2
Mar
2010
The Unwritten Vol 1 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross
After reading two great reviews of The Unwritten (first by my boss on Slog, and then by Nymeth–both of whose judgement I completely trust regarding graphic novels), I knew that I wanted to read this.
And then I got myself a copy and read it in one sitting, while watching some Olympics figure skating, which I practically ignored for interest in the book.
And my head asploded. Nymeth said that hers nearly did. Mine totally did.
What are words? What are stories? What is reality?
Tom Taylor is Tommy Taylor, boy wizard. His father based his series of YA fantasy novels on his son, Tom, who as an adult, ten years after his father disappeared, can’t shake the comparison. He makes money touring conventions, signing autographs.
When someone in the audience challenges his true identity, as Tom Taylor, things start to spin out of control.
Tom is set up to appear as if he is immune to, well, bombs, and then like he’s a psychotic killer. Somebody wants him dead–but first they want him destroyed.
The last bit detours somewhat, following the literary life of Rudyard Kipling. We get the feeling that Tom’s dad was on the same trajectory.
But oh! May favorite part had almost nothing to do with the actually story. It was the pages that were a screen capture from websites reporting on Tommy Taylor. Hilariousness. Unfortunately, try as I might, I could not find those pages in a Google Image search. So you’ll have to go get the book and see for yourself.
To sum up, there is one word to describe this series, and that word is META.
Buy Unwritten Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity on Amazon
If you like this book/author, you might like:
(my reviews in blue)
The Sandman vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
The Sandman vol 2: The Doll’s House by Neil Gaiman
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham and Lan Medina
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
The Power of Comics: History, Form and Culture by Randy Duncan
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Other works by Mike Carey:
Vicious Circle
The Devil You Know
X-Men: Original Sin
X-Men: Supernovas
X-Men: Blinded by the Light
X-Men: Endangered Species
X-Men: Manifest Destiny
X-Men: Messiah Complex
X-Men Legacy: Emplate
X-Men Legacy Vol. 1: Divided He Stands
X-Men Legacy Vol. 2: Sins of the Father
Secret Invasion: X-Men
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Red Sepulchre
John Constantine, Hellblazer: All His Engines
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Staring at the Wall
Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere
Re-Gifters
God Save the Queen
Sandman Presents, The: The Furies
My Faith in Frankie
Vertigo: First Offenses
Lucifer Vol. 1: Devil in the Gateway
Lucifer Vol. 2: Children and Monsters
Lucifer Vol. 3: A Dalliance with the Damned
Lucifer Vol. 4: The Divine Comedy
Lucifer Vol. 5: Inferno by Peter Gross
Lucifer Vol. 6: Mansions of the Silence
Lucifer Vol. 7: Exodus
Lucifer Vol. 8: The Wolf Beneath the Tree
Lucifer Vol. 9: Crux
Lucifer Vol. 10: Morningstar by Colleen Doran
Lucifer, Book 11: Evensong
Other works by Peter Gross*:
*I don’t know what all Peter Gross has done, but I’m pretty sure it’s a lot. In fact, I don’t think that the above list for Mike Carey is complete. These dudes get around.
I loved this! I’ve subscribed to the comic and I’m waiting for the issues after the ones collected in this volume to arrive. So excited!
I’ve recently discovered graphic novels as a great way to get the full effect of reading a lengthier book in a short amount of time! Love them — will definitely look for this, thanks!
Your head asplode?! I wanna read this. Meta. Peace out.
lol, I loved those pages too!
I’m glad you enjoyed this