This graphic novel just was NOT for me. The overall concept I was interested in, but the horribly clunky storytelling put me off. The characters themselves were interesting, but the way the plot is written hides that so much. This comic also did one of the big cardinal sins of comics. Where a lot of pages were just illustrations with paragraphs of text. I'm reading a comic, I don't want to read a literal wall of text. The art was gorgeous and honestly why I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 2. Oddly, I think with a little smoothing of the plot, this could work as a television series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

The artwork in this is phenomenal but the storytelling format was CLUNKY. I would get interested in the main plot and then it would flip on its head into an interlude which were fine, but jarred me out of the main story and then I struggled to get back into it. I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley but this was not a win for me.

Definitely a super intriguing and ambitious narrative that allows music to become a breathable life force. The entire idea interprets the immense power of music in such a visceral way, allowing you to feel the stark impacts its power has on the main characters. The art style is unique and the coloring choices allow for even more nuance to be conveyed. The narrative does seem to get ahead of itself at many points, however. It's understandable that there'd be jumping around in time given the time traveling aspect of the story, but it does get frustratingly confusing at times.

I feel really frustrated to be leaving this review because this was such an interesting concept and the art was gorgeous, but this is a graphic novel that just isn’t embracing the format.

There's so much telling.

On the pages where the writing shows restraint and trusts the art, everything works so well, but the info dumps just didn’t stop.

Even as the climactic moments approached, there was more lore. I have no idea how this is the beginning of a series instead of a completed book, given the ending, but maybe the exposition will pay off in the next book? I just don’t trust it and I don’t feel like the creative team trusts me.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

“It wasn’t what I saw. It was how I felt. The joy of creation. The need to take the chaos around you and mold it into something you can understand.”

Spectrum was a crazy comic, in all possible ways. The artwork is colorful and explosive, immersing the reader in this story in which Synesthesia reigns, in which madness and creativity collide to disorient us as much as possible. Just like the MCs, we dive into the waves, let ourselves be carried by this universe that makes ourselves lose our minds. This is a magical and intense experience that is pretty faithful to how some people experience synesthesia (even though I have another experience), as much as how creative process can be perceived by some.
I had a great time!

Thank you to the authors and MadCave for the eARC sent via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.


4.5/5

Loved this cool and creative perspective on music.
The individual struggles of the characters and the intertwining of them was nice to see.
I was constantly on the edge of my seat! Holding my breath in for the things that were coming next.

Overall really liked it, like the diverse representation, major contemporary topics and the action.
I think it'll be 3.25 ⭐ rating for me!

I enjoyed the art moreso than the story. I ultimately did find the story a bit clunky at times, and at times, it was hard to follow what was going on. Recommended for dedicated music fans.

Spectrum is an urban, gritty fantasy comic steeped in a superhero heritage, wrapped in a strong American music core, and illustrated in psychedelic lines.
I feel like I could have liked this comic more, but I found the narration a little too heavy and a slow read.
There are some interesting ideas that reminded me of the Sandman, Legion and Laila Star. But I didn't really adhere to the voice. It just felt like it took itself too seriously and was trying too hard to fit in an intellectual sphere. Which is often how I feel about the 3 comics I cited, so many will probably not mind at all and love it.

The art in this is phenomenal and kept me engaged despite my general confusion as to where we were and what was really happening! I found myself confused and a little bit lost at some points though I will definitely be re-reading in the hopes that I can gain a clearer picture as this kind of thing is typically a four star read for me!

The book is beautiful, full of pages with expressive and amazing drawings. I think the style reflect the story well, and sometimes demonstrate the chaos.
In addition, it all shows a great understanding of music and an even greater passion, which is conveyed in millions of details throughout the book.
Despite all this, I had some difficulty following the story, because it develops right from the first page, and fluctuates from moments in the present to the past. But with this, it manages to talk about art and show its resilience, and how it speaks to us. I believe it is something on the line of surreal, that not all of us can always understand, but that we appreciate the story anyway.

The art in this comic was beautiful. There was a clear passion for music that weaved throughout the story, and when I realized that the artist had a PhD in music performance, it all made sense. However, I really struggled to follow the plot of this story. The burb described it as genre-bending and phrenetic, and I think as someone who is relatively new to reading comics, I should have taken that as a sign that I may not be the intended audience for this. I also realized that I do not, in fact, know as much music history as I thought I did. I could follow the overarching themes - creativity as a form of resistance, art being inherently collaborative. But I struggled with other parts, such as Echo's purpose and what Melody's powers actually were. I would probably still recommend this, but only to those who are super into comics.

This is a beautifully rendered graphic novel. The artwork is vivid and colorful. I'll be honest and say, I'm just not sure I understood a lot here. Maybe it's the medium - using printed material to convey the magic of music - but I had a hard time following what was actually going on. Spectrum has the feel of a passion project, and while I did think it was beautiful and interesting, I can't say that I totally understood most of the story or why much of anything happened.

I would recommend this one to anyone with a strong understanding of music history and perhaps those who enjoy stories that delve into time travel/multiverses... or anyone who just wants to look at the lovely artwork honestly. It's well worth it just for that.

This was the coolest graphic novel. The way the author talked about mental illness and art was truly thought provoking. The artwork was beautiful. This will be a book that purchase for my home library

*Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for early copy for review*

The art is fantastic in this comic. The bright colors and the mix between a cartoon and realistic arty style made the genre bending story come to life. The story itself throws the reader into the chaos of the world and it does not stop. This comic is a lot more wordy than a lot of modern graphic novels which is something I did not enjoy. I truly believe this media should limit it's words and tell the story more with the visual medium. The story takes turns that are unexpected, but not always enjoyable. In the end I just found this okay, but I am sure there are plenty of people who will love it.

2.5 rounded up for art

Music is transcendental. It transcends time and space. It brings everyone and everything closer together. That is the best summarization I can give of this psychedelic rollercoaster.

#ThxNetGalley #RickQuinn #DaveChisholm #Spectrum

Absolutely loved this art style! Spectrum is a graphic novel about music and how it connects and speaks to us. The tie-ins to music history made this really interesting, with alternating pages/sections that float between the present, and different moments in our past. Showing art and music as a form of resistance sends a powerful message and felt empowering given our current political climate. I enjoyed this, but at times wished there were a bit more direction to the story, as you kind of had to expect a new setting on almost every page.

Thank you to NetGalley & Mad Cave Studios for the ARC.

My thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for an advance copy of this graphic novel made up of sense and color, that tells a story that crossing time, space, musical catalogs, people who might have been, and events that never were.

Over the years I have thought a lot about why I enjoy comics and graphic novels. Probably the same reason I love music, love movies, love books, feel something deep in my heart when I see something being created, and feel a pain in my soul when I see people be stupid and hurtful. My emotions tie into what I take from art. A good song can lift my day, a bad song while stuck shopping for milk can drive me insane. Same for graphic novels. A good one can give me a brain hit that makes a day better, makes me want to push it on people, and share in the glory of all that is good. And this one was good in so many different ways. Spectrum is written by Rick Quinn, with illustrations by Dave Chisholm and tells a story of singers, song, noise, the future, all we create and all we destroy, with beautiful artwork to accompany it.

Melody Parker is sure about nothing and even that she isn't to sure about. Melody is living on the streets of Seattle during the WTO riots, a scene that is getting slightly weird. Melody has memories of being in an orphanage, but at the same time is sure that her father was recording her with others for something, she knows not what. Melody is attacked by what look like riot police, but turn out to be foot soldiers for a creature known as Echo. Echo is an elemental, able to change time and space, and wants to end everything every where. Echo wants Melody to join her on this quest, but Melody escapes to elsewhere. Ada Latimer owns a record shop, has a boyfriend and mourns a father who disappeared on her. Ada's father was addicted to finding the sound the perfect sound, and has been missing for a long time. Melody comes to Ada and soon both are on the run, in a landscape where bands are playing different tunes, heroes are brought low, and nothing is real. Except the end.

This is a hard book to summerize, but an easy book to recommend. It is sort of like explaining the music of Charles Mingus to people, or the band Haim to people who stopped listening to music that was after1991. Like all art, one takes what they get from it, as it is all subjective. I loved this. A mix of music, theory, bands, history, alternate history, conspiracy, adult writing, and fantastic artwork. I can't imagine the time and effort it took to write this, and it shows. The story is crazy, but easy to follow. There are bits of changed history, allusions to other people and events. And a lot of great writing. The art is really very good. I have been a fan of Dave Chisholm other works but this one really blew me away. The art is so perfect, so fitting and so necessary to the story. I can't imagine one without the other.

I would love to see an annotated version of this comic one day, that's how cool and crazy some of the stuff is. I will admit I read it twice and came away with even more ideas and puzzles. I really wonderful graphic novel. For music fans, especially music nerds, people who love great art in comics, and anyone who loves a story that tells more than a story, put paints a musical mural. I can't wait to read whatever these two have planned next.

It's surreal and visually striking. Also more than a little weird. Despite not being fully sure what's going on, I enjoyed the ride.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

This review is for the collected volume of issues 1-6 that doesn't appear to be on goodreads yet.

WOW.

Just...wow!

This is one of the most uniquely exquisite graphic novels I've ever had the privilege of reading!

I'm literally left dry-mouthed and wet-eyed in awe and from being so powerfully moved by this beautiful work of art.

Spectrum is the story of two women in difficult situations who find themselves drawn into a musical odyssey across the 20th century to save all creation from destruction...

This is a surreal ode to the love of music and art, and how close to madness artists come in their pursuit of their art and the constraints and difficulties of being an artist in our capitalist, increasingly fascist societies.

The writing is riveting and plays with the comic book script and lettering, as well as music and poetry. The artwork and composition is mind-bending in its form and beauty.

I am absolutely rocked by how much this graphic novel consumed, moved, and blew me away.

This is without a doubt one of the greatest comics I've ever read and I absolutely need to read anything and everything these two have worked on!