I want to thank Netgalley and the author's for gifting me the ebook. Interesting story and concept. I would be interested in reading more.

'Gentlemind, Episode 1' by Juan Diaz Canales & Teresa Valero with art by Antonio Lapone is a graphic novel about an old-fashioned girlie magazine.

Navit is a singer who lives Arch Parker, a struggling illustrator trying to break into any publication. Navit makes a deal behind Arch's back which leads to her inheriting a girlie magazine called Gentlemind. She transforms it into a different publication.

I wanted to like this stylish retro story because I loved the art. It was a bit reminiscent of the late Darwyn Cooke. Unfortunately, the story is confusing and hard to follow.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Love Blacksad, so I knew I wanted to read this. While the art is very different, since the artist is different, I still really loved it. As for the story, it has good pacing and I'm definitely interested in reading further.

Gentlemind brings to life New York in 1940s with beautiful art that imitates the style of the period. The story starts with an impoverished cartoonist Arch Parker and his girlfriend Navit. Both are struggling to make end's meet when Parker is offered a position by publisher Horace Powell because of a drawing of Navit. Powell does not simply admire the art he is actually poaching Navit from Arch and eventually makes her his second wife. When he dies, a legal battle ensues and Navit becomes the proud owner of the titular struggling magazine.

I like the second part of the story, where Navit tries to steer the magazine and make it profitable, a whole lot better than the first part with the sad love triangle. I also felt like the story was sending mixed messages about the ambitious and seemingly empowered heroine. Everything she accomplishes seems to be gained by the help and intervention of men. only in the magazine setting she really starts to assert herself.

However I would still recommend this if only for the art which was so fine and stylish.

Thanks to Europe Comics and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

#Gentlemind #NetGalley

I wanted to love this book as I loved the premise and the synopsis really appealed to me.

However, the graphics are very cluttered and the language is stilted and didn't flow for me. I wasn't a huge fan of the illustration style too.

Thank you to Europe Comics and Netgalley for the eARC.

The concept for this novel is very appealing and the artwork is beautiful, but the story didn’t quite reach its potential. I recommend this as a visual experience, however, for people who like the graphic novel format.

Gentlemind is a noir-inspired graphic novel. The art and coloring are lovely to enjoy and the story has some nice turns.

New York City, 1939. Living with struggling newspaper illustrator Arch Parker, Navit experienced poverty first hand. Arch made one last ditch attempt to find any newspaper publisher willing to bring his artistic renderings to the public's attention. Navit made an "arrangement" to secure a bottle of wine for Arch's hopefully, triumphant success. A nearby newspaper stand stocked a girlie magazine published by millionaire H.W. Powell. Meeting with Powell, portfolio in hand, Arch had a dilemma. "Bring me the girl in the nude sketch and I'll hire you and I'll keep you drawing". By 1940, Horace Powell had Navit headlining the 2nd Hit Season of "Powell Follies" under the stage name of Gina Majolie.

Time marched on. Magazine covers on the newstand had enticing covers. "First Month of Love Between Billionaire and Singer", "Luxury and Decadence in New York", "Buy War Bonds at the Powell Theatre". Navit soon became the "new" Mrs. Horace Powell while Arch Parker went off to war. Navit (now Gina Powell) was living a charmed life with Horace, but upon his demise, his disgruntled ex-wife demanded the entire proceeds from his will. Navit, aided by legal counsel Osmundo Trigo, agreed to settle but insisted on retaining ownership of Gentlemind, a girlie magazine.

Why hire Osmundo Trigo, Esquire? Trigo seemed to be a "portrait of dignity" in the case of Perdomo, homeowner vs. a large corporation. He brought up the "difference between administering justice and ceding to the pressures of the all-powerful company...Does sacrificing [Perdomo] to corporation greed have anything to do with justice?"

How does one modernize Gentlemind, a girlie magazine? One idea- a short story contest. A winning entry chosen, no return address and no author listed. Who was the mystery writer? "All it took was one perfectly placed word to send everything up in smoke. And the words were everywhere. Especially in his mind...He knew more words than anyone. But he never used them for good. Never until that day". What other aces did Navit have up her sleeve to successfully market her publication in the patriarchal society of the times?

"Gentlemind, Episode 1" by Juan Diaz Canales and Teresa Valero is a graphic novel of women's fiction that provides commentary on the 1940's. The rich looked for "words to pacify the poor...to make them believe that poverty isn't so bad...[while they] know how to twist and manipulate the law...[however] dignity doesn't put food on the table". Artist and colorist Antonio Lapone used vibrant colors making the characters jump off the pages and come to life. I look forward to the next installment of Gentlemind.

Thank you Europe Comics and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A third of the way in and all I could tell was I didn't like this - I certainly couldn't tell you what the plot was supposed to be.