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Head Wounds: Sparrow
WHAT KILLS YOU MAKES HIM STRONGER
A detective with a higher purpose feels the pain and wears the wounds of those he’s failed to protect, and there’s only one way to stop the vengeance. As a divine battle of good and evil between Angels and Demons rages around him, can this crooked detective follow the straight-and-narrow to seek justice, or will he just save his own wounded skin as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance?
LEGENDARY COMICS is proud to present an unmissable neo-noir graphic novel from the mind of OSCAR ISAAC (Dune, Star Wars, Moon Knight) and featuring the creative talents of CHRISTIAN WARD (Invisible Kingdom, Blood Stained Teeth), BRIAN BUCCELLATO (Detective Batman, The Flash, Chicken Devil), ROBERT JOHNSON, JOHN ALVEY and JASON SPIRE.
A detective with a higher purpose feels the pain and wears the wounds of those he’s failed to protect, and there’s only one way to stop the vengeance. As a divine battle of good and evil between Angels and Demons rages around him, can this crooked detective follow the straight-and-narrow to seek justice, or will he just save his own wounded skin as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance?
LEGENDARY COMICS is proud to present an unmissable neo-noir graphic novel from the mind of OSCAR ISAAC (Dune, Star Wars, Moon Knight) and featuring the creative talents of CHRISTIAN WARD (Invisible Kingdom, Blood Stained Teeth), BRIAN BUCCELLATO (Detective Batman, The Flash, Chicken Devil), ROBERT JOHNSON, JOHN ALVEY and JASON SPIRE.
120 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2022
6 people are currently reading
2696 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 19, 2022
You know how you can tell a bad movie when the credits play at the start and under the writing credits you see dozens of names? Same rule applies to comics, particularly Head Wounds: Sparrow - look at this mess that’s on the cover: Oscar Isaac Presents, Created by Robert Johnson, Developed by Oscar Isaac and Jason Spire, Story by Robert Johnson and John Alvey, Written by Brian Buccellato.
The other red flag on the cover is Art by Christian Ward, because this artist never picks good projects to illustrate. Whether it’s Matt Fraction’s ODY-C, G. Willow Wilson’s Invisible Kingdom or Saladin Ahmed’s Black Bolt, they are uniformly garbage - and that rule proves true here too!
(Still another rule could be not to bother with any comics that Hollywood celebrities have dabbled with - call it the BRZRKR effect.)
Too many cooks then and it shows because this book was completely incomprehensible. Oscar Isaac is a New Orleans cop who’s having an affair with his partner’s wife. It’s an election year which is important for no reason. He gets a head wound and starts seeing dead people. There’s a kidnapping. Bikers, truckers, satanists, and then some angels and demons and it’s over. No idea what happened or why - the whole thing was garbled gibberish from start to finish. Why the subtitle “Sparrow”? Good question! Dunno because it’s never explained.
Considering Oscar Isaac’s name and likeness is splattered all over the cover, you’d think the artist would make an effort to ensure the only selling point of this comic is emphasised throughout but the only times the character Isaac is meant to be actually looks like the actor is on the cover and the first time he appears in the comic. After that, like everyone else, he resembles a blotchy, blobby humanoid. So you can’t even tell it’s meant to be a story featuring Oscar Isaac, it just looks like a generic dude. Good job, Christian Ward!
An incompetent, incoherent, boring and unmemorable dumpster fire of a story, Head Wounds: Sparrow is easily one of the worst comics of the year. You’d need a head wound to enjoy this rubbish.
The other red flag on the cover is Art by Christian Ward, because this artist never picks good projects to illustrate. Whether it’s Matt Fraction’s ODY-C, G. Willow Wilson’s Invisible Kingdom or Saladin Ahmed’s Black Bolt, they are uniformly garbage - and that rule proves true here too!
(Still another rule could be not to bother with any comics that Hollywood celebrities have dabbled with - call it the BRZRKR effect.)
Too many cooks then and it shows because this book was completely incomprehensible. Oscar Isaac is a New Orleans cop who’s having an affair with his partner’s wife. It’s an election year which is important for no reason. He gets a head wound and starts seeing dead people. There’s a kidnapping. Bikers, truckers, satanists, and then some angels and demons and it’s over. No idea what happened or why - the whole thing was garbled gibberish from start to finish. Why the subtitle “Sparrow”? Good question! Dunno because it’s never explained.
Considering Oscar Isaac’s name and likeness is splattered all over the cover, you’d think the artist would make an effort to ensure the only selling point of this comic is emphasised throughout but the only times the character Isaac is meant to be actually looks like the actor is on the cover and the first time he appears in the comic. After that, like everyone else, he resembles a blotchy, blobby humanoid. So you can’t even tell it’s meant to be a story featuring Oscar Isaac, it just looks like a generic dude. Good job, Christian Ward!
An incompetent, incoherent, boring and unmemorable dumpster fire of a story, Head Wounds: Sparrow is easily one of the worst comics of the year. You’d need a head wound to enjoy this rubbish.
February 23, 2023
Head Wounds: Sparrow is a graphic novel released by Legendary Comics. It was developed by Oscar Isaac and Jason Sprite, created by Robert Johnson, story by Robert Johnson and John Alvey, written by Brian Buccellato, and art by Christian Ward.
Leo “Gator” Guidry is a crooked cop who is a good detective but despised by just about everyone on the force. When a fellow officer is killed during a chase gone wrong, Gator also experiences the officer’s trauma. A battle of divine powers is looming and it will be up to Gator to determine if he should fight on the side of good or evil.
When I saw this book announced for crowd funding I was quite excited. Oscar Isaac is one of the most interesting actors of our generation. The disappointment started early when Legendary Comics decided to send the book to retailers before sending it to those who funded it. The reasoning behind that is probably because this book is a hot mess and they wanted to avoid negative reviews. I think the main reason for that is the number of creators involved. Seriously - look at that list at the top. There were way too many cooks in the kitchen for this one.
The art is mediocre at best. You only get Oscar Issac’s likeness in close up shots. In distant shots the sketchy art all blends together into human shaped blobs. It would work on other books, but shouldn’t have been used in a book where the selling point is a major actor’s likeness is the main character. I feel the art may have been rushed to meet a deadline because Ward’s art is usually better than this.
I never like telling people not to read something. I believe in readers coming to their own decisions on what to read and enjoy. But I would avoid this book unless you are a diehard Isaac fan.
Leo “Gator” Guidry is a crooked cop who is a good detective but despised by just about everyone on the force. When a fellow officer is killed during a chase gone wrong, Gator also experiences the officer’s trauma. A battle of divine powers is looming and it will be up to Gator to determine if he should fight on the side of good or evil.
When I saw this book announced for crowd funding I was quite excited. Oscar Isaac is one of the most interesting actors of our generation. The disappointment started early when Legendary Comics decided to send the book to retailers before sending it to those who funded it. The reasoning behind that is probably because this book is a hot mess and they wanted to avoid negative reviews. I think the main reason for that is the number of creators involved. Seriously - look at that list at the top. There were way too many cooks in the kitchen for this one.
The art is mediocre at best. You only get Oscar Issac’s likeness in close up shots. In distant shots the sketchy art all blends together into human shaped blobs. It would work on other books, but shouldn’t have been used in a book where the selling point is a major actor’s likeness is the main character. I feel the art may have been rushed to meet a deadline because Ward’s art is usually better than this.
I never like telling people not to read something. I believe in readers coming to their own decisions on what to read and enjoy. But I would avoid this book unless you are a diehard Isaac fan.
December 10, 2022
Um... WTF?
Often incomprehensible art doesn't help a convoluted plot about a New Orleans bad cop who gets divine intervention to realize he's got to do good. There are too many names on the masthead here; it does feel like it was written and re-written into oblivion. Disappointing.
Often incomprehensible art doesn't help a convoluted plot about a New Orleans bad cop who gets divine intervention to realize he's got to do good. There are too many names on the masthead here; it does feel like it was written and re-written into oblivion. Disappointing.
Want to Read
May 18, 2022Oscar Issac developed a graphic novel, W H A T .
May 16, 2022
Of course, knowing Oscar Isaac is involved with this comic made me want to read it. I mean, if you don't love Oscar Isaac, I just don't know what to do with you.
That being said. Gator, our hero, is incredibly unlikable for the most part. He's selfish, crooked, seedy, cheaty, and quite dumpy. But there's hope for him. According to a strange, mystical creature who pops up partway through this volume. There are mythical beings seemingly based upon Judeo-Christian mythology, beings from limbo fighting for the good side AND the bad side. And our man Gator seems caught in the middle.
It's all just another day in the life of Gator, as he's being seedy and having an affair with a buddy's wife. Gator and buddy are both cops. When something terrible happens to the buddy, Gator--who is elsewhere--thinks he's been shot and has a meltdown. In reality, he begins to suffer the wounds of people he's wronged.
The aforementioned strange mystical creature tells him what's up, and he's caught in a battle between good and evil.
I feel like Gator is a standard cretin with a secret emo streak and backstory. Nothing really original about any of this, although the fantasy elements give it the extra oomph it needs. I think there's potential here, but it didn't rise to meet it with this volume.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
That being said. Gator, our hero, is incredibly unlikable for the most part. He's selfish, crooked, seedy, cheaty, and quite dumpy. But there's hope for him. According to a strange, mystical creature who pops up partway through this volume. There are mythical beings seemingly based upon Judeo-Christian mythology, beings from limbo fighting for the good side AND the bad side. And our man Gator seems caught in the middle.
It's all just another day in the life of Gator, as he's being seedy and having an affair with a buddy's wife. Gator and buddy are both cops. When something terrible happens to the buddy, Gator--who is elsewhere--thinks he's been shot and has a meltdown. In reality, he begins to suffer the wounds of people he's wronged.
The aforementioned strange mystical creature tells him what's up, and he's caught in a battle between good and evil.
I feel like Gator is a standard cretin with a secret emo streak and backstory. Nothing really original about any of this, although the fantasy elements give it the extra oomph it needs. I think there's potential here, but it didn't rise to meet it with this volume.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2023
ill consume and love everything oscar isaac related
February 4, 2023
Incoherent in art and narrative. Avoid and watch Ex Machina instead...then the film adaptation of Ex Machina.
November 12, 2022
We all love Oscar Isaac. But this graphic novel is an entirely different story.
With some nice art to show for the effort, the final product is just too messy in terms of narrative (script and graphics). The idea, though not particularly original, could have had some merit if the characters were better developed and everything didn't end up being so basic and superficial.
I, for once, won't be reading the next volume.
With some nice art to show for the effort, the final product is just too messy in terms of narrative (script and graphics). The idea, though not particularly original, could have had some merit if the characters were better developed and everything didn't end up being so basic and superficial.
I, for once, won't be reading the next volume.
October 19, 2022
10/17/2022 Truly excellent marketing to have Oscar Isaac's name over a portrait that looks just like his. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
10/19/2022 Despite the many names on this cover, including a Created By Robert Johnson and Story By Robert Johnson & John Alvey (and a smaller development credit for Jason Spire right at the bottom,) the number one reason most people, myself included, will pick up this comic is the name Oscar Isaac, emblazoned top and bottom over a stylized portrait of someone who looks a lot like the actor himself, in a beat-up Poe Dameron sort of way.
Ofc, if you're a comics nerd like me, there's a strong chance you'll see Christian Ward's name on the art and think "rad!" Frankly, the art is one of the strongest aspects of the actual book. Mr Ward's pencils and inks are loose on the figurative, non-background aspects (and get looser as the book progresses) but dang, his colors and light effects are tremendous. And in fairness, there's a lot going on, with a lot of people running around. Kudos to him and Brian Buccellato for storyboarding that makes it clear who exactly is in the spotlight in any given panel, even when the art gets a bit, well, sketchy is likely the best word. Like, if you pulled individual panels out and asked me to identify characters, I'd be pretty stumped, but contextually, I was never confused as to who's who, which is a lot more than I can say for a lot of books out there today. Did I mention that the cast here is huge? It feels very action-movie cinematic in scope.
It's also very Catholic, with imagery of angels and redemption and damnation, that almost but doesn't quite go all the way round to approaching the weirdly Protestant atheism of Garth Ennis (particularly in re Preacher.) I mean, it's set in New Orleans, and in addition to corrupt cops, there are cults and purgatorial battles while angels and demons hover around pronouncing over the lead character's soul. I was actually kinda hoping that the weird phenomena assailing said lead was due to (insert meme) Aliens, but a quasi-religious battle for the guy's soul also makes sense, even tho this is, at this point in time, very well-covered territory.
Anyhoo, our lead who looks like Oscar Isaac is the super white Leo "Gator" Guidry, a crooked cop who's banging the wife of his best friend, also a cop, in a wholly degrading, unromantic way. When he starts getting visions afflicting him with the wounds of the people he's supposed to be protecting but is instead failing by being both corrupt and a deadbeat, he's reluctantly spurred to get his act together and do right. His first mission is to save the (inevitably blonde, blue-eyed) teenage runaway who got swept up by a raid on a trap house. She's since gone missing, and rescuing her will only be the first step in correcting the hold the forces of evil have over New Orleans.
So the story is fine, even if it does feel a little like Oscar Isaac got mad that he lost the role of Preacher to Dominic Cooper so went on a tear to his friends about it and how he would improve on the story (this is purely speculation on my part, ofc.) There's a solid kernel of entertainment in there, but I put this down mostly to Mr Buccalleto and Mr Ward really understanding pacing and presentation. I mean, between them they have decades of excellent craftsmanship under their belts, and it shows. The book itself is fine to above average. But let's face it, it's Oscar Isaac that most of you are really here for, and that's fine, too. I totally envisioned him in the role of Gator, and while there were moments that were jarring (see: white,) overall, it was -- say it with me -- fine.
Head Wounds: Sparrow by Brian Buccellato & Christian Ward was published yesterday October 18 2022 by Legendary Comics and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
10/19/2022 Despite the many names on this cover, including a Created By Robert Johnson and Story By Robert Johnson & John Alvey (and a smaller development credit for Jason Spire right at the bottom,) the number one reason most people, myself included, will pick up this comic is the name Oscar Isaac, emblazoned top and bottom over a stylized portrait of someone who looks a lot like the actor himself, in a beat-up Poe Dameron sort of way.
Ofc, if you're a comics nerd like me, there's a strong chance you'll see Christian Ward's name on the art and think "rad!" Frankly, the art is one of the strongest aspects of the actual book. Mr Ward's pencils and inks are loose on the figurative, non-background aspects (and get looser as the book progresses) but dang, his colors and light effects are tremendous. And in fairness, there's a lot going on, with a lot of people running around. Kudos to him and Brian Buccellato for storyboarding that makes it clear who exactly is in the spotlight in any given panel, even when the art gets a bit, well, sketchy is likely the best word. Like, if you pulled individual panels out and asked me to identify characters, I'd be pretty stumped, but contextually, I was never confused as to who's who, which is a lot more than I can say for a lot of books out there today. Did I mention that the cast here is huge? It feels very action-movie cinematic in scope.
It's also very Catholic, with imagery of angels and redemption and damnation, that almost but doesn't quite go all the way round to approaching the weirdly Protestant atheism of Garth Ennis (particularly in re Preacher.) I mean, it's set in New Orleans, and in addition to corrupt cops, there are cults and purgatorial battles while angels and demons hover around pronouncing over the lead character's soul. I was actually kinda hoping that the weird phenomena assailing said lead was due to (insert meme) Aliens, but a quasi-religious battle for the guy's soul also makes sense, even tho this is, at this point in time, very well-covered territory.
Anyhoo, our lead who looks like Oscar Isaac is the super white Leo "Gator" Guidry, a crooked cop who's banging the wife of his best friend, also a cop, in a wholly degrading, unromantic way. When he starts getting visions afflicting him with the wounds of the people he's supposed to be protecting but is instead failing by being both corrupt and a deadbeat, he's reluctantly spurred to get his act together and do right. His first mission is to save the (inevitably blonde, blue-eyed) teenage runaway who got swept up by a raid on a trap house. She's since gone missing, and rescuing her will only be the first step in correcting the hold the forces of evil have over New Orleans.
So the story is fine, even if it does feel a little like Oscar Isaac got mad that he lost the role of Preacher to Dominic Cooper so went on a tear to his friends about it and how he would improve on the story (this is purely speculation on my part, ofc.) There's a solid kernel of entertainment in there, but I put this down mostly to Mr Buccalleto and Mr Ward really understanding pacing and presentation. I mean, between them they have decades of excellent craftsmanship under their belts, and it shows. The book itself is fine to above average. But let's face it, it's Oscar Isaac that most of you are really here for, and that's fine, too. I totally envisioned him in the role of Gator, and while there were moments that were jarring (see: white,) overall, it was -- say it with me -- fine.
Head Wounds: Sparrow by Brian Buccellato & Christian Ward was published yesterday October 18 2022 by Legendary Comics and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
November 6, 2022
The art of Head Wounds: Sparrow is incredible. It is very well done and fit the themes and supernatural feel of the story very well. I also like Gator's (main character) story. He definitely is a very flawed character, but the struggles he goes through - particularly internal struggles - was portrayed well and his arc was good too. The world building was intriguing and I was hooked. I also like how different genres were combined together (supernatural fantasy and crime/detective).
However, the story is confusing. I think I got the gist of it, but it was tough to follow along and there was a lot happening at once.
Still, I am intrigued and found this book to be unique (in a good way) and cool. Overall, it was a decent read and I enjoyed it.
However, the story is confusing. I think I got the gist of it, but it was tough to follow along and there was a lot happening at once.
Still, I am intrigued and found this book to be unique (in a good way) and cool. Overall, it was a decent read and I enjoyed it.
October 11, 2022
This was an odd book. I really liked that the main character didn't know what was going on so we as the reader also didn't know what was going on. About halfway through we started to get some clue as to what was happening. But I'm honestly not sure that I liked it. I'm hoping there's more to this series because I would like to read another volume to see if it gets better.
February 1, 2023
A poorly executed attempt to detail a struggle on a metaphysical level and how it relates to what happens in the physical realm. Inconsistent art makes the stumbling script harder to follow. Some of the sketchbook included at the back is pretty cool though. None of the characters have any redeeming qualities. I backed this crowdfunded project, but I can’t recommend it.
November 15, 2022
I’m a sucker for a graphic novel and I’m giving it an optimistic four stars while waiting for whatever the next installment may bring. Solid introductory story
August 11, 2022
Couldn’t really get into it, the artwork is stunning but the writing is confusing and all over the place.
November 4, 2023
Produced by Oscar Isaac, but written and illustrated by a small team of authors and illustrators, Head Wounds: Sparrow is a story of redemption. Leo is a crooked cop: snorting drugs while screwing with a coworker's wife, and doesn't get along with anybody. But one day, his colleague gets killed and Leo starts experiencing something weird: injuries that only he can feel and are invisible to others. Learning from a deity that he will experience the pain of those he hurt, Leo sets out to solve a recent missing persons case while also preparing to repair himself and make right his wrongs.
While I have only seen one movie with Oscar Isaac, the premise of Head Wounds did sound promising to read. What I ended up reading felt a little lackluster in its execution. Leo Gator is a crooked and unlikeable protagonist who seeks to redeem himself in both his job and his personal life, nothing wrong with that. But his backstory is barely revealed much on why he's the way he is, only hinted recurringly throughout the plot. Even by the ending I still don't fully grasp the way Leo's character is, in which, I think this is one of those moments that should do both the "showing" & "tell" aspect together. A couple pages at the beginning to show what occurred in his past made him the way he is would've been more impactful towards his redemption. Additionally, I felt the story lacked a little substance to make it stand out and reward the readers, because things felt flat half the time to me. It definitely keeps the dark and gritty tone, but something to balance that out a bit would help make it a compelling story.
The other issue is with the art style. I have not seen Christian Ward's other works, so this style is new to me. It's not bad, and I kind of liked the color schemes he put into some panels, giving it some nice psychedelic feel to it. However, some of the panels have both the focus object blend into the background, like there is no focal point. Similarly, some of the art feels half-finished, I don't know if it's the artist's style, but it felt distracting some pages detailed and others barely filled in. As noted by other reviewers, the character of Leo does have some resemblance to Oscar Isaac, but only at certain points, other times he looks nothing like him.
While the story ends on a lighter note of positive change, I did not feel like I got the full reading experience despite pulling all the way through. The ending also puts into the idea of a potential sequel, as there is still some unfinished business in the story. I love a good redemption story, Head Wounds had that potential. Unfortunately, even with a small team of comic creators, left me craving more, not in terms of getting more out of this story, but in that I was questioning how things played out and came to be. I think Head Wounds definitely needed more backstory to lead in effectively on the major plot points here. So while I am unlikely to reread this, if this manages to get a sequel, I would look into that.
While I have only seen one movie with Oscar Isaac, the premise of Head Wounds did sound promising to read. What I ended up reading felt a little lackluster in its execution. Leo Gator is a crooked and unlikeable protagonist who seeks to redeem himself in both his job and his personal life, nothing wrong with that. But his backstory is barely revealed much on why he's the way he is, only hinted recurringly throughout the plot. Even by the ending I still don't fully grasp the way Leo's character is, in which, I think this is one of those moments that should do both the "showing" & "tell" aspect together. A couple pages at the beginning to show what occurred in his past made him the way he is would've been more impactful towards his redemption. Additionally, I felt the story lacked a little substance to make it stand out and reward the readers, because things felt flat half the time to me. It definitely keeps the dark and gritty tone, but something to balance that out a bit would help make it a compelling story.
The other issue is with the art style. I have not seen Christian Ward's other works, so this style is new to me. It's not bad, and I kind of liked the color schemes he put into some panels, giving it some nice psychedelic feel to it. However, some of the panels have both the focus object blend into the background, like there is no focal point. Similarly, some of the art feels half-finished, I don't know if it's the artist's style, but it felt distracting some pages detailed and others barely filled in. As noted by other reviewers, the character of Leo does have some resemblance to Oscar Isaac, but only at certain points, other times he looks nothing like him.
While the story ends on a lighter note of positive change, I did not feel like I got the full reading experience despite pulling all the way through. The ending also puts into the idea of a potential sequel, as there is still some unfinished business in the story. I love a good redemption story, Head Wounds had that potential. Unfortunately, even with a small team of comic creators, left me craving more, not in terms of getting more out of this story, but in that I was questioning how things played out and came to be. I think Head Wounds definitely needed more backstory to lead in effectively on the major plot points here. So while I am unlikely to reread this, if this manages to get a sequel, I would look into that.
November 18, 2022
I quite enjoyed this book. I liked the premise of angles and demons and how the main character can feel other people's pain.
So, I will say that the first read through of this book I was confused at parts and didn't really get the story. Then I reread it the next day and it made more sense. I don't think the reader is really suppose to understand what is happening at first but then as they continue on they figure some things out and have questions about others. And I liked that. I love being challenged and having to figure things out. Keeps me on my toes. It kinda gave me Moon Knight Episode 1 vibes, where you aren't sure what is going on just like your main character but as the story progresses you and that character figure it out.
For the art aspect of the book, I loved it. It was unique and different from what I have seen in other comics. It's quite simple but has a complexity to it that I can't put my figure on. The coloring and shading is great as well.
I hope that there will be another volume because I would love to learn more about this world. For a first volume, I would say this book is pretty good. It has it's rough patches but I think that if we as readers get another chance to explore this world that could help a lot. I can't wait to see what happens with this story.
So, I will say that the first read through of this book I was confused at parts and didn't really get the story. Then I reread it the next day and it made more sense. I don't think the reader is really suppose to understand what is happening at first but then as they continue on they figure some things out and have questions about others. And I liked that. I love being challenged and having to figure things out. Keeps me on my toes. It kinda gave me Moon Knight Episode 1 vibes, where you aren't sure what is going on just like your main character but as the story progresses you and that character figure it out.
For the art aspect of the book, I loved it. It was unique and different from what I have seen in other comics. It's quite simple but has a complexity to it that I can't put my figure on. The coloring and shading is great as well.
I hope that there will be another volume because I would love to learn more about this world. For a first volume, I would say this book is pretty good. It has it's rough patches but I think that if we as readers get another chance to explore this world that could help a lot. I can't wait to see what happens with this story.
January 2, 2023
Great art, okay story. I mean, the story itself is good, though very familiar: bad cop gets caught up in stuff bad enough to make him at least try to go good. In this case, the bad stuff has supernatural, Good vs. Evil flowing through it, which is a nice addition to the the already gritty story - should be great, right? Not so much. The execution kinda fails as the story gets muddled, confusing, and vague, though to be fair, that confusion partly works, since the main character doesn't know what's going on either; I would've liked more clearness to scenes without him for balance. All the characters are unlikable; I can handle this usually, but the characters are so flat and uninteresting I just didn't care what happened to them. The Good vs. Evil aspect could've been so much more, but it's left with not much flesh on its bones; I would've liked to know what the point of all this was more clearly. I don't know, the story's really not bad, but it isn't necessarily good either. The art, though, was great, it fit the story very well, from the loose, sketchy look of the lines to the use of color and shading to set the mood. Overall, I'd recommend this, but not heartily, and I wouldn't *not* recommend it.
#HeadWoundsSparrow #NetGalley
#HeadWoundsSparrow #NetGalley
July 14, 2023
I decided to check this mess out when I saw it finally hit Hoopla. It's a complete and utter mess. Oscar Isaac just slapped his name on it even though I doubt he had much to do with the final product. Everything about it feels slapped together. Nothing makes any sense or is explained. It's about an awful person who is a police detective. He's sleeping with his partner's wife and gets shot in the forehead but no one else can see it. His head only begins to clear up when he finally begins to help people. Then there's these strange angel and demon things, none of which is explained. The demons have upside down faces. Again only he can see them. He's looking for a missing girl and some sheriff deputies have something to do with it. I don't know. Like I said, it's all an indecipherable mess.
Christian Ward's art is rushed and slapdash. All of the gazillion characters look the same except for the bearded guy and the black guy. The main character only looks like Isaac on the cover. Inside, he's just some random guy. Everything about this was an utter slog. It's not even fun in a so bad it's good BRZRKR way.
Christian Ward's art is rushed and slapdash. All of the gazillion characters look the same except for the bearded guy and the black guy. The main character only looks like Isaac on the cover. Inside, he's just some random guy. Everything about this was an utter slog. It's not even fun in a so bad it's good BRZRKR way.
November 17, 2022
Everyone loves a good anti-hero, especially an anti-hero that LOOKS like Oscar Isaac. I absolutely picked this one up because his name is on the cover, and I suspect that many others will. That being said, this was just a little better than mediocre. The art is definitely the best part - really gorgeous panels of bright colors in a watercolor style. But the story is a bit confusing in parts. It took me a while to understand this light vs dark side storyline. And I'm still slightly confused about which characters are only visible to him vs the rest of the world. For the anti-hero, Leo being (only initially? continually?) motivated by the fact that he bears the injuries of the people he fails to protect is a pretty good way to represent a detective's constant guilt. But the story's inventiveness kinda stops there for me. I'd read a second volume - there's potential here. 3.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
January 8, 2023
some other reviews said they were confused and that there were a ton of different things happening, both of which were deemed as failures by the writer.
i had a different take. i thought the confusion and rapid introduction of all the different pieces was really cool. everything is bigger and more messy than the main character was expecting. he has no idea what’s going on and is completely swept into the chaos. that was exactly how it felt to read. i’d be following the character, then there’d be some crazy fuckin angel thing, and i (just like the main guy) had to take it at face value and stick to the task at hand, because his personal stakes were at the maximum. by the end, i was thinking back and realizing what had been going on in those frames i was originally confused by. the unfolding process felt like chaotic real life unfolding, and i experienced that as a really successful way of storytelling.
this book is awesome. super fun read
i had a different take. i thought the confusion and rapid introduction of all the different pieces was really cool. everything is bigger and more messy than the main character was expecting. he has no idea what’s going on and is completely swept into the chaos. that was exactly how it felt to read. i’d be following the character, then there’d be some crazy fuckin angel thing, and i (just like the main guy) had to take it at face value and stick to the task at hand, because his personal stakes were at the maximum. by the end, i was thinking back and realizing what had been going on in those frames i was originally confused by. the unfolding process felt like chaotic real life unfolding, and i experienced that as a really successful way of storytelling.
this book is awesome. super fun read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
Described as a neo-noir graphic novel about a detective with a higher purpose, I found the purpose of this whole story to be hazy and nondescript. I enjoy film noir and crime dramas, but this story was very difficult to follow. The only thing clear was the text and I'm guessing that is because the lettering was typed. I should have done more research on the artist because I am not a fan of the artwork at all. If you like abstract art, then you may enjoy this because every page looks just like the concept art at the end of the book: rushed and messy. The brush strokes look painfully digital, which may be impressive if Christian Ward's medium is Microsoft Paint, but something tells me that's not his intention.
Backed this graphic novel on Kickstarter because I like Oscar Issac and a neo-noir supernatural story sounded interesting. Unfortunately, I think the book missed its mark due to rushed storytelling and nondescript artwork. Cannot recommend on good conscience.
Backed this graphic novel on Kickstarter because I like Oscar Issac and a neo-noir supernatural story sounded interesting. Unfortunately, I think the book missed its mark due to rushed storytelling and nondescript artwork. Cannot recommend on good conscience.
January 31, 2023
First graphic novel of the year! I saw that Oscar Isaac was a part of this and I will consume any media he has worked on.
I thought this was very fine. I was intrigued by the premise but it just falls short for me. I was confused about the story most of the time. I think I get the jist of it but barely. If there's going to be another entry to this, I hope it expands upon its world-building because it felt like we were thrust in the middle of a story. I enjoyed the supernatural aspect of this combined with the crime aspect.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the art style but I will say it did fit the gritty dark theme of the story. The way the artist draws faces made it hard for me to recognize characters and who they are in the story. There was some panels that I did like.
I thought this was very fine. I was intrigued by the premise but it just falls short for me. I was confused about the story most of the time. I think I get the jist of it but barely. If there's going to be another entry to this, I hope it expands upon its world-building because it felt like we were thrust in the middle of a story. I enjoyed the supernatural aspect of this combined with the crime aspect.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the art style but I will say it did fit the gritty dark theme of the story. The way the artist draws faces made it hard for me to recognize characters and who they are in the story. There was some panels that I did like.
July 12, 2022
Cool urban fantasy graphic novel. Louisiana cop Leo finds himself in the middle of an unexplained battle between good and evil. Because Leo is at a loss to understand what is happening for most of the story, so are we as readers. He begins as a morally flawed cop, who keeps his eyes closed to the corruption around him as he strives to deal with the death of his child.
Before long Leo is forced to confront the choices he has made as he has a gaping head wound that only he can see. Leo is visited by supernatural forces that give him an ultimatum to to his job. This story is a set up for what could be an ongoing series. Elements of Head Wounds: Sparrow reminded me of the Sandman Slim series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Legendary Comics for this eARC copy. I might have given this another star if I was able to read on my Kindle as opposed to my phone. (But that's on me.)
Before long Leo is forced to confront the choices he has made as he has a gaping head wound that only he can see. Leo is visited by supernatural forces that give him an ultimatum to to his job. This story is a set up for what could be an ongoing series. Elements of Head Wounds: Sparrow reminded me of the Sandman Slim series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Legendary Comics for this eARC copy. I might have given this another star if I was able to read on my Kindle as opposed to my phone. (But that's on me.)
November 25, 2022
Head Wounds: Sparrow is a graphic novel about good verses evil. It has good guys on bikes and a bunch of dirty cops. Leo is one of those dirty cops, or at least one that hasn’t cared much since his son died. He’s sleeping with another cop’s wife and drinks way too much. He gets shot in the head, but doesn’t die. He’s recruited for something else, to continue the battle. I wasn’t sure about the art at first, but I find that it works with the off-kilterness of the story. I’m sure it’s not surprise that Leto looks a little like Oscar Isaac, since the graphic novel is something he developed with Jason Spire. It’s quite the introduction to a new series and I look forward to the next volume.
Thanks to Legendary Comics and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Thanks to Legendary Comics and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
October 18, 2025
So named because reading it makes you feel like you have one.
Are these characters real? Is there a plot? Should you be able to tell one character from another? Was the illustrator on psychedelics? Would being on psychedelics help in the reading?
I'll admit, I was reading this late at night and may have been too tired for it. But it feels like the plot is buried under a glaze of 'style' which also overwhelms the storytelling. And it takes a long time to make any sense of what's going on. I think that's intentional, but it doesn't make it enjoyable. The art is impressive but not legible, if that makes sense. Just not my cup of tea.
Are these characters real? Is there a plot? Should you be able to tell one character from another? Was the illustrator on psychedelics? Would being on psychedelics help in the reading?
I'll admit, I was reading this late at night and may have been too tired for it. But it feels like the plot is buried under a glaze of 'style' which also overwhelms the storytelling. And it takes a long time to make any sense of what's going on. I think that's intentional, but it doesn't make it enjoyable. The art is impressive but not legible, if that makes sense. Just not my cup of tea.
October 5, 2022
Leo is a crooked cop in New Orleans, but even he has limits. He reaches his when he gets a hole in his head only he can see when his best friend is shot in front of him. He starts seeing people he has wronged or did not protect and feels the wounds various folks are receiving. No he has to decide who he will be - on the side of Good or the side of Evil. Now he has to act, not just react. Read and find out which side he chooses. It will be interesting to see what comes in the next volume.
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title.
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title.
November 23, 2022
I just finished reading the first issue of Head Wounds Sparrow and I couldn't be happier. The typically metropolitan plot describes a harsh reality of degradation. There are no righteous, there are no heroes. there are men made of light and shadow who perform wrong actions until the voice of conscience is heard leading Leo, the protagonist, towards what is perhaps his process of inner growth and redemption. I look forward to reading Leo's next adventures. I like when he talks to his mother, to Maxine. I'm curious to learn more about his background.
January 21, 2024
You ever read something and then wonder what the hell you just read. So confusing that you cannot possibly make heads or tails of it. That’s this book. It’s about a crooked cop who is sleeping with his partner’s wife and he was married but it ended when their son died shortly after birth and he is shot in the head but no one can see the wound except him and some angels and demons appear that only he and a select few others can see and… are you confused yet? Yeah, you haven’t even tried reading it. I regret reading this book so much.
September 26, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley for this advance reader copy. I won it somehow online and didn't realize the were sending me an electronic galley. I gave it to my adult child to read since he is into Graphic Novels.
Word from my son is that while the graphics are good, the storyline was confusing. He set it down for a week and when he picked it back up, he struggled to get back into it.
3* for the graphics.
Word from my son is that while the graphics are good, the storyline was confusing. He set it down for a week and when he picked it back up, he struggled to get back into it.
3* for the graphics.
October 20, 2022
Rating: 4.5
So, I backed the Kickstarter to receive the PDF and the hardcopy. I told myself I would wait until the hardcopy came in, but as soon as I got the PDF emailed yesterday, I couldn't help myself.
The artwork is STUNNING. The storyline felt a little lacking in place to place, but nothing that pulled me from the story at any point. I love the premise, love the noir aspect of it. I just wish there was a little more to the narrative to help dive deeper into the lore.
So, I backed the Kickstarter to receive the PDF and the hardcopy. I told myself I would wait until the hardcopy came in, but as soon as I got the PDF emailed yesterday, I couldn't help myself.
The artwork is STUNNING. The storyline felt a little lacking in place to place, but nothing that pulled me from the story at any point. I love the premise, love the noir aspect of it. I just wish there was a little more to the narrative to help dive deeper into the lore.
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