This is what I said the last time Image published this, in 2022, and I don't see the need to change my thoughts:-

Previously I had managed to read the first three fifths of this book, as it was from Europe Comics at the height of their "make two covers work? Bollux to that, here's four!" phase. Luckily, some other publishers are sensible enough to know that if a book can be in one book, it's probably better for the author, reader and heck the environment, to have it in one book, and that two clicks on 'buy' don't always provide the best outcome. This serious-minded, character-led comic is certainly a case in point. Karmen is a funky-haired angel thing, in a Lycra-style suit showing her innards, and she's here to – well, what? Introduce Catalina to the fact the latter has just killed herself and is a ghost? Allow her to put things right in her tangled love life? Prep her for a reincarnation? Defy the gods?

Either way, there is something slightly peculiar about the way Cata can drift about Majorca in her nuddy-pants, on account of her being in the bath when she slit her wrists – at times you don't so much get up-skirting as up-assing. It clearly makes her death an act of liberation and equally of exposure, with her dead worried about being seen, before she's soaring past the cathedral and standing on landmarks and anything to prove the reality of this world. (That there Berlin war memorial was taken, of course.) You could also be right in saying it's down to the author's insecurity, and awareness that her love life (as is) is really quite too soapy for an adult comic, and that the book needed more frisson from Cata looking even more fragile.

Having finally seen the whole piece I still think it's a four-star effort, although not the strongest example of one. Cata initially reads more middle-aged that her relationships appear to be, so she might be a thirty-year-old in a thirty-year-old body but acting like she's nineteen. It's a better person than me who can sit down with the book and get to the root of the story and the core of the message, for to me it's a more woolly experience, with something about seizing the day and never relying on a second chance and not walking in front of a 4x4 as the moral. It is indeed up to us to reboot our lives, but how often are any of us inspired to click 'update and restart'? And yes, it is childish to turn a whole life into such a facile allegory, but there is in amongst the beauty of this something too facile. But damn it, just enough intrigue to make it a commendable title.

I have both high praise and considerable frustration with this graphic.

There have been several graphics I have picked up by now that lean into a plot of after death, we are all just souls to be filed away by some higher beings. For whatever reason, I love this concept and always enjoy seeing how authors weave this into a story that melds contemporary life with an otherworld that is metaphysical but also very much rooted in human-esque society. In this sense, Karmen was no different.

I loved the characterisation of the "angel" characters and the way it is uniquely blended into the belief of reincarnation. I also really enjoyed the art style and colour palette chosen.

My gripe, though - why on earth does this feel like a top-notch graphic written by a frat guy? I enjoy humour in a serious plot. But I can't get behind a main character stuck flying around in the nude for the majority of the book for no reason other than to fuel some immature jokes. Maybe it was intended to be artistic, but it felt cheap and a little like using a woman's body just because "sex sells". I would have rated this so much higher otherwise.

This was an interesting read- I enjoyed the art style, and the characters were interesting, but honestly I wished we got to know some of the characters more in depth. It was hard to understand some of the characters motivations or what was going on, so I would have loved to have understand more.

Karmen is such a fascinating character. I loved the edgy vibe and personality. People are really going to enjoy this!

The art in this was wonderful (i could have done with out the nudity but not a deal breaker for me). I would suggest checking trigger warnings as this mostly follows a woman who has self harmed. The story was engaging and easy to follow. I really liked the story and the premise that things could be changed in the "other plane". A very thoughtful piece and i'd definitely read more if they continue.

This is a comic about death. I love stories about ridiculousness of burrocracy after death. And office infighting. Her direct boss wants to fire Karmen except she can't, because higher ups love Karmen's reports. So she decided to be very pedantic to her. Hopefully Karmen makes a mistake and the boss will have an excuse to fire her.

The entire story revolves around interatcions between Karmen and Cat. (it's name of a human character). Can't say much without spoiling but it invlolves suicide. Also 80% of the comic Cat is butt naked and there's a lot of fart and sex jokes. There's a vague plot reason for Cat being naked. I don't mind jokes in serious works of art but fart jokes in a work about suicide. Really?

I originally obtained ARC for this book via Netgalley, However, the book was archived 2 days later. So I rented a copy via global comix subscription. I don't know if it counts as an ARC.

I have some mixed feelings on this.

I loved the art style of this, it really was so nice and dreamy and just so visually pleasing.

But it did make me side-eye it a bit. I don't think that a naked lady needs to be the focus of every single page, it felt weird and kind of uncomfortable at times. It felt very male-centered in its nudity. For example: the skeleton has high heels...

This had more spreads of just beautiful art than words (which I didn't mind, they were pretty and atmosphere focused (most of the time, sometimes it was just the boobs of the main lady who killed herself over a man).

I found a lot of this story to be rather flat and the same goes for the characters. I want more from female characters, please make them real people with a purpose. These female characters just read more along the lines of manic pixie dream girl than an actual person.

I just wanted more from this story. I wanted the story to be as good as the art. Also what was with the fart obsession? This really didn't have much sympathy at all for the suicidal character, and I think it sends a really bad and sad message about depression. It just reads like it was written by a man. (If you know, you know. The girls that get it, get it.)

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Incredible. I really wasn’t expecting it to be this good. The art is absolutely stunning, the way the artist captures movement is so unique, almost hypnotic. And the plot is so good too. It gripped me so hard.

I thought there would be more focus on Karmen herself, but I actually really liked the way the story unfolded. The ending left me so happy. There was a moment that genuinely made me cry, which just shows how powerfully the artist captures emotions. It’s impossible not to become completely immersed in the narrative.

One of the highlights for me was the scene of flying like you’re swimming. I’ve had that dream so many times that I instantly knew what Cata was describing. I can’t imagine a more freeing sensation than flying around like that.

What struck me most, though, was the depth of the story. I wasn’t expecting it to be so layered and immersive. It touches on so many important themes, and I loved how Karmen never just handed Cata the answers, she made her find them herself. All of the changes to her soul had to come from within.

An unforgettable read.

I kind of went in blind with this graphic novel. I requested an ARC a while ago and kind of forgot about it until I received an e-mail thatI could read and review this.

First of all I love the art style, it made the story clear and easy to follow. I also enjoyed the the story, it wasn't hard to understand even though the graphic novel is not that long, I was eager to know how the story would end. I do hope in future editions there will be some more worldbuilding and explanation about Karmen as like, a sort of grim reaper. Now we see some of her colleagues but do miss some explanations about how things work. I hope to see more of that in next installments, as this particular book focuses mostly on 1 the story of Cata.

I really enjoyed it, it was an easy read and would definitely reccomend people trying this out.

Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.
Trigger warning - the characters in Karmen wrestle with the reality of suicide in an unvarnished yet spectacularly colorful drama. Additional warning - one of the characters is nude (tastefully represented but still NSFW) through the majority of the novel.
March introduces us to Karmen an unorthodox angel of death, who proceeds to escort the ghost of a recent suicide through the impacts of life, which they didn't consider before the drastic deed. The art is stunning, and the novel is mostly compelling. The only downside is occasionally dialogue drones, which interferes with the pacing. I truly hope Guillem continues the adventures of Karmen.

Wow. What a weird mind-trip of a book. It's dark and edgy, gritty and layered. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that this is a story about seizing what's important in life—living life to its fullest and not being afraid to step outside your comfort zone, so that you don't pass away with regrets.

Boy, this was a tough one!

This is my most challenging subject, and something I don't typically read but there was something about the art style and synopsis that drew me in, and I am glad!

As someone of the side of Catas loved ones I found some passaged to be so incredibly difficult but I appreciate how much love and care had been poured on them.

This was such a difficult read but something that has allowed a deep introspection within me that I hadn't quite expected, so thank you!

This was a delightful story about the power to change oneself, to change others, and a whole system, beyond that. Excellent pacing and a beautiful art style, with expressive limited colour palettes.

Every character was deeply human (including the ones that weren't), and I found myself rooting for everyone, not only the two protagonists, one of which starts as a troubled and unlikable, desperately lonely woman.

This was definitely one of my reading highlights of this year.

***ARC from NetGalley***

Karmen is an angel that assists the recently deceased in the moments immediately following their passing before they transition to the afterlife and whatever comes for their next phase.

Catalina ("Cata"), is a young woman in Spain who is in distress and takes matters into her own hands. Karmen is there and rather than immediately transitioning her, lets Cata "explore" the city. During this time she sees the people in her life that she has isolated herself from.

I will not ruin the story, but this is an unflinching portrayal of the devastation that someone's passing has on those left behind.

The artwork is in turns, bold, graphic, and whimsical.

After I finished my read, I was rendered speechless, but in a good way. I found myself reflecting on my relationships with family and friends and vowing to be more present. In other words, to do better.

This book is truly beautiful.

Marches art style is one that in a comic book would convince me to read a title based on the cover alone and boy oh boy does this one deliver.

A short but hopeful tale that manages to in its relatively short page count really make you care for the characters.

It was so so so incredibly refreshing to have a naked female character that is so unsexualized that it feels like she’s not even naked at all

I’m going to have to do scour my local shops for more by the author

My thanks to both NetGalley and Image Comics for an advance copy of this graphic novel that looks at a young woman's experiences after she makes a decision, the person who accompanies her, and what they see, feel and learn.

I have always had mixed emotions about suicide or self-harm as they are calling it today. I am of the mind that a person's life is theirs to do with what they wish. And yet. Making a rash decision in a fit of pique, or sadness isn't something I condone, nor would I let someone do. However I am not one of those people who feel that life is better, nor that life will get better for people. Look at the world right now. A few less people making decisions that affect millions of people might make for a better world. So its complicated. More complicated than I want to think about, and yet. There is always an and yet. Suicide is a popular subject for media, many romanticize it, make jokes about it, use it to teach lessons, religious and ethics, yet few like to touch on the uglier aspects, the reasons why, the reasons one should never do soo, and those left behind. Karmen is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Guillem March, that looks at one young lady who makes a decision that changes everything she knows and opens her up to a new world or understanding, and of the beauty that we miss while being lost in our own thoughts and malaise.

Catalina is a woman who in a moment of sadness, a sadness Catalina sees no end to takes her own life. Instead of heaven, hell, or something like Void, Catalina meets a woman with pink hair, a skeleton costume, and a ditzy kind of attitude. Karmen works, or is a group that takes soul and helps them get them ready for reincarnation. Deeds and actions are important to where one might wind up, and Karmen is as flexible with the rules of her group as can be. The two begin to wander, watching others, and seeing the beauty that is all around us. Also the ugliness, the indifference. More importantly Karmen shows that aftereffects of what happens to people caught in the wake of suicide, something Catalina did not expect, and something that might have ramifications on her reincarnation.

One can tell immediately that this is a European comic, not just the art, but from the writing. There is a realness here, a ripped-off band-aid over a wound that would not heal. An American writer would have a lot of platitudes, soft language, even corporate religious speak. This does not. I was familiar with March's work on certain superhero comics, but that was illustrating. March is a very good writer, and makes for a powerful story that asks lots of questions, many that have to be answered by the reader's conscience. Yes there is a certain Sandman feeling with Karmen being a more looser Death character, but the emotions seem real, as does the writing. The art is really good, showing more illustrators should try writing their own stuff. One can tell this project meant quite a bit to March. There is a looseness, a lightness to a heavy story that works well. The characters reflect the art quite well, and helps with the emotions that arise while reading the story.

This is a rough book. I don't know if I would suggest it to kids, though they are the ones that could use it, and probably better identify than a guy like myself who is well old. Many questions are asked, the story is good, familiar in a way, but still powerful. Well worth reading. I think this is a story that could only be told in comics. With a chance to change to some minds, hopefully.

Karmen is beautifully animated and interestingly unique. Although the ending is a bit predictable, the journey there is full of gorgeous scenery with some humorous moments and a lot of assisted introspection. I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down.

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. In fact, I made a point of buying a copy because I needed to have this book on display in my home. The art is iconic, beautiful, wonderful, complex. I could spend hours staring at the close-ups, searching for all sorts of small details, afraid I'd miss something. The story itself is simply fantastic. Perhaps because the theme hits a bit too close to home, seeing the interaction between the characters reminds me of my darkest days and how, if it had actually come to blows, I would never have met so many wonderful people. Basically, I went in with zero expectations and left with a sense of accomplishment and that life is more wonderful if we think about it in a deeper and more complex way.

★★★★☆
Karmen (Guillem March - releasing in 2025 (1-5 Issues - Bound))
e-ARC Graphic Novel Review

A massive thank you to NetGalley, Image Comics, & author/illustrator Guillem March for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest book review! 🥰🙌

“But people are the essence of life. Living is interacting with others, and your own existence only has any many when you’re a part of other people’s lives.” ⚪💍

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy…
- Heartfelt stories centered around mental health matters
- The hunt for meaning or purpose of it all
- Unique spreads and longer forms of dialogue
- A hard-hitting, truly wonderful (and funny) angel
- 3rd Person POV

RATING SYSTEM: I rate my books by 5 literary element groupings: plot and pacing, characters and development, setting and world building, dialogue and writing style.

📖 Plot and Pacing: Compelling and hopeful story of compassion
🧞‍♀️ Characters and Development: Idiosyncratic angel assigned to an impetuous human
🌇 Setting and World Building: Darkness of the content is explored through bold use of colors and entrancing illustrations
🗣️ Dialogue: Ambitious with conversations on the metaphysical
📝 Writing Style: Emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking

Funny enough, I have been searching and searching locally for all of the issues in a bound volume only to find out that it is releasing here in the US on December 2, 2025. When I saw that NetGalley had e-ARCs available, I JUMPED on the opportunity to submit. I am so pleased to say that this graphic novel exceeded my expectations.

You can also follow my reading reviews on Goodreads! (Link is in the bio)

Gratitude, always.
- H.

‘Karmen' with story and art by Guillem March is a graphic novel about death and fate and second chances.

A young woman faced with heartbreak makes a fateful decision. Karmen, a sort of courier for the afterlife takes her under her wing and shows her all that life could be and could have been. Their dialogue lasts into the night as the young woman sees her life and friends in a new light.

The art is fantastic and the story is really well told. I loved the character design and the message of the book.