bluegargantua (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bluegargantua) wrote2008-09-08 11:34 am
bluegargantua) wrote2008-09-08 11:34 am
Entry tags:
Castle Reviewing
Hi,
Read through Castle Waiting written and illustrated by Linda Medley. Castle Waiting is a graphic novel that takes a new spin on fairy tales. Which isn't to say that it's all dark and angsty, quite the opposite in fact. The story opens with a basic retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but then quickly runs off in new directions after she runs off with her prince leaving everyone behind. The castle becomes a refuge of sorts for the odd and unlucky.
Into their midst comes Jain, a strong-minded woman from an unhappy marriage. She joins the human, anthropomorphic and magical people who inhabit the castle. Although Jain might appear to be the protagonist, she's really just the author's way of introducing us to the castle and its inhabitants. The book slowly rotates through the various members of the castle as they get into various adventures or relate tales from their past.
The artwork is excellent. All the characters are strong and clearly drawn and it effortlessly pulls the reader through the book. The actual stuff the characters say is a bit weaker. The strongest section of story was in the last half where a rather unusual nun describes her past. So it appears as though the writing was getting better. Sadly, this volume collects all the issues of Castle Waiting, the author stopped the series at this point due to disappointing sales.
Happily, in 2006, she started doing more issues through Fantagraphics Books. Hopefully the hiatus has helped her hone her craft further because there's clearly a lot of great material there and it certainly deserves some more loving attention. So I'll probably check into getting some back issues from this recent run.
later
Tom
Read through Castle Waiting written and illustrated by Linda Medley. Castle Waiting is a graphic novel that takes a new spin on fairy tales. Which isn't to say that it's all dark and angsty, quite the opposite in fact. The story opens with a basic retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but then quickly runs off in new directions after she runs off with her prince leaving everyone behind. The castle becomes a refuge of sorts for the odd and unlucky.
Into their midst comes Jain, a strong-minded woman from an unhappy marriage. She joins the human, anthropomorphic and magical people who inhabit the castle. Although Jain might appear to be the protagonist, she's really just the author's way of introducing us to the castle and its inhabitants. The book slowly rotates through the various members of the castle as they get into various adventures or relate tales from their past.
The artwork is excellent. All the characters are strong and clearly drawn and it effortlessly pulls the reader through the book. The actual stuff the characters say is a bit weaker. The strongest section of story was in the last half where a rather unusual nun describes her past. So it appears as though the writing was getting better. Sadly, this volume collects all the issues of Castle Waiting, the author stopped the series at this point due to disappointing sales.
Happily, in 2006, she started doing more issues through Fantagraphics Books. Hopefully the hiatus has helped her hone her craft further because there's clearly a lot of great material there and it certainly deserves some more loving attention. So I'll probably check into getting some back issues from this recent run.
later
Tom
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It sounds like what you've got is the Volume 1 "bible" (with ribbon bookmark) which collects several TPs, which in turn collected the issues. I have all the Volume 2 issues if you want to check em out.
Did you notice that all of the animal-headed anthropomorphs are men, none women? I can't tell if this is a deliberate statement of some kind, or just chance.
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