What if the religious right... are right? Once the Christians have floated bodily into the sky, life goes on pretty much as usual for the immoral majority... . except that magic works, if you're willing to risk demonic mutations. CNN reports that Mr. Christ and Mr. Bush are on a speaking tour of the red states. And an angelic army appears to have been deployed to mop up the sinners. But through it all, outsiders Raven and Mummy face the possibility of a bigger problem than the end of the world: the end of their relationship.
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Those Rapture freaks were right. Left-behind early-twentysomethings Raven and Mummy, named after what they wear, hit Chicago and take a teenager’s tip about an apartment. With a dog, food money, and no rent collector, they settle in. The dog comes home talking, soldiers start loosely patrolling, and people undergo interesting changes; for instance, when Raven takes off her mask, she looks exactly the same. Magic often works now, and the soldiers are angels come to clean up (i.e., terminate) sinners. Despite the angels, one of whom defects to Raven and Mummy’s new crowd, the most annoying post-Rapture phenom is “splitters,” who feel wronged by not being taken in the first wave (as they see it) and expect to be wafted aloft momentarily. Freakier stuff eventually happens, but the quirky, ambling story reaches no conclusions and offers few explanations. Novelist Munroe (Flyboy Action Figure Comes with Gas Mask, 1999) skirts boring us, but his collaborator has more than enough chops to keep us awake with his meaty figures, varied page-layouts, and, as needed, strong background detail. --Ray Olson
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'd seen this book quite a few times before and decided to pick it up at a Comicon I went to not too long ago. It was an interesting setting, and idea -- the idea of of those few "pure" souls going up to Heaven leaving the majority of the population -- sinners, I suppose, to live on. And in the process they discover after the Rapture the existence of magic and interesting and useful mutations that serve them well -- so long as they don't attract the attention of "Splitters" (those people trying to get God to give them a "second chance" to get into Heaven) and avenging Angels in army fatigues and machine guns.
Of course, as these things go, nothing is as it seems. I really liked the very distinctive, shade-ridden style of the illustrations, but at the same time they did make distinctions between characters very confusing. Also, the panel movement often seemed to "skip steps between actions." The ending was really cool in an entertaining B Movie sort of way as well, and the characters -- particularly Raven and Mummy seemed really interesting and very real people to me.
I almost gave this a 3/5, but again I like the idea behind it, and the characters as well. I think it appeals to a certain age demographic -- about twenty or so, while at the same time the setting has a lot in common with the modern world and its politics. So it had some immediacy to that regard. So 4/5.
Of course, as these things go, nothing is as it seems. I really liked the very distinctive, shade-ridden style of the illustrations, but at the same time they did make distinctions between characters very confusing. Also, the panel movement often seemed to "skip steps between actions." The ending was really cool in an entertaining B Movie sort of way as well, and the characters -- particularly Raven and Mummy seemed really interesting and very real people to me.
I almost gave this a 3/5, but again I like the idea behind it, and the characters as well. I think it appeals to a certain age demographic -- about twenty or so, while at the same time the setting has a lot in common with the modern world and its politics. So it had some immediacy to that regard. So 4/5.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Kit
Format:Paperback
This is a graphic novel that takes the core idea of the Rapture and runs with it in an entirely different direction. Our central characters, Raven and Mummy, live in a world in which a sizeable number of Americans have floated bodily into the sky, leaving behind a lot of confused heathens, overzealous "Split Rapturists", and prime housing to squat in. The unRaptured must deal with talking dogs, awesome but body-altering magics, mysteriously reanimated corpses... and squadrons of angels who've descended to earth with instructions to slaughter the unfaithful.
The art appears to be subtly-shaded pencil drawings, like you might see on the finished pages of someone's sketchbook. I found this style quite appropriate for the authors' intimate, slice-of-life storytelling approach. The writing is an interesting mix of cosmic ideas and earthy humour. The novel's ending suggests that this is Volume 1 -- I can't wait to see what else they do with this story.
The art appears to be subtly-shaded pencil drawings, like you might see on the finished pages of someone's sketchbook. I found this style quite appropriate for the authors' intimate, slice-of-life storytelling approach. The writing is an interesting mix of cosmic ideas and earthy humour. The novel's ending suggests that this is Volume 1 -- I can't wait to see what else they do with this story.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this book at a local book market & almost bought it. Now I wish I had.
The premise of the book is that one day the Rapture occurs & much of the world's population was spirited up. Those that are left behind have discovered that magic does really exist, but with a price- anyone who uses it will eventually mutate into something otherworldy (usually demonic) looking. The ones left behind must also deal with the other odd problems of being left behind, such as finding places to stay, food, and avoiding a fleet of angelic looking beings that seem determined to eradicate any magic users. From the description, the book could have easily become an apocalyptic battle comic, yet it chooses to stick more closely to a "slice of life" theme (or as close to it as the subject matter can). It chooses to show that not everyone that has been left behind is "bad", and that many of the magic users are actually quite decent people.
The comic's first impression, that of entertainment, was pretty decent. I was interested enough to read it all the way through. The artwork was a bit offputting, as it was not the type I usually like, but the style was very nice to look at. There were a lot of details & shading to look at. However, what will draw the reader back is the sheer amount of questions & themes such as "what makes us good or bad?", "why should some go to heaven & others not?", "what really is redemption?", as well as many, many others. I've found myself musing over the themes in the book longer after the initial reading, enough so to the point where I'm planning on purchasing the book on my next outing.
This book may not be for everyone, as some people like their heavy themes & their comics to be seperate. Others may be put off by the artwork as I initially was & not choose to finish it. I recommend heavily that the reader gives this book a chance. It's very much worth it.
The premise of the book is that one day the Rapture occurs & much of the world's population was spirited up. Those that are left behind have discovered that magic does really exist, but with a price- anyone who uses it will eventually mutate into something otherworldy (usually demonic) looking. The ones left behind must also deal with the other odd problems of being left behind, such as finding places to stay, food, and avoiding a fleet of angelic looking beings that seem determined to eradicate any magic users. From the description, the book could have easily become an apocalyptic battle comic, yet it chooses to stick more closely to a "slice of life" theme (or as close to it as the subject matter can). It chooses to show that not everyone that has been left behind is "bad", and that many of the magic users are actually quite decent people.
The comic's first impression, that of entertainment, was pretty decent. I was interested enough to read it all the way through. The artwork was a bit offputting, as it was not the type I usually like, but the style was very nice to look at. There were a lot of details & shading to look at. However, what will draw the reader back is the sheer amount of questions & themes such as "what makes us good or bad?", "why should some go to heaven & others not?", "what really is redemption?", as well as many, many others. I've found myself musing over the themes in the book longer after the initial reading, enough so to the point where I'm planning on purchasing the book on my next outing.
This book may not be for everyone, as some people like their heavy themes & their comics to be seperate. Others may be put off by the artwork as I initially was & not choose to finish it. I recommend heavily that the reader gives this book a chance. It's very much worth it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Really clever idea - doesn't pan out.
I knew from the reviews what to expect, a story about those who are left over after the "Rapture". I didn't find the content or the subject objectionable, it's just that the story... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. D. Mason
4.0 out of 5 stars
A surprising ending
The storyline of this graphic novel is very well done and enjoyable. The ending is a bit different that you would expect but falls in line with the rest of the story, not quite... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Talk-Computer
1.0 out of 5 stars
Vulgar and in need of a real plot
It's disappointing. The basic idea had promise, but the plot feels cobbled together and the execution really doesn't work. Vulgar language litters the pages without any purpose.
Published 13 months ago by B. Welch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
I ordered this comic book as part of a christmas present for a friend who likes this kind of theme. It came on time and in perfect condition.
Published 16 months ago by A.H.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book!
This was a good read. It was a little short for my taste, but makes you think about a new alternative to the traditional post-rapture world.
Published 22 months ago by Jesse Kandel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic graphic novel
This is a book about the Rapture, but not specifically, so if you're looking for the Biblical Rapture and Apocalypse, you might be disappointed. This isn't Left Behind. Read more
Published on September 29, 2010 by Milli
4.0 out of 5 stars
Falling into the sky.
Comics have never been great a serious issues. The underground was the only place to find serious stories, and not the sort of seriousness DC and Marvel use when they need to... Read more
Published on August 7, 2010 by Michael N. Mcconnell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic and Fun
I really enjoyed the story, characters, and the evolving action. Some of the tropes have become a bit worn in the last 10 years, like the talking dogs--but herein they have gained... Read more
Published on July 15, 2010 by Patrick Darden
4.0 out of 5 stars
ultimately unsatisfying
Interesting, but ultimately unsatisfying. Minor spoilers ahead...
The premise of this graphic novel is instantly engaging: some time ago, a significant portion of... Read more
The premise of this graphic novel is instantly engaging: some time ago, a significant portion of... Read more
Published on June 30, 2010 by Curtis C. Chen
5.0 out of 5 stars
so so bitchin
this graphic novel(a true graphic novel, not serials in trade format) is amazing. i eagerly await anything else by jim munroe!
Published on June 19, 2010 by L. McGuire
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