3.85 stars!!

Omg!! This is the first ever e-arc that I've received and I couldn't be happier. I've been a fan of Carles Dalmau for years now and and still remember reading Lucid Lucy as a teenager. So the fact that I was approved for this was really exciting and I got into it straight away. And it didn't disappoint!

This was so fun. I honestly liked all of the characters we met, the dialogue was relatable at times, the pacing was pretty fast but the book itself was long enough not to make it feel rushed, the plot was interesting and there was a lot of action. The art was fantastic, despite not being too big on sci-fi I found it to be quite enjoyable in a graphic novel/comic format, and I really really liked the ending and found it to be quite wholesome. I also really liked some of the commentary we got on human nature and the selfless kindness of others. And I liked the commentary on how life and working and relationships can be a drag and people need a break, or even to change the way they live to make their lives easier on themselves.

The biggest criticism that I have is that the translation was a bit off? Just in the sense that I could tell that it was kind if a *direct* translation or there were maybe a couple typos, so I just hope they'll fix that before the official release. There were also some scenes that I just didn't like and found to be a bit questionable (as in why did they decide to do this), and they just struck me personally as a bit offputing and took me out of it a little bit? Either way, I really enjoyed myself with this one. I would really really recommend this if you love alien sci-fi and graphic novels, or if you're just a fan of Dalmau I think you'll enjoy it too.

A Sci-Fi Adventure Bursting with Art and Emotion

Fernando Llor’s Soma combines creativity, companionship, and chaos in a visually stunning graphic novel. The story follows Maya, a comic artist battling burnout, whose life is upended by an alien crash-landing into her home. As Maya navigates this surreal adventure, the narrative cleverly weaves her internal struggles with the unfolding chaos.

The characters, especially the quirky Maya and the lovable alien Soma, shine through, but it’s Carles Dalmau’s artwork that steals the spotlight. With vivid colors and dynamic styles, the visuals enhance the story's humor and emotional depth. The story has great originality, even familiar sci-fi elements feel reinvigorated by its unique execution. Ideal for fans of innovative storytelling and stunning visual art.

Ok this book was something new, I really love the art in this story and the fact that the main character is a struggling Comic artist. Aliens come down to take over, and one just ends up in the main characters house. She almost kills it by accident and ends up forming a connection to it. They work together to save her world, and when you find out why they are helping out, its so sad. This is a great story that shows just because you think you are good and someone else is bad. Sometimes when you are put into a situation to get to know someone you were told was bad, you might find out that they arent so bad. But they also found out that their people whereat so good.

Soma tells the story of a burnt-out artist and a friendly alien teaming up to save the world from some unfriendly aliens. Until the end, I wasn't quite sure whether it was really happening or if it was a hallucination from stress. It was quite fun, and I really enjoyed the art style, but the story felt quite rushed. I didn't feel I knew much about any of the characters or their motivations.

I enjoyed this title a lot. The art is wonderful and I liked the humor in it as well. I am not sure it is school appropriate for my library but there really wasn't anything too graphic in it.

DNF at page 147.

Beautiful art that’s very expressive yet even though it was wonderful it wasn’t nearly enough to carry the below average story through.

Super adorable story and art. Was over too fast! I loved the the best friend character and that salt is such an important mineral!

Soma was a graphic novel that when I started reading I didn't really know what I was going to find. And as it progressed, the story completely absorbed me.

The story has a lot of dynamism, fun moments, others not so many and also causes the occasional tear.
I loved the characters, although I would have liked to see a little more depth and development in them.

Fun, agile, light, an entertaining read that leaves you wanting more. And when a story makes me want to know more and more... it's because it was worth it.

Thank you very much Oni Press for the ARC I read through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel is definitely one you want to check out if you enjoy a story with tons of colour and interesting panels! I liked the story overall, it was confusing at some parts and seemed to wrap up a little too quickly and conveniently for me but it was a solid, quick read. It would have been fun if this had been stretched out over a couple of volumes though!

Check this one out if you enjoy aliens, a chaotic atmosphere and a comic artist!

3/5✨

A colorful, often enjoyably violent, comic about an artist finding a personal story to tell rather than the commercial art she is doing for paid gigs, told with the backdrop of an alien invasion.

Soma is the story following comic book artist, Maya during an atypical day in the life. When she gets an unexpected visitor that is more like something out of one of her comics, it is up to her and it to stop the impending alien invasion.

This was a quick and fast-paced graphic novel that doesn't allow you to take a break and let things absorb. The art style was cute, and honestly, the cover is the main thing that caught my eye. I'll likely check out future novels from Llor as this was enjoyable.

By far, my favourite thing about this was at the end of the book where there was a bit of insight/behind the scenes of the development of the book.

Estamos siguiendo a Maya, una artista que atraviesa una crisis creativa. Está sobrecargada de trabajo y no puede terminar ninguno de sus encargos.
Pero un día, una extraña criatura irrumpe por su ventana y se presenta como un alienígena, mostrándole que su mundo está a punto de terminar.
Me gusta que algunas páginas tengan un estilo artístico diferente; por ejemplo, la página 172 tiene un diseño que recuerda a un videojuego retro. Me acabo de dar cuenta de que el ilustrador también trabajó en los cómics de Cult of the Lamb.
Aunque la situación es dramática, el diseño hace que se sienta ligera, y Maya no lo toma en serio, incluso cuando la gente está muriendo. Eso crea una sensación de "esperanza"; básicamente, sabes que todo terminará bien.

De alguna manera, me recuerda a Maliki, un cómic que creo que leí a principios de los 2010's. El personaje de Maya incluso se parece a Maliki, y ambos son artistas.

Me gusta Juu y su reacción al tener que salir en otro momento. Se preparó, y ahora tiene que cambiar todo. Muy relatable.
Aunque su personaje está bastante vacío.

Soma fue lindo y tiene una historia interesante. El momento sobre su antigua familia humana fue realmente tierno, y cuando se reencontraron fue hermoso. Me gusta cuando pasan cosas así.
Mi único problema es que no sentí nada al leerlo, fue un buen rato, pero probablemente será un recuerdo que se desvanecerá.

A crazy work, which includes influences as distant as manga, anime and comics. Visually it is impressive and the story works like a charm, but I would have liked it to go into more depth about the aliens.

I had no idea what I was getting into when I requested this graphic novel, nor when I picked it up. I thought the cover looked interesting and I'm sure I read the blurb of what it was about-I vaguely remember it being about a comic artist but that's about it. If you're a fan of one shot, off the wall, type of comics like Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley then it's pretty safe to say you'll enjoy this one. An overworked comic artist has to talk her anxious, doom-dwelling friend off the cliff before a first date, and then things start to get weird when aliens invade. It has that Scott Pilgrim wacky energy and humor and was a pretty enjoyable read. It's completely unserious and enjoys it, and it's only one volume which is hard to find.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked the color palette, and the the two main characters. But I felt there was a lot of unnecessary things going on. Her friend, didn't add anything to the story. The amount of snot drawn in this book is gross and exaggerated. I wanted more of a back story of the alien. Then that lady who had the superhero thing going on, what is her story?! The ending fell flat to me and the story felt rushed. I just needed more.

Soma is definitely what i would describe as being short and sweet. With a wonderful cast of characters, cute artsyle, and an emotional ending that just aboit brought me to tears, i loved every second of this. truly the only criticism i could give this comic is that i wish it wasn't over.

Soma features a comic book artist going up against an alien invasion. At the start of the story, we have her writing her own invasion narrative, and I love how, as she's stuck on what to write next, an alien crashes right through her window. That opening sequence sets us up for the vibe of the rest of the book: action!

I enjoyed this read, but wasn't blown away. The pacing is quick, and the action never stops. If you're in the mood for something fast and fun, then this is for you. It's like a rollercoaster—thrilling in the moment, but not something that sticks with you after the ride's over. The color palette is another highlight. It's vibrant and fun, adding a punchiness that really makes the story pop—without it, things might've felt a little flat.

While I had fun with the book, I don’t remember much about the main characters once I put it down. But sometimes, you’re just in the mood for a wild alien invasion, and Soma definitely scratches that itch. If you're into action-packed stories and don't mind a straightforward narrative, this could be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s solid, entertaining, and fast-paced, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.
If you're into action-packed stories and don't mind a straightforward narrative, then this could be what you're looking for. It's a solid, entertaining read, but didn't leave a lasting impression.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eBook/ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

Honestly not what I was expecting going into the graphic novel but an overall pleasant experience. The art is pretty and the plot is generally interesting in a broad sense.

The time and dedication to style and art and form in this graphic novel is best in class. Perfect for anyone who loves the art of creating a comic or graphic novel and an exciting, fun story to follow along and feel inspired alongside Maya.

This is a lovely and hilarious graphic novel for teenagers. Maya, the heroine, has a lot of insecurities to deal with and those insecurities are presented in a hilarious way. I love this one.