I honestly don’t remember requesting this book but I am so glad past me did! It was an easy read with stunning graphics and an engaging story.

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC.

Karmen is one of those rare graphic novels that lingers with you long after the last page. Written and illustrated by Guillem March, it’s a surreal, heartfelt, and visually breathtaking meditation on life, death, and the fragile space in between.

The story follows Cata, a young woman in the aftermath of a devastating personal choice, as she’s guided through Palma de Mallorca by Karmen — a sardonic, pink-haired spirit who serves as both psychopomp and trickster guide. What begins as an almost dreamlike journey through city streets and skies becomes something deeper: an exploration of regret, loneliness, friendship, and the aching search for meaning when the world feels unbearable.

March’s art is astonishing — fluid, playful, and emotionally charged. His panel layouts drift and spiral, matching the surreal tone of the narrative and pulling you directly into Cata’s shifting perceptions. The city itself feels alive, rendered with lush detail, while the color palette perfectly balances whimsy with melancholy.

What makes Karmen so powerful is how it blends dark subject matter with unexpected tenderness. The book doesn’t shy away from pain, yet it finds beauty in the mess of human emotion, leaving space for humor, love, and even hope in the unlikeliest moments. It’s both fantastical and deeply intimate, a rare combination that makes it unforgettable.

Guillem March has created a masterpiece — a graphic novel that’s as much about the human spirit as it is about storytelling itself. Fans of emotionally rich, boundary-pushing comics like Daytripper or Sandman will find something profound here. Karmen isn’t just a story — it’s an experience.

This book was stunning.
First of all, the art reminded me of the videogame Gris, and "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr", both works I adore.
I enjoyed the graphic design, the characters, and the realisation Catalina faces at the very end totally caught me by surprise... and I loved the message.

I had so much fun reading this comic. It doesn't tackle any kind of new ideas and it's somewhat predictable once you realise what's going on, but sometimes I need a reminder that life is nice no matter how dark it feels and this one was a pretty good one. Plus when it got to the corp part it was absolutely hilarious.

By far my favourite part about it was the art - and I need good art to enjoy a good comic.

It's a story about perspective and it was impossible to put down! I feel like the finale was very realistic, the dreamer in me just wanted something more.

First off, the art is fantastic. I particularly loved the scenery and when the behind the scenes pages shown on location sketching, it made it all that more interesting. I also thought the design for the angels/reapers was novel and fun.

The message and idea being addressed, particularly the story of suicide, regrets and what happens after death were thought-provoking. Other than the corporate reaper system, I liked the rebel reaper trying a different approach to souls, and how there are several reapers.

While the story wraps up nicely as a standalone, I would be intrigued to see a follow-up with more focus of the reaper system and the mysterious "higher ups" that are mentioned in passing.

My only gripe, even though I sort of understand the reasoning, was that the protagonist was naked throughout the whole book, especially after worrying several times about being naked. It felt unnecessary, although there might've been a philosophical/allegorical reason that went over my head,

4/5

The art in this was fantastic! The way the some of the panels were composed to keep the movement going was spectacular.

I think that the parts about the reapers and their industry were very interesting. Aside from that, the story itself fell a little flat for me. I didn't really like the characters or their relationships. It all felt very surface level.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

When Cata meets Karmen, she is forced to face the choices in her life. Karmen has to figure out if a soul can really be changed.

This was wonderful. The art was gorgeous. The story emotional. I really enjoyed it. There were times where it felt really wordy and could have used some trimming to help keep it from feeling like it was droning on. I would have liked to learn more of the lore of Karmen and her coworkers and Karma Corp.

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for the e-arc!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review
This was such a unique reading experience, but also grounded in very true and emotional emotions that sadly I feel like a lot of people have experienced.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for early copy for review*

So this deals with suicide and it does not idolized it. It deals with the harsh ugliness of what happens to those that get left behind. Because of Cata's choice she spends most of this graphic novel naked. I believe that when she finally starts having doubts is when she got some clothing.

The artstyle was so realistic and had vibrant coloring that I really enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for a complimentary early release copy of Karmen by Guillem March.

I think I’m still feeling a bit confused as to what is going on in Karmen but after finishing the book I have a rough idea as to what’s going on. I feel like things could have been better explained, we get some information on these reapers/angels towards the end which makes it feel a little bit like rushed info dumping but it kind of works. These characters are interesting to follow, the art style is absolutely beautiful. I loved all the nice landscapes but I especially liked the extra drawings at the end of the book of the characters.

I would have liked to have learned more about the reapers/angels, the story mainly focuses on Cata, she’s a nice character but what mainly caught my attention were the angels/reapers. I would have liked to learn more about them, like how they came into that position, what their lives were like, ect. I feel like a lot of the information about these soul guides are missing. Something that also bothered me a little bit was that the main character Cata is naked for more than half the graphic novel other than that this was a neat graphic novel to read, there were lots of elements in the story that I liked. The characters feel well thought out I just wished we had gotten a bit more on them. As a side note if you’re sensitive to subjects of suicide I would avoid this one, some of the scenes can be seen as graphic depictions and it’s not something that is glossed over.

I really loved the art of this, and also the story! The lore of Karmen and the Karma Corp intrigues me, so I would love to see more from this. Cata was such an interesting character, as well! She felt very fleshed out, and it was really emotional to follow her journey.

Guillem March's Karmen is a really interesting read.

The art in this book is seriously great. Every panel just pops, and it all flows so beautifully. It's not just a pretty face; it dives into some really interesting ideas about what happens when you die, which totally hooked me. And the main character, I really liked her. Her life takes some dark turns, and her choices get pretty messy, but honestly, we've all been there, right? It makes her journey super relatable.

Now, there are a couple of points where it doesn't quite reach that "amazing" level. Sometimes, the characters just drone on and on and talk a bit much. This can sometimes create a slight hiccup in the pacing, momentarily pulling you out of the flow. And, to be totally honest, I really didn't love the ending. After all that build-up, it just didn't quite land for me in a truly satisfying way.

But even with those minor points, overall, it's definitely good, sometimes great, and totally about life and death. That message comes through with absolutely gorgeous art. Just a heads-up, though: beware, because there's lots of booty and titties to be seen, if that's something you prefer to know beforehand. All in all, for its unique vision and stunning visuals, I'd give Karmen a solid 3.5 out of 5

Weird but engaging story about an angel/grim reaper called Karmen who helps the people she is supposed to take to the afterlife and in some cases helps them find redemption. It was ok, and gripping in places but not entirely a favourite with me. Still a good read though.

This was a treat for the senses. The art was beautiful and the dialogue was well crafted. It does lose points though for an unfortunate scene where someone is berated for their decision to take their own life.

Very interesting.
I was caught in the style and it didn't let me forget.
Weird and interesting.
I recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was an emotionally heavy yet gorgeous look at the meaning of life and relationships. I adored the character design, and although the story did not feel especially original, it was still beautiful and thoughtful.

Life, Death, & Love Collide in Karmen!

Guillem March has made a truly moving story with Karmen. Told in a fun hyper-pop style, this story tackles some heavy themes. It does not pull any punches and doesn't shy away from difficult topics around suicide. However, the messaging in this story is IMPORTANT! (And entertaining to read as well). Readers have a lot to look forward to within these pages. There are moments of intense joy, desolation, and epic adventure.

Spanning the globe in the blink of an eye, Cata, our troubled heroine, takes on what happens next and how best to salvage her chances at a better life in her next reincarnation. Karmen, the goofy and lovable guide to the other side, stole my heart quickly. From her quirky personality spawns a truly deep interpretation for a grim reaper of sorts. I LOVED her messaging, and the world built around her does have me wanting more.

Be sure to grab a copy of this story - it won't disappoint!

I dig it. Not sure what is sticking out to me, but it had me wrapped up and held tight while I made my way thru it.
Very interesting.

Karmen takes us through the graphic narrative to a fabulous journey between life and death, no one is indifferent to the quality of the narrative and art.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced reader's copy.

An imaginative take on mortality and the afterlife, with the art style bringing a dreamlike quality to the story.