to dig into and dissect.

First off, as someone who is both unfamiliar with reading comic books and mostly unfamiliar with Caribbean mythology and legend, the first few pages of the novel that both break down each character, guild, landship, etc. that will be mentioned throughout the novel, and familiarize the reader with the symbols and scenes they will run into within the following pages are not only extremely helpful to the reader, but also add to the adventurous feel of the book. These ‘guide’ pages made me feel as though I was an explorer opening up a guidebook on a land I am about to explore, and made me feel that much more connected to the story I went on to read.

This book intelligently incorporates narratives focused on colonialism and postcolonialism, as well as ���afrofuturism”. *Spoilers Ahead*. Somehow, from the beginning, I just knew that Mr. Harding was the villain, and that his factory was bad news. Whether it be because he is described as “vibes-anemic”, or because in a world of colorful beings, he appears tall and gray and clad in a sharp but daunting black suit and top hat with a stony and unmoving statue-esque face, Lynch manages to craft Mr. Harding as a character that floods uneasiness into the audience even before he does anything actually villainous. However, the audience soon comes to find out that Mr. Harding, arguably the representative of colonization in the novel, is using his factory and the downfall of the people of Hardears to essentially reap the people of their vibes for himself, in order to become increasingly powerful. Furthermore, on the topic of “vibes” (vibes being produced by most entities and some objects on Hardears and are the essential lifeblood to all characters in Hardears), having Mr. Harding as a rare character who is vibes-anemic, and therefore reliant on usurping the vibes from others, feeds directly into the assumption that Mr. Harding and his factory are metaphors for or symbols representing colonizers/colonization. In the story, vibes are essential to living; when the citizens of Hardears have low vibes, they do not just feel it internally, but their outward appearance declines. So, as Mr. Harding, under the guise of creating jobs at his factory in the name of benevolence, absorbs all the vibes from the land, not only do people lose their lives, but the life from the land disappears and the citizens do not look or feel the same. The essence of what makes them them, and what makes their land their land is sucked away. To me, this really resonates with what happens in colonization in real life; as colonizers seep their influence into the colonized land more and more, the native culture is sucked away more and more. This proves even more true at the end, when Mr. Harding is finally defeated, but there is no way to reverse the damage he has caused and the vibes he has usurped. The people, free from the immediate evil presence of Mr. Harding and free from the looming fear of going missing in his factory, are arguably just as worse off in the sudden absence of Harding as they were when he was present, because although he was menacing, stealing vibes and lives, he provided jobs, and authority, and, however false, some sense of security. This narrative parallels post colonization in real life: while it is a positive thing that the colonizers and the evil they brought are gone, everything their presence brought is gone, as well, including jobs and the like.

I have observed some other critiques that this novel seems like it has more to say than it does, but for the reasons above, I feel like this is valid. In the wake of what is essentially post colonialism at the end of the book, many of the characters seem to be in a state of “Okay… now what?”, and while this may leave something more to be wanted for some, personally, I feel like this uncomfortable feeling that the author needs to fill in more detail and explain what is going to happen after Mr. Harding is defeated and his absence is celebrated yet felt so deeply in Hardears perfectly fits the end of this novel. Just like the audience feels uncomfortability and insecurity with the ending scenes of Hardears, the characters are feeling uncomfortable and insecure trying to fill in the gaps of their lives where there was once a colonizer-esque presence, just like real life post colonial feel the same rift in their lives when they transition from colonized to post-colonized.

[Amy Walker - Trans-Scribe Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hardears is a new graphic novel from Megascope Comics that breaks away from expected comic norms and instead brings readers a world created around the myths and legends of Carribean folktales to create a new fantasy world unlike anything you'll have seen before.


Set on the Jouvert Islands, the story follows several characters, including Bolo, a local hero who has the power to increase his size and strength, something that has made him a champion farmer who can easily outpace any new farming machine. When a mega storm hits the island Bolo springs into action, saving the young woman he has a crush on, Zaharah.


With the island devastated by the storms a local businessman, Mr Harding, steps in to assist the population rebuild, and thanks to his amazing machines the destruction is quickly repaired. However, it appears that there is more to Mr Harding than first appears, and he soon starts taking over the island, forcing the population into working in his giant factories, and putting down any rebellion with swift force. When they discover that Mr Harding is draining the essence from people to stay young and strong Bolo and Zaharah flee. Together with some new allies they begin the hard process of building a resistance that can stand against the dangerous Mr Harding.


The story of Hardears felt a little overwhelming at first, due in some part to the fact that the first few dozens of pages of the book were given over to a small guide about the world, where places and people were laid out to readers, and long paragraphs given over to the various supernatural and fantastical entities and phenomena we'd be encountering. It felt like learning  a lot before even getting the chance to begin; and even then when it came to the book some of these things didn't really come up much. I occasionally wondered why I'd had to read a long description of a certain creature if it was only appearing in a couple of panels.


Despite this, the story is pretty simple, it's about people fighting for their freedom and their lives, which is a story that everyone can understand and get behind. It meant that the heroes felt larger than life, people fighting to save everyone and everything they've ever know; whilst the bad guys just want to consume and destroy, leaving nothing in their wake. It's big and grand, and that definitely works in the books favour.


There is a large section in the middle of the book that shifts focus away from Bolo and the events happening on the island, instead following the crew of a ship that gets lost and has to fight their way through a four way pirate war to be able to get back home to Jouvert Islamd. This section is okay, but its the one that interested me the least, and at times felt like it was padding the book a bit. These characters arrive towards the conclusion of the book, and prove to be a decisive factor in the finale, but they could have still served the same purpose without us having to see what they were doing whilst everything else was going on.


I can't say too much about the art for the book, as sadly the preview version was released in black and white rather than full colour, something that the final book will be in. I think having the book in colour would definitely have changed the enjoyment of the book for me, as there were quite a few times that the book felt dull and oppressive, where the limited colour pallet definitely changed how I processed certain parts of the book.


Overall I enjoyed Hardears, despite not loving everything  about it. It offered me a fantasy story that felt so different from anything I'd read before, and it definitely feels unique to itself. I'm looking forward to reading it again when its released in full colour, to see if perhaps that allows me to enjoy the book full.