Ed Brubaker could write a medical journal on the causes of mumps among chimpanzees and I think I would read it. He is absolutely brilliant.

“Unfinished Tales” writes about the rise and potential fall of a hit fantasy writer. Everyone is clamoring for that final novel of a hit series. But the worst thing has happened to the author…writer’s block.

The journey to find at what links he is willing to go to complete his life’s work is so engaging. I loved every page of this graphic novel.

The problem with writing a review is I don’t want to spoil where it goes. Let’s just say, this is going to be an adventure you don’t want to miss.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was an incredible riff on the life of George RR M Martin, while I am sure he never hid the od of his friend who co-wrote the books, but did he?
Great art and colours, and as always a gripping yarn. Must read!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
What a crazy and amazing tale. I had a hunch of the possible track in this story, but what an incredible, creative ending! It reads a little bit of what the life of George R Martin with his own G.O.T. fandom and series. This book is a complete page turner. Read it in 2 days. An author is writing a 7-part sci-fi adventure. This story cover a great deal of what a writer has to experience all highs and lows.
Definitely worth the read.

Many thanks to Image Comics and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ latest collaboration Unfinished Tales. I haven’t read too much by Ed Brubaker and I’m still relatively new to non-horror comics, but I was absolutely blown away by this tale of fame, fortune, and severe writer’s block (or procrastination). Unfinished Tales might be one of the best books I’ve read about the challenges of creativity and creating art in a market that values commercial success. The story focuses on Finnegan Blake, whose Knights of the Sun series is widely considered one of the most popular and best-selling fantasy series of the 21st century. The series, which generated a multi-season television show, has fans that follow Blake to various conventions and talks, despite (or maybe in spite of) the fact that Blake hasn’t completed the final book in the series. The last book was published many years ago, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the final entry. While many fans are hopefully anticipating Blake’s last entry, others are growing restless, with one fan even confronting Blake at a talk, with his public rebuke of Blake’s delay in completing the book going viral.
One of the great aspects of this book is how Brubaker’s writing and Phillips’ excellent artwork allow for a slow reveal where we begin to see how Finnegan Blake’s success and popularity are not exactly what they seem, and have created a kind of prison or weight that he carries around with him, continually reminded about the impending deadline that continuously pushed further and further back. Anyone whose struggled with writer’s block or procrastination should be able to relate to Blake’s struggles of just being unable to produce. Even Blake’s longtime editor, who tries some different approaches to get Blake to finish, never sees the book, as he passes away prior to retirement and years after having a stroke that was probably hastened by Blake’s failure to finish. On the way back from the funeral, Blake encounters a friend (or possibly a writer rival) from college, and they catch up over drinks. Although he experienced some success in college and after, Pierre never had the same kind of success and acclaim that Finn experienced. Nevertheless, Pierre ends up staying with Finn, offering him the possibility of finishing his series, although it comes with a catch. Will Finn agree to Pierre’s plan? Or will his ego get in the way? I won’t ruin the ending, but I really enjoyed this book. It’s a fun and surprising ending, and despite being a book about writer’s block and procrastination, the plot continually moves forward, occasionally revisiting Blake’s past to better understand how he got stuck and was unable to move ahead with his story. Furthermore, Phillips’ classic, realistic artwork provide a sense of gravitas to the story, elevating it to something more literary. I highly recommend this book, and I’ll be looking for more great stories from Brubaker and Phillips.