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Arca
The planet is dying, the rich are escaping, and absolutely nothing is what it seems in this thrilling new dystopian graphic novel.
The world burned. But the rich and powerful...they had a plan. When society fell apart, a select group of billionaires had an escape hatch: a rocket aimed at the nearest habitable planet, a ship equipped with many of the luxuries of life on Earth—why survive if you can’t survive in style? Their every need is tended to by teenagers who are willing to act as slaves in return for the promise of a new life. This is a good story. But, like so many stories, it is not true.
Inside a great, sealed survival chamber, one slave—a teenage girl named Persephone—discovers that the promised future of comfort is a myth. And with that knowledge, she must fight for her survival against the billionaires, who would gladly kill her to protect the hidden truth.
The world burned. But the rich and powerful...they had a plan. When society fell apart, a select group of billionaires had an escape hatch: a rocket aimed at the nearest habitable planet, a ship equipped with many of the luxuries of life on Earth—why survive if you can’t survive in style? Their every need is tended to by teenagers who are willing to act as slaves in return for the promise of a new life. This is a good story. But, like so many stories, it is not true.
Inside a great, sealed survival chamber, one slave—a teenage girl named Persephone—discovers that the promised future of comfort is a myth. And with that knowledge, she must fight for her survival against the billionaires, who would gladly kill her to protect the hidden truth.
176 pages, Paperback
Published July 11, 2023
10 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Van Jensen
173 books93 followersVan Jensen is the acclaimed author of the award-winning GODFALL trilogy (Grand Central). The sci-fi/thriller genre mashup series is in development for TV with Academy Award winner Ron Howard attached to direct and Jensen serving as executive producer.
Jensen was born and raised in the farm country of Western Nebraska where he wrote and drew stories as soon as he could hold a pencil. He became a newspaper crime reporter, then a magazine editor, and eventually an author of comic books and graphic novels. He has written some of the world’s biggest characters, including James Bond, Godzilla, and The Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern for DC Comics. His original graphic novels include ARCA (IDW), Two Dead (Simon & Schuster/Gallery 13), Two Dead (Dark Horse), and Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer (Top Shelf/IDW).
He also writes and produces for film and TV.
Jensen was born and raised in the farm country of Western Nebraska where he wrote and drew stories as soon as he could hold a pencil. He became a newspaper crime reporter, then a magazine editor, and eventually an author of comic books and graphic novels. He has written some of the world’s biggest characters, including James Bond, Godzilla, and The Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern for DC Comics. His original graphic novels include ARCA (IDW), Two Dead (Simon & Schuster/Gallery 13), Two Dead (Dark Horse), and Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer (Top Shelf/IDW).
He also writes and produces for film and TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
January 3, 2023
In an appealing retro style Arca tells a story about generation ships and class struggle that feels familiar
We all have a god complex. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here.
Effie is a worker on the Arca, a generation ship fleeing a ravaged earth. At 18, these settlers, who serve the citizens, retire, but cracks appear in this setup when Effie finds a bone shard. The story feels a lot like 1984, and the powers that be are a bit too conveniently lenient. The power of being able to read is nicely exemplified, and overall this was an enjoyable graphic novel to read.
We all have a god complex. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here.
Effie is a worker on the Arca, a generation ship fleeing a ravaged earth. At 18, these settlers, who serve the citizens, retire, but cracks appear in this setup when Effie finds a bone shard. The story feels a lot like 1984, and the powers that be are a bit too conveniently lenient. The power of being able to read is nicely exemplified, and overall this was an enjoyable graphic novel to read.
April 22, 2023
This a story that gets bogged down in narrative feature creep. By which I mean a pretty simple story gets burdened with too much worldbuilding - so you have one element of worldbuilding, on which another element is built, but to make that work yet another element is stuck on, and so on. And what actually happens is that the structure starts to buckle, and countless logical phallacies have appeared in the narrative and the worldbuilding. The whole effect is of a writer losing control of their narrative.
A dystopian story works best when kept simple. Here we get too many characters, too much need for plot exposition (the thing where characters explain their world to eachother, which makes little sense). There is a neat thread in the story where our main character secretly learns to read, which is forbidden for her caste, and her literacy leads to her learning what is actually happening. But it's done in such an unsubtle, clunky way - she literally reads files with all those secrets in one sitting, and then spends the rest of the book telling other characters what she's read, one endless fount of exposition.
In many ways the story is a classic paranoia thriller (a genre which I love) - our main character starts noticing how things are off, and starts looking for answers she's not supposed to know. Except here, again, there isn't a clear inciting incident for her to start thinking there's something wrong, she basically has these thoughts because the plot needs to get moving. There is no build of dread, and when you have 170+ pages, that seems like a wasted opportunity.
The book has a twist at the end, and it makes no sense. I finished the book, and literally sat there for five minutes, saying "what?" out loud. I have so many questions about how this world is supposed to work, or why it works that way, because it makes little or no sense.
The art swivels madly between quite detailed and barely comprehensible - my advance copy is missing most of the colouring, which has an effect on legibility, that should be fixed in the completed book.
(Thanks to IDW Publishing for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
A dystopian story works best when kept simple. Here we get too many characters, too much need for plot exposition (the thing where characters explain their world to eachother, which makes little sense). There is a neat thread in the story where our main character secretly learns to read, which is forbidden for her caste, and her literacy leads to her learning what is actually happening. But it's done in such an unsubtle, clunky way - she literally reads files with all those secrets in one sitting, and then spends the rest of the book telling other characters what she's read, one endless fount of exposition.
In many ways the story is a classic paranoia thriller (a genre which I love) - our main character starts noticing how things are off, and starts looking for answers she's not supposed to know. Except here, again, there isn't a clear inciting incident for her to start thinking there's something wrong, she basically has these thoughts because the plot needs to get moving. There is no build of dread, and when you have 170+ pages, that seems like a wasted opportunity.
The book has a twist at the end, and it makes no sense. I finished the book, and literally sat there for five minutes, saying "what?" out loud. I have so many questions about how this world is supposed to work, or why it works that way, because it makes little or no sense.
The art swivels madly between quite detailed and barely comprehensible - my advance copy is missing most of the colouring, which has an effect on legibility, that should be fixed in the completed book.
(Thanks to IDW Publishing for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
January 5, 2024
I'd give this 2.5 stars (Goodreads any time you wanna introduce some half stars would be just fine with me).
This was an interesting, if slightly under baked dystopian science fiction story about an evil, rich cabal that uses their evil richness to escape the destruction of the planet. Their evil, rich plans also include taking advantage of a slave class of teenagers who take care of all the daily "chores" that need doing on the Arca (the space ship the evil cabal has built). The teenagers are told that on their 18 birthdays they were will become full citizens of the Arca and their days of toil will be over.
Yeah right.
Effie, a plucky and particularly smart teen figures out that all is not entirely kosher on the Arca and sets out to uncover its mysteries.
While I found the artwork a bit off putting (characters are drawn with incredibly heavy, angular lines in their faces and bodies making them look like roided up monsters) and the plot not much beyond a retread of other, better dystopian fiction (with waaayyy more holes and unanswered questions) this was still entertaining.
A good quick read if you're looking to pass a lunch break or time before your flight.
This was an interesting, if slightly under baked dystopian science fiction story about an evil, rich cabal that uses their evil richness to escape the destruction of the planet. Their evil, rich plans also include taking advantage of a slave class of teenagers who take care of all the daily "chores" that need doing on the Arca (the space ship the evil cabal has built). The teenagers are told that on their 18 birthdays they were will become full citizens of the Arca and their days of toil will be over.
Yeah right.
Effie, a plucky and particularly smart teen figures out that all is not entirely kosher on the Arca and sets out to uncover its mysteries.
While I found the artwork a bit off putting (characters are drawn with incredibly heavy, angular lines in their faces and bodies making them look like roided up monsters) and the plot not much beyond a retread of other, better dystopian fiction (with waaayyy more holes and unanswered questions) this was still entertaining.
A good quick read if you're looking to pass a lunch break or time before your flight.
January 8, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-graphic novel ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 ⭐
I enjoyed this immensely. At times, the plot twists and general story direction were a bit predictable, but I didn't find that tedious or boring in the slightest.
If you enjoy dystopian/speculative fiction stories set in a post-apocalyptic world (just like in The 100, for example), I recommend this wholeheartedly.
I adored the art! The style was very vintage and colorful, and it gave the story a whole new dimension that I loved. I do regret reading an ARC, though, because the copy wasn't finished. Only the first few pages were colored, after which the novel was in black and white. And while I don't mind B&W graphic novels in general, the specific art style made this one a bit confusing and hard to read at times. Still, I'm not going to deduct any stars for that, as it was just an ARC after all.
I enjoyed the main character a lot, especially her tenacity and stubbornness. She stopped at nothing to uncover the truth and expose the Citizens, and I admired her strength a lot. I also really loved her relationship with her young pupil.
However, I think what I loved the most are the themes that the novel explores, especially the importance of language and propaganda in a dystopian setting. I also appreciated the fact that the author didn't shy away from showing what would happen to women in a post-apocalyptic world. The breeding scenes were very much The Handmaid's Tale-esque, and they were, sadly, quite believable. In these regards, this novel reminded me of 1984 a lot, which another great plus.
All in all, I'm extremely happy I got to read an advanced copy of this novel, and I can't wait to get my hands on the published version.
4.5 ⭐
I enjoyed this immensely. At times, the plot twists and general story direction were a bit predictable, but I didn't find that tedious or boring in the slightest.
If you enjoy dystopian/speculative fiction stories set in a post-apocalyptic world (just like in The 100, for example), I recommend this wholeheartedly.
I adored the art! The style was very vintage and colorful, and it gave the story a whole new dimension that I loved. I do regret reading an ARC, though, because the copy wasn't finished. Only the first few pages were colored, after which the novel was in black and white. And while I don't mind B&W graphic novels in general, the specific art style made this one a bit confusing and hard to read at times. Still, I'm not going to deduct any stars for that, as it was just an ARC after all.
I enjoyed the main character a lot, especially her tenacity and stubbornness. She stopped at nothing to uncover the truth and expose the Citizens, and I admired her strength a lot. I also really loved her relationship with her young pupil.
However, I think what I loved the most are the themes that the novel explores, especially the importance of language and propaganda in a dystopian setting. I also appreciated the fact that the author didn't shy away from showing what would happen to women in a post-apocalyptic world. The breeding scenes were very much The Handmaid's Tale-esque, and they were, sadly, quite believable. In these regards, this novel reminded me of 1984 a lot, which another great plus.
All in all, I'm extremely happy I got to read an advanced copy of this novel, and I can't wait to get my hands on the published version.
August 16, 2023
Part of IDW's Originals movement, this complete graphic novel tells an enjoyable tale of class struggle within a caste-like system on a generational starship. It's a familiar theme, and the truth behind the governing system (the very wealthy being cared for by indentured young adults with the promise of freedom on their 18th birthdays) is foreshadowed and hinted at early, but author Jensen leaves a few more twists and surprises in the final pages.
The world-building is engaging, but often gets bogged down in necessary exposition in several places. Character development is well-done, and the art by Jesse Lonergan reminds me of the style of early Jeff Lemire in a good way. There are some impressive images when the story allows the art to expand into larger panels in some scenes.
Thanks to Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, Delaware for sharing their advanced review copy with me.
The world-building is engaging, but often gets bogged down in necessary exposition in several places. Character development is well-done, and the art by Jesse Lonergan reminds me of the style of early Jeff Lemire in a good way. There are some impressive images when the story allows the art to expand into larger panels in some scenes.
Thanks to Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, Delaware for sharing their advanced review copy with me.
July 24, 2023
3.5 ⭐ rounded down, because you should not give away the most important secret of the story, long before the big reveal. I've actually seen this exact scenario before, but it still would have been much better to have kept us guessing..
December 29, 2022
I don't read a ton of graphic novels, but I really enjoyed this one. It involves lots of my buzzwords: generation ship, revolt, class consciousness, creating ideal society, etc. The story was a mix of both predictable and unexpected twists. The art was was great and I enjoyed the way the story was told. I was engaged!
Thanks to Netgalley and IDW Publishing for gifting me an advanced reader copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and IDW Publishing for gifting me an advanced reader copy.
January 22, 2024
Engaging and thought-provoking from beginning to end! I really loved the characters in this story and the themes of ignorance and knowledge and the power and lack thereof that those come with. I’m a sucker for a post-apocalyptical tale and I really enjoyed this one! The ending actually didn’t end exactly how I thought it did and for that, I was very pleased and surprised. The art style felt like it fit the vibe of this story well and I had gotten to really enjoy it more as I continued reading. Great read overall!
January 10, 2023
Review to come
April 6, 2024
3.5 A little simplistic and predictable but still a fun enough time!
December 24, 2022
3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a fast and enjoyable read. The plot was easy to follow and the illustrations were beautiful. The only thing lacking was that the plot was predictable at times and the "twists" were quite transparent. There were also many characters and subplots that could have been expanded on throughout. I think that capitalizing on that would have made this even more enjoyable.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes dystopic reads or who enjoyed the movie Snowpiercer.
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a fast and enjoyable read. The plot was easy to follow and the illustrations were beautiful. The only thing lacking was that the plot was predictable at times and the "twists" were quite transparent. There were also many characters and subplots that could have been expanded on throughout. I think that capitalizing on that would have made this even more enjoyable.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes dystopic reads or who enjoyed the movie Snowpiercer.
October 31, 2023
Both timely and futuristic, ARCA feels as if it could be storyboarding for an especially epic episode of the TV series "Black Mirror." As with the best sci-fi, there is serious cultural commentary and a surprising twist that keep readers on their toes.
March 24, 2024
3,5/5
J’ai beaucoup aimé et en même temps j’ai trouvé que la fin était un peu vue et revue dans ce type de récit. J’ai beaucoup aimé l’héroïne néanmoins même si on voit venir les choses, et le style de dessin est top.
Pour l’objet lui même très beau mais papier TRÈS épais et pas de pagination je faisais que douter d’avoir bien tourner une page et pas deux (et il est hyper lourd à tenir)
J’ai beaucoup aimé et en même temps j’ai trouvé que la fin était un peu vue et revue dans ce type de récit. J’ai beaucoup aimé l’héroïne néanmoins même si on voit venir les choses, et le style de dessin est top.
Pour l’objet lui même très beau mais papier TRÈS épais et pas de pagination je faisais que douter d’avoir bien tourner une page et pas deux (et il est hyper lourd à tenir)
December 26, 2022
Rounded down from 3.5 stars.
Arca follows the journey of Effie, a slavegirl, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world, aboard a spaceship bound for Eden, after the Earth becomes inhospitable for humans. Effie is strong, sharp-minded and very observant. This is a world where nothing is how it seems and Effie must uncover the truths that lie beyond her reach.
The book deals, most primarily, with the class system and the manner in which the rich exploit those without the privileges that they have. This book couldn't have screamed "eat the rich" any louder. Its dystopian vibes are very reminiscent of The Hunger Games and the manner in which the rich from the Capitol treated the people from the Districts.
The sci-fi bits of the book are pretty straightforward, with no complex ideas that would seem too tough to understand for a novice to the genre. No throwing "quantum" or "nuclear" in front of every damn word just to complicate matters.
The art is pretty great but the copy that I read still has a lot of colouring left to do and that certainly affected how much fun I had... but the bits with colour were gorgeous and I'm sure once the colouring is finished for the entire book, this would be a great read.
I will say this, the number of questions that still remain unanswered in this book is pretty high. None of those questions I can mention here due to the heavy spoilers that they would give away. I don't think this is a series, but if it was, I would've really liked to know why certain things happened, why they happened, and what happens next... too many questions.
Arca follows the journey of Effie, a slavegirl, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world, aboard a spaceship bound for Eden, after the Earth becomes inhospitable for humans. Effie is strong, sharp-minded and very observant. This is a world where nothing is how it seems and Effie must uncover the truths that lie beyond her reach.
The book deals, most primarily, with the class system and the manner in which the rich exploit those without the privileges that they have. This book couldn't have screamed "eat the rich" any louder. Its dystopian vibes are very reminiscent of The Hunger Games and the manner in which the rich from the Capitol treated the people from the Districts.
The sci-fi bits of the book are pretty straightforward, with no complex ideas that would seem too tough to understand for a novice to the genre. No throwing "quantum" or "nuclear" in front of every damn word just to complicate matters.
The art is pretty great but the copy that I read still has a lot of colouring left to do and that certainly affected how much fun I had... but the bits with colour were gorgeous and I'm sure once the colouring is finished for the entire book, this would be a great read.
I will say this, the number of questions that still remain unanswered in this book is pretty high. None of those questions I can mention here due to the heavy spoilers that they would give away. I don't think this is a series, but if it was, I would've really liked to know why certain things happened, why they happened, and what happens next... too many questions.
February 3, 2023
I read this graphic on netgalley for free as an advanced reader copy. All views are my own.
Arca follows the relatively classic story of a spaceship which has left earth with the last remaining humans as earth has become uninhabitable. The social structure within the Arca is complex. The rich people who build the ships are citizens who are served by the settlers and protected by the helpers. Settlers are all children under 18 who are promised the reward of becoming citizens once they come of age. But not all is as it seems... or is it?
There are many aspects I enjoyed about this comic,most prominently the art style and colouring. I normally don't enjoy reading graphic novels on my phone, but the panel layout and clear illustrations made it easy and enjoyable.
As for the story, it was pretty formulaeic. If you have read any scifi stories with an arc containing the last of the human race, you probably won't be surprised by this one. Saying that, I like these types of stories and will keep on reading them.
Arca follows the relatively classic story of a spaceship which has left earth with the last remaining humans as earth has become uninhabitable. The social structure within the Arca is complex. The rich people who build the ships are citizens who are served by the settlers and protected by the helpers. Settlers are all children under 18 who are promised the reward of becoming citizens once they come of age. But not all is as it seems... or is it?
There are many aspects I enjoyed about this comic,most prominently the art style and colouring. I normally don't enjoy reading graphic novels on my phone, but the panel layout and clear illustrations made it easy and enjoyable.
As for the story, it was pretty formulaeic. If you have read any scifi stories with an arc containing the last of the human race, you probably won't be surprised by this one. Saying that, I like these types of stories and will keep on reading them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2023
read this at grinfo out of spite. thanks to Edelweiss for ARC access, I had a wonderful time reading this and nothing felt too simple, despite this not being the most original story. It had just enough elements to keep the plot moving, and the world-building was developed pretty naturally. I could never get sick of a story that calls out capitalist exploitation and hints that the best answer is maybe not Shoot A Bunch of Billionaires Into Space, and this really followed through. my only complaint is that the MC seemed a bit devoid of personality, but her care for Meda really got to me in the end. I loved the old-school art style, can't wait to see the rest of this illustrated in color!
December 23, 2022
3.5 stars
This was a fast read! At times predictable, but ultimately compelling. I enjoyed the concept, and the pacing, and loved the twists and turns, including the final ones. I enjoyed this a lot! I had a bit of trouble telling some of the characters apart with the art style, but that could be just in the digital galley.
It was a little concerning to me that of all the named settlers, the ones with darker skin were the ones that did the manual labour (Don - food) or the undesirable jobs (Bet - Sanitation). I immediately noticed that, and the optics and racial undertones bothered me. I’m not sure if that was intentional or not.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley.
This was a fast read! At times predictable, but ultimately compelling. I enjoyed the concept, and the pacing, and loved the twists and turns, including the final ones. I enjoyed this a lot! I had a bit of trouble telling some of the characters apart with the art style, but that could be just in the digital galley.
It was a little concerning to me that of all the named settlers, the ones with darker skin were the ones that did the manual labour (Don - food) or the undesirable jobs (Bet - Sanitation). I immediately noticed that, and the optics and racial undertones bothered me. I’m not sure if that was intentional or not.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley.
September 28, 2023
A dystopian comic! That, caught my attention and fast.
Persephone has been a servant all her life. Her job, and the job of everyone under 18, is to tend to the citizens by farming, entertaining, even cleaning up after them. But Persephone has a gift, she was taught to read. What happens when she uncovers that everything she knows is a lie? And that citizenship isn't a given at 18?
This comic was a little slow to start but then it speed up instantly. I couldn't put it down.
Persephone has been a servant all her life. Her job, and the job of everyone under 18, is to tend to the citizens by farming, entertaining, even cleaning up after them. But Persephone has a gift, she was taught to read. What happens when she uncovers that everything she knows is a lie? And that citizenship isn't a given at 18?
This comic was a little slow to start but then it speed up instantly. I couldn't put it down.
July 11, 2024
A short but epic read! They really said "eat the rich" with this one.
August 20, 2025
Arca is a gripping post apocalyptic page turner that expertly balances action, mystery, and social commentary. With its engaging storyline, a memorable protagonist (reading is her superpower), and a stellar artwork that complements the story well, this graphic novel is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction. The story is nicely paced and the underlying tension with twists and turns till the end makes it a compelling read . Overall, "Arca" by Van Jensen and Jesse Lonergan is a powerful and memorable post-apocalyptic thriller.
January 3, 2023
I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
This graphic novel follows Effie and the Settlers as they care for the Citizens aboard the spaceship Arca. The Arca left a dying Earth, in search of Eden and a new life. The Citizens are the founders of the Arca while the Settlers begin as children who work for the Citizens, eventually graduating at 18 to the status of Citizen. Effie is not like the other settlers. She is curious and unlike the other settlers, she can read. Effie's curiosity leads her to a mystery and trouble.
The story was interesting. While I was able to guess some of the mystery, I was not able to guess it all. My only problem was that the illustration went from full color to black and white. Because of the dense illustration, the lack of color did make it occasionally difficult to read.
This is a perfect story for anyone who likes science fiction and space stories.
This graphic novel follows Effie and the Settlers as they care for the Citizens aboard the spaceship Arca. The Arca left a dying Earth, in search of Eden and a new life. The Citizens are the founders of the Arca while the Settlers begin as children who work for the Citizens, eventually graduating at 18 to the status of Citizen. Effie is not like the other settlers. She is curious and unlike the other settlers, she can read. Effie's curiosity leads her to a mystery and trouble.
The story was interesting. While I was able to guess some of the mystery, I was not able to guess it all. My only problem was that the illustration went from full color to black and white. Because of the dense illustration, the lack of color did make it occasionally difficult to read.
This is a perfect story for anyone who likes science fiction and space stories.
November 29, 2023
A class-based dystopia onboard a generation starship. Fairly standard use of those ideas. At least the world here is more plausible than "Snowpiercer".
January 12, 2023
A dystopian, post-apocalyptic graphic novel about people being forced to live together on a generation ship in order to find a new planet to live on because the Earth is pretty much dead? Totally my kind of thing.
I liked this graphic novel! Like other reviewers have mentioned, some of the twists were predictable but it didn't detract too much from the story. I liked the character development that the MC, Effie, underwent, from obedient kid to feisty young adult who questions the billionaires in charge of the Arca. But some of her friends/side characters didn't really have much character development other than to advance the story.
I really like the art and the way that the panels are placed and the way that they tie and flow into each other. I just wish the arc I read had full color because most of the pages were black and white.
There were some plotlines (like what happens to the kids when they become citizens) that I would've loved if it had been explored more. The storyline itself is full of sci-fi tropes, but I think it worked out well enough in this case. I actually wish it was longer so some plotlines and characters could've been expanded on.
Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for this arc.
I liked this graphic novel! Like other reviewers have mentioned, some of the twists were predictable but it didn't detract too much from the story. I liked the character development that the MC, Effie, underwent, from obedient kid to feisty young adult who questions the billionaires in charge of the Arca. But some of her friends/side characters didn't really have much character development other than to advance the story.
I really like the art and the way that the panels are placed and the way that they tie and flow into each other. I just wish the arc I read had full color because most of the pages were black and white.
There were some plotlines (like what happens to the kids when they become citizens) that I would've loved if it had been explored more. The storyline itself is full of sci-fi tropes, but I think it worked out well enough in this case. I actually wish it was longer so some plotlines and characters could've been expanded on.
Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for this arc.
November 16, 2023
The "Arca" in Arca is a generation ship, so you pretty much know where this story is going to go, especially after the book introduces the haves, served by the have nots. Also, the have nots are all teenagers who get to "become haves" when they turn 18. One guess for whether that's really what happens. *eye roll*
So there's some heavy usage of tropes in Arca, but that's not to say it isn't a fun read. The pacing is fast, the mystery compelling (if not really a mystery). It's easy to follow the main character (a have not) who doesn't really want to be a hero. The unique artwork is easily worth a star. I enjoyed my time with Arca, even if I saw the twist ending coming a million miles away. ()
So there's some heavy usage of tropes in Arca, but that's not to say it isn't a fun read. The pacing is fast, the mystery compelling (if not really a mystery). It's easy to follow the main character (a have not) who doesn't really want to be a hero. The unique artwork is easily worth a star. I enjoyed my time with Arca, even if I saw the twist ending coming a million miles away. ()
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February 9, 2023"Class conflict and exploitation are topics ripe for exploration, but in the end Arca feels rushed and underdeveloped as it skims over its own logical flaws and doesn’t attempt to put a particularly new spin on a familiar premise."
Full review on No Flying No Tights: https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/202...
Full review on No Flying No Tights: https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/202...
April 28, 2024
9- I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel. I liked its loose arth style and subtle coloring that did evoke the world of the space ship Arca and the several classes on board well. I liked the dystopian story, and the main character who is introverted, a thinker, and who loves to read (who doesn't love a protagonist who loves to read?). There's also some action here, good twists, a few scenes of suspense and some gruesome revelations, all well balanced. The only criticism (which kept it from reaching five stars for me) was that there was one too many plot device - a mysterious illness. While it worked with the theme, it was not needed for the plot (at the time it became clear) and could easily have been left out, making this a leaner, more focused story.
What I liked most was the themes of this story, which is pretty timely. And I was pretty miffed with myself because I recognized the inspiration for this graphic novel - the book 'Survival of the Richest' of which I read an extract in The Guardian. In the article in The Guardian billionaires are discussing how they plan to survive climate change in their own underground bunker systems. There is only one problem, they state: “How do I maintain authority over my security force after the event?” As the author goes on: "They knew armed guards would be required to protect their compounds from raiders as well as angry mobs. But how would they pay the guards once even his crypto was worthless? What would stop the guards from eventually choosing their own leader? The billionaires considered using special combination locks on the food supply that only they knew. Or making guards wear disciplinary collars of some kind in return for their survival. Or maybe building robots to serve as guards and workers – if that technology could be developed “in time”." (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022...)
Read this graphic novel through this lens (one of the characters says: "If money does no longer exist, how do we buy allegiance?") and it gains in power - illustrating the dehumanising view of these 1 percenters - how they view their servants (us) - and even how their whole worldview is predicated on this endgame, which they actively try to achieve (thus continuing supporting industry that is detrimental to climate and the environment) in order to remain as the only 'winners' in the world.
So no, this book is not as rambling or incoherent as some reviewers on here think it is. It is focused. Some people just don't see the central question this book is asking. Which is: 'Why do we keep up with it?' Do we want to live under these billionaires already planning their bunkers and thinking about how to keep us subservient? Or do we start working on different systems now? Systems that are good for every body (and the environment to boot!).
What I liked most was the themes of this story, which is pretty timely. And I was pretty miffed with myself because I recognized the inspiration for this graphic novel - the book 'Survival of the Richest' of which I read an extract in The Guardian. In the article in The Guardian billionaires are discussing how they plan to survive climate change in their own underground bunker systems. There is only one problem, they state: “How do I maintain authority over my security force after the event?” As the author goes on: "They knew armed guards would be required to protect their compounds from raiders as well as angry mobs. But how would they pay the guards once even his crypto was worthless? What would stop the guards from eventually choosing their own leader? The billionaires considered using special combination locks on the food supply that only they knew. Or making guards wear disciplinary collars of some kind in return for their survival. Or maybe building robots to serve as guards and workers – if that technology could be developed “in time”." (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022...)
Read this graphic novel through this lens (one of the characters says: "If money does no longer exist, how do we buy allegiance?") and it gains in power - illustrating the dehumanising view of these 1 percenters - how they view their servants (us) - and even how their whole worldview is predicated on this endgame, which they actively try to achieve (thus continuing supporting industry that is detrimental to climate and the environment) in order to remain as the only 'winners' in the world.
So no, this book is not as rambling or incoherent as some reviewers on here think it is. It is focused. Some people just don't see the central question this book is asking. Which is: 'Why do we keep up with it?' Do we want to live under these billionaires already planning their bunkers and thinking about how to keep us subservient? Or do we start working on different systems now? Systems that are good for every body (and the environment to boot!).
October 16, 2023
Book Summary:
The story of the earth dying is not a new one. In many a tale, we all ignored the pleas of the scientists until it was too late. That is the story that unfolds here, with one unique twist. Some people managed to get off the planet. Well, only the wealthiest people, that is.
Persephone has been sealed inside a survival chamber, and she intends to do precisely that, even though it will require her to fight against the billionaires who imprisoned her and doomed the fate of everyone else. Perhaps especially then.
My Review:
It's been a minute since I dove into a retro science fiction tale, and Arca seemed like the obvious choice. It blends one of my favorite genres with my love of graphic novels. I mean, what more could a girl ask for?
That said, I'll admit that the style probably isn't for everyone. I'd suggest finding it in stores and checking out a couple of pages before making final decisions. While I enjoyed it, I can see why some people may not be as delighted.
Admittedly, I am biased. I love the concept of a generational ship. That is to say, a ship with multiple generations of family on a ship has for a long time. Yes, it does rely on the earth-is-dead trope (why have I been reading so much of this lately? What is wrong with me?), but it works.
Overall, I would have to say that Arca is a dark but fun story. It's perfect for any space opera fan looking for something with a bit more political or social commentary.
Highlights:
Dystopian with Mystery elements
Commentary on Financial Disparity
Survival
Trigger Warnings:
Dying Planet
Thanks to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
The story of the earth dying is not a new one. In many a tale, we all ignored the pleas of the scientists until it was too late. That is the story that unfolds here, with one unique twist. Some people managed to get off the planet. Well, only the wealthiest people, that is.
Persephone has been sealed inside a survival chamber, and she intends to do precisely that, even though it will require her to fight against the billionaires who imprisoned her and doomed the fate of everyone else. Perhaps especially then.
My Review:
It's been a minute since I dove into a retro science fiction tale, and Arca seemed like the obvious choice. It blends one of my favorite genres with my love of graphic novels. I mean, what more could a girl ask for?
That said, I'll admit that the style probably isn't for everyone. I'd suggest finding it in stores and checking out a couple of pages before making final decisions. While I enjoyed it, I can see why some people may not be as delighted.
Admittedly, I am biased. I love the concept of a generational ship. That is to say, a ship with multiple generations of family on a ship has for a long time. Yes, it does rely on the earth-is-dead trope (why have I been reading so much of this lately? What is wrong with me?), but it works.
Overall, I would have to say that Arca is a dark but fun story. It's perfect for any space opera fan looking for something with a bit more political or social commentary.
Highlights:
Dystopian with Mystery elements
Commentary on Financial Disparity
Survival
Trigger Warnings:
Dying Planet
Thanks to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
December 29, 2022
The Arca was supposed to be the way to save humanity – and so far, it has, taking them to the new planet of Eden. The rich and powerful created it to escape the burning Earth while still having the luxuries they were used to. Persephone is part of the enslaved group of children and is about to graduate her servitude on the Arca. But as she gets closer and closer to her graduation, she begins to discover that not all is as it seems aboard the ship, and that they may never reach Eden after all.
While the concept for this work wasn’t the most unique, I felt that it was executed well. I enjoyed that the work started out with a quick overview of the different classes of people and definitions of the terms that would be used throughout the work, which made the sci-fi aspect more engaging. I did feel that the pacing was a bit off, though. Towards the last quarter of the book, things are revealed at an intense pace that made it all feel rushed. The ending also left many unanswered questions, which either means there’s a sequel or it’s supposed to be more open-ended.
As I received an ARC, most of the novel was in black and white – assuming the published version is going to be completely colorized, I enjoyed the art and its simplistic style overall. This was an easy, quick read that I found entertaining although there were many questions I would have liked resolved or some more explanation for. My thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for allowing me to read this work, which will be published in July 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
While the concept for this work wasn’t the most unique, I felt that it was executed well. I enjoyed that the work started out with a quick overview of the different classes of people and definitions of the terms that would be used throughout the work, which made the sci-fi aspect more engaging. I did feel that the pacing was a bit off, though. Towards the last quarter of the book, things are revealed at an intense pace that made it all feel rushed. The ending also left many unanswered questions, which either means there’s a sequel or it’s supposed to be more open-ended.
As I received an ARC, most of the novel was in black and white – assuming the published version is going to be completely colorized, I enjoyed the art and its simplistic style overall. This was an easy, quick read that I found entertaining although there were many questions I would have liked resolved or some more explanation for. My thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for allowing me to read this work, which will be published in July 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
March 10, 2023
4.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Earth has been ravaged. The last surviving humans are now aboard the ship called Arca, its destination: Eden. Effie is one of the many settlers, children under 18 who are bound to serve the Citizens, a group who were billionaires on Earth and who had thought up of Arca to save themselves from the dying planet. Once the settlers reach the age of 18, they are said to travel up on the Arca to live a life of comfort after a childhood of servitude. But Effie feels that something is wrong, and she will do what she can to discover the mysteries behind this ship.
I am a sucker for any story that highlights the class struggles in any type of society, and most especially if it’s a sci-fi/dystopian setting. The literary references scattered throughout this comic was superb—a treat for any literature nerd. The retro style of the art is also a treat. The only critique I can think of, and this is a bit nitpicky, was that I was initially confused, I thought that when the settlers reached 18 they would become Citizens. But other than that, this was a very engaging and enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Earth has been ravaged. The last surviving humans are now aboard the ship called Arca, its destination: Eden. Effie is one of the many settlers, children under 18 who are bound to serve the Citizens, a group who were billionaires on Earth and who had thought up of Arca to save themselves from the dying planet. Once the settlers reach the age of 18, they are said to travel up on the Arca to live a life of comfort after a childhood of servitude. But Effie feels that something is wrong, and she will do what she can to discover the mysteries behind this ship.
I am a sucker for any story that highlights the class struggles in any type of society, and most especially if it’s a sci-fi/dystopian setting. The literary references scattered throughout this comic was superb—a treat for any literature nerd. The retro style of the art is also a treat. The only critique I can think of, and this is a bit nitpicky, was that I was initially confused, I thought that when the settlers reached 18 they would become Citizens. But other than that, this was a very engaging and enjoyable read.
February 17, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and IDW for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sci-fi and graphic novels are two of my favorite things to read, so I was immediately drawn to Arca when I first came across it on Goodreads. As luck would have it, I was also approved for an e-ARC, and the sheer excitement I felt when I got the e-mail for the approval was frankly a little embarrassing, but I digress.
Even though I usually prefer more flowy and dreamy art styles, the story of Arca was so engrossing that I simply could not put it down - aboard a spacecraft a group of young "Settlers" serve and pamper the wealthy "Citizens" who built the ship that allowed them to escape the ruin and devastation of the Earth in search of Eden. Upon turning 18, the Settlers become Citizens and are freed of their obligation to complete the chores they are assigned. However, all is not what it seems, as Persephone, the main character, soon discovers.
The plot progresses at a good pace, never tedious, though from a certain point on the comic goes from full color to black and white, but I have hopes that the final pages will be colored in the published edition.
Sci-fi and graphic novels are two of my favorite things to read, so I was immediately drawn to Arca when I first came across it on Goodreads. As luck would have it, I was also approved for an e-ARC, and the sheer excitement I felt when I got the e-mail for the approval was frankly a little embarrassing, but I digress.
Even though I usually prefer more flowy and dreamy art styles, the story of Arca was so engrossing that I simply could not put it down - aboard a spacecraft a group of young "Settlers" serve and pamper the wealthy "Citizens" who built the ship that allowed them to escape the ruin and devastation of the Earth in search of Eden. Upon turning 18, the Settlers become Citizens and are freed of their obligation to complete the chores they are assigned. However, all is not what it seems, as Persephone, the main character, soon discovers.
The plot progresses at a good pace, never tedious, though from a certain point on the comic goes from full color to black and white, but I have hopes that the final pages will be colored in the published edition.
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