Crashing

by Matthew Klein, Morgan Beem (Illustrator)

House meets Gotham Central in this powered up medical drama featuring a prized physician caught amid recovery from addiction and a polarizing campaign aimed to strip superpowered humans of healthcare rights.

Rose Osler is a specialist. Her focus? Patients with Powers…at a hospital with a No Powered Patients policy. When a battle between Boston’s protectors and destroyers erupts, Rose is trapped between saving the city’s beloved hero by day and greatest villain at night. Except Rose could become a casualty when she’s forced to risk her recovery. As Rose pushes past her limits to save everyone else, will she be able to save herself?

Witness the downward spiral conceptualized by debut writer Matthew Klein with art by Morgan Beem (Swamp Thing: Twin Branches and The Family Trade), colors by Triona Farrell (Ms. Marvel and Shang-Chi), and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 4, 2023

About the author

Matthew Klein is a software programmer, entrepreneur, and novelist.

Reviews

[Michael J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Klein's debut comic series is very strong, carefully thought out with a more complex than usual plot as well as more depth than you normally find in comics mini-series (5 issues). CRASHING crosses into several genres - - - medical drama, slice-of-life, super heroes, psychological drama. Where it has the most impact is in the story of main character Rose Osler, a dedicated medical doctor working an emergency ward who utilizes drugs to keep her working lengthy stress-induced shifts as well as suppress her overpowering guilt feelings regarding an incident in her past that she has to keep secret from her loved ones. A very sad character that you want to comfort and hug while hoping that things work out for her.
The debut issue showed a lot of promise and potential in both plot and Klein's story-telling abilities. I waited until I could read this all the way through (in the single issues). He delivers on the promise in a big way.
Here's what I said in a review about Issue #1 when it debuted in September 2022:
As someone who remembers BEN CASEY and DR. KILDARE comics from the 1960’s, I’m wondering if a long-neglected genre is finding its’ way back into comics: medical drama. The difference this time is a spin to make it appealing: get aliens and super-heroes involved.
However, I think I’m up for this. I found the ET-ER one-shots from AWA/Upshot to be highly entertaining: a secretive ward beneath a regular hospital that treats ailing extra-terrestrials of all sizes and species. Now, CRASHING comes along to add super-heroes to the mix.
In this world, not everyone is enamored with super-heroes, and a budding anti-Powered movement is protesting, fueled by the Powered Registration Act. The over-worked resident nurse Rose at a metropolitan hospital rebels against administrative policy and decides to treat super-powered patients in the Emergency Room. Like Detective Bosch in Michael Connelly’s series of crime novels, she has a similar philosophy: everybody counts, or nobody counts. This backfires when a recently treated super-patient awakens and his eye blasts create havoc.
Rose is a sympathetic character, recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and teetering on the edge of a relapse. There’s some interesting back-story in-between the main plot line. The art by Morgan Beem seems out of place here, as if it belongs in a young adult graphic novel, but I’m warming up to it. The facial expressions and body language of the characters are well done, making it easier to overlook some of the simplicity of the art.
Over the course of the five issues I did warm up to the art of Beem, who I now believe to be an excellent choice to illustrate and detail this story. This is really a character study, the story of Rose's fall from grace and eventual redemption. (Yes, as depressing as this is it does have a happy ending - - so keep reading). Which led me to wonder if the inclusion of super-powered characters was really necessary? In hindsight, that makes for an even more impactful story - as the limitations and hazards of superpowers only serve to increase the stakes and add to the conflict/resolution.
This story packs a punch while it shines a spotlight on some real-life heroes who deserve more recognition for the hard work and sacrifices they make. If you need more of an impact or more punch to the story, just subtitle "homeless people" for "powered people" and read it again.

[Hamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good concept but the execution was just meh. When I saw medical drama meets superheroes, I was so excited but there were like 2 heroes only and there were medical inaccuracies and it dealt more with addiction. We did not get much about the antagonist and his motives and the ending was abrupt and not satisfying. For a comic that is not very long, I had higher expectations ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Matthew Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A near-perfect story about addiction, recovery, relationship, choices, and balance. I wasn’t a huge fan of the art in this book, so it’s not a 5-star book, but that ending really tempted me to give it one anyway. Beautiful story, especially for only five issues.

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 Stars!
This was actually a very interesting premise. A doctor struggling with addiction, trying to keep up while dealing with treating regular patients by day and supervillains by night. Watching Rose try to battle her temptations to slip back into her addiction since she only needs "just one pill" was interesting as it was heartbreaking to read. But the rest of the plot pieces didn't quite feel like they fit together. We learn pretty much nothing about powered people, and only really know that people consider them to be dangerous to society. We only meet roughly four powered people in the entire novel. People with powers are oppressed, but how the oppression is written feels clunky. Rose is also moonlighting as a personal physician for one of the city's biggest supervillains. Except, you could have changed "super villain" to "crime lord" or "evil politician" and the story wouldn't have changed in the slightest. The plot points felt like they were pinging from one point to another way too quickly. This story does practically no world-building and it leaves the story feeling rushed along. If the story could have had a bit more space to breathe, and flesh out certain details, it would have a better pace to it. If you removed people having powers, the story would barely change. This story isn't bad in the slightest, and in fact, I think it could make an excellent television show. The pacing is just off. (Also there was a minor continuity error that made me giggle. On one page the ink well pen is blue, but on the next page, the same exact pen is now red. It's a minor issue, but I thought for a split second she had whipped out her own pen.)

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cool idea. I have always wondered what life would be like for the regular people in a super hero world. Things like property damage, injury, or just having people with powers fighting outside your house or work. This did a great job of showing the stress the medical profession would have to deal with. It did seem like it might hit home for anyone having to work in the ER during Covid. The color choices really cemented the feelings of the book.

4 stars

[Valéria. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty decent story about a doctor who’s gonna fuck her life really much, powered people and drugs. Morgan Beem’s art is really great in this.

[Katie K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like 3.25 stars. Not bad but a little hard to follow in the flashbacks. Not something I probably would’ve picked up on my own but reading (albeit late) for my friend’s book club.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often describe books as a "rollercoaster ride" but nothing will come close to that of Matthew Klein's in "Crashing."

From the very first page, readers are taken on a steep incline and, when about to drop, we are brought to the start again, as if we have flatlined in a hospital room. Which, it turns out, is appropriate, as our heroine, Dr. Rose Osler, is a top ER cardiologist surgeon.

At Rose's ER, which is in an alternate universe-version of MassGeneral in Boston, operating on "superpowered" people, aka superheroes (and villains), is not allowed. Too much can go wrong, they are too much of a liability in terms of malpractice lawsuits, they aren't worth the risk. That's what the administration thinks, and MassGeneral isn't alone in that thinking process. Superpowered people are getting on the nerves of the Boston public's population. New legislation looms on the horizon to limit the rights of superheroes/villains, to create a system that mandates all superpowered people must register themselves in a database, while also stripping them of their voting rights and their access to medical treatment.

All while this is happening, Dr. Rose Osler is working behind the scenes, treating powered people and saving their lives.

All throughout this, we journey back to the metaphor of the rollercoaster ride. After the initial flatline, readers are taken right back in on the trek to the top, though this time there are smaller hills and drops on the way. As Rose faces challenges within her relationship and her career, readers are thrust upon unexpected curves and turns. Loops take us by surprise as twists in the novel do so as well. And when the roller coaster ride journeys to the deep incline and dives to the decline, Dr. Rose Osler will have learned there's no turning back once she's crashed.

This new take on the superhero genre is absolutely phenomenal and enchanting. Original and engaging, this rollercoaster ride of a story is sure to be worth your time. With illustrations by Morgan Beem, the story is pulled together beautifully.

"Crashing" by Matthew Klein was an absolutely incredible graphic novel, covering mental health, addiction, relationships, and - of course - superheroes.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

[on storygraph (macclown) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually qute enjoyed this overall, think your typical doctor drama plus superheroes. Most superhero stories are solely focused on the supers, but Crashing focuses on the normal people they share a world with.

I really enjoyed the overall concept, but it seemed to go a bit too fast. There were some great twists but everything goes by so fast there's not a lot of time for them to sink in.

Overall pretty solid, could have been better if there was more time to expand on the characters. You don't really learn a lot about any of them beyond the present plot.

The art was great, and I really liked the colour schemes used. I'd definitely recommend to those interested in a different take on superhero comics!

ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ego blinds. Anger unravels. Lies reveal.

Doctor Rose Osler makes her name as an emergency room surgeon at a major east coast hospital. Boston is made better for her earnestness, she's intensely serious about her Hippocratic Oath, and even though various public parks and political offices have crumbled under the duress of brutal conflicts between powered individuals left and right, Dr. Osler is super focused. Super. Focused.

Maybe a little too focused? CRASHING is dramatic, incisive, and persistent in its wielding of a fundamentally moral character as a representative disease of Western civilization's cult of high-professionalism and personal wont.

Dr. Osler is a junkie (and like most addicts, the shadow cast by the consequences of her actions is longer than she cares to admit), Dr. Osler is petulant (and like most working adults, refuses to acknowledge her weaknesses), and Dr. Osler has a savior complex (and like most people who carve their own success, detests asking for help). So, naturally, CRASHING overloads the good doctor with multiple, unwinnable situations. When the region's foremost superhero, Rex Glassman, and his sidekick, Piper McNally, land in her hospital, Dr. Osler gets a call from the guy who put them there. Gordian is basically a supervillain, and he needs urgent medical care, too. What's the good doctor to do?

The insecurities and uncertainties that wreak havoc on the minds of the well-meaning will only deepen when one pushes and presses to convalesce when they aren't ready for it. Glassman was knocked unconscious and wants to get back out onto the street. McNally had two seizures overnight and wants to get back out onto the street. Camille Bogdanovich, Dr. Osler's boss, wants these powered individual discharged so the hospital isn't liable for any wrong turns. Don, Dr. Osler's devoted beau, is a public servant striding to pass local superhero registration legislation despite riots popping up across the Greater Boston Area. What's the good doctor to do?

CRASHING is a beautiful book, too. The creative team produced a bevy of diverse character art, complete with nuanced eye, nose, and mouth shapes, as well as perceptively articulated hands and hand gestures. The details tell the story. When Dr. Osler lies about her relapse, she dips her chin and lowers her gaze. When Glassman paces the hallway, devoid of sleep, the bags under his eyes are woefully obvious. For comic book fans searching for a title whose creative team loves its characters' flaws as much as it does its characters' frequently withering opportunities for success, CRASHING exposes one to the rivalries of the mind, and doesn't hesitate to let linger the awful truths that emerge.

[David Basora]

So a friend recommended this to me, and I'm glad she did, because I likely wouldn't have read it otherwise. While it was definitely reminiscent of X-Men, I found myself thinking of The Boys, if that series didn't exist for shock value and toilet humor in addition to critique of superhero stories. I appreciated that Rose was arguably not even the hero of the story, and was very flawed. But her goal was to help people, and everyone should be able to relate to that. Obvious comparisons can be made to Marvel's Civil War event as well, and I would be interested to know more about the wider powered community in this universe. But this story stays refreshingly on topic with the characters and issues at hand without getting distracted by the bigger world outside the immediate concerns of the major players. Medical dramas are always interesting because the stakes are always so high, but the twist with this was that the stakes were raised even higher.

This is only a 3 star for me because I felt like I didn't truly like any of the characters, even though I understood them and felt they were well written. The only one who was consistently true to themselves was Gordian, which I suppose makes him a good villain. Very interested to know if there will be a sequel.

[Dione Basseri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not every superhero has healing factor. Doctor Rose Osler isn’t supposed to treat Powered patients, but medical ethics trump corporate policy.

Except Rose isn’t so selfless. She’s tied up in Powered politics already, earning her drug fix by performing healer for a Powered mob boss. And when Evil and Good collide, Rose is caught in the middle.

I love seeing a superhero world told from the point of view of a civilian. One of the inhabitants of the grey area. Rose’s connections to all sorts of political life–not just treating good and evil, but being married to an actual politician–make for a pretty complex character. Her main flaws of habitual overwork, supported by drug use, are a common theme with doctors. But, add in the danger of the crime connection, it gets even more fraught.

I’d say this is a good pick who wants something a bit grittier than X-Men, or a bit less gritty than The Boys. It’s a nice balance, suitable for older teens and up.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

[S.E. Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a fantastic and engaging comic/graphic novel. I couldn't put it down!

In a world where people with powers exist but are denied certain rights, a doctor strives to treat all patients equally. Rose Osler is no angel, though: she struggles with addiction and is in debt to a villainous powered person with dark ties to her past...

I loved the character of Rose. Though the comic is short, we really get a sense of who she is, of the range of her character, and of the way she is constantly being torn between two sides. I loved the general 'vibe' of everything, too, which was vaguely DC superhero-esque but focused on the people without powers. It left a lot of mystery to the hero characters.

The one thing I wish was more fleshed out was the world, as I don't get HOW laws could be passed preventing these people from getting the care and resources they need. That felt a little contrived.

[Malin (readingzebra) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this graphic novel, Dr. Rose Osler takes her oath to help everyone seriously by saving the lives of both superheroes and supervillains. She is hiding all this from her politician husband, who is working on a bill that discriminates against powered people in the name of protecting regular people. Rose is a former addict and the pressure to help out night and day leads her down a dark path.

I enjoyed a lot of the elements and the premise of the story, but things were moving a bit too quickly and the pacing was all over the place. The story could also have concentrated on the bigger issues without going into too much drama between Rose and her husband.

The setting, tone and worldbuilding was very appealing though and I really enjoyed the art style and coloring. I would definitely read more stories from this world!

Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Lauren ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and IDW for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


Crashing is an adult graphic novel from the house of IDW. Dr. Rose Osler is a recovering addict struggling with her day-to-day life. Seven years sober - what’s one pill to help her get through at 14 hour day? Especially when there are Powered patients to take care of - and a politician husband on a path against them.

3.5/5 ⭐️

An interesting premise but feels like it needs space to breathe. Perhaps a few more issues would have worked in this collection to flesh out the story and, as others have noted, the pacing. It’s a self-contained story, but it zooms along almost too quickly. It’s set in Boston, but not our Boston. Again, the setting would benefit too if there was breathing room.

Ultimately an interesting read that needs a bit of work.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely a book for me working as a health professional. There was so much packed into this very emotional story. The concept of a doctor helping heal powered individuals in a world that is about to pass a superpowered individuals registration act adds a unique perspective to a storyline that’s been done before (Civil War).

The stress of our doctor and how she’s been dealing with her own demons of addiction and forgiveness for an accident from a long time ago brings the MC, Rose to life. You see this level of stress and lack of self-care in the health professions all of the time and I could resonate with so much of this story having seen some of it happen.

A great debut comic for Matthew Klein! The art from Morgan Beem and Triona Farrell was phenomenal and the lettering by Hassan Etsmane-Elhaou was fantastic!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a self-encapsulated story with super-hero and -villain characters that aren't from giant well-established universes. This makes it a good read for people who might only want occasional super-hero stories without having to commit to one of the big ones (which I find bafflingly hard to break in to).

The drawing style is a little technically grotesque, but not gory. It felt like there were a few gaps in the story, like it would have made more sense if the main character's history were shared a little earlier. Some explanation comes at the end of this volume, although the story isn't wrapped up.

Appropriate for public libraries where any and all Adult GNs circulate well or are highly browsed.

eARC from NetGalley.

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Crashing" is a gritty and unflinching look at addiction, recovery and the struggle for personal redemption. The main character of this story is a physician and addict who is caught between trying to support all her patients, including those with super powers and a political faction led by her husband that would disenfranchise many of those same patients.

This story is a bit uneven and the artwork is highly taste specific but it does deliver a compelling and satisfying resolution in the end. This book is recommended for those readers who are comfortable with stories concerning addiction and interested in regular people's experiences with navigating relationships with superpowered individuals.


Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Olivia Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW publishing for the ARC.
This book is described as a cross between House, M.D. and Gotham Central, and while I do understand why someone would say that, I wouldn't. The plot itself is too far from GC for me, which is an ongoing story that focuses as much on the variety of Gotham as it does the cops, while Crashing is very stagnant in its focus. I found the addiction storyline very interesting, especially in what is revealed, but do feel as if the ending is a let down. I did find the politics within the story fascinating, and wish there was more of a focus on those.
2.5

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting ideas here, but it felt like there were almost too many ideas. Instead of complimenting each other with the same themes, they were all competing with each other and it got a bit muddled. The main character, a doctor, deals with an addiction. She also has a troubled relationship with a local politician who supports a bill against superheroes. There are superheroes in this world, and the doctor helps them at the hospital. She is also being blackmailed by a supervillain, so she is a personal doctor for him. She also accidentally killed her husband's sister before they got together and never told him about it. It's a lot to juggle.

[Kiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

"Crashing" is an interesting story about world with superpowers and a doctor recovering from addiction who has vowed to treat all patients despite working for a hospital with a no superpower policy. The story gets really in-depth about addiction which made the story a difficult read for me personally. I didn't connect super well with any of the characters due to this, but found the read interesting nonetheless.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars! This was such an entertaining comic. The premise of a world of superheroes and villains and how that affects the common man. When heroes are injured they still need to seek treatment from doctors. "Crashing" examines the call to action these doctors and nurses take and what it looks like when they get caught up in the middle.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC.

I really like the concept of this graphic novel and am excited to see where it goes. The art is a little rough in some parts but the spiral of an addict is portrayed so well and this story is not afraid to touch on hard and painful subjects.

I felt for Rose and what she had to go through and hope she really does stay on her path of healing. Very excited to see what she does next.

[Bookish Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly enjoyed reading this graphic novel. The art style was beautiful and the colouring of each scenes brought life to the story. The panels were done intricately that brought out the story.

The characters are intriguing and complex and this makes them interesting.
We experience them make tough decisions as well as it causes us to have conversations on sensitive matters as readers.

[Natalie S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a one shot volume. Maybe it would have have been better as a longer series. I enjoyed it but found the drug abuse/hospital thing a bit over done these days, so not original enough in that plot line to be gripping for me... the art was decent.

[Micah Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every character makes mistakes and every single one of them is met with the consequences of their actions. There’s resolution without a nice little bow of tying up a happy ending. I’m excited to read more from Klein in the future.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of addiction, lies, betrayal, and superpowers?!

Just smash a story of a medical professional dealing with addiction with a world that is THIS close to registering superheroes.

That's it. Nothing fancy. Only 5 issues. Not bad.

[Matthew Noe]

Booklist review pending

[Sonic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great story with a nice original premise!

[Joey Ocasio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this comic, it wasn't what I was expecting. But I like the vision and inspiration of the writers.