Customer Reviews

Odd Is on Our Side (Graphic Novel)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(49)

 

 

Sigh. I should have seen it from a mile away, but my biggest disappointment with Odd is On Our Side is that it reeks of being one giant cash grab. Apparently Koontz's character Odd Thomas, who has appeared in four previous novels (penned by Koontz) and one previous manga volume, is pretty darn popular with teens, which explains a few things to me. First, why these further adventures of Odd are presented in the manga format (actually, technically these are the previous adventures of Odd as these books take place before the prose series), and second, why Koontz didn't bother to write them himself. Take a popular character from a well known writer, truly make it a branded product by passing it off to another writer, package it in a profitable "hot" format that the target audience seems to respond to, and bam, instant profit. Along with the current boom in interest in graphic novels and adaptations, we've been seeing this equation again and again. Stephen King's Dark Tower series (Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born) and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake novels (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures - The Complete Edition) have both been adapted in the comics format by Marvel to varying success, and Koontz is just the next stop in the line.

Before I start to sound too cynical, I will say that my interest was peaked with Odd is On Our Side because the material was new, whereas the trend has been to adapt and abridge into the comics format (which was the case with both King and Hamilton's comics.) On the whole, I can look past the trends and popularity if the work has some genuine passion and creativity behind it, but unfortunately that just doesn't seem to be the case with these Odd Thomas manga volumes. My main gripe is with the writing though. Fred Van Lente turns in a really uneven script full of over-exaggerated characters and 4th wall breaking. In an early sequence Odd, narrating to the reader, comments that he doesn't like potty mouths who speak in symbols, which is a direct reference to the speech bubble in the panel where a driver is yelling profanities that are obscured as symbols ($#%&!) Though it may seem edgy or "meta", this is really just an unfortunate example of how the author breaks the suspension of disbelief. The writing is also rife with groan-worthy puns, platitudes and far too many wink & nods to the reader.

On a positive note, the artwork by Queenie Chan is mostly well done and for those unfamiliar with manga's artistic eccentricities, don't fret as they're kept to a minimum (there are a few sweat/tear drop uncertain moments, and the occasion surprised starburst, but no sleepy snot bubbles or anger crosses.) Of course this does raise the question again of why the project was presented as manga, especially if these icons and symbols typical to the medium are kept to a minimum, I'm guessing to make it more palatable for an American audience. I'd be willing to bet that Koontz's main audience is of an older demographic, but since this character appeals to a younger set the publisher decided to target them by presenting the story in a format that's popular, manga.

At the end of the day the story is serviceable enough as an introduction to the character of Odd, but I'm betting Koontz fans will want to take a pass on this book unless they're die-hard completists. For manga fans, this series feels like downright pandering, and a watered down version of the original Koontz creation, and they'd probably be better off seeking out some of Chan's own original manga (The Dreaming Collection.)

I'm a fan of Dean Koontz. I'm a fan of his "Odd Thomas" Series, but I just couldn't get into "Odd is on Our Side" at all.

Dean Koontz really doesn't seem to have much input into these graphic novels (also see "In Odd We Trust"). It feels as though the writing and story are dumbed down to fit the comic book style, and to appeal to a teen audience, leaving adult fans of the series out in the cold.

Another drawback to both "Odd is On Our Side" and "In Odd We Trust" is that both are prequels. We already know Odd has moved on from these tales, and because we know the fates of certain characters through the Koontz novels, neither of these graphic novels are able to build any suspense. I would also add that the illustrations by Queenie Chan who also worked on the previous novel, simply have no life. The artwork is very generic, and at times laughable (take a look at Elvis in "on Our Side" and try not to giggle).

In "Odd is On Our Side" it's Halloween in the not-too-sleepy little town of Pico Mundo. Odd Thomas along with his girlfriend, Stormy Llewellyn are enjoying the sites around the small California town, when Odd begins to see the "Bodachs" forming around an old farm. Because the "Bodachs" are drawn to places where death and disaster will occur.

So while "Odd is On Our Side" does follow the usual blueprint of previous "Odd Thomas" tales, it's painfully obvious that the author behind those tales did not take part in the telling of this one.

Having read and loved all four Odd Thomas novels, I was excited to get a copy of the graphic novel, ODD IS ON OUR SIDE by Dean Koontz, from Amazon Vine. I've never read a graphic novel, so this was a new experience. It was a good story, and interesting to read in comic book form, but it really is nothing more than an afterthought. The story has no subplot, character development or depth.

Odd is a twenty-something fry cook in Pico Mundo, California. He has the unique talent of seeing dead people and easing them into the other side. Often the dead appear and ask him to help him right a wrong. Also, Odd sees bodachs. They are mysterious, black ghost-like creatures that usually appear when something bad is about to happen.

When many bodachs appear around a Halloween festival, Odd investigates because he knows something must be wrong. Then he sees a young girl covered in a bed sheet and realizes she's dead, and holds up a sign that says "Save Me."

That's really all the plot you need to know, because it really isn't much more substantial than that. I read the book in about 40 minutes. It is fleeting and really adds nothing to the Odd Thomas canon. In fact, this book seems to be set before any of the books were written. While I'm always glad to read more Odd Thomas adventures, I hope the next will come in novel length form.

A definite departure from typical Koontz fiction, the Odd series of graphic novels have confused a lot of fans of the author. To Koontz fans I urge you to remember that this is a book for teens, and thus is totally different from his typical novels. As a stand alone graphic novel I think it is actually quite good!

Its a graphic novel, and a really quick and exciting read. The story is interesting and ends with a bit of a twist that I wasn't expecting. From what I know, the Odd series has quite a fan following among teens, and it is easy to see why. The story is about young adults and the books are a breeze to read. I think that this series would be a great way to get teens excited about reading. The graphic side of the book is interesting and well drawn. There doesn't seem to be a lot of hidden imagery or symbolism going on here, its just your basic graphic representation of what is going on. Overall a really fun read, if you know what you should be expecting!

I wish I had known it was a comic book and not a written book about Odd Thomas. I would not have purchased it if I had know that. To me, it was a waste of money. If you like comics, it is probably a good one. The art work was good.

I picked this book because it had Koontz on the cover. I didn't realize it was a graphic novel and didn't realize there were ghost writers involved. However, for this being my first experience with a story like this, I enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and likable and the story is compelling in a Scooby Doo way, though some of the progressions aren't believable. I highly recommend this for teens as an alternative to the tripe on television these days (this almost reads like a TV show and is just as quick). It won't win any awards, but it's a good novel and worth the time.

This is not what i expect from dean kootz, should be advertised as a comic book, very disappointed. thanks for listening.

I was under the impression that there were SIX books in Dean Koontz's "Odd Thomas" series. I bought four of them for my Kindle. The other two weren't available on Kindle so I bought them (new) from Amazon. It wasn't until I received them that I found they were more like a comic book and were NOT part of the on-going storyline for the other four books. Yes, I saw the notation "Graphic Novel", but I just thought that referred to content, like a TV show that warns of graphic material, violence, etc.

I think you need to state CLEARLY that those two particular books (Odd is on Our Side and In Odd We Trust) ARE NOT PART OF THE SERIES and are, in fact, "ILLUSTRATED" (as opposed to graphic, which can be misinterpreted), or at least show a picture from an inside page right next to the picture of the cover (without having to go to "Look Inside" and ask to see a particular section of the book).

Same review for the other "graphic novel" (In Odd We Trust).

I generally don't read graphic novels, so keep that in mind as I attempt to rate one...

Dean Koontz has written a series of novels about Odd Thomas, and this graphic novel is a prequel to those. While I prefer and liked the novels better, I thought this book was entertaining, and quick and easy to read; a good book to pass the time during a stint in a doctor's waiting room, for example. I read it with one of my young kids during such a visit, and she seemed to like the story and asked me to finish it for her once we got home.

The story isn't as dark as the novels, and feels more like a Saturday morning cartoon. The characterization isn't really consistent with the novels either. In the novels, Odd Thomas and his girlfriend Stormy are, well, odd. In this graphic novel, they seem too popular and outgoing, more like Fred and Daphne from Scooby Do cartoons than the quirky characters they are in the novels. Stormy comes across sort of silly at times too, which is NOT the way her character is in the series of novels.

Nonetheless, the story is entertaining for both adults and kids -- especially when you read it together -- and though I'm not a big fan of graphic novels, I did enjoy myself while reading this one, and have lent it out to friends and family.

I do not know if it is Amazon on Dean Koontz but I had no idea this was a comic book when I put down my hard earned cash. When I opened it up on my Kindle I kept paging forward trying to find where the book started. It never did. So, instead of trying to read the thing, I deleted it. If you like comic books and have VERY good eyes it might be ok but the pictures and print was so small in the little bubble boxes that was the dialog it was very difficult to read.