I'm super glad I read the description of this story before jumping in because there is very little world building at all. You get thrown into the world and I did have a bit of a hard time getting into it, and didn't quite understand what was going on until there was only around 50 pages left.

The art style was really cool and not something I normally see in my graphic novel reading! The colors all worked so well together and the story kept me engaged the whole time.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The plot was pretty well done. The artwork is beautiful. I really liked the characters and the world was really interesting!

Aster of Pan is a dystopian graphic novel that centers around a game of dodgeball that acts and represents war. The art style wasn't my favorite, and the story wrapped up in a weird way, but I think the overall message was fun and entertaining to read. While I never fully connected with the plot or the characters, I think there was a lot to grasp from the storyline.

This definitely was not a book for me, but by no means was this bad. Others will enjoy it more and it's okay that a book is not for everyone.

Aster the Pan was a unique comic in that, initially, I didn’t care for the art style. As my reading progressed, I realized that the art style fit the storyline pretty perfectly. I enjoyed the way that we got world building and back story without it being an outright history lesson. The tournament that the people of Pan have to participate in to maintain their independence was a scary round of dodgeball, and I thought that was a unique take on a classic kids game. I do wish there had been more information on Aster and the aftermath, rather than the way it had been wrapped up. Overall this was a really fun book and I’m grateful for the review copy.

Brilliant, interesting world news look at fascism from a perspective not normally taken
The art style isn’t one I normally like and I feel it would look a lot better in real life than as an Ebook, but it worked for this story.
First time I’ve ever like a story about sport, and it’s fancy dodgeball at that lol

Set up in a dystopian background, this graphic novel drew me in because of the interesting way it was illustrated. The colors and diversity had me entertained as well as the story. I was surprised about the sporting events being set up to be the most important thing here, but it was still fun and I can’t wait to see what else comes from the author. Thank you for the read!

Aster of Pan really ticked all the boxes of my niche interests. A semi dystopian world a generation after a crisis? Check. A plot where sport games are crucial? Check. A strong female lead? Check. The art style is gorgeous and I hope that there is more to come from this universe.

Aster of Pan is a a sports themed post post apocalypse French graphic novel. The art is gorgeous (as I find most French comics are) but the story is a little lacking or at least strangely translated (as I also find most French comics are). I liked the general feel of the world but the charters & their 'growth' were stilted and a bit strange. I don't know, it's pretty, it's very French, & I liked it but didn't love it. If post fallout societal conflicts negotiated through dodgeball are your jam this book is one million percent for you!

I have not read many graphic novels, but this one has made me fall in love with them. The illustrations are gorgeous and makes you want to see what happens in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone that is on the fence with graphic novels.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this graphic novel as much as I did! The animation style grew on me as I continued reading, and so did Aster.

I appreciated her willingness to help the people who didn't want anything to do with her and her ability to adapt quickly to given situations, which I feel separates her from other typical heroines. The story was light and breezy, and had my attention until the very last page.

The tail Aster constantly wore was a bit odd to me, as it was never explained why she has it. The only "issue" I had was <spoiler>Aster's budding problems with Fetta, because it was never explained why Fetta kept interfering with Aster, and she didn't push it once Fetta mentioned Wallis's feelings for Aster<spoiler>.

It was a refreshing change of pace and I'd encourage anyone looking for a simple, quick read to pick this up and meet Aster.


https://app.thestorygraph.com/user_reviews/16e4c333-97a9-406d-9a78-834d73d62bda

This graphic novel had some really beautiful art work and character art work. Pan is a dystopian graphic novel about a post apocalyptic society with the main characters of the pan territory and the un-pan that run into a more technologically advanced group and have this fight that determines the fate of the pan citizens. I liked the world building and all the characters. I will say I was very confused with the all of a sudden dodgeball type of combat that happens. I would love to have learned more about what made the world post apocalyptic.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Aster of Pan was a really good story with such interesting characters and a neat storyline. The art was also very nice and reminded me of graphic novels I read as a kid. The storyline was a bit hard for me to follow along but nevertheless, I enjoyed it. I also love Aster and hope to see more of her in the upcoming volumes!!

Especially relevant in a world where nationalism has spread its influence into Europe, Brazil and the Americas, Merwan's Aster of Pan is the story of a game where the powerful makes the rules, and change them to suit their own purposes. Those who have privilege, in other worlds, create the world to support and increase their privilege. This theme is explored in a story accessible to middle grade students all the way through adult audiences. The art is engaging and active, showing motion and emotion right where you expect it. While the lettering was a little challenging to read for this online reviewer, I don't doubt that it would be an easier experience in print. It's easy to root for the underdog in these stories, but Merwan's story manages to keep the audience in the dark about the final outcome.

Aster of Pan is an absolutely beautiful graphic novel. The story really jumps off the pages through the fluid and emotional illustrations. The story was fast paced and held my interest. Some scenes lacked a bit of explanation/backstory but that didn’t interfere with my over all enjoyment of the book as the illustrations filled in a lot of the blanks. I would love to read more about this world. This would be a great read for middle - high schoolers.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It is a very rare occasion to stumble upon such a stunning graphic novel with amazing world building. Aster of Pan is a dystopian graphic novel with sports. The story is set in the year 2068 after contamination has made many of the places inhabitable, now with many of the lands flooded there is hardly a place to grow food. But they found a way to grow rice and scavenging. Their existence comes under threat from the powerful technologically advanced Federation of Fortuna. They force Pan into either submitting to Fortuna’s rule, or to try to best them in a game known as Celestial Mechanics.

I adored the main protagonist, Aster, since her first appearance waking in her tree house home with a rumbling tummy. Then she and her friend, Wallis, have some adventures including being chased by a bear. After being forced by Fortuna's rule to best them in a game, Aster becomes part of Pan’s team. They cross the Deepwater to the neutral country of Ceres to take part in the Celestial Mechanics. Funny enough with a cool name of Celestial Mechanics it is a game of dodge ball in our world.

This graphic novel served the story in beautiful water color-esque graphics that attracted me the moment I started reading. The amazing world building with the art mixed together very well, my eyes were pleased with the aesthetics of this graphic novel. Merwan's art is wonderful and unique that makes the book stand out from an artistic point. Merwan also manages to draw the games so that it looks like everything is moving, which is important when you draw sports. The fluidity of the movements translated well between each box and made the experience much more enjoyable.

To be frank, the premise of the story isn't that incredible, but the world building is clearly stunning backed up by the beautiful art. It would've been better if the story is much longer to be a series as it has potential to be more expandable and to achieve a much more thorough pay off for the story.

In a post apocalyptic world, the human beings are divided in diferent regions that try to rebuild the civilization, a girl named Aster lives in the region of Pan, the most afected by the radiation, but she is not regarded as a Pan citizen because she was born in other place.

One they the city of Pan receives the visit of a representative of Fortuna, who wants them to enter in the Federation and submit to Fortuna's rule, the only way to evade it is to win a competition of a sport named celestial mechanics, some kind of dodgeball with twisted rules. Aster will be accepted as a citizen of Pan to put her in Pan's team.

The story doesn't make any sense, but it's a lot of fun and the art is great.

2, maybe 2.5 stars

If you like dodgeball, this one is for you. This is a cute graphic novel with a beautiful art style, but ultimately I feel it lacked a lot of depth and is overall unmemorable. The fact that such a major conflict was settled with dodgeball just didn’t feel believable to me. I also didn’t connect with any of the characters or really understand any of the side plot lines (like the cheating one? It felt random and unnecessary). I’m glad this graphic novel worked for others, but it just wasn’t for me

3,5 stars
This book is about a post-apocaliptic community called Pan that has to compete in a sport battle when another city tries to conquer them. A beautifully soft and expresive art styles sets us in this destroyed radioactive city while we follow Aster, a girl that lives in Pan but is not from there.
An easy fun read for when you miss The Hunger Games

There are so many reasons as to why I really enjoyed this story. Some reasons I can't speak on, but I will say what an amazing premise! Aster? Who's that? Pan? What/where is it? Post-apocalyptic? YES! YES YES YES! My attention was maintained the whole time. I couldn't put it down.

There was a point about 30% through I considered dnfing it, not because it was bad, but because I wasn’t super invested. Then, as soon as the game began—post apocalyptic dodgeball anyone—it really picked up! I thought the diversity was great. The different use of texts and panels was creative.

Not sure I’d pick up more by the author though. There was an opportunity to achieve real depth with the conflict of one country trying to come into another and now they have to fight for their freedom. Yet the book aimed for a more shallow, action-packed story and left behind the deeper potential. This might be what some people want, but that made it less memorable or impactful for me.