Middlewest: The Complete Tale

Middlewest #1-18

by Skottie Young, Jorge Corona (Artist), Jean-François Beaulieu (Colorist)

When a violent storm levels his sleepy Middlewest town, Abel and his childhood companion, Fox, must hastily flee into a world of mystical carnies and soothsayer hobos, bridge trolls and wilderness spirits, endless forests and forgotten children.

SKOTTIE YOUNG (Strange Academy, I HATE FAIRYLAND) and JORGE CORONA (NO. 1 WITH A BULLET, Feathers), with colorist JEAN-FRANCOIS BEAULIEU and letterer NATE PIEKOS, collect the complete Eisner Award-nominated tale of Abel, a boy who must navigate a strange and mysterious land in order to discover who he can become.

Collects MIDDLEWEST #1-18, with exclusive bonus features!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Adventure, Fiction, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Comics

560 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2021

About the author

Skottie Young has been an illustrator and cartoonist for over ten years working for entertainment and publishing companies such Marvel, Warner Bros., Image, Upper Deck, Mattel, and many more.

He is currently illustrating the New York Times Best Selling and Eisner Award Nominated adaptions of L. Frank Baum's OZ novels with writer Eric Shanower. The series has gained acclaim from both fans and critics.

Skottie currently lives in Illinois with his family, Casey, Baxter and their Saint Bernard, Emma.

Reviews

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start with the art and coloring - they're gorgeous, stunning, and deserve all the stars. The omnibus edition is beautiful. The story immersed me and the ending was just perfect.

Middlewest follows a boy who flees his abusive father. He wants to find his mother but looking for those who don't want to be found never ends well. Especially when generational anger, trauma, and abuse can transform people into elemental demons wreaking havoc.

What else? We get quality banter, fun familiars (a fox and a robot to mention just two), found family trope done right, no cheap sentiments.

Highly recommended!

[Roman Zarichnyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Опісля прочитання серії коміксів «Я ненавиджу казкову країну» Скотті Янґа, де він був сценаристом, художником і колористом водночас, я більше зацікавився творчістю цього коміксиста. Серія коміксів «Мідлвест» (2021) #1–18 є однією із найновіших робіт Скотті Янґа, де малюнком займався венесуельский художник Хорхе Корона. За колір у коміксі відповідав Жан-Франсуа Больє, який окрім того, що відомий фарбуванням «Нездоланного» Роберта Кіркмана, також допомагав у роботі з кольором Скотті Янґу над коміксом «Я ненавиджу казкову країну».

Події в коміксі відбуваються у світі сповненому прихованої магії, які беруть свій початок у місті Фармінґтон, де хлопець Авель живе нестерпним життям. Його батько занадто вибагливий удома, а мама покинула сім’ю за кілька років до цих подій. Батько вибухає за кожну дрібницю, що часто призводить до застосування фізичної сили проти над сином. Трагічний ланцюг подій розпочинається, коли Авель випадково проспав розвіз газет районом одного дня. І замість того, щоби зробити далі те, що сказав йому батько, вирішує потусуватися зі своїми друзями. І тут усе стає настільки фентезійно-трагічно, що хлопець тікає з дому. Адже те, на що перетворився його батько налякає будь-кого.

З цього короткого синопсису можна припустити, що однією із головних тем у коміксі є історія про сім’ю. І це так і є, адже стосунки між батьком Авеля й ним є надзвичайно важкими. А, прочитавши історію до кінця, ми розуміюємо, що Скотті Янґ гарно поклав у основу новосвтореного світу психологічний аспект про цикли насильства та зневаги, які відбуваються в сім’ях. І вийти з цього не так легко, як багатьом здається на перший погляд. Але це, звісно, ми дізнаємося вже ближче до останніх випусків, адже спершу історія більше виглядає, як роадсторі, де в кожному випуску читач відкриває щось нове й незвичне. Історія також наповнена великою кількістю персонажів, які мають свій характер, власне минуле, навіть розвиток під час усієї подорожі Авеля серединним світом.

Світ, який вигадав Скотті Янґ, трішки схожий на наш, але відрізняється в деяких дуже інтригуючих аспектах. Будинки та техніка живляться не електрикою, а резервуарами з булькаючою рожевою рідиною. Але це не є магією, бо сама магія має більше загадкову сторону. Хоча ніхто в Мідлвесті їй узагалі не дивується, адже вона не є рідкістю тут. Речовина ж є природного походження, яку добувають тяжкою працею заблукалих і покинутих дітей викрадених із вулиць брудних і занедбаних міст.

Природа цього фантастичного світу, який майстерно візуалізував Хорхе Корона, є багата, що дає змогу постійно дивуватися побаченому. Тут є духи, тролі та тварини, що вміють розмовляти. Є фантастичні ліси та будівлі, які кидають виклик фізиці й логіці. Є прекрасна й яскрава природа, краєвиди якої заворожують. Автори не бояться на постійній основі використовувати великі кадри, — на половину сторінки, сторінку чи цілі розвороти, — із детально пропрацьованим заднім фоном, промовляючи до читача: «Дивіться, цей світ, справді, фантастично прекрасний. Зупиніться на хвильку й помилуйтеся ним, як і ми під його побудови». Хоча герої виглядають мультяшно, але демонструють неймовірну глибину емоцій, що безсумнівно надає більшого емоційного забарвлення коміксу. Малюнок із яскравими фарбами Жан-Франсуа Больє прекрасний і засмоктує у світ із головою.

Я не читав багато коміксів Скотті Янґа, але «Мідлвест» виглядає чудовою роботою, завдяки поєднанню американського середньозахідного фентезі та оповіді про повноліття, яка є водночас похмурою та душевною. Мені сподобалося, тому, окрім того, щоби порадити вам також читати цей комікс, можу сказати тільки придбати перший том українською мовою, щоб збільшити ймовірність побачити наступні дві арки також у перекладі рідною мовою.

[Dávid Novotný · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern fairy tale, where boy must fight inner demons and find reconnection with father.
He travels through world that resembles some American middle west, but actually is more strange and dangerous, resembling strange urban fantasy.

Whole story is, I don't know weak I would say, as land is oppressed by some bad guys, everybody is fine with it, until some youg boy comes and just like that, they start to help him. Even though he screws up few times... Many things just came from thin air, to solve some problems on the road and move story further. Too many characters and too little explanations, with strange, unsatisfying ending.

What really puts this book to another level is amazing art. Skottie's vibrant colours and cartoonish style makes you enjoy each page.

So to sum it all you get not bad story with great art. Little more polishing and it could be true gem...

3* for story, one more just for the art.

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middlewest by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona.

Most comic guys (me included) know Skottie Young for his awesome variant covers, but the man also writes comics, and i just had to check this one out. The artwork by Jorge Corona is ridiculously cute, and together with very vibrant colors from Jean-Francois Beaulieu, it looks beautifull. I am also a sucker for complete tales under one cover, when possible ofcourse. The tale is a fantastical one, and follows a boy named Abel, who has a difficult relationship with his dad after his mother left. Abel and his dad both have a burden,  a monster inside of them when they get angry, Abel flees and so a adventure starts. O and there is also a talking fox and i am a sucker for talking animals in comics ! The story is sweet, and this goes down as a very fast read, but the big seller here is that gorgeous artwork.

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

all uv the three books wari good

[Ahadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was an amazing series this was a crazy book series with so many surprises if only there was more of this this was incredible.

[Em Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the artwork in this book. The fluidity of the style lent itself well to the story. The story was incredible. Generational trauma being healed between father and son? Sign me up.

[Trisha Parsons · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why I chose this book: I had a gift card to Barnes and Noble and I wanted to buy a graphic novel; this was one of the few I could find that was the whole collection in one book. I was interested in the artwork and the premise of the story, so I bought it.

Brief summary: Abel is a kid who has anger issues, but it'd be kind of hard not to when his dad hates him and abuses him. The author uses storms as an extended metaphor for abuse and toxic masculinity. Abel's dad turns into a raging storm when he gets mad and he marks Abel with the same affliction. After Abel is marked by his dad, he runs away to try and find answers and discover if he has to be just like his dad. He embarks on a winding journey, and along the way he learns about his family history and struggles with his own role within it and his sense of identity.

What I didn't like about the book: I really wanted to like this book more, but I was disappointed. The extended metaphor about abuse and toxic masculinity is so heavy-handed as to not even be a metaphor anymore. The author tells you exactly what he wants you to think about the topic. Abel also has a fox friend that's a huge missed opportunity for a wise guide character, but instead, he's just a fox that follows Abel around and says some things to him sometimes but never really does anything or has an opportunity to shine in his own right. While I'm a sucker for a happy ending, this book ends so pat after all the intense turmoil between Abel and his father, and the display of deep intergenerational trauma made it hard to believe the too-sweet ending. I also felt confused about the audience for the book. The language made it clear that it wasn't for kids, but in all other aspects, it felt like a book for kids.

What I like about the book: The artwork is one of the main things that drew my attention to this book. While I don't exactly care for the character design, the colors in these panels are gorgeous. The fantasy world of this novel is beautiful, and it is a joy to look at the rich illustrations.

[Yaroslav Chernovol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ну що ж нарешті дочитав цей тритомник. Якщо коротко перший том дуже вставив. Другий просідає, але тримається. Третій просто йде в розрив.

Сюжет же розказує про підлітка Авеля, якому батько передав прокляту мітку, яка перетворює його на буревія. З цього починається подорож Авеля та знайомство чарівником та чаклункою, дивним парком розваг, зниклим народом, дідом та іншими цікавими людьми.

М��люнок дуже прикольний, теплий фантазійний, а вкінці так взагалі бачимо неймовірні розвороти. І колір просто божественний.

Також тут багато додаткових матеріалів таких як інтерв'ю, скетчі, розкадровки та неймовірна кількість варіацій обкладинок.

[Hugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intensely emotional story with great illustrations. Also I love bonus features and the back of this book is packed with them. First time I've read anything by Skottie Young and I might be on the hunt for more now!

[Howell Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good art, with a sort of ramshackle feeing that works well in a fantasy story. Someof the battle scenes are hard to follow. The story is an entertaining Pinocchioesque tale

[The Cronker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong Start and finish. Lovely Tale of a young boy dealing with difficult emotions and a troubled Father.

[Tyler Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️
Skottie Young does it again in this book! A story that deals with breaking generational trauma, finding family out in the real world, and fighting through the pain even if it means losing yourself (in this case becoming a giant tornado monster) before yiu can find yourself. A much more serious and emotional story from Skottie and incredible art by Jorge Corona, Middlewest was a great story from start to finish with an ending I didn't quite expect, but happy with the choice Abel makes for himself.
I think Jorge's dedication at the end really sums up this series perfectly: "To family, born or found. To the people that make us and break us. To those who come into our lives and shape us into who we are today. Thank you."

[DJ Dycus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monumental, mythic

[Steven Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was awesome. First of all, this probably has the best art of any graphic novel I’ve read. It leaps off the page and into your noggin, super maximalist weird west pseudo-science fantasy Midwest? I’m here for it. The characters are strong, and the dialogue / plot are solid if a little cliched, but man combined with the fabulous art it all just clicks together really well.

I would love to see this animated by a really skilled studio.

[fruitbatwoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the best comics I read so far. The story is heartfelt and with just enough fantasy to tackle the difficult topic of intergenerational transmission of violence and domestic abuse. I loved everything about this comic, the characters, the story, the pacing, and the gorgeous and unique art style. Highly recommend!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Deals with generational trauma in a really interesting way. Great art and colors as well!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generational trauma 😔

[Brad Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man, this one was a journey. I had volume one for probably over a month before I actually started reading. I expected great things from this story. When I finally ordered volumes two and three, I still waited a while before reading. And I gotta say, when I finally started reading, it did not live up to the hype I made for it…

Volume 1 was a little boring, set up the conflict between Abel and his dad, introduced us to Maggie, Bobby, and the rest of the gang, and then ended on the cliffhanger of Abel storming all over the carnival.

Volume 2 was all about Abel going out for a cure to his storm heart, but instead he found his grandfather and saw a little bit of why his dad might’ve ended up how he did.

Volume 3 saw Abel and Bobby kidnapped and forced to work on the Raiders farm. This was by far the best book in the series. Gotta be honest the ending very nearly got me. I like the themes of found family, but I like even more that after Abel and his father reconciled, Abel still left with his found family. I like that Abel‘s dad didn’t hate him, but that he kind of expected everything to be ok after they made up. And I like that the story didn’t reward him.

Don’t even get me started on the art style in the colors in the series because oh my god it’s probably some of the best I’ve ever seen. Also, the way things glow is so nice. However, it was a little bit difficult to read. I had to hold a flashlight over the books for the entire series that was a little bit tiresome, but didn’t fully take away from the experience, but I do have to dock a point for it I’d be interested to take these back to Cookeville and read them there because I’m on spring break right now and this is where I’ve read them. Maybe a better lighting set up will make a difference there.

I also have to dock a point for subtlety. I’m always a fan of less is more, especially when it comes to comic books and you can very easily illustrate how a character feels rather than tell you how they feel. I don’t feel like the story did anything particularly groundbreaking in terms of pushing the medium of comic books. That end of itself is not a bad thing, but what is a bad thing is how it just kept telling you everything. The theme of found family and parenthood and all of that is not subtle. It’s practically explained to you and dialogue throughout the whole series. I’m a big boy. I can figure this stuff out by myself. I did not need the comic to tell me how I was supposed to feel about what it was trying to say.

Overall, I still really loved this and I’m definitely gonna revisit it at some point because this was a great read. I’d say for now it’ll sit at a very solid 8/10 (scored this way before I started using this app).

[Storm Bookwyrm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst reading Middlewest - a tale of robots, of talking animals, of magical curses, hobo-wizards and gasoline farms - My mind couldn't help but turn towards a movie I'd recently seen that had a story that was HAUNTINGLY similar. It was a story that, like Middlewest, had:
- Generational trauma, between a grandparent, a parent, and a child.
- A magical curse that transforms all three of these characters into a monster that acts upon their basest instincts
- A final showdown between the parent and the child, both as their cursed selves, with forgiveness as the key.
I am of course talking about the Disney film, 'Turning Red'.

Many are the stories that have come from Disney concerning this theme, of 'a family that pushes down their child', and ends with a measure of understanding and forgiveness. But always, at the end of such tales, I find myself just a touch... ...unsatisfied? "Forgive your family because you love them" feels like a nice, crowd-pleasing moral that gives everyone the happy ending they want. But somehow it doesn't please me. It feels like you're being told that, however crappy your family is, blood is thicker than water and you just HAVE to love them because hey, they did some nice things for you sometimes too, didn't they? "Surely your staunchly traditionalist parents will understand how important your hopes and dreams are if you just TELL them how you feel, right?"

Middlewest ends SEEMINGLY the same, with a confrontation between Abel and his abusive father, Abel offering his father forgiveness. But where Disney flubs it with its pithy "Families should love eachother", Middlewest sticks the landing for me with an important nuance of WHY forgiveness is important. It's not so you can just hug it out with your parents and go home to just keep being a family, the status quo achieved. Abel forgives his father so that he can forgive HIMSELF. He forgives his literal rage-monster father so that he can see him for what he truly is; someone who, once upon a time, was exactly like Abel himself, someone who could not forgive his father, could not forgive himself, and so could never be more than his anger. By forgiving his father, but also WALKING AWAY, Abel makes the choice to break the chain of violence, accepting his mistakes and moving past them to become bigger and better.

That, for me, is why Middlewest is fantastic. The art is great, the world is great, the characters and the ideas are all intensely creative, but it is the absolutely perfect ending that draws it all together into a truly satisfying experience.

[Julia Banek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never been landlocked. Back east, back home, I had the solace of the lapping sea and the lull of lazy, languid lakes and rivers. It was a beautiful day if a breeze pitied us enough to momentarily lift the curtain of steaming humidity off our faces. Here, on the west coast, I have crawled into a claustrophobic corridor, corralled on both sides by soaring mountains that rebuff the wind.

Maybe it is because it's so foreign that I dream about the Midwest. I have epic nightmares of leviathan-like tornadoes ripping through the flat lands and decimating my home. I watch myself from a distance --like a movie-- hunker down in dirty crawl spaces, whimper under mattresses in a bathtub, or cower in the corner of a cellar while the raging cyclone does its work above. I've had these dreams on and off for years and I have a perverse fascination with them.

So, I really liked the idea of a comic adventure set in the Midwest, or the fictionalized version: Middlewest. I was even more intrigued once I learned that the author is from the Midwest. And in many respects, I feel I got what I came for: excellent artistic interpretations of bestial tornadoes, a quest, and (as much as the comic aims to diversify) strong tones of Midwest culture. What I didn't bargain for was metaphors lacking subtlety, a predictable and convenient plot, a poorly characterized cast in need of unique voices, and the lack of commitment to side characters' resolutions.

[I am particularly peeved about the one character I really enjoyed: Fox. He's a sarcastic, rebellious little shit who clearly has some growing to do AND he's cute and fluffy? And you're telling me he has just disappeared from the final issues? You're going to write him out once Abel's learned his lesson from him like he's all used up? How's that fair [to me]? I'm supposed to be okay with that?]

Overall, I am pleased with the themes of this comic and the author's bravery in broaching them. It isn't a simple task to insert the concept of breaking generational cycles of violent trauma into a comic book. However, the execution of the endeavor is probably more suitable for a young adult audience or perhaps people who can identify with the main character and could benefit from the catharsis it may offer.

Me? I've been on that quest. Now I watch the storms in my dreams.

[Daniel Kovacs Rezsuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t have much experience with Skottie Young's writing prior to reading this: I might have read an odd issue of I Hate Fairyland and the 2004 run of the New X-Men which he wrote a few issues of, but not much else.

I only read one other comic book drawn by Jorge Corona called Goners. It wasn’t an offensively lousy book by any measure, but I barely remember anything besides the tired old trope of monster-hunting kids. All I can say is his art has improved a lot since 2014.

The thing I liked most about the book is the artwork: expressive, cartoony dynamism with gritty textures and a somber color palette, making it a visual equivalent of a mid-western emo song with some folk influence.

The narrative is very much like a modern folk tale. The speculative elements are not written in an immersive way that would make the world believable and coherent. Every fantastic detail is there to serve the story, either as a plot device or an allegory.

The issue is that the allegories are pretty flat: the issues of domestic violence, toxic masculinity, generational trauma, and the themes of a coming-of-age story are spelled out explicitly alongside the allegorical representations of these, such as the storm monsters the characters turn into while they are in a fit of rage, the bar-fight the abusive father gets into while looking for his son, the flashback brought up by the memory reading lady and the runaway kid finding a new family with members of the carney group.

The plot is well structured. Skottie Young is obviously a talented storyteller. Even his narrations are pretty tight. My problem is with the dialogue. It feels overwritten a bit, even though Young aimed for a natural and spontaneous voice for the characters, highlighting their personality. They sound a bit the same to me this way. Fortunately, during the moments the story tries to be action-heavy, emotional, or powerful (sublime even), Young keeps the dialogues restrained, allowing the visual storytelling to shine.

[Guillermo · Rating 3 out of 5]

No eres tú, Middlewest, soy yo. Tú lo has puesto casi todo bien y de forma notable, pero creo que yo no estoy para estos cuentos, el cuerpo me pide más épica. O en su defecto, y fue lo que en un primer momento intuí en ti, muchas más emotividad.

Lo cierto es que todo se aprecia como una fábula con poco punch. Existe una sensación de levedad en casi todo el relato, una constante sensación de superficialidad.

El dramatismo con el que arranca la historia se ve lastrado por la animadversión que levanta el niño, pelín borde e insoportable y con el que no he llegado a conectar. Y no empatizar, tratándose de una historia movida por los sentimientos que aquí se exponen, es grave. Tampoco ayuda un elenco de secundarios poco carismáticos.

Aparte del motor que supone el padre, hay una evidente ausencia de una fuerza antagonista que traccione la historia. La mera presencia del padre como ¿villano? no lo es. A pesar de ello, el nivel de tensión despega un poco a partir del último tercio, cuando la situación da un giro que eleva el tono y la violencia.

En la parte gráfica el arte es excelso, con peros. El dibujo es sublime, más aún la aplicación del color, pero le condenan la sensación de semejanza de todos sus escenarios y ambientaciones, todas con unas formas muy similares. Se notan como decorados de cartón piedra. Buen uso de las splash y algunas soluciones gráficas que rompen con la narrativa e impactan.

En general, me deja a medio gas porque no ha llegado a emocionarme en ningún momento.

[lili.darknight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Na tvorbu Skottieho Younga som narazila už niekoľkokrát a vždy som vedela, že sa k nej raz prepracujem. Predpokladala som však, že sa najskôr dostanem k o niečo známejšej sérii I Hate Fairyland. Miesto toho som siahla po sérii Middlewest. Vo svetle iných rozsiahlych komiksových sérií ide skôr o minisériu (má len tri zväzky po šesť kapitol). Vizuálne veľmi príťažlivú, nádherne farebnú, detailnú a vyslovene príjemnú.

Po príbehovej stránke ponúka rozprávanie o Abelovi, malom chlapcovi, ktorý žije s tyranským otcom. Jedného dňa však pomyselný pohár pretečie a Abel uteká z domova. Na svojej ceste však zistí, že v jeho hrudi sa skrýva búrka – tajomná deštruktívna sila, ktorá sa prebúdza s jeho hnevom a Abel ju „dostal“ od otca. Príbeh je navyše možné vnímať v dvoch rovinách. V tej reálnej, kde ide o domáce násilie, neovládateľný hnev a snahu nájsť svoje miesto vo svete. V tej metaforickej zase o boj s neznámou deštruktívnou silou, ktorá sa nedá ovládať a všetkých ohrozuje.

Vo viacerých ohľadoch je to veľmi smutné čítanie. Abelov príbeh bodá a útočí bez zbytočného citového vydierania. Je to drsné a srdcervúce a až príliš realistické. Všetko nakoniec vyvrcholí v trochu očakávanom, no napriek tomu silnom finále. Middlewest je skrátka príbeh, ktorý sa s čitateľom nemazná. Ide až na kožu, a vlastne až pod ňu, a pritom medzi riadkami ponúka mnohé presahy a nabáda čitateľa, aby si medzi nimi našiel to svoje.

[Cruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid compendium. It wears its heart entirely on its sleeve; thematically the story is about generational trauma, with any other element playing second fiddle. Sure, the art is great, and the pace is whip fast, but if you're looking for subtlety this book isn't what you need.

Having your character begin their journey in the mundane, and then be plunged into a world of fantasy that may or not be real is a trope that gets subverted here. The first issue is slice of life, the protagonist delivering papers, shoplifting, and dealing with his abusive father. That you gradually delve deeper into this adapted Midwest setting with rotating geographies and communities is a point in the novel's favor; there's no gotcha moment in the end where the reader is plunged back into the "real."

The powers of the father and the son, the curse of inherited anger, aren't a metaphor here; it's a direct concept of personality, which confuses the magic system a little, as other characters have access to magic but don't seem to have it depend on their emotional makeup.

The dialogue is frequently boilerplate. It could have been a richer experience if the right questions had been asked during editing, of the "is this line overused? Would a better word have worked here?" variety.

This isn't a bad time, just not an excellent one.

[Ricardo Nuno Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel revealed itself to be an odd, intriguing and powerfull story.
The art is just magnificent, gorgeous at every level of detail, from characters closeups till the oversized thunderous panoramas.
As the reader starts this saga (3 volumes), little is known about the characters and settings.
But as the story slowly progresses, small oral and visual clues build up to help keeping the reader interested and wondering how all that will end.

This story touches a lot of bases (maybe too many), from family conflicts, domestic violence, anger, regret, despair and overwhelming sadness to friendship, loyalty, respect, hope and the will to change.

There's a lot of world building in "Middlewest" but, looking back, the reader only gets a few glimpses of a larger history and mythology that sure sounds interesting but is only vaguely explained. Truth be told, a few key details in the story (and backstory) aren't properly explained.

This is a story mainly about a father and son relationship and the kid's desire to affirm himself and find his place in the world.
It features great dialogues, some wise reflections and advice (at times they almost seem like small self-help lessons).
This book tries to connect with the reader and leave some core messages.
It's a great effort and the result delivers.
Highly recommended.

[David H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read anything from Skottie Young before, but I was intrigued by the cute-looking cover with the boy and the fox (despite the monster behind him). I had the complete story, collecting all 18 original issues. The setting is a fun wild mashup of science fiction and fantasy (robots and strange fuel, monsters and magic), but it's very focused on one boy--Abel, whose mother left him and his abusive father Dale some years before. Dale's rage is finally triggered enough at one point in the first issue that he literally turns into a personified storm or tornado, which sets in motion everything as Abel runs away, but of course, it turns out Abel has his own fear and rage which begins to manifest itself.

Young and the wonderful team of artists working on this (I loved Corona's art, but wow, did the colorist Beaulieu really add some fun pop to the pages) did a pretty good job with such a heavy topic, but I thought the exploration of intergenerational trauma was pretty good. I do think the ending could have been slightly more satisfying (I've already seen some other reviews discuss the complicated issue of forgiveness), though I think it works fairly well for what Young is trying to address.

If you like found families, this has quite a lot of it.

[Norman Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022 Eisner Award finalist - Best Graphic Album—Reprint

This is a deceptive comic. The loose, somewhat cartoony artwork by Jorge Corona looks like it should be for an all-ages comedy (reinforced by author Skottie Young's reputation as an artist specializing in cute, juvenilized caricatures of super-heroes), but it's soon apparent that this is a serious story about domestic violence and slavery. The story focuses on a boy named Abel's quest to break the cycle of domestic violence passed down from his grandfather to his father. It's also a story that shows that sometimes adopted families are stronger than biological families. The book is a hybrid between fantasy and science fiction, with both talking animals and talking robots. The society is powered by a mysterious pink fluid which is not explained until well into the second half of the book when it becomes a sort of McGuffan and Abel is indentured to a vicious overlord who controls the market for the substance. The book is full of emotional beats as well as cinematic action sequences. The story is nicely wrapped up, but there is certainly plenty of room for Young and Corona to expand this world, and I hope they revisit it.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories that take kids dealing with real world trauma and add speculative fiction elements to it often leave me a bit inert, but Middlewest toes that line quite well. The decadent, sharp linework by Jorge Corona and vibrant colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu definitely bolster this comic a tier above, but the writing is also sharp and witty. Young really knows how to dial down the melodrama when needed and let the story breathe between issues.

The story is largely about how generational trauma and abuse affect the protagonist, a young boy named Abel. As Abel engages with his small town of Middlewest, he is swept into the more fantastical world beneath the real world in his attempt to flee an abusive father. The story delves deeper into the fantasy, but with the backdrop of Abel's trauma continuing to drive the narrative. A lot of this could have been quite cliché, but I feel that Young was conscious about the way the story needed to be framed to deliver something unique.

It's a poignant, heartfelt comic that is beautifully illustrated. The story is a good enough reason to recommend Middlewest, but the stunning artwork makes it a much easier sell.

[Yani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting. I mean it was also completely and absolutely on the nose and predictable once the premise gets going, but it does it in a way that is more interesting than a straight interpretation would be.

Firstly, the art by Jorge Corona and the colours by Jean-François Beaulieu are beautiful. I mean, the art is occasionally very scrungly... but good scrungly. The kind of scrungly I could definitely get behind.

And I love the world... from the Alt Universe USA setting on down to the pink glowing stand-in for gasoline.

It just didn't really... surprise me or excite me very much when it came to the storytelling. Yep, I get that becoming a storm is a cypher for intergenerational emotional abuse... because you pared the storm thing with actual emotional abuse/anger management issues. Which is fine, it just lacks nuance. And there wasn't really any subtext to read into because it was all basically just text.

And again, none of that is necessarily a criticism, I enjoyed my time in the world, I just wanted more than the story was designed to offer. And that's fine.