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Monolith #1-2
Monolith
Sandra and her 2yr old son are driving the safest car ever built, the Monolith. When they are forced to stop in the middle of the empty desert, Sandra accidentally gets locked out of the car. Now, isolated from civilization, she must save her son from a car designed to be an indestructible vault on wheels. The sun is rising, heating the car's sheet metal, and time is running out!
A taught psychological thriller written by famed Italian screenwriter Roberto Recchioni and beautifully painted by artist LRNZ. With a wide range of visual styles mirroring the changing psyche of the main character as she deals with her looming dilemma, this book is a cinematic feast for the eyes.
A taught psychological thriller written by famed Italian screenwriter Roberto Recchioni and beautifully painted by artist LRNZ. With a wide range of visual styles mirroring the changing psyche of the main character as she deals with her looming dilemma, this book is a cinematic feast for the eyes.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2018
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Roberto Recchioni
317 books100 followersRoberto Recchioni è un fumettista e scrittore italiano. Sceneggiatore e disegnatore, ha esordito sulla serie Dark Side per la Bdb presse. In seguito ha collaborato con Disney, Panini, Bonelli, Eura Editoriale, StarShop, Comic Art, Rizzoli, Magic Press, Astorina, e per l'americana Heavy metal; è inoltre tra i fondatori della casa editrice indipendente Factory, ormai sciolta. Creatore di John Doe e Detective Dante insieme a Lorenzo Bartoli, attualmente collabora con la Sergio Bonelli Editore in veste di sceneggiatore e curatore di testata per Dylan Dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 23, 2021
The world's dumbest mom takes the world's safest car on a roadtrip with her 2 year old son. She's just left her husband and disables the GPS so he can't track her. She then proceeds to get lost in the desert and stranded with her outside the car and her son still locked in the car strapped in his car seat. She proceeds to top herself with the stupid things she tries to get into the car including .
The art is the saving grace of the story. It's very cinematic, building tension incredibly well. The story just very much requires a suspension of belief. I didn't care for the ambilent ending either.
The art is the saving grace of the story. It's very cinematic, building tension incredibly well. The story just very much requires a suspension of belief. I didn't care for the ambilent ending either.
May 18, 2018
Prendete un'automobile avveniristica (ma neanche troppo) alla Knight Rider, una madre (sciagurata a dir poco) e suo figlio in fuga da un marito troppo oppressivo (ma visto quello che combina la moglie come dargli torto?), un blando inizio da trap(b)movie (la storyline era in origine una sceneggiatura cinematografica, poi cambiata in una da fumetto e poi evolutasi infine in progetto multimediale che ha visto evolversi film e graphic novel su due binari diversi e paralleli) che sfocia rapidamente in atmosfere da incubo (oniriche e non) che mi hanno ricordato non poco "Cujo" di Stephen King .
Una dolorosa discesa all'inferno per lettore e protagonisti che si legge tutta di un fiato e che colpisce dura e spietata allo stomaco ed al cuore.
Peccato per qualche ingenuità che però non rovina assolutamente la lettura... a patto che non stiate cercando qualcosa di rilassante, in questo caso state alla larga da questo fumetto. Lettore avvisato, mezzo salvato
.
E adesso devo assolutamente vedere pure il film.
July 29, 2024
A car with the gear selector in “P” cannot move forward or backward, because the gearbox locks the wheels.
This small detail does not prevent a 60-kilogram woman from pushing a 3-ton SUV off a cliff. If you think she does so in such a way that said SUV opens up and frees her few-month-old son trapped inside to die of heat, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is the plot of yet another Michael Bay-esque disaster movie, not the product of the supposedly best Italian authors.
"Monolith" is, first and foremost, a monumental monolith to cretinousness. First, the cretinousness of the main character, Sandra, so irritating that you can't help but feel the urge to slap her. Things go like this: she gets into an argument with her husband and, along with her few-month-old son, runs away in his car.
This car, which she does not know and cannot drive at all, is “Monolith,” the best car in the world. Oh, Elon Musk is going to be so angry. Anyway. She runs away with this car, whose owner's manual she didn't even bother to read, and goes into the desert. Here she runs over a deer (Wait, are there deer in the desert?) that gets caught under the car. As she tries hard to get rid of the carcass, the car closes with her son inside, and she no longer knows how to open it. Not least because she has lost her phone, which acts as a key. Nice job!
Of course, any of us has a nightmare of seeing one's child die before one's eyes, but the impression here is that the little son locked in the car is definitely the smartest character in the story. He is locked in the car and suffering, while his mother is forced to take an acid trip to figure out how to save him. And what is the solution? That of Wile E. Coyote (I kid you not): throw the car off the cliff and it, sensing an emergency, will open. Brilliant! Of course, we're talking Monolith, so the car falls off the cliff without a single dent - darn my Hyundai getting scratched by a button on my coat.
The car opens, her son is safe, Sandra speeds away running over everything in her path.
End of story. Did I spoil it for you? No, I just spared you the agony of a story without meaning, without depth, with absolutely artificial tension and downright ridiculous moments. Because by the end of this disaster of a graphic novel, the character you will feel most in tune with will be the dead deer under the wheels of that damn SUV.
Next time buy a hybrid Toyota, Sandra. And read the fucking owner's manual.
STYLING: ⭐⭐
ORIGINALITY: ⭐⭐
CHARACTER DEV.: she's so dumb you want to slap her
PLOT DEV.: ⭐
IMPORTANCE: not a chance
This small detail does not prevent a 60-kilogram woman from pushing a 3-ton SUV off a cliff. If you think she does so in such a way that said SUV opens up and frees her few-month-old son trapped inside to die of heat, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is the plot of yet another Michael Bay-esque disaster movie, not the product of the supposedly best Italian authors.
"Monolith" is, first and foremost, a monumental monolith to cretinousness. First, the cretinousness of the main character, Sandra, so irritating that you can't help but feel the urge to slap her. Things go like this: she gets into an argument with her husband and, along with her few-month-old son, runs away in his car.
This car, which she does not know and cannot drive at all, is “Monolith,” the best car in the world. Oh, Elon Musk is going to be so angry. Anyway. She runs away with this car, whose owner's manual she didn't even bother to read, and goes into the desert. Here she runs over a deer (Wait, are there deer in the desert?) that gets caught under the car. As she tries hard to get rid of the carcass, the car closes with her son inside, and she no longer knows how to open it. Not least because she has lost her phone, which acts as a key. Nice job!
Of course, any of us has a nightmare of seeing one's child die before one's eyes, but the impression here is that the little son locked in the car is definitely the smartest character in the story. He is locked in the car and suffering, while his mother is forced to take an acid trip to figure out how to save him. And what is the solution? That of Wile E. Coyote (I kid you not): throw the car off the cliff and it, sensing an emergency, will open. Brilliant! Of course, we're talking Monolith, so the car falls off the cliff without a single dent - darn my Hyundai getting scratched by a button on my coat.
The car opens, her son is safe, Sandra speeds away running over everything in her path.
End of story. Did I spoil it for you? No, I just spared you the agony of a story without meaning, without depth, with absolutely artificial tension and downright ridiculous moments. Because by the end of this disaster of a graphic novel, the character you will feel most in tune with will be the dead deer under the wheels of that damn SUV.
Next time buy a hybrid Toyota, Sandra. And read the fucking owner's manual.
STYLING: ⭐⭐
ORIGINALITY: ⭐⭐
CHARACTER DEV.: she's so dumb you want to slap her
PLOT DEV.: ⭐
IMPORTANCE: not a chance
March 22, 2020
Ah, os fumetti! Minha nova paixão em forma de quadrinhos! São tão gostosos de se ler e se acompanhar! Este Monolith, se eu tivesse pego à esmo para ler sem saber da história por trás de sua publicação, teria sido difícil eu crer que se ratava de um quadrinho feito à italiana. Isso porque tanto a arte como o estilo da colorização vão para um caminho muito diferente dos fumetti tradicionais. Fico feliz que a Panini Comics tenha começado a trazer, então, esse tipo de quadrinhos italianos em um formato diferente do que estamos acostumados, mas com a qualidade de sempre. Neste Monolith uma mulher precisa lutar contra um carro super high-tech para remover seu filho lá de dentro, que está morrendo por causa da temperatura do carro. Uma luta humano versus tecnologia bem diferente do que estamos acostumados a ter. Além disso, este quadrinho foi concebido para ser um filme para os cinemas, e acabou se tornando uma HQ, ou seja, fez o caminho inverso ao natural. Se você está em dúvida se vale a pena ler este quadrinho recomendo que dê uma olhada no trailer do filme antes para ratificar dessa forma a minha indicação ou não. De qualquer forma, eu achei uma ótima experiência de leitura e espero que o filme esteja disponível para os brasileiros em breve.
August 28, 2021
This is an odd little graphic novel, about a woman who wants to leave her husband because he is over protective. He sort of has a reason for doing so, because his waife was doing drugs, but that was a year ago, and she feels he should let up.
The Monolith is a car that is supposed to protect you at all costs. The ultimate car, and of course her husband owns one, and lets her drive it, so she can go do her thing, and then returned to him. And because she doesn't trust him, she cuts off the GPS, sot that he can't track her, as she drives off into the desert.
Things go badly, when she hits a deer, and she can't get it away from her car.
And that is how she gets locked out.
And that is when I say that the novel jumps the shark, because she is locked out for a full day, in the desert, and unless there is some secret air conditioning going on, her son, who she is trying to save, would be long dead. And that is where I stopped suspending my disbelief.
Suffice it to say, this story didn't work for me, though the illustrations were quite good.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
The Monolith is a car that is supposed to protect you at all costs. The ultimate car, and of course her husband owns one, and lets her drive it, so she can go do her thing, and then returned to him. And because she doesn't trust him, she cuts off the GPS, sot that he can't track her, as she drives off into the desert.
Things go badly, when she hits a deer, and she can't get it away from her car.
And that is how she gets locked out.
And that is when I say that the novel jumps the shark, because she is locked out for a full day, in the desert, and unless there is some secret air conditioning going on, her son, who she is trying to save, would be long dead. And that is where I stopped suspending my disbelief.
Suffice it to say, this story didn't work for me, though the illustrations were quite good.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
October 10, 2021
A great use of "show me, don't tell me" storytelling. The art was at times great, at times serviceable, but always very effective at telling the story. Ultimately I had trouble liking the main character though, which dampened my enjoyment somewhat. They seem to go out of their way to make her unsympathetic, then ask us to root for her. Also, while the story started out seeming predictable, I didn't see the ending coming. This was definitely worth a read.
August 30, 2021
'Monolith' by Robert Recchioni with art by Lorenzo Ceccotti is a graphic novel about a woman with the fight of her life on her hands.
A woman takes her son and leaves her husband, and he insists that she take his smart car, branded Monolith. When she has an accident, she is stuck outside the car while her son is inside. She must battle nature and the elements to keep herself and her son alive.
This is a story with few words, but the art more than carries the story. It's all pretty cinematic and intense. It's a fast-paced story and read and I liked it quite a bit.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Magnetic Press, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
A woman takes her son and leaves her husband, and he insists that she take his smart car, branded Monolith. When she has an accident, she is stuck outside the car while her son is inside. She must battle nature and the elements to keep herself and her son alive.
This is a story with few words, but the art more than carries the story. It's all pretty cinematic and intense. It's a fast-paced story and read and I liked it quite a bit.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Magnetic Press, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
August 27, 2021
i read this thru netgalley it was available to just read no need to request. its a short graphic novel, about a mom tryin to save her son who is stuck inside a very strong impenetrable car called monolith, the have an accident in a deserted area after leavin the father of her child who seems abusing/controlling of her (shes has a past/mistakes with drugs). sandra and her child david leave carl to go on a break from him to her sisters house and on the way sandra has a road accident and when the car monolith is stuck she loses the phone which is the only way to control the car, leavin david stuck inside this machine with no way of gettin inside. i liked the sandra she obviously has flaws and problems but she seems very strong and will do anythin to save her child. i also like the illustration style seems simple but yet shows everythin we need to see and compreend, u can tell her emotions,her distress etc. illustrations give a look of watercolors too which i enjoy. we get a flash back of how she and carl met. we get her halluciantions which are a bit wierd and in some scenes theres nudity and sex. the ending is kinda open tho i think , it could be a good ending or not depends on what u want ig, i want/ hope for good one. i even read this with my friend and then he said we will part 2 tomorrow but then he went to do somethin and i just decided to keep reading it and finished it. so it had me captivated and interested i wanted to know what was gonna happen next!
August 26, 2021
This was quite a wild ride, and I finished it in one sitting. It is extremely gripping, action-packed, and very movie-like. The focus of this graphic novel is on the safest and impenetrable car. I will try to give a sense of what it is like with as few spoilers as I can.
The main characters are pretty unlikeable throughout most of the graphic novel. I try to write without spoilers, but anyway, I think I should warn you. So, keep that in mind if you would like to read it.
First, the graphic is amazing. It’s different from other graphic novels. Mainly, the illustrator used a detailed color style. But it changes and there are other styles used, which I liked. Second, I liked the story, although the characters are pretty far from perfect.
Definitely worth the time, unless the content offends you.
Thanks to the Diamond Book Distributors for the ARC and the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.
The main characters are pretty unlikeable throughout most of the graphic novel. I try to write without spoilers, but anyway, I think I should warn you. So, keep that in mind if you would like to read it.
First, the graphic is amazing. It’s different from other graphic novels. Mainly, the illustrator used a detailed color style. But it changes and there are other styles used, which I liked. Second, I liked the story, although the characters are pretty far from perfect.
Definitely worth the time, unless the content offends you.
Thanks to the Diamond Book Distributors for the ARC and the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.
March 7, 2020
Disegni straordinari, la storia invece lascia molto a desiderare.
May 13, 2018
L'ho comprato perché avevo sentito parlare del film - che non ho mai visto e di cui non ho mai letto recensioni. L'ho trovato in edizione economica Bonelli e l'ho comprato.
Forse qua sta uno dei miei errori. Alcune recensioni della versione con copertina rigida lodano i disegni di Lorenzo Ceccotti. Ecco, ho paura che la carta di bassa qualità usata per questa edizione abbia in qualche modo "rovinato" i colori, come succede spesso. Anche perché tante vignette sono eccessivamente scure.
La storia. Una donna che ha avuto problemi in passato vive con il marito iper-controlling e il figlio. Un giorno decide di prendersi una pausa e parte con il bimbo. Causa un incidente perché temeva che il marito la seguisse ma lui voleva solo darle Monolith, la perfetta macchina del futuro.
Allora, la sottoscritta è appena passata da una Punto del 1999 ad una Punto del 2018. Quella nuova, chiamata ormai la Suocera, è una palla di macchina. Suona per le porte aperte, suona per la cintura (abbiamo un cancello che va aperto a mano...), suona per quando finisce la benzina/GPL... Sempre lì che suona per un motivo. E soprattutto, ti dice quando cambiare... Hence il soprannome. L'idea quindi di guidare una macchina come Monolith, che fa tutto da sola, non mi piace per niente. Già il fatto di aver obbligatoriamente il cellulare dietro per aprirla... Mi metterebbe ansia.
Torniamo alla storia. La tipa toglie il GPS perché non vuole che il marito sappia dov'è e s'inoltra nel deserto. Dai commenti che fa alla sorella, però, non sembra tenerci molto al piccolo. Comunque, urta un cervo, esce per toglierlo di mezzo e la super-macchina si chiude a chiave da sola. Con il bimbo dentro. Il mezzo al deserto.
La madre comincia una sua personalissima battaglia contro la tecnologia per riuscire a tirar fuori il bimbo del veicolo. Perde ovviamente il cellulare e vaga per il deserto finendo morsa da un serpente che provoca allucinazioni. Ecco, le sequenze del sogno e delle allucinazioni sono quelle che mi sono piaciute di men dell'intero fumetto. Stonavano molto con la storia, secondo me.
La soluzione è assurda, però. Molto Wile E. Coyote se mi permettete. E poi... Alla fine: Finale troppo aperto.
Non so... Non sono riuscita ad apprezzare molto. Per carità, la storia potrebbe anche essere interessante ma le sequenze di sogno/allucinazione e i colori troppo scuri mi hanno un po' rovinato la lettura.
Forse qua sta uno dei miei errori. Alcune recensioni della versione con copertina rigida lodano i disegni di Lorenzo Ceccotti. Ecco, ho paura che la carta di bassa qualità usata per questa edizione abbia in qualche modo "rovinato" i colori, come succede spesso. Anche perché tante vignette sono eccessivamente scure.
La storia. Una donna che ha avuto problemi in passato vive con il marito iper-controlling e il figlio. Un giorno decide di prendersi una pausa e parte con il bimbo. Causa un incidente perché temeva che il marito la seguisse ma lui voleva solo darle Monolith, la perfetta macchina del futuro.
Allora, la sottoscritta è appena passata da una Punto del 1999 ad una Punto del 2018. Quella nuova, chiamata ormai la Suocera, è una palla di macchina. Suona per le porte aperte, suona per la cintura (abbiamo un cancello che va aperto a mano...), suona per quando finisce la benzina/GPL... Sempre lì che suona per un motivo. E soprattutto, ti dice quando cambiare... Hence il soprannome. L'idea quindi di guidare una macchina come Monolith, che fa tutto da sola, non mi piace per niente. Già il fatto di aver obbligatoriamente il cellulare dietro per aprirla... Mi metterebbe ansia.
Torniamo alla storia. La tipa toglie il GPS perché non vuole che il marito sappia dov'è e s'inoltra nel deserto. Dai commenti che fa alla sorella, però, non sembra tenerci molto al piccolo. Comunque, urta un cervo, esce per toglierlo di mezzo e la super-macchina si chiude a chiave da sola. Con il bimbo dentro. Il mezzo al deserto.
La madre comincia una sua personalissima battaglia contro la tecnologia per riuscire a tirar fuori il bimbo del veicolo. Perde ovviamente il cellulare e vaga per il deserto finendo morsa da un serpente che provoca allucinazioni. Ecco, le sequenze del sogno e delle allucinazioni sono quelle che mi sono piaciute di men dell'intero fumetto. Stonavano molto con la storia, secondo me.
La soluzione è assurda, però. Molto Wile E. Coyote se mi permettete. E poi... Alla fine: Finale troppo aperto.
Non so... Non sono riuscita ad apprezzare molto. Per carità, la storia potrebbe anche essere interessante ma le sequenze di sogno/allucinazione e i colori troppo scuri mi hanno un po' rovinato la lettura.
January 29, 2026
"NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a review copy.
Monolith is a survival story about a mother and her toddler, where deep the the desert, the mother is locked out of the car while her son is strapped into his car seat.
Recchioni talks about how the story of Monolith burst forth from his mind in a complete package, rather than fighting for each section. That tracks, after reading. The story is cohesive, and it is exciting. Also, Recchioni talks about how cinematic the story is and how there may be some movement in Monolith becoming a film. I also got those vibes from the graphic novel.
My biggest issue with Monolith is how much the reader has to suspend their belief. Sure, the story has a tight beginning, middle, and end. The art is cinematic, and the pacing is on par with any thriller. The issue is how mediocrely researched and executed the story twists feel. I won't go into each and every twist because this review would be full of spoilers, but nearly all of them feel off for one reason or another. I could probably go along with one or two, sure, but all of them?
I did thoroughly enjoy the ending, though. The conclusion is obvious through its simplicity, and I really appreciated the emotions portrayed. If this ends up as a movie, I'll be seeing it in theaters. "
Monolith is a survival story about a mother and her toddler, where deep the the desert, the mother is locked out of the car while her son is strapped into his car seat.
Recchioni talks about how the story of Monolith burst forth from his mind in a complete package, rather than fighting for each section. That tracks, after reading. The story is cohesive, and it is exciting. Also, Recchioni talks about how cinematic the story is and how there may be some movement in Monolith becoming a film. I also got those vibes from the graphic novel.
My biggest issue with Monolith is how much the reader has to suspend their belief. Sure, the story has a tight beginning, middle, and end. The art is cinematic, and the pacing is on par with any thriller. The issue is how mediocrely researched and executed the story twists feel. I won't go into each and every twist because this review would be full of spoilers, but nearly all of them feel off for one reason or another. I could probably go along with one or two, sure, but all of them?
I did thoroughly enjoy the ending, though. The conclusion is obvious through its simplicity, and I really appreciated the emotions portrayed. If this ends up as a movie, I'll be seeing it in theaters. "
January 3, 2022
NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a review copy.
Monolith is a survival story about a mother and her toddler, where deep the the desert, the mother is locked out of the car while her son is strapped into his car seat.
Recchioni talks about how the story of Monolith burst forth from his mind in a complete package, rather than fighting for each section. That tracks, after reading. The story is cohesive, and it is exciting. Also, Recchioni talks about how cinematic the story is and how there may be some movement in Monolith becoming a film. I also got those vibes from the graphic novel.
My biggest issue with Monolith is how much the reader has to suspend their belief. Sure, the story has a tight beginning, middle, and end. The art is cinematic, and the pacing is on par with any thriller. The issue is how mediocrely researched and executed the story twists feel. I won't go into each and every twist because this review would be full of spoilers, but nearly all of them feel off for one reason or another. I could probably go along with one or two, sure, but all of them?
I did thoroughly enjoy the ending, though. The conclusion is obvious through its simplicity, and I really appreciated the emotions portrayed. If this ends up as a movie, I'll be seeing it in theaters.
Monolith is a survival story about a mother and her toddler, where deep the the desert, the mother is locked out of the car while her son is strapped into his car seat.
Recchioni talks about how the story of Monolith burst forth from his mind in a complete package, rather than fighting for each section. That tracks, after reading. The story is cohesive, and it is exciting. Also, Recchioni talks about how cinematic the story is and how there may be some movement in Monolith becoming a film. I also got those vibes from the graphic novel.
My biggest issue with Monolith is how much the reader has to suspend their belief. Sure, the story has a tight beginning, middle, and end. The art is cinematic, and the pacing is on par with any thriller. The issue is how mediocrely researched and executed the story twists feel. I won't go into each and every twist because this review would be full of spoilers, but nearly all of them feel off for one reason or another. I could probably go along with one or two, sure, but all of them?
I did thoroughly enjoy the ending, though. The conclusion is obvious through its simplicity, and I really appreciated the emotions portrayed. If this ends up as a movie, I'll be seeing it in theaters.
March 12, 2021
A arte e painéis são lindos, os personagens muito bem desenhados. Acho a ideia da história muito bacana. Mas acho que foi mal executada... Bastava a protagonista tentar alcançar o celular ao amanhecer e o Segundo tempo terminaria em 3 páginas...
Acho que o intuito seria mostrar uma mãe "problemática" passando por um batismo de fogo e reavaliando sua vida. Mas não há tempo para simpatizar com a personagem principal... Aquele final em "aberto" também foi desnecessário... Acho que deveriam trabalhar mais a Sandra, sua relação com a família e consigo mesma e principalmente, resolverem a questão do celular. Mas vale a leitura. 🤪
Acho que o intuito seria mostrar uma mãe "problemática" passando por um batismo de fogo e reavaliando sua vida. Mas não há tempo para simpatizar com a personagem principal... Aquele final em "aberto" também foi desnecessário... Acho que deveriam trabalhar mais a Sandra, sua relação com a família e consigo mesma e principalmente, resolverem a questão do celular. Mas vale a leitura. 🤪
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2021
Concept valido, comparto grafico altissimo. Gradito il cambio registro che apre una parentesi nella regia, nella storia (senza far spoiler) ma rimane un fumetto vecchio stile bonelliano che vuole essere moralizzante, anche se non in maniera calcata. Il film differisce in qualcosa ma non darei un voto diverso dal medium d'origine, sebbene regista, ideatore storia etc abbiano sempre rivendicato la nascita gemellare ma separata dei "due" Monolith. Questa edizione economica è un giusto compromesso tra aspettative e riuscita dell'edizione in due volumi.
Consigliato se curiosi e soprattutto fan di LRNZ
Consigliato se curiosi e soprattutto fan di LRNZ
October 24, 2021
Wow, this is a fast-paced nail-biting cinematic graphic novel.
I picked it up and couldn't put it down. It's a fast read, I might add.
The art is... gorgeous!!!
The story is credible enough, if you ignore just one or two real-world-tech details.
The narrative style will probably appeal to any "Black Mirror" (tv series) fan.
Although some readers see the ending as "open ended" I really didn't feel it that way.
For me, I saw the end as pretty much closed, and not very "open for interpretation"...
Anyway, it's a good-quick-enjoyable (although troubling...) graphic novel.
I picked it up and couldn't put it down. It's a fast read, I might add.
The art is... gorgeous!!!
The story is credible enough, if you ignore just one or two real-world-tech details.
The narrative style will probably appeal to any "Black Mirror" (tv series) fan.
Although some readers see the ending as "open ended" I really didn't feel it that way.
For me, I saw the end as pretty much closed, and not very "open for interpretation"...
Anyway, it's a good-quick-enjoyable (although troubling...) graphic novel.
December 3, 2021
Visually this book is great. Lots of fun different art styles and layouts used. Story is shaky at best though and the ending is left open, which kinda annoys me.
The comic reads like a movie with action and tension in the visuals.
Its characters are paper thin with next to no depth sadly. The somewhat junkie mum is pretty useless despite not wanting to have to rely on or answer anyone. The car actually gets a longer introduction than any of our main characters.
I wonder if this would have been better with no text at all!
The comic reads like a movie with action and tension in the visuals.
Its characters are paper thin with next to no depth sadly. The somewhat junkie mum is pretty useless despite not wanting to have to rely on or answer anyone. The car actually gets a longer introduction than any of our main characters.
I wonder if this would have been better with no text at all!
January 27, 2019
I disegni di LRNZ valgono da soli il prezzo del volume. Tuttavia la trama, per quanto interessante sotto parecchi aspetti, tende a perdersi in altri che non convincono pienamente, soprattutto in merito alla caratterizzazione ed evoluzione della protagonista ed ad alcune specifiche situazioni e scelte compiute. Il finale, infine, é un finale che finale non è, senza motivo data tutta la progressione della storia.
- 3.5/5
- 3.5/5
December 19, 2021
This was okay. Decent short story with great art moving the story more than dialogue. However I just found myself not really caring about the mom even at the end. Then the end leaves it completely open to what you want to think. And not in a good way.
January 13, 2019
El cómic que un día quiso ser un libro de arte.
May 9, 2019
4/5 per i disegni
October 28, 2021
Review submitted to Diamond Bookshelf for potential professional publication.
November 29, 2021
beautiful art but an unlikeable protag
September 11, 2024
The art looks really cool and I love how the physical book looks and feels but the writing is just really bad.
February 2, 2026
Story: inhuman and unoriginal.
Art: kinetic and brilliant.
Art: kinetic and brilliant.
October 13, 2021
This is an incredible example of the teaching of "show, don't tell"
The art is gorgeous, and conveys so perfectly the feelings that the protagonist is experiencing, while also perfectly depicting the Monolith, a non-sentient thing as a villan. Making it something we both fear and hate.
The art is gorgeous, and conveys so perfectly the feelings that the protagonist is experiencing, while also perfectly depicting the Monolith, a non-sentient thing as a villan. Making it something we both fear and hate.
August 21, 2021
This taut little high-concept drama does a lot of things right. Stifled by her controlling partner, our heroine drags their little nipper away with her for an air-clearing break, only to find him chasing after her in his car. But that's only because he has an ultra-high-tech, super-safe vehicle, and she, well, she might have a Fiat 500 for all we care. They swap motors, and away she goes, in the Monolith – something like KITT rebuilt as an oligarch's SUV. He's programmed the car to accept her voice control, through her mobile phone, he's downloaded Lynyrd Skynyrd records for her, and all should be well. She thinks it'll be even better if she shuts off the GPS that lets him track the car online. But are smart things really the best our near-future can bring? When they're not smart enough to cope with a few crazy little happenings on the road?
So, for some of the things this does well – the palette, and the way limited colour choices heighten the mood. The nightmare scenes, albeit with gratuitous nudity, countered by perfectly appropriate song choice and font. The way the car is just a car, and not a character – even if it does sound a little like HAL at one point. Perhaps what might have provided for a rounder book is the great amount more it could have said about so-called smart technology, and how the modern family is sucked into using it on false pretences. As it is, however, the book is about its plot, and not about themes in such a strong way.
Oh, but what might have been improved perhaps was the ending. It's a good one, but I'm only realising that while reviewing the piece – I wasn't prepared for it while invested in the characters I was seeing front and centre. Still, this is a snappy little action piece, a horror-free horror film on paper, and a great advert for how switching styles and colours can utterly, utterly change the mood of a comic. A strong four stars.
So, for some of the things this does well – the palette, and the way limited colour choices heighten the mood. The nightmare scenes, albeit with gratuitous nudity, countered by perfectly appropriate song choice and font. The way the car is just a car, and not a character – even if it does sound a little like HAL at one point. Perhaps what might have provided for a rounder book is the great amount more it could have said about so-called smart technology, and how the modern family is sucked into using it on false pretences. As it is, however, the book is about its plot, and not about themes in such a strong way.
Oh, but what might have been improved perhaps was the ending. It's a good one, but I'm only realising that while reviewing the piece – I wasn't prepared for it while invested in the characters I was seeing front and centre. Still, this is a snappy little action piece, a horror-free horror film on paper, and a great advert for how switching styles and colours can utterly, utterly change the mood of a comic. A strong four stars.
August 25, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Monolith by Robert Recchioni is a breath-taking, cinematic graphic novel that is perfect for fans of the Saga series. The story revolves around a mother who is taking her 5 year-old son on a ride away from her controlling husband. She takes her husband's Monolith, a highly-advanced smart car with voice commands and all of the high-tech gimmicks. After she drives into the desert, she gets stuck outside of the car, while her son is stuck inside. Will she be able to rescue her son? Will she survive the dangers of the desert?
Overall, I found this graphic novel is a breath of fresh air. The storyline is original - who has heard of being trapped inside of a smart car before? It is also very intense and thrilling. I found after I read it that it has been turned into a movie, which is out on Amazon Prime now, and I am not surprised. This graphic novel is very cinematic, and I can see it being a great thriller to watch. The artwork is also extraordinary. In the synopsis, it says that the art was taken from storyboard from the movie, but this artwork does not look unfinished. The characters, the colors, the setting are all drawn beautifully, and it's better than 99% of the comic book art out there. If you're intrigued by the storyline or if you're a fan of action-packed graphic novels, you won't regret checking out this book, which just came out yesterday!
Monolith by Robert Recchioni is a breath-taking, cinematic graphic novel that is perfect for fans of the Saga series. The story revolves around a mother who is taking her 5 year-old son on a ride away from her controlling husband. She takes her husband's Monolith, a highly-advanced smart car with voice commands and all of the high-tech gimmicks. After she drives into the desert, she gets stuck outside of the car, while her son is stuck inside. Will she be able to rescue her son? Will she survive the dangers of the desert?
Overall, I found this graphic novel is a breath of fresh air. The storyline is original - who has heard of being trapped inside of a smart car before? It is also very intense and thrilling. I found after I read it that it has been turned into a movie, which is out on Amazon Prime now, and I am not surprised. This graphic novel is very cinematic, and I can see it being a great thriller to watch. The artwork is also extraordinary. In the synopsis, it says that the art was taken from storyboard from the movie, but this artwork does not look unfinished. The characters, the colors, the setting are all drawn beautifully, and it's better than 99% of the comic book art out there. If you're intrigued by the storyline or if you're a fan of action-packed graphic novels, you won't regret checking out this book, which just came out yesterday!
August 20, 2021
trigger warning
A fun trip suddenly is not so entertaining when you hit a deer and things start to go haywire, and the new technology might still have it's flaws.
This book is about the titular Monolith, a new car that promises top of the line security and a luxurious experience. I don't want to tell too much about the plot, because there is not much of it.
This is more about an idea, and going from there. It's very fast paced, and I adore the illustrations which largely come without lineart, seem very overexposed and create a distance between the reader and the characters while being soo very beautiful.
My only complaint is the ending, but maybe there will be further material in the future. At least that's what I hope, it felt very suddenly.
Would read more by the people behind this one.
A fun trip suddenly is not so entertaining when you hit a deer and things start to go haywire, and the new technology might still have it's flaws.
This book is about the titular Monolith, a new car that promises top of the line security and a luxurious experience. I don't want to tell too much about the plot, because there is not much of it.
This is more about an idea, and going from there. It's very fast paced, and I adore the illustrations which largely come without lineart, seem very overexposed and create a distance between the reader and the characters while being soo very beautiful.
My only complaint is the ending, but maybe there will be further material in the future. At least that's what I hope, it felt very suddenly.
Would read more by the people behind this one.
August 31, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
This is a fascinating premise that I wanted to go deeper. The characterization is completely lacking, with only the barest of bones for the plot to hang on. And while we see Sandra trying everything to get back in the car to her son, she was such a disconnected and unhappy person that I didn't believe it (or understand where it came from).
I liked the ambiguous ending, and the art is gorgeous (I'm someone who loves shifts in tone/style in the middle of the story). I am interested to watch the film adaptation after this, I think with more fleshing out it could be really captivating.
This is a fascinating premise that I wanted to go deeper. The characterization is completely lacking, with only the barest of bones for the plot to hang on. And while we see Sandra trying everything to get back in the car to her son, she was such a disconnected and unhappy person that I didn't believe it (or understand where it came from).
I liked the ambiguous ending, and the art is gorgeous (I'm someone who loves shifts in tone/style in the middle of the story). I am interested to watch the film adaptation after this, I think with more fleshing out it could be really captivating.
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