Odessa

Odessa is an amazing Graphic novel with beautiful cartoon line. This novel is about the adventure of siblings. When old sister gets the necklace and letter from their mum, who left their family 8 years ago, Ginny decides to find her. Their living in California, after a big earthquake, which change the world and the people. There's a gang war on the streets, but they are still moving forward despite the many losses.
I really like this book. It was funny and amusing. I appreciate showing the characters of the main figures and their problems. Also I liked theme od end world.
I recommend it, it's worth reading.

I have found that it is harder for me to connect with characters in graphic novels, but that was not the case with Odessa. Jonathan Hill crafts enjoyable and engaging characters that instantly grab the reader's heart and interest. The story itself was engaging and easy to follow and the art style complimented the writing and story pretty well. OVerall, this was a solid graphic novel.

I really liked the use of colour in this graphic novel. The two tone art was interesting and added a lot of depth to the drawings, and I think I find two-tone less distracting than full colour art. The linework really stood out to me, and the monochromatic nature of the art made me see more of the jagged post-apocalyptic landscape and really added to the mood of the book in places.

I liked the three main characters a lot. Ginny, Wes and Harry had a very realistic sibling relationship and seemed appropriately aged, though the younger ones switched between childlike immaturity and moments of forced responsibility - which I think makes sense for the setting of this graphic novel and was well done. The setting was well-developed and well-explained without the use of exposition. I managed to predict a could of the twists in this story, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable, and this was an easy and interesting read. It didn't shy away from the dark moments that post-apocalypse stories call for and I'm nervous and excited to find out what happens to the siblings and Maya next.

I found the digital format a little hard to read and blurry in places but that may just be an issue with my eARC. I'd definitely be interested in seeing this one in paperback because I think that would make the art really stand out. Definitely looking forward to the rest of this story, and to seeing more of Jonathan Hill's work.

"Odessa" is the first long chapter in a sumptuously-drawn post-apocalyptic tale following the journey of teenager Virginia Crane as she searches for her missing mother in a broken West Coast landscape that is stranger than it first appears. Jonathan Hill has created a beautiful and fully-realized world here, drawn in a soft black-white-and-pink palette; he is equally at home crafting scenes of urban chaos and moments of bucolic natural beauty. His character designs have strong elements of iconic cartoon design, but the look Hill has created is quite unique. Despite their cartoonish feel, Hill's characters retain a surprising sense of realism; the reader gets the sense that every line is important to the full expression of Hill's protagonists, their allies, and their many enemies. The small panels (Hill favors a tight 9-panel grid) are full of details that build the world, provide subtle characterization, and foreshadow upcoming plot points in a concise manner (it is no surprise that Hill teaches comics at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, his sequential beats are just about textbook perfect). Action is always clear, grounded, and propulsive, even as the story moves ever further from realism.

The plot and dialogue is perhaps a bit less polished than the artwork and visual storytelling (this is Hill's first outing as a writer), but overall the story is still compelling. The main characters are a trio of siblings, and there is some fun "you can't pick your family" style chemistry between them. "Odessa" clocks in at over 300 dense pages, much of it full of expansive stretches of dialogue as the protagonist Ginny, her brothers, and various other characters bicker, barter, and belittle each other. A bit too much space is given to explanations of the politics, history, and mechanics of the post-apocalyptic world, much of which could have been cut; Hill's lush backgrounds and unique character designs are more than capable of showing the obvious richness of his creation.

The tone varies quite a bit as well: Pitched as a young adult GN, on the one hand "Odessa" is a grounded, near-future post-apocalyptic story that frequently feels like it is about the become a very serious and very scary tale in the vein of the graphic novel "The Land of the Sons" by Gipi or the video game "The Last of Us"; at other moments it feels like a fantastical and light-hearted romp that is more in line with the films ""The Goonies" or "Home Alone." This makes the stakes difficult to ascertain or understand at times: "Odessa" begins as what is essentially an impulsive decision to leave a safe and comfortable home and quickly turns into a violent tale where characters are frequently injured and die and quite young children are frequently placed in mortal danger. The characters frequently make flagrantly dangerous or foolish decisions, which can make for a frustrating read (bad judgement isn't limited to the kids; parents and adults are near-universally absent or criminally negligent, a theme which may or may not be explored more closely). While this can feel realistic at times, at other moments I had the strong urge to round up the wayward adventurers and send them marching back to the safety of home.

Future chapters of the story (this volume ends with a clear "To be continued...") might clarify the narrative arc, and despite some criticisms I am definitely looking forward to future installments in the journey of Ginny, Wes, Harry, et al. Jonathan Hill has created an expansive, rich, and compelling world and filled it with fun characters, now he's just got to stick the landing. I've got every faith that this talented and meticulous cartoonist will succeed.

I read this in one sitting! I'm not usually a fan of graphic novel but this was compared to Neal Shusterman and Scott Westerfeld so I knew I had to request this immediately. I really enjoyed this, it was heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. I thought the drawings were nicely done (even though it was 3 colors only) and I love the cover. I also enjoy the end of the world settings. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for this advanced copy!

Odessa is visually compelling and emotionally rich. I loved the work this graphic novel conveyed in terms of character and storyline.

Odessa follows the story of Ginny and her two brothers as they travel across a torn-up America in the wake of natural disasters. The artwork and the simple colours of this graphic novel really lend to the end of the world feel of the story and emphasise the emotional turmoil that is taking place within the characters instead of focusing heavily on the backdrop.

Hill's characters are diverse and nuanced and that sense of what family means to each of us is felt on every page. He balances the emotional struggles with the physical and builds an extremely complex imagining of life after a serious natural disaster destroys the world as we know it. He also expertly blends the expected tropes of a dystopian storyline with new mythologies and fantasy elements.

I'm excited to see more of Ginny's story, as well as more of the mythology and the much-changed American landscape.

I wasn’t sure what I expected when I started this, but I absolutely loved it!
I made it my goal to read more graphic novels this year and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s a dystopia set in America after is it destroyed by an earthquake. It immediately grips your attention from the start with the mystery of their mother, why she left and why did she send the gift? They then begin their journey to find their missing mother.

I loved the unexpected LGBT themes & the end left you asking so many questions, once again! Will Harry be okay? Do they find their mother? I’m so excited for volume 2! I want more!

Odessa is well-written and well-illustrated take on one family's journey about a decade after a world-ending earthquake hits the West coast of the US. We follow Virginia and her brothers on an expedition to California to find their mom in Part I of this saga.

I am interested to see how the characters grow in the future, as much of this volume was focused on establishing backstory, world-building, and pushing the plot forward but has limited character-building.

An amazing graphic novel. After an earthquake has destroyed the West Coast, three siblings go off in search of their mother. The world has changed dramatically from the one we know, and there were several things that really surprised me. I loved the fantastical elements that were woven into the world, while still keeping the story grounded in a reality that is believable.

There are enough twists and amazing set pieces in the story to keep you turning pages, but the art ... oh man, the art. Often, I found myself just stopping at the pages that establish locations and drinking in the details. It's top-notch stuff and really makes it stand out amongst other graphic novels.

Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, but not in a "stopped-right-in-the-middle-of-a-big-plot-point" kind of way ... more in a continuation of the story and the start of something big. I want to see more of the USA post-earthquake, and I want to see what happens with the characters. The sibling interactions, and how they relate to each other and their ultimate goal made me want to get my hands on the next volume RIGHT NOW. Recommended

What an emotional rollercoaster! I love when history is served so rich in details like 'Odessa' was. This is a great addition to school curriculum.

In post-apocalyptic US, a Vietnamese-American teenage girl sets off on a journey to find her mother who disappeared eight years earlier. Ginny just wants to escape from the responsibility of looking after her younger brothers but when they follow her she has to protect them and decide who to trust as they make their way to the ruins of San Francisco. En route they manage to get in between two warring gangs, meet a mysterious man called Four Dollars with a complicated history, and wake something dangerous in the deep.

Jonathan Hill's pink-tinted images are suitably harsh and gritty and his apocalyptic cityscapes are particularly striking. A compelling, poignant story about family and hope in a dangerous world.

I'm pretty new to reading graphic novels, so I was really excited to receive this one! I was instantly drawn in by the cover and the synopsis. The art in the book is gorgeous! I love the monochromatic color scheme, and I'm excited to see if the next installment is the same color or if it changes. I wasn't expecting this to be a series as I thought this was a standalone, however I am excited the see where the story goes. I will definitely keep an eye out for the next book.

When the book first started I really sympathized with Ginny. I felt that she was very motherly and I understood her need to find something for herself and take a break. My love for Ginny was pretty short lived. As the book went on I felt like she had a horrible attitude, and she treated people horribly. Then towards the end, I found myself liking her again.

Wes and Harry are the best little brothers ever. While I don't have little brothers, I do have little sisters. Wes and Harry are the embodiment of little siblings. They are annoying and constantly pick at each other, but at the end of the day you know they care for Ginny!

Four dollars was by far my favorite character in the book. I think he definitely had the most development and backstory of all the characters. He is just a fantastic addition to this book!

Since this is the first book in a series, I would have liked a little more world building. While we saw some of the new order of life, I definitely wanted to see more. So hopefully we get more of that in the next addition. I also really liked that we had Asian/American representation, and LGBTQ+ representation. Overall I really liked this book, and I'm excited to see where the series goes!

Sadly I was unable to download onto my kindle due to formatting issues. The concept sounds amazing and I will keep an eye out for the physical copy in future!

Odessa is a slow burn graphic novel about the aftermath of a huge earthquake that literally splits the US in half. It follow the story of Virginia, Ginny, and her quest to find her long lost mother. I loved the artwork and I can't wait to see what happens next!

I have a huge weakness for apocalyptic narratives, and the cover of this graphic novel called out to me from the moment I saw it. I am really thankful that OnI Press granted my request for an early copy to review.

Odessa takes place in an America that was devastated by a massive earthquake that changed the landscape forever. The story is about family and finding who you are when those you love have abandoned you and other need more than you can give.

This graphic novel charts the progress of a young girl as she seeks her mother in a post-apocalyptic America.

The story is absorbing and the characters well considered for the most part. There are unexpected quirks of character and this enhances the story. They are sometimes drawn in and out of the story somewhat too conveniently, but the plot stays consistent and quirky.

The world as drawn is sketched in few shades, but the sheer scale of the destruction is well presented and believable.

The author clearly knows his stuff and this wil appeal to graphic novel fans of the post-apocalyptic and action viewpoint. The story is to be continued, and I look forward to the next in the series.

Reviewing graphic novels is always a huge struggle. They often don’t provide enough content to delve into, and my review of art can often be summarized by one word “beautiful”. That’s why this review is going to be very succinct but hopefully still helpful!

Who would have thought that I’d find a new graphic novel to get excited about? You probably all know already that I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels. I rarely feel satisfied with them. Yes, the art is usually beautiful to look at but the stories tend to be very simplistic and short, and often leave me wanting more. This time Odessa actually did it for me! It was interesting, it was captivating and intriguing. I actually didn’t know that this is only Part 1, and was disappointed that it ended so soon. On a positive note, I’ll have something to look for when the 2nd part comes out.


I love when graphic novels only have one or two main colors and the rest tends to be in grays or black and white. Which was the case with Odessa. I’d love to read other books illustrated by Jonathan Hill. This style of art usually has just enough visual support to aid the story but doesn’t take anything away from it, doesn’t become a distraction.

One of my favorite graphic novels Hostage by Guy Delisle has very simple artwork but tels such an incredible and powerful story.


There is something about dystopian worlds / stories that really intrigues me. I’m always looking for something new to read in the dystopian genre and while Odessa is more of a journey through the dystopian world, as it focuses on family dynamics and a little bit of danger and adventure. I hope that in the future volumes we get to see a little bit more of the world, and how it came to be the way it is. I know there was an earthquake, but that’s pretty much the whole “background” to how different the world looks now.

Odessa by Jonathan Hill was a very pleasant surprise. I saw that the reviews on Goodreads are rather mixed. However, this was my type kind of graphic novel and I will definitely be looking for the continuation!

Gorgeous art. Lots of plot though I wish it was a stand-alone instead of the beginning of a series. Premise really reminds me of Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld.

The premise of Odessa is that it’s a post-apocalyptic tale of three Vietnamese American children on a quest across America to find their mother. But it’s so much more than that. It explores human behaviour following a catastrophic event, the complexities of human relationships (especially family) and is also a journey of self-discovery.

For Virginia, Wes and Harry, life will never be the same. This is a dangerous quest but they’ve all decided that being reunited with their mother is worth the risk.

I have to start by saying that I loved Odessa. For me, it was one of those impossible to put down books. The artwork was beautiful and the story was beyond captivating. I didn’t want it to end… but more on that later.

Ginny is one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever read. Although our cultural background is different, we are very similar. We’re both stubborn, older sisters to younger brothers who hold a somewhat idealistic and pacifistic perspective of what the world should be like. Now I can’t begin to imagine the enormity of making this journey under the weight of that responsibility. But unfortunately for Ginny, her brothers have followed her. She doesn’t have a choice. (And to be fair, I’m sure my brothers would have done the exact same.)

Ginny has obviously been through a lot in her seventeen years of life. The earthquake has ended the world as she knew it then her mum left and her life gets flipped upside down again when she receives a birthday present from her absent mother. Knowing that her mother is alive, she longs to be reunited with her. So she sets off without any information about her mother’s whereabouts, completely disregarding the warnings from others about how dangerous a quest it will be. I won’t tell you too much more than that because spoilers but it turns out that it is a very dangerous quest.

There are some wonderful secondary characters that really add to the beauty of the story. I loved how three-dimensional they all are. Everyone has their good and bad qualities to highlight that it’s more of a spectrum than a clear cut good vs. evil and it’s done in a really beautiful way to add momentum to the story each time. I also loved the LGBTQIA+ representation – I believe there were at least three characters? Again, this goes back to the complexities of human relationships that’s at the heart of Odessa.

Now, back to the ending. This is the one thing that I’m not sure how I feel about. On the one hand, I was disappointed that it left it open-ended. On the other, I was thrilled that I’d be able to rejoin Ginny, Harry and Wes in the future. So I’ll leave it as I don’t love it but I don’t hate it either.

After the earthquake that tore apart western United States, Ginny and her family are doing their best to survive. When a mysterious package arrives from her long-lost mother, Ginny sets out on a harrowing adventure to reunite her family. Unfortunately, in this dangerous new world, she's doesn't even know where she's going and she'll need a lot of help. A colorful cast of characters including Ginny's funny and clever younger brothers, a pre-zombie passerby, an unexpected relative, and a super lesbian offer help along the way, but through it all, Ginny can't help but wonder if she's doing the right thing. Although decisions always have consequences, the stakes are high in this world full of monsters, villains and motorcycle gangs.
As far as adventure stories go, I was pleasantly surprised by Odessa. Although the plot is pretty cyclical, it reflects a real understanding of choice and consequence as well as regret when things don't go as planned. Each character is distinct, both in appearance and mannerism, making this fairly easy to read. It borders on hopeless at times, but I have faith that throughout the story the characters will find something of value, even if it isn't what they were originally looking for. I am hopeful that the story will continue to be interesting and a little scary.
Most of my students are a bit too young for this particular novel. It does contain sequences of violence and brutality along with swearing and alcohol use. It has appeal for middle to upper grades, though and isn't too overdone to be enjoyed by adults as well.

I admit my interest in graphic novels arose when I found out that several of the TV series I loved where based on comics and graphic novels. Before then I had never been a big fan of the genre. Well, reading ‘Odessa’, all I could think was: “This could be an amazing TV show.”

First of all, I loved the context. Sure, it is a post-apocalyptic world like we have seen too many times, but this one is somehow plausible. People living in California have been expecting ‘The Big One’ for years, the strongest earthquake ever registered which would change the US West Coast as we know it forever. So what if it finally happened? In this case, 8 years after the Big One destroyed California and hit the whole coast, people live a perilous life, commerce is based on the exchange of goods, the most valuable goods are weird roots which started growing after the earthquake, and San Francisco is controlled by rival gangs.

Secondly, I loved the characters, even if I would have liked to get to know them better. I can only hope that, as this was the first volume of a series, in the second one the story and lives of the main characters will be further explored.

Thirdly, the artwork is incredible. So beautiful with its black&pink colours.

Finally, I could not stop myself from reading it. The plot was so adventurous, a very nice page-turner. I can only say I cannot wait for the second volume to come out.

I would like to thank Oni Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this first instalment in this graphic novel series. I loved the artwork and all its pink tones. I loved the premise of a dystopian america that has been destroyed by an earthquake. The characters were amazing and I loved the relationships and the family dynamics of it all. I can't wait to see some of those relationships grow in the next instalment. I don't normally grow so attached to characters in graphic novels, especially first in series, however I found myself to be quite attached and emotional for these characters and I only want the best for them.
I cant wait to see where this one goes.
5 out of 5 stars

Odessa was a wild ride. A ride I hope we get to finish. There were a few things I wasn’t expecting, but I’m so glad they’re there. The monochrome colors were such a good choice for this story. Also, all the lore regarding the disasters is so good.