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Midnight Nation #1-12,1/2
Krajina půlnočních stínů
”Napadli mě.
Ukradli mi duši.
Propadl jsem iluzorní skulinou v chodníku a skončil na místě opuštěnejch věcí a vykořeněnejch lidí.
A jestli do roka nezískám svou duši zpátky, skončím jako mrtvola, nebo jako jeden z těch tvorů, který číhají na týhle straně reality.“
Říká David Grey, hlavní postava Krajiny půlnočních stínů, atmosférického příběhu o lidských slabostech a daleké cestě k sebepoznání, vrcholného díla J. Michaela Straczynského, známého scenáristy a producenta televizních i komiksových seriálů.
Kniha vznikala přes dvacet let. Straczynski chtěl jejím alegorickým příběhem nenásilně varovat před manipulativností sekt, se kterou měl velmi trpkou osobní zkušenost.
Bonusový příběh:
Drahocennosti - J. Michael Straczynski, Michael Zulli
Původně v originále vycházelo sešitově jako Midnight Nation #1-12 (říjen 2000 - červenec 2002)
Ukradli mi duši.
Propadl jsem iluzorní skulinou v chodníku a skončil na místě opuštěnejch věcí a vykořeněnejch lidí.
A jestli do roka nezískám svou duši zpátky, skončím jako mrtvola, nebo jako jeden z těch tvorů, který číhají na týhle straně reality.“
Říká David Grey, hlavní postava Krajiny půlnočních stínů, atmosférického příběhu o lidských slabostech a daleké cestě k sebepoznání, vrcholného díla J. Michaela Straczynského, známého scenáristy a producenta televizních i komiksových seriálů.
Kniha vznikala přes dvacet let. Straczynski chtěl jejím alegorickým příběhem nenásilně varovat před manipulativností sekt, se kterou měl velmi trpkou osobní zkušenost.
Bonusový příběh:
Drahocennosti - J. Michael Straczynski, Michael Zulli
Původně v originále vycházelo sešitově jako Midnight Nation #1-12 (říjen 2000 - červenec 2002)
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
18 people are currently reading
952 people want to read
About the author
J. Michael Straczynski
1,373 books1,280 followersJoseph Michael Straczynski is an American filmmaker and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS and is best known as the creator of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1993–1998) and its spinoff Crusade (1999), as well as the series Jeremiah (2002–2004) and Sense8 (2015–2018). He is the executor of the estate of Harlan Ellison.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show. Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
October 22, 2025
The invisible and the unwanted.
What's the difference between a city during the day and a city at night?
A lot.
The story follows a cop, David Grey, who stumbles into a supernatural war, ends up in a coma, and disappears into this in-between world. Think of it as a dimension beside ours, or layered on top of ours, where people who have either retreated from society or have been shunned by society live like scavengers. In this place, the Devil is king, and his demons use the inhabitants as food.
David soon learns that his soul has been taken and that he will need to confront the Devil and take it back within a year's time, or he will turn into one of these demons known as Walkers. His guide is a mysterious woman named Laurel, who doesn't hold out much hope that David will be any different from the countless others that she's led on this same journey.
The longer they're on the road, the closer David gets to making the change to a Walker, and the more violent he becomes. Laurel, seemingly tasked with stopping his outbursts and bringing him back to himself, becomes even more mysterious and cryptic.
And by the time they make it to where they need to be, the less sure both David and the reader are about what this little road trip means.
Gary Frank's art. What a treat!
The book was a gift from a friend who sends me a Halloween care package every year. So every year, there are tons of comics I've never heard of as I'm pawing through this delightful goodie bag of horror. When I tell you I flipped this one open and saw the art, it would not be an exaggeration to say I made a few happy squeaking noises and moved it to the tippy-top of the to-read pile with a little spring in my step.
You really need to read the afterword by Straczynski to understand what kind of place he was coming from when he wrote this. Honestly, I think it should have been the foreword. It's touching and raw, and added an extra layer of depth to what I'd just read.
At its core, this is a story that asks why, if the universe is stacked against us, we should do the good thing, the kind thing, or the hard thing. And whose side are we on, anyway?
Good stuff.
Recommended.
What's the difference between a city during the day and a city at night?
A lot.
The story follows a cop, David Grey, who stumbles into a supernatural war, ends up in a coma, and disappears into this in-between world. Think of it as a dimension beside ours, or layered on top of ours, where people who have either retreated from society or have been shunned by society live like scavengers. In this place, the Devil is king, and his demons use the inhabitants as food.
David soon learns that his soul has been taken and that he will need to confront the Devil and take it back within a year's time, or he will turn into one of these demons known as Walkers. His guide is a mysterious woman named Laurel, who doesn't hold out much hope that David will be any different from the countless others that she's led on this same journey.
The longer they're on the road, the closer David gets to making the change to a Walker, and the more violent he becomes. Laurel, seemingly tasked with stopping his outbursts and bringing him back to himself, becomes even more mysterious and cryptic.
And by the time they make it to where they need to be, the less sure both David and the reader are about what this little road trip means.
Gary Frank's art. What a treat!
The book was a gift from a friend who sends me a Halloween care package every year. So every year, there are tons of comics I've never heard of as I'm pawing through this delightful goodie bag of horror. When I tell you I flipped this one open and saw the art, it would not be an exaggeration to say I made a few happy squeaking noises and moved it to the tippy-top of the to-read pile with a little spring in my step.
You really need to read the afterword by Straczynski to understand what kind of place he was coming from when he wrote this. Honestly, I think it should have been the foreword. It's touching and raw, and added an extra layer of depth to what I'd just read.
At its core, this is a story that asks why, if the universe is stacked against us, we should do the good thing, the kind thing, or the hard thing. And whose side are we on, anyway?
Good stuff.
Recommended.
October 9, 2025
[ESP/ENG]
Hubo un tiempo en que entrabas en una librería o tienda de cómics como es el caso y comprabas algo por mera suerte, ya fuera por el escritor, el dibujante o incluso la portada. Este fue mi caso, tanto escritor como dibujante me gustaban y me pareció una compra curiosa. No sé la cantidad de veces que lo habré leído desde entonces, pero tiene algo que me atrapó desde el principio y lo hace cada vez.
La historia no puede ser más simple: un policía de L.A. tiene un encontronazo con un personaje que le quita el alma y tiene que recuperarla. Acompañado de Laurel, debe hacer el viaje a pie desde allí a Nueva York. Es una historia que mezcla acción con historia de personajes, y con un toque de religión que hila la historia, aunque sin profundizar mucho.
Los personajes son ciertamente arquetípicos, aunque eso no es impedimento para empatizar con ellos, todos en algún momento dado nos podemos encontrar en esa situación. Me genera curiosidad El otro, el antagonista de la historia, que merecería algún número propio para desarrollar lo que queda apuntado de manera somera. Uno de los mejores personaje es Lázaro (sí, ese Lázaro), sale poco pero es muy bueno.
En definitiva, una obra que quizá no sea novedosa ni siquiera en el momento de su publicación, pero que a mí me genera algo en cada lectura. Yo lo recomiendo muy encarecidamente.
👼🏻🪽👹😈👼🏻🪽👹😈👼🏻🪽👹😈
There was a time when you went into a bookstore or comic book store as is the case and bought something by sheer luck, whether it was for the writer, the cartoonist or even the cover. This was my case, I liked both writer and cartoonist and it seemed like a curious purchase. I don't know how many times I've read it since then, but it has something that gripped me from the beginning and does it every time.
The story couldn't be simpler: a cop from L.A. has a run-in with a character who takes his soul and has to get it back. Accompanied by Laurel, he must make the journey on foot from there to New York. It is a story that mixes action with character history, and with a touch of religion that spins the story, although without going too deep.
The characters are certainly archetypal, although that is not an impediment to empathize with them, we can all find ourselves in that situation at some point. I am curious about The other, the antagonist of the story, who deserves some number of his own to develop what is briefly pointed out. One of the best characters is Lazarus (yep, that Lazarus), he appears briefly but is one of the best.
In short, a work that may not be that original even at the time of its publication, but that generates something for me in each reading. I highly recommend it.
Hubo un tiempo en que entrabas en una librería o tienda de cómics como es el caso y comprabas algo por mera suerte, ya fuera por el escritor, el dibujante o incluso la portada. Este fue mi caso, tanto escritor como dibujante me gustaban y me pareció una compra curiosa. No sé la cantidad de veces que lo habré leído desde entonces, pero tiene algo que me atrapó desde el principio y lo hace cada vez.
La historia no puede ser más simple: un policía de L.A. tiene un encontronazo con un personaje que le quita el alma y tiene que recuperarla. Acompañado de Laurel, debe hacer el viaje a pie desde allí a Nueva York. Es una historia que mezcla acción con historia de personajes, y con un toque de religión que hila la historia, aunque sin profundizar mucho.
Los personajes son ciertamente arquetípicos, aunque eso no es impedimento para empatizar con ellos, todos en algún momento dado nos podemos encontrar en esa situación. Me genera curiosidad El otro, el antagonista de la historia, que merecería algún número propio para desarrollar lo que queda apuntado de manera somera. Uno de los mejores personaje es Lázaro (sí, ese Lázaro), sale poco pero es muy bueno.
En definitiva, una obra que quizá no sea novedosa ni siquiera en el momento de su publicación, pero que a mí me genera algo en cada lectura. Yo lo recomiendo muy encarecidamente.
👼🏻🪽👹😈👼🏻🪽👹😈👼🏻🪽👹😈
There was a time when you went into a bookstore or comic book store as is the case and bought something by sheer luck, whether it was for the writer, the cartoonist or even the cover. This was my case, I liked both writer and cartoonist and it seemed like a curious purchase. I don't know how many times I've read it since then, but it has something that gripped me from the beginning and does it every time.
The story couldn't be simpler: a cop from L.A. has a run-in with a character who takes his soul and has to get it back. Accompanied by Laurel, he must make the journey on foot from there to New York. It is a story that mixes action with character history, and with a touch of religion that spins the story, although without going too deep.
The characters are certainly archetypal, although that is not an impediment to empathize with them, we can all find ourselves in that situation at some point. I am curious about The other, the antagonist of the story, who deserves some number of his own to develop what is briefly pointed out. One of the best characters is Lazarus (yep, that Lazarus), he appears briefly but is one of the best.
In short, a work that may not be that original even at the time of its publication, but that generates something for me in each reading. I highly recommend it.
November 9, 2016
Where do all the unnoticed people go? The ones who fade out of society, with no one to care that they're gone? JMS presents a world that exists beside but outside of our own, and tells the story of one man who falls in and the companion who tries to lead him out.
It was pretty deep in some places but I couldn't help but think it could be deeper. Bits reminded me of Buffy (the "gentlemen" like creatures, the literal disappearance of the forgotten) and that actually made me want more than we got. Also, too much walking and nothing in between the action. Probably deliberate to show the tedium of the road, but tedium is not something I want when reading. I did like the ending, but there was a big gap in showing just how the final decision affected the main character.
It was pretty deep in some places but I couldn't help but think it could be deeper. Bits reminded me of Buffy (the "gentlemen" like creatures, the literal disappearance of the forgotten) and that actually made me want more than we got. Also, too much walking and nothing in between the action. Probably deliberate to show the tedium of the road, but tedium is not something I want when reading. I did like the ending, but there was a big gap in showing just how the final decision affected the main character.
November 16, 2009
Wikipedia has a pretty good summary of the story, so I won’t bother here. Straczynski crafts a religious tale about a man who battles demons over his soul. Some thoughts:
* The story is okay, but the art got in the way for me — I don’t understand why a good story needs to have scantily clad ladies with prominent breasts to be a good “comic.” Admittedly, it’s not as bad as it could have been, but really, did the angel character need to have busty cleavage, a bare midriff, and high-cut underwear that sticks up from her low-rise jeans?
* I feel like there’s a bit of religious meditation here, but the comic doesn’t really go deep enough into it to help me understand the final ramifications of the story.
* I like the sub-text about people who get ignored by polite society. I’ve read that one of the worst parts of homelessness is the loneliness, being ignored daily by person after person. There’s a good section in which several of the forgotten gather around a fire to tell their stories to one another. We come to see that they’re insulating one another against the harms of the outside world. It’s tough to see what Straczynski thinks about the hero’s decision not to stay with the campfire people–is it bravery that they don’t have? They seem trod upon, but also somewhat to blame. The segment replicates the problematic question of how to help the homeless — how much personal blame/guilt/drive do they need to embrace themselves?
* The demons were cool, with etched tattoos all over their bodies. For all that, the big demon (Satan) was pretty well drawn, with a good set of complaints about God. It might be interesting to compare this story to Garth Ennis’ Preacher cycle, both of which depict God pretty ruthlessly.
* The story is okay, but the art got in the way for me — I don’t understand why a good story needs to have scantily clad ladies with prominent breasts to be a good “comic.” Admittedly, it’s not as bad as it could have been, but really, did the angel character need to have busty cleavage, a bare midriff, and high-cut underwear that sticks up from her low-rise jeans?
* I feel like there’s a bit of religious meditation here, but the comic doesn’t really go deep enough into it to help me understand the final ramifications of the story.
* I like the sub-text about people who get ignored by polite society. I’ve read that one of the worst parts of homelessness is the loneliness, being ignored daily by person after person. There’s a good section in which several of the forgotten gather around a fire to tell their stories to one another. We come to see that they’re insulating one another against the harms of the outside world. It’s tough to see what Straczynski thinks about the hero’s decision not to stay with the campfire people–is it bravery that they don’t have? They seem trod upon, but also somewhat to blame. The segment replicates the problematic question of how to help the homeless — how much personal blame/guilt/drive do they need to embrace themselves?
* The demons were cool, with etched tattoos all over their bodies. For all that, the big demon (Satan) was pretty well drawn, with a good set of complaints about God. It might be interesting to compare this story to Garth Ennis’ Preacher cycle, both of which depict God pretty ruthlessly.
January 5, 2022
Siempre que visito el maravilloso blog de Elías Combarro, Sense of Wonder, me sorprendo con sus sugerencias de música que puedes escuchar mientras lees las reseñas. Yo soy incapaz de imaginar una combinación de esa naturaleza, pero mientras escribía esto, Spotify puso una versión en guitarra de Mad World, interpretada por Sergei Baronin y entonces… eureka. La canción podría musicalizar la novela entera, así que a la reseña le sirve.
Si han visto Sense8 o Babylon 5 o Changeling (con Angelina Jolie), sabrán entonces quién es J.M. Straczynski. Si no lo sabían, bueno, eso. Straczynski es el autor de esos guiones; y en el caso de Babylon 5, el creador de ese universo. Straczynki tiene un conocimiento de la condición humana y un pulso para la estructura narrativa que pocos autores del género han podido lograr. Sus mundos se sienten completos; sus personajes, reales. De la vida personal de Straczynski se sabe poco: es muy privado. Sin embargo, al leer esta novela uno sabe que hay en ella más que una ficción. El tema es la soledad. La soledad “ontológica”, existencial, esa que no te alivia sino que se incrusta en lo más profundo de tu psiquis. Todos la experimentamos, pero pocos la enfrentan. Straczynski lo hizo y así surge esta historia, esta epopeya de amplio espectro, que abarca el comienzo y el final de todos los tiempos.
David Grey es un policía que un día descubre que nadie más puede verlo. Él ve a la gente de su ciudad como fantasmas, hasta que una mujer, Laurel, se presenta ante él y le dice que están en un mundo “intermedio”, un mundo entre el de los vivos y los muertos. El mundo de los olvidados, los desposeídos, los abandonados y los que han abandonado la esperanza de un mañana mejor. Y además, David ha perdido su alma y para recuperarla, debe atravesar el continente de costa a costa junto a Laurel, su guía, defensora, consejera y, poco a poco, amiga. Ambos enfrentan el cansancio, el clima extremo y a unos espectros antropófagos. ¿Quién es Laurel y por qué hace eso? ¿Quién domina este mundo intermedio y por qué existe? ¿Qué pasa con los habitantes de ese lugar cuando David encuentre su alma?
Midnight Nation te destruye, te engancha, te hace reír, reflexionar (demasiado). Te hace ver el mundo con nuevos ojos, algo que solo logran los autores cuando encuentran la catarsis en una obra y, por lo tanto, la encuentras tú también.
La ilustración de Gary Frank es perfecta. Este suele ser mi punto débil a la hora de reseñar novelas gráficas, pues lo visual no es mi fuerte y no conozco mucho de cómics, pero el trabajo de Frank me dejó boquiabierta. Es maravilloso.
Le recomendaría a todos leer esta novela. Al final, sentí gratitud por la generosidad de Straczynski al compartir su íntima jornada con nosotros. Ese es el poder de los artistas y de los creadores: desafiar su propio dolor para conectar con otros, para sentir que la humanidad no es algo heredado sino algo que debemos alcanzar.
Si han visto Sense8 o Babylon 5 o Changeling (con Angelina Jolie), sabrán entonces quién es J.M. Straczynski. Si no lo sabían, bueno, eso. Straczynski es el autor de esos guiones; y en el caso de Babylon 5, el creador de ese universo. Straczynki tiene un conocimiento de la condición humana y un pulso para la estructura narrativa que pocos autores del género han podido lograr. Sus mundos se sienten completos; sus personajes, reales. De la vida personal de Straczynski se sabe poco: es muy privado. Sin embargo, al leer esta novela uno sabe que hay en ella más que una ficción. El tema es la soledad. La soledad “ontológica”, existencial, esa que no te alivia sino que se incrusta en lo más profundo de tu psiquis. Todos la experimentamos, pero pocos la enfrentan. Straczynski lo hizo y así surge esta historia, esta epopeya de amplio espectro, que abarca el comienzo y el final de todos los tiempos.
David Grey es un policía que un día descubre que nadie más puede verlo. Él ve a la gente de su ciudad como fantasmas, hasta que una mujer, Laurel, se presenta ante él y le dice que están en un mundo “intermedio”, un mundo entre el de los vivos y los muertos. El mundo de los olvidados, los desposeídos, los abandonados y los que han abandonado la esperanza de un mañana mejor. Y además, David ha perdido su alma y para recuperarla, debe atravesar el continente de costa a costa junto a Laurel, su guía, defensora, consejera y, poco a poco, amiga. Ambos enfrentan el cansancio, el clima extremo y a unos espectros antropófagos. ¿Quién es Laurel y por qué hace eso? ¿Quién domina este mundo intermedio y por qué existe? ¿Qué pasa con los habitantes de ese lugar cuando David encuentre su alma?
Midnight Nation te destruye, te engancha, te hace reír, reflexionar (demasiado). Te hace ver el mundo con nuevos ojos, algo que solo logran los autores cuando encuentran la catarsis en una obra y, por lo tanto, la encuentras tú también.
La ilustración de Gary Frank es perfecta. Este suele ser mi punto débil a la hora de reseñar novelas gráficas, pues lo visual no es mi fuerte y no conozco mucho de cómics, pero el trabajo de Frank me dejó boquiabierta. Es maravilloso.
Le recomendaría a todos leer esta novela. Al final, sentí gratitud por la generosidad de Straczynski al compartir su íntima jornada con nosotros. Ese es el poder de los artistas y de los creadores: desafiar su propio dolor para conectar con otros, para sentir que la humanidad no es algo heredado sino algo que debemos alcanzar.
December 2, 2021
This was interesting. It was very philosophical, and quite deep. But it held my interest throughout, and the Gary Frank art was gorgeous. His women are sexy, his men are tough, his monsters are scary, etc.
There was some deep theology here, some of which I'm sure went over my head.
It's hard to really get into detail with a review because the story was so unique. It's part post-apocalyptic, part horror, part romance...get the idea?
I'll see if you're looking for something different with a horror slant and great art, this one is worth a read.
There was some deep theology here, some of which I'm sure went over my head.
It's hard to really get into detail with a review because the story was so unique. It's part post-apocalyptic, part horror, part romance...get the idea?
I'll see if you're looking for something different with a horror slant and great art, this one is worth a read.
October 19, 2020
I stumbled across this book by chance. Came in to my part time gig so I looked up to see what it was about. Saw it had some good ratings so I figured I’d check it out. 10 months later I finally read it. Lol. This was pretty good. Premise was a Detective dies or is in critical condition. He ends up in what is being called the in between. Not alive but not dead yet. He met by a mysterious woman named Laurel and explains to him what’s going on. Long story short, his soul has been taken and he has to walk from LA to NY to get it back and she is there to escort him. It’s not as simple as it sounds. They deal with all kinds of craziness along the way. At times reading this, about the middle of the story, there were times where I was like ok let’s get to the outcome already. But by the end, that stuff in the middle helped build up what was needed to arrive at a nice satisfying heartfelt ending. Gary Frank does a nice job on art duty. Definitely glad this book came across my lap and that I decided to take a chance on it.
February 7, 2009
First foray into the Graphic Novel world (well, serious study, I've read many before). I thought this one started out very strongly, lots of mystery. The art is beautiful but for some reason the payoff didn't hit me. It was very intellectual and I kinda wanted a more impactful revelation to the "meaning" behind it all at the end. Maybe another read would enlighten me, but again, I like a lot of action, not philosophy :)
February 6, 2019
I thought I might have read some of these original issues but this was all new to me. As usual with these kinds of theological romps, the devil gets all the best lines. There’s some good stuff about hope and the ending is kinda moving. Gary Frank’s pencil work is gorgeous, but I think this is still a lesser Straczynski work than Rising Stars or even Babylon 5.
February 5, 2017
This book was really thought provoking, albeit confusing.
It was very different from what I thought it would be. It seemed to mesh together a tonne of different themes and it didn't end up where I expected it to, but I still enjoyed the ride. I picked this up on a whim at a pop culture convention last weekend, thinking it would be David Grey's epic quest to find his soul, traversing a desolate and depressing otherworldly plane of existence and culminating in a bloody battle with a demon for his soul. That's the underlying idea, but the details were very.......different.
***TL;DR PLOT OVERVIEW CONTAINING SPOILERS***
David Grey is a typical cop with a history of failed relationships. While investigating the grisly murder of a drug dealer, a witness lets him in on the secret of The Walkers. Criminals in the area are under the protection of The Walkers, but some aren't so lucky and soon find their severed feet flushed down the toilet. While following up a lead on one of these "protected" criminals, David Grey comes face to face with The Walkers for the first time, where he promptly has his soul stolen.
He soon finds himself in the In-Between, an alternate plane of existence for people who've been abandoned and "fallen through the cracks". Some appear to be legit, but most seem like pussies who didn't have the balls to stand up for themselves and make their lives better. With the help of his new and provocatively dressed guide, Laurel, David learns he has 11 months to reclaim his soul or face turning into one of The Walkers. Oh, and the only way to reclaim his soul is to spend those 11 months walking to New York because hey, why not?
Turns out The Walkers showed up a year ago under the command of The Other Guy, and immediately took to a) killing the inhabitants of the In-Between, and b) "upping the misery quotient back home" to pull more people over to the In-Between so they'd have more people to nom on.
After a long 11 months of falling in love with Laurel and badass altercations with the biblical Lazarus, Laurel and David reach New York City and we finally meet The Other Guy. Turns out he's basically Lucifer and his goal is prove that God is a fraud; that God didn't create existence in the hope that tomorrow will be a better day, but to placate his own loneliness. It's unclear whether David is the catalyst to help achieve this, but The Other Guy wants him to join the ranks as a Walker.
We then learn that Laurel is akin to a fallen angel who's been de-souled, cursed to walk the same path over and over as a guide for humans to reclaim their souls. The ending is always the same: said human regains their soul and becomes a Walker anyway, and Laurel is crucified. She will then return to her otherworldly realm to hover in stasis until another soulless human arrives and the journey begins again.
So David now has 2 random choices: reclaim his soul and be truly free for the first time in his life as a Walker, or give his soul to Laurel so she can be reborn as a human, and no longer bound to do God's bidding. If he takes the second option he'll fail to belong to either world and fade away. Being the selfless cop he is, he takes the second option but manages to somehow return to the human world and interact with both humans and the In-Betweeners. He bumps into teenage Laurel a few years later, who recognises him and thanks him for his choice.
***END PLOT SPOILERS***
Like I said, thought provoking but confusing! I feel like there were so many themes going on at once, and the book should've been far longer to adequately explore and explain everything. There were amazing biblical references; references to historical artists, composers, authors and inventors whose work was cut tragically short; and then some general paranormal awesomeness in the form of The Walkers and The Other Guy. I know the book was written in response to some personal issues and trauma the author had been through, so I wonder if that's why it seems a bit haphazard.
I reeeeeally enjoyed the religious themes in this text though! The idea of Lazarus waiting centuries for Jesus to finish dinner with his 12 mates was hilarious, and his his faceless archangel protector with the flaming sword was badass. (I'm personally assuming Uriel or Michael, or perhaps even Jesus himself!) I also really fucking loved The Other Guy's take on creation. He isn't some whiny little Morningstar pissed at God because of his own jealousy and power-trip, this guy has a really interesting point!
According to The Other Guy, God created existence so he wouldn't be lonely anymore. He tried to pass it off as having done it in the name of hope; the hope that tomorrow will be a better day. Soon he got sick of the perfect worlds he'd created, so he added misery to the equation. The Other Guy believes that the existence of misery proves that God didn't create in the name of hope, and is quickly accelerating and intensifying misery in the two planes of existence to expose God as a fraud and bring everyone to his side. From there, they can create a world free of misery and despair.
I wish the text had focused more on this theme; that it had been hinted at throughout the text rather than thrown in at the end. Laurel's true identity was also really random and last-minute, it felt like a rushed deus ex machina moment to me. I wish the author had explained more about the realm she lives in when she's not acting as a guide, and if there are others just like her. I'd also like to know if The Other Guy ever succeeds in the future, the ultimate showdown, and what his new world would be like.
I also thought The Other Guy and The Walkers were bloody scary. Sure, they look like green versions of Darth Maul sans the horns and double-ended lightsaber, but they're not at all cheesy or comical. I'm not sure whether it's the animalistic expressions, the pointy teeth, or just the knowledge that they're capable of truly disgusting things that terrifies me the most. I can totally imagine them wreaking havoc in a show like American Horror Story.
I also wish the author had explained more about The Walkers. They were brought over by The Other Guy about a year ago, but where did they come from? Where did The Other Guy come from? And why did he only start to kick his plan into action a year ago? How do they decide that some harbingers of misery (like drug dealers) are worth protecting and others aren't? I understand that they're breeding misery so it would make sense to do the bidding of certain evil individuals, but why protect some dealers and not others? And will The Walkers continue to exist in the new world they're hoping to create, since it will be free of misery?
Aside from the slapdash nature and superficial exploration of the themes in this text, I have just one other major problem. My number one issue with comics and manga of any sort are their portrayal of women. This comic was fairly toned down compared to others, but I still hated the way Laurel was drawn. A midriff top and g-string hanging over the top of her jeans?! Really?! Are we the tacky bitches in a 90s high school chick flick?! I'm no prude, but I find it hard to take a female character seriously when the other characters are rugged up and she's half-naked for no apparent reason. *sigh* She was such a badass, it's a pity the outfit was so demeaning.
Overall: I really have no idea who I would recommend this text to! It's a little horror, a little fantasy, a little paranormal, a little sci-fi, a little dystopian and apocalyptic, and the tiniest bit comedic and romantic. I guess if you're into biblical apocalypse themes a la Supernatural, you'll get some enjoyment out of this. If you venture off the beaten track when it comes to comics and enjoy a little gore while saving the day, you'll get some enjoyment out of this. Hell, if you just want to spend a few hours going 'WTFFFFFFFF', you'll get some enjoyment out of this. I'll be rereading it several times over, that's for sure!
It was very different from what I thought it would be. It seemed to mesh together a tonne of different themes and it didn't end up where I expected it to, but I still enjoyed the ride. I picked this up on a whim at a pop culture convention last weekend, thinking it would be David Grey's epic quest to find his soul, traversing a desolate and depressing otherworldly plane of existence and culminating in a bloody battle with a demon for his soul. That's the underlying idea, but the details were very.......different.
***TL;DR PLOT OVERVIEW CONTAINING SPOILERS***
David Grey is a typical cop with a history of failed relationships. While investigating the grisly murder of a drug dealer, a witness lets him in on the secret of The Walkers. Criminals in the area are under the protection of The Walkers, but some aren't so lucky and soon find their severed feet flushed down the toilet. While following up a lead on one of these "protected" criminals, David Grey comes face to face with The Walkers for the first time, where he promptly has his soul stolen.
He soon finds himself in the In-Between, an alternate plane of existence for people who've been abandoned and "fallen through the cracks". Some appear to be legit, but most seem like pussies who didn't have the balls to stand up for themselves and make their lives better. With the help of his new and provocatively dressed guide, Laurel, David learns he has 11 months to reclaim his soul or face turning into one of The Walkers. Oh, and the only way to reclaim his soul is to spend those 11 months walking to New York because hey, why not?
Turns out The Walkers showed up a year ago under the command of The Other Guy, and immediately took to a) killing the inhabitants of the In-Between, and b) "upping the misery quotient back home" to pull more people over to the In-Between so they'd have more people to nom on.
After a long 11 months of falling in love with Laurel and badass altercations with the biblical Lazarus, Laurel and David reach New York City and we finally meet The Other Guy. Turns out he's basically Lucifer and his goal is prove that God is a fraud; that God didn't create existence in the hope that tomorrow will be a better day, but to placate his own loneliness. It's unclear whether David is the catalyst to help achieve this, but The Other Guy wants him to join the ranks as a Walker.
We then learn that Laurel is akin to a fallen angel who's been de-souled, cursed to walk the same path over and over as a guide for humans to reclaim their souls. The ending is always the same: said human regains their soul and becomes a Walker anyway, and Laurel is crucified. She will then return to her otherworldly realm to hover in stasis until another soulless human arrives and the journey begins again.
So David now has 2 random choices: reclaim his soul and be truly free for the first time in his life as a Walker, or give his soul to Laurel so she can be reborn as a human, and no longer bound to do God's bidding. If he takes the second option he'll fail to belong to either world and fade away. Being the selfless cop he is, he takes the second option but manages to somehow return to the human world and interact with both humans and the In-Betweeners. He bumps into teenage Laurel a few years later, who recognises him and thanks him for his choice.
***END PLOT SPOILERS***
Like I said, thought provoking but confusing! I feel like there were so many themes going on at once, and the book should've been far longer to adequately explore and explain everything. There were amazing biblical references; references to historical artists, composers, authors and inventors whose work was cut tragically short; and then some general paranormal awesomeness in the form of The Walkers and The Other Guy. I know the book was written in response to some personal issues and trauma the author had been through, so I wonder if that's why it seems a bit haphazard.
I reeeeeally enjoyed the religious themes in this text though! The idea of Lazarus waiting centuries for Jesus to finish dinner with his 12 mates was hilarious, and his his faceless archangel protector with the flaming sword was badass. (I'm personally assuming Uriel or Michael, or perhaps even Jesus himself!) I also really fucking loved The Other Guy's take on creation. He isn't some whiny little Morningstar pissed at God because of his own jealousy and power-trip, this guy has a really interesting point!
According to The Other Guy, God created existence so he wouldn't be lonely anymore. He tried to pass it off as having done it in the name of hope; the hope that tomorrow will be a better day. Soon he got sick of the perfect worlds he'd created, so he added misery to the equation. The Other Guy believes that the existence of misery proves that God didn't create in the name of hope, and is quickly accelerating and intensifying misery in the two planes of existence to expose God as a fraud and bring everyone to his side. From there, they can create a world free of misery and despair.
I wish the text had focused more on this theme; that it had been hinted at throughout the text rather than thrown in at the end. Laurel's true identity was also really random and last-minute, it felt like a rushed deus ex machina moment to me. I wish the author had explained more about the realm she lives in when she's not acting as a guide, and if there are others just like her. I'd also like to know if The Other Guy ever succeeds in the future, the ultimate showdown, and what his new world would be like.
I also thought The Other Guy and The Walkers were bloody scary. Sure, they look like green versions of Darth Maul sans the horns and double-ended lightsaber, but they're not at all cheesy or comical. I'm not sure whether it's the animalistic expressions, the pointy teeth, or just the knowledge that they're capable of truly disgusting things that terrifies me the most. I can totally imagine them wreaking havoc in a show like American Horror Story.
I also wish the author had explained more about The Walkers. They were brought over by The Other Guy about a year ago, but where did they come from? Where did The Other Guy come from? And why did he only start to kick his plan into action a year ago? How do they decide that some harbingers of misery (like drug dealers) are worth protecting and others aren't? I understand that they're breeding misery so it would make sense to do the bidding of certain evil individuals, but why protect some dealers and not others? And will The Walkers continue to exist in the new world they're hoping to create, since it will be free of misery?
Aside from the slapdash nature and superficial exploration of the themes in this text, I have just one other major problem. My number one issue with comics and manga of any sort are their portrayal of women. This comic was fairly toned down compared to others, but I still hated the way Laurel was drawn. A midriff top and g-string hanging over the top of her jeans?! Really?! Are we the tacky bitches in a 90s high school chick flick?! I'm no prude, but I find it hard to take a female character seriously when the other characters are rugged up and she's half-naked for no apparent reason. *sigh* She was such a badass, it's a pity the outfit was so demeaning.
Overall: I really have no idea who I would recommend this text to! It's a little horror, a little fantasy, a little paranormal, a little sci-fi, a little dystopian and apocalyptic, and the tiniest bit comedic and romantic. I guess if you're into biblical apocalypse themes a la Supernatural, you'll get some enjoyment out of this. If you venture off the beaten track when it comes to comics and enjoy a little gore while saving the day, you'll get some enjoyment out of this. Hell, if you just want to spend a few hours going 'WTFFFFFFFF', you'll get some enjoyment out of this. I'll be rereading it several times over, that's for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2021
if you like dense storylines that do not leave you with asking more questions than the ones answered, this is for you. in the event that you have a weakness for human sympathy, and seeing the advantages of authorizing trust, this is for you. on the off chance that you like to see heroes beat outrageous difficulty, remotely as well as inside also, this is for you. in the event that you like it when your rival really is somebody that understands what they are discussing and makes you question the ethics, techniques, and morals of your general surroundings, this is for you. on the off chance that you like it when character stories aren't stale with scholarly rot, this is for you. in the event that you like philosophical premises with a smidgen in excess of a hint of strict setting that isn't hostile, this is for you.
to sum it all up though. straczynki has unveiled a marvel in this book, and has bought my attention from this day forward. this book isn't for those that are intrigued uniquely by the cliché hero that carries on with the basic existence of placing the miscreant in prison, trouble maker breaks out of prison, the hero returns trouble maker to prison, and afterward contemplates over the ramifications of what has occurred.
June 19, 2017
Το Midnight nation το είχα πιάσει χρόνια πριν αλλά δεν ήμουν σε φάση να διαβάσω κάτι τέτοιο, οπότε και το άφησα. Ξεκίνησα να το διαβάζω μέσα σε ένα αεροπλάνο, σε ένα κινητό 4.3 ιντσών. Παρ'όλη την κούραση των ματιών, διάβασα 120 κάτι σελίδες για πλάκα και κόλλησα. Πέρασαν 2-3 μέρες που δεν πρόλαβα να καθίσω και έχοντας υπολογιστή πλέον το συνέχισα. Για την ακρίβεια το πήρα από την αρχή για να ευχαριστηθώ το σκίτσο.
Πολύ ωραίο κόμικ. Ποιοτικό. Αρχικά με ξένισε το όλο υπερφυσικό, μιας και ξεκίνησα με ντετεκτιβική μενταλιτέ και χαλάστηκα όταν είδα τους walkers. Στη συνέχεια όμως το ξεπέρασα και άρχισα να το απολαμβάνω για αυτό που είναι. Μια καυστική κριτική στο κοινωνικό σύστημα και την κρατική-ατομική απραγία στο θέμα των αστέγων/απόρων, με θρησκευτικές επεκτάσεις οι οποίες θα μπορούσαν να είναι λιγότερες. Όχι ότι με ενόχλησε ιδιαίτερα, αλλά το πρίσμα της αιώνιας επιλογής μεταξύ του απόλυτου καλού/κακού είναι πολυφορεμένο και ειδικά στους μεγάλους μονολόγους των δύο αρχηγών (Λώρελ και ο αρχηγός των Walkers) τράβηξε ένα κλικ παραπάνω απ'όσο θα ήθελα. Λεπτομέρεια όμως.
Πολύ καλό σενάριο και το σκίτσο όμορφο και ανά σημεία με άφηνε με ανοιχτό το στόμα. Ειδικά οι εκφράσεις πόνου του David και γενικά κάθε συναίσθηση απεικονιζόταν απίστευτα ρεαλιστικά στο πρόσωπό του. Το τέλος γλυκόπικρο και καθόλου αναμενόμενο, με άφησε πολύ ικανοποιημένο. Να προσθέσω ότι με επηρέασε πολύ θετικά στην ανάγνωση που ήξερα από που εμπνεύστηκε τους People in Between ο Straczynski, πρέπει να πέρασε πολλά ζόρια στην ζωή του. Προτείνεται ανεπιφύλακτα.
Όντως το αστείο με τον Λαζ ήταν ΑΤΑΚΑΡΑ. Ακόμα όταν το σκέφτομαι γελάω. Μορφάρα ο Λαζ.
Πολύ ωραίο κόμικ. Ποιοτικό. Αρχικά με ξένισε το όλο υπερφυσικό, μιας και ξεκίνησα με ντετεκτιβική μενταλιτέ και χαλάστηκα όταν είδα τους walkers. Στη συνέχεια όμως το ξεπέρασα και άρχισα να το απολαμβάνω για αυτό που είναι. Μια καυστική κριτική στο κοινωνικό σύστημα και την κρατική-ατομική απραγία στο θέμα των αστέγων/απόρων, με θρησκευτικές επεκτάσεις οι οποίες θα μπορούσαν να είναι λιγότερες. Όχι ότι με ενόχλησε ιδιαίτερα, αλλά το πρίσμα της αιώνιας επιλογής μεταξύ του απόλυτου καλού/κακού είναι πολυφορεμένο και ειδικά στους μεγάλους μονολόγους των δύο αρχηγών (Λώρελ και ο αρχηγός των Walkers) τράβηξε ένα κλικ παραπάνω απ'όσο θα ήθελα. Λεπτομέρεια όμως.
Πολύ καλό σενάριο και το σκίτσο όμορφο και ανά σημεία με άφηνε με ανοιχτό το στόμα. Ειδικά οι εκφράσεις πόνου του David και γενικά κάθε συναίσθηση απεικονιζόταν απίστευτα ρεαλιστικά στο πρόσωπό του. Το τέλος γλυκόπικρο και καθόλου αναμενόμενο, με άφησε πολύ ικανοποιημένο. Να προσθέσω ότι με επηρέασε πολύ θετικά στην ανάγνωση που ήξερα από που εμπνεύστηκε τους People in Between ο Straczynski, πρέπει να πέρασε πολλά ζόρια στην ζωή του. Προτείνεται ανεπιφύλακτα.
Όντως το αστείο με τον Λαζ ήταν ΑΤΑΚΑΡΑ. Ακόμα όταν το σκέφτομαι γελάω. Μορφάρα ο Λαζ.
March 11, 2017
Tenhle komiks všichni kolem mě strašně vychvalovali, tak jsem se docela těšil, jaká to bude pecka. Kamarád mě teda upozorňoval, že základ je v podstatě vykradený Nikdykde. Čekal jsem proto jen nějakou lehkou inspiraci, ale ne naprosto doslovnou kopii. Kresba je ještě ozvěna 90. let - hlavní postavy ultra namakaný a sexy, to už mi přijde dost přežité, ale v té době to ještě toleruji. Všechny "zvraty" vám dojdou dřív, než k nim dojde, pokud teda nemáte IQ houpacího koně. Fakt vůbec nic mě tam nepřekvapilo, postavy se chovaly šablonovitě, děj neměl žádný překvapivý moment/zkoušku. No a kdo že je hlavní záporák? To bylo tak ohrané klisché, že jsem doufal, že to je jen klamání tělem. Nebylo. Není to špatný komiks, ale rozhodně to není ani žádná převratná záležitost, spíš fajn oddechovka.
December 28, 2015
Nádhera...
March 1, 2019
5
J. Michael Straczynski has crafted one of my favourite graphic novels of all time. It is hands down one of the strongest stories I have read. Graphic novels are a dime a dozen and even the greatest of authors can fizzle towards the end, but not here. This starts a little sluggish, but it never grows tiresome of boring and that is a giant thank you to J. Michael Straczynski.
The characters are the key connection to the storyline, without them this would be a very dull affair. The story beats maintain a mystery that never reveals itself until the final issue. J. Michael Straczynski creates two central characters who you want to survive and live happily ever after, but like all great comics, this is not a common theme. The author rips the rug from underneath many a moment throughout the book and that's fine by myself. I felt like I was reading a Mamet script, you never knew the full extent of the characters and this serves the novel well.
J. Michael Straczynski created one hell of a storyline. I didn't know what was happening or where the story was heading. I guessed a portion of the ending early on, but that's just how I like to think, creative guessing. I'm not surprised when stories detour and this book is full of detours. The author is showing you the trick right in front of you, but you are still surprised by the conclusion. This is a great storyline and it moulds a mythology that creates an arc to keep you guessing.
Why the 5?
This is a great book and I must think the list I found it on, google not goodreads. J. Michael Straczynski is a name I'll look for and I pray there are some in my local library. This book was purchased years ago and why I did not get to it until now is anyone's guess. I cannot recommend this highly enough. It has great lead characters and a story that keeps everything moving. The story is full circle so you need to pay attention. Great book and a highlight on my 2019 list.
J. Michael Straczynski has crafted one of my favourite graphic novels of all time. It is hands down one of the strongest stories I have read. Graphic novels are a dime a dozen and even the greatest of authors can fizzle towards the end, but not here. This starts a little sluggish, but it never grows tiresome of boring and that is a giant thank you to J. Michael Straczynski.
The characters are the key connection to the storyline, without them this would be a very dull affair. The story beats maintain a mystery that never reveals itself until the final issue. J. Michael Straczynski creates two central characters who you want to survive and live happily ever after, but like all great comics, this is not a common theme. The author rips the rug from underneath many a moment throughout the book and that's fine by myself. I felt like I was reading a Mamet script, you never knew the full extent of the characters and this serves the novel well.
J. Michael Straczynski created one hell of a storyline. I didn't know what was happening or where the story was heading. I guessed a portion of the ending early on, but that's just how I like to think, creative guessing. I'm not surprised when stories detour and this book is full of detours. The author is showing you the trick right in front of you, but you are still surprised by the conclusion. This is a great storyline and it moulds a mythology that creates an arc to keep you guessing.
Why the 5?
This is a great book and I must think the list I found it on, google not goodreads. J. Michael Straczynski is a name I'll look for and I pray there are some in my local library. This book was purchased years ago and why I did not get to it until now is anyone's guess. I cannot recommend this highly enough. It has great lead characters and a story that keeps everything moving. The story is full circle so you need to pay attention. Great book and a highlight on my 2019 list.
March 4, 2021
I found myself wanting to keep reading this volume as close to straight through as I could manage, and only put it down once in a while because the artwork was just a tad annoying. I could be wrong, but I think it's because artist Gary Frank learned the wrong things from the editors at Image, who seemed to have a particular preferred style of illustration back when this story was done. The whole "attractive women can only be portrayed as if posing" thing, for example, or the weird attempt at sexualizing the female lead character visually when that didn't particularly work. Also, I kept having the feeling that I had seen characters similar to the bad guys elsewhere, and it's been bugging me.
The basic story was incredibly creepy, and my only complaint was that it suggests that we have very little say in what goes on with our souls, based in what is in this story. The criteria for making our souls stealable are pretty loose.
The journey across the country in search of the main character's soul, along with the final multi-layered reveal, were very interesting. As side characters go, I loved Laz. He was a great addition to the story. I could have done without the time-loop part of the story, but I can see why it was used.
The story is very dark and grim, but if you're okay with that, it's well worth reading.
The basic story was incredibly creepy, and my only complaint was that it suggests that we have very little say in what goes on with our souls, based in what is in this story. The criteria for making our souls stealable are pretty loose.
The journey across the country in search of the main character's soul, along with the final multi-layered reveal, were very interesting. As side characters go, I loved Laz. He was a great addition to the story. I could have done without the time-loop part of the story, but I can see why it was used.
The story is very dark and grim, but if you're okay with that, it's well worth reading.
December 11, 2021
I went into this cold, not knowing what it was about. The basics are that a police officer gets trapped in some type of "in-between" world on a quest to recapture his soul. The character, David Grey begins walking, with a companion, to their destination. This happens for about 8 issues of the 12 issues and along the way there is a large amount of dialogue explaining nothing. Even David is getting frustrated at the lack of answers to what is going on so you can imagine what it is like for the reader. By the time you get to the climax, you no longer care, and it's an underwhelming, unfulfilling resolution.
In an afterward, JMS writes an explanation of what this is really about. Some of the details given about his life were a little surprising, and after hearing about what led to the story, it's easier to understand what he was trying to do, however, he didn't succeed. The message was lost amidst the lack of details and subtlety, pages of empty dialogue, and pointless fighting.
The only thing redeeming about this is Gary Frank's art. While he isn't given anything really interesting to draw, his ability to evoke emotions within the characters faces is probably what saves this from being something you put down without even finishing.
In an afterward, JMS writes an explanation of what this is really about. Some of the details given about his life were a little surprising, and after hearing about what led to the story, it's easier to understand what he was trying to do, however, he didn't succeed. The message was lost amidst the lack of details and subtlety, pages of empty dialogue, and pointless fighting.
The only thing redeeming about this is Gary Frank's art. While he isn't given anything really interesting to draw, his ability to evoke emotions within the characters faces is probably what saves this from being something you put down without even finishing.
October 30, 2022
I collected this series when it came out and have it in storage somewhere, but I didn’t remember the whole story or how it ended. I love Straczynski’s work, and after following him on Twitter, started revisiting his comics.
I agree with other reviews that this story could be expanded to include more stories of the places they visited while on the road. The issue numbered ½ is a good example. That might be my favorite story. I love the ideas of “what could have been,” and Straczynski does a nice job of providing a few samples in this issue.
The concept of the in-between has a lot of potential. What happens to forgotten things and people who are briefly remembered and sought out of nostalgia? I can see a poignant cross-over with the characters of Toy Story. And, twenty years after the publication, society has many, many more lost souls. Kids, teens, and adults all falling in-between, dropping out of society but staying lightly connected to the real world through social media and the internet, with many of those lost souls going the direction of The Walkers, but we call them Trolls.
I like the overt religious overtones and the fact that the story isn’t tied to one faith. Straczynski adds elements of several modern religions and also some older. The story of Pandora’s Box plays a large role in the end, and complements the concept of Hell’s gate’s: “Abandon all hope ye who enter here.” Does David become the embodiment of hope?
I read the author’s note where Straczynski explains how walking became an important part of his life. The note makes me want to read his autobiography as well as his “Grounded” Superman graphic novels.
Finally, while I love the art in this book, I have to wonder if it would be drawn this way today, particularly Laurel and David’s wife. When I read this in 2002, I didn’t think anything about the oversexualized female characters, but today it seemed unavoidably noticeable and the reason for the four instead of five stars. That said, all of the characters are drawn beautifully, and I think my favorite character in both personality and presentation is Lazarus.
I agree with other reviews that this story could be expanded to include more stories of the places they visited while on the road. The issue numbered ½ is a good example. That might be my favorite story. I love the ideas of “what could have been,” and Straczynski does a nice job of providing a few samples in this issue.
The concept of the in-between has a lot of potential. What happens to forgotten things and people who are briefly remembered and sought out of nostalgia? I can see a poignant cross-over with the characters of Toy Story. And, twenty years after the publication, society has many, many more lost souls. Kids, teens, and adults all falling in-between, dropping out of society but staying lightly connected to the real world through social media and the internet, with many of those lost souls going the direction of The Walkers, but we call them Trolls.
I like the overt religious overtones and the fact that the story isn’t tied to one faith. Straczynski adds elements of several modern religions and also some older. The story of Pandora’s Box plays a large role in the end, and complements the concept of Hell’s gate’s: “Abandon all hope ye who enter here.” Does David become the embodiment of hope?
I read the author’s note where Straczynski explains how walking became an important part of his life. The note makes me want to read his autobiography as well as his “Grounded” Superman graphic novels.
Finally, while I love the art in this book, I have to wonder if it would be drawn this way today, particularly Laurel and David’s wife. When I read this in 2002, I didn’t think anything about the oversexualized female characters, but today it seemed unavoidably noticeable and the reason for the four instead of five stars. That said, all of the characters are drawn beautifully, and I think my favorite character in both personality and presentation is Lazarus.
April 17, 2020
Po Spideym jsem si dal znovu další Straczynského klasiku, kterou jsem si už vůbec nepamatoval. 12 sešitů uběhne hrozně rychle, líbí se mi témata a motivy (ohínky), byť je to celé takové hodně přímočaré a psát to třeba Morrisson, tak si dovedu představit rafinovanější pojetí.
I přes tu přímočarost mám trochu problém se závěrem a úplně nechápu, co hlavního hrdinu tolik odlišuje od ostatních.
I přes tu přímočarost mám trochu problém se závěrem a úplně nechápu, co hlavního hrdinu tolik odlišuje od ostatních.
September 2, 2020
Čistě filtr emocí a mám rád, když umělci svoje dílo používaj jako terapii. Coloring je příšernej, scénář trošku nedotaženej ale vlastně mi to nevadí.
January 6, 2026
The story was good, a little wordy in parts. my favorite part was the afterword by the author. Helped to put the story in a better context. I think I would have preferred that in the foreward, but sometimes it's fun for the reader to put things together on their own.
March 8, 2023
Really solid yarn from JMS, that I realised I'd already read years ago about a third of the way in. Still, it's a cracker of a story, boasting a wonderfully imaginative premise and some genuinely thought-provoking concepts. Well worth seeking out.
December 21, 2022
Patří do kategorie příběhů, které bych chtěla sama napsat. ❤️ Jsem dojatá a ještě chvilku mi Greyova cesta zůstane v hlavě.
March 17, 2020
Jeg likte etterordet aller best, men det er fordi jeg ikke forstår allegorier og metaforer men må ha absolutt alt i klartekst.
November 11, 2014
A suo tempo, parecchi anni fa, avevo cominciato a leggere i primi capitoli di questa saga dell'impronunciabile Straczynski su un mensile pubblicato dalla Panini.
Mi piaceva, ma poi smisi di prendere il mensile e lo abbandonai lì.
Adesso finalmente è stato stampato un bel volumone cartonato con l'intera serie, e mi ci sono fiondato. Più o meno. Insomma, gli faccio la posta da quando dovrebbe essere uscito, e solo la scorsa settimana sono riuscito a trovarlo.
All'epoca mi era piaciuto per certi motivi: il protagonista che finisce altrove, in una città nascosta nella città, una sorta di dimensione dove cade chi ormai è diventato invisibile, privo di speranza. I reietti, i dimenticati, gli scarti... finiscono lì. Condividono lo spazio fisico col mondo che noi conosciamo, ma non vedono le persone comuni, né queste vedono loro. Non possono interagire con loro, né con alcun oggetto che non sia stato abbandonato, scartato, dimenticato.
E poi ci sono loro, gli uomini. Creature demoniache dai volti verdi e tatuati, dotate di denti affilati e di artigli, che dilaniano e uccidono e spargono terrore.
E il protagonista, un poliziotto, viene scaraventato di là dopo uno scontro con questi Uomini... destinato a lottare contro di loro, magari a sconfiggerli!
Adesso mi è piaciuto molto di più, e per altri motivi.
Illuminato anche dalle note finali dell'autore. Riguardo come fosse in un momento particolare della sua vita, come avesse preso a camminare, e camminare, e camminare. L'attacco da parte di delinquenti, la sensazione di avere qualcosa da dire, una storia da raccontare. La lotta per tornare a vivere.
E poi la rivelazione.
I due volti della città, la città diurna con i suoi abitanti, e la città notturna che diventava totalmente diversa, abitata da gente differente, con regole diverse.
E la sua trasposizione nei due mondi adiacenti ma incapaci di unirsi.
E' un viaggio, compiuto metaforicamente a piedi.
Ha dodici mesi di tempo per raggiungere New York e riprendersi l'anima, prima di morire. Prima di diventare uno di loro, un Umano.
Dodici mesi durante i quali camminerà lungo le strade americane assieme a Laurel, la sua misteriosa guida conosciuta da tutti, rispettata da tutti. Una guida con molti segreti e un destino crudele, inevitabile.
Un viaggio fisico costellato di attacchi da parte dei nemici, ma anche e sopratutto un viaggio spirituale accompagnato da lente rivelazioni sulla natura umana, un percorso di crescita per il protagonista, una maturazione che lo porterà alla fine a fronteggiare creature onnipotenti, regole antiche come il mondo stesso, un destino orrendo... e ad affrontare tutto questo da uomo.
E' un'esperienza che si mescola con la religione, col mito.
La guida divina, una sorta di Beatrice e Virgilio allo stesso tempo, è ben più di questo, e al contempo ricorda dolorosamente lo stesso Gesù Cristo col suo destino segnato, il suo conoscere il futuro e malgrado ciò andare avanti per la sua strada, ancora e ancora e ancora.
Ma ricorda anche i vecchi miti greci, i cicli perpetui di condanna cui l'uomo non poteva in alcun modo scappare. Portare un masso su per una salita per esserne poi travolto, morire e rinascere per ricominciare da capo; vivere legato a una roccia, venire dilaniato dalle aquile di giorno guarendo di notte, per l'eternità.
Il cattivo che è un cattivo ben noto, amato dai suoi Uomini. Un cattivo che ha delle ragioni, che sente da sempre tutta la sofferenza e il dolore del mondo. Un cattivo che si lamenta di una promessa non rispettata, di un mondo che doveva essere molto migliore di così. Di un'entità che crea opere imperfette apposta, o che non è perfetta come vuole far credere.
La vita creata per noia.
Domande senza risposte, culminate in una ribellione celestiale, una guerra da combattere nel mondo, con il suo stesso fato come premio.
E poi, un personaggio immortale, protetto da una guardiano d'eccezione, che guarda passare i secoli anelando alla morte da cui era stato strappato in passato, ma senza mai poterla raggiungere.
Un'opera davvero bella e profonda, mi ha fatto piacere leggerla.
Mi piaceva, ma poi smisi di prendere il mensile e lo abbandonai lì.
Adesso finalmente è stato stampato un bel volumone cartonato con l'intera serie, e mi ci sono fiondato. Più o meno. Insomma, gli faccio la posta da quando dovrebbe essere uscito, e solo la scorsa settimana sono riuscito a trovarlo.
All'epoca mi era piaciuto per certi motivi: il protagonista che finisce altrove, in una città nascosta nella città, una sorta di dimensione dove cade chi ormai è diventato invisibile, privo di speranza. I reietti, i dimenticati, gli scarti... finiscono lì. Condividono lo spazio fisico col mondo che noi conosciamo, ma non vedono le persone comuni, né queste vedono loro. Non possono interagire con loro, né con alcun oggetto che non sia stato abbandonato, scartato, dimenticato.
E poi ci sono loro, gli uomini. Creature demoniache dai volti verdi e tatuati, dotate di denti affilati e di artigli, che dilaniano e uccidono e spargono terrore.
E il protagonista, un poliziotto, viene scaraventato di là dopo uno scontro con questi Uomini... destinato a lottare contro di loro, magari a sconfiggerli!
Adesso mi è piaciuto molto di più, e per altri motivi.
Illuminato anche dalle note finali dell'autore. Riguardo come fosse in un momento particolare della sua vita, come avesse preso a camminare, e camminare, e camminare. L'attacco da parte di delinquenti, la sensazione di avere qualcosa da dire, una storia da raccontare. La lotta per tornare a vivere.
E poi la rivelazione.
I due volti della città, la città diurna con i suoi abitanti, e la città notturna che diventava totalmente diversa, abitata da gente differente, con regole diverse.
E la sua trasposizione nei due mondi adiacenti ma incapaci di unirsi.
E' un viaggio, compiuto metaforicamente a piedi.
Ha dodici mesi di tempo per raggiungere New York e riprendersi l'anima, prima di morire. Prima di diventare uno di loro, un Umano.
Dodici mesi durante i quali camminerà lungo le strade americane assieme a Laurel, la sua misteriosa guida conosciuta da tutti, rispettata da tutti. Una guida con molti segreti e un destino crudele, inevitabile.
Un viaggio fisico costellato di attacchi da parte dei nemici, ma anche e sopratutto un viaggio spirituale accompagnato da lente rivelazioni sulla natura umana, un percorso di crescita per il protagonista, una maturazione che lo porterà alla fine a fronteggiare creature onnipotenti, regole antiche come il mondo stesso, un destino orrendo... e ad affrontare tutto questo da uomo.
E' un'esperienza che si mescola con la religione, col mito.
La guida divina, una sorta di Beatrice e Virgilio allo stesso tempo, è ben più di questo, e al contempo ricorda dolorosamente lo stesso Gesù Cristo col suo destino segnato, il suo conoscere il futuro e malgrado ciò andare avanti per la sua strada, ancora e ancora e ancora.
Ma ricorda anche i vecchi miti greci, i cicli perpetui di condanna cui l'uomo non poteva in alcun modo scappare. Portare un masso su per una salita per esserne poi travolto, morire e rinascere per ricominciare da capo; vivere legato a una roccia, venire dilaniato dalle aquile di giorno guarendo di notte, per l'eternità.
Il cattivo che è un cattivo ben noto, amato dai suoi Uomini. Un cattivo che ha delle ragioni, che sente da sempre tutta la sofferenza e il dolore del mondo. Un cattivo che si lamenta di una promessa non rispettata, di un mondo che doveva essere molto migliore di così. Di un'entità che crea opere imperfette apposta, o che non è perfetta come vuole far credere.
La vita creata per noia.
Domande senza risposte, culminate in una ribellione celestiale, una guerra da combattere nel mondo, con il suo stesso fato come premio.
E poi, un personaggio immortale, protetto da una guardiano d'eccezione, che guarda passare i secoli anelando alla morte da cui era stato strappato in passato, ma senza mai poterla raggiungere.
Un'opera davvero bella e profonda, mi ha fatto piacere leggerla.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2017
I loved this book. The tone reminded me a lot of Sandman, Lucifer, and some of the other Vertigo titles that I've read. It involves a lot more reflection on society than it does action, which is perfectly fine. Some might think it drags at times as a result though.
One of the main ideas in this book revolves around what happens to people that live on the outskirts of society. Sure it includes the homeless or the diseased, but really anyone could end up in this situation depending on the circumstances. I like what Straczynski does by taking these people and shifting them into what amounts to a shadow version of reality. This world is both imaginative and scary because of the feelings that create it.
My favorite character in this book is Lazarus by far. He provides a bit to the story without taking over. The protagonists are well developed and I found them interesting throughout. The art is another strong point to the book. This is another element that made me think of some of the comics I've read from Vertigo. It can be visually stunning and definitely incorporates the art into the overall narrative. There are a number of scenes that capitalize on the feeling of loneliness and loss that pervade the book. This isn't light reading by any means, but it is satisfying in the end.
One of the main ideas in this book revolves around what happens to people that live on the outskirts of society. Sure it includes the homeless or the diseased, but really anyone could end up in this situation depending on the circumstances. I like what Straczynski does by taking these people and shifting them into what amounts to a shadow version of reality. This world is both imaginative and scary because of the feelings that create it.
My favorite character in this book is Lazarus by far. He provides a bit to the story without taking over. The protagonists are well developed and I found them interesting throughout. The art is another strong point to the book. This is another element that made me think of some of the comics I've read from Vertigo. It can be visually stunning and definitely incorporates the art into the overall narrative. There are a number of scenes that capitalize on the feeling of loneliness and loss that pervade the book. This isn't light reading by any means, but it is satisfying in the end.
January 25, 2025
Cool concept. I enjoyed the themes/messages.
March 31, 2018
I was excited to read this graphic novel because J. Michael Straczynski's afterword was used in one of my favorite band's song. I didn't hesitate on reading this book since the afterword held a powerful message. The idea of Midnight Nation and how forgotten people fall in between the cracks were promising. I was pretty interested during majority of the novel but Laurel's oversexualization put me off. Laurel's outfit was not relevant to the plot and I believe it just bothered the readers. However, the story fell short during David's choice because the build up was big -- with future David interacting with present David and the Other Guy explaining how selfish God is -- but there was barely an explanation after that. Laurel's backstory came out of nowhere and the end parts felt really rushed. My expectations from this graphic novel was pretty high but David falling for Laurel ruined it. Since the whole premise of the book was based on empathy, I expected David choosing to save Laurel mainly because he can empathize with the pain of walking through the same path over and over again with thousands of companions refusing to sacrifice themselves but what I got was yet another forced romance. I was unsatisfied with how the ending came to be but the epilogue was touching.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2009
J. Michael Straczynski (the writer on a bunch of television shows movies, as well as Spider-Man) writes this graphic novel about a man trying to reclaim his soul.
A policeman is attacked by creatures, and he son discovers his soul has been taken, and he will slowly change into one of the being that attacked him. A woman shows up to lead him on a journey to get his soul back, and he’s told he will need to travel to New York where the man holding his soul lives along with his followers. If he reaches his soul in time, everything’s great, if not, he becomes a creature.
Along the way he’s asked by his traveling companion if he’d like her to kill him, he meets Lazarus (the man raised from the dead by Christ), is instructed by himself from the future, and fights a whole gaggle of demons.
It’s an interesting premise, and along the way tackles issues around the homeless. The protagonist does seem a little daft, the reader figures out who his companion is long before he has a clue. The writing is ok, and the art is passable. The story is interesting enough that I overlooked the main character that was a little clueless at times.
A policeman is attacked by creatures, and he son discovers his soul has been taken, and he will slowly change into one of the being that attacked him. A woman shows up to lead him on a journey to get his soul back, and he’s told he will need to travel to New York where the man holding his soul lives along with his followers. If he reaches his soul in time, everything’s great, if not, he becomes a creature.
Along the way he’s asked by his traveling companion if he’d like her to kill him, he meets Lazarus (the man raised from the dead by Christ), is instructed by himself from the future, and fights a whole gaggle of demons.
It’s an interesting premise, and along the way tackles issues around the homeless. The protagonist does seem a little daft, the reader figures out who his companion is long before he has a clue. The writing is ok, and the art is passable. The story is interesting enough that I overlooked the main character that was a little clueless at times.
May 4, 2009
I enjoyed the art more than the writing. A great idea but I seriously wonder about the tone and the author's message. The author manages a strange mix of constant annoying cryptic messages that transforms into a truly preachy tone. I dislike preachiness and it instantly soured me on the rest of the book. None of the characters were very likable and nothing made me smile, laugh, open my mouth in awe, reread a passage, or pause and simply stare at a page in true appreciation. Generally I love stories such as this (won't provide spoilers here but I am referring to the whole good vs. evil bit) but this does not read as a graphic novel. The pictures were not put to use, did not function with the story. I probably could have read the book, ignored the art, and not missed too much.
Hours later...Alright, the main characters feel more likable now and the whole thing is growing on me. And I can think of one page that I did stare at for a bit. Changing from 2 to 3 stars.
Hours later...Alright, the main characters feel more likable now and the whole thing is growing on me. And I can think of one page that I did stare at for a bit. Changing from 2 to 3 stars.
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