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Darryl Ouvremonde #1-2
Darryl Openworld
Darryl is one of the most popular journalists in Openworld thanks to his power to travel between realities. His adventures are legendary, but he takes his role as a reporter seriously. When he investigates the disappearance of a Giant, he uncovers a conspiracy by a mysterious individual who would exploit magic for unknown purposes.
Based on the popular European YA novel series by Olivier Peru, DARRYL OPENWORLD is an imaginative adventure through a magic-filled world of anachronistic beauty and intrigue, like a steampunk Harry Potter.
Based on the popular European YA novel series by Olivier Peru, DARRYL OPENWORLD is an imaginative adventure through a magic-filled world of anachronistic beauty and intrigue, like a steampunk Harry Potter.
136 pages, Hardcover
Published July 26, 2022
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30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 28, 2022
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*
*More like 3.5 stars than 3.*
This was such a mixed read that it is proving to be a difficult one to rate. It seemed like a flop until the reveals at the end, after which the clear potential in it could be seen. If anything, that potential made it even more of a shame that this graphic novel wasn’t as amazing as it was in theory.
The problem with this graphic novel was that it was based on a novel, so it seemed to assume that every reader would know about all the characters and their backstories and, therefore, never bothered to explain anything or world build in any adequate way beyond light expositions in dialogue between semi-clueless characters and the all-knowledgeable protagonist, Darryl. This made the settings seem generic, the characters seem underdeveloped, the relationships seem sort of false, and the mystery seem ridiculously loose. For far too long no one asked the question of who was causing chaos and why they were doing so. And when the questions were posed towards the end it was only answered with repeated phrases of “this is impossible” and confused expressions.
But at the end the main characters were shown to have some depth with the protagonist finally being portrayed as something other than a man who can do no wrong. It made him considerably more likeable to know he and all his friends were flawed and their relationships were messed up.
The pacing was fine which was a good thing because it meant they didn’t linger on any aspect of the nonsensical mystery for too long. The story within a story concept and opening seemed extremely odd and even cringe-inducing, as though the author was trying to pitch the graphic novel to you from within the graphic novel whilst you were already reading it, or worse, like the author was complementing themselves for a graphic novel that was mediocre until the ending. But by the end the story within a story concept not only made sense but felt like clever plotting.
One thing that can’t be denied was that this had the most gorgeous art. You could stare at each page for hours it was absolutely beautiful. The way each setting was illustrated was phenomenally detailed but not nearly as steampunk as the synopsis suggested it would be. Every character was beautifully drawn and coloured with perfect tones to create the right atmosphere. So whilst everything else was questionable, the art was beautiful throughout.
Without the well-planned end that tied this disaster together this would’ve been a 2 star review. However, the ending cemented this as 3.5 stars and not any higher because the flaws throughout the graphic novel can’t be counteracted simply by a not-awful ending.
*More like 3.5 stars than 3.*
This was such a mixed read that it is proving to be a difficult one to rate. It seemed like a flop until the reveals at the end, after which the clear potential in it could be seen. If anything, that potential made it even more of a shame that this graphic novel wasn’t as amazing as it was in theory.
The problem with this graphic novel was that it was based on a novel, so it seemed to assume that every reader would know about all the characters and their backstories and, therefore, never bothered to explain anything or world build in any adequate way beyond light expositions in dialogue between semi-clueless characters and the all-knowledgeable protagonist, Darryl. This made the settings seem generic, the characters seem underdeveloped, the relationships seem sort of false, and the mystery seem ridiculously loose. For far too long no one asked the question of who was causing chaos and why they were doing so. And when the questions were posed towards the end it was only answered with repeated phrases of “this is impossible” and confused expressions.
But at the end the main characters were shown to have some depth with the protagonist finally being portrayed as something other than a man who can do no wrong. It made him considerably more likeable to know he and all his friends were flawed and their relationships were messed up.
The pacing was fine which was a good thing because it meant they didn’t linger on any aspect of the nonsensical mystery for too long. The story within a story concept and opening seemed extremely odd and even cringe-inducing, as though the author was trying to pitch the graphic novel to you from within the graphic novel whilst you were already reading it, or worse, like the author was complementing themselves for a graphic novel that was mediocre until the ending. But by the end the story within a story concept not only made sense but felt like clever plotting.
One thing that can’t be denied was that this had the most gorgeous art. You could stare at each page for hours it was absolutely beautiful. The way each setting was illustrated was phenomenally detailed but not nearly as steampunk as the synopsis suggested it would be. Every character was beautifully drawn and coloured with perfect tones to create the right atmosphere. So whilst everything else was questionable, the art was beautiful throughout.
Without the well-planned end that tied this disaster together this would’ve been a 2 star review. However, the ending cemented this as 3.5 stars and not any higher because the flaws throughout the graphic novel can’t be counteracted simply by a not-awful ending.
January 25, 2023
3.5★ Darryl is a news reporter that can travel to another dimension, a world called Openworld. This world looks futuristic, but not in all senses. It’s very different from ours. When he investigates the disappearance of a Giant, he learns there’s a lot more to it.
This graphic novel is based on a YA fantasy novel by Olivier Peru. I think it would be better if you knew the story. I wish it would be longer and could be read independently.
The art is amazing, with beautiful colors. A nice graphic novel for those who like fantasy and the steampunk genre.
Thanks to Magnetic Press for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
This graphic novel is based on a YA fantasy novel by Olivier Peru. I think it would be better if you knew the story. I wish it would be longer and could be read independently.
The art is amazing, with beautiful colors. A nice graphic novel for those who like fantasy and the steampunk genre.
Thanks to Magnetic Press for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
June 4, 2022
me pareció muy entretenido y un mundo muy grande e interesante. el dibujo me gustó y el final también.
thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book.
thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book.
July 2, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Magnetic Press for sending me this eARC.
I love the world and set up of the openworld compared to the grey world. We are started off at the beginning of the character Julianne telling a agent her story, and this story is set about Darryl and his friends. The mysteries are fun, and the twist some of them I did not expect. I highly enjoyed it, and although I wouldn't consider it fully steampunk, it does have steampunk elements in it which I love. The art style is fabulous, and I love how the cities are depicted.
I hope they continue the story, as it definitely barely touches the surface of the story and the world. It would be great to see them keep adapting the rest.
I love the world and set up of the openworld compared to the grey world. We are started off at the beginning of the character Julianne telling a agent her story, and this story is set about Darryl and his friends. The mysteries are fun, and the twist some of them I did not expect. I highly enjoyed it, and although I wouldn't consider it fully steampunk, it does have steampunk elements in it which I love. The art style is fabulous, and I love how the cities are depicted.
I hope they continue the story, as it definitely barely touches the surface of the story and the world. It would be great to see them keep adapting the rest.
June 15, 2022
THANK YOU to Magnetic Press & NetGalley for sending me this ARC. All reviews are honest reflections of my own opinions, always.
Journalism is valued above all, & Darryl is its master.
Able to travel between Openworld & the Grey World, Darryl's investigation into a story leads him deeper & deeper into a twisted plot, leading him into the heart of a realm no one returns from. An archive of forbidden knowledge, a deal with darkness, a broken heart...
With the help of his companions & his own talents, twisted plots begin to unfold, and truth rises to the surface in this story that defies death itself.
This one was not for me. While the art/illustrations aren't bad, I feel like they're lacking uniqueness & expression, they look & feel like any other comic. The story line is a bit disjointed, hard to follow, & leaves a lot of gaps. I couldn't connect with any of the characters (the Tinker Bell-esque side kick really threw me), & I wasn't invested in the plot at all. I really disliked the love triangle/sabotage & the culmination of those relationships. In short, this was a drag to get through for me, but I can appreciate that other readers enjoy it.
Journalism is valued above all, & Darryl is its master.
Able to travel between Openworld & the Grey World, Darryl's investigation into a story leads him deeper & deeper into a twisted plot, leading him into the heart of a realm no one returns from. An archive of forbidden knowledge, a deal with darkness, a broken heart...
With the help of his companions & his own talents, twisted plots begin to unfold, and truth rises to the surface in this story that defies death itself.
This one was not for me. While the art/illustrations aren't bad, I feel like they're lacking uniqueness & expression, they look & feel like any other comic. The story line is a bit disjointed, hard to follow, & leaves a lot of gaps. I couldn't connect with any of the characters (the Tinker Bell-esque side kick really threw me), & I wasn't invested in the plot at all. I really disliked the love triangle/sabotage & the culmination of those relationships. In short, this was a drag to get through for me, but I can appreciate that other readers enjoy it.
June 21, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, Magnetic Press for provided my copy.
This graphic novel Darryl Openworld is created based on European YA novel from Oliver Peru. I think I need read the novel to understand complete about the worldbuild and magic system first before I can make fair review about the plotline.
From the glimpse I saw, the steampunk setting very rich with details. And a journalist as a MC who consisting making journey between realm to doing investigations surely peak my attention. I really love the artwork style and wish more dive to this novel.
This graphic novel Darryl Openworld is created based on European YA novel from Oliver Peru. I think I need read the novel to understand complete about the worldbuild and magic system first before I can make fair review about the plotline.
From the glimpse I saw, the steampunk setting very rich with details. And a journalist as a MC who consisting making journey between realm to doing investigations surely peak my attention. I really love the artwork style and wish more dive to this novel.
June 14, 2022
The blurb description of “steampunk Harry Potter” is wildly inaccurate here. I think the general art is good, but I had problems distinguishing between the two male leads (same face! same hair)! A bigger problem was the plot that seemed contrived in places, and none of the characters are memorable.
Thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for the review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for the review copy.
June 22, 2022
Thank you #NetGalley and #MagneticPress for sending me a copy of this graphic novel #DarrylOpenworld.
This is such a nice twist on the alternate universe story. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous. The dialogue and story is fantastic. I can not wait to read the next volume of this.
This is such a nice twist on the alternate universe story. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous. The dialogue and story is fantastic. I can not wait to read the next volume of this.
June 28, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is a stand alone graphic novel using characters from the City Hall YA-ish series created by French writer Rémi Guérin. It's a mix of urban fantasy and steampunk and will reference heavily events and characters from the series (though I don't believe it was an actual story from there). As such, even though it is a complete story arc, it's easy to feel like you are missing important chunks of lore and history. At times, it can move too fast and other times be a bit confusing - leading to a less than enjoyable experience. That said, though the artwork is fairly static and poses feel reused too often, it is quite beautiful. It's a book you look at rather than really read.Plot: Darryl Openworld is a journalist who passes through realms: mostly our modern one and his steampunkish fairy world called The Openworld. In his world, journalists are highly respected detectives and there to ensure peace while also getting a good story to sell. In his travels, Darryl has met Julianne in our world and the two are close. Darryl's former best friend, Dean, died sometime in the past and is now a ghost who befriends Julianne and falls in love with her. Julianne believes she knows of a way to bring Dean back from the dead and he is eager to help. But it might mean being less of a friend to Darryl, who has his own issues to deal with in the Openworld - a missing giant and a stolen clock cog. To find the answer to his mysteries, Darryl will travel with his fairy apprentice Elynwe and photographer bird companion Ocelot to a dangerous land with deathly and sinister creatures.
As can be seen from the above plot description, the story is rather incoherent and jumps around quite a bit. It's just assumed we'll know the whole backstory of how Dean died, how he met Julianne, how the bird came to be a photographer, and the backstory of his apprentice. Julianne has a whole backstory herself that is never explored/discussed but plays a huge point in the denouement. As well, other characters are familiar with Darryl and some even possess magic - but we never really get to know or understand them (including a rather main/pivotal character of a young magician who travels with/helps Darryl). Darryl himself is a mystery and feels a LOT like a Marty Stu - too cool for school and certainly too emo to give us any information about his history/background.
I really did enjoy the artwork. Even though the characters pretty much had the same expression, the illustration work was beautiful and the coloring inspired. The Openworld was beautifully done and I liked the Steampunk aspects very much. It was always a disappointment when we had to visit the modern world in the Julianne and Dean scenes.
In all, a very unsatisfying read and perhaps best suited for fans of the (currently untranslated) French series. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
September 9, 2022
This review originally published in < ahref='http://www.lookingforagoodbook.com&qu... FOr a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
Darryl Openworld is a graphic novel based on a French YA book series by Rémi Guérin. Darryl is a journalist - probably the most popular journalist in all of Openworld because of his ability to travel between realities.
Darryl is passionate about being a journalist, and in this world journalists are generally well respected and as much detective/investigators as they are reporters.
At some point, when Darryl travelled into our world, he met and befriended Julianne. Also at some point, Darryl's best friend, Dean, died and is now a ghost ... who is in love with Julianne. Julianne thinks she might know a way to bring Dean back from the dead, but it could have significant consequences.
Meanwhile, Darryl is also investigating the disappearance of a giant and a stolen piece to a special clock.
The book has a strong steampunk sense to to it, though that comes more with the artwork than with anything specific in the story. The artwork definitely is nice to look at and does share in the storytelling function. But the story itself ... it's a bit convoluted. There are at least three stories going on, plus we need to be introduced to the characters, and all under 140 pages. Something has to give and unfortunately it's our introduction to the characters and this unique world(s).
This might be a series in Europe, but as far as I can tell, this is the only translated-to-English title available, and yet characters and storyline reference past events and we get the definite feeling that we're supposed to already know a few things about Darryl and this world he lives in. But we don't so the story feels incomplete.
Looking for a good book? Darryl Openworld, a graphic novel by Oliver Peru, Rémi Guérin, and Krystel comes to us from Europe, where it's an existing, long running series, but this particular English issue presumes the reader is already with familiar with the characters. But if you aren't familiar with this series, this particular story may be more frustrating than enjoyable.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
Darryl Openworld is a graphic novel based on a French YA book series by Rémi Guérin. Darryl is a journalist - probably the most popular journalist in all of Openworld because of his ability to travel between realities.
Darryl is passionate about being a journalist, and in this world journalists are generally well respected and as much detective/investigators as they are reporters.
At some point, when Darryl travelled into our world, he met and befriended Julianne. Also at some point, Darryl's best friend, Dean, died and is now a ghost ... who is in love with Julianne. Julianne thinks she might know a way to bring Dean back from the dead, but it could have significant consequences.
Meanwhile, Darryl is also investigating the disappearance of a giant and a stolen piece to a special clock.
The book has a strong steampunk sense to to it, though that comes more with the artwork than with anything specific in the story. The artwork definitely is nice to look at and does share in the storytelling function. But the story itself ... it's a bit convoluted. There are at least three stories going on, plus we need to be introduced to the characters, and all under 140 pages. Something has to give and unfortunately it's our introduction to the characters and this unique world(s).
This might be a series in Europe, but as far as I can tell, this is the only translated-to-English title available, and yet characters and storyline reference past events and we get the definite feeling that we're supposed to already know a few things about Darryl and this world he lives in. But we don't so the story feels incomplete.
Looking for a good book? Darryl Openworld, a graphic novel by Oliver Peru, Rémi Guérin, and Krystel comes to us from Europe, where it's an existing, long running series, but this particular English issue presumes the reader is already with familiar with the characters. But if you aren't familiar with this series, this particular story may be more frustrating than enjoyable.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2022
This fantasy comic book is set in a multiverse where journalists are rock stars, and none more so than the protagonist, Darryl Openworld. It combines high and low fantasy (moving between created / fantastical worlds and our own world – the latter being called the gray world.) It’s Darryl’s quest to solve the mystery of a series of improbable events so that he can get his story, doing so with an entourage of living and dead, human and fairy, and a magician and a magic bird.
At the broad-brush level, the story is interesting and coherent. It’s got the makings of a fine quest adventure with a love triangle on the side. However, when it came to the story details, it was clunky. The biggest problem was a lack of emotional resonance tied to a lack of pacing, a lack of ebb and flow. I found myself on several occasions thinking, “Why is this person being so emotional right now?” I think the author was trying to establish every moment as fraught to the max by showing the characters as being emotional, and because no story can sustain every moment being at max stakes, it just feels like overacting (or that the characters have low emotional IQ, which doesn’t jibe with what we’re told about them – especially not our iron-willed protagonist.)
The art is beautiful and creates a distinct otherworldliness of the other worlds. The one criticism I would present is that many characters had a similar androgenous appearance (including some of the main characters) and it wasn’t always instantly clear who was who.
The book has some unique features going for it. It’s nice to imagine a world in which journalism hasn’t crashed and burned, and where it’s still a respectable profession. But in the end, it wasn’t my cup of tea. Your results might vary. While there were a few small story problems, the bulk of what felt off about it boiled down to feeling like they were trying to keep the emotion dialed to eleven, but that just compressed the emotional arc of the book.
At the broad-brush level, the story is interesting and coherent. It’s got the makings of a fine quest adventure with a love triangle on the side. However, when it came to the story details, it was clunky. The biggest problem was a lack of emotional resonance tied to a lack of pacing, a lack of ebb and flow. I found myself on several occasions thinking, “Why is this person being so emotional right now?” I think the author was trying to establish every moment as fraught to the max by showing the characters as being emotional, and because no story can sustain every moment being at max stakes, it just feels like overacting (or that the characters have low emotional IQ, which doesn’t jibe with what we’re told about them – especially not our iron-willed protagonist.)
The art is beautiful and creates a distinct otherworldliness of the other worlds. The one criticism I would present is that many characters had a similar androgenous appearance (including some of the main characters) and it wasn’t always instantly clear who was who.
The book has some unique features going for it. It’s nice to imagine a world in which journalism hasn’t crashed and burned, and where it’s still a respectable profession. But in the end, it wasn’t my cup of tea. Your results might vary. While there were a few small story problems, the bulk of what felt off about it boiled down to feeling like they were trying to keep the emotion dialed to eleven, but that just compressed the emotional arc of the book.
June 21, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, Magnetic Press, Remi Guerin, and Oliver Peru for the opportunity to read this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
Darryl Openworld is a phenomenal stand-alone story with exquisite art that really bring the tale to life.
Darryl is special, as he has the power to move to different universes. The equivalent to what we may know as our Earth is the gray world, where his girlfriend Julianne lives. He is also a journalyst, someone who investigates strange happenings in Openworld and reports on them. With the help of his livebyrd to take excellent photos and scope out witnesses, as well as his fairy apprentice, Darryl is the top known writer/investigator.
When even stranger occurrences happen in Openworld, Darryl requests help from his ghost friend, Dean. No one else can see him, which makes his help inconspicuous, along with not having to worry about death or injury in certain situations.
After further investigations, Darryl finds something sinister may be at work in Openworld.
Told in an embedded narrative, Julianne is pitching her novel, "Darryl Openworld" to her editor and the reader gets to see the very story she has written. It is up to the reader to determine whether or not Julianne's story is true.
This graphic novel tells a wondrous story in a well-crafted world. The art really brings the characters to life and the color palate is well-thought-out for the different universes, as well as being very pleasing to the eye. I would recommend this graphic novel to those who love fantasy, isekai, and those who may seek inspiration in writing their own tales through the unique craft of Darryl's universe.
Darryl Openworld is a phenomenal stand-alone story with exquisite art that really bring the tale to life.
Darryl is special, as he has the power to move to different universes. The equivalent to what we may know as our Earth is the gray world, where his girlfriend Julianne lives. He is also a journalyst, someone who investigates strange happenings in Openworld and reports on them. With the help of his livebyrd to take excellent photos and scope out witnesses, as well as his fairy apprentice, Darryl is the top known writer/investigator.
When even stranger occurrences happen in Openworld, Darryl requests help from his ghost friend, Dean. No one else can see him, which makes his help inconspicuous, along with not having to worry about death or injury in certain situations.
After further investigations, Darryl finds something sinister may be at work in Openworld.
Told in an embedded narrative, Julianne is pitching her novel, "Darryl Openworld" to her editor and the reader gets to see the very story she has written. It is up to the reader to determine whether or not Julianne's story is true.
This graphic novel tells a wondrous story in a well-crafted world. The art really brings the characters to life and the color palate is well-thought-out for the different universes, as well as being very pleasing to the eye. I would recommend this graphic novel to those who love fantasy, isekai, and those who may seek inspiration in writing their own tales through the unique craft of Darryl's universe.
July 8, 2022
There are hiccups to this story, but it's not too horrendous, and with a good visual craft deserves at least a look. Just don't expect too much clarity and sanity from the plot summary, mind, which reads as follows – a journalist with a kind of fairy medium can cross from one world to another; in his something big seems brewing, perhaps connected to a missing giant he's written about recently, while in ours a girl who seems to be in a relationship with said journalist is also trying to spend her days with the ghost of a dead kid she loves or loved. Oh, and the second half of this – this collecting two smaller French BDs – is just impossible to convey in a few words.
Like I say the artistry is fine, but it's the story that is bonkers. This seems a spin-off from a French-language YA fantasy novel, and I don't know if this had a prose variation in the day or not. Either way this feels like you're missing out on a lot, coming to it cold. Even the weird framing device, of a literature editor asking her author to recount the story in a pitch/planning meeting, barely helps us work out what's what. And when the protagonist proves to be someone from a long time back in the characters' lore, the compulsion to copy a character's cry of "can someone translate this gibberish?" is far too strong. Three stars, then, and mostly for the look, but if you like a lot of work with your trashy fantasy, this will suit your tastes.
Like I say the artistry is fine, but it's the story that is bonkers. This seems a spin-off from a French-language YA fantasy novel, and I don't know if this had a prose variation in the day or not. Either way this feels like you're missing out on a lot, coming to it cold. Even the weird framing device, of a literature editor asking her author to recount the story in a pitch/planning meeting, barely helps us work out what's what. And when the protagonist proves to be someone from a long time back in the characters' lore, the compulsion to copy a character's cry of "can someone translate this gibberish?" is far too strong. Three stars, then, and mostly for the look, but if you like a lot of work with your trashy fantasy, this will suit your tastes.
June 10, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a review copy of Darryl Openworld. I've been trying to get into more international comics lately and Magnetic Press seems to be an incredible place to find beautifully drawn, expansive worlds, that you can easily lose yourself in.
Darryl Openworld offers a unique take on the steampunk genre by merging it with the idea of a magical world parallel to our "grey" world. Even though it felt like I was thrown into the middle of a story (since this comic is based on YA novels), I still felt I was able to understand the motivations of the characters and most of the rules of the fantasy setting (although I am confused how they just pop into the grey world every once in a while).
Some of the story was a bit off to me. It could have been that these characters and settings were formally introduced somewhere else and I should have read that first, but it seemed like the protagonist was threading together very random strands of clues that I, as a reader, could not understand.
All in all, I did enjoy the book, but I think it could have benefited from some form of prologue introduction to the world.
Darryl Openworld offers a unique take on the steampunk genre by merging it with the idea of a magical world parallel to our "grey" world. Even though it felt like I was thrown into the middle of a story (since this comic is based on YA novels), I still felt I was able to understand the motivations of the characters and most of the rules of the fantasy setting (although I am confused how they just pop into the grey world every once in a while).
Some of the story was a bit off to me. It could have been that these characters and settings were formally introduced somewhere else and I should have read that first, but it seemed like the protagonist was threading together very random strands of clues that I, as a reader, could not understand.
All in all, I did enjoy the book, but I think it could have benefited from some form of prologue introduction to the world.
June 7, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Darryl Openworld by Remi Guerin and Oliver Peru is an amazing fantasy graphic novel with jaw-dropping art. The story revolves around Daryl, who can travel between realities. According to the description, when Daryl "investigates the disappearance of a Giant, he uncovers a conspiracy by a mysterious individual who would exploit magic for unknown purposes."
Overall, Darryl Openworld is an amazing graphic novel that will appeal to fans of Final Fantasy or anime. One highlight of this book is the amazing artwork, which really deserves to be hung up on a wall somewhere. I was astounded by how beautifully the characters and backgrounds were drawn. If i had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. If you're intrigued by the description, you can check out this book when it comes out in July!
Darryl Openworld by Remi Guerin and Oliver Peru is an amazing fantasy graphic novel with jaw-dropping art. The story revolves around Daryl, who can travel between realities. According to the description, when Daryl "investigates the disappearance of a Giant, he uncovers a conspiracy by a mysterious individual who would exploit magic for unknown purposes."
Overall, Darryl Openworld is an amazing graphic novel that will appeal to fans of Final Fantasy or anime. One highlight of this book is the amazing artwork, which really deserves to be hung up on a wall somewhere. I was astounded by how beautifully the characters and backgrounds were drawn. If i had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. If you're intrigued by the description, you can check out this book when it comes out in July!
June 25, 2022
As a prominent (legendary) journalist, Darryl has the ability to move through realms/worlds. And as he does so, he reports on various newsworthy occurrences. But lately there are some big shifts across the realms that have previously been thought to be "impossible." And so with the support of a rag-tag crew consisting of a fairy, an elf, a ghost, and a friend-girl who may want to be more than just friends, Darryl needs to unravel the mystery of who is behind it all before total collapse in all the realms.
While this is inspired by a popular European YA series, I did not have any trouble jumping into the plot and being instantly intrigued. My only complaint - and it's a minor one - is that with the e-version of this graphic novel, it was a little difficult to tell the difference between the main character and the ghost character, especially when the viewpoint was extremely closeup.
Thanks to Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for this ARC.
#DarrylOpenworld #NetGalley
While this is inspired by a popular European YA series, I did not have any trouble jumping into the plot and being instantly intrigued. My only complaint - and it's a minor one - is that with the e-version of this graphic novel, it was a little difficult to tell the difference between the main character and the ghost character, especially when the viewpoint was extremely closeup.
Thanks to Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for this ARC.
#DarrylOpenworld #NetGalley
July 10, 2022
Fantasy comic with complicated world-building, grey characters and fast-paced action.
This is an adaptation of a novel, and sadly we can feel it. It very much suffers from the syndrome of, if you haven't read it, you will not get a lot of things.
Because it is very fast, it is hard to get a good notion of the world, and what is at stake. The danger doesn't feel like anything bad could really happen... and the characters are just glossed over very quickly, without any reason for us to care in any way about any of them. This is sometimes a problem with comics, just because there isn't a lot of time to grow the people. I think I would have preferred to read the novel, or to have it made in longer series, like a manga, taking the time to get to know the people involved just so the resolution can have an impact.
The drawings are very pleasant, and it's a shame the text could not do it justice.
This is an adaptation of a novel, and sadly we can feel it. It very much suffers from the syndrome of, if you haven't read it, you will not get a lot of things.
Because it is very fast, it is hard to get a good notion of the world, and what is at stake. The danger doesn't feel like anything bad could really happen... and the characters are just glossed over very quickly, without any reason for us to care in any way about any of them. This is sometimes a problem with comics, just because there isn't a lot of time to grow the people. I think I would have preferred to read the novel, or to have it made in longer series, like a manga, taking the time to get to know the people involved just so the resolution can have an impact.
The drawings are very pleasant, and it's a shame the text could not do it justice.
June 6, 2022
Steampunk is not a simple genre, standing out for its characteristic visual appearance and its very common environments.
However, this graphic novel manages to stand out by far. Its graphic section is impressive, very polished, perfectly colored, and consistently impressive from start to finish. Its illustrations are extensive and detailed, allowing expressions and elements to be shown that the reader cannot miss, to fully understand the mysteries that this work proposes.
On a narrative level, the story is quite charming, light, and interesting. I haven’t read the source material it's based on, but I never felt I needed it. This graphic novel stands on its own.
I would recommend it without a doubt, not only for a young audience but also for anyone who wants to enjoy an artistically admirable work.
However, this graphic novel manages to stand out by far. Its graphic section is impressive, very polished, perfectly colored, and consistently impressive from start to finish. Its illustrations are extensive and detailed, allowing expressions and elements to be shown that the reader cannot miss, to fully understand the mysteries that this work proposes.
On a narrative level, the story is quite charming, light, and interesting. I haven’t read the source material it's based on, but I never felt I needed it. This graphic novel stands on its own.
I would recommend it without a doubt, not only for a young audience but also for anyone who wants to enjoy an artistically admirable work.
June 19, 2022
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Darryl Openworld is a graphic novel based on a European YA series. Darryl is a journalist who travels between worlds. In this milieu, journalists are highly valued and respected. Darryl is investigating the disappearance of a giant. Or is he?
I liked this. In order to catch people (like me) who have never even heard of this series up to speed, the creators use a framing sequence of an author describing her story about Darryl Overworld to an editor. It's a good conceit to give some exposition and ends up being an interesting part of the story.
The story- described in the blurb as Steampunk Harry Potter- moves along at a good clip. The art is very nice and the world-building holds together. I'm now curious about the novels this is based on.
Darryl Openworld is a graphic novel based on a European YA series. Darryl is a journalist who travels between worlds. In this milieu, journalists are highly valued and respected. Darryl is investigating the disappearance of a giant. Or is he?
I liked this. In order to catch people (like me) who have never even heard of this series up to speed, the creators use a framing sequence of an author describing her story about Darryl Overworld to an editor. It's a good conceit to give some exposition and ends up being an interesting part of the story.
The story- described in the blurb as Steampunk Harry Potter- moves along at a good clip. The art is very nice and the world-building holds together. I'm now curious about the novels this is based on.
July 2, 2024
Best cool, de allereerste graphic novel die ik ooit gelezen heb. Het houdt het midden tussen anime en een fantasy-mixed-with-reality wereld met een grondige scheut steampunk, waarin journalisten de belangrijkste personages zijn. Darryl Openwereld is de belangrijkste van deze journalisten, en moet op onderzoek gaan wat de Openwereld bedreigt. Een aantal vreemde gebeurtenissen staan niet zo los van elkaar als lijkt, maar wie of wat zit erachter...
Het verhaal is best voorspelbaar, maar dat neemt niet weg dat het best leuk is om te lezen. De fantasiewereld is op zich ook niet bijster origineel, maar laat evenwel ruimte voor meer. Amusante graphic novel voor een vakantiemiddag. 3.5/5 - afgerond naar boven.
Het verhaal is best voorspelbaar, maar dat neemt niet weg dat het best leuk is om te lezen. De fantasiewereld is op zich ook niet bijster origineel, maar laat evenwel ruimte voor meer. Amusante graphic novel voor een vakantiemiddag. 3.5/5 - afgerond naar boven.
June 11, 2022
Thank you, Diamond Books (Magnetic Press) and NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review an early arc. All my opinions are my own!
Fascinating concept opening with a woman pitching her book and ending with that woman finishing, and then we find it was potentially real.
However, while the drawings are beautiful and the worlds and Power are very cool, the plot was very confusing, and it felt like many things had passed, and we were just given mentions about past adventures. Many pieces were missing, and I lost the connection to the characters.
Fascinating concept opening with a woman pitching her book and ending with that woman finishing, and then we find it was potentially real.
However, while the drawings are beautiful and the worlds and Power are very cool, the plot was very confusing, and it felt like many things had passed, and we were just given mentions about past adventures. Many pieces were missing, and I lost the connection to the characters.
June 11, 2022
Great artwork and world building although I felt a bit lost as I tried to pick up the threads of the story. This graphic novel is actually based on a series of prose YA novels and this explains why it felt as if I was missing some of the back story and intro to some of the characters. It is still a great adventure and enjoyable to read but I couldn’t explain the world properly because I didn’t get the entire background from this novel. I think this is worth reading if you have read the prose novels.
March 13, 2024
Der beste und verwirrendste Comic, den ich seit langem gelesen habe.
Das Worldbuilding wirkt lückenhaft, die Story schreitet zu schnell voran und ich dachte mehrmals, dass ganze Szenen oder Seiten fehlen.
Und trotzdem bin ich geflasht seit der ersten Seite. Der Zeichnungsstil ist unfassbar detailliert und absolut magisch. Ich war Mitten in der Geschichte, ohne genau zu wissen was abgeht.
Man muss sich darauf einlassen, aber dann ist dieser Comic wirklich gut. Storytechnisch hinkt er ein bisschen hinterher, aber er konnte mich dennoch überzeugen.
Das Worldbuilding wirkt lückenhaft, die Story schreitet zu schnell voran und ich dachte mehrmals, dass ganze Szenen oder Seiten fehlen.
Und trotzdem bin ich geflasht seit der ersten Seite. Der Zeichnungsstil ist unfassbar detailliert und absolut magisch. Ich war Mitten in der Geschichte, ohne genau zu wissen was abgeht.
Man muss sich darauf einlassen, aber dann ist dieser Comic wirklich gut. Storytechnisch hinkt er ein bisschen hinterher, aber er konnte mich dennoch überzeugen.
July 8, 2024
So this one didn't work for me at all and by one star is probably quite unfair. My understanding is that this graphic novel is based on a YA book - I'm not the best with YA for starts! Otherwise it feels like I'm missing half the story, the world building and everything else - the plot fires through and I can kinda follow but I never fully understand what the why is or the context. What even is Openworld??? I'm sure the actual books explain all :).
The Art is really good though and so I assume if you're a fan of the book, this would really work for you!
The Art is really good though and so I assume if you're a fan of the book, this would really work for you!
June 28, 2022
The art in insanely beautiful but that is really all I can say about this confusing mess. There is nowhere near enough worldbuilding in the Openworld for anyone to know what the heck is going on, and it doesn't help that the two main male characters have VERY similar character design so sometimes I could not tell who even was talking. Also the main character, Darryl is soooo one-dimensional that there is no real reason to care what is happening to him.
June 11, 2022
Darryl Openworld is a comic book novel illustrated by Remi Guerin and based on the novels by Oliver Peru.
Darryl is one of the most popular journalists in Openworld thanks to his power to travel between realities.
In this adventure, while Darryl investigates the disappearance of a Giant, he uncovers a conspiracy to use magic for unknown purposes.
The illustrations are beautiful, the use of colors is truly masterful, and the story has a very well-crafted plot, with perfectly developed characters that makes me want to read more from this author.
Darryl is one of the most popular journalists in Openworld thanks to his power to travel between realities.
In this adventure, while Darryl investigates the disappearance of a Giant, he uncovers a conspiracy to use magic for unknown purposes.
The illustrations are beautiful, the use of colors is truly masterful, and the story has a very well-crafted plot, with perfectly developed characters that makes me want to read more from this author.
July 17, 2022
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
The plot of the book threw me off a bit but towards the ending it made sense and it's a pretty well written story.
The steampunk world building is incredibly beautiful and the character designs as well. I loved the plot concept of merging two different worlds with different rules.
This was a great read. Thank you.
The plot of the book threw me off a bit but towards the ending it made sense and it's a pretty well written story.
The steampunk world building is incredibly beautiful and the character designs as well. I loved the plot concept of merging two different worlds with different rules.
This was a great read. Thank you.
June 28, 2022
Ghosts. Demons. Adventure. Danger. Betrayal.
Darryl Openworld has it all. The story follows Darryl, who is a prominent journalist because he can travel to other realities. This volume introduces Darryl and his friends very well, and leaves room for many interesting volumes to come.
The art style is is like a muted steampunk, and is really pleasing to look at. Honestly, the artwork is reason enough to pick this book up, so it’s just a plus that the story is intriguing too.
Darryl Openworld is a 4 star from me, but later volumes could be 5 stars as the character and world are more fleshed out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Darryl Openworld has it all. The story follows Darryl, who is a prominent journalist because he can travel to other realities. This volume introduces Darryl and his friends very well, and leaves room for many interesting volumes to come.
The art style is is like a muted steampunk, and is really pleasing to look at. Honestly, the artwork is reason enough to pick this book up, so it’s just a plus that the story is intriguing too.
Darryl Openworld is a 4 star from me, but later volumes could be 5 stars as the character and world are more fleshed out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2022
I was really happy to read this graphic novel. The illustrations are incredible and could have told the story alone without the dialogue.
August 1, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book; there were definitely some positive elements, but on the whole, it felt underdeveloped. The world was certainly unique and interesting, although I would have preferred to learn about it solely through the story and the beautiful artwork, rather than having the frame story explaining it throughout, which felt a little tacked on (despite the twist at the end, which was heavily telegraphed). What I enjoyed was learning more about the Openworld and its inhabitants. Unfortunately, the story and characters fell a little short for me. I didn't know enough about the story to know why everything was so high stakes; it seemed that there was a lot of pre-existing context that I would have needed to know in order to fully understand the plot. The characters did not end up seeming sufficiently complex, and, to be honest, they were not all overly likable. On the whole, it was interesting and I definitely enjoyed the artwork and the concepts of the world, but I did feel a little disconnected to the characters and plot.
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