Soma by Fernando Llor is a thought-provoking and atmospheric novel that delves into themes of identity, consciousness, and the human experience. The story is both introspective and haunting, with Llor’s writing creating a deep sense of mystery and philosophical exploration. The plot weaves through complex characters and concepts, challenging readers to reflect on the nature of existence. With its strong narrative and engaging prose, Soma is a compelling read for those who enjoy literary fiction with a touch of the surreal and philosophical.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Maya, a comic book artist, stressed by deadlines and whether their art is meaningful or enjoyable to do. (Can relate)
A best friend navigating the dating world....and finding it rather lackluster.
And an alien invader that crash lands in Maya's apartment warning of an imminent alien invasion!

With the art style and comedy, this would be great for fans of Steven Universe or Scott Pilgrim.

High octane thrills and a surprising bit of heart in this beautifully illustrated comic. Dynamic colour palettes matching the differing tones through the short story and gorgeously detailed backgrounds. I found this a very fun comic to read and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new graphic novel.

The colorful stunning images immediately drew me in. However, the overall story fell short. I struggled to connect to/care for the characters and at times found it hard to follow due to the pacing. While I may not be quick to recommend it, I think sci-fi lovers looking for a lighthearted and fast paced graphic novel may enjoy this.

*Soma* is an engaging comic about Maya, a comic book artist who has an unexpected encounter with an alien when Soma crash-lands in her living room. It turns out that there's about to be a “War of the Worlds"-style invasion.

The art is winsome, and the story is cute. It leans quite YA, and the graphic style and plot match that—so if that’s your jam, pick this up.

Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for early DRC access.

The first thing that attracted me to this graphic novel, was the eye catching cover and really beautiful blue and pink colour palette.

Plot wise, we’re following a young, burnt out comic book artist who is struggling to meet her deadline when an alien crash lands in her living room. The story then evolves from there with an alien invasion, which is something I always enjoy reading about!

Throughout reading the number one thing I appreciated was the really beautiful artwork! It’s unique and really captured the spirit of the story, and I think it paired really well with the gorgeous colour choices the artist made! I did also really love the way we got to see the parallels between this alien invasion Maya is experiencing, and the art she is creating and how she feels about it.

All in all a very fun and action packed graphic novel that’s perfect for reading in one sitting, and I would highly recommend to a wide range of people!

(Thank you to NetGalley, ONI Press and the author for my E-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

I really enjoyed seeing the characters progress in this story. The story was well paced and well written. I was hooked from the beginning and devoured it in just a few sittings.

'Soma' is a fast paced, fairly chaotic graphic novel about a struggling comic book artist who finds herself swept into a scenario worthy of a comic itself: helping the alien being, Soma, defend the Earth from invaders. We follow Maya as she fights her way across the city, led by the rebel (and adorable) Soma, in cinematic sweeps, but also follow her best friend as he tries to score a successful date. The world might be ending, but really that just makes it more crucial, right?

While the A plot tries to really connect to the weight of courage and the potential of friendship, it doesn't always quite land the way I would have hoped. The pacing doesn't quite allow you to feel the weight of the story's actions, which does detract from those emotive moments.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with it, but am unlikely to want to reread.

Real rating: 3.5

3.5 Stars!

I want to start this review by saying, thank you to @Netgalley and @OniPress for letting me receive the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was overall a cute and quick read. I loved all the character because they all felt like real people with real life problems. I also loved reading about a main character that is a comic book artist. I also liked how the MC writes and draws alien comics and then she has to try to stop an alien invasion.

The art in this graphic novel was very cute. It was colorful and fun. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick and cute Sci-Fi graphic novel.

Soma is an intriguing and atmospheric graphic novel that blends dystopian themes with an eerie, cyberpunk aesthetic. The storytelling is gripping, with a layered narrative that explores the consequences of technological dependence and societal control. The artwork complements the tone perfectly, using moody colors and striking visuals to enhance the tension and depth of the world. The characters are compelling, and the pacing keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. If you enjoy thought-provoking dystopian fiction with a strong visual style, Soma is a must-read.

Very mixed feelings because... well the art, the colours, the flow, the movement in this comic are fantastic! And it's funny! And the story is not bad - it's just... not enough.

There's a lot of potential, just not enough depth. But worth a read anyway.

This was a really imaginative and engaging graphic novel that will resonate with a lot of people. The story was engaging, the art was adorable, and the colors were fantastic.

I couldn't tell you a single thing that happened in this book but the illustrations were gorgeous! I just don't think the overall plot was very cohesive. I did like how the colour schemes tell you where each scene is taking place i.e. red scenes for the "invasion", but that was the only way to differentiate between different plotlines.

A young chain-smoking artist gets pulled into a world-blasting alien invasion, bonding with one of the aliens who wants to step its brethren.

Very cute art, but the story is merely okay.

I loved this! Fantastic illustrations and color work. And a story I just had to know the ending of!!

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for this arc!

5/5 stars

This was such a fun read!! I really enjoyed both the story and the artwork (besides everyone having a runny nose, like why?!). I really liked Maya's character, I found her really funny. And Soma!! So cute!!! Juu was a little annoying but that was the point lol. I really really liked this!

Book Review: Soma
In "Soma," Fernando Llor crafts an engaging genre-bending tale that balances cosmic threats with intimate creative struggles.
The novel introduces us to Maya, a comic book artist whose professional frustrations will resonate with anyone who's felt trapped between creative passion and commercial demands. Her writer's block and deadline anxieties paint a realistic portrait of artistic struggle, grounding the story before it takes its fantastical turn.
When Soma—an alien who crash-lands directly into Maya's living room—arrives with warnings of an impending invasion, the narrative shifts into high gear. What could have been a jarring transition instead feels surprisingly organic, perhaps because Maya's background as a comic artist makes her uniquely prepared to process the extraordinary.
Llor excels at juxtaposing the mundane with the cosmic. While grappling with potential planetary doom, Maya continues dispensing dating advice to her best friend and wrestling with her creative blocks. These parallel storylines create a delightful tension between the extraordinary and everyday concerns.
The relationship between Maya and Soma develops with humor and depth. Their cultural misunderstandings provide comic relief while their growing connection offers emotional weight to the invasion storyline. Soma's alien perspective also serves as a clever mirror, allowing Maya to see her artistic frustrations from a new angle.
While the alien invasion plot follows some familiar sci-fi beats, Llor's focus on how these events transform Maya's creative perspective gives the story a fresh approach. The novel ultimately becomes as much about finding authentic creative voice as it is about saving the world.
"Soma" delivers an entertaining adventure that cleverly uses its science fiction elements to explore the nature of creativity, connection, and finding your voice amid both ordinary and extraordinary pressures.

I have tried to get into this several times, but just can't. Which is such a shame as the art is gorgeous!

This was one of the best comics I've read in a long time. This comic kept me captivated throughout the whole book. I loved the friendship that developed between the main characters and really enjoyed how everything was shown from all different perspectives.

These are the hardest reviews to write. Reviews on good books are easy, and reviews on bad books are even easier to write.

The art is stunning and worth looking at this book for, but the story is boiler-plate, meandering over the course of 300 pages. Which is a shame because Carles Damlau’s work is astounding. From the color choices to the paneling choices, I was routinely amazed by what he could bring to page. If only the story in those pages would keep me turning them.

Damlau’s work suffocates under a bog standard plot about an alien invasion. I’ve read comics for 20 years and I can see plot points in most narratives fairly quickly. The main thing I’m intrigued by these days is the route that is taken to each plot point. Yes, the main character is going through a creative crisis so I know by the end of the book, that crisis will be resolved. The crisis involves an alien invasion with a by the numbers alien invasion plot.

I was looking forward to this and posting this in the journal, but unfortunately it was a non-starter.

Rating: 4.25 stars. This graphic novel was short but super fun! I loved the witty dialogue and appreciated how grounded the characters were despite their extraordinary circumstances. The art was STUNNING to say the least. The compositions for each panel were so dynamic and the colours worked extremely well in enhancing the story. I would’ve loved to spend more time exploring the characters and the world. Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for this e-ARC!