The Eternaut

4.5 story
2.5 storytelling
3.5 overall

Great story unnecessarily dragged out with hyperbole and repetition. Most of the time the author doesn't even bother saying the same thing with different words—they're the same words and phrases over and over again. And the hyperbole! For the first time ever... No, actually, you said the same thing last time. A few other problems are signs of the time: the ableist language, the patronising sexism. A few years ago they might have been better tolerated, but the increased awareness with which we try to behave these days means they instead result in much jaw clenching and teeth gnashing.

The end of the eternaut's adventure was unexpected, but in retrospect it made a kind of sense. And while I know that the point was the story, the journey, its conclusion was so quickly and summarily presented that it felt a bit abrupt and anticlimactic. That said, I really liked the last few panels that focused on the listener. I'd hate to be in that poor guy's shoes.

Definitely the most ambitious graphic novel I've read so far, which is a good thing. I plan to look for more like this: longer and thought-provoking stories.

Stunning atmosphere. Illustrations greatly support the story. Sometimes can seem a bit repetitive (originally released as a serial for 2 years) but still amazing.