The story was similar to a lot of sci-fi/dystopian plots and I did not enjoy the execution or the artwork fully. I did read an ARC copy that was provided through NetGalley which may be part of it but the art style was not one I liked. The first half of the story was pretty easy to follow but as the story progressed it was harder to follow and the flashbacks confused me at first as they were unexpected.
All in all I did not enjoy this graphic novel much.

The ideas behind this story are interesting, if not wholly unique. Earth has been destroyed and the rich have successfully escaped on a colony ship heading towards Eden, presumably an Earth-like planet that can sustain life. The rich being the type of people they are, have a whole group of children (under 18) called Settlers that handle all the care and upkeep of the ship and serve the rich Citizens. Allegedly, once you turn 18, Settlers can retire and become citizens, but they're never heard from again. Effie is nearly 18, and one of the only Settlers who can read, which leads her to discover things are not at all what they seem on Arca. There were a lot of ideas put into this story, many of which didn't work well or were introduced in a way that lessened their impact (the reveal about the head of Arca should've been given more screen time, not saved for the very end for example). I also was not a huge fan of the art, though in fairness in the ARC version I read, more of it was in black and white, not color. The black and white pages were all line drawings, not shading, so it was very difficult to discern the scene being shown and to tell characters apart.

The planet is dying, the rich are fleeing, and nothing is as it seems. Billionaires bid farewell to the dying Earth and found a new luxurious society among the stars. They're taken care of by teenage indentured servants, whom they promise a good life in return for their years of servitude. But of course, this is a lie, and a teenage girl discovers it. Drama ensues.

While I wasn't crazy about the art, I appreciated strong writing and cool ideas. It's an intriguing title with lots to offer to readers.

A tale about a post-apocalyptic trip to eden, Arca is about post-Earth shape of the same name run by a ruling class of old-world billionaires whose whims are served at every level by children promised with the prospect that they too might one day be at the top of the ladder. At the end of the rainbow is Eden, and a life anew for humans fleeing the flames of our home planet.

As you’d might expect, the truth is a little less simple.

Reminiscent of the fictional graphic novel from Station Eleven, Arca is a fantastic story of persistence and resistance. I was lucky to get an advanced copy through NetGalley and while the uncorrected proof loses its colouring a few pages in, sometimes making it hard to identify specific characters, the storytelling is strong enough to carry it through. And limited as it is in this version, the colours pop alongside the retro-futuristic art style.

This one won’t be out for another 7 months, but I’m impressed enough to earmark it for a future spot on my shelf when it gets there.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review Arcs by Van Jensen!

Arca is a sci-fi graphic novel published by IDW Publishing. It comes out on the 11th of July 2023 and will be 176 pages long. If you liked Snowpiercer, this is the sci-fi graphic novel version!

I liked certain elements of this. The art style isn't my favourite but I did enjoy it! I loved the references to literature such as Dorian Grey and how the written word is still so powerful regardless of where humans go. I liked the introduction to the setting, which I think was a good way of ensuring the reader didn't get too confused.

That being said, the graphic novel was far too rushed and not very different. Like I said, snowpiercer but space. I feel like the contrast between the rich and those working wasn't made to obvious. For the longest time I just thought after turning 18 the kids would become regular citizens. I didn't understand the point of Meda and meeting Effie's mentor. I also really didn't understand the ending and felt like that, and what I think was a pregnancy reveal to be too rushed.

An interesting story, even if a lot of questions are left unanswered. I unfortunately didn't like the art style at all.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sharing an digital ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

This gorgeous graphic novel "ARCA" revolves around the teenage girl, Persephone, who fights on a rocket ship to their new planet for her survival, because she found out the truth that should have never been found.

First things first, this amazing sci-fi graphic novel has an overview at the beginning for all the technical terms and so on. For me that is just the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I am a big lover for sci-fi even if I don't understand half of the terms and technical issues. This literally changed my life for the better, so thank you for that. Then I absolutely enjoyed the artwork and the colors. The characters were likeable and I could connect with them really well. The plot was okay. I have a lot of open questions at the end, but well. In the end I really enjoyed this little masterpiece.

This comic has the feel and look of a classic European SF graphic novel. The illustrations are fantastic, even if it isn't fully coloured, the black and white line is very supple and really has that look you could find in the 70s and 80s in noir work from Belgium and France.
The story too has that bite, criticising the social class divide, especially the entitlement of people in that 1%. Nothing new really, I've seen quite a lot of work talk about that subject, children in space, with that similar conclusion, no real twist, but a very good version of that tale.
Highly recommended for fans of SF looking for something like a pillar of the genre.

Arca by Van Jensen is a sci-fi dystopian graphic novel told from the perspective of 17-year-old Effie - a lower-class worker trying to figure out the truth about the system she was born in. In this post-apocalyptic world, settlers (the class Effie belongs to) are children who work to keep the vessel running in order for the citizens (or the original creators of the vessel) can continue to enjoy their lifestyles in line with how they lived on Earth. The book is fast-paced and easy to read, and the mystery kept me engaged. There is a lot going on in just over 170 pages, and it was sometimes a bit hard to keep up with every detail. But I really enjoyed the ending and did not see it coming.

Thanks to IDW and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a good dystopia novel in that it was very much a classic format and structure. Like the highly stratified class structure and ominous big picture are such staples of the genre, but this was executed so smoothly and with such a genuine emotional heart that I really enjoyed it! Also the art was so delightful! It was a distinctive and expressive style that made all of the characters very recognizable, and I adored it.

Also the twist on the last page?? Another moment of drawing on a classic trope, but doing it fairly seamlessly!! Genuinely I had such a lovely time with it and am so glad I got to read it!

Something isn't quite right on the utopia-bound craft called Arca, and teenage aide Effie is determined to find the truth.

Using the familiar beats and structures of post-apocalyptic storytelling, this graphic novel crafts an engaging story. Readers are guided through the inner workings of everything from class levels to sanitation systems. Short flashbacks and disturbing vignettes share little hints about the hidden truth behind the cult-like colony. Best of all, heroine Effie is clever, easy to root for, and reads books for fun - what's not to like? The art and coloring bring to mind classic comic book styles, and the framing makes some fun choices.

Overall Arca isn't particularly revolutionary, but it is a good solid story; easy to read, and then read again.

this feels a lot like a classic dystopian story, in a way that feels familiar while also including new and different elements. The art style also fits this classic comic book vibe, which I really enjoyed. liked the main character and the plot, although it was somewhat predictable.

I do love sci-fi, although I‘m usually more of an adult sci-fi reader, and I have never read a graphic sci-fi novel before, so this was something different.
As for the plot, the reader is slowly introduced to Effie‘s chores and her daily life as well as the indoctrination the children are subject to, before things start seeming off. A lot of the plot twists took me by surprise, which is a good thing, but especially towards the end I felt like the plot became extremely rushed and many secrets were uncovered abruptly without any explanation or further discussion. The ending was quite sudden and left a lot of unanswered questions.
I found it... odd? that the classes are obviously sorted according to race but the writing didn't touch on that topic at all. I also found the characters quite flat.

Earth has been destroyed and the survivors are on a ship to a new Eden. The rich adults have a life of luxury, and children are tasked with taking care of their every need. When they turn 18, they are allowed to retire and enjoy life on another part of the ship, separated from the children.
Of course, things are not as they seem. It was an ok story, but very predictable, and the ending was too abrupt.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel, even if the storyline felt familiar. When Earth becomes uninhabitable, humankind escapes aboard the Arca, a spaceship aimed for far-off “Eden”. Children under 18 serve as “Settlers” aboard the Arca until they are 18, when they graduate and become Citizens. But is this really what happens? Effie, about to become a Citizen, begins to doubt the system and puts herself, and the system, in danger by questioning the truths she thought she knew.

The artwork in Arca is well done and the storyline worked for me. I especially liked the ending, which was unexpected and thought-provoking. I would recommend the book, especially to those who are new to science fiction. It would also make a good first foray into graphic novels.

Much thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC of this title.

I had a good time with this, but unfortunately I don't think it was anything special. It was a fun dystopian read. Earth has fallen and the wealthy have created a ship and found a way out. However, things aren't exactly what they seem. This story is a bit too on the nose for me. The wealthy rule over everyone and theres quite a lot of propaganda to make society run as it does. Most of the plot was very straightforward and predictable. The very end had a slight twist that I didn't see coming and enjoyed. The art style was fine. Not super to my taste, but not bad. Overall this was average for me. I had a good time, but it didn't blow me out of the water.

An interesting dystopia located on an Ark where people up to 18 years old serve its rulers, then they are sent to a secret place. In this volume we find out the truth about how this regime works and we also have a little revolt. I give it 4 stars and I would love to continue the series.

When the earth becomes uninhabitable, humankind escapes on the Arca looking for Eden. The settlers - children up to the age of 18 - keep the Arca running and serve the citizens until the day they graduate and become citizens themselves - or do they? A number of things just don‘t add up, and Effie gets the feeling that some terrible secrets are being kept from her and her fellow settlers…

I do love sci-fi, although I‘m usually more of an adult sci-fi reader, and I have never read a graphic sci-fi novel before, so this was something different!

The reason why a lot of people struggle with sci-fi is because they get confused by all the technical terms and the way the futuristic society is structured. This graphic novel does a great job at preventing that from happening by having an overview in the very beginning where the societal structure and most important characters are introduced as well as their roles in keeping the Arca running.

In my review copy, a lot of the colouring had not been done yet so it was mostly just black-and-white outlines and I do feel like that took away from my reading experience since I had to focus so much more on the pictures in order to tell the characters apart and follow the plot. The first couple of pages which were coloured in were very promising in terms of the art style, however.

As for the plot, the reader is slowly introduced to Effie‘s chores and her daily life as well as the indoctrination the children are subject to, before things start seeming off. A lot of the plot twists took me by surprise, which is a good thing, but especially towards the end I felt like the plot became extremely rushed and many secrets were uncovered abruptly without any explanation or further discussion. The ending was quite sudden and left a lot of unanswered questions.

In general I felt like a number of questions remained open. Why did the citizens genetically engineer the children to be resistant to this disease that forced them to leave earth, if they never meant to set them free? Why were the settlers not allowed to leave the Arca after completing their services? How is it possible for the earth to have healed already 157 years after the Arca was built? Was the earth truly only inhabitable due to the disease (which would be an unusual take, as I would expect climate change to at least play a partial role)?

All in all, I think this is a great read for people much younger than me - I was left with too many questions and unresolved issues to be truly satisfied. And I think that the final, coloured version will be a lot more fun to read of course!

3/5 stars.

This reminded me so much of Snowpiercer, which I loved. I'm excited to see the final version in full color, because the illustrations are excellent, but it could sometimes be difficult to distinguish details in scenes when in black and white. I wish there were a few more details about how the ship came to be and the truth behind Graves, because I still have some questions and might need a re-read to catch all the details. But overall, I enjoyed the story and the message and I think this is an excellent social commentary story.

After Earth becomes uninhabitable, a group of uber-rich take to the Arca, a giant vessel where society is organized into the haves and the have-nots. During their quest to find "Eden", the rich live lives of luxury while children work as support staff doing everything from babysitting to farming to waste recycling. When the children turn 18 they 'graduate' on to bigger and better lives, or so they're told.

This was a story... The artwork was gorgeous. *edit* I'm very hopeful to see the final product because the artwork was unfinished in the ARC but I was a fan of what was finished in this copy. My issue with the book is more about the content. The story is very derivative. The whole time I read it, I felt like it was just one big rip off of every other dystopian story I've ever read. I'm not sure what it adds to the genre. I found it... odd? that the classes are obviously sorted according to race but the writing didn't touch on that topic at all. I also found the characters quite flat. To me, the quality of this story and my engagement with it never moved beyond "this is fine, this is a story", that's why I'm at 2.5 stars.