Member Review
Review by
Kevin G, Reviewer
It’s no secret I’m a fan of comic books and graphic novels. And while I traditionally read titles from the big two (yes, I know there are a ton of great titles elsewhere, but I didn’t really read many as a kid!), every now and then I have the chance to read something that is entirely different than what has come to be expected of comic books. Brea Grant’s Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter is one of those titles. Grant could have gone down various avenues to have this story come to life, but the visual-based graphic novel was 100% the best choice.
The story focuses on Mary Shelley, named after her Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother, who is in the process of trying to find herself. She, like her namesake, has a lot to live up to—a mother (and family, dating back to the original Mary Shelley) who is a remarkable writer and many expect the current Mary to follow in the family tradition. She just doesn’t feel like that’s her path. However, she soon realizes that she shares another trait with her namesake—the power to heal monsters (though I do feel unclear about it being that specific or not). She’s then thrust into a whole new world.
One of my favorite things is falling down the rabbit hole when presented with a subject I don’t know much about—Mary Shelley being one of them. While I’m disappointed that she doesn’t have any living descendants, with healing powers or not, it was great to read up about a total badass lady who was way ahead of her time. The real Shelley can, and should, be thanked for helping create and shape science fiction, sure it’s mutated over the years, but she planted the seeds and continues to inspire.
While I love the story Grant told in Mary, it did feel rushed. There’s no Earth-shattering freak out at the discovery of monsters living among us, heck, there’s no real meltdown when she meets a stranger whose foot is detached, and the same goes for when her friend is let in on the secret. If this book didn’t end things that left another adventure entirely possible, perhaps I would have understood the rush, but if there’s a plan for more stories, flesh it out. There is always room for the Aquaman approach: throw everything we got, who knows if we’ll get to do this again; but make everything you throw worth it.
That said, save for what I consider those minor issues with the book, Grant’s writing is on point. And while I, a cisgender white dude, have no experience being a teen girl, I do know what it’s like to not fit in. I know what it’s like to not know where I belong. And I certainly know what it’s like to not know what path I should take. Every bit of that hit home and that’s a sign of great writing—getting someone who isn’t in your target demo to connect with the material.
I’d be lying if I said I was familiar with the artist’s work, but Yishan Li does a great job. There’s a great blend of traditional and manga art happening in this book. I missed the boat on that manga/anime style of art in both comics/manga and animated series—it just doesn’t mesh with the style of art I connect with. Li’s work bridges that gap for me and makes me realize that I’m probably missing out on some great stories because I’m not allowing myself to connect with that style. There are certain moments in the book that things look weird or awkward, but none of it takes away from the overall tone of Mary. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Li’s work in the future.
Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter is a fun story that should lead you down a rabbit hole of the real-life Mary Shelley. While moments felt rushed, I’m looking forward to seeing the continued adventures of the current (fictional) Mary Shelley and hope that both Brea Grant and Yishan Li get to team up for them.
NOTE: Rating is 3.75 and rounded up since the system only does whole stars.
The story focuses on Mary Shelley, named after her Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother, who is in the process of trying to find herself. She, like her namesake, has a lot to live up to—a mother (and family, dating back to the original Mary Shelley) who is a remarkable writer and many expect the current Mary to follow in the family tradition. She just doesn’t feel like that’s her path. However, she soon realizes that she shares another trait with her namesake—the power to heal monsters (though I do feel unclear about it being that specific or not). She’s then thrust into a whole new world.
One of my favorite things is falling down the rabbit hole when presented with a subject I don’t know much about—Mary Shelley being one of them. While I’m disappointed that she doesn’t have any living descendants, with healing powers or not, it was great to read up about a total badass lady who was way ahead of her time. The real Shelley can, and should, be thanked for helping create and shape science fiction, sure it’s mutated over the years, but she planted the seeds and continues to inspire.
While I love the story Grant told in Mary, it did feel rushed. There’s no Earth-shattering freak out at the discovery of monsters living among us, heck, there’s no real meltdown when she meets a stranger whose foot is detached, and the same goes for when her friend is let in on the secret. If this book didn’t end things that left another adventure entirely possible, perhaps I would have understood the rush, but if there’s a plan for more stories, flesh it out. There is always room for the Aquaman approach: throw everything we got, who knows if we’ll get to do this again; but make everything you throw worth it.
That said, save for what I consider those minor issues with the book, Grant’s writing is on point. And while I, a cisgender white dude, have no experience being a teen girl, I do know what it’s like to not fit in. I know what it’s like to not know where I belong. And I certainly know what it’s like to not know what path I should take. Every bit of that hit home and that’s a sign of great writing—getting someone who isn’t in your target demo to connect with the material.
I’d be lying if I said I was familiar with the artist’s work, but Yishan Li does a great job. There’s a great blend of traditional and manga art happening in this book. I missed the boat on that manga/anime style of art in both comics/manga and animated series—it just doesn’t mesh with the style of art I connect with. Li’s work bridges that gap for me and makes me realize that I’m probably missing out on some great stories because I’m not allowing myself to connect with that style. There are certain moments in the book that things look weird or awkward, but none of it takes away from the overall tone of Mary. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Li’s work in the future.
Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter is a fun story that should lead you down a rabbit hole of the real-life Mary Shelley. While moments felt rushed, I’m looking forward to seeing the continued adventures of the current (fictional) Mary Shelley and hope that both Brea Grant and Yishan Li get to team up for them.
NOTE: Rating is 3.75 and rounded up since the system only does whole stars.
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