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Night Fisher:
Two Maui high school students, Loren and Shane, get mixed up in a petty crime, and their friendship is put to the test. One of the most critically lauded graphic novel debuts in the medium's history is now in hardcover for the first time! 2023 Whiting Award WINNER in Fiction First-rate prep school, SUV, and a dream house in the heights ― an island paradise was handed to Loren Foster when he moved to Hawaii with his father six years ago. Now, with the end of high school just around the corner, his best friend, Shane, has grown distant. Rumors abound. Loren suspects that Shane has left him behind for a new group of friends. Their friendship is put to the test when they get mixed up in a petty crime. Johnson has a naturalistic ease in exploring these relationships, which sets this drama apart. This graphic novel debut is at once an unsentimental portrait of that most awkward period between adolescence and young adulthood and that rarest of things ― a mature depiction of immature lives. His lush-yet-unsentimental-depiction of Maui creates an immersive, visceral sense of place.
In 2006, critics heralded R. Kikuo Johnson's Night Fisher as one of the most exciting debuts in the medium's history. Johnson won the prestigious Russ Manning Newcomer Award at the 2006 Eisner Awards, the Harvey Award for Best New Talent, and a Harvey Award nomination for Best Graphic Novel. On its 15th anniversary, Fantagraphics is proud to publish this new edition of Night Fisher in hardcover for the first time.
Black & white
In 2006, critics heralded R. Kikuo Johnson's Night Fisher as one of the most exciting debuts in the medium's history. Johnson won the prestigious Russ Manning Newcomer Award at the 2006 Eisner Awards, the Harvey Award for Best New Talent, and a Harvey Award nomination for Best Graphic Novel. On its 15th anniversary, Fantagraphics is proud to publish this new edition of Night Fisher in hardcover for the first time.
Black & white
144 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
R. Kikuo Johnson
15 books53 followersR. Kikuo Johnson grew up in Hawaii on the island of Maui. For generations, native Hawaiians have told tales of the shape-shifting shark god Kamohaoali'i; The Shark King is the artist's version of one such tale about the insatiable appetite of Kamohoali'i's son, Nanaue. Kikuo's 2005 graphic novel Night Fisher - also set in Hawaii - earned him both a Harvey Award and the Russ Manning Award for best new cartoonist. He spent his childhood exploring the rocky shore at low tide in front of his grandmother's house and diving with his older brother. Since moving to the mainland, Kikuo has discovered the joys of swimming in fresh water and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he enjoys cooking, playing his ukulele, and riding his bike all over the city.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
June 8, 2014
Classic case of a graphic novel that is gorgeous (Habibi comes to mind), with stunning artwork, but with such a lame story. Just yuck. I couldn't identify with anyone in this, not the rich kids, the financially ruined dad, stupid druggies and no female characters worth anything but a few panels of ass. Another coming of age story for the average white dude (I Never Liked You was similar), how dull and uninspiring.
February 11, 2022
Night fisher è la storia di pochi giorni di vita di un liceale, di un ragazzo come tanti, che vive in un posto incredibilmente speciale, Maui, una vita terribilmente comune e noiosa. È forse per sfuggire alla monotonia delle giornate che il protagonista finisce a fumare batu (metanfetamina) e rubare insieme a due amici per finanziare il loro nuovo vizio. Johnson, l'autore, è nato a Maui e si nota da come riesca a mostrarci un posto che solitamente è considerato paradisiaco, spostando il velo teso davanti agli occhi dei turisti e mostrandoci i contrasti e i paradossi di un'isola da sogno. Si vede poi che Johnson è stato allievo di Mazzucchelli, si nota nella pulizia della sua inchiostrazione, nelle sintesi nette eppure ricche di dettagli.
Divertenti gli inserti quasi "manualistici" delle piantine, della flora dell'isola e gli schemi dei nodi. Interessante l'uso del lettering e quei bellissimi balloon sovrapposti per riprodurre il chiacchiericcio della gente. E poi a farmi innamorare senza appello, gli straordinari neri da cui prendono forma, per contrastro, le figure e gli abbacinanti paesaggi delle Hawaii. Un libro lieve che però riesce a restituire anche con i suoi silenzi, con i suoi ritmi dilatati e apatici, la difficoltà di vivere su una roccia in mezzo all'oceano presa d'assalto dal mondo intero per passarci le vacanze, ma poco accogliente e priva di stimoli per chi ci vive davvero
Divertenti gli inserti quasi "manualistici" delle piantine, della flora dell'isola e gli schemi dei nodi. Interessante l'uso del lettering e quei bellissimi balloon sovrapposti per riprodurre il chiacchiericcio della gente. E poi a farmi innamorare senza appello, gli straordinari neri da cui prendono forma, per contrastro, le figure e gli abbacinanti paesaggi delle Hawaii. Un libro lieve che però riesce a restituire anche con i suoi silenzi, con i suoi ritmi dilatati e apatici, la difficoltà di vivere su una roccia in mezzo all'oceano presa d'assalto dal mondo intero per passarci le vacanze, ma poco accogliente e priva di stimoli per chi ci vive davvero
May 8, 2008
A graphic novel about teens doing crystal meth in Hawaii. I enjoyed the drawings of Hawaii but the storyline was blah.
January 21, 2008
Moody, pretty, brief.
February 4, 2022
With graduation on the horizon, Loren feels his best friend drifting away from him, sending them both into a maelstrom of drugs and petty crime...
This comes highly recommended and I nabbed it when Fantagraphics did their November sale.
The art is in the Alex Toth/Russ Manning/David Mazzucchelli school, which is the comic art I'm most interested these days, and it's gorgeous. I'm conflicted on the story, though. It's a coming of age tale in Hawaii. Other than the setting, it reals like a lot of other coming of age tales to me. I liked it but it's not one of those books I see myself reading over and over. Three out of five stars.
This comes highly recommended and I nabbed it when Fantagraphics did their November sale.
The art is in the Alex Toth/Russ Manning/David Mazzucchelli school, which is the comic art I'm most interested these days, and it's gorgeous. I'm conflicted on the story, though. It's a coming of age tale in Hawaii. Other than the setting, it reals like a lot of other coming of age tales to me. I liked it but it's not one of those books I see myself reading over and over. Three out of five stars.
November 24, 2021
Classic story of teenagers who messing around with wrong people, being useless, getting bad habits. The problem is the story is prosy n lame n boring. I can only guess what Kikuo tryna say but I'm not sure if there is any. Is it about power? Or balance of relationships (with friends or crush)? Or finding your place in ur milieu? Or proving your own character to others?
The art is amazing. Hand drawing style but digital noir/ink technique. Especially drawings of geography, plants n knots between scenes was delicious. Yet these couldn't save itself.
June 11, 2018
A story that ends just when something interesting happens.
March 21, 2018
So I finally got around to reading one of the most celebrated and hyped up debut graphic novels of 2005, and it didn't live up to its press.
Story-wise, there just wasn't enough there. It was a fairly standard "good kid experimenting with drugs and playing on the wrong side of the tracks" story. I really liked Johnson's art. His characters are (usually) fairly distinct, and he lays out scenes pretty well. I enjoyed the way that he illustrated motion in the early pages, and the detail that he put into certain aspects, such as maps and illustrations of plants, was very good. He's not a great comic artist, but he's got chops.
The writing, was, unfortunately, not up to snuff. The characters basically went through their motions. The dorky father who doesn't understand his son (but the oh-so-witty son can predict everything that his father will say) is there, with precious little to distinguish him as a character in his own rite. The peer pressure is totally run-of-the-mill, and our protagonist Loren doesn't seem to really grow up at all as a result of his actions.
Story-wise, there just wasn't enough there. It was a fairly standard "good kid experimenting with drugs and playing on the wrong side of the tracks" story. I really liked Johnson's art. His characters are (usually) fairly distinct, and he lays out scenes pretty well. I enjoyed the way that he illustrated motion in the early pages, and the detail that he put into certain aspects, such as maps and illustrations of plants, was very good. He's not a great comic artist, but he's got chops.
The writing, was, unfortunately, not up to snuff. The characters basically went through their motions. The dorky father who doesn't understand his son (but the oh-so-witty son can predict everything that his father will say) is there, with precious little to distinguish him as a character in his own rite. The peer pressure is totally run-of-the-mill, and our protagonist Loren doesn't seem to really grow up at all as a result of his actions.
May 3, 2018
The art is beautiful. The story is the weaker point. But, it's also a multifaceted look at growing up in Hawaii, and I think it's somewhat telling that it focuses on a group of mostly white/white-presenting teens. Very male gaze-y though, and the female characters were disappointing.
February 3, 2022
Started this as some bedtime reading thinking I’d read just be part and read through it in that one sitting|laying (the position where you have tons of pillows propping you up so you don’t have to keep the book|tablet held above your face).
This book really got to me and reminded me of some of the dynamics swirling among my friends. This is a highly empathetic book without moralism. It illustrates repeatedly how casually we can let down our loved ones, that more present than malice is sheer exhaustion.
This book really got to me and reminded me of some of the dynamics swirling among my friends. This is a highly empathetic book without moralism. It illustrates repeatedly how casually we can let down our loved ones, that more present than malice is sheer exhaustion.
September 30, 2023
This is the slice of life type graphic novels that I rarely read, but usually enjoy when I do. This graphic novel reminded me of the work of Charles Burns, just not as weird.
At its heart it's the story of a high school student in Hawaii. I'm only passingly familiar with Hawaiian culture, but I did get the feeling this was very authentic. The story had a very abrupt ending, but it worked for this type of story.
If you like Fantagraphics style graphic novels in the style of Charles Burns and Love and Rockets, this is worth a read.
At its heart it's the story of a high school student in Hawaii. I'm only passingly familiar with Hawaiian culture, but I did get the feeling this was very authentic. The story had a very abrupt ending, but it worked for this type of story.
If you like Fantagraphics style graphic novels in the style of Charles Burns and Love and Rockets, this is worth a read.
October 31, 2017
Night Fisher follows the story of Loren Foster, a young man from the east coast who lives in Hawaii. He's a very studious high school student, who's friends with a young man named Shane. Shane ends up getting Loren caught up in the more underground parts of the area. He ends up smoking, and even participates in illegal activities. He ends up getting caught, arrested, going home and being lectured, and returning to school, not entirely sure what to do with his life anymore. I enjoyed it as it gives the hard truth that everyone, no matter how good they are, can do bad things.
The theme of the story is the want to fit in and how it changes people, and how even the best of people can fall to peer pressure. The message is very clear, and it is obvious what the author is trying to show. Important example of this are Loren's want to keep both his old and new friends. He becomes willing to do what they want, and as a result is manipulated into doing things that are illegal bad for his health.
The theme of the story is the want to fit in and how it changes people, and how even the best of people can fall to peer pressure. The message is very clear, and it is obvious what the author is trying to show. Important example of this are Loren's want to keep both his old and new friends. He becomes willing to do what they want, and as a result is manipulated into doing things that are illegal bad for his health.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2025
The Night Fisher paints a unflinching picture of life in Maui, showing not just the island’s beauty but also the pressure cooker of high living costs, low pay, cultural clashes, and a shadow of drug use and crime. It also nails the complicated dynamics of race, class, and culture at an elite private school—clearly drawn from real experience. An honest piece of work from R. Kikuo Johnson as both writer and illustrator, if flat. Maybe it’ll stick with me and age well.
October 17, 2023
Quick little afternoon read. I love graphic novels and this was the perfect opportunity to read one written in the local perspective here in Hawai'i. This was a short story so it did not really have much character development or depth but it was a good, quick read. I loved the graphics in this book and the authors illustration style in black and white was really stark and helped tell the story really well.
November 26, 2019
This graphic novel almost feels like two separate books to me.
The art is gorgeous, evocative. It sets a mood and delivers an emotion that the written words just don’t. It is mostly simple line work but there are a lot of moments that are just freaking gorgeous. You feel the heat, you can visualize all of this so well through the panels. Heck, there are points where you can almost smell Hawaii through this art.
The written story, though, doesn’t work nearly as well for me. It feels disjointed and lost – something that I think is intended but is taken to a point that makes you not care as much, not feel for the characters within it. The sparseness of the story is interesting but comes across too empty for me.
Here’s the thing – nearly every complaint that I have about the story is something that I can see is probably done on purpose. The story is about these lost kids being drawn to meth and how empty their lives are and the story is designed to mirror that and I can see that it is effective even as I don’t love that particular approach. I would have liked to see a little more connection, emotionally, to the characters but we just aren’t given enough to become emotionally invested. We often have to guess at what the characters’ motivations are at any given point in the story because we just aren’t given any time in their thoughts and their actions don’t make enough sense always to figure out the motivations on our own.
The story tries to say some interesting things about race and privilege, about conquest and about what we bring with us. About what happens to indigenous lands when new species of plant and animal are introduced to them without thought. All of these elements, though, are just as sparse as the rest of the story. We are given hints and that is just about all that we are given. I would have loved to see this story being given more time to breathe, more time to let the reader get inside of it a little bit more. It often feels like a slice of life story that isn’t really a full slice. I also would have liked to see a female perspective (any female perspective at all) in this story as any woman here is basically a breaking down of their parts rather than any sort of whole. It is a very young male story and I think that I understand what the author was going for but it frustrated me and left me wanting a little more maturity from the story if not the characters within it.
I did wish that the story continued past the point where it ends as well. The most interesting (and exciting) thing to happen in the story happens very late in the game and we don’t really get to see the fallout from it at all. In a lot of ways, this felt like more of the first act of a play rather than a full narrative on its own. I suppose that it is a good sign that I wanted more, that I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel on this book and its characters. I just don’t feel like I really know any of these characters by the end of their stories.
But in the end, I am asking for a different story, a deeper dive, than the one that Johnson set out to write here and that isn’t fair to the author. What is here is interesting and I would say worth a read. If you are into bleak little vignettes (particularly ones whose characters are primarily unlikeable), this is probably right up your alley.
The art is gorgeous, evocative. It sets a mood and delivers an emotion that the written words just don’t. It is mostly simple line work but there are a lot of moments that are just freaking gorgeous. You feel the heat, you can visualize all of this so well through the panels. Heck, there are points where you can almost smell Hawaii through this art.
The written story, though, doesn’t work nearly as well for me. It feels disjointed and lost – something that I think is intended but is taken to a point that makes you not care as much, not feel for the characters within it. The sparseness of the story is interesting but comes across too empty for me.
Here’s the thing – nearly every complaint that I have about the story is something that I can see is probably done on purpose. The story is about these lost kids being drawn to meth and how empty their lives are and the story is designed to mirror that and I can see that it is effective even as I don’t love that particular approach. I would have liked to see a little more connection, emotionally, to the characters but we just aren’t given enough to become emotionally invested. We often have to guess at what the characters’ motivations are at any given point in the story because we just aren’t given any time in their thoughts and their actions don’t make enough sense always to figure out the motivations on our own.
The story tries to say some interesting things about race and privilege, about conquest and about what we bring with us. About what happens to indigenous lands when new species of plant and animal are introduced to them without thought. All of these elements, though, are just as sparse as the rest of the story. We are given hints and that is just about all that we are given. I would have loved to see this story being given more time to breathe, more time to let the reader get inside of it a little bit more. It often feels like a slice of life story that isn’t really a full slice. I also would have liked to see a female perspective (any female perspective at all) in this story as any woman here is basically a breaking down of their parts rather than any sort of whole. It is a very young male story and I think that I understand what the author was going for but it frustrated me and left me wanting a little more maturity from the story if not the characters within it.
I did wish that the story continued past the point where it ends as well. The most interesting (and exciting) thing to happen in the story happens very late in the game and we don’t really get to see the fallout from it at all. In a lot of ways, this felt like more of the first act of a play rather than a full narrative on its own. I suppose that it is a good sign that I wanted more, that I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel on this book and its characters. I just don’t feel like I really know any of these characters by the end of their stories.
But in the end, I am asking for a different story, a deeper dive, than the one that Johnson set out to write here and that isn’t fair to the author. What is here is interesting and I would say worth a read. If you are into bleak little vignettes (particularly ones whose characters are primarily unlikeable), this is probably right up your alley.
August 18, 2016
This is a beautiful book about a young man moving through late adolescence, struggling with wayward friendships and the big question mark of his future. He's a good kid, a hardworking student at an expensive prep school that his father can't really afford. Kikuo Johnson does a good job of showing how a kid like this can still fall into a meth crowd, even while he's still more or less on trajectory--and what it means for kids from remote, racially- and economically-divided Hawaii to be headed off to MIT and other East Coast elites.
The art is gorgeous, elegant and meditative. The story is well-paced and the characters are rich and real. The mood--heavy, languid, troubled, late-summer sultry--stayed with me. Kikuo Johnson's characters feel poised on the brink of big, irrevocable changes, and there's a strong sense of nostalgia for the lives they have even before they lose them.
The art is gorgeous, elegant and meditative. The story is well-paced and the characters are rich and real. The mood--heavy, languid, troubled, late-summer sultry--stayed with me. Kikuo Johnson's characters feel poised on the brink of big, irrevocable changes, and there's a strong sense of nostalgia for the lives they have even before they lose them.
March 8, 2009
This is a dark graphic novel. It takes place in Hawaii, and explores the lives of some rich prep school teenage guys who get together and smoke crystal meth. Then they steal stuff in order to afford their next hit. They eventually end up in jail for stealing a generator from a building site. The kids are really disaffected and seemingly out of touch with anything really important. They’re bored and they have nothing better to do then get high. It’s sad and scary. They don’t seem to care much about anything – themselves, their families, school, relationships. If you're into this sort of dark, depressing, realistic stuff, then Night Fisher will definitely appeal to your inner demons.
September 9, 2011
This comic novella may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy these realistic and unapologetic looks at adolescence I recommend giving Night Fisher a read. Even if the story doesn’t resonate with you, the skilled ink drawings will make you appreciate everything that R. Kikuo Johnson has put into this work.
Read the whole review here: http://www.hawaiibookblog.com/article...
Read the whole review here: http://www.hawaiibookblog.com/article...
April 14, 2012
Pretty lame. Saying anything else would just be wasting my breath. Characters are lifeless, uninteresting, predictable, and not really all that deep; and neither is the plot for all that matter. From the crappy plot to the even crappier ending I have no idea how this crap got published. The art-work is pretty I guess though. Two thumbs down.
December 3, 2018
Love love love the way that Johnson captures movement, depth, grandeur, and grime. A story about a high school kid who feels out of place, whose family is disconnected (is his mom dead), grappling with issues of class and privilege and soft emotions when he wants to be/hang out with the harder guys and just escape into a meth buzz. Brief but deep.
August 7, 2007
Ugh. The cover is deceiving. Yes some of the drawings are amazing and haunting--oceans crashing up against factories, a sense of the spoiled innocence of the island. But the storyline is pretty bad--rich teens on crystal meth. I wish I could rip off the cover and frame it though!
July 29, 2009
Yay Reid!
December 29, 2010
A moody look at a culture I know nothing about.
Read
April 29, 2014The brushwork is full and lush and brave, reminiscent of Paul Pope circa 100%.
The story left me wanting, expecting more.
The story left me wanting, expecting more.
January 5, 2018
R. Kikuo Johnson é um dos meus ilustradores favoritos. A sua economia de linha (clara), as cores harmoniosas e o subtexto presente nas suas ilustrações para o New Yorker colocam-no, na minha opinião, num patamar superior de excelência.
Antes do seu sucesso no mundo da ilustração, ele vagueava por um terreno mais corriqueiro - o da bd.
"Night Fisher" é a sua primeira média (mais tarde, faria "The Shark King" para a Toon Books de Françoise Mouly, dirigido a um público mais infantil) e é influenciado pela sua vivência enquanto adolescente no Hawaii.
Loren Foster é um jovem de Boston que veio por arrasto com o pai viver na ilha do Maui. Esta oportunidade permitiu aos Fosters terem uma vida melhor: um salário mais avultado para o pai, uma casa enorme com um jardim indomável e permite a Loren frequentar uma escola de reputação. Loren é um excelente aluno, solitário e tranquilo, mas ultimamente as suas questões em relação à importância das coisas está a distanciá-lo dos seus (e dos outros) objectivos. A sua relação instável com Shane - o seu único amigo -, um rebelde transgressor, acaba por fazê-lo envolver-se com um grupo de má índole, experimentar drogas e numa espiral lenta a vida de Loren começa a desenlaçar.
O traço de Johnson é simples e bonito, evidenciado pela escolha do preto e branco, adivinhando-se já o seu talento inegável. Claro que numa primeira obra, há algumas escolhas que ainda revelam alguma inexperiência, especialmente na colocação dos negros e alguma instabilidade e inconsistência de linha.
O enredo em si é apelativo, as minhas dúvidas em relação ao comportamento adolescente baseado em estereótipos de "No Mercy" não se repetem aqui (em retrospectiva poderá ter a ver com identificar a minha experiência mais nesta descrição), as interacções entre as personagens parecem naturais e plausíveis e conseguimos compreender o comportamento de Loren e empatizar com ele. As personagens secundárias não são tão bem desenvolvidas mas apresentam alguma complexidade e mistério (especialmente Shane e o pai de Loren).
Outro realce para o design do livro que é muito bem realizado e chamativo, as ilustrações mais elaboradas que vão ponteando os capítulos são deslumbrantes.
"Night Fisher" é um primeiro livro interessante, um relato realista de um período de tempo de experimentação e conflito, bem feito e esteticamente aprazível ( é bonito, porra!). Uma óptima estreia de R. Kikuo Johnson que me faz suspirar por toda a bd que ele não fez.
Antes do seu sucesso no mundo da ilustração, ele vagueava por um terreno mais corriqueiro - o da bd.
"Night Fisher" é a sua primeira média (mais tarde, faria "The Shark King" para a Toon Books de Françoise Mouly, dirigido a um público mais infantil) e é influenciado pela sua vivência enquanto adolescente no Hawaii.
Loren Foster é um jovem de Boston que veio por arrasto com o pai viver na ilha do Maui. Esta oportunidade permitiu aos Fosters terem uma vida melhor: um salário mais avultado para o pai, uma casa enorme com um jardim indomável e permite a Loren frequentar uma escola de reputação. Loren é um excelente aluno, solitário e tranquilo, mas ultimamente as suas questões em relação à importância das coisas está a distanciá-lo dos seus (e dos outros) objectivos. A sua relação instável com Shane - o seu único amigo -, um rebelde transgressor, acaba por fazê-lo envolver-se com um grupo de má índole, experimentar drogas e numa espiral lenta a vida de Loren começa a desenlaçar.
O traço de Johnson é simples e bonito, evidenciado pela escolha do preto e branco, adivinhando-se já o seu talento inegável. Claro que numa primeira obra, há algumas escolhas que ainda revelam alguma inexperiência, especialmente na colocação dos negros e alguma instabilidade e inconsistência de linha.
O enredo em si é apelativo, as minhas dúvidas em relação ao comportamento adolescente baseado em estereótipos de "No Mercy" não se repetem aqui (em retrospectiva poderá ter a ver com identificar a minha experiência mais nesta descrição), as interacções entre as personagens parecem naturais e plausíveis e conseguimos compreender o comportamento de Loren e empatizar com ele. As personagens secundárias não são tão bem desenvolvidas mas apresentam alguma complexidade e mistério (especialmente Shane e o pai de Loren).
Outro realce para o design do livro que é muito bem realizado e chamativo, as ilustrações mais elaboradas que vão ponteando os capítulos são deslumbrantes.
"Night Fisher" é um primeiro livro interessante, um relato realista de um período de tempo de experimentação e conflito, bem feito e esteticamente aprazível ( é bonito, porra!). Uma óptima estreia de R. Kikuo Johnson que me faz suspirar por toda a bd que ele não fez.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2024
R. Kikuo Johnson's debut graphic novel is a coming of age story of some teenage boys who attend a private school on the island of Maui. As presented by Johnson, Maui isn't shown as the tropical holiday paradise that most Americans associate it with, but rather the home where the indigenous population struggles to get by. Most of the story centers on Loren who navigates the tricky balance of trying to fit in but also having to avoid the more troubling influences around him. Drugs and crime are prevalent on this darker side of Maui, while Johnson also subtly interweaves elements of the class hierarchies and racial politics. Unfortunately, the story is a fair bit dry and the narrative is plodding, taking a fair bit too long to establish all the characters to land any kind of satisfying pay off. As an exercise in exploring a lesser known setting, Night Fisher is pretty interesting, but from a story standpoint, I have to admit to being quite bored throughout.
Johnson's artwork is stunning, with influences like Toth and Mazzucchelli being the most evident throughout. The pristine use of blacks adds a wonderful contrast to the spare backgrounds, with the final compositions feeling rich in texture. The striking visage that is Maui's volcanic landscapes are incredibly realized by Johnson, with the naturalistic designs being the most memorable aspect of the comic. The art sets the gloomy tone for the story well, making the more slower moving sections feel appropriately pensive. Though the story itself didn't do much for me, I was still impressed by a lot of what Night Fisher had to offer.
Johnson's artwork is stunning, with influences like Toth and Mazzucchelli being the most evident throughout. The pristine use of blacks adds a wonderful contrast to the spare backgrounds, with the final compositions feeling rich in texture. The striking visage that is Maui's volcanic landscapes are incredibly realized by Johnson, with the naturalistic designs being the most memorable aspect of the comic. The art sets the gloomy tone for the story well, making the more slower moving sections feel appropriately pensive. Though the story itself didn't do much for me, I was still impressed by a lot of what Night Fisher had to offer.
October 22, 2023
This is a comic about teenage boys from a private school on the Hawaiian island of Maui who get caught up in drugs and crime. That makes it sound like it could be a patronizing cautionary tale aimed at the "young adult" market,* but in fact that couldn't be further from the truth. On the contrary, this is a very mature work that approaches its themes in an understated, sophisticated manner. Although not autobiographical, it feels so honest and real that it must be informed by its author's own experiences. Without ever hitting the reader over the head with explanation or description of Maui's society, it provides fascinating insight into life on the island, showing ethnic and class dynamics in a subtle and totally natural way, the characters scarcely ever mentioning those subjects directly.
Some may object to the rather meandering storytelling style and the lack of real plot resolution, but I relish the slow pace and I think the open-endedness is a mark of sophistication – in a story like this, any tidy resolution would risk feeling didactic. I especially appreciate the generous use of pensive wordless sequences, which masterfully evoke atmosphere and bestow the comic with an introspective quality. What's more, the whole thing is delivered with gorgeous black-and-white artwork.
In sum, this is a really excellent comic, and I can't wait to read more from its author!
*"Young adult" being a marketing euphemism for kids aged about 10–14, as far as I can tell.
Some may object to the rather meandering storytelling style and the lack of real plot resolution, but I relish the slow pace and I think the open-endedness is a mark of sophistication – in a story like this, any tidy resolution would risk feeling didactic. I especially appreciate the generous use of pensive wordless sequences, which masterfully evoke atmosphere and bestow the comic with an introspective quality. What's more, the whole thing is delivered with gorgeous black-and-white artwork.
In sum, this is a really excellent comic, and I can't wait to read more from its author!
*"Young adult" being a marketing euphemism for kids aged about 10–14, as far as I can tell.
April 3, 2021
I started reading this graphic novel after seeing R. Kikuo Johnson's cover for the April 5, 2021 edition of The New Yorker showing an Asian American mother and daughter anxious to get on the subway, wary of the current hate crimes on Asian Americans amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. I did a quick Google search and found that he is a comics nerd and have two graphic novels under his belt 🤩
I found Night Fisher to be half-baked. Most readers voice the opinion that the graphic novel started picking up steam towards the end, and was disappointed that nothing more came after the gang's arrest. I am inclined to agree, I was especially looking forward to finding out if Shane got caught stealing the electric scales from their school, if Jem got arrested after the police car chase, or whether or not Loren was going to do something to set things right after finding out his best friend was the reason someone else got the short (and shitty) end of the stick 😓
I still enjoyed this comic nevertheless, R. Kikuo Johnson has a beautiful art style and has a good sense of where to place action in his panels, and I can understand Loren wanting to involve himself in whatever his childhood friend is up to, even if the same friend doesn't really care about him anymore 😢
I found Night Fisher to be half-baked. Most readers voice the opinion that the graphic novel started picking up steam towards the end, and was disappointed that nothing more came after the gang's arrest. I am inclined to agree, I was especially looking forward to finding out if Shane got caught stealing the electric scales from their school, if Jem got arrested after the police car chase, or whether or not Loren was going to do something to set things right after finding out his best friend was the reason someone else got the short (and shitty) end of the stick 😓
I still enjoyed this comic nevertheless, R. Kikuo Johnson has a beautiful art style and has a good sense of where to place action in his panels, and I can understand Loren wanting to involve himself in whatever his childhood friend is up to, even if the same friend doesn't really care about him anymore 😢
July 15, 2019
This was an interesting read. I am fascinated with YA graphic novels. They bring a whole new level to storytelling that I find intriguing. This book caught my eye, as something of a coming of age story. The main character is about to graduate high school, and is introduced to the world of drug use. Sure, he knows people who do it, but once he personally gets wrapped up in it, his life changes. None of that change is particularly good.
In a classroom setting, I'm not sure I would have it in my classroom. I honestly did not understand everything that was being said. The closest moral is that doing drugs is not a good choice, and is certainly not lasting happiness.
Violence- Yes
Drugs- Absolutley! Marijuana use.
Language- Lots
Sex- Implied
R&R- High school boys doing dumb high school stuff.
In a classroom setting, I'm not sure I would have it in my classroom. I honestly did not understand everything that was being said. The closest moral is that doing drugs is not a good choice, and is certainly not lasting happiness.
Violence- Yes
Drugs- Absolutley! Marijuana use.
Language- Lots
Sex- Implied
R&R- High school boys doing dumb high school stuff.
September 4, 2019
As someone who enjoys Johnson’s illustrations for The New Yorker and The Atlantic to the point of following him on social media just to keep up with his work, I was very disappointed with this graphic novel. The story and dialogue are atrocious. While some frames have a smooth, haunting stillness (Johnson is able to illustrate inner silence with uncanny aplomb), these moments are too few and far between. And while the black ink images lend a noir-ish quality to the work, I have always been most impressed with Johnson’s color illustrations, so the black and white strikes me as a limitation here. (And I most certainly don’t feel that to be the case throughout the visual arts.) Even so, I consider him an outstanding illustrator, and I hope he publishes another graphic novel at some point.
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