I love anything set around Salem or Witch Trials in general, its such a dark yet compelling part of human history, but as someone who reads a lot, in a lot of genres and settings, about witch trials I'd struggle to say this was a standout.

There were some formatting issues with the copy provided, with text being cut off at the top or bottom, i trust these issues have already been found and will be fixed for the print edition. Beyond this at points pages felt clutted, especially with such a bold, detailed art style it could be difficult to follow at points.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this graphic novel. A retelling of the Salem witch trials in visual form? I was immediately interested. But despite the promising concept, the final result left me disappointed—and honestly, kind of confused.

This is a hefty book—over 500 pages—and it felt like a chore to get through. I don’t usually mind a long read, but in this case, I struggled to stay engaged and kept checking how much I had left. The storytelling itself wasn’t terrible, but the structure made it hard to follow. It jumps between three timelines, each with a different artistic style, which felt more distracting than dynamic. The present-day scenes in particular felt unnecessary and didn’t add much to the core narrative.

The biggest problem for me, though, was the readability. The text is small, crowded, and in many places looks more like scribbled handwriting than legible lettering. I had to zoom in constantly just to make sense of it. That alone made the reading experience frustrating—but then there was the sheer amount of text. For a graphic novel, it’s extremely dense. It felt more like reading a history textbook with illustrations than experiencing a graphic story.

There are things to appreciate—the main art style has a gritty, expressive feel that worked well with the tone, and the historical material is clearly well-researched. But the confusing structure and difficult-to-read formatting really got in the way.

In the end, More Weight just didn’t work for me. It was overly ambitious, oddly designed, and hard to enjoy. A great idea in theory, but the execution missed the mark.

The story of the Salem Witch Trials feels old, yet familiar. It is a dependable source of cringe worthy horror. Our nation's history is dark and laid out in detail in this spooky ode.

There were no witches in 1692. That is a central them of Ben Wickey's More Weight, a graphic history of Salem and its role in pop culture, literature, and politics since the town first made its name as the location of the 1692 witch trials. Toggling between the 1692 witch hysteria, the 19th century Salem of author Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the modern Massachusetts city that is home to parking lots and tchotchke shops, Wickey creates a completely unromanticized and devastating portrait of the trials, their perpetrators, and victims. Past chroniclers of Salem have always seen what they wanted to see in the trials: Arthur Miller saw political persecution and sexual repression, Longfellow saw his own grief. Wickey's depiction of these events is not so melodramatic; although he takes inspiration from centuries of Salem-based literature, his sympathetic portrait is likely closer to what those Salemites experienced: confusion, frustration, and terror. The use of a cartoonish drawing style, reminiscent of Edward Gorey or perhaps even the engraved tombstones of Salem itself, lulls the reader into thinking that they are reading a fable the likes of the Crucible, something distanced from the 19th and 21st century Salems, which are rendered in a realist style. That only makes the later collision of these two styles, and the visceral depictions of the victims, all the more effective at pushing forth one of Wickey's central ideas: that Salem is not a fable, and there is no moral. It is not an allegory for political "witch hunts", or the last vestige of a "women's holocaust", and there were no witches in 1692: the witch trials were a terrible miscarriage of justice that resulted in the deaths of dozens of people and trauma to countless more. Like many children growing up in Massachusetts, Giles Corey's infamous last words "more weight" (the historicity of which are debated) were seared into my memory. Wickey's chronicle of Salem, astounding in its scope and depth, paints new emotion into these words and has given me a new appreciation of one of Massachusetts' darkest chapters. The extensive notes and bibliography, as well as the breadth of Massachusetts history touched on, will also give history enthusiasts much to chew on long after they have closed this book.

I loved the idea behind this, as Salem witch trials are an interesting historical event - although really dark - and the author delivered a really detailed research on characters and settings. However, I don't think I really appreciated the execution at the end.

The book is massive, really crowded both in words and images. I liked the art style, many plates were really outstanding, but I found it difficult to follow along because I couldn't read everything with ease. I don't know the format in which it will be printed but I hope that both the author and the publisher will be careful with this. As a consequence, I found myself sometimes looking at the bottom of the web app to see how many pages were left, and this is something I found really unpleasant.

I would suggest this for the artwork, but probably skipping many paragraphs.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. My expectations going into the book were a lot different than what I ended up reading in the story. I still enjoyed learning more about the Salem Witch Trials and the people involved in this historical event, but the plot lacked the magic and suspense I was hoping for. Otherwise, I can see how this read would appeal to those who enjoy the more factual side of said events. Sadly, this read was just not for me.

While I think the history of Salem is very interesting, I feel like this graphic novel tried to squeeze in too much information into one book. For a graphic novel it's quite long and there is a lot of text crammed into some of the panels. The font was also a bit overwhelming too which just made every page feel very cluttered. I also didn't particularly enjoy the art style, but that's a personal preference.

It's definitely an important part of history to learn about, I just don't think a graphic novel is necessarily the best way to convey the information.

I really wanted to like this book. I think the Salem Witch Trials are very interesting and I liked that the author focused on the Coreys. But I felt like this would have worked better as a book instead of a graphic novel/comic. The author obviously had a lot to say (including in the author notes, which in all honesty, I couldn't bring myself to finish), but that came with the price of squeezing text in to the point where I couldn't read some of it and found myself glossing over the rest of it. I did enjoy the art style though!

Thank you Ben Wickey, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a beautifully illustrated and well written look at the chaos and tragedy of the Salem Witch hysteria, especially when it comes to the tale of Giles Corey.

Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Being a descendant of one of the women hanged and two others accused, I have a special fascination with the Salem Witch Trials and have read dozens of books on the subject.

"More Weight: A Salem Story" is a long-overdue focus on the story of Giles and Martha Corey. Even with all of the books I've read before, I realized how little I knew about the Corey's before this book. Too often, Martha is barely mentioned, and Giles' story is limited to being the one person who was pressed to death.

If I rate the book only on the research put into it, and Giles and Martha's storyline, I would give it five strong stars. The effort and thought put into the story presented by this author is impressive and the story of Giles and Marth will stick with me for a very long time. I learned so much.

I am not giving it a five-star rating as a whole for a few reasons. The book is very long and has so much information it was overwhelming. I am very interested in this subject, and I had to put the book down every few days and take a break. The 1860s timeline with Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was distracting, and for me it took away more from the story than it added. I read the graphic novel on a tablet with a good-sized screen and still had to zoom in on text regularly to read all of it, and there is a lot of it. I grew up both reading and writing cursive, and have studied handwriting styles of the past, and the parts of the text presented in a cursive font were very difficult for me to read. Some of it I just skipped.

I hope readers give this book a chance as the story of Giles and Martha Corey, and by association other victims of the witch trials, is an important one to learn about. I hope readers will look past these and give the book a chance. The story and history is important to know.


#MoreWeightASalemStory #NetGalley

My thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing Top Shelf Productions for an advance copy of a graphic novel that serves as both a history and a rumination on the Salem Witch trials, why they happened, why they were allowed to go on, and what in this day of fake news and trial by public opinion it tells us about ourselves.

Growing up it every Halloween like clockwork we always spent a week on the Salem Witch Trails. Didn't matter the grade, for two weeks we read books, made crafts, dressed as witches or I guess warlocks. My school wasn't that free yet. This was a school in Connecticut, so maybe it was a history thing. I can't see this happening in Alabama or Oklahoma. As we got older we learned more about it, read books of fiction, nonfiction, a few poems and of course Arthur Miller's The Crucible. However we never really got to the heart of it. Religion run amuck. Power of the crowd against the weak. Though the image of what the witch trials were has changed in the public eye. Even now one can hear both innocent men and guilty presidents scream about witch trials, being railroaded, beset on all sides. I have read a few books on witches in New England but I learned and even more importantly felt quite a bit at the end of this graphic novel. Sadness, rage and an understanding that history repeats itself in so many different ways. More Weight: A Salem Story is written and illustrated by Ben Wickey and tells of witches, ghosts, outsiders redemption, fear, mistakes, love, and of course the power of others over our lives.

The book begins with a look at modern Salem around Halloween, with people in costumes walking around following tours of witches, ghosts and hauntings, while taking selfies with statues. Wickey sets the scene for what happened in the past at Salem, the different sides that were feuding and how little things could be used to consolidate power, get back at enemies, and get out of control quickly. The story is told by different characters and times. Our main during the Salem trials is the Coreys, Giles and Martha. Giles is a man who regrets his past, his coldness, his indifference, his acts of violence. Martha hides a secret, but one that has not let her get jaded, though one day a spat with her husband leads them both down the path of ruin, and terrible death. During the 1860's Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet and writer is doing research on the Witch trials for a play, and is joined by his friend Nathaniel Hawthorne. Both roam the area, seeing ghost, are haunted by the past, and in Hawthorne's case hiding a secret. All while in the background people are being accused of witchery and being sentenced to horrible deaths.

A big book that I think could only be told in a sequential art story. There is just so much, and yet the book reads so well that one learns much while not even noticing. The story is good, jumping in points of view, into different eras, and one never gets lost, the art working with the words to keep the narrative smooth and engaging. The art is excellent, different in each story, and really fit the tale being told. One can tell this is a real labor of love. I can't imagine the time and research needed to get this right, but Wickey does an incredible job doing so. One of my favorite graphic novels of the year so far, and one I don't think will be beat.

History fans will enjoy this, artists will love the art and the way the story works so well with the pictures and vice versa. I learned a lot, and as I said earlier felt a lot. One gets a real understanding of America today from this book. I just hope we don't repeat many of these mistakes.

I really wanted to like this book, but I struggled to finish. More Weight is a retelling of the gruesome Salem Witch trials. The story itself is fascinating, especially when we're focusing on Giles and Martha Corey. But this book's biggest issue is how much it tries to cover. It goes from present-day Salem to the 1600s, to the 1800s, back to present day. It's confusing, especially the parts set in the 1800s featuring Nathanial Hawthrone. Another issue is there's simply too much text crammed onto the page. Many of the panels were difficult to read, especially the parts featuring cursive handwriting. It got to the point where I simply stopped caring about the story. The book would be stronger if it focused specifically on the witch trials because those chapters make for the best read.

It’s evident that an immense amount of love and thorough research went into crafting this compelling narrative. The artwork is truly captivating; while the style maintains a consistent look for each character, I found it remarkably easy to distinguish one individual from another. When we think of Salem in contemporary times, we often get swept up in the playful fantasy of "Hocus Pocus," conjuring images of "Fall! Spooky Season! Witches!" Yet, we tend to overlook the profoundly dark history that involved genuinely innocent victims. Stories like this one honor those victims, giving them a voice and serving as a poignant reminder that real lives were entwined in the tales we’ve come to know.

Regarding the Salem Witch Trials, I am quite familiar with names such as Sarah Goode, Tituba, and Abigail Williams. Although I recognize the Coreys as individuals who faced accusations, my knowledge about Giles and Martha was limited, mainly shaped by what I encountered in "The Crucible." I never quite grasped why that was the case. Many retellings seem to sidestep their story for reasons unknown. However, this particular narrative proved to be not only educational but also riveting and heartbreakingly poignant all at once.

What an incredibly powerful book! The attention to detail is nothing short of remarkable. The dedication evident in the exhaustive research, the diverse writings, and the richly illustrated depictions of the time seamlessly intertwine the lore, historical truths, and elements of pop culture—it’s truly phenomenal. Therefore, the next time you stroll through the streets of Salem, resist the urge to romanticize its past. Acknowledge its stark reality. Appreciate the artistry that has gone into this work, and recognize that the story itself is equally fascinating.

The graphic novel is emotional, well-researched, and exceptionally informative. There’s an abundance to love within its pages, from the tragedy born of intolerance and superstition to the unwavering courage of individuals like Giles Corey, intertwined with the voices of writers and their narratives. It truly stands out as a superb graphic novel.

On a less favorable note, I did find the art style presented an odd mixture of differing styles rather than showcasing a singular, cohesive approach, which I wasn’t particularly fond of. Additionally, as someone who experiences dyslexia, I struggled with the main font choice—it resembled a handwriting style that made reading a challenge.

“Though it is tempting to compare the witch hunts of history to today’s “cancel culture”, I think its worth pointing out that scapegoating among humans is far from anything new.”
Salem is another blight on the history of the United States.
Split into 3 parts:
1) An in-depth look into the town of Salem, the lives of its citizens, especially of Giles and Martha Corey during the terrible Salem Witch Trials.
2) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Nathaniel Hawthorne taking a walk-through Salem, going down memory lane and the haunted history that follows the celebrated author, Nathaniel Hawthorne.
3) The last bit of the book kind of breaks down the time between the trials and how Salem flourished and then constricted itself by profiting from its harried past.
I found it a little amusing that this book comes out this year, which means that the events of the Salem Witch Trials happened 333 years ago. Multiply that number by 2 and it is the number of the devil.

#ThxNetGalley #BenWickey #MoreWeight:ASalemStory

An informative, excellently researched graphic novel covering the Salem witch trials.

The art styles were beautiful and engaging and the amount of research that must have went into producing this is impressive.

However at times, it felt overly long and the amount of text on some pages, combined with the choice of fonts used made it difficult to read.

Overall, an extremely interesting read - if only more care had been taken to make it more legible!

Thanks to IDW Publishing | Top Shelf Productions and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really really enjoy this read! The art was fun and kept things interesting and it seemed really well researched! I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this because there are a few friends that are really interested in the history of Salem I would love to gift this to!

Thanks to Top Shelf Production and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was a long read in all of the best and worst ways.

Let me elaborate on those thoughts. Truly, this graphic novel is incredibly well-researched and thorough in covering as many aspects of the Witch Trials. Despite some people’s assumptions about graphic novels, this is not a simplified retelling of the events. Instead, by my estimation, it contains as much information as any other Nonfiction work. There were many aspects surrounding the events that I had never even considered, let alone already known.

Furthermore, this book covers three different time periods. We see the immediate events, as well as two different periods of historical reactions to the events. It deeply appreciated the moments spent in the present day, as it reflects on how such a gruesome event has become mythologized and a tourist curiosity.

But, the length and depth that this book goes into might rub certain readers the wrong way. Because of the amount of knowledge that the author hopes to share, often small text boxes must be used, where content is crammed in. It might have been the digital nature of the ARC, but I occasionally found it challenging to read, due to the font size. On top of this, I often felt the narrative went too in-depth with the events. Despite the books ability to deny expectations provided to graphic novels, it also counters what the average reader may be hoping for. As someone wanting to read a graphic novel, I found the occasional wall of text to be overwhelming and frustrating.

If the book had been shorter, I believe I would have enjoyed it quite a bit more. The story was interesting and I was engaged with most of it (especially the part of the narrative set during the trials). It was educational and engaging, but simply ran too long.

There is lots to love about this graphic novel about the Salem witch trials. The illustrations are stunning, and it was interesting following the story of Giles and Martha Corey, who I had never heard of before.
The book is in three timelines, beginning with modern day and moving into the 1692 trials, with parts of the book set in the 1800s. The 1692 sections were incredible. The way that the text and images worked together evoked a reaction in me that at times was emotional. I am very familiar with the Scottish and Lancashire witch trials, and have a basic understanding of the events in Salem, but this went deeper, which was great.
For me, I could have done without the 1800s story, though. I’m not familiar with American history or literature in any way, and I kept having to look things up. And as we concluded the 1692 story, I was surprised that I still had a third of the book to go. What followed started as a summing up of what happened to the people we had come across already, and quickly became a history of everything that has happened in Salem since, most of it irrelevant to the witch trials, and then an intense rant about how modern Salem is a Disneyland of witch tourism. At times this got incredibly sneery. He describes tourists as rude, and that Salem is reduced to a selfie backdrop. He attacks the films and tv shows that are based in Salem, as well as the business owners. He calls it a ‘consumerist quagmire’.
And then what follows that is 56 pages of author notes, which could have been a book in itself. But a typed book, because the handwritten text is incredibly hard to read when there is that volume of information.
Ben Wickey clearly doesn’t like tourists, and wants us to know that. Which is fine, except that by the end I had a headache and wanted it to stop. He states in his author’s note that he wants his readers to think, but doesn’t trust us or give us space to do so. It’s his manifesto and we are there to listen.
There is a point towards the end of the book where we see the graves of Giles and Martha Corey, and this was a wonderful moment of pause. That image alone made me stop and think. It made me want to visit Salem, not for the Halloween festivities, but to take a moment to show my respects for the people who were persecuted. And in that way, the aims of the book have been achieved. But I wish we had done without the additional information that clouded the waters of what is, in part, a stunning and emotional retelling of the awful events of Salem in 1692.

This was not a fun book, but it was a good book! The facts, sometimes fictions, and lasting legacy of of the Salem witch trials is a lot to take in both factually and emotionally. These were real people, after all, but this book does an admirable job of conveying all of it. The cutesy grim art style that is very effective, especially when more color splashes its way onto the pages. If this is of interest to you, go for it!

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

I had high hopes for this book. A graphic novel telling the true story of Salem? Yes. The execution, however, did not make the cut. This is a long one at over 500 pages and while I love a chunky book, I did not enjoy picking this one up and kept checking to see how much further I had to go.

The story-telling was fine. I didn't like the way the story was told in some parts. The book opens up with a more present-day scene, which was fine if it was just that one part, but it just didn't really need to be there. There are also other parts set in a different time. So, three different time POVs and each of them had a completely different art style, which I really didn't like. I wished that the author had just stuck with the main timeline and that art style throughout the entire book. There was really no point in the others.

The biggest issue I had with this book is that it is extremely difficult to read. I don't know what size of a physical book this will be when it is released, but it better big a pretty large one in order for people to actually be able to read the text. The text is sometimes almost entirely illegible. it's almost like handwriting throughout 90% of it and actual handwriting in some, too. It all seems to run together and I had to zoom in on every single panel in order to read it.

There's also just too much text. If I wanted this much text, I'd prefer a novel. In a graphic novel, we're supposed to have the art to carry the story along and, even though it's non-fiction, give us the information we need. There's just too much text. If I'd seen this on a shelf and opened it, I'd just put it back and go find a non-fiction book about Salem without any art at all.

As I said, the story-telling was fine. The information is there. I liked the art style of the main part. But the formatting really ruined the experience of it for me.