Customer Reviews

Serenity Rose Volume 2: Goodbye, Crestfallen

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Pardon me for being slightly rambling, I'm covering these thoughts as they come to me.
I had been a fan of the previous volume of this book since I found it years ago, so when I found out that Aaron was continuing the work on the web, I was instantly a fan, and awaited each page as it was released.
When it wrapped up, and was collected in a hardcopy form, I knew that I would have to add to my collection.
In the first volume, we were introduced to an interesting cast of characters, and given a glimpse of the world that they inhabited. In this second volume the characters are now established, and we get a bit more world-building, fleshing out the already intriguing setting.
Not wanting to spoil anything, as the way that the facts and mysteries are given to us, is in some ways integral to how the plot plays out. The setting is one that I definitely look forward to exploring in the future, and without feeling like it left dropped plot threads all over the place it has given us many threads that could be drawn upon and take us further throughout the world that has been built up.
That is not to say that the characters get short shrift in this volume. Rather that they were introduced already, so we don't have to sit though pages of re-introductions. Rather it is written with the primary assumption that you know whats going on, and know how these people relate to each other. I want to say that even if you didn't you could pick up whats going on pretty easily, but that is only supposition on my part.
Overall, an excellent product, with great paper, and the color that was brought to the forefront in this version, versus the tone setting black and white of the first volume.
I look forward to any further adventures that Aaron decides to pursue in this creative and intriguing setting.

When Serenity Rose came to my attention, it was 2003. Over the next few years, five comics would be cranked out by Aaron Alexovich, then re-released into an omnibus that is know as "Working Through The Negativity".

However, something clicked in Alexovich's work. In the latter part of Volume 1, the drawing became better, the story line became much clearer, and then finally became so well defined that color became a new feature in Volume 2.

But the process was still kind of slow, naturally. As Volume 2 was slowly released over a period of two years where much of the first part of Volume 2 was being produced at a rate about one page per week until production doubled to two pages per week. Until finally, Volume 2 made was released in glorious mostly colored pages.

Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1. Serenity Rose, also know as Sera, has some tough decisions to make. She wants to leave Crestfallen and move to England with her mentor Vicious Whispers, but Tess, Sera's best friend, does not approve. Sera tries to explain that living in this dark-Disneyland-ish town has only caused her stress including night terrors that manifest themselves into ectoplasmic monster that have been attacking people. Then there is the blonde witch who keeps trying to kill her and the Supernatural Shield Initiative (SSI) is back in town.

If you haven't picked up the first Volume, you probably should. Once you are finished reading the second volume, you will be eagerly waiting for Volume 3 to begin.

Ever since the first S. Rose book, I've been waiting for more. I've been reading the comics online for a good bunch of years now, and Aaron A. has faithfully kept the torch burning at heartshapedskull . com but nothing can top the joy of actually owning the collected comics in print form. Now in incredible technicolor. :)))) But in all seriousness, the S. Rose comics have matured in art style and in story direction. *SLIGHT SPOILER* I loved the use of the Motobo news reports in the overarching plot of the comic, leaving the reader to piece together what was going on up until that final revealing moment when you realize exactly what is going on. Well maybe not exactly: because the world of Serenity Rose is still shrouded in mystery and mind-bending darkness as with new intriguing characters to ponder over, we are left to learn as much as we can about the witching world right along with Sera.

Compared with the first book, "Goodbye, Crestfallen" is sleeker, scarier, and more cinematic, the word bubbles are not as noodling, and yet we still have that same darkly honest wit present in the writing and expressions of the characters that I have always appreciated in this series. It's not only been an excursion in self-discovery for Sera, but on other levels a critique of the world we live in. Granted, there aren't real witches and trolls, and other such gobble-de-gook in the real world (or is there?? ;P), but the human relationships and actions of the people are all very much relatable. From Sera's trigger-happy conservative critics to the try-too-hard punk and goth posers of the first book, Alexovich takes us on a tour of what happens when people don't understand what's really going on, and what happens when you don't fully understand yourself. I'm really happy that Aaron A. decided to continue with Sera's story. There is definitely mounds of material left to be scrawled and doodled, and I intend to be there following along for the whole ride.

...
Also it's cute. :D

In great anticipation for this book, after reading the first one, I had high hopes that it would be better than the first. I was not disappointed. The art is better, there's colour, the storyline is entriguing, there are more fantastic creatures, and hey, a mecha-ectoplasm witch fight. Aaron Alexovich has outdone himself. My only complaint was that it ended too soon. I can't wait for the next book.

I started reading this title years ago, when the first volume were still being released in single issues.

Wonderfully illustrated, with heart, and panache. Mr. Alexovich is a skilled and talented, illustrator and story teller. Fortunately, I discovered his website (heartshapedskull.com) some time shortly after I started checking out what's in the web comics world. I highly recommend this book, and the first volume, too. (Third volume, coming this fall!)

The first Serenity Rose book drew me in with it's art and story. Volume 2 has even better art and the story starts to get intense. I can't wait for volume 3 and on.Serenity Rose, Vol. 1: Working Through the Negativity

I found this second installment of Serenity Rose to be every bit as good as the first, and coming from me, that's saying something.

I bought the first Serenity Rose pretty much on a whim. Didn't know anything about it. I just knew I needed something to read on my flight from California to Texas. Liked it so much that I read it a few times on the flight and even one more time waiting for my friend to pick me up. Since then, I've read that poor copy until it's cover fell off.

Volume 2 is just as good and I'm sure it will be coverless within the year.

i must say i've been waiting since 2006 for the story to continue for the last four years {i had the first issue saddy lost to time but still have issue 6}i love the art and the story i amost gave up on ever seening it agine then bam just last week i find this and now iam back to seeing what else comes out soon

This series is awesome!
I only started reading Serenity Rose in Mid 2009, but I've read both volume 1 and 2 and all the other extra bits and am hooked!
Before Serenity Rose, my life was a depressing wreck! I didn't read a lot, I'd given up on drawing and music, and I'd totally abandoned intellectual pursuits in favor of lying around moping and hating myself and other things.
Now I'm much better! I read a lot, and draw stuff! I picked up the guitar again, and am much further along with my academic life! Albeit, I wear more black than I used to...
I re-read volumes 1&2 5 times, two of those times were in a row with no breaks. I could not help but crawl into my room, put on my "the Smith's" records and cry for a good hour knowing that volume 3 might be a ways off.
It's just that good!
What are you waiting for?
Buy these books today, and change your life for the better!
Thank you Aaron!

As someone who is not a casual "comic book" reader I must say that it is for books like this one that it is worth it to go to your local comic book store.

I began reading this internet series when it was only a 19 pages into the story, and I was immediately captivated by the story that was being told, the way that it was creatively drawn and colored.
When the series was near it's end, I wondered what would become of the series in print form. I expected the traditional black and white format that makes these books cheap in prize, luckily, my expectations where 100% wrong.
This book is being released in all it's colored glory, keeping the intended experience intact. Along with the 122 page story, other extras such as the Vicious Whispers advice series have been packed in there for the enjoyment of all readers. I would highly suggest this book to all readers.

The only way future readers could experience this better was if they followed the story while it was being released online one page at a time for the past few years,it was very suspenseful that way, but since some might not have done that, why not get this book and experience it almost as good as some of us were able to.