Annie and Kat begin their second year at Gunnerkrigg Court! Parts of Annie's past are revealed, as well as mysteries that tie back to the origins of the Court itself. Finding a secret tomb of ancient robots beneath Kat's workshop leads the two friends to question how they are linked to the mysterious ghost that attacked Annie the year before. And as a new Medium-In-Training, Annie is able to visit the powerful trickster god Coyote in Gillitie Forest, a visit that reveals more than she ever imagined!
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Collecting year two of Siddell’s widely acclaimed science-fantasy webcomic, this graphic novel follows Antimony Carver and her pal, Kat, as they uncover more delectable oddities in their industrial complex/boarding school. The flights of fancy that made Orientation (2009) so delightfully disorientating are a little more restrained here, as the story takes firmer root in its technology-versus-magic-versus-nature construct. Of course, there’s still no shortage of enigmatic surprises lurking in the school’s cavernous shadows, and the outstanding printing quality shows off some of the best use of color for mood found anywhere in comics. Grades 8-12. --Ian Chipman
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
... and that's saying a lot.
As I mentioned in my review of Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation, I find this web-comic as close to perfection as one can get. The writing is fantastic and the artwork is delightful, and both improve greatly in this book.
As with the first book, the chapters range from silliness to a cleverly written labyrinth of a tale. We learn more details about the Court and the characters residing there. With every mystery solved another rises to take its place.
The book itself is sadly not quite as well constructed of a hardcover as the first. The pages seem slightly thinner (as does the dust jacket) and while the binding seems fine, it doesn't feel quite as secure as the first. I am pleased to say that it still has full color glossy pages. I also personally like the cover art on this volume much more than the first book.
All in all though, I recommended it for everyone. As always, I'm already looking forward to the next book, even if you can read it for free on the website. It's good enough to reread while not online.
There's also the inclusion of the bonus story City Face which one can't help but find "super good."
As I mentioned in my review of Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation, I find this web-comic as close to perfection as one can get. The writing is fantastic and the artwork is delightful, and both improve greatly in this book.
As with the first book, the chapters range from silliness to a cleverly written labyrinth of a tale. We learn more details about the Court and the characters residing there. With every mystery solved another rises to take its place.
The book itself is sadly not quite as well constructed of a hardcover as the first. The pages seem slightly thinner (as does the dust jacket) and while the binding seems fine, it doesn't feel quite as secure as the first. I am pleased to say that it still has full color glossy pages. I also personally like the cover art on this volume much more than the first book.
All in all though, I recommended it for everyone. As always, I'm already looking forward to the next book, even if you can read it for free on the website. It's good enough to reread while not online.
There's also the inclusion of the bonus story City Face which one can't help but find "super good."
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A. Z. Allen
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are reading this I think it would be safe to assume that you are already familiar with Gunnerkrigg Court, but if you are one of those poor souls who are not so privileged then you should go to <[...]>. Then you should buy the first print volume Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation for yourself, your friends, and maybe a few complete strangers (sharing is caring!). Do that. Right now. I'll wait.
Caught up? Bought the book? Showered Tom Siddell with oodles of money? Good, because Volume 2 covers chapters 15 through 22 of Antimony Carver's time at Gunnerkrigg Court. The chapter count may appear meager when compared to the first volume's; however, the page count is still a respectable 265 (the number listed by Amazon as of the time of this writing is wrong). We learn more of Annie's time at Good Hope, the origin of the Court itself, and the identity of the mysterious ghost that haunts the Annan Waters. We also see Annie's first meeting with the trickster Coyote and catch a glimpse into the life of a previous generation at the school. Some questions are answered but the Court remains shrouded in mystery and you will find yourself wanting to learn more and more about the world it inhabits.
Tom's art, which improved drastically over the course of the first volume, continues to evolve through this collection (and indeed through the as-yet unpublished pages online).
The physical book itself, unfortunately, does not appear to be of the same quality as the first volume. While the paper that it is printed on is very nice and, as far as I can tell, identical to that of the first volume the binding of the signatures seems to be less secure. The hard cover itself "looser" and the finish is rougher as though the paper covering the boards was not smoothed down properly. However, it is still a very nice book and I consider it to be well worth what I paid for it.
tl;dr Great art, an engrossing story, and a terrible robot. Buy it now.
Caught up? Bought the book? Showered Tom Siddell with oodles of money? Good, because Volume 2 covers chapters 15 through 22 of Antimony Carver's time at Gunnerkrigg Court. The chapter count may appear meager when compared to the first volume's; however, the page count is still a respectable 265 (the number listed by Amazon as of the time of this writing is wrong). We learn more of Annie's time at Good Hope, the origin of the Court itself, and the identity of the mysterious ghost that haunts the Annan Waters. We also see Annie's first meeting with the trickster Coyote and catch a glimpse into the life of a previous generation at the school. Some questions are answered but the Court remains shrouded in mystery and you will find yourself wanting to learn more and more about the world it inhabits.
Tom's art, which improved drastically over the course of the first volume, continues to evolve through this collection (and indeed through the as-yet unpublished pages online).
The physical book itself, unfortunately, does not appear to be of the same quality as the first volume. While the paper that it is printed on is very nice and, as far as I can tell, identical to that of the first volume the binding of the signatures seems to be less secure. The hard cover itself "looser" and the finish is rougher as though the paper covering the boards was not smoothed down properly. However, it is still a very nice book and I consider it to be well worth what I paid for it.
tl;dr Great art, an engrossing story, and a terrible robot. Buy it now.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A subtle and semi-philosophical commentary on the roles of the spiritual and scientific dichotomy in our lives
June 21, 2010
Format:Hardcover
While all of Tom Siddell's Gunnerkrigg Court series is available for free online as a webcomic, it says something significant that the work is compelling enough to create a real desire to own it in a hardcover format as well. While this story ostensibly seems to be the J. K. Rowling-esque adventures of a few kids through a giant, mysterious castle that brims with both the supernatural and the technological, it has begun to evolve into a subtle and semi-philosophical commentary on the roles of the spiritual and scientific dichotomy our lives.
All of this happens at a young-adult reading level, which makes the story even more interesting and accessible, so don't let any of this scare you--there are still tons of robots, monsters, specters, mythological beings, an ornery talking doll that houses the spirit of an alternately benevolent and destructive dragon, and everything in between to keep you completely entertained.
In this second installment, Annie's inherited ability to act as a medium between different spiritual planes begins to manifest more strongly, though all of this is addressed as stoically as ever by the unflinching protagonist. While this apparent cool indifference on Annie's part might come across as an inability to write children accurately, Siddell makes it clear that he can definitely write kids, introducing more boisterous, interesting classmates into the plot. As we meet more characters from both the past and the present, both young and old, each presents a strong, unique voice. The plot thickens, and we gain insight into the traumatic (and a bit shocking) circumstances that brought Annie to where she is now.
There's a great deal of emotional depth to these relatively simple stories, which still continue to surprise me with each page. I'm not a fan of webcomics, but this one has me entranced. Little visual references to Hellboy certainly don't hurt my opinion.
The style of art is sometimes reflective of a comic that needs to be cranked out at a rapid pace, so certain pages are very attractive while others are simply functional, but Siddell rarely needs more than a few lines to communicate exactly what's happening perfectly.
Be aware that the death of a parent is an issue that is strongly implied in this collection, in addition to a word of profanity that is cleverly half-obscured, though any child who watches TV past 7 p.m. should be able to complete for you--hopefully not loudly. An extra 10-page strip that focuses more on gags is included at the rear of the book and briefly mentions "drunk humans," so proceed at your own comfort level.
Gunnerkrigg Court is a solid work that I genuinely look forward to reading, as well as sharing with my 4th-grade niece (who has been begging for volume two since well before Christmas). If you are uncertain, you should check out the website where these comics originally appeared, but I have no doubt that you'll be quickly convinced.
-- Collin David
All of this happens at a young-adult reading level, which makes the story even more interesting and accessible, so don't let any of this scare you--there are still tons of robots, monsters, specters, mythological beings, an ornery talking doll that houses the spirit of an alternately benevolent and destructive dragon, and everything in between to keep you completely entertained.
In this second installment, Annie's inherited ability to act as a medium between different spiritual planes begins to manifest more strongly, though all of this is addressed as stoically as ever by the unflinching protagonist. While this apparent cool indifference on Annie's part might come across as an inability to write children accurately, Siddell makes it clear that he can definitely write kids, introducing more boisterous, interesting classmates into the plot. As we meet more characters from both the past and the present, both young and old, each presents a strong, unique voice. The plot thickens, and we gain insight into the traumatic (and a bit shocking) circumstances that brought Annie to where she is now.
There's a great deal of emotional depth to these relatively simple stories, which still continue to surprise me with each page. I'm not a fan of webcomics, but this one has me entranced. Little visual references to Hellboy certainly don't hurt my opinion.
The style of art is sometimes reflective of a comic that needs to be cranked out at a rapid pace, so certain pages are very attractive while others are simply functional, but Siddell rarely needs more than a few lines to communicate exactly what's happening perfectly.
Be aware that the death of a parent is an issue that is strongly implied in this collection, in addition to a word of profanity that is cleverly half-obscured, though any child who watches TV past 7 p.m. should be able to complete for you--hopefully not loudly. An extra 10-page strip that focuses more on gags is included at the rear of the book and briefly mentions "drunk humans," so proceed at your own comfort level.
Gunnerkrigg Court is a solid work that I genuinely look forward to reading, as well as sharing with my 4th-grade niece (who has been begging for volume two since well before Christmas). If you are uncertain, you should check out the website where these comics originally appeared, but I have no doubt that you'll be quickly convinced.
-- Collin David
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing comic
Gunnerkrigg Court is fantastic -- with engaging characters, a riveting plot, and gorgeous artwork, you won't regret purchasing this volume. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rowan Vasquez
5.0 out of 5 stars
More pitch perfect adventures.
"Hmm, an ominous passage, that plunges into blackness, sealed behind lock and chain."
"You know what this means"
"We must see where it... Read more
"You know what this means"
"We must see where it... Read more
Published 2 months ago by para
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliance
This is a lovely binding of a wonderful webcomic. The creativity and artistry is astounding. Get ready to get lost in a second helping of the sci-fi fantasy world of Gunnerkrigg... Read more
Published 5 months ago by MAS
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is Where the Story Takes Off
Volume 2 of Gunnerkrigg Court is where Thomas Siddell reveals he is not messing around. In a frighteningly short amount of time, he improves his artwork and storytelling to rival... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Michael B. Silva III
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Comic
Gunnerkrigg Court is my favorite webcomic on the net. It's intriguing, mysterious, and the characters are all really great. This volume goes deeper and darker into the story.
Published 10 months ago by Yasumine Mousa
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best webcomic out there
While I may not read as many webcomics or comics as some, when it comes to naming my favorite webcomic, Gunnerkrigg Court wins hands-down. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Biblibio
1.0 out of 5 stars
Printing defects
(Duplicating my review for Vol. 1, since it applies to both volumes.)
I'm a huge Gunnerkrigg fan, and I bought Vol. 1 mainly to support Tom. Read more
I'm a huge Gunnerkrigg fan, and I bought Vol. 1 mainly to support Tom. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Lunkwill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just keeps getting better
Tom Siddell's artwork continues to become more beautiful, the plotlines of Annie's story become more dense and interwoven, and the result is a book of fantastic and visually... Read more
Published on January 24, 2011 by Kristin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even Better Than Volume One!
Reason for Reading: Next in the series. This is a Cybils '10 nominee and as a panelist for Graphic Novels was required reading for me, but my copy did not come in from the library... Read more
Published on January 6, 2011 by Nicola Manning
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
Excellent comic. I have read it several times already, and have lent it to all my friends to read.
I have to say that Tom is one of the best comic authors I have read to... Read more
I have to say that Tom is one of the best comic authors I have read to... Read more
Published on June 27, 2010 by Kevin Oberlies
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