Review: Blackwater by Jeannette Arroyo & Ren Graham
SYNOPSIS:
Riverdale meets Stranger Things in this debut queer YA graphic novel, developed from a hit webcomic. Set in the haunted town of Blackwater, Maine, two boys fall for each other as they dig for clues to a paranormal mystery.
Tony Price is a popular high school track star and occasional delinquent aching for his dad’s attention and approval. Eli Hirsch is a quiet boy with a chronic autoimmune disorder that has ravaged his health and social life. What happens when these two become unlikely friends (and a whole lot more . . .) in the spooky town of Blackwater, Maine? Werewolf curses, unsavory interactions with the quarterback of the football team, a ghostly fisherman haunting the harbor, and tons of high school drama.
Co-illustrated by both creators, who alternate drawing chapters in their own styles, Blackwater combines the spookiness of Anya’s Ghost with the irreverent humor of Nimona.
REVIEW:
*Sampler (that was marketed as a full length book) Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
I have to be honest, I received this graphic novel to review and at first I was delighted, but then disappointment settled in as the copy I received was only a sampler and not a full novel (even though that isn’t mentioned or disclaimed once on the site).
So the four chapters I did get to read, I was intrigued by the mystery. The authors alternated illustrating each chapter but the art still flowed smoothly. I liked all the representation, I am not even sure I got a complete grasp on it all. Yet in those brief chapters, none of the characters are really good, they honestly all seem like rotten brats in their own ways, with the exception of Marcia. And while the romance undertone seemed rushed, I don’t even know for sure if it was there, the story had extensive bullying. The bullying was kind of awful and horrendous and left a sour taste in my mouth.
So based on the brief introduction to this world, the question is would I pick up the full length graphic novel? Probably not, while the art flowed, the storyline felt choppy and the world building was none existent, you are just thrust into their lives. I didn’t find any of the characters to be relatable and their behavior was outlandish even for the settings.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
