Don’t be fooled by the faux-Nancy Drew cover of this graphic novel. Kris Bertin & Alexander Forbes deliver up a twisty mystery with disappearances, conspiracies, and strange happenings. And, as usual, a group of teenagers grapple with the mystery while adults and Authority figures tell them Nothing Is Wrong.
The Case of the Missing Men (2017) is the first part of an ongoing mystery thriller set in a weird and remote East Coast village called Hobtown. The second book in this series is The Cursed Hermit (2019). A third volume is rumored to be released in late 2020. Do you enjoy reading graphic novels? GRADE: B+
I rarely read graphic novels. I have a hard enough time keeping up with regular books. I have read American Splendor, Maus, Watchmen. Can’t say I care much for the artwork shown here.
Steve, I have mixed feelings about graphic novels. I grew up reading comic books, but graphic novels seem to be comic books on steroids.
I enjoy graphic novels when done well. Too many I have read lately have incoherent story lines, muddied artwork, and virtually unreadable text. That being said, this book (and series) sounds interesting and I hope to give it a try. Just promise me that the last panel won’t have Old Man McGinty raving, “And if it wasn’t for those pesky kids…”
Jerry, I’ve had the same experience you have with graphic novels. The quality varies.
Not really. I’ve read a few over the years – Neil Gaiman, etc. – but it is just not of interest to me.
Jeff, I have a set of the Neil Gaiman graphic novels. If this Stay-at-Home order continues, I’ll be reading them.
No interest at all. I no longer even read the comics section of the paper, or the paper itself for that matter. Once “Calvin and Hobbes” and “The Far Side” disappeared and “Doonesbury” became Sunday only, that was it for me. I did love comic books as a kid, but once I discovered real books I left them behind. I don’t even care for the seemingly hundreds of movies they’ve spawned.
Michael, some of the graphic novels are very expensive. I understand publishing costs are high, but $30+ for a graphic novel is pricy to me.
The Far Side is sort of back. At least, he is running a few strips daily.
Check thefarside.com/.
The only graphic novel I’ve ever read is Alison Bechdel’s FUN HOME, which I thought was marvelous; but it inspired no desire in me to read any others—although I keep thinking that one day I’ll get around to reading Bechdel’s sequel to FUN HOME, ARE YOU MY MOTHER?
Deb, I didn’t know there was a sequel to FUN HOME (which I loved). I’ll have to track down a copy. Thanks for the heads up!
Deb, I read both of them. Great stuff. And. of course, we saw the Tony-winning Broadway adaptation of FUN HOME, which was outstanding.
Jeff, we saw the musical version of FUN HOME done by a local theater company. As you said, outstanding!
I find it very hard to follow the text. If they put it all at the bottom on each illustration rather then over it, to the side, etc. it would be easier. (Like with closed caption on TV).
Patti, I’m with you on the hard-to-follow text. I’ve read some graphic novels where the text goes up and down…and all around the graphic! Maybe it’s artistic, but it certainly is hard to read.
I have to join the rest of the crowd here.
I can’t keep up with regular books. No need to throw graphic novels into the mix (even though I could get thru them fast).
I wasn’t much of a comic book reader back in the day with the exception of a few Classic Comics. The Last Days of Pompeii was my favorite.
Beth, I had a large stack of Classics Illustrated…until my mother threw them away while I was at Summer Camp. She claimed she was “just cleaning up.” She also threw away hundreds of DC comics and Marvel comics. I showed her the price of a mint copy of FANTASTIC FOUR #1 and said, “Mom, I could have bought you a new car with this one!”
Only if I come across one on sale on a subecjt that interests me. The last one I read was Leavin’ Trunk Blues based on one of Ace Atkins’ series featuring blues detective Nick Travers. Liked the series, but not the graphic novel. I do have one in my collection titled Essex Country because of the hockey content.
Kent, I’m still tempted by THE CURSED HERMIT. Do you think the NHL will start up this summer?
Commissioner Bettman seems to think so, but I can’t see it happening. I think they should scrap the regular season, forget about holding playoffs, and start new in the fall. Nobody believes me seeing that I write a sports history column and played and officiated for years, but I don’t follow hockey very closely and don’t care what happens. And I think the idea of playing the baseball season in Arizona doesn’t make sense. But your president says he is tired of watching old games on TV. I do wonder how he has time to do that. And it sounds as if golf courses will be allowed to open and I assume the first one will be Mar-Largo or whatver its name is.
Kent, Trump fears he’ll lose the Election in November if he doesn’t get the U.S. Economy started. But, I know many workers are going to be reluctant to go back to work if testing and Personal Protective Equipment aren’t available. The same with pro athletes. I’m sure they don’t want to get infected by the coronavirus.
Although I was a comic book geek 50 years ago, the genre no longer interests me! I read an occasional classic story courtesy of Dave Lewis’ blog, but that’s about it! The artwork on the graphic novel you showed sucks!
Bob, like you I’m a fan of Dave Lewis’s blog and his wonderful comic book reprints.
My comment disappeared? Sigh. Okay, I like graphic novels, most of which are collected story arcs from comics. Batman is a favorite, and I have several of those. I haven’t bought any for a while, except STUMPTON on which the TV show is based.
Rick, Diane has been watching STUMPTOWN, but worries that it might be cancelled.