DNF at 57%

Okay... this was really interesting, the artstyle was super cool and the characters were (as far as I read) complex and well-structured.

So how did this end up as a DNF?

Well, the vague and boring plotline. I honestly struggled to continue this. Maybe if I had all the time in the world I would finish this, which is why I might return to it later (most likely not) but I will leave it at this state for now.

The plot had its ups and downs, sometimes (mostly in the beginning) I knew everything about the plot but most of the time (especially later on) I was confused and bored. Don't get me wrong, the vibes and quotes were top-notch and there's nothing wrong with the book overall. I just think I need to read this over a longer period than intended and I simply don't have that time right now.

I would also like to note that I simply don't know who the side-characters were and even though I tried to figure their purpose or role out I did not reach a proper conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy.

A little wishy-washy, pretentious and incapable of completing what it sets out to do, this graphic novel still has some interest. It's a future tech world, where the ironically-not-ironically-named musician Nostalgia has been a mahoosive star, with his new brand of neural instrument, that makes us feel, see and almost remember the mood of his music's theme, as well as just the rhythm and notes. People said he was revolutionary, but he was in bed with the latest data-farming tech people around – imagine Anyma blowing up, then forcing his new album U2-style on all f*c*book users. Since then, nothing – the revolution has been seen not to work, but there are others following on a different path, trying to push against the tech-rich world. And one of them can claim to be Nostalgia's teenaged son…

This is a techno-thriller and meditation on the inspirational power of music and art in a data-heavy world. It is a lot to pack into five issues, therefore, but it tries its best. It does it through an art style one level of precision from being great, and a stilted, slightly posh telling, again lacking the immediacy of a more commercial comic. All told though it's a little clumsy-feeling – the musical meister with his mummy issues, up against the Luddites who want to use the new tech to end the new tech, with the son in between and unique in being able to get the star from the penthouse mansion down to the slums.

All told it's certainly worth a look, even if the instruments make the duelling musicians when they turn up look like flappy-handed magicians from a cheapo kids fantasy film, wafting different colours of ectoplasm at each other. It's a sign of the clumsiness I mentioned, as this tries in vain to show mankind's spirit of breaking through the clouds of data and pollution to sent our creativity out to the universe. The creativity on show here is worth three and a half stars maximum.

I have a hobbyists background in coding and music (in that order, but both from early on) and I really really really liked what they did with the music sections here. The way things were written and framed on the page gave the feel of music were much better than any format I have previously seen. The art isn't a style I normally like, but it was used so well that what I frequently consider 'excess' shadowing felt perfect; and the use of light & color was great. As for the story, it isn't what I thought it would be, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.

The mix of comics and music was a big draw for me here. The cover also had a very strong Vertigo (DC Comics' edgier imprint line) vibe to it with its colors and art style. The inside of the book continues to pay-off on that whole feeling. In some ways, too, this story reminds me of the classic magazines like Heavy Metal from the late 70's and early 80's. It would have been right at home in one of those.

I like how each issue/chapter opens with a mocked-up newspaper or magazine article. That gives the story a retro feel which contrasts the colors and the art of the techno-modern world the characters move through. The story itself also contains lots of those elements too, a longing for the past and times that were simpler and more personal. For an older reader myself, this is a theme that resonates even in today's times.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for giving me this graphic novel for free.

Unfortunately as much as it’s super colourful and vibrant, I just pretty much got bored of the storyline as I couldn’t make out what the characters are doing and why they are in the story the first place. There was not much character development for me to be interested in them within the story…

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

I am left scratching my head at how this ended and feeling pretty deflated after otherwise absolutely loving this comic.

It's a cyberpunkish tale of a former sci-fi rockstar, his son, trying to send a signal to the masses, and giving up...

The artwork is sublime and the writing and use of the panels and text boxes is incredibly expressive and effective.

I was absolutely hooked, but the end made it feel decidedly un-punk and jaded. I think I see what they were going for, but they left themselves no time or space to stick the landing.