Shout Kill Revel
By Jarret Hartnell
Published 2024 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
Graphic novels tend to catch attention initially through the art. You walk into a shop and flip through a book looking at the images (or electronically these days, sadly). Either way, you want to be grabbed visually.
Well, Calgary-based Jarret Hartnell certainly does that in his debut book, Shout Kill Revel.
The art here is bold, often bright, and often to the point where the word lavish comes to mind.
Now, I will note that art is rarely universally praised, so Hartnell’s effort here will no doubt not be for everyone, but I count myself among those who are impressed by it.
Of course, that is only half of a graphic novel.
So what about the writing here?
Well, that is a bit harder to put into review words.
The story is a weird western, though it falls more into horror western territory, I suppose, and that is an acquired taste going in. It will not be for everyone.
Personally, I can read such tales, obviously, although I will admit it is not my first choice.
That said, Hartnell gives us an evil to be defeated by a reluctant hero with her own demons, literally. The story may not sound particularly new, but it still works.
However, it may just have been this reader, but at times the story seemed to move ahead with me not entirely clear on what was happening.
Now, the overall story moving toward the defeat of the great evil remained obvious. In that regard, it was a path well travelled by many writers. However, the internal subtleties of Shout Kill Revel slipped by me at times.
Overall, you need to like this genre, probably more than I do, to fully appreciate Shout Kill Revel. Still, as is often the case with a graphic novel, it was a quick read and a good break in the day, so it is worth a look.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
REVIEW: Shout Kill Revel
By Jarret Hartnell
Published 2024 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
Graphic novels tend to catch attention initially through the art. You walk into a shop and flip through a book looking at the images (or electronically these days, sadly). Either way, you want to be grabbed visually.
Well, Calgary-based Jarret Hartnell certainly does that in his debut book, Shout Kill Revel.
The art here is bold, often bright, and often to the point where the word lavish comes to mind.
Now, I will note that art is rarely universally praised, so Hartnell’s effort here will no doubt not be for everyone, but I count myself among those who are impressed by it.
Of course, that is only half of a graphic novel.
So what about the writing here?
Well, that is a bit harder to put into review words.
The story is a weird western, though it falls more into horror western territory, I suppose, and that is an acquired taste going in. It will not be for everyone.
Personally, I can read such tales, obviously, although I will admit it is not my first choice.
That said, Hartnell gives us an evil to be defeated by a reluctant hero with her own demons, literally. The story may not sound particularly new, but it still works.
However, it may just have been this reader, but at times the story seemed to move ahead with me not entirely clear on what was happening.
Now, the overall story moving toward the defeat of the great evil remained obvious. In that regard, it was a path well travelled by many writers. However, the internal subtleties of Shout Kill Revel slipped by me at times.
Overall, you need to like this genre, probably more than I do, to fully appreciate Shout Kill Revel. Still, as is often the case with a graphic novel, it was a quick read and a good break in the day, so it is worth a look.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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