Saturday 22 May 2021

Book Review | Incredible Doom by Matthew Bogart & Jesse Holden


 
Publication Date: May 21st 2021 by Harper Collins
Format: Physical ARC
Target Audience: Young Adult 
 

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Content warnings: abusive parent, physical abuse, emotional abuse, animal abuse, bullying
 

Synopsis


It’s the dawn of a new age…the age of the internet.

Allison is drowning under the weight of her manipulative stage magician father. When he brings home the family’s first computer, she escapes into a thrilling new world where she meets Samir, a like-minded new online friend who has just agreed to run away from home with her.

After moving to a new town and leaving all of his friends behind, Richard receives a mysterious note in his locker with instructions on how to connect to “Evol BBS,” a dial-in bulletin board system, and meets a fierce punk named Tina who comes into his life and shakes his entire world view loose.

Rating

My Thoughts


How shocked and suprised was I when this ARC showed up at my door after thinking I didn't have a chance in hell of getting actual ARC's  from a publishing house! Definitely a pinch me moment for me as a book blogger! I don't read a ton of graphic novels so my opinions perhaps do reflect that though.
 
Incredible Doom is a YA graphic novel and the first volume in a series that explores first love and friendship as well as a few darker themes during the 90's and the early years of the internet. The 90's era and the introduction of computers is really what drew me to requesting this book in the first place as it's not a topic I've read about before and especially not in graphic novel form. Originally I thought this was going to be sci-fi but it's resolutely in the historical genre with solid contemporary themes. 
 
The art style in here really fits the content and the era it's set in. It's quite video game-esque with a really classic style of drawing and it definitely gives me those 90's comic strip vibes. It's consistent all the way through and is detailed without each frame being too crowded. My copy was in black and white but I understand that the finished edition will be in full colour, the first few pages wer printed in blue, black and white tones which I really loved so I hope that's what the final copy looks like as well. 
 
We follow a handful of characters mainly Allison and Richard. Allison is trying to get away from her abusive father and strikes up an internet relationship with Samir and together they form an escape plan. Richard has just moved to a new town and is struggling to fit in when he attracts the attention of a group of bullies but finds solace in an internet forum where he meets someone unexpected. The two storylines are seperate but are both fairly compelling to follow and the relationships formed throughout the book are really sweet and excepting.  
 
I think the dialogue had a few weak points, it sometimes felt a little unrealistic but not so much that it was a massive problem or anything, I just found myself cringeing sometimes. 
 
Like I said, I'm pretty new to graphic novels as a format so that may be why I wasn't blow away by it but it still had a lot of strong qualities that impressed me. The way abuse and bullying is examined is done very well, it's fairly dark but felt true to life. It's without a doubt a strong opening volume that concluded in a really clever way and I would definitely pick up the next volume as well. 
 
* I received a physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes included in this review are subject to change. Massive thank you to Harper Collins for sending me an ARC copy.  
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