THE MANY LIVES OF CHARLIE is a delightful graphic novel with a unique premise that is sure to be an enjoyable read for many. This book is whimsical and lighthearted yet bears surprising depths.

While I did think the story was a bit lacking, I found myself a bit bored and underwhelmed by the writing, the art was so beautiful and whimsical and colorful that it still was a 4 star read for me bc I simply could not see this as anything other than utterly delightful.

I do realize that the book was aimed at a younger audience, so for that reason I am not placing as much significance on my feelings toward the writing as I am in my visceral reaction to the art. I absolutely loved it, it was a feast for my eyes!

Well, this struggled to rein in its weirdness, and clearly failed at times, but proved to be an OK read in the finish. Charlie works for an oddly Orwellian company that does things with our human remains – planting trees in them as fertiliser, fashioning them into mementos, sports equipment, anything. But when acing things once more, even with the harder customers, he's faced with something he's ill-equipped for – telling a young lad where his mother's soul is. Cue a story of bonkers proportions, about, featuring and very much for Charlie, as he finds the truth behind life, and more importantly where he himself was supposed to be going with it.

A lot about this is uneven in the finish – the way it's desperate for us to like Charlie, even when he's working in such a peculiar and grim industry, just for starters. The wolf on the subway doesn't help, either. I think it seeks to be some warming Powell-and-Pressburger-styled message about the wonders of the world, but ends up being something a touch too dark for that at times. Charlie is no James Stewart. It did manage to tip itself across the border into likeability by the end, but didn't spread enough comfort en route, what with the brainwashing of his workplace, and then everything that befell him before the big reveals. Still, coming to this prepared for something highly uneven may find you feeling my three and a half stars are a touch slight.

The Graphic Novel “The Many Lives of Charlie” by Kid Toussaint & Aurélie Guarino follows Charlie, a friendly and kind guy. I really love the drawing style and the main character is portrayed charmingly and interestingly. The story is exciting and I definitely recommend reading it.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Europe Comics for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I can sum up my review of this incredibly graphic novel in just a few words before I even get into any specifics: You need to read this!

I adored this graphic novel and am so happy that I was approved for an early copy. I had no idea what the premise of this story was going in, but I really liked the cover, and once I looked at the first few pages I knew I was excited to read this one. I read the translated English version of this story, but this graphic novel was originally published in France and in French. This was translated beautifully, so props to the translator, and also thank you as I’m so happy it gave me access to one of the best stories I’ve read in 2024 so far. This book has not left me since I finished it. I find myself thinking about this story often and wishing for a copy of my own so I can flip through the pages once more. Toussaint weaves a magical tale that is so heartfelt and heartwarming yet at the same time it will absolutely break you in two. Tragedy mixed with love sprinkled with betrayal and topped with a happy ending of sorts. If this book were a sundae it would be the perfect banana split with a cherry on top.

Not only is the writing wonderful, the story brilliant, and the characters uniquely spectacular, the art was also incredible and so vibrant. Every page is beautifully drawn to perfection. I seriously loved everything about this story. The concept is so different from anything I’ve read recently and the pages really spring to life with the colorful drawings mixed with the drab of mundane every day life. Charlie goes on a fantastical adventure, and I was so glad I got to go along with him. I did feel like the ending wrapped up a little too quickly, but I still can’t find myself to actually claim that as a fault of this book.

I feel like I could talk for hours about this wonderful story, but I don’t want to keep repeating myself so I’ll just wrap this up here by saying if this is not on your TBR you absolutely have to go and add it immediately. This story transcends all age groups from young adult to older readers, and I feel that everyone can find something to relate to within these magical pages. This is a mystery worth solving, and I’m recommending this to not just graphic novel enthusiasts but to everyone new as well as familiar with the genre. This is a mystery that you’ll want to help Charlie solve, and you’ll definitely experience magic along the way.

I received a free e-copy of this book from Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this to me.

I really enjoyed this book. The art style was not something you see everyday and I mean that in the best way. The character Charlie reminds me of my wife in a way. He is always the go to person at his job. He can do customer service with a smile and just tries to make every situation the best it can be. The twist of having Charlie become introspective on what happens after death was very interesting and well done to see played out.

A delightful and light graphic novel despite potentially heavy subject matter. Charlie's job is working in customer service for a multinational company focused on recycling dead bodies. We are taken through a depiction of what happens to souls after death and what we are left with is a joyful, touching story.

As with many comics published by this publisher, there is something different about the content in this one. There are discussions about the great beyond and the mundane tasks for those left behind.

Charlie is a spark of colour in an otherwise drab office where they deal with the conversion of the remains of dead people into things the family can keep as keepsakes. A child has a doubt about his mother’s soul and this question leads Charlie down an introspective path. This is where the discussion of life and rebirth becomes a little heavy, but there is a surprising plot twist parallel to what we are watching unfold.

I might not have liked the eventual turn of events, but it was definitely unlike many of the other books I have read recently.

I would recommend this to anyone who finds the blurb interesting and likes graphic novels. As usual, there are a few panels with a little more nudity than I find necessary, but it can be moved past quickly, and they are very few.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I enjoyed this story line of love and memories.

Thank you NetGalley and Europe Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a free digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

"Eternal Recycle, you die, we recycle, this is Charlie... Yes... Yes, that's right, ma'am. We recycle the deceased."

Originally published in French in late 2023, this is a quite imaginative and bizarre graphic novel for grownups. This book tells the story of a cute and sincere young man named Charlie as he grapples with the question of where souls go after death. A little more than halfway through the book, the story takes a really strange and drastic turn, becoming a reincarnation love story that I didn't really care for. I found this unrealistic fantasy disturbing and confusing at times. That said, I liked the main character Charlie, enjoyed the first half of the story more than the rest, and loved the illustration style.

Content warning: This books contains some nudity and sexual scenes I would have preferred not to have seen.

4.5⭐
I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this but I was pleasantly surprised! I had so much fun reading it. The idea was great and the art was beautiful. My only issue was that the ending felt rushed but other than that I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Many Lives of Charlie is an odd and charming graphic novel about a young man who works at Eternal Recycle, a company that recycles dead people. He is in the customer service department, and spends his time counselling the bereaved and helping them decide whether they would like their loved ones turned into trees or sports equipment. His days are punctuated by tannoyed instructions to take breaks for walking, eating or laughing, and he works with people who are civil but rebuff his attempts to connect with them.

Things change for Charlie when a bereaved child asks what happened to his mother's soul. He goes on a mission to explore the rest of the building he works in and find out what happens in the areas he's never wondered about.

This is a surreal story, with a gentle and optimistic heart. There is humour and sadness, but Charlie is a good and helpful person who is doing his best. My only quibble is that the text is so small that it was quite hard to read at times. However, the illustrations are lovely and the writing is very good. I happily recommend this book .

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5

What a beautiful and powerful story this was.
Let's start by saying that the art in it is super pretty and I loved the coloring used.
It was very dynamic and changed based on the astmosphere and places this story was set.

The narration was very easy to follow and the read was quite a fast one too.

As I said this story was very heartful and honestly it's been a while since I ready a book this deep.
Usually it's easier to find stories that entertain more than ones like this.
The strengh of this book was indeed its story and what it wanted to tell us all.

A read that will stay with me for a while for sure!

Book 031 of 300 ~ 2024

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Picture the movie What dreams may come meets Black mirror.. that to me is what made this interesting. Also, Charlie is so likeable.

Yay 4 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Charlie, who works at a place that recycles loved ones after they die, is on a journey to find out what happens to a soul after death. I enjoyed the use of watercolors and concept, but the transition into the 2nd half felt a bit abrupt (still good though). Overall, this was a whimsical dystopian exploration of life after death where we see a glimpse of the corporate world of afterlife, heaven, hell, and reincarnation.

Thank you NetGalley and Europe Comics for my arc!

4.5 stars. I read this graphic novel after receiving a digital copy from NetGalley. The premise of this book is so interesting! Ebullient protagonist Charlie helps clients find purposeful uses for the remains of deceased family members. When a young boy asks what happened to his mother’s soul, Charlie’s routine is thrown off and he delves into deeper layers of understanding the afterlife and reincarnation. Overall I thought this was thought-provoking, unique, nicely illustrated and engaging.

I adored this book. The Many Lives of Charlie is a heartwarming and imaginative tale attempting to answer the eternal question - what happens to souls after you die?

Charlie is a worker at Eternal Recycle, a facility that helps you hold on to your departed loved ones in novel ways. There's definitely an element of dystopia, as office workers in Eternal Recycle are being encouraged to take dedicated and closely monitored breaks to walk, laugh, cry and eat to improve their well-being and efficiency.

It does get very Black Mirror at times, but that never takes away from the unrelenting joy that Charlie brings to every page. He is the sweetest character and his journey in this tale is truly beautiful. In this universe, heaven and hell are simply resting places before you reach the next step of your reincarnation journey, where you either repeat old patterns or learn and grow with each new experience. He tries to follow the thread of a soul for one of his customers, and finds more than he bargained for in the process.

I can't recommend this book enough. It was a pleasant surprise and has become a new favorite.

✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.

I really enjoyed the first half of this novel with the vaguely alienated afterlife capitalism, optimistic naive protagonist, and increasing mysteries of creation. The second half devolved into a clichéd, bad romantic mess. Shame.

This graphic novel was so beautiful. It’s about death, reincarnation and what happens to the soul of someone who died. I loved the part of the souls being connected to each other and will always find each other in the next life. So beautiful.
The aspect of people working in a routine and being so inside this routine that they don’t step out anymore was very interesting too. It makes you think about our lives too.
The artstyle was very nice, though (probably intended) the artworks weren’t very colorful.
All in all a very nice graphic novel. I loved it.

An intriguing graphic novel that starts out very pleasant and asks where a soul goes after death and is a wonderfully illustrated story of what a person believes in, not necessarily from a religious view, but what is important to a person in their life. Does have some serious content near the end.