Customer Reviews

Phonogram Volume 2: The Singles Club (Phonogram: the Singles Club)

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

 

 

I actually first read this in single issues, one of the few, and I cannot describe how much I love this book. McKelvie and Wilson just kill it on the art. It's so clean and expressive, and just feels perfect for the story Gillen tells. I only wish that more people read the story when it was coming out, but the talents of the creators have been recognized since. I love stories about magic, and the idea of magic as a metaphor and how art and other passions drive and affect us. So this put all of that together and has created one of the best stories I've ever read in my life.

The interwoven tales of several people all revolving around a single night at a club. It could have been a terrible romantic comedy plot, but in the hands of Gillen and McKelvie it is a riveting story with a dash of urban fantasy. HIGHLY recommended.

Alright, I came into reading this by meeting the charming Kieron Gillen in person at a ECCC the day this came out. Naturally, my sister and I could not turn down the wonderful accent and selling tactics.

At first, I thought, "wow, I must have been such an easy target. I hope this isn't terrible."

Turns out, It was amazing.

Sure, having a deep familiarity with the music helps with understanding many of the tones and rhythm of the comic, but it is not necessary for a pleasurable reading experience.

I gobbled it up, and I instantly wished to be talking to Kieron yet again and profess my love for his work.

The sequel to the indy hit, Rue Britannia, The Singles Club stands very well on its own.

The entire series takes place in one night - a night packed with magic, music and (er) mystery (for the sake of a third "m"). The same evening - told from six different angles - gives six very different stories, each of which building on the one before it. Masterfully plotted and deftly composed, this is a shamelessly brilliant piece of work, obsessively organized to the last piece of detail. It is alternately funny and painful, but never anything less than clever.

Easily the best graphic novel I've read so far in 2010.

Phonogram 2: the Singles Club is the sequel to the fist series, which focused on a mage, called a "Phonomancer" (David Kohl) and his quest to save Britania, the goddess of his music, along with non-magical Kids-With-Knives (KWK).

Phonogram 2 is more like one of those films that take place in a large crowd and follows one person for each segment, until you get a slice of story for all of the main characters.

Nearly all of the characters in the book are Phonomancers, who are attuned to music (usually certain bands, etc.), but they are at a club hosted by two other 'mancers, and one of the rules is the attendees can't use Phonomancing skills.

So far, the series is a little vague on the "skill set" of what they can do, but mostly, they can get into any club they want, magically appearing on a guest list, become the center of attention when they use their musical skills (often dancing), and when a new musical genre comes along, they have to find new identities or risk erasure.

Each character gets one issue in the spotight, but David is knocked to the background outside of a couple of appearances. The narrative interweaves betweek the Club DJ hosts (near the middle), two phonomancers that are friends (though not really, as revealed in friend 2's story), one guest's plan to use out of copywright songs, a good looking guy that the previously mentioned girl 1 likes, and Aster, who appears in volume 1. The final chapter goes to KWK, as he uses his own brand of "magic". I don't want to give away oodles of plot, but if you like music or ensemble books and films, this is probably for you.

It's kind of sad the likelihood of a volume 3 is nonexistent, because if you love music, you should be reading the books.