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Gunnerkrigg Court #2
Gunnerkrigg Court, Volume 2: Research
Annie and Kat begin their second year at Gunnerkrigg Court! Parts of Annie's past are revealed, as well as mysteries that tie back to the origins of the Court itself. Finding a secret tomb of ancient robots beneath Kat's workshop leads the two friends to question how they are linked to the mysterious ghost that attacked Annie the year before. And as a new Medium-In-Training, Annie is able to visit the powerful trickster god Coyote in Gillitie Forest, a visit that reveals more than she ever imagined!
Contains chapters 15-22 of the webcomic.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 2010
11 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Siddell
49 books209 followersVery little is known of Tom, as he doesn't speak about himself much. He is English, resides in Birmingham, recently was employed as an animator at a video game company but in 2012 decided to leave to work on Gunnerkrigg Court full time.
There is also conjecture that he likes Cadbury Extra Thick Chocolate Cakes, but no suitable references were provided.
There is also conjecture that he likes Cadbury Extra Thick Chocolate Cakes, but no suitable references were provided.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
August 22, 2024
The art has gotten much better from volume 1. Much more expressive and defined faces. The world building is also starting to come together. Instead of just introducing mystery box after mystery box, Siddell has picked up those threads from volume 1 and started to weave a cohesive mythology out of them. A great all ages title for both kids and adults.
March 4, 2020
I had no sooner finished with the first installment of Tom Siddell's marvelous Gunnerkrigg Court graphic novel series, than I was reaching for this second volume, which, considering how busy my weekend has been, I blew through in record time. The good news is that it was even better than the first! (Hard to believe, I know, but true). The bad news? There are only a few more chapters available, online, at the Gunnerkrigg Court website, which means that soon I'll be eagerly awaiting new updates, along with all the other devoted fans...
Antimony Carver and Kat Donlon return for their second year at the mysterious Gunnerkrigg Court boarding school, and are immediately sucked in to the magical doings, as they help a new fairy student (whom the reader has already met, in another form) win back her friend. Although there are fewer chapters here, than in the first volume - eight, rather than fourteen - the reader will come away satisfied, having learned a little more about the history of the Court, and its "opposition" in Gillitie Wood. The chapter in which Antimony visits with Coyote, in the wood, was particularly interesting, and I'm eager to see how Siddell develops this idea of the Court being "man's endeavour to become God." I'm also fascinated by the idea of magic as "etheric science," and (again) eager to learn more.
With robots and ghosts, psychopomps and demons, and the return of many of the secondary characters that made the first installment so appealing, this was an absolute joy to read! The book itself, as a physical object, was very engaging, with the heavy hardcover binding giving it a hefty, solid feeling in my hands, and the thick, glossy paper making paging through a real pleasure. The artwork continued to impress me, although I sometimes thought that Siddell used the blank white eye "effect" too often, with his backgrounded characters. Still, that's a minor quibble, as the overall effect was so appealing. As mentioned above, I'm ready for more! Get to work, Mr. Siddell...
Antimony Carver and Kat Donlon return for their second year at the mysterious Gunnerkrigg Court boarding school, and are immediately sucked in to the magical doings, as they help a new fairy student (whom the reader has already met, in another form) win back her friend. Although there are fewer chapters here, than in the first volume - eight, rather than fourteen - the reader will come away satisfied, having learned a little more about the history of the Court, and its "opposition" in Gillitie Wood. The chapter in which Antimony visits with Coyote, in the wood, was particularly interesting, and I'm eager to see how Siddell develops this idea of the Court being "man's endeavour to become God." I'm also fascinated by the idea of magic as "etheric science," and (again) eager to learn more.
With robots and ghosts, psychopomps and demons, and the return of many of the secondary characters that made the first installment so appealing, this was an absolute joy to read! The book itself, as a physical object, was very engaging, with the heavy hardcover binding giving it a hefty, solid feeling in my hands, and the thick, glossy paper making paging through a real pleasure. The artwork continued to impress me, although I sometimes thought that Siddell used the blank white eye "effect" too often, with his backgrounded characters. Still, that's a minor quibble, as the overall effect was so appealing. As mentioned above, I'm ready for more! Get to work, Mr. Siddell...
July 21, 2011
Gah! I gave in and obtained the print version of this, but it actually ends before the online version! I will never find out what happens! Damn you, Tom Siddell! When are you going to quit your day job?!
August 2, 2012
The second of the volumes available at my local public library. Now I am actually engaged enough in the story that I may have to read the rest online. More power to Tom Siddell for having enough fans to sell hardcover volumes of his free web comic, but as much fun as it is, $26.95 for each of (I think) 14 volumes or so is a bit stiff.
This is the story of Annie and Kat's second year atHogwartsGunnerkrigg Court. We get a little bit more about the background of the Court and the forest and the beasties who live in it, as well as a bit more about the kids' parents. However, at the end of this volume, there really haven't been a lot of questions answered. Annie is now studying to be a medium, a guide who escorts the dead to the afterlife. Her natural gift for this sort of work, and the way in which it first manifested, was revealed in a scene that was as heartbreaking as it was shocking.
The various robots, faeries, dragons, and gods who inhabit the setting continue to be interesting if a bit silly at times, and the whole "magic vs. technology" theme that seems to be building around the Court leaves me not terribly interested - been there, seen that. I do really like Coyote, and love the fact that he's obviously going to be a regular returning character. And Siddell has refined his humor a bit in this second volume - it was a lot funnier.
I still wish it wasn't quite so derivative of Harry Potter (the flashbacks to Annie and Kat's parents' school days read like straight-up Marauders fan fiction), but I continue to find the friendship between the girls to be one of the most attractive elements in the series.
So, probably you won't get future reviews of the series because I'm going to finish it off online, but I am finding it enjoyable enough to continue.
This is the story of Annie and Kat's second year at
The various robots, faeries, dragons, and gods who inhabit the setting continue to be interesting if a bit silly at times, and the whole "magic vs. technology" theme that seems to be building around the Court leaves me not terribly interested - been there, seen that. I do really like Coyote, and love the fact that he's obviously going to be a regular returning character. And Siddell has refined his humor a bit in this second volume - it was a lot funnier.
I still wish it wasn't quite so derivative of Harry Potter (the flashbacks to Annie and Kat's parents' school days read like straight-up Marauders fan fiction), but I continue to find the friendship between the girls to be one of the most attractive elements in the series.
So, probably you won't get future reviews of the series because I'm going to finish it off online, but I am finding it enjoyable enough to continue.
January 30, 2022
A second read through reminds me why I was eager to continue with this series when I first tried it a decade ago. The mythology is so rich and the characters are so charming -- even if there are too many of them, I mean like four dozen recurring characters in the first two volumes alone. I love the quirky art and dialogue.
I'm ready to move on to material that is new to me with Volume 3.
I'm ready to move on to material that is new to me with Volume 3.
March 26, 2015
The adventures of Antimony continuing from Gunnerkrigg Court Vol. 1 Orientation A number of complete episodes. Though this one ends with an episode that's a flashback to the parents' generation.
The weirdness continues. Fairies who commit suicide in order to go to the school. A midnight excursion to the school's power plant. Discussion of the school's medium, who deals with the woods. And more
The weirdness continues. Fairies who commit suicide in order to go to the school. A midnight excursion to the school's power plant. Discussion of the school's medium, who deals with the woods. And more
April 12, 2021
What a great comic! Quirky, funny, mysterious, complex, sometimes scary, sometimes warm and fuzzy, with a pinch of tragedy... Gunnerkrigg Court has it all. Volume 1 introduced a seemingly simple world with a few mysteries, which all deepen and become complex in this second volume. We get more backstory, more mysteries, as some get resolved. But as with any good story, the more we learn, the more questions we have. I love the humor in this series. The mini-stories (or what seems to be mini-stories now, which may later tie in with the larger plot threads) are great, too. Overall, very enjoyable and laugh-out-loud funny. Recommended for those who like power plants, secret dungeons, and robot fights.
September 10, 2020
This is the second book in the series. I wish I had read this one a bit sooner, as I have forgotten many of the details from the first volume. Still, it's a very engaging tale and I hope I can get the next volume soon.
interesting quotes:
"...one day you'll realize you don't hafta hide who you are just to fit in." (p. 238)
"" (p. )
"" (p. )
interesting quotes:
"...one day you'll realize you don't hafta hide who you are just to fit in." (p. 238)
"" (p. )
"" (p. )
October 11, 2011
(note: reviewed w/ volume 1)
The British Boarding School and the supernatural elements will undoubtedly excite Harry Potter fans, or cause them to sigh “been there, done that,” (just as many Fantasy (read Tolkien) fans had before them). There is also an element of familial inheritance in the story-line, Antimony and Kat’s parents were friends and attended Gunnerkrigg Court before them, creating some mysterious story-lines of their own. However, the Harry Potter familiarity ends there. Gunnerkrigg Court is an oddity all its own, and I found the reviews likening it to Gaiman’s Sandman series much more apt. As aquafortis notes, like Sandman Siddell’s Gunnerkrigg Court ”bring[s] in a wide range of mythological and magical elements that seem disparate but somehow come together.” And like Sandman, Gunnerkrigg Court contains stories and elements (both text and image) that seem bizarrely elsewhere but come together.
The first volume Orientation binds 15 chapters and at the beginning it requires some patience and–orientation. As the setting, the strange occurrences, and the characters become more familiar, the story takes on greater coherence. Research has the more cohesive feel, but the author still moves in and out of time and focus at will. And, strangely, it works. There are mysteries that intrigue the reader. And there are characters who charm the reader into turning pages and searching them out. You may not be sure where you are headed, but there is still a sense that everything is moving forward, toward something.
There are several characters to follow, and some have present and past versions; mind the clothing and hair styles, there are no formatting hints to transitions between past and present (i.e. distinct panel borders, page colors, tints, text box alerts or chapter breaks). Antimony (the red head) and Kat (the other), as they become and are, are the two main characters of Gunnerkrigg Court; Antimony, of the two, is the main figure. Much of the story is about friendship, and the family you create. It is also about appearances and possibility. And how having mad intellect and imagination is very cool!
Antimony is a classic hero figure, except for the lack of discernible flaws. Her odd upbringing is hardly a detraction–though maybe a teen reader would argue this point. She is smooth and cool about most everything; although much of this maybe attributed to the way she’s drawn. When she cries it is a surprise and I guess, intellectually, I feel sorry for her, but she has so much going for her, pity is a difficult well from which to draw. Kat and Reynard (demon stuffy/wolf), among others, really animate the setting. They are the laughter and adrenaline. Although, regardless of who or what is in frame, Siddell has no difficulty creating movement, as well as a stillness when atmosphere is required.
Panels/pages never feel excessive or lacking. I would prefer some of the transitions smoother. Does an understanding that the bound book is a translated form create a plausible excuse? I don’t know. But reminders like the end of chapter page featuring an informative comic splice go a long way in reminding the reader Gunnerkrigg Court is a serialized comic, not a graphic novel. Siddell has allowed himself a freedom in the versatility of his storytelling and rendering of image and form. Like his use of mythologies and technology, his illustrations are eclectic–and fitting.
Siddell can move from serious to humorous in a blink and often does this with a great sense of timing. He does the same with the disturbing and normal. That isn’t to say that he would try to turn everything upside down and backwards just because he can. Issues of Nature versus Technology, Ancient vs. Modern, Magic vs. Science, Living and Dead, Ghost and Shell, all serious realms of exploration that Siddell attacks playfully, but not with disregard. Siddell uses Gunnerkrigg Court and Gillitie Wood to compose each side. In places the pairs are inextricably linked, in others they are in fierce competition, and Coyote seems to be often found at the center of them all–Coyote and Antimony, “There was a great division which saw the court and the wood separated. Nature on one side, technology on the other. And this is where you [Antimony] come in. Or people like you” (Research, 67).
The silly and the weird and the adolescent cannot completely distract from the ominous undertones which make themselves blatantly known upon occasion. There is something serious going on, a not unfamiliar struggle, for which one shouldn’t try to anticipate an ending. Siddell is not only flexible, but not wholly predictable. This is just one of those series where you just go along for the ride.
***************
Gunnerkrigg Court (Archaia Press) will likely be found in the Teen Section, surely its best audience, though this series should not be dismissed by Adults. There is some language, some scares, and violence/blood, but nothing that would keep it out of the hands of 10 & up–so far.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
The British Boarding School and the supernatural elements will undoubtedly excite Harry Potter fans, or cause them to sigh “been there, done that,” (just as many Fantasy (read Tolkien) fans had before them). There is also an element of familial inheritance in the story-line, Antimony and Kat’s parents were friends and attended Gunnerkrigg Court before them, creating some mysterious story-lines of their own. However, the Harry Potter familiarity ends there. Gunnerkrigg Court is an oddity all its own, and I found the reviews likening it to Gaiman’s Sandman series much more apt. As aquafortis notes, like Sandman Siddell’s Gunnerkrigg Court ”bring[s] in a wide range of mythological and magical elements that seem disparate but somehow come together.” And like Sandman, Gunnerkrigg Court contains stories and elements (both text and image) that seem bizarrely elsewhere but come together.
The first volume Orientation binds 15 chapters and at the beginning it requires some patience and–orientation. As the setting, the strange occurrences, and the characters become more familiar, the story takes on greater coherence. Research has the more cohesive feel, but the author still moves in and out of time and focus at will. And, strangely, it works. There are mysteries that intrigue the reader. And there are characters who charm the reader into turning pages and searching them out. You may not be sure where you are headed, but there is still a sense that everything is moving forward, toward something.
There are several characters to follow, and some have present and past versions; mind the clothing and hair styles, there are no formatting hints to transitions between past and present (i.e. distinct panel borders, page colors, tints, text box alerts or chapter breaks). Antimony (the red head) and Kat (the other), as they become and are, are the two main characters of Gunnerkrigg Court; Antimony, of the two, is the main figure. Much of the story is about friendship, and the family you create. It is also about appearances and possibility. And how having mad intellect and imagination is very cool!
Antimony is a classic hero figure, except for the lack of discernible flaws. Her odd upbringing is hardly a detraction–though maybe a teen reader would argue this point. She is smooth and cool about most everything; although much of this maybe attributed to the way she’s drawn. When she cries it is a surprise and I guess, intellectually, I feel sorry for her, but she has so much going for her, pity is a difficult well from which to draw. Kat and Reynard (demon stuffy/wolf), among others, really animate the setting. They are the laughter and adrenaline. Although, regardless of who or what is in frame, Siddell has no difficulty creating movement, as well as a stillness when atmosphere is required.
Panels/pages never feel excessive or lacking. I would prefer some of the transitions smoother. Does an understanding that the bound book is a translated form create a plausible excuse? I don’t know. But reminders like the end of chapter page featuring an informative comic splice go a long way in reminding the reader Gunnerkrigg Court is a serialized comic, not a graphic novel. Siddell has allowed himself a freedom in the versatility of his storytelling and rendering of image and form. Like his use of mythologies and technology, his illustrations are eclectic–and fitting.
Siddell can move from serious to humorous in a blink and often does this with a great sense of timing. He does the same with the disturbing and normal. That isn’t to say that he would try to turn everything upside down and backwards just because he can. Issues of Nature versus Technology, Ancient vs. Modern, Magic vs. Science, Living and Dead, Ghost and Shell, all serious realms of exploration that Siddell attacks playfully, but not with disregard. Siddell uses Gunnerkrigg Court and Gillitie Wood to compose each side. In places the pairs are inextricably linked, in others they are in fierce competition, and Coyote seems to be often found at the center of them all–Coyote and Antimony, “There was a great division which saw the court and the wood separated. Nature on one side, technology on the other. And this is where you [Antimony] come in. Or people like you” (Research, 67).
The silly and the weird and the adolescent cannot completely distract from the ominous undertones which make themselves blatantly known upon occasion. There is something serious going on, a not unfamiliar struggle, for which one shouldn’t try to anticipate an ending. Siddell is not only flexible, but not wholly predictable. This is just one of those series where you just go along for the ride.
***************
Gunnerkrigg Court (Archaia Press) will likely be found in the Teen Section, surely its best audience, though this series should not be dismissed by Adults. There is some language, some scares, and violence/blood, but nothing that would keep it out of the hands of 10 & up–so far.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
finish-maybe-someday
October 31, 2017Read free here: http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=305
December 20, 2014
"Hmm, an ominous passage, that plunges into blackness, sealed behind lock and chain."
"You know what this means"
"We must see where it leads!"
This volume collects the chapters 15-22 of the webcomic Gunnerkrigg Court. The comic follows Antimony Carver through her years at the mysterious titular school, and builds as it goes along. Starting at the beginning is best.
Note: I am reviewing the comics collected, not the print edition.
After an exciting first year at GC and a quiet Summer Antimony is eagerly awaiting the return of her best friend Kat and the start of school. As one can expect at GC, it promises to be at least as eventful.
As great as the first 14 chapters were, GC somehow keeps getting better and better. We get more adventures, more details about the school, the woods and the past, and fallout from Coyote's visit to the Court. The pacing and balance is superb, and the mix of humor and drama outstanding. Each chapter is in a sense a complete story, but they all contribute to expanding the overall plot and our understanding of the characters. Themes of science versus nature and the existence of magic continue to slowly build in fascinating ways.
The large supporting cast is integrated here and there, always in character and in ways that makes sense, making sure everyone remains somewhat in the spotlight while avoiding using anyone irrelevantly. Jones is a great new character and the mediation stuff seem like it's going to be really interesting. The entire cast is amazingly well developed and three dimensional in general. Mort and Reynardine in particular amuse me to no end. Most importantly Antimony and Kat remain multi-layered, engaging and likable heroines.
The art is highly stylized and might take some getting used to, but it is expertly done and I personally adore it. It's also interesting to track as the comic goes on, because there is observable improvement over time as the artist perfects things.
Overall Gunnerkrigg Court continues to be phenomenal stuff. It's quirky, compelling and just a flat out wonderful read.
Highly recommended.
2/23/13
"You know what this means"
"We must see where it leads!"
This volume collects the chapters 15-22 of the webcomic Gunnerkrigg Court. The comic follows Antimony Carver through her years at the mysterious titular school, and builds as it goes along. Starting at the beginning is best.
Note: I am reviewing the comics collected, not the print edition.
After an exciting first year at GC and a quiet Summer Antimony is eagerly awaiting the return of her best friend Kat and the start of school. As one can expect at GC, it promises to be at least as eventful.
As great as the first 14 chapters were, GC somehow keeps getting better and better. We get more adventures, more details about the school, the woods and the past, and fallout from Coyote's visit to the Court. The pacing and balance is superb, and the mix of humor and drama outstanding. Each chapter is in a sense a complete story, but they all contribute to expanding the overall plot and our understanding of the characters. Themes of science versus nature and the existence of magic continue to slowly build in fascinating ways.
The large supporting cast is integrated here and there, always in character and in ways that makes sense, making sure everyone remains somewhat in the spotlight while avoiding using anyone irrelevantly. Jones is a great new character and the mediation stuff seem like it's going to be really interesting. The entire cast is amazingly well developed and three dimensional in general. Mort and Reynardine in particular amuse me to no end. Most importantly Antimony and Kat remain multi-layered, engaging and likable heroines.
The art is highly stylized and might take some getting used to, but it is expertly done and I personally adore it. It's also interesting to track as the comic goes on, because there is observable improvement over time as the artist perfects things.
Overall Gunnerkrigg Court continues to be phenomenal stuff. It's quirky, compelling and just a flat out wonderful read.
Highly recommended.
2/23/13
October 11, 2010
This is such a great series, though I found this one a little more confusing than the last, because of some of the flashbacks. I had a hard time identifying them, and I certainly didn't identify them right away. Finally, if I got confused, I looked back to see if I'd missed the author going into flashback (signaled by rounded panel corners), and that was usually the issue--also, the characters in the flashbacks often look like their modern counterparts, so that was also confusing.
But overall, I loved it. It has humor and friendship and magic and mystery and all that. I think it's pretty much designed for people like me, who have just enough knowledge of mythology (across many cultures) to identify the mythological references and elements, but not enough in-depth knowledge to know when things are a little off-kilter with the originals!
I was also thinking about how many of the stories kind of wander off into bizarre territory, and how it didn't really bother me. I figured it's because dreams are like that, and so we're used to participating in stories that don't really make much sense, but have an underlying significance nonetheless. So, definitely read the series, but watch for those flashbacks!
But overall, I loved it. It has humor and friendship and magic and mystery and all that. I think it's pretty much designed for people like me, who have just enough knowledge of mythology (across many cultures) to identify the mythological references and elements, but not enough in-depth knowledge to know when things are a little off-kilter with the originals!
I was also thinking about how many of the stories kind of wander off into bizarre territory, and how it didn't really bother me. I figured it's because dreams are like that, and so we're used to participating in stories that don't really make much sense, but have an underlying significance nonetheless. So, definitely read the series, but watch for those flashbacks!
January 6, 2011
Reason for Reading: Next in the series. This is a Cybils '10 nominee and as a panelist for Graphic Novels was required reading for me, but my copy did not come in from the library until after we had handed in our results.
Volume 2 is even better than last year's stunning debut. Vol. 2 has a major difference in that a plot that was awoken near the end of book 1 has taken hold of this book and the story evolves around it with several side stories thrown in. Gone are the seemingly random vignettes, instead to be replaced by a full blown plot of magic and mayhem between the court and the forest, the humans and the non-human creatures living at Gunnerkrigg Court. Returning are all the lovable creatures we met before, Shadow 2, Robot, Reynardine and Antimony's best friend Katja.
While the story moves forward in many directions, one being Annie's placement into the medium-in-training class of three, we are also given long glimpses into Annie's background and the back story of many characters brings some reveals and deeper meaning to just what is going on around Gunnerkrigg court and the forest, why they are separated and what the future may hold for these two girls. A superb and stunning sequel to the series!
Volume 2 is even better than last year's stunning debut. Vol. 2 has a major difference in that a plot that was awoken near the end of book 1 has taken hold of this book and the story evolves around it with several side stories thrown in. Gone are the seemingly random vignettes, instead to be replaced by a full blown plot of magic and mayhem between the court and the forest, the humans and the non-human creatures living at Gunnerkrigg Court. Returning are all the lovable creatures we met before, Shadow 2, Robot, Reynardine and Antimony's best friend Katja.
While the story moves forward in many directions, one being Annie's placement into the medium-in-training class of three, we are also given long glimpses into Annie's background and the back story of many characters brings some reveals and deeper meaning to just what is going on around Gunnerkrigg court and the forest, why they are separated and what the future may hold for these two girls. A superb and stunning sequel to the series!
July 20, 2013
Volume 1 of this series was aptly titled "Orientation," but now our Gunnerkrigg class assumes we are caught up, and the story is beginning to become cohesive, less serialized, and a larger narrative is beginning to come to the forefront.
This second book is called research, and a lot of it is about learning - about Kat's intellectual curiosity and almost preternatural skill at hard science, about Annie learning more about who she is what what she can do, and even us as readers getting a greater understanding into some of the loving and heartbreaking things that make Annie who she is (and Kat who she is too).
This volume is a lot more even than the first, and I think a bit stronger too. Again, cannot recommend this series enough,
This second book is called research, and a lot of it is about learning - about Kat's intellectual curiosity and almost preternatural skill at hard science, about Annie learning more about who she is what what she can do, and even us as readers getting a greater understanding into some of the loving and heartbreaking things that make Annie who she is (and Kat who she is too).
This volume is a lot more even than the first, and I think a bit stronger too. Again, cannot recommend this series enough,
April 17, 2010
This is the second nifty hardback collection of the Gunnerkrigg Court webcomic, and it's even better than the first. Gunnerkrigg Court is a bit creepier a boarding school than Hogwarts is, with charismatic, mysterious students (and creatures, and robots). Annie is a super-appealing protagonist; her calm, upbeat unflappability is a neat change from overwrought first-person Princess-Diaries style teen narration. I may never figure out exactly what's going on, but there are enough hints in this installment to make me feel like I'm making progress, even though I have a bunch of new questions.
September 2, 2016
Edelleen ihastuttava ja mystinen Gunnerkrigg Court kuoriutuu kuin sipuli - liikoja kerralla paljastamatta. Antimony aloittaa toisen vuotensa koulussa. Albumissa on paljon muistumia menneisyydestä, sattumia ja tapahtumia, mutta myös tärkeä kohtaaminen, kun Antimony menee Gillitie-metsään tapaamaan kojoottia. Toisen kouluvuotensa aikana Antimony saa tietää asioita vanhempiensa menneisyydestä samalla kun lukija saa tietää asioita Antimonyn menneisyydestä. Albumissa on paljon hienovaraisen vinohkoa huumoria. Juoni tosin vikuroi vähän sinne, tänne.
April 5, 2014
The goodness continues. With this series, every revelation seems to lead to more questions. And there are subtle touches best appreciated on rereading--like the way Antimony's wound from the ghostly woman with the sword in volume 1 seems to continue to show up when she's in spirit form (or whatever.) There are all sorts of things that seem like throwaway bits of weirdness and/or gags that turn out later to be significant. Excellent, excellent work ...
July 4, 2012
3.5 stars,really. I liked this a little more than the first. On to the next one!
May 18, 2022
The beginning of what I would consider classic Gunnerkrigg (the last chapter of volume one, "The Fangs of Summertime" could also make the cut). Not one bad chapter, and several are very good. "S1", "Power Station", and "Coyote Stories" are highly memorable. Good, but not the best. Some of the later ones really upped the ante.
Unlike the first volume, there is really no throughline or any kind of climax, and it's clear this portion of the series at least was not created with the intention of being bound into discrete units like this, but rather to be read as continuous stream, delineated only by the chapters. I tried to contort a reading that there was a slight preponderance of chapters about the guides, but to no avail. There are exactly as many Court/Wood conflict chapters. No plot points are resolved, though most of them are advanced.
There is a lot of stuff here that makes more sense in retrospect. From tiny things, like Red saying Foley students don't get vacations, to the magic crest Brinnie and later Eglamore make when they teleport, to Coyote calling the Court "man's endeavour to become God". Others add questions I hadn't considered. What was the significance of Ysengrin lying about when the Tic Toc was found? Why did Surma dislike Jones? Coyote's gifted powers are always defective, so You forget a lot when the average single chapter takes multiple months to come out, vs. reading 10 of them in one day.
The single best chapter I would give to "Power Station". It manages to merge that feeling of staying out late with a group of classmates you only kind of know with an unsettling mystery. Where is the Court beaming that surge of power? Why does it stop the water from relieving Zimmy's hallucinations? It also makes a better introduction to Zimmy's mind palace, because it at first seems to be comprehensible, until Annie realizes the Kat that was with her wasn't real. It's a simple unsettling twist, better than the original introduction "Dobranoc, Gamma" which was opaque mostly due to being presented achronologically. It also introduces Jack, one of my favourite minor characters. I like it when a side character seems like the main character of their own story intruding on this one, which is what Jack grew up to be. I'm still hoping for him to come back for another encore (and it's been a while since there's been a Zimmy chapter).
Random observations/things to remember
-The guides power the ether
-Fairies become girls, animals become boys, are never allowed to stop working
-The beacon did eventually get used
-The Court first grew in the forest
-The Court robots maintain themselves
-The Court considers Anja's computer useless because it can't be scientifically explained
-Coyote claims he wanted to make Renard powerful like himself, seems suspect re: Loup
-Eglamore and Donald can't be possessed by Renard, but I doubt it'll ever come up
-No guide would take Surma
-Eglamore uses the same teleportation symbol as Brinnie
-Surma couldn't stand Jones
-Zimmy can talk to pigeons but also eats them
-I thought Kat noticed Gamma speaking Polish which would imply that Anja was originally Polish which would explain her broken English in the flashbacks and would an add an extra dimension to their friendship because Surma speaks a rougher accented English and they were both in Chester to start with so they probably had a deeper connection than the guys had with each other but I can't find it so maybe it never existed.
December 4, 2020
There are a lot of characters here, and a lot of plot threads going in different directions, but almost all of them are interesting ones. Kat and her robots are probably my favorite plot thread, even as they uncover some unpleasantness here in the robots' history, while Annie's experiences with Coyote and her return to the forest make for interesting moments. And Zimmy and Jack make for an odd interaction.
The art works well, especially when Siddell goes all out for the more etheric moments, although I do have some trouble discerning between some of the female characters. But it's a complex and convoluted world that is always interesting to visit, and is slowly teasing out its secrets, making the visits more and more enticing.
The art works well, especially when Siddell goes all out for the more etheric moments, although I do have some trouble discerning between some of the female characters. But it's a complex and convoluted world that is always interesting to visit, and is slowly teasing out its secrets, making the visits more and more enticing.
January 27, 2022
This is part of my re-read of the series, since volume 8 is now out.
This volume of Gunnerkrigg Court takes place while the main characters are still in what would be middle school in the U.S. Several mysteries are solved, but new ones brought into being. For instance, for a school built at the boundary between what we would call science and what we would call magic, they seem to be kind of in denial about the magic part. Why? Also, if you have hollow statues with no mechanical or scientific stuff in them, but which can be animated through a computer chip, is that magic or really weird science? This volume confuses that issue, among many others.
In my own mind, the "blinker stones" are on the magic side, but they could be just a "sufficiently advanced technology." We'll see...
This volume of Gunnerkrigg Court takes place while the main characters are still in what would be middle school in the U.S. Several mysteries are solved, but new ones brought into being. For instance, for a school built at the boundary between what we would call science and what we would call magic, they seem to be kind of in denial about the magic part. Why? Also, if you have hollow statues with no mechanical or scientific stuff in them, but which can be animated through a computer chip, is that magic or really weird science? This volume confuses that issue, among many others.
In my own mind, the "blinker stones" are on the magic side, but they could be just a "sufficiently advanced technology." We'll see...
January 26, 2024
76%
"see the mighty trees, the strong bones of my body! the rustling of the leaves is my laughter! the swaying grass is the hair on my back! the rocks and stones, powerful teeth of mine! my blood, the water coursing through the land! my ever watching eyes, the sun...and the moon!" - coyote
a bit confusing, being pulled deep in a lot of different directions. but Coyote was awesome - love his chaotic nature
"see the mighty trees, the strong bones of my body! the rustling of the leaves is my laughter! the swaying grass is the hair on my back! the rocks and stones, powerful teeth of mine! my blood, the water coursing through the land! my ever watching eyes, the sun...and the moon!" - coyote
a bit confusing, being pulled deep in a lot of different directions. but Coyote was awesome - love his chaotic nature
January 25, 2022
I read volume two first Bc I was screening it for content for the library (drawing style, story norms) and i originally didn’t care if I was confused about the actual story. But then I got hooked on the story and went back and read volume 1, and will likely end up reading most of the remaining available volumes on ComiXology Bc it’s fun and I need books like that.
January 31, 2021
Volume 2 continues the story, now with Antimony in her second year at Gunnerkrigg. We learn more about the history of the Court and its inhabitants. Annie starts on Medium training, while her friend Kat learns more about the history of the Court's robots.
September 8, 2021
This is the second (and as of now, last) volume I own - oh how I wish the older volumes came back into print! Love Gunnerkrigg. So much good stuff here and it's great to see how Siddell's art style developed.
November 8, 2021
The plot thickens as Annie and Kat learn more about The Court and the woods, as well as the people inside them. Several of the threads from Volume 1 continue on and are further developed. I am loving this series thus far! Siddell does a great job in providing mystery, humor, and the fantastic.
June 18, 2017
So much mystery and intrigue. Really liking all the glimpses in the past and all the characters.
September 12, 2017
Mysteries and questions, wrapped up in high technology and high magic alike.
June 6, 2018
Completely spellbinding, as always.
July 15, 2019
Better than the previous entry, both plot and art-wise.
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