Kieron Gillen's We Called Them Giants is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of the human cost of war. When basic survival is a struggle, what choices will you make? Nothing is as it should be. Who you trust is literally life or death. These few pages explore the complexities of the characters, brutal realities of war, and selfless unconventional love. This graphic novel is a must-read for anyone interested in the human experience and the enduring impact of conflict.

Summary:

Over the years, Lori has learned not to trust those around her. After all, eventually, they’ll all break her trust. Yet she’ll have to relearn a few lessons once her world changes forever. One day, she woke up, and everyone was just gone.

Well, almost everyone. There are a few survivors, for lack of a better word. One she’ll team up with against the world. But how much will she trust her, and how far will she go to keep them safe?

Review:

Oph. I knew that whatever Kieron Gillen wrote next would be a total gut punch, and I was right. We Called Them Giants is short yet highly emotional, with our characters left to face the unknown and worse.

I love how the story starts one way (a jaded girl explaining her view of the world) and quickly turns into something entirely different. You don’t even recognize the world by the end. I could say a lot more here, but I don’t want to say anything too spoilery.

The overall writing style is strong and compelling as Lori’s world rapidly falls to pieces. Yet there’s hope even in the darkest of times, as this tale is quick to show us (again and again).

Then there’s the artwork, my favorite part of the story. Stephanie Hans is an artistic genius, and the art in We Called Them Giants is perfect for the story. It’s bright and sometimes portrays emotions in shocking details.

Highlights:
Post-Apocalyptic
Surviving the Odds
Isolation vs. Trust

Trigger Warnings:
Isolation
Graphic Imagery
Survivalism

I'd like to thank Kieran Gillen, Net Galley and Image Comics for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

We Called Them Giants follows our main character Lori after nearly everyone disappears and has to fight to survive in the streets of the city where new dangers arrive.

I thought the art was absolutely gorgeous. The backgrounds are extremely detailed, the expressions easy to read and the poses are dynamic. The artists use of color theory is fantastic, you can tell by each panel how the main character is feeling by the expression of colors on the page.

Though the story is so short, sitting at just over 100 pages, I believe the authors message comes along well, though I found that many of my questions were never answered. I really hope that this doesn't end up being a standalone, because I'd love to know more about the dynamics the plot introduced but didn't explain. Once again the artwork and colors are GORGEOUS!

An overall interesting title. The art is wonderful. Like a trippy acid filled trip through a dark and almost mad max type area. I really dug the art, designs, and all of that. The story though sadly is where it lost me. None of the characters clicked for me, I felt like they could have had SO much more depth to make me care when someone is in danger or dies. But the art itself makes this a book to read through even if the story can't measure up.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans, and Clayton Cowles is a YA graphic novel using first person past-tense for narration. When most of the world disappeared overnight, Lori and Annette are trying to survive while running from scavengers. A giant red being crash lands on Earth and might be the key to their survival or the cause of their destruction.

The color palette is immaculate. I rarely comment on covers but I loved how, at a glance, this one had some similarities to the iconic Akira poster while also being quite different. On the page, there's a dark, gritty atmosphere without over-reliance on darker shades. I loved it every time the giants appeared because of how bright and bold they are compared to everything else and how out of place they look. Whoever was in charge of the palette, I'd love to see a book on color theory from them.

Lori is such a great YA protagonist. She's cynical, she's resourceful, she's stubborn and stamping down hope but hasn't completely been beaten down by life yet. I loved that past tense was chosen for the narration and we got her thoughts because there was suspense built up but it also carried this melancholy quality you'd expect of an apocalypse, but it also has a bit of hope because she must be telling this story to someone.

I would recommend this to fans of grittier apocalypse stories that have strong supernatural elements to them, readers of YA looking for a graphic novel that opens cynically and ends on hope, and those looking for a graphic novel with gorgeous, saturated colors

Perfect apocalypse/ end of the world story by Kieron Gillen, The artwork was beautiful and I really enjoyed the characters and the art design.

Thanks to Image Comics and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks NetGalley!

Beautiful artwork and a promising storyline. There isn't a lot of information given in the first volume which is sure to hook readers because who doesn't want to know more??? I want to know more including the giants and what might have caused a reaping of humanity. Why wasn't everyone was taken? Now Lori and her friends must try to protect themselves. Food is scarce and there are gangs of men "dogs" to hid from including real wolves and now giants. There is so much story to tell and can't wait for the next one!

I honestly can’t say enough good things about this book. The art is stunning and evocative, the story is spare and restrained but hints at so much that’s complex and disturbing, and the characters are as solid and compelling as the world they inhabit.

Without spoilers, this story is about the few survivors left after most of the world’s population inexplicably vanish. Subsistence is challenging enough, but our protagonists also have to contend with the mysterious appearance of huge, well…giant, creatures who are enigmatic and otherworldly.

While I’ve already mentioned how impressive the art and style is, the story itself is a masterclass in the power of brevity. There isn’t a single extraneous thing here. the narrative skips over gaps in time, hinting at larger plot points but not getting bogged down in them, and focuses with laser precision on the crucial elements of the tale. Reading this story is like looking into a very carefully packed bag for a long, long hike, only the best and most critical items make the cut.

This graphic novel is definitely one you finish in one sitting. It works well as a standalone work but I desperately hope there is more to come. I’ve never read or seen anything like it and I want to revisit this bleak, bizarre, mysterious world again and again.

The art is beautiful, makes the story mesmerizing.
I enjoyed the missing people, the aliens, the main characters.

But there’s no explanation on the how or why people went missing or about the aliens and giants.

This was a good story, but there could be much more to it than there was.

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about disconnection, communication, power, trust, and found family.

Lori has spent a life moving from one foster family to another. Her take-away lesson from all of this is that, ultimately, people will leave you. And then they did. All of them. She wakes up one day to find streets and houses deserted - except for a school friend, Annette. They scavenge and try to survive as best they can, and avoid the gang who call themselves the Dogs.

Then one day, inexplicably, two alien craft land. The intent of their giant occupants, or their reasons for being there, remaining mysterious. Lori, Annette and Beatrice form an uneasy acquaintance with one of the giants. The giant seems benevolent, but his purpose remains unknown, and communication seems impossible, despite effort on both sides.

Then there is the inevitable conflict - which, of course, resolves by the end of the story. But there is much that remains unexplained. What caused the disappearance of a majority of the population? Where did the giants come from, and were they somehow responsible for the disappearance, or have they arrived because of it?

The story appears to be a metaphor for some of the feelings and life experience that Lori has had in the hands of a care system that has hardened her against love and attachment - and it also seems to signal this in quite a heavy-handed way towards the end of the story. But for me this made the story neither one thing nor another: there is too little detail for the story around the appearance of the giants, and I didn’t really feel the emotional connection with Lori.

So while the visuals were gorgeous, the story really wasn’t for me.

Thank you #NetGalley and Image Comics for the free review copy of #WeCalledThemGiants in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The art in this book is perfect for the post-apocalyptic/gritty feel of the story. It added to the overall atmosphere of the storytelling.

The story was very good. As a person who just adopted a cat that we found in our garage, this story especially hit home for me. The biggest issue with the story is that it didn't feel fully realized. The story needed to be at least twice as long to give us a better feel for the post-apocalyptic environment pre-giant as well as to flesh out more what the giants were/did. I would have liked to have known Red better before the story ended. The story had some tiny bit of hope at the end, which I liked, but also it felt forced, like we didn't get to mourn the changing circumstance enough. Despite these short comings with the storyline, the overall experience is still well worth the read.

I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic stories with grumpy/sunshine character mixes.

Need. More. This was just a *taste* and I want the whole thing! Loved the post-apocalypse, loved the aliens/creatures/what-have-you.

I gave this 3 stars because of the art work. The art was absolutely breathtaking and was almost able to carry the entire graphic novel, despite having a storyline that was lacking. If you read graphic novels more so for the art than the story, then this is still worth looking into, but for me personally the story didn't keep up with the beautiful artwork. There was a bit of a disconnect with the seriousness of the tone and the actual plot, it felt bizarrely disjointed and strange. Not my favorite but it was still a feast for my eyes so I felt generous and gave it a 3 star rating.

Right out of the gate, I was floored by the art in this book. It is vivid, vibrant, and strangely ethereal. I enjoyed following Lori's journey and seeing her grow through the trials she encounters as she navigates a new world where the old one once stood.

I think my only qualm with this book is that I wanted to know more. I wanted to have some hint of what happened to the world. I wanted some idea of what the giants were or where they came from. If we ever get to read more of this world, I will do so happily, but if this is ultimately all we get, I'm still glad I had the opportunity to read it.

I would read this story for the illustrations alone. The art work is beautiful, the story itself feels like it's missing something, but when the artwork is as gorgeous as this, I can forgive the plot.

Want to thank NetGalley for the arc and also image comics
The art for this graphic was amazing. Loved the way characters were drawn and colored. They really stood out and popped. I did wish we got more out of the story like I wanted to know more about the “giants” and more about what happened to most of the humans. Just expect a bit more.

We Called Them Giants is a story of communication across a chasm at the end of the world. Lori wakes to find the streets empty—everyone has gone. Or at least, nearly everyone. She’s thrown into a world where she must scrape by in the ruins of civilization, nearly starving, hiding from gangs when… they arrive. The art, masterfully crafted by Stephanie Hans, captures the eerie beauty of this shattered world.

Pros:
Emotional Depth: Gillen weaves a poignant tale of survival and resilience, emphasizing the enduring power of kindness and friendship.
Unique Premise: The post-apocalyptic setting takes an unexpected turn, blending elements of fable and contemplation.

Cons:
Sparse World-Building: While the emotional core shines, the world itself lacks detailed exploration, leaving some questions unanswered.
Narrative Ambiguity: The giant creatures’ arrival remains mysterious, and readers seeking concrete answers may feel unsatisfied.

Despite its evocative moments, We Called Them Giants falls short of greatness due to these limitations.

As always, I have to start with Stephanie Hans' art. Truly no one is doing it like her - the beautiful colour palette, the dynamics on the page, the smudged, watercolour-esque style that seems to flow from one panel to the next. I could stare at individual panels for hours.

On to the writing: yes, Gillen's arcs are always incredibly chaotic, borderline messy, and rely a lot on the reader to go with the vibe and draw their own conclusions. Guess what!! That's my favourite style of writing, though I understand why it misses for other folks. But if you love character-driven, and especially empathy driven, storytelling, this graphic novel is for you.

A story about a cynical teenage girl who doesn't know how to believe in the good of other people; about the end of the world, and alien giants, and learning the meaning of love and how far people will go for it - I adored this book, and would have loved it to be longer.

An incredible journey into a post-apocalyptic world with stunning visuals and a small, developed cast.

I really enjoyed this, and how tightly it kept within the bounds of its theme. Easy and quick to read, and the Giants were beautifully illustrated and lettered.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review.

We Called Them Giants is a graphic novel that beautifully explores the life of a teenage girl that wakes up and finds herself alone in the world…and surrounded by dangers. Ultimately a book about trust, finding your home, and the love of others, combined with wonderful art, makes this gorgeous graphic novel worth the read.

We Called Them Giants comes out November 12.