Member Reviews
Jules and Martin are two brothers heading to Norway for a journey that smells of change. This seems like it should bring the two brothers closer but at the same time it could bring out the bad temper of the older of the two.
But what is the real reason for the journey? Why are the two brothers doing this?
Jules is a libertine, studies art and lightens the spirit of the story a lot. He is a character who knows about current events and modernity.
On the other hand, Martin is the older brother and acts as such even during the journey, even in the small things that happen within the story itself. He believes in Thor and in Nordic mythology, in Vikings and so on and thinks that his family does not believe he is up to it, that he is a failure and so on. Despite this, together it seems that the two are well structured and complement each other well.
The graphic structure of the volume is impertinent, made of light lines and simple, not marked colors. Some pages that do not have any vignettes speak much more than others and the whole thing ends up being tremendously interesting. I like the structure of the drawing, light, simple and shapely, very minimalist but functional. The only thing that is not easily appreciated is the writing style used for the vignettes which is really small and difficult to read. I think it would have been better to use something different and more readable.
The story is interesting and Martin seems to be constantly running away from something he doesn't want to face. Although his brother tries to insist several times, it is difficult to get to know him and we will discover some of his traits little by little during the reading.
It was a light and interesting read that I find very nice. It is a graphic novel without too many turns of phrase, fast and dynamic, that takes us to explore desolate lands with two brothers who are completely different from each other and who will be able to involve us along their journey and along their discovery of themselves.
"Cold Front" by Jean Cremers invites readers on a gripping journey through the icy landscapes of Norway, exploring the complex dynamics between two brothers, Jules and Martin. As young art student Jules seeks to reconnect with his older sibling, Martin's mysterious and unsettling behavior becomes a focal point of the narrative.
Cremers skillfully weaves a tale of familial bonds, unraveling the layers of Martin's downward spiral and the secrets he refuses to divulge. The graphic novel unfolds as a poignant exploration of the strained relationship between the brothers, delving into the emotional complexities that bind and sometimes estrange family members.
Against the backdrop of Norway's scenic beauty, "Cold Front" balances its visual storytelling with a compelling mystery. The narrative's strength lies in its ability to evoke a sense of intrigue and curiosity about the hidden truths that shape the characters' lives. Jean Cremers crafts a graphic novel that is not only visually engaging but also emotionally resonant, making "Cold Front" a captivating exploration of familial ties and the profound impact of untold secrets.
A wonderful book. Highly recommended. You will enjoy reading it. Written in a very engaging prose. Nowhere would you feel being stuck or bored. Pick it up if you get a chance. Thanks to the author for a review copy.
Its very creative and serene. Loved it completely. There's more to it that is not much explored tho. Would've been nice if that was shown
"When you read the right books, you learn that above all, the Norse gods are human. They all make mistakes. Like most of us, they have known joy, love, and glory... But also loss and sorrow. And what's more... Each deity has a distinctive personality. It's a lot easier to identify with them. To choose who to pray to. And that's why I feel closer to them."
TW: graphic portrayal of an animal killed by a car, mentions of child death
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one but a 3.5 feels like the right score. It's an emotional story about two brothers attempting to reconnect and find common ground again. Martin distanced himself from his family and dove headfirst into the Norse pagan faith as a way to escape. Jules is desperately trying to help Martin find a way to ask for support. While I don't have siblings, the relationship between them felt natural – ranging from smalltalk to light teasing to intense fights.
The plot is subtle and while a lot is left unsaid until the end, the artstyle is quite expressive and relays the emotional state of the characters in a convincing manner. While I didn't love the artstyle of the people in this novel, I found that the scenery and smaller details were beautiful.
I love the monochrome use of colors which is on brand with the title. The premises of the story is also good! the plot is about family, grief and the journey of acceptance.
Thank you NetGalley and Europe Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this!
Cold Front is the story of two brothers reconnecting on a trip to a cold destination. The eldest is running from his personal struggles and chasing new aspects of his identity to find himself. The younger is trying to reach his brother and break the walls between them. They have some misadventures and struggle in the wilderness. It's a good read with plenty of emotional aspects and relatable sibling drama. Nice art and good pacing!
I was completely immersed in its emotional journey. The artwork was simply breathtaking. The story unfolded gradually, hauntingly, as the estranged relationship between Jules and Martin faced recent tragedies and explored Martin's belief in Norse mythology. The raw emotions and hurt were portrayed in such a poignant manner that it truly left me feeling all the emotions. I can't recommend it enough. Jean Cremers' masterful storytelling and the mesmerizing atmosphere have left me excited to explore more of their work. "
Cold Front is a beautifully written and illustrated book. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and how they dealt with the hard hitting matters such as loss, grief, family issues and men's mental health.
I think it's easy for people who are lgbti+ to feel identified with this book; however, it would be nice if it was deeper in the ways the author expresses her feelings
This has a lot of family bonding, and usually I'm in the mood for such spiritual and mystic stories but, seems like it wasn't my time to read Cold Front. Although I would recommend to you If you want to spend some time reading something thoughtful and soft (Have you seen brother bear? Well, that's it basically)
I wasn't sure first if I would enjoy reading this graphic novel but quickly started to really enjoy it. This was a beautiful written story about two brother that end up going away to Norway together. This novel covers loss, family issues and mens mental health. I really enjoyed the mythology element of the storyline. I like the art work through out the only down side to this was the font was sometime hard to make out but i would definitely recommend reading this. Thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.
Cold Front is such an honest and touching portrayal of loss. Everyone grieves in their own way and Cold Front really shows that. Excellent addition to all graphic novel collections! Beautifully illustrated!
“Cold Front” by Jean Cremers is a graphic novel that tells the story of two brothers, Jules and Martin, who are on a hiking trip to Norway together. Jules is on the trip in an effort to reconnect with his older brother; whereas Martin, who believes in the old Norse gods, views the trip as more akin to a religious pilgrimage. Quite quickly we become aware that Martin has had some kind of traumatic event in his past that is causing him to withdraw from those who care about him, and over the course of the story we are slowly learning more and more about what happened.
I appreciated the way this book dealt with grief, faith, and the strength of family relationships. I have only ever seen representations of old Norse religion in tv shows about Vikings so it was interesting to have that mythology explored in a more modern context and woven into the storyline. It seems as though the story is at least semi autobiographical which makes it even more powerful and reminds me of other travel-themed graphic memoirs like Lucy Kinsley’s “An Age of License” and Sarah Glidden’s “How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less”
I really liked how the art in this book used exclusively a cool tone palette of blues, greens, and brownish neutrals which made for a beautiful, cohesive look that suited the setting. However, I did find the font used for the text difficult to read at times.
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Europe Comics through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
This graphic novel was slow paced and beautiful.
I wasn't sure if it would be my thing, two brothers from Belgium on a trek in Norway, with a lot of deep talks about one's depression. It seemed a bit heavy to me when I started but honestly it was an emotional read.
The artwork was stunning, watercolour like drawings, especially captured through Jules as an art student. Lots of silent panels that depicted the beauty of the landscape, but also wonderful portrayal of the characters' emotionals and expressions. This was honestly a testiment to a picture tells a thousands words.
The estraged relationship between Jules and Martin, especially pushed further with recent tragedies and Martin's belief in the Norse mythology, unfolded slowly, almost hauntingly...for want of a better description it was like a plaster being removed so slowly. The hurt and raw emotion prolonged, but somehow in the most perfect way.
I honestly was not prepared for this book and cannot recommend it enough.
I couldn't personally get into this, but my niece loved it and said it deserves 4/5 stars, so there you go!
Thanks netGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review
A touching story about family and grief, Sometimes intense and painful but never in a "painpornography" way. The story felt real and sometimes it was heavy on my heart but i really cared about this two brothers. Loved the simple artstyle and the amazing colors in this snowy and cold setting. The font was a bit of a problem because it destroyed my eyesight lol
This was a touching and honest portrayal,of grief and the power of family relationships to help heal wounds. I loved the artwork and the Scandinavian setting.
"Cold Front" is a beautiful book. The gorgeous illustrations are awe inspiring, and the story is heartfelt. Jules and his brother Martin are traveling to a mountain in Norway, taking the chance to reconnect, while the trip is a sort of spiritual journey for Martin, who follows the old Norse gods. Martin has been spiraling into a deep depression, and despite Jules' many attempts to talk to him about it, Martin continues to push Jules away, refusing to talk about what's happening to him. The truth, when it comes out, is intense, but it's handled gracefully. This is a deeply real and tender story. Highly recommended.
This was a beautiful and in the end very emotional story following two brothers on a trip to Norway. Covering loss, family and men's mental health, with some Norse mythology sprinkled in. I liked the art style and its use of earthy tones, I just found the font style a bit hard to read at times. Thank you to Netgalley and the writer for a copy of this story, I would definitely recommend it!