Ghostopolis [Paperback]

Doug Tennapel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2010 | Age Range: 10 and up | Series: Ghostopolis

A page-turning adventure of a boy's journey to the land of ghosts and back.

Imagine Garth Hale's surprise when he's accidentally zapped to the spirit world by Frank Gallows, a washed-out ghost wrangler. Suddenly Garth finds he has powers the ghosts don't have, and he's stuck in a world run by the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who would use Garth's newfound abilities to rule the ghostly kingdom. When Garth meets Cecil, his grandfather's ghost, the two search for a way to get Garth back home, and nearly lose hope until Frank Gallows shows up to fix his mistake.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 7 Up When readers first meet Garth Hale, he is about to receive the fifth diagnosis that his disease is incurable. How fitting, then, that a boy who thinks about death more than other kids his age should be accidentally zapped into the afterlife. When washed-up ghost wrangler Frank Gallows realizes that he accidentally sent Garth through to the other side, he does everything in his power to rescue him. Meanwhile, Garth explores the spirit world with a skeleton horse, a variety of terrifying and fantastic creatures, and some family members whom he never expected to meet. TenNapel mixes emotional epiphanies with humor in a way that will appeal to a broad audience. Characters experience personal growth and learn lessons about themselves throughout the course of this book, but these lessons feel integral to the plot rather than forced down readers' throats. TenNapel's colorful illustrations are filled with energy and life, and they use shade and silhouettes to great advantage. The planned film adaptation made by Disney and starring Hugh Jackman means that this book is bound to have an extra surge in popularity, so it's probably a good idea to buy it now and get in on the ground floor. Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Frank Gallows, a weary officer from the Supernatural Immigration Task Force, and Garth Hale, a young boy with an unspecified incurable disease, are the dual heroes in this ghost-driven graphic novel. When Frank sends a troublesome horse skeleton back over to the afterlife, he accidentally zaps the boy along as well. The sinister ruler of Ghostopolis feels threatened by the boy (who, naturally, has all sorts of off-the-charts latent powers) and sends his buggy minions after him. Frank enlists the help of an ex-flame (who’s also a ghost) to cross over to the other side and rescue the boy. Sure, there’s a lot of characters with not a lot of characterization and a few too many good-for-you messages poking out from all the madcap antics, juvenile jokes, and overblown dramatics, but all in all, the story is a good blend of creepy, grotesque, and wacky. He’s got a few lumps to work out as a storyteller, but TenNapel—best known as the creator of the cross-platform character, Earthworm Jim—is a terrific cartoonist and in fine form here. Grades 5-8. --Ian Chipman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: GRAPHIX; 1 edition (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545210283
• ISBN-13: 978-0545210287
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I was in 6th grade, I thought I wanted to be an animator. But doing 24 drawings to make a character take two steps across the room was more an act of micro management than an exploration of life. I told stories through movies, video games and television cartoons before finding paradise in the art form of making books.

I'm 6'8" so that makes me stand out of the crowd in a literal sense. My artwork naturally followed suite by coming out a little off center. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to sell out just a little bit more and fit in better with the crowd. If I was happy sticking out I wouldn't spend so much time slouching. But I can no more write different books than I can stop being 6'8".

Once you know that I'm a convinced Christian, married 20 years to the most amazing woman I've ever met and trying to be a good father to four kids that are every bit as miraculously unique as you are, there isn't much more to learn about me. Okay, that and I like newts. Wait, and that I read G.K. Chesterton and smoke a pipe every Sunday afternoon with my friends. Hold on, I also ran two Marathons this year, mostly because I didn't think I could do it. I play loud music from the 70s when I write and listen to lectures while I draw. There's nothing better than ice cream buried in caramel.

http://tennapel.tumblr.com/post/22060513332/doug-tennapel-books

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!!! Okay for preteens. December 7, 2011

By mrsszende

Format:Paperback

I totally enjoyed this book. Who can resist having a pet skeleton horse. It did not have too much violence. Just plain fun. The sense of humor in it was wonderful. I was looking for something for Christmas for a boy who likes "sci fi stuff" and I think I will get him this graphic novel. It's the first I have read of this author but I think I will want to read more!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A visual feast with a heart. September 1, 2010

By Joshua Drescher

Format:Paperback

I've been a fan of Mr. TenNapel's work for many years. Books like "Gear" and "Iron West" are among my favorite graphic novels and my copies bear fuzzed corners and worn covers earned by countless loans to friends and family. The mix of funky (sometimes vaguely naughty) humor, dynamic action and underlying (and usually spiritual) moral lessons make for a potent, readable mix in most of his books.

In the interest of fairness, I must admit that I have, on occasion, been put off by some of the more blunt and humorless manifestations of political or religious messaging in some of his work. Most notably, "Earthboy Jacobus" - an otherwise rollicking and bombastic adventure - was ruined for me by the overt and mean-spirited political commentary that is shoehorned into the beginning of the book. It's the only one of Mr. TenNapel's books that I won't loan out. Thankfully, such lapses are rare.

"Ghostopolis" is a great read. It's filled with the kind of humor and heart and action that Mr. TenNapel is so adept at delivering. The story is a lot of fun and is certainly safe for young adult readers without pandering to them either. The initial set-up and establishment of the Ghostopolis as a setting are wonderful. The cast of characters is diverse and distinct and the reader will be hard-pressed not to feel invested in their adventures. That being said, after the rather luxurious trip through the first 3/4 of the book, the VERY end of the story winds up feeling a little rushed by comparison. A lot of loose ends get tied up in the final pages and it sometimes feels like things are being glossed over....

When the story gets "spiritual", it does so with an obviously Christian tone, but in a way that's quite moving - even for a reader like myself who doesn't share the author's beliefs. Mr. TenNapel delivers a Christ analog that only makes a couple of brief appearances, but in the process presents a clear and powerful portrait of what (I assume) the author finds attractive and compelling about his own faith. It's not a wishy-washy "Jesus-as-hippy" presentation, either. It has a macho kindness that really stood out and impressed me. If I HAD to believe in a God, I think I'd probably want it to be Mr. TenNapel's.

Artistically, it is (as expected) gorgeous. My only complaint is that the coloring detracts from Mr. TenNapel's fantastic illustration. It's a minor complaint, to be sure, but I strongly prefer to absorb great line-work directly - without having it muddled by post-production coloring and effects. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Ghostopolis by Tennapel May 12, 2011

By Evan Day

Format:Paperback

I love Doug TeNapel's work, and was excited to see a full color book by him. Ghostopolis is a fairy tale of sorts. An officer in charge of sending ghosts back to the afterlife loses his badge when he accidentally sends a boy, who has a disease with no cure, into the ghost world, a place of spirits, skeletons and mummies and other creatures, which has been taken over by a shadowy figure.

In order to get the boy back, he enlists the help of his ex girlfriend, also a ghost. Meanwhile, the boy befriends a skeleton stallion, and another young boy, who turns out to be his grandfather.

It's a mixture of poignant, sad, funny, and action filled moments. I will say the toilet humor isn't really my cup of tea, but it's a small complaint amidst the fun characters and imaginative artwork. Those paying attention will catch TenNapel's Christian symbolism, a common theme in his books.

This is probably the best from TenNapel in awhile. Sadly, the youth of the boy may cause some older teens to lose interest, I'd say 6-9 graders and the young at heart, will be most receptive.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful story, not just for teens May 17, 2013

By Scothia

Format:Paperback

Doug TenNapel, the man whose imagination unleashed The Neverhood and Earthworm Jim, continues to be a force in the culture with this vision disguised as adolescent graphic novel. A young boy is mistakenly transported into a weird afterlife--call it whatever you like, he sees lots of dead people, including his own grandfather as a boy--and gets to ride a skeleton horse he names Skinny to an adventure beyond imagination. Assisting him in his quest are a ghost who has been successfully inhabiting the mortal world, and a mortal whose only redemption lies in returning to the ghostly one. Along the way are deep-fried tarantulas; a werewolf uncle; specular arrays; a creator named Joe; demon bugs; and a character who could only be portrayed in the live action film by David Bowie.

The artwork alone is stellar. The author/artist and his team of world-class colorists have given us a book that moves and impacts like a film. If a picture is worth ten thousand words, these could house their own library section.

Does this book have something to say? Not in the hamhanded way many such tales are presented, but in a much more visceral and powerful manner. Perhaps the age group Scholastic targets, not being as jaded as we older folks, is the most likely to move the world towards necessary change. One can only hope they are paying attention to Doug TenNapel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique take on the afterlife that I want to see a sequel for December 15, 2011

By Kenya Starflight

Format:Paperback

Before beginning this review, I have a confession to make -- I am not a big fan of graphic novels. I don't hate them -- on the contrary, I have read and enjoyed "Bone" and some of the Star Wars, Transformers, and Avengers comics -- but I don't avidly follow comics or graphic novels as a medium. When I look for a good read, I tend to gravitate toward books where text pages outnumber illustrated pages.

That being said -- I greatly enjoyed "Ghostopolis," and dearly wish there was a sequel. The world Doug Tennapel has woven drew me in that much.

Garth is a 12-year-old boy who has resigned himself to a hard fate -- he has an incurable disease. But he faces death, in a way, much sooner than he anticipated when Frank Gallows, a washed-up and cynical ghost wrangler, accidentally transports him to the afterlife, a grim yet fantastic land inhabited by the dead. There, Garth meets his grandfather, befriends a literal "night mare," and discovers that as a living human among the dead, he has amazing powers... powers that mark him for capture/death by the evil ruler of Ghostopolis and his horde of insectoid henchmen. Now Garth, with the aid of his new friends, grandfather, and a mysterious being only known as Joe, must find his way back home, even as Frank Gallows and his ghostly ex-girlfriend Claire venture into the afterlife to find him.

As this was the first work I'd read of Tennapel's, the art style took some getting used to -- the lines are scratchy rather than clean, and his humans have a stylized yet "real" look to them, rather than the generic/supermodel looks that you tend to find in most comic books. But once I got used to the art style, I found myself greatly enjoying it.... Tennapel's afterlife has a quirky yet down-to-earth feel to it, and like I stated earlier I wouldn't mind visiting it again sometime.

The story, too, is more complex than one expects from a graphic novel, with several intertwining plots, unique and memorable characters, and underlying themes of forgiveness and kindness that don't feel forced in. I would have liked a bit more explanation of Garth's powers and why he has them in such quantity (all living people in the ghost world have powers, but Garth's are exceptional even for a live person), but hopefully if there is ever a sequel this point gets addressed.

I got "Ghostopolis" from our local library, but I will have to see if I can hunt down others of his works. If they're all of this caliber, then this is a graphic novel artist/author that I'll have to follow.

As for this getting a movie... I'm cautiously optimistic, as I've seen good books ruined in the transition to the big screen. But the art style would make a fun and visually interesting animated film, and I believe the story would translate well to the big screen in the hands of the right director. Tim Burton, is this for you? Read more ›