I think Matt Lesniewski's art is really, really interesting. I like how he constructs a story and really embraces his idiosyncratic line art. HI writing didn't hit as hard for me in this graphic novel, but it was a good enough story set in an interesting enough world.

For me, the art brought this up a star. I think this is a great book to just look at, to really appreciate the line art.

More like a 1.5 star for the art alone. I really did not like this story. I can see where you might glean a little hope or a sense of community from it but that’s not what I got at all. Definitely not a fan. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

In this day and age when intolerance is more apparent, The Freak deals with the intolerance of facial disfigurement.
Set in a dystopian world where cruelty is at the forefront, the main character moves from place to place experiencing fear and lathing at each place.
From childhood, the unnamed lead character has experienced hatred towards him due to the facial features that mark him as being different from the locals.
He eventually finds solace as a grave digger, but when the life that he is living becomes untenable, he moves to the big city hoping to find anonymity in its numbers.
However, things don’t work out as planned and again he becomes the target of bigots.
Reminscent of the underground comics of the sixties and seventies, Lesniewski’s art is precise in its grainy black and white.
All the lines are crisp and angular fading into the distance.
The Freak is a heartbreaking tale of loss and rejection that resonates in a world where a world is becoming more and more polarised with its views

Who hasn’t, at some point in their life, felt misunderstood, outcast . . . alone? This is the constant conflict and plight of our eponymously named protagonist. Everywhere he travels, he is met with violence and disgust. But will his trip to the big city, where he hopes to go unnoticed amongst the masses, be any different from the places and experiences he’s had previously?

Not sure what I thought of this graphic novel. The story seemed so tragic to me. He did nothing to deserve the treatment he got and it was beyond cruel. We've all felt like freaks at some point in our lives and spend so much of our lives looking for people like us, for a place to belong where we don't feel different.
I understoof Franklin's desire to give some of that pain back to the "so called normal" people but what would be the point?
The art work was amazing. The detail of the line drawing was simply awesome but the story left me wanting more. I needed answers, to know why he couldn't try to live in the place he had dreamed of forever. The ending seemed abrubt and open, like there was more of the story but the pages were lost.

Recommended for the art, but as I said the story felt a little weak. Expected publishing date Aprel 15, 2025

Thanks to @netgalley and Oni Press  for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

The Freak is a graphic novel about a man that is hated and isolated by society because of what he looks like.

The story in The Freak is quite simplistic. Not a lot happens, but themes of humanity, community, and rejection are explored. The art is really what shines here. The graphic novel is in black and white, but the art is unique and detailed in a way that really stands out.

If you are looking for a short graphic novel with interesting visuals, check the The Freak out! While the storyline overall did not impress me, I do feel like there are worth while ideas explored here.

I don’t really get the point of this?
Man gets called a freak all his life and is an outcast. Man finds people like him but still doesn’t feel part of their community so he leaves. The end.
Wasn’t a fan of the art style either.
Glad I picked up something different but this wasn’t for me.

Dear Matt Lesniewski,

I hope you're doing well. I’m reaching out because I was really looking forward to reading [Book Title], but due to unforeseen circumstances, I missed the download deadline, and the book has now been archived.

I would truly appreciate it if you could kindly share the book with me via email at taniagungunsar@gmail.com. I apologize for any inconvenience and would be extremely grateful for your support.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

Best regards
Tania sarkar,

In contrast to other reviews, it was much more the story that kept me reading than the art. I find the latter to be rather mediocre, beginner-like.
— Line thickness in the fore- and background is the same, with no shadows in either plane, blurring characters and buildings.
— Too much detail in the background that doesn’t look good, but rather as if it’s been directly traced from photographs.
— Odd anatomy for the humans (understandable for the protagonist who’s supposed to be a freak, but not for everyone else – unless that’s the message).
— Maybe it was just due to the lowered quality in my digital file, but the texture also makes it a bit overwhelming and difficult to find a focus.
Not the impression the cover gave.
On a positive note though, it's good to have so many diverse bodies and faces. By societal standards, a lot of "ugly" ones. Which is rare, so that's cool.

The story was quite intriguing, and, despite hoping for more, well made. Wanting to belong, but when finding a community that is accepting of your nature, it’s not what you were looking for or not enough.

I didn’t expect there to be graphic murder. (Are the characters even human? Cause there’s no way you can actually cut off someone’s head by hitting them with a shovel, right?) Not that it bothered me visually, I’m just wondering about the world-building.

Overall it’s like a short story – both in length and the literary genre. Tackles everything superficially, has a relatively open ending (although also self-explainable), one plot, one goal, one main character. I’d surely be interested in the world-building, but the focus was the message (although not clear what exactly it is, let’s the reader decide reflectively) and I guess that’s fine.

~

Thank you to Oni Press on Netgalley for an e-ARC.

-21.03.25

The artwork was amazing. The story line was horrific. I cannot believe an adult wrote this.

The Freak is about a man who doesn't look normal according to the story. He's ridiculed and beaten by everyone he comes in contact with. He finds a community of people like him but decides he doesn't belong there either. The end.

A massive thanks to NetGalley and OniPress for the ARC!

At first glance, The Freak throws you headfirst into a dystopian world where cruelty and discrimination are the norm. Our unfortunate protagonist is labeled a "freak" and shunned, though the exact reason remains as elusive as basic human decency in his universe. Sure, he's not winning any beauty contests, but let’s be real - I’ve seen far worse and didn't immediately resort to pitchforks. And why should I?

The first thing that punches you in the face (other than society's overwhelming lack of empathy) is the art. Lesniewski’s style is both hyper-detailed and strangely lacking at the same time - something about the odd perspectives, lack of depth in places, and minimal shadows creates an unsettling yet mesmerizing effect. It immediately brought Dorohedoro and Q Hayashida’s gritty, chaotic world to mind.

Once the shock of the art wears off (which happens fast because tragedy doesn’t wait), we’re dragged into a relentless cycle of loss and suffering. No one's actions are justified - not the hateful masses, not even our protagonist. The story doesn't hold your hand or tell you how to feel. It just lays it all out, forcing you to sit with the discomfort and maybe even reflect on your own outlook on life and others. If I had one gripe, it’s the abrupt, open-ended conclusion. But I get it - it fits the raw, unfiltered nature of the story. Not everything needs a tidy resolution, and The Freak thrives in that uncomfortable space.

This is a visually stunning, experimental, and deeply reflective read. If you’re up for something unsettling yet oddly thought-provoking, I highly recommend checking it out.

Being hated for being different is, unfortunately, a reality for many. And often, the prejudice remains unexplored or unjustified. Is it inherited, passed down ignorantly by generations because they refuse to take a step back and reflect? Is the hate towards being different just a twisted subset of natural selection?

A lot of such existential questions came to me when reading Matt Lesniewski’s uncomfortable read of Freak.

Freak by Matt Lesniewski
What I liked:

The artwork is the standout winner in what makes this book so captivating and evocative. The detailed textural art is equal parts beautiful and cluttered—and I mean this in a good way. The world of Freak is a dystopian future. But, instead of exploring the world and why it has become that way, Lesniewski drives focus towards our lead. So dehumanized he is for his ugly looks that even he has forgotten his name. He just goes by “Freak”.

As ugly as the freak is to look at, the world around him isn’t any better. The streets look full of trash and debris, the buildings stand uncomfortably close to each other, the crowds passing through them with apathy. Yet, they do not seem to express their dissatisfaction with having to live in such a dystopia. Their anger finds a target only when the Freak comes into the picture. Almost as if the world they live in doesn’t approve of dissent but turns a blind eye towards discrimination. This aspect of the book really hit home for me, especially given some recent controversies surrounding problematic comments made on an online comedy show. The arguably small issue took precedence over the millions of systemic, institutional, societal, economic, and cultural issues that continue to be ignored by our leaders. Almost like the masses and the media were taking out their frustration on these comedians because voicing dissent against larger problems isn’t exactly allowed in a post-truth world. If I didn’t know better, I’d assume that the fictional city in this graphic novel was inspired by some corner of my home city that Lesniewski happened to visit and had a bad experience in.

Another aspect I really liked was the lack of character depth. The refusal to get into the characters’ minds and personalities created this distance between reader and story that worked in favor of the graphic novel. It’s easy to empathize with someone you understand, but could you do the same for a random stranger you know nothing about? The lack of justification for peoples’ actions makes you think, and that, I believe, is the point of The Freak. This isn’t a story about how to overcome discrimination. It’s a tale that shows the reader a mirror to society, forcing them to ponder over the very nature of what makes society discriminate against certain sections.

SPOILER ALERT:

Lastly, what I liked about the Freak—and what stayed with me days after—was how the Freak does not change despite being given a marginally better life. He finds a group of likewise ugly and ostracized ‘freaks’, all of whom seem to love and accept him for who he is. They don’t demand anything from him, except that he give up on his anger towards the world and live peacefully among them. Sadly, the Freak isn’t able to cope with this warmth, instead resorting to go back to the outside world and take revenge. Of course, we don’t see that revenge, we just see him get caught and asked to leave forever.

What does this ending even mean? Is this Lesniewski’s rejection of the rehabilitation over punishment argument? Or is he trying to highlight a deeper issue that plagues our society? Hate and discrimination are all too common across the globe. When people grow up in toxicity, it’s not easy for them to break their unhealthy patterns of coping. So is the case with the Freak. Was the community too quick and harsh to judge the Freak? Or did they give him enough time to integrate, only to realize that he’s too far gone? The Freak even feels safer in the threatening outside world because of its familiarity, so maybe they were justified in letting him go? After all, you can’t save everyone. Especially when they don’t want to be saved.

There are a lot of folks out there who will never know a warm hug or a welcoming community. They might very well end up being a menace to society, but that also begs the question—who is responsible for them? The unwelcome society that made them that way, or their failure to learn to integrate? Or the system that seems to ignore such folks because they simply don’t care?

What I didn’t like:

To be honest, the ending felt a little incomplete. At the moment of finishing the book, I did not like it. Days after, I am still pondering over it, which makes me believe the open ending was by design. I liked that he doesn’t integrate into the community because that makes for a more thought-provoking finale. However, the way it was handled felt a little rushed, compared to the rest of the story. That could be the reason why I didn’t like the ending the first time around. Besides, the open-ended nature of the graphic novel might not sit well with some folks.

Conclusion:

The Freak is an absurdly evocative and visceral experience. The artwork especially does a fine job of transporting you to this dystopian world of discrimination, hate, and anger. A mirror to some of the worst aspects that still plague human society.

TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Artwork, thought-provoking narrative, philosophical questions raised by the ending
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: some mixed feelings about the ending

Matt Lesniewski’s The Freak is a weird, brutal little story about a guy so ugly that people literally attack him on sight. He moves to the city hoping for a fresh start, but nope - same deal, just with more bystanders. When someone steals his only possession (a shovel), he sets out to get it back, and things spiral from there.

The black-and-white art is impressive - tons of detail, lots of grotesque faces - but sometimes so packed that it’s hard to tell what’s going on. The story starts off feeling like a revenge tale, then turns into something more abstract, but it never fully lands. It’s grim, strange, and while it has some cool ideas, it doesn’t quite stick the landing. Still, if you like your comics bleak, bizarre, and just a little off-putting, it’s worth a look.

Cool vague worldbuilding, but giving credit where credit is due, the artwork is exemplary! Most grateful to the publishers for this ARC.

I really liked the style and the story. I sometimes found it visually overwhelming but in a really good way-- i wish I could explain it better. I can't wait to read more.

This was a solid read, carried by phenomenal artwork. A lot of depth and textures in the line, it really draws the eyes in.

3.5 Stars for this one!

This one caught my attention with its stunning cover. That art reminded me of Wes Craig’s ‘Deadly Class’, which is an all-time favourite of mine! Firstly and foremostly the art style was gorgeous. I was in love world from the get-go. Our MC design was so unique - being a freak, however, was just so beautiful. The storyline was also quite enjoyable and entertaining however I felt a tad rushed. I would’ve loved to spend more time under the city, learning about their community ways of life, and the hierarchy and rules they had. I also believe the ending left more to be desired, I have questions that I need answered!!!!

I always struggle with rating Graphic Novels/Comics as you are rating both the art and story separately and collectively. So I hope this was a fair review.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC!

This wasn't my favorite art style and I don't think that the story was well developed. This all felt very surface level.

The Freak is a short but powerful graphic novel that sticks with you long after you turn the last page. The art style immediately reminded me of those weird, stylish MTV animated series from the '90s (think The Maxx and Aeon Flux) with its rough edges and surreal atmosphere. It’s a perfect fit for the story’s tone, which is dark, introspective, and just the right amount of unsettling.

The main character is a tragic figure through and through, someone you can’t help but sympathize with even as they navigate a harsh and unrelenting world. The ending hit harder than I expected as I found myself genuinely sad when it was over. I would have loved to see where The Freak’s journey went next, but maybe that lingering sense of unfinished business is part of what makes it so memorable.

If you’re into moody, unconventional stories with striking visuals, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Short graphic novel following a man with facial differences who endures insults and violence due to his appearance. I appreciated the art style as it felt quite fresh and different. The book made me think about the value of compassion and acceptance, and how even if we're not necessarily ready to embrace it yet, it can still be transformative.

This was a pretty straightforward tale but I found it just a bit too straightforward, simplistic in fact. Nothing in the story really kept me going but it was the graphics that raised this to a three star for me, love that 70s style.