Publisher: Archaia (BOOM! Studios)
Release Date: July 11, 2018
Price: $24.99
Creator: K.I. Zachopoulos (writer), and Vincenzo Balzano (artist)
Format: 144 pgs., Full-Color, 6.6"x10.2", Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-6841-5024-3
Age Rating: N/A
ICv2 Rating: 4 Stars out of 5
This is a very strange and dreamlike story, about two children but seemingly aimed more at adult readers. They may be the last two children in the world, or at least everyone in the story seems to think so. The other human beings have been changed into animals by something which may or may not be a disease, or a magical effect, or something else which isn’t really clear. That, in fact, is perhaps the weakest part of the story, as cause and effect are a little vague. The writing often follows what might be called dream logic, in that not everything makes sense at the time or later, but it still interesting.
The artwork is outstanding and will be the major draw to this volume. The subtle changes in one character as she becomes less human are fascinating, and the animals, people, and "other" creatures are all interesting to see, in each scene.
The story is less powerful, partly because it’s hard to tell if there is a solid ending. If there is one, it isn’t exactly a happy one. Still, the artwork carries the reader forward through this dark tale. The violence in the story, and the frankly scary scenario, may put it out of the reach of younger readers, but so does the writing. Recommended for tweens through adults.
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.
