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Centralia
De aarde in en rond Centralia is zo hard opgewarmd dat het onmogelijk is erop te staan zonder te smelten. Wie lang genoeg overleeft, wordt geconfronteerd met vleesetende vogels, instortende gebouwen en schietgrage Neusapen op stelten. Tegen beter weten in trekt een groep avonturiers erop uit om de goudschat, die in het hart van de spookstad verborgen ligt, te bemachtigen.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published November 18, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 12, 2023
Very intriguing that there are some really bad opinions about this graphic novel. Sure, there are some evident flaws, expected for a debut issue, but I liked the drawing style, the post apocalyptic scenery, the idea behind the graphic novel.
Some of the images felt to be quite original and very well made with and interesting mix betwen the western style and this end of the world situation. There are also some interesting mutants and a satisfying use of colors.
The story and characters are lacking more depth, that`s true, but, overall, I was just happy to enjoy the ride.
Definitely worth a look!
Some of the images felt to be quite original and very well made with and interesting mix betwen the western style and this end of the world situation. There are also some interesting mutants and a satisfying use of colors.
The story and characters are lacking more depth, that`s true, but, overall, I was just happy to enjoy the ride.
Definitely worth a look!
October 15, 2022
This graphic novel is an excellent example of how to fictionalize a town. Centralia is one of the most well-known abandoned ghost towns, with numerous urban legends surrounding it. It also gained popularity as the inspiration for the setting of the Silent Hill movie adaptation. In this book, the author reimagined the town in such a wonderful way. If Silent Hill turned this abandoned mining town into a gateway to hell, Vandepitte filled his version of this town with amazing sci-fi elements. He made this small town appear larger than it is, and he went far beyond the conspiracy theories and urban legends that surround it. He created something that (I assume) almost no one has imagined yet.
The book is also incredible for reasons other than its concept. Since Page 1, I've been in love with the art, and this is exactly the type of art I want to hang on my wall. The majority of the frames are lovely, and the pages are full of interesting little details. This artwork is also accompanied by an intriguing story. I like how strange it is, and even though the characters aren't particularly deep or well-developed, I was fascinated by their journey. My curiosity about what they would discover inside Centralia compelled me to flip through the pages so quickly. I believe I became engrossed in the story because of the artwork. It perfectly complements the plot and the world that the book wishes to explore.
After finishing the book, I couldn't figure out why so many people gave it low ratings and negative reviews. Perhaps the book simply fell into the wrong hands. This creator made an outstanding debut, and he deserves to be recognized for it. I will definitely look into his future works, and I am confident that he will not disappoint.
Thank you to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Living the Line for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book is also incredible for reasons other than its concept. Since Page 1, I've been in love with the art, and this is exactly the type of art I want to hang on my wall. The majority of the frames are lovely, and the pages are full of interesting little details. This artwork is also accompanied by an intriguing story. I like how strange it is, and even though the characters aren't particularly deep or well-developed, I was fascinated by their journey. My curiosity about what they would discover inside Centralia compelled me to flip through the pages so quickly. I believe I became engrossed in the story because of the artwork. It perfectly complements the plot and the world that the book wishes to explore.
After finishing the book, I couldn't figure out why so many people gave it low ratings and negative reviews. Perhaps the book simply fell into the wrong hands. This creator made an outstanding debut, and he deserves to be recognized for it. I will definitely look into his future works, and I am confident that he will not disappoint.
Thank you to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Living the Line for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
In this post-apocalyptic tale, a gang of intrepid travelers set out to find the hidden gold treasure at the center of the deserted town. The narrative is poorly organized. It appears as though we are beginning to read it in the midst. Character introductions are not done correctly. I didn't get the artist's wit or black humor. I believe the art style is inappropriate for the topic being delivered. The illustrations are incredibly cartoonish despite the artist's talent. In conclusion, I'm not fond of this graphic novel at all.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors, Living the Line for providing an ARC of the book for the reviewers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors, Living the Line for providing an ARC of the book for the reviewers.
October 16, 2022
I really enjoyed this. It is an adventure story involving war, climate change, hidden treasure and a weird evolving species. A group of adventurers set out to look for treasure in the abandoned town of Centralia. The earth there is so hot that it melts anyone unfortunate enough to walk on it. The town also has pockets of poisonous fumes and scavenging dangerous birds, but that is not all the town has as the adventurers discover. They find themselves battling old enemies, making new friends and finding a way to save their own home town from devastation.
The artwork was imaginative and really conveyed the confused topsy turvey nature of Centralia with all its hidden dangers and peculiar residents. The story is intriguing and held my attention to the very end. I wasn’t aware that there is actually an abandoned town in the US called Centralia. According to Wicki it’s population has declined from 1,000 in 1980 to 5 residents in 2020, because a coal mine fire has been burning beneath the borough since 1962.
I don’t know if the true story inspired the author but this is an enjoyable story with heroes, bad guys and a courageous heroine who wants to know the truth about Centralia and makes a major discovery.
Anyway it is a good graphic novel to get caught up in and I enjoyed reading it.
Copy provided by Diamond Books via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
The artwork was imaginative and really conveyed the confused topsy turvey nature of Centralia with all its hidden dangers and peculiar residents. The story is intriguing and held my attention to the very end. I wasn’t aware that there is actually an abandoned town in the US called Centralia. According to Wicki it’s population has declined from 1,000 in 1980 to 5 residents in 2020, because a coal mine fire has been burning beneath the borough since 1962.
I don’t know if the true story inspired the author but this is an enjoyable story with heroes, bad guys and a courageous heroine who wants to know the truth about Centralia and makes a major discovery.
Anyway it is a good graphic novel to get caught up in and I enjoyed reading it.
Copy provided by Diamond Books via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
March 9, 2023
Centralia, Pennsylvania is a real place, with real underground coal vein fires that have rendered it uninhabitable. It makes for a fascinating starting point from which to spin a fantastical, if slightly scattershot, adventure. Even when the tale goes a bit off the rails, the energy, humor, and creativity behind the project keep the story entertaining and propulsive. The artwork is in an older comics style, but detailed, expressive, and easy to follow, even when the scenes become increasingly more hectic and surreal. Good, ripping, fun.
December 29, 2021
Stunning drawing skills
May 28, 2022
Geweldig boek. Prachtige tekeningen, spannend verhaal en leuke humor. En zoals in het begin wordt gezegd blijkt het op het eind inderdaad een klein beetje gebaseerd op waargebeurde feiten.
January 18, 2024
Knappe illustraties! Inhoudelijk laat het wat te wensen over…
October 13, 2022
What an interesting take on the story of Centralia, PA the modern ghost town that also inspired Silent Hill. There are some truly stunning full page art spreads and some interesting characters to be found in this title. Though we get a really narrow glimpse into what seems to be a post apocalyptic universe, there's a lot of interesting world building happening in under 150 pages. That said, there was definitely *more* that I wanted to know, to discover, to better understand. I feel like this story might have been better told across two volumes to further flesh out this truly interesting narrative
May 23, 2026
Starting in media res is tricky to do. There needs to be something happening that elicits throwing your reader into it, you need to set the stakes and at some point you need to explain them.
For whatever reason Centralia starts you in the middle of a story before the action begins. There's an ending, and an epilogue, but they also feel between stories. Everything about this feels squarely in the middle of a story. It's a fun one to be sure! It's just hard to care deeply about the characters and their struggles when it feels like they are things I should already know, or will learn in the next installment.
Loved the goopy art, mutations from something other than radiation to make sense of the setting was a neat touch.
For whatever reason Centralia starts you in the middle of a story before the action begins. There's an ending, and an epilogue, but they also feel between stories. Everything about this feels squarely in the middle of a story. It's a fun one to be sure! It's just hard to care deeply about the characters and their struggles when it feels like they are things I should already know, or will learn in the next installment.
Loved the goopy art, mutations from something other than radiation to make sense of the setting was a neat touch.
April 4, 2026
3,5*
Een behoorlijk geschift brein dat zo'n dystopische stad kan bedenken. De achtergrond van het verhaal en de personages werd voor mij net onvoldoende gekaderd (ik ging na enkele bladzijden zoeken of ik gestart was in het tweede deel). De gezichtsuitdrukkingen van de personages vond ik soms minder geslaagd geïllustreerd, andere illustraties waren dan weer erg knap. Voor een debuut lijkt me dit een hele sterke start!
Een behoorlijk geschift brein dat zo'n dystopische stad kan bedenken. De achtergrond van het verhaal en de personages werd voor mij net onvoldoende gekaderd (ik ging na enkele bladzijden zoeken of ik gestart was in het tweede deel). De gezichtsuitdrukkingen van de personages vond ik soms minder geslaagd geïllustreerd, andere illustraties waren dan weer erg knap. Voor een debuut lijkt me dit een hele sterke start!
August 9, 2023
This was a bit weirder than I anticipated. Interesting world building though!
April 1, 2022
WTF... WTF... WTF... dat is echt alles ik kan zeggen over het boek. De art was op punten erg goed (de gebouwen vooral)....
August 29, 2023
‘Centralia’ with story and art by Miel Vandepitte is a graphic novel about a really strange town and its really strange inhabitants.
It is said there is treasure in the town of Centralia. There is also almost certain death between the ground so hot that people melt, the snipers with bazookas on stilts and the mutated residents of the once mighty town. Still, that won’t stop an unusual group made up of a treasure hunter, a reporter and a mute sniper.
This is a strange story in every aspect. Parts of it work better than others. The real reason to read this is the fantastic art. It has a grotesqueness about it, and intricate line work.
It is said there is treasure in the town of Centralia. There is also almost certain death between the ground so hot that people melt, the snipers with bazookas on stilts and the mutated residents of the once mighty town. Still, that won’t stop an unusual group made up of a treasure hunter, a reporter and a mute sniper.
This is a strange story in every aspect. Parts of it work better than others. The real reason to read this is the fantastic art. It has a grotesqueness about it, and intricate line work.
October 8, 2022
3.75 Riveting and intricately drawn graphic novel that’s basically influenced by the childhood game of the floor is lava!! and of course, inspired by the abandoned Pennsylvania mining town of Centralia.
It’s the story of an environmentally ravaged post- (-but probably pre-) apocalyptic town where humans struggle to exist, but other adapting or horribly mutated earthen or otherwise species seem to do just fine.
It has a vintage feel-art in the detailed style of Little Orphan Annie or Tintin. There’s an overall sepia tone smacking of a Western tale, with deep cross-hatching and original soaring storyboarding that must have been challenging, due to the plot dictates that no one walks on the ground-most action takes place on rooftops or power wires.
It’s also dream-fever-y and surreal and weird-particularly those enemy troops who looks like erotic plague birds. And several times you may notice, creepily, that characters are breaking the fourth wall and looking straight at you. Ew for realz. But you can’t not look.
Wildly creative and original adventure. Docked a star for story cohesiveness but overall very cool.
It’s the story of an environmentally ravaged post- (-but probably pre-) apocalyptic town where humans struggle to exist, but other adapting or horribly mutated earthen or otherwise species seem to do just fine.
It has a vintage feel-art in the detailed style of Little Orphan Annie or Tintin. There’s an overall sepia tone smacking of a Western tale, with deep cross-hatching and original soaring storyboarding that must have been challenging, due to the plot dictates that no one walks on the ground-most action takes place on rooftops or power wires.
It’s also dream-fever-y and surreal and weird-particularly those enemy troops who looks like erotic plague birds. And several times you may notice, creepily, that characters are breaking the fourth wall and looking straight at you. Ew for realz. But you can’t not look.
Wildly creative and original adventure. Docked a star for story cohesiveness but overall very cool.
February 4, 2023
I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The story opens with the information that it is loosely based on a true story. The story takes place in an imaginative western steampunk world. A group of travelers band together to travel to the heart of the abandoned Centralia to find a large treasure of gold. They hope to help their hometown of retired soldiers. They fight opposing soldiers and strange mutants that inhabit the city.
The art style is interesting and the mutants that are found in the city help emphasize it. The story is also an interesting take on the underground mine fires in Centralia.
This is a good story for those interested in fictional takes on historic events.
The story opens with the information that it is loosely based on a true story. The story takes place in an imaginative western steampunk world. A group of travelers band together to travel to the heart of the abandoned Centralia to find a large treasure of gold. They hope to help their hometown of retired soldiers. They fight opposing soldiers and strange mutants that inhabit the city.
The art style is interesting and the mutants that are found in the city help emphasize it. The story is also an interesting take on the underground mine fires in Centralia.
This is a good story for those interested in fictional takes on historic events.
October 7, 2022
Brilliantly done! Vandepitte tells a thrilling, surreal, and often unsettling story that escalates as fast as heat rises. The art style is beautiful and eerie, complimenting this fantastical story perfectly. I simply had to read it all in one go - it was just that good!
September 4, 2024
7- Niet een onverdeeld succes, deze graphic novel van de Gentse tekenaar Miel Vandepitte. Maar voor wie het graag 'weird' wil en minder geeft om een strak samenhangend plot, komt hiermee wel aan zijn/haar trekken. Gebaseerd op het bestaande plaatsje Centralia in de VS waar sinds de jaren zestig van de vorige eeuw een ondergrondse brand woedt, bedacht Vandepitte een epische vertelling waarbij verschillende partijen naar de stad Centralia reizen. Een verslaggever wil er met overlevenden spreken, anderen zijn op zoek naar een schat en de neusapen hebben kwaadaardige plannen. De meeste elementen komen wel bij elkaar, maar de personages en hun motivaties blijven op afstand en daarom leefde ik niet enorm mee. Ik hou op zich van een dosis absurdisme, zelfs als het niet verklaard wordt, maar hier vond ik sommige elementen puberaal - vooral de gemuteerde levensvormen waarbij geslachtsdelen betrokken waren. Die dienden vooral 'shock value', net als een man met een enorm gat in zijn buik. Die laatste leidde ook tot wat zwarte humor die ik wel kon waarderen.
De tekenaar toont goed gebruik van de panelen, waarbij lijnen en gebeurtenissen soms door scenes heen werden doorgetrokken.
Wat vooral mooi was, waren de tekeningen van Centralia: prachtige platen, vaak twee pagina's vullend. Gedetailleerde architectuur: flatgebouwen, ruïnes, tekenen van de menselijke grootsheid, maar verlaten en levenloos. Uiteindelijk hoogmoedig. Deze afbeeldingen waren gemaakt in de stijl van grootmeester François Schuiten, met dezelfde arcering als in zijn platen. Alleen al voor deze afbeeldingen waar je oog overheen kan blijven dwalen, is deze graphic novel zeker een aanrader.
De tekenaar toont goed gebruik van de panelen, waarbij lijnen en gebeurtenissen soms door scenes heen werden doorgetrokken.
Wat vooral mooi was, waren de tekeningen van Centralia: prachtige platen, vaak twee pagina's vullend. Gedetailleerde architectuur: flatgebouwen, ruïnes, tekenen van de menselijke grootsheid, maar verlaten en levenloos. Uiteindelijk hoogmoedig. Deze afbeeldingen waren gemaakt in de stijl van grootmeester François Schuiten, met dezelfde arcering als in zijn platen. Alleen al voor deze afbeeldingen waar je oog overheen kan blijven dwalen, is deze graphic novel zeker een aanrader.
December 29, 2023
Another uniquely styled graphic novel, this a wild speculative riff on the coal fires that burn out of control beneath the Pennsylvania town of Centralia. It's that, only it's a dystopian far west, with mutants of all sorts and types, where the fires melt those who approach in a "eek, the floor is lava" sort of way.
The novelization is interesting, varying between an illustrated narrative and a more traditional panelized approach. The palette is mostly dun and desert hues, which is appropriate given the Western-ish setting. The style is...hmmm. The landscapes and architectures are precise and refined, but the characters themselves...faces, physicalities, expressions...aren't quite as sharp. This mirrors the storytelling, which is entertainingly bizarre, but also doesn't quite give enough of a sense of the characters themselves. You know their names, and a little about the dynamics of their relationships, but they never feel quite fully drawn.
Still, it's unique and purty enough that I'll be happy to have it in my collection. A three point four.
The novelization is interesting, varying between an illustrated narrative and a more traditional panelized approach. The palette is mostly dun and desert hues, which is appropriate given the Western-ish setting. The style is...hmmm. The landscapes and architectures are precise and refined, but the characters themselves...faces, physicalities, expressions...aren't quite as sharp. This mirrors the storytelling, which is entertainingly bizarre, but also doesn't quite give enough of a sense of the characters themselves. You know their names, and a little about the dynamics of their relationships, but they never feel quite fully drawn.
Still, it's unique and purty enough that I'll be happy to have it in my collection. A three point four.
March 4, 2022
Deze graphic novel vond ik niks. Centralia vertelt over een dystopische wereld waarin de Neusapen het de tegenpartij moeilijk maken. Het verhaal spreekt te weinig aan, het is een soort zoektocht naar een El Dorado (hier dus het goud in Centralia) van het hoofdpersonage Lonca om zijn rebellen te redden van de ondergang in het stadje Blitz. De epiloog is dan al helemaal overbodig ('Een tijdje later...'). Natuurlijk dwingt Vandepitte bewondering af voor de massa gedetailleerde tekeningen, maar ze zijn niet bepaald mooi of inspirerend te noemen.
Naast het zwakke verhaal storen vooral de gemuteerde wezens, dat is vergezochte fantasy. Geef mij dan Black Hole van Charles Burns! Dezelfde ingrediënten: een dystopie, gemuteerde wezens, een niet genoemde locatie in de VS, maar een donker verhaal met verschillende lagen. Daartegen is dit een flauw boek. Op een kaartje heet een stadje in de buurt van Centralia trouwens 'Spaghettisburg'. Really?
October 30, 2022
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was lost in this book, not as in so engrossed that I lost myself...more like, I have no idea what or why or even how things happened. I'll say the good things first. 1. the art is interesting, unique, and expressive. 2. The message seems to be environmental in nature, which is nice. 3. There was a lot of creative passion in this project, and I felt it in every panel. There are no shortcuts here.
Here's the bad: I was LOST. completely and utterly. The story drops you en media res and although I often love that... here it left me disoriented. I kept having this feeling of trying to catch up, and never fully succeeding and although sometimes I marveled at interesting creative choices, I was still asking 'why' and 'how' and UHGH? more than I was following the plot. I wanted this to be more successful than it was, but I'm still intrigued by the effort and the vision if not by the execution.
I was lost in this book, not as in so engrossed that I lost myself...more like, I have no idea what or why or even how things happened. I'll say the good things first. 1. the art is interesting, unique, and expressive. 2. The message seems to be environmental in nature, which is nice. 3. There was a lot of creative passion in this project, and I felt it in every panel. There are no shortcuts here.
Here's the bad: I was LOST. completely and utterly. The story drops you en media res and although I often love that... here it left me disoriented. I kept having this feeling of trying to catch up, and never fully succeeding and although sometimes I marveled at interesting creative choices, I was still asking 'why' and 'how' and UHGH? more than I was following the plot. I wanted this to be more successful than it was, but I'm still intrigued by the effort and the vision if not by the execution.
November 3, 2022
Big thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors, Living the Line for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for reviews.
This was an intriguing fantasy graphic novel in which a group of people set off in a over-heating, dying planet in search of treasure. Wacky people on giant metal heat proof stilts are chasing them, as well as another group of people added to the mix. This was an interesting take on a dystopian story, but I wasn't sure how I felt about it. It felt like a fever dream sometimes, whereas other times I found myself lost in it. I also felt lost as to what was happening a few times. I like the premise of this story, especially with the global warming issues we face today. I feel the writing was a little lacking however.. I really loved the art style though! It really was a beautiful book.
This was an intriguing fantasy graphic novel in which a group of people set off in a over-heating, dying planet in search of treasure. Wacky people on giant metal heat proof stilts are chasing them, as well as another group of people added to the mix. This was an interesting take on a dystopian story, but I wasn't sure how I felt about it. It felt like a fever dream sometimes, whereas other times I found myself lost in it. I also felt lost as to what was happening a few times. I like the premise of this story, especially with the global warming issues we face today. I feel the writing was a little lacking however.. I really loved the art style though! It really was a beautiful book.
October 18, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Centralia by Miel Vandepitte is a graphic novel inspired by/loosely based on the abandoned mining town Centralia in Pennsylvania. And I have some mixed feelings about it.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this one. First of all, I really liked the art of the places and surroundings, but I just didn’t really like the way people were drawn (that’s really just my personal taste though). The story itself felt somewhat like a fever dream, and while I was really intrigued at the beginning, towards the end things felt a little too convenient and happened too fast.
If a graphic novel full of strange, mutated people and animals with an air of an old western comic sounds at all interesting to you, I’d recommend picking up Centralia.
Centralia by Miel Vandepitte is a graphic novel inspired by/loosely based on the abandoned mining town Centralia in Pennsylvania. And I have some mixed feelings about it.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this one. First of all, I really liked the art of the places and surroundings, but I just didn’t really like the way people were drawn (that’s really just my personal taste though). The story itself felt somewhat like a fever dream, and while I was really intrigued at the beginning, towards the end things felt a little too convenient and happened too fast.
If a graphic novel full of strange, mutated people and animals with an air of an old western comic sounds at all interesting to you, I’d recommend picking up Centralia.
October 24, 2022
Bonkers fantasy graphic novel, where a disparate group of people are trying to enter a poisoned, over-heating city in search of either some gold treasure or some journalistic insight into the place. Weird people on mahoosive heat-proof stilts are against them, and there's a third bunch of characters to throw into the mix – and they get thrown in whenever it's convenient in this sloppy book, that revels in great design and fine craft in the visuals, but is too nutzoid and fever dream-like to really be to my taste.
October 13, 2022
Well, I’ve been to Centralia, Pennsylvania and experienced the heat coming from the underground coal mine fire. I thought this would be a nonfiction graphic novel about that town where people had to move away as the town had become unlivable. Boy was I wrong! This is way-out-there zany sci-fi graphic novel with human treasure hunters encountering crazy alien life forms. I have no idea who might enjoy this, but I certainly didn’t.
April 9, 2024
A trio and a journalist wander into a smoldering heat-mutated city in search of gold. Weird but not in a good way. The main character motivations felt surface level and the flagrant mutations, well, obscene without a means of furthering the plot. The war wasn’t fully explained and there was only a hazy moment of intrigue midway. A strange books indeed.
Format: print
Discovery: library
Format: print
Discovery: library
October 7, 2023
'Centralia', het debuut van Miel Vandepitte, is grafisch top met o.a. prachtige architecturale panorama's geïnspireerd door 'Les Cités obscures' van Schuyten en Peeters.
Jammer genoeg zijn het verhaal en de dialogen (ondanks enkele leuke plotelementen) nog niet van hetzelfde niveau.
2,5*
Jammer genoeg zijn het verhaal en de dialogen (ondanks enkele leuke plotelementen) nog niet van hetzelfde niveau.
2,5*
December 2, 2023
Centralia, Miel
Exotic dystopian dreamy bizarre ‘Western’ (?) about a small yet eclectic group of diverse humans on an epic hero’s quest that involves them navigating enemies, mutant humans and thermal forces. ****
Exotic dystopian dreamy bizarre ‘Western’ (?) about a small yet eclectic group of diverse humans on an epic hero’s quest that involves them navigating enemies, mutant humans and thermal forces. ****
October 20, 2022
Not a fan. Thought it was going to be different from hearing what it was about and I really just couldn't get into the art style as well.
October 23, 2025
Zany and original but for me it was a bit too rushed to feel a deeper level of satisfaction
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews