In Odd We Trust (Graphic Novel) [Paperback]

Queenie Chan (Author), Dean Koontz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 2008

“Meet a young man named Odd . . . who helps the dead get even."

From the infinite imagination of #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz comes the suspenseful graphic-novel debut of a natural-born hero with a supernatural twist.

Odd Thomas is a regular nineteen-year-old with an unusual gift: the ability to see the lingering spirits of the dead. To Odd, it’s not such a big deal. And most folks in sleepy Pico Mundo, California, are much more interested in the irresistible pancakes Odd whips up at the local diner. Still, communing with the dead can be useful. Because while some spirits only want a little company . . . others want justice.

When the sad specter of a very frightened boy finds its way to him, Odd vows to root out the evil suddenly infecting the sunny streets of Pico Mundo. But even with his exceptional ability–plus the local police and his pistol-packing girlfriend, Stormy, backing him–is Odd any match for a faceless stalker who’s always a step ahead . . . and determined to kill again?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up—Koontz moves into the medium of comics with this prequel to his massively popular supernatural thriller series "Odd Thomas" (Bantam). Nineteen-year-old Odd's day job is working as a fry cook and serving up the best pancakes in Pico Mundi, CA. But he also holds supernatural powers that allow him to see and talk to ghosts. When a stalker starts terrifying the town by murdering small children, Odd decides to use his power to help solve the case before anyone else gets hurt. Although lacking the dark terror of the original novels, this story is still filled with plenty of creepy moments as Odd tracks down and confronts this all-too-human monster. Fans of the novels will be pleased to see the light touches of humor that have made the series so distinctive. They will also enjoy seeing the slightly younger, less experienced versions of other familiar characters, like Odd's gun-toting girlfriend, Stormy, and Police Chief Porter. Chan's black-and-white artwork is not too different from her work in her own series, "The Dreaming" (Tokyopop). Heavily inspired by manga—complete with large eyes and visual metaphors like sweat drops on the head—the artist has created a nice visual match for the difficult balance of humor and terror in the story. The volume closes with some character sketches by Chan and a sample chapter from the original novel Odd Thomas (Bantam, 2003) that started it all.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA
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From Booklist

The popular novels in Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas series tell the story of small-town fry-cook and medium Thomas, who becomes embroiled in various eerie exploits thanks to his unusual psychic gifts. Koontz assisted in the creation of this original graphic novel installment, which requires no foreknowledge of the cast or situations, and could easily serve as an introduction to the Odd Thomas novels. Thomas, driven by his ability to communicate with the deceased, joins with his gun-toting, take-no-prisoners girlfriend, Stormy, to track down a child murderer who has chalked up one death and promises several more. The bright, high-energy manga style and sunny, small-town setting are at odds with the creepy (and occasionally grisly) subject matter, and the sometimes stilted dialogue can be distracting. The story moves fast, however, and the stalker himself proves disturbing in a genuinely Koontzian way. For larger collections, this book is a light, diverting read that has the advantage of being a manga that isn’t a part of a multivolume series. Grades 8-12. --Jesse Karp

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345499662
• ISBN-13: 978-0345499660
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.7 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (114 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

220 of 221 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Graphic Novel featuring one of Dean Koontz's Best Characters, July 5, 2008

By 

Thriller Lover (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Odd We Trust (Graphic Novel) (Paperback)

Before you buy IN ODD WE TRUST, be aware of the following:

(1) This is not an ODD THOMAS novel, it's a black and white comic book, a graphic novel drawn in the style of Japanese Manga. If you don't enjoy this type of entertainment, then don't buy this product.

(2) This graphic novel is not entirely written by Dean Koontz, but is instead largely done by Queenie Chan, a very talented manga writer and artist. If you're looking for a writing style that is identical to the ODD THOMAS novels, you will be somewhat disappointed. But I think Chan comes very close to capturing the spirit of all the characters. I also thought her portraits of Odd Thomas and especially Stormy Llewellyn were right on the mark. Overall, I think Chan did a very good job here, given the creative constraints she was probably under.

(3) IN ODD WE TRUST is a prequel story, one that takes place before the original ODD THOMAS novel. As a result, I don't think it's the best place to start Odd's story. My advice is to read Dean Koontz's ODD THOMAS novel first, then read IN ODD WE TRUST afterward. I think doing this will probably maximize your enjoyment of the graphic novel.

All in all, I really liked IN ODD WE TRUST. It's a fun story, and I enjoyed being reunited with all the major characters in the first ODD THOMAS novel. The story definitely lacks the depth of Koontz's novels, but I think that's largely due to the constraints of the graphic novel format (the story, after all, is less than 150 pages long, and took me about a half an hour to read). But if you're a Koontz fan who also enjoys the manga format, this is well worth a try.

50 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You just have to like Odd, June 26, 2008

By 

Margaret Dybala "too many books, too little time" (Pearland, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Odd We Trust (Graphic Novel) (Paperback)

The thing about Koontz's Odd Thomas is that he is just so darned good. How can anyone not like him? He is truly a good person. But in the other meaning of a "good character," it is also true that Mr. Koontz has succeeded in deftly portraying a truly innocent, beautiful soul -- but one for whom innocence does not mean ignorance. Odd has seen it all! I really love these books. Having said that, this particular book is as light and fluffy as one of Odd's pancakes (recall that he is a fry cook). This book is a graphic novel that doesn't have a whole lot of depth or texture as a story. But as a graphic novel, it is just fine. The story is clear; the drawing is lovely and serves the story well. And it was nice to see Stormy in the story. All in all, I don't think this book is a good place to begin your acquaintance with Odd Thomas -- read the novels first. But as an addition to the overall Odd Thomas history, it is quit nice and I recommend it to fans of Mr. Koontz.

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Addition to the Odd Thomas Collection, June 24, 2008

By 

Jake Chism (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Odd We Trust (Graphic Novel) (Paperback)

Odd Thomas is just your average nineteen-year-old. That is if by average you mean someone who can see the lingering dead. By trade Odd is a fry cook in his hometown, Pico Mundo. After seeing a new spirit in the form of a young boy, Odd begins to sense foul play. It seems that a child killer is on the loose, and this boy is his latest victim. When one of Odd's friends finds herself in the middle of the case, Odd and his girlfriend Stormy decided to do some snooping around. What they discover is far more dangerous then they could have imagined.

If fell in love with the Odd Thomas character through the four Koontz novels dedicated to the beloved fry cook. When I heard there were plans for an Odd Thomas graphic novel, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. In Odd We Trust is a new Odd Thomas story that actually serves as a prequel to the original novel. As always, Koontz's storytelling is second to none and thankfully we don't lose any of the charm and humility of Odd's character in the graphic novel format. This new story is a fun addition to the Odd Thomas canon, and it was a bittersweet experience to have Stormy back for a while.

Australia magna artist Queenie Chan also brings her masterful skill to the table. Her portrayal of Odd and company really fits the story and gives us another delightful dimension of the Odd one. This is a must read for Odd Thomas fans and another wonderful addition to Dean Koontz's stellar body of work.