Incredible Doom: Volume 2: A Graphic Novel – A Thrilling Young Adult Story of Punk Rock Runaways and Connection on the Early Internet

Incredible Doom #2

by Matthew Bogart, Jesse Holden

“A thrilling tale of found family discovered between lines of code.”—Sara Alfageeh, co-creator of Squire WELCOME TO EVOL HOUSE… It may look to the unwitting outsider like a broken-down ranch house in the Ohio suburbs—but to those in the know, Evol House is the unexpected sanctuary of truant teens, punk rockers, nerds, and outcasts. At least, that’s what it’s supposed to be. Lately, it feels like everything’s falling apart. In this thrilling sequel to graphic novel Incredible Volume 1 , Samir finds that life as a teenage runaway isn’t all he thought it would be; Allison spirals trying to impress her new “friends”, Tina considers leaving town to follow a passionate new connection; and Richard faces down a volatile classmate with a score to settle. Can these friendships, forged on the internet—the most controversial tool of the modern era—survive the “real world”… or will they drop like a bad connection? Praise for Incredible Doom 1:  “ Perfectly captures  the mystery and wonder of the  early days of the internet .” — Andy Baio , author of  Waxy.org  and co-founder of  XOXO "A  rush of love  for brave beginnings—of both the  early internet  and the teens who used it to find themselves  and  each other." — Eleanor Davis,  author of  The Hard Tomorrow and  How to Be Happy "A  compelling story  complimented by  pleasingly minimal art  that  skillfully evokes  a sense of  loneliness  and  isolation ." — Savanna Ganucheau , co-creator of  Bloom " A sharp and authentic wild ride  that brought me back to my teenage years as a punk with a dial-up connection.” — Kevin Panetta , co-creator of  Bloom “A  poignant  and often  hilarious reminder  that technology is at its best when it’s easing the ache of loneliness and bringing people together." — Jeff Zentner , Morris Award-winning author of  The Serpent King “The human stories of desperation, of reaching out, and of discovering new worlds really shine here.” — Booklist ( starred review ) “A retro-tech drama that gets so much of the Nineties right that it hurts.” — School Library Journal ( starred review )

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Comics, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 2022

About the author

Matthew Bogart is a cartoonist in Portland, Oregon. He makes slice of life comics that often include rock stars, rocket ships, and the early internet.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought once the two storylines from the previous volume finally merged in its closing pages that this volume would be stronger for having all the characters together, but it just becomes a meandering tangle of familiar angst and misbehavior as their teen Eden at the Evol House proves to be a Neverland limbo with no Peter Pan or Wendy, just Lost Boys. And with everyone together in one place, the nascent internet angle that powered the first book past its boring bits gets dropped for large portions of this one.

The story just slowly fizzles, and then a big(ish) twist near the end falls flat, serving only to make a couple of panels in the previous book a darkly comic exercise in word balloon placement.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This coming-of-age sequel set in 1994, has four teens whose home lives were falling apart, come together in an unlikely alliance. In the first volume, the internet brought them together, but now they grapple with the consequences of their choices as they all live in a home with other wayward teens who are on the fringes of society.

Allison, who escaped from a manipulative and abusive father with her boyfriend Sam, is struggling with fitting in while Sam wonders if he made the right decision to leave home to be with her. Richard has recently moved to the local high school and been bullied by someone he knew years ago at a summer camp, finds out why this former campmate has it out for him (and the reason has to do with Star Trek!). And we really get to know Tina, a tough computer expert who puts others first but deserves to find her own happiness with another alternative music fan that she meets at a local concert. The stories of these disenfranchised and realistic characters, who are tail-end Gen X’ers, ring true. They ache for connection, and reach out to others, sometimes successfully and sometimes not as they grow up in a changing world.

The art is done in black and white with blue accents for shadows and to infer other colors. A variety of panel placements and computer screens successfully pull you into this world of technology and limitless possibilities. This graphic novel effectively captures the early grunge era of the 1990s and reminds us of that era of technology -computer usage before the World Wide Web via dial-up. It looks so very primitive now but was cutting edge for a new generation of youth who would come of age with home computers.

The conclusion leaves a few narrative threads hanging, plus I have enough nostalgia for that era, to tune in for more!

This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2022/12/0...

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first volume caught me off guard with its harrowing depiction of domestic violence (though I otherwise loved it). Fortunately, the second and final Incredible Doom volume takes a different tack. Now that our main characters, Allison and Samir, have run away from home to EVOL House, we get to see them without constraints. No rules, total freedom, and no overbearing parents! How will their lives change?

For one thing, they'll get mixed up with a bullied local teen. But that's kind of the B story in this second volume. The A stories play out separately for each character, with some connections throughout (and a lovely payoff at the end). We see Allison and Samir come to terms with what they've done (for better or for worse). We see Tina realize what she really wants in life. And we see Richard use the early internet for good, not evil.

All of the late 90s internet culture references continue to fill my heart with joy. That, and the all the young love and found family wonderfulness. Incredible Doom is an extremely lovely book that doesn't quite have a happy ending, but its sorta perfect without one. (Must also mention that the monochrome art is stellar - I can't imagine this book not as a graphic novel.) Both Incredible Doom volumes illustrate a so-far missing period in our societal regurgitation of 90s culture - bring back the bulletin boards, dial-up modems, and slow-booting computers, please. Maybe the world was better when the internet was still slow.

(Also, hi Netflix, this series is absolutely begging for an adaptation. Give them the big bucks, thx.)

[elbow ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
huh. i liked the storyline of this sequel a little more than the first (because i liked tina's bit and she wasn't really that big in volume one) and the art style was just as good. but still, not quite my style.

[swiftie 💗💗🤭💅 jinu wife!!:) · Rating 1 out of 5]

With all due respect this book sucked I think I lost brain cells reading she hates her dad but gets upset when he dies and there is some random things that didn’t need to be added if you weren’t going to talk about it later

[Sophie Eliades · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cried so hard.

It’s such a beautiful message of found family that really resonated with me.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needed volume 1 to get to here, but this was so much better. Loved.

[Stephanie Battista · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great stories of the kids of Evol house still continue in volume 2. Enjoyed this so much.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pacing of this series, the balance of multiple povs and all of them being just as interesting as the last so there's never a reason to put it down???? UNMATCHED. One of, if not the best graphic novel I ever read. And so, so SO TOUCHING 😭🤧

[Gift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 was as good as Volume 1. The quality of the design and the writing was on the same (high) level. The focus of the plot wasn’t as much on the beginnings of the internet this time. There was more space for character development and personal stories. What’s more, Matthew Bogart has decided against “classical” coming of age story and showed us quite an original plot line. I hope I will be able to enjoy Volume 3 soon.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m reminded of a time in my life about when I knew some kids back home that lived in a home/community like this. I knew a few of them, and I always envied them so much. Living on their own at a young age, playing punk shows, and living life the way they deemed fit. Punks boost punks.

Anytime I’d come home for a visit, the first question was, “wanna head over to Kyles house?” An elementary friend turned local punk hero. However with the limited time I had, it was always reserved for my best friend Nick. This book filled me with such memories of a time forgotten in the 90s and it was a fantastic read. As the kids use to say, hits ya right in the feels.

Punk is much more than an image. Much more than music. It’s a mindset. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a support system. It’s art. It’s chaos in the calm. It’s the calm in the chaos. It’s just fucking punk. Let’s go.

I always wanted to be cool like them. Like the characters in this book. I was lucky enough to have a great group of friends that didn’t care what I was but who I was. Who supported me when I needed them and loved me always. No matter what.

It also makes me grateful that not only did I have parents that loved me unconditionally which is something maybe my friend Kyle was jealous of and I never knew. Shit that you think about in the middle of the night.

Incredible Doom is written by punks for punks but for anyone who was curious about that life style. If there’s one thing for certain Punks Boost Punks. And man we need that mindset now more then ever.

[Marley Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely electric, a fantastic ending to this story. Everything good I said about the first book still holds true, so there’s not much new to say here. Even the ending, where I thought things would mostly be slowing down- smacked me upside the head and left me reeling. The people in my local library were definitely concerned at my audible gasp. I HIGHLY recommend both books and will excitedly revisit this next time I can.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are poignant and important and I'm so flipping glad they exist. Gorgeous heavy heart tuggin story.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite the sequel, the overall tone of the story matches the first volume. A story of the dawning of the internet and this house, Evol House, which is home to a mishmash of kids who are bullied, punk, ostracized, or otherwise frustrated with society and finding refuge in the 'found family' of the house.

The illustrator choices with the color palette and movement create the mood eloquently with little dialogue or narration necessary. I love that it's the dawning of the internet and they're buying parts and pieces to be "online". It's just as much for coders and early tech nerds as it is for any teen who hated life growing up.

[Edward Champion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second half of the INCREDIBLE DOOM run is A LOT better than the first volume, now that Bogart has assembled all of his motley outsiders into the Evol House. What Bogart and Jesse Holden have done here is paint a picture of pre-Internet life and misfits and the desperate (often deeply hidden) need to be loved that tends to be common among Gen Xers. The volume is often surprisingly moving and emotionally poignant. I rooted for all of these characters and was grateful that Bogart didn't flinch from their unsettling truths. A wonderful comic masterpiece.

[Bryce Van Vleet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as the first volume, although I did love how strong the fictive kin theme that came up, and the mature and realistic portrait of a house full of teens. It took me a while to get into this and I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series. I'm still looking for more of the chat room, 90's nostalgia, and I feel like this version had less connection to the theme of the first - not more.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Allison, I promise... you're never alone"

This book had me so drawn in I could not put it down, at the end my heart Shattered the love story that is shown in this story is so powerful and beautiful

In this book you learn alot of people care about you and you might not know it
When you feel down you are never alone there is someone there for you.

This was another 5🌟 and I hope to read more from this author :)

[Shannon McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it even better than the first one!

And I hope there are more volumes planned...

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy I found this series. I really loved this book. It didn't feel nostalgic as such because it wasn't sugar coated rather it was reminiscing. I enjoyed the 2nd volume as the teens were interacting more and yet still lonely and figuring out life. It's a lovely slice of life and feels very realistic. The ending made me tear up. Definitely recommended.

[Sarah Broyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much to love about Incredible Doom Vol. 2. Just like Vol. 1, I was immediately immersed in the story. The flow, the tone…I just love the many gentle moments with these characters. Such visual empathy created with this artwork that tells the story so beautifully. Incredible Doom is incredible.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A huge shift from the topic of the first volume. Not as good but still interesting.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first, but I liked the continued exploration of the characters!

[Madye Stromboli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit. Even better than the first!!!

[Lucy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8* Really enjoyed the character development with this one !! I’m enjoying this series and hope there will be more:))

[Se Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much plot convenience

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I gave the first book 5 stars, but I liked this one better, so does that mean this one gets six stars? Just…my god, I love the nerds and the freaks and the punks from EVOL House.

[Patrick Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Punks fucking rule.

[Dan Slaughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the misfits and gays that miss the 90s. 🙋‍♂️

[Alex Doenau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 is when stuff gets more real for the troupe, and the reason they formed becomes clearer. The characters become more human, their concerns more real and grounded, and the resolution hits.

[Katie Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this comic. Queer love. Kids working through trauma and creating a community centered on music, art, mutual aid, etc.