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Bliss #1-8
Bliss
Collects BLISS #1-8
There's a drug called Bliss wiping away memories in Feral City. But a good-hearted young man with a deathly sick child makes a horrible deal. He will become the hitman for the gods providing the drug—and possibly lose everything in the process. A critically acclaimed examination of forgiveness and family that's rarely seen in comics.
Select praise for BLISS:
“A slow burn fueled by plenty of raw emotion to get readers quickly invested.” —Comic Book Resources
“A multi-generational narrative that is so much more than meets the eye.” —ComicBook.com
“Anchored by strong writing and elevated by moody art direction.” —Multiversity Comics
"There has never been a book like BLISS before...and there probably never will be again." —Bleeding Cool
There's a drug called Bliss wiping away memories in Feral City. But a good-hearted young man with a deathly sick child makes a horrible deal. He will become the hitman for the gods providing the drug—and possibly lose everything in the process. A critically acclaimed examination of forgiveness and family that's rarely seen in comics.
Select praise for BLISS:
“A slow burn fueled by plenty of raw emotion to get readers quickly invested.” —Comic Book Resources
“A multi-generational narrative that is so much more than meets the eye.” —ComicBook.com
“Anchored by strong writing and elevated by moody art direction.” —Multiversity Comics
"There has never been a book like BLISS before...and there probably never will be again." —Bleeding Cool
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2020
1 person is currently reading
148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 17, 2021
A story about addiction, about reckoning with your own actions, about forgiveness (or the absence of it), all wrapped into a semi-mythological, fairytale-ish sauce.
I think I like the overall message, which seems to be that it isn't so much about being forgiven your wrongs, but that you have to own up to what you done, and accept the pain you have caused others.
I say 'seems', because I feel that the mythological side of the story, concerning a god who is taking criminals' memories to replace her own lost memory, muddles the story a bit too much.
The story does talk about the families of victims, but feels weighted towards telling the criminal's story (not that strange, as the criminal is one of the main character), which sometimes irks. There is crime and then there is multiple murders - that's crossing a clear line. The stakes are instantly changed.
The art is strange but beautiful, very expressive faces (and one weird occurrence of using Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's face, it seems?) .
As with any Sean Lewis project I've read (and I've read a few), I get the feeling he could've told the same story in fewer issues/chapters.
A game of two halves, this book.
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
I think I like the overall message, which seems to be that it isn't so much about being forgiven your wrongs, but that you have to own up to what you done, and accept the pain you have caused others.
I say 'seems', because I feel that the mythological side of the story, concerning a god who is taking criminals' memories to replace her own lost memory, muddles the story a bit too much.
The story does talk about the families of victims, but feels weighted towards telling the criminal's story (not that strange, as the criminal is one of the main character), which sometimes irks. There is crime and then there is multiple murders - that's crossing a clear line. The stakes are instantly changed.
The art is strange but beautiful, very expressive faces (and one weird occurrence of using Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's face, it seems?) .
As with any Sean Lewis project I've read (and I've read a few), I get the feeling he could've told the same story in fewer issues/chapters.
A game of two halves, this book.
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
November 12, 2021
Excellent story with stunning art. It gives a unique perspective on things people are ready to do for those they love. It provides an excellent supernatural twist: gods are real, they rule the city, some feed on people's memories.
Well worth a read.
Well worth a read.
December 5, 2021
Bliss centers on father-son drama. It’s a sad and dark story of family, drug addiction, redemption, and forgiveness.
In a kind of futuristic neighborhood, where crime and mafia rule the streets, a new drug called Bliss is taking over. Mabel and Benton live there with their sick son. To pay medical bills, Benton must make some tough decisions.
Stunning and very creative art. Depictions of horror and torment are haunting but excellent. Bliss collects eight issues of this graphic novel. At the end, we can read the author’s story that inspired it. I liked to see all the real-life people that were models for characters in this graphic novel.
I would recommend Bliss to readers who like a good, original story and mixed genres. Here, family drama blends with crime mystery, fantasy, and mythology.
CW: violence, blood, death, profanity, drug abuse
Thanks to Image Comics for the ARC and the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.
In a kind of futuristic neighborhood, where crime and mafia rule the streets, a new drug called Bliss is taking over. Mabel and Benton live there with their sick son. To pay medical bills, Benton must make some tough decisions.
Stunning and very creative art. Depictions of horror and torment are haunting but excellent. Bliss collects eight issues of this graphic novel. At the end, we can read the author’s story that inspired it. I liked to see all the real-life people that were models for characters in this graphic novel.
I would recommend Bliss to readers who like a good, original story and mixed genres. Here, family drama blends with crime mystery, fantasy, and mythology.
CW: violence, blood, death, profanity, drug abuse
Thanks to Image Comics for the ARC and the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.
November 15, 2021
Well, this starts out quite interesting. A young man is in front of a female judge, high up above him and in a huge theatre-styled courthouse, trying to defend his father, who – to fund said kid's medical bills as an ill youngster – went on a rampage of killing as a 'fixer' for some mafia don types. Bliss is the name of a liquid drug that he and others take to wipe the memories of the previous few hours, so he's not permanently down a rabbit hole of darkness, guilt and regret and mental replays of the murders he's committing. But here's a twist – the mafia types are lizard men things, demigods, and Lethe the goddess of oblivion is making her influence known. Which, you know, isn't a great thing for the rest of us. Apparently.
And that if anything is where the problems lie. This world, so like America any year of the last hundred, and probably like most of the next, has a geography and a mythology we just can't get a firm enough grip on. And while the presence of gods, and the journey to the other side kind of place, and so on, might be thought to strengthen the morality tale of what we have here, it actually does the opposite, really diluting the father/son drama, and all the look at trauma, forgetting and redemption the piece is supposed to be about.
I wanted to like this, just as much as the artists wanted the gallons of purple ink used in its making to make it distinctive. Ultimately, the warning signs were there – my Second Rule of Books stating quality is inversely proportional to the number of puff quotes you have to wade through to get to it. So all the talk of 'there's never been the likes before!!' can be countered by – in this instance - "yeah, because no look at devilish behaviour and whether the man committing it can ever be the same has actually thought to feature violet, bipedal frogs before now. That doesn't mean it's wonderfully different. It just makes it different." Which generally can be a good thing, but here? Not quite so. Two and a half stars.
And that if anything is where the problems lie. This world, so like America any year of the last hundred, and probably like most of the next, has a geography and a mythology we just can't get a firm enough grip on. And while the presence of gods, and the journey to the other side kind of place, and so on, might be thought to strengthen the morality tale of what we have here, it actually does the opposite, really diluting the father/son drama, and all the look at trauma, forgetting and redemption the piece is supposed to be about.
I wanted to like this, just as much as the artists wanted the gallons of purple ink used in its making to make it distinctive. Ultimately, the warning signs were there – my Second Rule of Books stating quality is inversely proportional to the number of puff quotes you have to wade through to get to it. So all the talk of 'there's never been the likes before!!' can be countered by – in this instance - "yeah, because no look at devilish behaviour and whether the man committing it can ever be the same has actually thought to feature violet, bipedal frogs before now. That doesn't mean it's wonderfully different. It just makes it different." Which generally can be a good thing, but here? Not quite so. Two and a half stars.
April 28, 2022
In a dark urban fantasy world where gods live at the docks and manipulate the humans around them, a mysterious drug steals memories while a father and son reckon with the trauma and the trail of bodies keeping them apart.
With gorgeous, emotive art from Yarsky and Pluchinsky, and deeply complex writing from Lewis, Bliss showcases some of the best of what graphic novels have to offer. Across its nonlinear narrative, the story builds its grim world of gods walking among humans, of a mystical drug called bliss, and the lives both preserved and destroyed by its existence. On one level, Bliss is the gritty story of a man so desperate to save his son that he makes a bargain with the gods who will cause his destruction. But even deeper than this, it is the story of a son, years later, forced to balance memories of a murder alongside love for the man who raised him--who gave so much to keep him alive.
Mythic and deeply personal, Bliss is a story of trauma, of justice and redemption--it is a story that stares into the uncertain boundaries that form where good men do terrible things, or perhaps bad men do good things. It is a story that wonders how we love or forgive those that have caused us pain. And ultimately, it is a story that recognizes these questions do not have easy answers.
Bliss is a fascinating crime noir fantasy, it is a complex family drama, and it is ultimately a heartfelt examination of the lives we live and the legacies we leave behind.
With gorgeous, emotive art from Yarsky and Pluchinsky, and deeply complex writing from Lewis, Bliss showcases some of the best of what graphic novels have to offer. Across its nonlinear narrative, the story builds its grim world of gods walking among humans, of a mystical drug called bliss, and the lives both preserved and destroyed by its existence. On one level, Bliss is the gritty story of a man so desperate to save his son that he makes a bargain with the gods who will cause his destruction. But even deeper than this, it is the story of a son, years later, forced to balance memories of a murder alongside love for the man who raised him--who gave so much to keep him alive.
Mythic and deeply personal, Bliss is a story of trauma, of justice and redemption--it is a story that stares into the uncertain boundaries that form where good men do terrible things, or perhaps bad men do good things. It is a story that wonders how we love or forgive those that have caused us pain. And ultimately, it is a story that recognizes these questions do not have easy answers.
Bliss is a fascinating crime noir fantasy, it is a complex family drama, and it is ultimately a heartfelt examination of the lives we live and the legacies we leave behind.
November 16, 2023
The storyline was beautiful and the imagery danced with one another. Sometimes I don’t feel like they match when I read graphic novels but this book did a wonderful job at meshing and becoming one.
It’s an interesting take on the lengths family will go to as long as they can provide for their family. It discusses how blurry the lines can get and the regret we all live with. The ‘Gods’ in the book are cool ass characters and the God of OblIvion as a woman is nice representation. I picked up the story when I saw some of the main characters were Asian because I hardly ever see that. And then to learn this story talks about addiction was such an eye opening element. The drug ‘Bliss’ they talk about can be substituted for so many things in all the ways we try to forget about the hard facts of our life.
I’m glad this exists and I’m interested in continuing to read this series.
It’s an interesting take on the lengths family will go to as long as they can provide for their family. It discusses how blurry the lines can get and the regret we all live with. The ‘Gods’ in the book are cool ass characters and the God of OblIvion as a woman is nice representation. I picked up the story when I saw some of the main characters were Asian because I hardly ever see that. And then to learn this story talks about addiction was such an eye opening element. The drug ‘Bliss’ they talk about can be substituted for so many things in all the ways we try to forget about the hard facts of our life.
I’m glad this exists and I’m interested in continuing to read this series.
August 26, 2021
How far would you go to save your child? As far as making a deal with an evil entity?
A father agrees to become a hitman in the hopes of saving his child from an illness. Unfortunately for him, his job forces him to lose his mind when the entity wants his wife.
To be honest I felt somewhat disconnected with the plot until the author explained why this graphic novel is based on his true story. The characters just kept running for a huge majority of the plot and his secret pact was too soon exposed.
A father agrees to become a hitman in the hopes of saving his child from an illness. Unfortunately for him, his job forces him to lose his mind when the entity wants his wife.
To be honest I felt somewhat disconnected with the plot until the author explained why this graphic novel is based on his true story. The characters just kept running for a huge majority of the plot and his secret pact was too soon exposed.
February 7, 2022
Bliss is a book of two halves for me. This starts out tremendously good, even for somebody who isn't really into the whole magic realism thing like myself, and the art is absolutely vibrant and captivating. Sounds good so far, right?
There's not a lot of plot elements at play here, which does eventually start to make this feel pretty linear. There are some moral messages included, but I don't think they were refined enough to really hit home for me. Either that or I'm just too dim to understand them.
That said, it was sweet in parts with its focus on family, redemption and the life-decisions people make - both right and wrong, but it just wasn't enough for me personally. I wanted it to be deeper and more refined with its message.
Although it started out really strong, Bliss ended up being a pretty forgettable read for me. That said, magic realism isn't really my thing in general so maybe that hindered me here. I will say though - the art work and illustration in this is absolutely nothing short of beautiful - if not VERY purple.
_______________
My score: 5/10
Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐
There's not a lot of plot elements at play here, which does eventually start to make this feel pretty linear. There are some moral messages included, but I don't think they were refined enough to really hit home for me. Either that or I'm just too dim to understand them.
That said, it was sweet in parts with its focus on family, redemption and the life-decisions people make - both right and wrong, but it just wasn't enough for me personally. I wanted it to be deeper and more refined with its message.
Although it started out really strong, Bliss ended up being a pretty forgettable read for me. That said, magic realism isn't really my thing in general so maybe that hindered me here. I will say though - the art work and illustration in this is absolutely nothing short of beautiful - if not VERY purple.
_______________
My score: 5/10
Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐
September 2, 2021
Moving story, gorgeous artwork—I loved this one. The author’s coda was a nice look at what inspired the book, and it was neat that he included photos of the models for the characters.
December 8, 2021
The arwork of this comic is lovely, and while I appreciated the themes, it got rather muddy in the telling.
August 9, 2021
With his son's hospital bills piling up, a down and out father makes a deal with the three gods of Feral City, a city plagued by a drug called "Bliss" which wipes away memories of its users.
I love the dark illustrations by Caitlin Yarsky who also worked on the covers. The story is both captivating and heartbreaking, beautifully written by Sean Lewis.
This is an eight-issue series with Volume 1 being the first four issues and the fifth to the eighth issues forming Volume 2.
Favorite Illustrations by Caitlin Yarsky from Volume 1 of Bliss:
I love the dark illustrations by Caitlin Yarsky who also worked on the covers. The story is both captivating and heartbreaking, beautifully written by Sean Lewis.
This is an eight-issue series with Volume 1 being the first four issues and the fifth to the eighth issues forming Volume 2.
Favorite Illustrations by Caitlin Yarsky from Volume 1 of Bliss:
December 9, 2021
"Bliss" is a story about justice and forgiveness and if those can coexist or if one should supersede the other on every occasion. I liked this book because it felt like instead of reading about the hero/antihero/villain of a book, "Bliss" chose to focus on the aftermath of his choices and how the people who love him and the people hurt by his actions are coping, particularly his son and his victims. At the same time, it's also a story about the trauma parents pass to their children and trying to heal and make amends so the next generation suffers less as the author makes clear at the end with his personal testimony.
I loved the art and the way the author drew people that felt real, that you knew and recognized from your own street, particularly the main character Asian man that wasn't the stereotypical martial arts fighting, pale skin, traditionally beautiful Asian lead we've seen copy-pasted across all kinds of media but a completely unique, complex person.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Image Comics for this DRC.
Rating: 4/5"Bliss" is a story about justice and forgiveness and if those can coexist or if one should supersede the other on every occasion. I liked this book because it felt like instead of reading about the hero/antihero/villain of a book, "Bliss" chose to focus on the aftermath of his choices and how the people who love him and the people hurt by his actions are coping, particularly his son and his victims. At the same time, it's also a story about the trauma parents pass to their children and trying to heal and make amends so the next generation suffers less as the author makes clear at the end with his personal testimony.
I loved the art and the way the author drew people that felt real, that you knew and recognized from your own street, particularly the main character Asian man that wasn't the stereotypical martial arts fighting, pale skin, traditionally beautiful Asian lead we've seen copy-pasted across all kinds of media but a completely unique, complex person.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Image Comics for this DRC.
Rating: 4/5
I loved the art and the way the author drew people that felt real, that you knew and recognized from your own street, particularly the main character Asian man that wasn't the stereotypical martial arts fighting, pale skin, traditionally beautiful Asian lead we've seen copy-pasted across all kinds of media but a completely unique, complex person.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Image Comics for this DRC.
Rating: 4/5"Bliss" is a story about justice and forgiveness and if those can coexist or if one should supersede the other on every occasion. I liked this book because it felt like instead of reading about the hero/antihero/villain of a book, "Bliss" chose to focus on the aftermath of his choices and how the people who love him and the people hurt by his actions are coping, particularly his son and his victims. At the same time, it's also a story about the trauma parents pass to their children and trying to heal and make amends so the next generation suffers less as the author makes clear at the end with his personal testimony.
I loved the art and the way the author drew people that felt real, that you knew and recognized from your own street, particularly the main character Asian man that wasn't the stereotypical martial arts fighting, pale skin, traditionally beautiful Asian lead we've seen copy-pasted across all kinds of media but a completely unique, complex person.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Image Comics for this DRC.
Rating: 4/5
January 14, 2022
I enjoyed this. It's a trippy allegory about forgiveness and the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions, as well as a look at how people use addictions to escape that responsibility, and about the things people are willing to do to save those they love. This last part escalates into something horrible, but it does make you think: would I be able to make the choices the father made in this story? And I really can't answer that. I've never been a parent, and I can't judge someone making the choices this character did, I can't even imagine it.
As I said, this is an allegory, so you can expect some symbolism. We have uncaring gods who manipulate humans to suit their whims and use us for sustenance, a magical drug that makes people forget the bad things they've done or that have happened to them, otherworldly courts where we will be judged for our transgressions, a trip through the underworld, and a battle not between good and evil, but between forgiveness and the desire for vengeance (or something like that). I don't wanna go into explaining the plot, just read the publisher's blurb, that's all you need to know going in. I enjoyed the story, it made me think while it entertained me.
The art is beautiful and a bit strange, kinda dream-like, and really suited the story well. I liked seeing the inspiration gallery at the end, which included the "cast" of the illustrations, something I don't recall seeing before in a graphic novel. The illustrator is very good at capturing people and expressions, and while the choice to "cast" Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the role of a minor character is a bit disconcerting, it also makes sense given the personality and (to a certain extent) the actions of said character. I mention this because it kinda startled me, so be warned, review reader! It did take me out of the story a bit, but not much.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this!
As I said, this is an allegory, so you can expect some symbolism. We have uncaring gods who manipulate humans to suit their whims and use us for sustenance, a magical drug that makes people forget the bad things they've done or that have happened to them, otherworldly courts where we will be judged for our transgressions, a trip through the underworld, and a battle not between good and evil, but between forgiveness and the desire for vengeance (or something like that). I don't wanna go into explaining the plot, just read the publisher's blurb, that's all you need to know going in. I enjoyed the story, it made me think while it entertained me.
The art is beautiful and a bit strange, kinda dream-like, and really suited the story well. I liked seeing the inspiration gallery at the end, which included the "cast" of the illustrations, something I don't recall seeing before in a graphic novel. The illustrator is very good at capturing people and expressions, and while the choice to "cast" Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the role of a minor character is a bit disconcerting, it also makes sense given the personality and (to a certain extent) the actions of said character. I mention this because it kinda startled me, so be warned, review reader! It did take me out of the story a bit, but not much.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this!
March 2, 2022
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When it comes to graphic novels, I'm a hard sell. For a few reasons, but the most important being I have to love the art. I admit, a lot of "comic book" style art in American graphic novels really just...I'm sorry, it's ugly. It's not unique, the lines piss me off, and I hate the way expressions are drawn. Okay? Okay. There.
Often the best art I've seen is in either "younger" bracketed graphic novels or something that gets a lot of attention because of its stand-out style (i.e. Persepolis). So imagine my surprise when I cracked this bad boy open and instantly was taken with the art.
Look. That's what makes a graphic novel, right? The story can be "meh" and if the art is mind-blowing, it gets a bit of a pass. Admittedly the hardest thing about a graphic novel is telling a cohesive story. You really only have so much room to do so. With BLISS, we have a decent balance between a horror-magical realism setting and a story that, if rushed, makes sense. Did I mention the art?
Because the art is incredible. It would be no hard task to convince me to hang framed panels from this in my room. Facial expressions are perfect. The individual people are easy to identify and are realistic enough to be convincing, but stylized enough to work for the story. Backgrounds and lighting and perspectives? Just...UGH, it's perfect.
So why four stars and not five? The story is a bit wobbly near the end. Things happen that aren't exactly explained, and the ending rushed up way too quickly for its own good. If it had been given more breathing room and allowed to expand, allowed to develop and resolve at a natural clip, BLISS would easily have been a 5-star immediate buy for me.
As it is, though, it's still well worth the ride.
When it comes to graphic novels, I'm a hard sell. For a few reasons, but the most important being I have to love the art. I admit, a lot of "comic book" style art in American graphic novels really just...I'm sorry, it's ugly. It's not unique, the lines piss me off, and I hate the way expressions are drawn. Okay? Okay. There.
Often the best art I've seen is in either "younger" bracketed graphic novels or something that gets a lot of attention because of its stand-out style (i.e. Persepolis). So imagine my surprise when I cracked this bad boy open and instantly was taken with the art.
Look. That's what makes a graphic novel, right? The story can be "meh" and if the art is mind-blowing, it gets a bit of a pass. Admittedly the hardest thing about a graphic novel is telling a cohesive story. You really only have so much room to do so. With BLISS, we have a decent balance between a horror-magical realism setting and a story that, if rushed, makes sense. Did I mention the art?
Because the art is incredible. It would be no hard task to convince me to hang framed panels from this in my room. Facial expressions are perfect. The individual people are easy to identify and are realistic enough to be convincing, but stylized enough to work for the story. Backgrounds and lighting and perspectives? Just...UGH, it's perfect.
So why four stars and not five? The story is a bit wobbly near the end. Things happen that aren't exactly explained, and the ending rushed up way too quickly for its own good. If it had been given more breathing room and allowed to expand, allowed to develop and resolve at a natural clip, BLISS would easily have been a 5-star immediate buy for me.
As it is, though, it's still well worth the ride.
November 11, 2021
This eight-issue graphic novel blends sci-fi and mythology to tell a story of the double-edged nature of memory – bringer of both bliss and trauma. At the story’s core is a father-son relationship in which both the father, Benton, and son, Perry, must come to grips with the fact that contained within the former is the greatest possible range of virtue and vice, a nearly irreconcilable mix of good and bad.
I enjoyed that the author instilled an intriguing strangeness to the book’s world using a mix of futurism, mythology, and creativity while at the same time dealing with primal human concerns. The book asks whether being free of memories can contribute to our being worse versions of ourselves (being able to forget misdeeds,) and whether healing (forgiveness of both self and others) can happen without memory.
I found this book to be provocative and well-composed. There were points at which it felt like the scale of deviation between the good and the bad Benton were unfathomably great. In other words, it felt like the motivation for his actions strained credulity. However, that encourages one to think about how a person might behave if he knew he could be freed of the memory of ill deeds.
I loved the story, the art, the world, and the characters. I’d highly recommend the book.
I enjoyed that the author instilled an intriguing strangeness to the book’s world using a mix of futurism, mythology, and creativity while at the same time dealing with primal human concerns. The book asks whether being free of memories can contribute to our being worse versions of ourselves (being able to forget misdeeds,) and whether healing (forgiveness of both self and others) can happen without memory.
I found this book to be provocative and well-composed. There were points at which it felt like the scale of deviation between the good and the bad Benton were unfathomably great. In other words, it felt like the motivation for his actions strained credulity. However, that encourages one to think about how a person might behave if he knew he could be freed of the memory of ill deeds.
I loved the story, the art, the world, and the characters. I’d highly recommend the book.
November 26, 2021
Una historia de fantasía oscura de ritmo trepidante que no deja indiferente a nadie, tan adictiva como la droga que la protagoniza, y enternecedora en igual medida. En un mundo donde los cómics parecen pertenecerles a los super héroes, es refrescante ver una trama diferente que juegue con el lector de manera tan creativa y haga uso de todos los recursos que tiene, creando una mitología única. No le doy 5 estrellas porque me perdí un poco al llegar al final, y hubo detalles en este que me parecieron forzados, poco creíbles incluso, pero el desarrollo fue perfecto hasta ese punto.
A dark fantasy story with a frenetic pace that leaves no one indifferent, as addictive as the drug that stars it, and touching in equal measure. In a world where comics seem to belong to superheroes, it's refreshing to see a different plot that plays with the reader so creatively and makes use of all the resources it has, creating a unique mythology. I'm not giving it 5 stars because I got a bit lost at the end, and there were details in this that seemed forced, not even credible, but the development was perfect up to that point.
A dark fantasy story with a frenetic pace that leaves no one indifferent, as addictive as the drug that stars it, and touching in equal measure. In a world where comics seem to belong to superheroes, it's refreshing to see a different plot that plays with the reader so creatively and makes use of all the resources it has, creating a unique mythology. I'm not giving it 5 stars because I got a bit lost at the end, and there were details in this that seemed forced, not even credible, but the development was perfect up to that point.
November 12, 2021
This starts off slowly, with the son defending his father who has been a hit man for a group of demi gods, and for al his father has done, it seems odd that the son is defending him so stoically.
What transpires is a story of Bliss, the drug from the river styx that takes away memory. The demi-gods steal it from a major goddess, and use it on the humans so they will have no memory, and thus no regret when they do something evil.
It is an interesting take on how humanity can continue to do things, murder, destruction, without feeling anything.
Once we get in to the meat of the story, and past the trial, we get to what is really happening to narrator and his father.
Dark, and deep, and sad.
Good graphic novel.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
What transpires is a story of Bliss, the drug from the river styx that takes away memory. The demi-gods steal it from a major goddess, and use it on the humans so they will have no memory, and thus no regret when they do something evil.
It is an interesting take on how humanity can continue to do things, murder, destruction, without feeling anything.
Once we get in to the meat of the story, and past the trial, we get to what is really happening to narrator and his father.
Dark, and deep, and sad.
Good graphic novel.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
October 1, 2023
Bliss, by Sean Lewis
Hard to categorise this one .. metaphorical fantasy? redemptive autobiographical? mystery crime noir? Certainly original. ***
#1 – “If you think you’re inconsequential, it makes it easier to live your life, I suppose.”
#2 – “There is an idea that societies agree to forget their darkest chapters in history.”
#3 – “He stopped a god?!”
#4 – “Tough old bastard. God, I love you.”
#5 – “You hear me, you monster? It’s time to end all of this!”
#6 – “.. totally looks like ..”
#7 – “.. gods feel no shame, but we understand fairness.”
#8 – “Imagine the shock of hearing the person you’ve been for the first time.”
….
Hard to categorise this one .. metaphorical fantasy? redemptive autobiographical? mystery crime noir? Certainly original. ***
#1 – “If you think you’re inconsequential, it makes it easier to live your life, I suppose.”
#2 – “There is an idea that societies agree to forget their darkest chapters in history.”
#3 – “He stopped a god?!”
#4 – “Tough old bastard. God, I love you.”
#5 – “You hear me, you monster? It’s time to end all of this!”
#6 – “.. totally looks like ..”
#7 – “.. gods feel no shame, but we understand fairness.”
#8 – “Imagine the shock of hearing the person you’ve been for the first time.”
….
September 25, 2022
3.5 A paranormal comic with a strong allegory about addiction and generational trama. Beautiful art, well composed panels, wonderful coloring and a moving story about forgiveness addiction, and healing.
On the surface this story is about a drug called bliss that makes people forget memories they choose. A desperate father with a sick son becomes an addict when he takes a job as an assassin for a strange mob of title people called the gods of the underworld who supply hime with money and the drug.
On the surface this story is about a drug called bliss that makes people forget memories they choose. A desperate father with a sick son becomes an addict when he takes a job as an assassin for a strange mob of title people called the gods of the underworld who supply hime with money and the drug.
November 23, 2022
No ignorance in this Bliss.... A psychedelic trip to the underworld of addiction, with its demanding false gods, and plenty of judges as well.
The twin streams of desperation flow in this short taught series. The central character caught in both. To swim against a major moral current in order to save his son....or...to float/sink into a void.
Black thoughts vs black tar, or whatever the equivalent is in Sean Lewis' world. This book thinks about the unthinkable and may ponder redeeming the unredeemable.
The twin streams of desperation flow in this short taught series. The central character caught in both. To swim against a major moral current in order to save his son....or...to float/sink into a void.
Black thoughts vs black tar, or whatever the equivalent is in Sean Lewis' world. This book thinks about the unthinkable and may ponder redeeming the unredeemable.
October 13, 2023
A beautifully drawn, dark and tragic story about memory, and pain, and forgiveness. A world of gods and men, balancing between questions on forgiveness and justice. It asks difficult questions and does not offer easy answers. The main character we follow has enough pathos to draw you along even as he himself struggles, and some humor helps to lighten what could otherwise be a very dark story. Overall, I was satisfied with the journey, and helped along by the note at the end of the author’s own inspiration behind this tale.
November 28, 2021
Really interesting graphic novel and makes you really think. I liked the setting and the world, how the gods rule the cities but can also be tricked. You can't help but feel for the characters, as even if they have done bad things, you know they've done these things in order to help the ones they love. I really liked the art style and the colors too, it lends to the atmosphere of the graphic novel.
October 23, 2022
Absolutely fantastic, heart wrenching, vulnerable and beautiful.
This book is going to stay with me for a long time, I can’t quite express all the wonderful aspects to Bliss but I do know it is a vitally important read.
A book focused on the multitudes of a person, the good, the bad, the desire for vengeance and what justice really means. I loved every second of it, it’s the best graphic novel I’ve read in ages.
I feel lucky to have read it.
This book is going to stay with me for a long time, I can’t quite express all the wonderful aspects to Bliss but I do know it is a vitally important read.
A book focused on the multitudes of a person, the good, the bad, the desire for vengeance and what justice really means. I loved every second of it, it’s the best graphic novel I’ve read in ages.
I feel lucky to have read it.
December 9, 2024
An incredible work that showcases the effects and stages of addiction while also showcasing the hard reality of sobriety, and how much American culture would rather blame the person for their addiction (or former addiction) instead of calling out the higher
powers that cause and do nothing for those struggling with addiction. I think anyone who is looking to learn more about how someone deals with a current or former addiction should use this as a learning tool for themselves.
powers that cause and do nothing for those struggling with addiction. I think anyone who is looking to learn more about how someone deals with a current or former addiction should use this as a learning tool for themselves.
February 24, 2022
Sometimes a book, or a story, just hits you. Just matches your heart. This graphic novel does that for me. The deeper theme of the father / son relationship resonated with me on a personal level. The artwork is powerful. It is awesome as a reader when you randomly pick up a book and get a gem of a reading experience.
May 1, 2024
Whoa, what a wild ride. Desperation, sacrifice, guilt, trauma, redemption, memory, mythology, and so much more. Loved the artists sweeping, fluid lines - and the fact that he used actual reference models for the illustrations . It really gave the characters (facial features, body language, action scenes) a more distinctive, realistic feel.
June 20, 2024
A strong three this, with a street drug wiping memories (or rather siphoning them off) so that users can commit crimes with impunity from guilt. The courtroom setting is a useful structural device and the narrative moves along with some pace, as we uncover the acts of a Bliss user/father whose crimes mount up, and his loyal son out to save his soul.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2021
This was fucking weird. I think I really liked it. I could describe the plot but really that's not doing the book justice. It's about trauma and abuse and the way we forget to survive; to live with ourselves. Quite possibly the strangest comic I've ever read and just maybe one of the best.
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