Stargazer

Stargazer #1-5

by Anthony Cleveland

Years ago Shae, her brother Kenny, and two childhood friends experienced a traumatic, unexplainable event that left Kenny scarred for life. Kenny commits himself to the belief that what they experienced was an alien abduction. Twenty years later and the friends have since drifted apart, but the sudden, mysterious disappearance of Kenny leads the group to reunite and discover the truth of what took place all those years ago.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Fantasy, Young Adult

158 pages, ebook

First published May 11, 2021

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off very strong with three girls and one little bother going through an unexplained, traumatic event where they lost time. Unfortunately, the latter half of this book gets wonky and rushed as too many, large, heady concepts are foisted at us. I liked the pink and black color palette but I did have a difficult time telling the characters apart at times.

Received a review copy from Mad Cave Studios and Edelweiss.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

the stargazer comic is a quick, fun romp. we have: alien abduction! pretty pinkish color palette! a group of adults who are haunted by a traumatic supernatural incident they shared in childhood! intense sibling bond! sapphic main character! scary dead-eyed monster aliens!!!

my problem with stargazer is that it's often confusing. i'm not sure if it's the art style or the storytelling itself, but i often found myself floating through, unsure of what was going on.

when we finally get a big reveal from one of the aliens, the answer is quite chilling. human consciousnesses are being drained by extraterrestrial energy mass!

When a civilization faces its extinction, it is at its most innovative and resourceful. Collectively, that is when a species' consciousness is ripest for the taking. Your planet has been on a path to self-destruction for decades and we stopped by as it happened.

i really like the concept of characters being able to escape into their shared memories. i wish we had spent more time with the reluctant squad, navigating this strange adventure. when the group is together, connected by their shared past, there are a lot of unexpected moments of humor. the main characters are also all interesting people, and some additional development would be nice. but our time with them is interspersed with complex government coverup stuff.

there are so many intense things going on, and not enough time is spent exploring all of them. this is probably typical of comic series (this volume comprises issues 1-6 of the series); but all the gear-switching made it harder for me to engage with the story. still a fun read though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this graphic novel that focuses on family, sacrifice, conspiracy, and memory. Loved the pink and black art; it's a palate you don't see too often and it gives a fresh, eerie, off-putting paranoid feel which matches the story very well. The story is a bit tropey in the plot points, but I like the focus on memory and the ways memories affect and influence us in our lives. That said, these were some big topics, themes, plot points, and character beats to tackle in only 144 pages. Everything seemed a bit rushed. I think the story would have felt more original if things weren't so crammed in.

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

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Stargazer' by Anthony Cleveland, Antonio Fuso and Stefano Simeone is a graphic novel about a bad event, UFOs and the odd way that truth can be.

When Shae and her friends were kids, they were accidentally exposed to drugs and Shae's brother Kenny had a fall and a strange encounter brought on by a bad trip. Except there weren't really drugs and Kenny really did have a strange encounter. Now it's years later and Kenny has disappeared and these childhood friends have a secret buried in them that needs to be discovered.

This was a quick enough read and the story is pretty good. The art and colors are pretty great.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who spends a lot of time on the old internet looking up and investigating current alien thought this one seems pretty interesting. A grey is being controlled by a higher minded orb to dismantle humanity so it can harvest the world’s consciousness. This is similar to what I think may be happening that the greys are some sort of android used to calm humans because they’re somewhat similar to us and at least comprehensible. That these creatures were created by a higher form of life for seemingly incomprehensible goals is pretty much what I believe. I liked a lot of the theories and ideas portrayed in this story.

Now the story itself was just alright. A friend group loses a little brother to some bad acid or maybe ALIENS! It’s worth the read for sci-fi fans but probably not going to be a must read.

[ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh.

What more could I ask for T_T

This was-
I am at a loss for words.
Oh my goshhh this was so good. I loved the art style so freaking much.

Why did this kinda remind me of skyward by brandon sanderson? Oh well.

I don't even know what to say about this, it was so good :)

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC.

Weird ass crazy alien abduction story and I'm here for it. I really liked the pinkish hue to it all. The artwork was great. Give me more! Please please tell me there will be more to this story!

[Milou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aliens… Kids get abducted by aliens, and now 20 years later have to deal with the consequences of that. Though tropey, it is done very well. I was a bit confused at the start when we jumped around in time without any indications, but it only took a few pages for me to ‘get settled’ and really enjoy this story. Apart from a somewhat diverser set of main characters, it doesn’t do anything new. You have your conspiracy theorist podcast, implants, black-ops. So that might me something you might want to be aware of going into this.




I really liked the art-style. It may not be for everyone, but I though the colourscheming was great. My only issue with it is that it couldn’t quite handle the complexity at the end of the novel, making me quite confused at to what was happening.

Overall this was a very basic but very solid scifi comic that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Presley Hinkle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was kind of…I mean it wasn’t bad. This one had high hopes from the start, but it got muddled in the generic sci-fi lore that every other series has. Could have been far cooler, but it just wasn’t. I liked the color scheme though!

[Bat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was kindly provided an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting take on an alien abduction story, focused more on themes of family drama, friendship, love, and memory rather than the alien abduction itself. I enjoyed the art style, it was sketchy and rough, which gave it a more dynamic feel. It paired well with the fact that the story had a lot of motion and was generally fast paced even during calmer scenes. The highly stylised art stands out and makes the story feel more unique, but it also sometimes made the action more confusing. I think it would have helped to broaden the colour palette and give characters their distinct one, because it was a bit difficult to tell some of them apart at times.

As for the writing, the story itself it is generally satisfying, even if a bit tropey. However, the resolution happens quite fast and a bit too easily, for my preference, but ultimately it is done this way to leave more room for the takeaway and the emotional journey of the characters. This is sci fi that's not heavy on the sci fi elements, with a somewhat simple take on aliens, but still intriguing enough to carry me through until the end. The idea of an alien species who messed with human memory is not new, and while I always welcome more fiction that explores this concept, this story did not go into as much depth as I would've liked. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between the main character, Shae, and her brother, Kenny, who was a key piece in the alien abduction plot. Other characters were less developed, though, and this made the theme of friendship a bit less apparent in the story.

Overall, this is a quick, fun, but also melancholy read, that I'd recommend for someone looking for a story of friendship and family drama with a sci fi flavour.

[Ness (Vynexa) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had an early digital review copy of this graphic novel, but was unable to review it on time due to not having a way to open the document.

So I got it from my library to do just that.

I want to start off by saying that the art for this story is beyond beautiful. The color pallets and the illustrations, especially of the people, were drawn so beautifully, In many panels, the humans looked pretty realistic and it took me by surprise.

Now, to the story: I personally feel like the climax and ending of the sixth part was not fleshed out enough and rushed. The build up got my attention until we hit part five, then I felt like it was all too easy, no consequences. So it left me feeling half way full.

I wish it would've been dragged a little bit longer in order for us to have more information.

All in all, I did enjoy Stargazer. My favorite was to consume Scifi is via graphic novels, so I was hooked from the beginning, just wish it would've given a little bit more.

⭐️3.5 STARS⭐️

[Andreea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange of my honest opinion.

This was such a good graphic novel with aliens, but more importantly with family drama and the relationship between friends as they age. I truly enjoyed it.

The art was gorgeous and expressive.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot! I can’t say that I fully followed a few parts toward the end, but overall it was great!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was great. The last third of the book was so rushed though that it detracted from the fantastic beginning that the author set up. A disappointing finish to a promising start.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago 4 kids experienced a traumatic event and 20 years later the friends reunite when one of them goes missing. Collects all 6 issues of the comic Stargazer. I don't have any words besides "Wow!" to describe this book. I love the art, the colors, the letters. It was so good I could not put it down. I am sad it took me so long to read it.

Creative Team:
Writer: Anthony Cleveland
Artist: Antonio Fuso
Colorist: Stefano Simeone
Letterer: Justin Birch
Published by Mad Cave Studios

[Littlebookterror · Rating 3 out of 5]

We follow our main character Shae as she is uncovering the mystery of how her autistic brother went missing.

The art style fits the horror/mystery theme very well. The vibrant colours are oppressive, highlighting the chaos surrounding our cast and work both as a warning for what's to come and creating an unsettling atmosphere as the horror grows.
Sadly, I was less impressed by the writing. I found the nonlinear storytelling hard to follow and that in turn diminished my interest since I could not understand what was happening or appreciate where the story was taking me. The connection between the siblings was not strong enough to give me an emotional throughline I could attach to.
The aliens were fascinating and horrifying at times, matching the art and always looming in the background.

I received an advanced reading copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of the paranormal, stories about alien abductions interest me a LOT. I used to listen to Coast to Coast AM before it became a right-wing show about angels and how great President Trump is. Despite how little veracity most of the call-ins had, every once in a while, a crazy story came in that glued me to the radio. I honestly am very skeptical about UFOs and alien related things, but a handful of them sound very chilling, and give me the same thrill others get from horror movies. This book is a well-written story in that genre, one that keeps you guessing from every turned page. Did the abduction happen? Is Shae’s brother crazy? etc etc. Aside from that initial interest, the first thing that stands out about Stargazer by Anthony Cleveland is the gorgeous artwork – I’m a sucker for artwork that appears to be painted with hard lines (probably from reading Daredevil in the early 2000s) and anything that looks like that is an instant win for me. Aside from that initial

“Years ago Shae, her brother Kenny, and two childhood friends experienced a traumatic, unexplainable event that left Kenny scarred for life. Kenny commits himself to the belief that what they experienced was an alien abduction. Twenty years later and the friends have since drifted apart, but the sudden, mysterious disappearance of Kenny leads the group to reunite and discover the truth of what took place all those years ago.”

Taking cues from stories like Fire in the Sky and Dreamcatcher, Stargazer is a solid horror science fiction story that I enjoyed quite a bit. Tapping into the modern UFO topics such as disclosure and government cover-ups as well as the “truth” given by paranormal alternative media broadcasters, it is anchored in our modern world very well. Because of that it doesn’t become a derivative work, and moves forward as something all it’s own. Honestly if this was made into a movie at some point, I would definitely be down to watch it. My only quibble was that the ending seemed very quick once the plot started nearing it’s climax, but I don’t know if there was much more that could have been told. It just seemed like it raced to completion.

If you are looking for a comic related to an alien invasion, alien abductions, or even just a simple story about how friends and family become estranged through he years, I’d recommend this one. I was skeptical at first as to whether I’d enjoy it, but I definitely did. The art and story are very well done, and it has a number of strong emotional moments.

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-done science-fiction comics series that needs a second reading to fully appreciate what is being offered. Although the final issue seems like a big info dump and a rush to tie up all the story threads that have been planted, I was satisfied with the series and would recommend it to fans of U.F.O. stories and alien visitations.
The coloring throughout is interesting - lots of monochromatic color schemes and an abundance of pink and blue tones. I'm not sure there is a method to their placement, perhaps just a means to create a strange, unnatural feel to the events that occur here.
In 1999 Colorado, Shae and her two teenage friends plus tag-along younger brother Kenny are hanging around outdoors, chatting about a role-playing game while Kenny watches the stars. They all experience a lapse in memory and find themselves on the observation deck of a water tower. Kenny suffers a dangerous fall, and needs a wheelchair to recuperate. The incident raises many questions from both police and family, while Kenny insists they were taken by "sky people" which causes his parents to suspect that he's gone mad or possibly suffering from a drug (LSD) overdose.
Flash forward to the present. Shae works as an astronomer. Kenny is still obsessed with aliens that speak to him in his dreams and is interviewed by a podcaster obsessed with alien abduction and government coverup theories. Kenny disappears and this brings all the friends back together to try and find him. Who, what, why, when and where are revealed in the final issue.
There are some interesting spins on the typical alien visitation tropes here that are both creative and engaging. The sixth and final issue reveals all, in a fast-paced conclusion that perhaps offers too much at one time and will appear confusing. I'd love to highlight some of those scenes here, but it would majorly spoil the story. This is not for everybody but hopefully I've provided enough information for readers to decide if they want to explore this.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

When they were in middle school, Shae, her brother Kenny, and her two friends had an alien encounter that left her brother scarred for life. He had an accident and became obsessed with alien abductions. Now, twenty years later, Kenny mysteriously disappears, and only Shae and her friends have the key to finding him.

This was an entertaining story. There was a lot of mystery around the alien abduction when they were kids. It seemed like it really happened, but they were young so no one believed them. Even when they got older, Shae had to wonder if it really happened. Once her brother went missing as an adult, she had no choice but to believe he had actually been abducted by aliens.

This story alternated between the present and twenty years ago when the kids first encountered the aliens. The first time this happened, the two timelines were labeled so it was easy to see the time jump. However, the other times there wasn’t a label to indicate that the time period was changing. It was a little confusing to get used to at first. The older timeline had illustrations in more pink colours and the present story was in blue colours, which made it a little easier to tell them apart. It would have been a smoother transition if each jump in time was labeled.

I really enjoyed this sci fi graphic novel!

Thank you Diamond Book Distributors for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tagging along with his sister and her girlfriends one night at the end of the nineties, when they find they're in possession of what they think is LSD, leaves Kenny recovering in a wheelchair and insisting the sky-people will come back to show us the end. Cut to the present day and he's still at it – still climbing tall edifices in a trance to see the aliens, and still being, well, correct in what he says about it all. And it might have something to do with the car crash that killed the sister's wife...

Well I guess this has the distinction of dumping the problems caused by an alien appropriation of a human onto some female characters, but that mattered little as a selling point for me. I surprised myself by not minding too much that all this was built of most derivative bricks (Lone Gunman conspiracist narrowcaster, black ops-style mysterious cabals, dodgily-named alien Areas etc). What became the biggest problem was that the intention, all Nolanesque ripping up of skies, alien captures, memory transposition, etc, was too far beyond the talents of the visuals team to get across clearly. Reduced palettes, characters that are hard to differentiate, and quite muddled action scenes made this a bit of a let-down. Not too bad an attempt, mind – so something nearer two and a half stars might reflect my thoughts more precisely.

[𝕁𝕒𝕕𝕖 (_𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕤𝕙_𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕣_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved this. The plot was great, the artwork was stunning, everything about this just made my heart sing. And did i mention it has aliens!

The story follows 20 years after Kenny, his sister Shae and friends experience something traumatic, leaving Kenny injured and with the theory that they were all abducted by aliens. In 2019 Kenny disappears, leaving clues for Shae to follow and to get the friends back together to uncover the truth behind what really happened to them that day in 1999.

So the story is told through the perspective of present day and memories and the way they distinguish this to us is through the use of a colour palette, which I loved, made it easy to know where in the timeline you were. The artwork itself is kind of like rough and choppy but it just drew me in further.

I 100% recommend this to people, especially if you're into sci-fi and aliens. I'm definitely going to check out other work by the author.

Thanks again NetGalley for providing me with this Advanced Reading Copy :)

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never seen a better depiction of trauma and how it relates to memory and personalities. Main character Shae has plenty of traumas and it's ultimately what serves as the driving force. She really wants to believe she's protecting her brother after an accident but Shae's also running from her trauma related to those events. With how confirmation bias, conspiracy theories, and trauma can be used to manipulate people it makes a compelling case on how truths can be manipulated.

This series even brings up something about how artists put out their best efforts when facing a crisis, think of Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman facing terminal cancer as coming out on top. Unfortunately similar circumstances can lead to these best efforts being exploited. That's what the central villain tries to add to itself; most of its subordinates don't mind that much.

It's just a shame that's not really on display. I still don't understand what the whole thing with whales was all about. My real focus was on the personal stories.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book Aesthetically is on point from beginning to end. It works to bring you further into the story. I had chills opening this for the first time; reading "The stars have never been closer" really does feel like a threat and helps set the scene.
The art is gorgeous and haunting at the same time.

Story-wise I wouldn't say it's groundbreaking or anything. But it is a fun story that will keep you turning pages. The urgency of the situation definitely is evident as you are reading. While also allowing you to learn this information at the same pace as the characters.

I will say that lacking overall is character depth; I can't say I know anything about these women, or honestly their names besides Kenny's sister. They honestly kind of exist as placeholders for this plot to progress forward.

TLDR: Overall fun read, but don't expect anything new and don't read for the characters.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an unexplainable event happens to a few friends as children, they go their own ways and learn to cope with the repercussions. Now they're adults, with miles and trauma between them, and a disappearance brings them together again. They must work to uncover what is going on, or possibly face the end of the world as they know it.

This comic was such a thrilling read. With LGBTQ charcaters, struggles with mental health, and facing conspiracy theories, this series packs so much in its punch. While the collection is short, the relationships show how deep and meaningful they are, whether they are family, friend, or romantic.

I greatly enjoyed this comic collection and would recommend it to fans of Sci-Fi and Stranger Things.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the digital galley of this comic.

Stargazer is about a group of friends who have a weird encounter as children, then years later it comes back to haunt them when it turns out to have really been an alien encounter.

It moves super quickly and the art is sublime. I enjoyed the story and the characters and their relationships. The appearance of a conspiracy podcaster made me smile, and he ended up playing a pretty big part in the story. It moves back and forth in time as the story unfolds, and it packs a lot into six issues. Kind of like an episode of The X-Files, it’s sure to attract fans of sci-fi and aliens.

It’s out now wherever you get your comics.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5

Major creepypasta vibes which is not something I’m normally into, but this was done just so well. The story was interesting (if a bit confusing at times), the characters were brilliant and the artwork was incredible. So many pages of this comic I would love framed on my walls.
And we have a sapphic main character!! Always here for that LGBTQ+ rep.
If you’re someone who loves alien conspiracy theories or just love otherworldly stories in general - this is for you.

I received an e-copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Amy Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half of this graphic novel really hooked me.
The mystery surrounding their lost memories and what happened to this core group of friends, was instantly intriguing. I liked the iconography chosen and was drawn into what it could mean.
Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy the payoff and wish that the characters had felt a little more developed. As it was, I felt the ending wasn't as affecting as it could have been.
The graphics and color palette are unique and I quite liked it though others may find it harsh or off-putting.
2.5 stars.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shae, her brother Kenny, and two friends experience a traumatic event that changes Kenny for the rest of his life. Years later, Shae is ready to put Kenny in assisted living because he won't stop spouting conspiracy theories and will not take his medicine. Then, Kenny is injured and disappears, but he left a trail for Shae to follow. Shae and her two friends must reunite and confront what happened to them. #Stargazer #NetGalley

[G. Salter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an interesting mix of Spielberg-style scifi (merry band of kids meets aliens, fight back) but with a snarky sensibility that's closer to the X Files or Stranger Things. The color scheme with its magentas and other shades of pink-red is reminiscent of a lot of retro 80s films (The Colour out of Space, Mandy) that have come out in the last few years, and gives the story even more of a "retro only darker and with more snarky" vibe to the story. Lots of fun!

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts strong, but ends up feeling rushed. There are some big SF concepts stuffed in at virtually the last minute, which doesn't give nearly enough time to digest them. The actual finale takes place over a couple of pages, so fast that I was left wondering if that was really it. Which is a shame, because the last moments should have been more emotionally effective, if they'd had more time to develop.