This collection features folklore stories set in Africa, Australia, and the South Pacific. The stories are great, with an air of supernatural creepiness and tastes of other cultures and beliefs. But the outstanding part, the bit that makes me want to read anything by Toppi, is the art. His work is stunning. The detail, the shading, the bold lines, it's just awesome. A worthy addition to any graphic novel collection.

#TheCollectedToppiVolume4 #NetGalley

It is a different sort of comic. So intricate and complex are drawings they reveal extreme effort and dedication that these would have required.
Stories are dark and focus on tribal areas which are off grid and secluded. There are voodo dolls, talking masked men, hunters, forbidden objects and such fascinating themes.
Most exciting part of graphic novel is its artwork.
It shows things from different perspectives and with dark and shaded lines.
A wonderful artist whose works should reach more readers.

The Collected Toppi Volume 4: The Cradle of Life. If you're not familiar with Toppi you're in for a real treat with the five stories in this collection. The artwork is beyond outstanding. The stories are told in a folklore style that embraces supernatural events without need of explanation; it's a given that some things are just beyond the realm of understanding.

I first became aware of Sergio Toppi with The Collected Toppi Volume 2: North America (which I loved - highest recommend). This one has stories that mostly occur around the turn of the twentieth century set in Australia, Africa, and an island in the South Pacific.

The first story begins in an antiquities shop with a story narrated by an eccentric proprietor who would be right at home in a Rudyard Kipling tale (he also makes a brief appearance in another story - the proprietor not Kipling). It's all about a man who was an abject failure until destiny, in the form of a mystical statuette, steps in. It's entitled The Kokombo Dossier.

The second story, Bwuma, My Son, is all about an indulgent father trying to please his foster son who is beyond pleasing... Did I mention that the father is a bird while the son is a native tribesman?

Warramunga 1856: Two outlaw brothers on the run chance upon an elderly Aboriginal man in the Australian outback who changes their lives.

M'Felewzi: Two native trackers on safari silently suffer the abuse of their Boer employer and his bloodthirsty client until, finally, the safari comes to an unexpected end.

Pacific Island: A ne'er do well vagabond hears a strange force calling out to him and follows it to an island occupied by a brutal tribe of warriors.

I would recommend this book to just about anyone who appreciates great art and likes stories that fall within the broader Twilight Zone area of the supernatural. Good stuff all around!

There is some mild adult content but nothing too awfully scandalous or offensive (PG-13).

I received this book for free in exchange for a review. Thank you Netgalley and Publisher.

The art is awesome but you can already tell that for the cover. This is a collection of 5 stories previously published in various mediums in the 90s.

Most of the stories were go. I did not care for the first one but it wasn't bad just lacking. am giving 3 stars because I don't believe I would such out anymore of his stories but I am satisfied with the ones a read and I think others might enjoy it.

Great illustrations, great stories - all in all one of the best graphic novels I've seen. The introduction mentions how it influenced a number of artists, and you really can tell! I'll be looking for more Sergio Toppi now!

A collection of five short stories illustrated in comic book style by the acclaimed artist Toppi. I love stories, fables, fairy tales, etc from other counties. I really enjoy learning and experiencing other cultures and this collection interested me as soon as I saw it. These are stories from Africa, Australia, and the South Pacific. My favorite is the first one, “The Kokombo Dossier”, but “Warramunga” is a close second. But they are all good stories. I really enjoyed the comic style.

The illustrations are fantastic. The detail lends so much to the stories, I felt like I was in the pages. I often dismiss comics for their lack of words but when you read a really good one, the art communicates the story to the reader just as much as words can.

I would recommend this to any comic fan, and anyone who enjoys stories from other cultures. Beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.

This book is a collection of five tales of folklore set in colonial-era Africa, Australia and South Pacific. I really enjoyed all of them with Warramunga being my favourite and Pacific Island being my least favourite. But before telling you about the stories, I would like you to know that I absolutely adore Toppi’s art. It is gorgeous. There are so many details in his drawings, it’s impressive. Many artists have been and still are inspired by Sergio Toppi. So, if you don’t know about his work, please have a look at it. The tales are really interesting, and this graphic novel can fit the prompt “a folklore from another culture” of the #diversereadingwithlivandsaz. I knew about none of these tales and I am really glad I read this collection. The narration is really nice and easy to follow, especially with the drawings. I absolutely recommend this book.
It will be officially out on the 13th of October so write it down. I know I will.

A fascinating collection of folk tales from a master storyteller! The prose is rich and easy and the illustrations are worth poring over and learning from.