Customer Reviews

Gravel: Never A Dull Day (Signed Hardcover)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm surprised no one has reviewed this yet. I'm a fan of a lot of Ellis' more recent work, so after picking up the trade paperback of "Strange Killings: Body Orchard" (which is included in this volume) I decided to pick up this collection. I wasn't disappointed. It's a great little package collecting all of the previous mini series starring LT. Gravel, the combat magician. A very inventive take on magic in modern times. I'm not a big fan of Mike Wolfer's artwork, but he gets the job done in quite cinematic ways.

The only thing that kept this from a full five stars is there was not any introduction, behind the scenes, or bonus material as far as concept sketches, etc from the creators. For a collection of this sort that's a real shame. In fact it's pretty inexcusable. Too bad. If you haven't picked these up yet this is a great way to get them all in one package.

This Gravel collection "NEVER A DULL DAY" is a must have for all Gravel fans. It collects 24 B&W issues of the adventures of the crazy, weird, insane Gravel at his best. It is also a limited number of only 2000 signed HC copies by the amazingly talented writer Warren Ellis and outstanding artist Mike Wolfer. This HC bound book sells itself.

This is a well made hard back, sweetly signed by the author and artist. Readers should understand this work is in grey tones - but it's still an engaging read. Ellis' Gravel gets better as the story continues. Part of the series' originality involves the boundary pushing violence and sexual content, and some readers will no doubt be turned off by this. Others will appreciate an interesting character in Gravel the combat magician, and the dark, strange world he finds himself navigating.

Brilliant book - beautifully bound. All the black and white Gravel stories in one place. Just make sure you have a strong bookcase as this is a heavy book!
I avoided Gravel for a long time since I thought it was some sort of Hellblazer take off. It's actually got a very different take on magic and horror and, for those who like Ellis' unique voice, it's several hundred pages of OMG moment after OMG moment.

Im a big fan of warren ellis, the packaging is nice, yes it falls short with no extra's. Can't really give in between but i would say this collection is between 3 1/2 and 4.

This has 6 stories, the first (strange kiss) and last story (strange killings necromancer) are the best ones that i would give 5 stars too, they are the funniest and most witty.

The 2nd (stranger kisses) and 5th story (strange killlings strong medicine) are fun as well and rather bizarre in what happens in them i'd give those 4 stars.

3rd (strange killings) and 4th Strange killings The body orchid) are kinda dull maybe both between 2 1/2 and 3 stars. Mainly because the main character william gravel just spends most the story running around shooting stuff, which he does not have much of a challenge. You get sort of tired just watching him run around going shooting up stuff.

Basically the whole book is a introduction of the character William Gravel and what he does. He's a combat magician and he's one of 7 if i recall the story correctly. He isn't really well liked by the government he works for, but you don't know the story behind why.

Hopefully the monthly series that is being produced will actually give insight into the other magicians out there, and will get alot more fun magic and not so shoot'em up action.

Fan's of Ellis will enjoy this, non-fan's well if you don't mind some crass humor, things blowing up with one punch or kick, and nudity, seeing crotch rot (yes that's right) you may enjoy it or not.