Member Reviews
Jean-Loup is a sweet young boy who is navigating the world with OCD.
We are taken on a journey as he goes through competition, relatives, travel and a banana peel.
I loved the art style and how much the word Incredible is used!
Life may be tough, but it really is incredible.
I absolutely loved "Incredible!" by Script. This book is a must-read for anyone who's interested in exploring the power of storytelling and the impact it can have on our lives.
What I loved most about this book is the way it weaves together different narratives and perspectives to create a cohesive and powerful message. The author's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, and I found myself completely immersed in the world of the book.
Another thing I appreciated was the way the author explores the concept of personal transformation and the role that storytelling can play in that process. It's a powerful reminder that we all have the power to change our own stories and to rewrite the narrative of our lives.
Overall, I would highly recommend "Incredible!" to anyone who's interested in exploring the power of storytelling and its impact on our lives. It's a beautifully written and insightful book that will leave you feeling inspired and empowered. 5/5 stars!
Incredible! by Zabus was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Overall the story was very endearing. I found the main character to be odd but you had to love him. The art style was unique and fit the story perfectly. Plat wise it dealt with a very hard subject in an uplifting Way. My only complete is how hard the font could be to read.
Sadly, I did not get around to actually reading Incredible!. However, I still love the premise for this comic novel, and would highly recommend it.
Thank you to the publisher, Dargaud (France) and #netgalley for the opportunity to read this in return for my review.
While the art style might not be totally appealing to American audiences, being in a very solidly European style, the story is charming and heartwarming. Jean-Loup is a little boy plagues by a severe case of OCD. He spends all his time counting things, adding up "points" he gives himself and avoiding people, which is not so hard as his mother is gone and his father is some sort of workaholic who is completely unreliable. However, Jean-Loup is also brilliant and uses his OCD to meticulously categorize knowledge of all types into cards. When one horrible day when everything goes wrong and he has to give a school presentation on the fly, his entire life changes... and there's a huge twist you will not see coming that changes everything for the reader too.
"I didn't speak to anyone and no one spoke to me. 20 points."
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This wonderful graphic novel left me speechless in its beauty when I finished it in one sitting last November.
It deals with a little child navigating the world in early 80s Belgium through his OCD, his grief, and the changes in his young life that he could no longer hide away from.
The script was powerful and flowed really smoothly. It had the tendency to go dark and twisty, what with the heavy themes it tackles, but there is humor, and sweet, endearing warmth in going through it with 11-year old Jean-Loup' POV.
I also really loved the artwork that highlighted and complemented the wonderful writing. It's beautiful without being overly complicated and fits really well with the child's narrative.
I highly recommend this to lovers of brilliant slice-of-life fiction, foreign independent films (reading it felt so much like being in a screening at an international film fest, something I miss so much and badly needed in the middle of lockdowns), and to those who just need to read a wonderful graphic novel.
Truly Incredible!
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*The eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. It doesn't affect my opinion of the book. Thank you.
Without risking any spoilers I would just note that this tale is actually four or five different stories woven together in a sensible, if not necessarily seamless, fashion. We touch on a number of themes and issues with various degrees of success, but always with a high degree of insight and kindness, as well as humor and generosity.
Our hero is exceptionally appealing and his hero's journey is one of the mind and spirit. This is, at bottom, a tender, earnest, and big-hearted work, which strikes me as much more than enough to recommend it.
The cover is deceptive, (though visually appealing), in that the balance of the art is simple pencil, charcoal, cool pastels, and minimal decoration or background. That spare and simple style, though, highlights the important aspects of the narrative, and keeps the tale charming and a bit light where it could have otherwise have become too heavy.
The ending deserves a flash of rich color and intensity, and we get that, so this is one of those happy collaborations in which the art and the text and the overall narrative all join hands.
•Character development- 4☆
• Story Plot- 3.☆
• Side characters- 3.5☆
• Flow of the story- 4☆
• Overall - 3.5☆
~ Thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ~
*Please note that this review was delayed due to a period of health complications
I find myself torn by "Incredible!" I found the drawings by Hippolyte to be pleasant and stylistically reminiscent of some of the short french comics I would read as a child. The illustrations definitely triggered a sense of nostalgia for me, so I wouldn't be surprised if this graphic novel would have a similar effect on any other readers who have experience with french comics and picture books from the late 90s - early 2000s. My one complaint about the aesthetics of the book was the choice of cursive font, purely because at times even I found it difficult to read, which leads me to conclude that this stylistic choice may alienate potential readers with dyslexia or other reading disabilities.
In terms of the story, Jean-Loup was a charming little character, but I didn't really connect with the writing. Some of the major plot points moved me, especially towards the end, but more often than not I felt like I had to drag myself through it. There were character oddities that I honestly found frustrating rather than endearing (Jean-Loup's father and uncle being perfect examples of this). Basically, there were a lot of factors that spoiled the experience of this book for me. For anyone still wanting to check this book out, I will say that there were moments that I really did like, such as Jean-Loup kissing the coffee can, his physical tics, and the hospital scene. There are little gems in this story which others might find override the elements I've complained about; for me, I'm glad I had the chance to read "Incredible!", even if I'm not completely in awe of it, because for a few minutes it reminded me to appreciate how "incredible" the small details of our planet can be.
Incredible! by Zabus was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Overall the story was very endearing. I found the main character to be odd but you had to love him. The art style was unique and fit the story perfectly. Plat wise it dealt with a very hard subject in an uplifting Way. My only complete is how hard the font could be to read.
3 out of 5 stars
With a title like Incredible! the authors of this graphic novel have a lot to live up to, but you'd have to say that they largely succeed. And that's obviously no small thing. Not only does the artwork often surprise with some inventive imagery and panel layouts that can quite literally take your breath away, but the story itself is one that sets out to show us something truly incredible. Prepare to be amazed.
From an outside perspective, or from anyone observing the behaviour of 11 year old Jean-Loup Beaugens, he would definitely seem to be a strange boy who acts rather oddly. He has strange little routines and rituals that govern his every move, but there's a reason and a method to his actions that most people wouldn't understand. Jean-Loup consequently doesn't fit in well with the other boys, as you can imagine, but he doesn't mind. He lives in his own little world, gathering useful facts and information about the wonders of the world that he records on little cards in a filing system.
More than just interested in mere facts, Jean-Loup also has a vivid imagination. He converses regularly with the King of Belgium, King Baudouin, who he calls Booboo, in the figure of a toy soldier. But he has a less friendly relationship with another imaginary figure, a picture of his grandfather who died in the war in 1916, a hero from the Beaugens side of the family that Jean-Loup fears he can never measure up to. Clearly with better than average intelligence, despite his social awkwardness, Jean-Loup manages to do well in a presentation at school of one of his favourite subjects; death rituals around the world. He excitedly starts a new project, but to research it he needs to speak to the real King Baudouin. Fortunately Jean-Loup has been corresponding with the King for years.
Initially, it seems like Incredible! is merely an insight into the special needs of a autistic child, but it soon becomes apparent that there is much more to the story than that. The intention is more to take an unusual viewpoint to show us that the things we take for granted, all the wonders of the world and the human imagination, are really something… well… incredible. It takes a whole series of almost impossible interconnected historical events and consequences to bring us to where we are today,and yet they happened and we exist.
Incredible! shows us that this is something that we all really need to bear in mind. It's not just an unusual child who is assailed and almost tormented by doubts about his ability to go on and succeed, but it's something that anyone can relate to - although perhaps not quite as vividly as in Jean-Loup's imagination. That however is a necessary leap, and the artwork has to be capable of making a corresponding leap to spark that reaction. Fortunately, Hippolyte's artwork is up to the task, adopting a style that has a lovely loose and sketchy Sempé storybook quality with impressive layouts and moody splash pages.
Zabus's script perhaps over-emphasises the point when it is perfectly obvious what it is that is incredible about Jean-Loup's story and about what is incredible in our own lives, but there's no denying that the story and artwork match the nature of the imaginative strange world that Jean Loup lives in. Perhaps most importantly, in a story that seeks to inspire the imagination it also manages to continually surprise the reader. You might think you know where it's going, just as Jean-Loup has every move planned out in his head, but there are plenty of unusual and unexpected events that are matched by quirks in the lovely artwork.
Thank you, NetGalley, Europe Comics for an ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review.
To me, this comic has hit all the right spots! looking forward to new releases by this author.
A weird mix of fantasy and reality. While it's ostensibly set in the real world, this kid has elaborate conversations with toys and ghosts and his mother's ashes. He's basically the only character. Everyone else just drifts in and out.
I tried downloading this fiel but it wouldn't work. It has expired now so while I appreciate the opportunity that was given for review but sadly can't complete it for this title. Many thanks.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sadly this one just didn't work for me, though I can see the appeal, and it definitely has its audience. But purely for tastes purposes, this one wasn't for me.
I WANTED to like the art, I really did, and aesthetically I think it really works, but for me, I found it to be a little confusing and difficult to read, such that it detracted from the story rather than added to it. I couldn't find a rhythm with it, so I kept having to re-read sections to understand what was happening.
Unfortunately I DNF'd this one, but don't let that put you off, if this is your thing then totally go for it - my comments are no judgement on the quality here. I hope you love it!
Thank you NetGalley, Europe Comics for an ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review.
This book hit me in all the feels. It was a very sweet story regarding a young man learning to deal with grief in his life. The topics that are covered in this book are important for any middle schooler-high schooler to have experience with. This book also covers mental diagnoses in such a way that is accessible for younger readers. I absolutely loved the artwork in this graphic novel. Highly recommend!
I really can relate to the main character as he has OCD and Anxiety. I could really feel how anxious he was in certain situations. He is among those who does not want to be “affected” with the disorder and ends up like someone he loves. This is typical. His needs to follow rules and rituals which most of the time would hinder him for doing what he wants. His uncle is nice to him. He has an imaginary friend like Calvin in Calvin & Hobbes. I really enjoyed this graphic novel!
Whimsical ,sweet art style with a lovely, emotional story. I found the prologue a bit unnecessary, but I loved the rest..
Such a wholesome and beautoiful story that delves into such importsnt topics... I thinkevery mddle-grade kid should be made to read this one. We see such ana amazing character growth in the protagonist - it is inspiring for even a grown up.
I’m so sorry to say I just couldn’t get on with this book. The font style wasn’t as friendly as I would have liked it to be.
The artwork is simple but very effective, and appropriate for the story line.
The story follows a young boy who is dealing with loss, social anxiety and OCD. I’d say it’s suitable for teens plus due to the subject matter.
The story seemed pretty long for an EBook, but i wonder if i felt like that just due to the font used. A simpler font may make it easier to follow and be drawn in, rather than me zooming in every now and again to work out a word.
I trully believed this was going to be a fun and light story, but holy shit I got hit in the face with multiple feelings. For sure I want this book in my library when it's released.