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Incredible Doom #1
Incredible Doom
It’s the dawn of a new age…the age of the internet.
Allison is drowning under the weight of her manipulative stage magician father. When he brings home the family’s first computer, she escapes into a thrilling new world where she meets Samir, a like-minded new online friend who has just agreed to run away from home with her.
After moving to a new town and leaving all of his friends behind, Richard receives a mysterious note in his locker with instructions on how to connect to “Evol BBS,” a dial-in bulletin board system, and meets a fierce punk named Tina who comes into his life and shakes his entire world view loose.
Unlikely alliances, first love, and minor crime sprees abound in this teen graphic novel debut about making connections while your world is falling apart.
Allison is drowning under the weight of her manipulative stage magician father. When he brings home the family’s first computer, she escapes into a thrilling new world where she meets Samir, a like-minded new online friend who has just agreed to run away from home with her.
After moving to a new town and leaving all of his friends behind, Richard receives a mysterious note in his locker with instructions on how to connect to “Evol BBS,” a dial-in bulletin board system, and meets a fierce punk named Tina who comes into his life and shakes his entire world view loose.
Unlikely alliances, first love, and minor crime sprees abound in this teen graphic novel debut about making connections while your world is falling apart.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
About the author
Matthew Bogart
5 books64 followersMatthew Bogart is a cartoonist in Portland, Oregon. He makes slice of life comics that often include rock stars, rocket ships, and the early internet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
June 22, 2021
This was really well done, although not at all what I expected from something titled Incredible Doom and having an ominous twilit town on the cover.
It's actually about outcast teens connecting over bbs in the 90s. Which I didn't do because my family was late-adopting on technology (seriously. We had an amplifier with vacuum tubes.) but kind of wish I had.
If you had this experience and know what the title means, clue me in!
It's actually about outcast teens connecting over bbs in the 90s. Which I didn't do because my family was late-adopting on technology (seriously. We had an amplifier with vacuum tubes.) but kind of wish I had.
If you had this experience and know what the title means, clue me in!
December 22, 2022
Strong 7 out of 10
This book is about two teens meeting from the early stages of the internet. This book switches between two perspectives of teens, each with their own problems. One thing this book deals with is abuse and controlling behaviors. Another topic this book deals with is getting with the wrong group of people and getting into criminal behavior.
This book deals with a lot of topics. It deals with young love, living in dodgy neighborhoods, dealing with parental abuse, sexuality, and committing crimes. Most of these topics are explored pretty well in my opinion. It shows how parents can abuse children in many ways than just physically, and it shows some of the more depressing elements of life.
The artwork is well done and carries a moody vibe to it. It was nice learning about how technology rapidly progressing affected people. Definitely a tough read because of how realistically the topics are discussed in this book. The composition is decent. The only criticism I have for this book is some of the rougher pacing issues, (mostly near the beginning). Overall I really enjoyed it though, would definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for a more depressing but meaningful read.
This book is about two teens meeting from the early stages of the internet. This book switches between two perspectives of teens, each with their own problems. One thing this book deals with is abuse and controlling behaviors. Another topic this book deals with is getting with the wrong group of people and getting into criminal behavior.
This book deals with a lot of topics. It deals with young love, living in dodgy neighborhoods, dealing with parental abuse, sexuality, and committing crimes. Most of these topics are explored pretty well in my opinion. It shows how parents can abuse children in many ways than just physically, and it shows some of the more depressing elements of life.
The artwork is well done and carries a moody vibe to it. It was nice learning about how technology rapidly progressing affected people. Definitely a tough read because of how realistically the topics are discussed in this book. The composition is decent. The only criticism I have for this book is some of the rougher pacing issues, (mostly near the beginning). Overall I really enjoyed it though, would definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for a more depressing but meaningful read.
December 21, 2020
Absolutely lovely. Story and characterization come together beautifully in this coming of age graphic novel. Multiple points of view make for a layered and engaging story, yet it is told simply and effectively. I knew and loved the characters immediately - sometimes with just a look or a gesture, I instantly recognized them from my own life, from my own school years, or related to them myself. This is a story about the power of commitment and connection, of support and belonging, achieved through communication: online, in person, and through actions that demonstrate love.
Many thanks to #NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this title.
Many thanks to #NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this title.
April 18, 2023
Set in the 1990s, teenaged early users of the internet use it to find friendship and cope with bullying and child abuse. A little slow and slice-of-life at times, but still engaging. I do wish the geographical settings of the two parallel storylines were a little clearer earlier on.
I like the occasional bits of ASCII art and the old-fashioned text-based user interfaces. Made me nostalgic for the day I first sat down at an internet-connected computer at college in the '80s, grumbling about the administration requiring me get an email address and wondering why anyone would want to bother with this ugly and useless green information exchange when all I really needed was more playtime with "Risk" and "Lode Runner" on my black-and-white Macintosh.
I like the occasional bits of ASCII art and the old-fashioned text-based user interfaces. Made me nostalgic for the day I first sat down at an internet-connected computer at college in the '80s, grumbling about the administration requiring me get an email address and wondering why anyone would want to bother with this ugly and useless green information exchange when all I really needed was more playtime with "Risk" and "Lode Runner" on my black-and-white Macintosh.
May 29, 2021
Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me a finished copy in exchange for a promotional post. All opinions are my own.
Incredible Doom takes us back to the 90s and the beginning of the internet, think dial up connections. This story focuses on 4 teenagers and the friendships/relationships they develop between them.
Allison struggles at home with her abusive and controlling father. But finding a friend on the internet changes everything. When things explode, Sam and Allison run away. I really loved seeing how the internet connected people in this, even though I do not remember BBS whatsoever. I don't think I ever connected that way.
I loved the characters in this book, Tina was such a hardcore punk and easily my favorite. This ended a bit on a cliffhanger so I can't wait for the next volume. The story was jam packed with nostalgia and I really enjoyed it!
Incredible Doom takes us back to the 90s and the beginning of the internet, think dial up connections. This story focuses on 4 teenagers and the friendships/relationships they develop between them.
Allison struggles at home with her abusive and controlling father. But finding a friend on the internet changes everything. When things explode, Sam and Allison run away. I really loved seeing how the internet connected people in this, even though I do not remember BBS whatsoever. I don't think I ever connected that way.
I loved the characters in this book, Tina was such a hardcore punk and easily my favorite. This ended a bit on a cliffhanger so I can't wait for the next volume. The story was jam packed with nostalgia and I really enjoyed it!
January 10, 2023
Is the punk house a thing anymore?
You know, the house a bunch of kids live in, and it's disgusting and doesn't really work, and eventually it gets bulldozed, and like 5 people are upset about it, but by the time they're 25, they're like, "Eh, that was probably for the best"?
Punk house life is probably at the top of the list of things that sound great during a specific part of your life, but you age out of them pretty quickly.
In fact, I think most alternative living situations are this way:
Van Life: Seems great, definitely built on the premise that you could wake up and be in Yosemite tomorrow! Lots of great Instas where someone is working, back doors of the van open, and they're sitting at a laptop in a beautiful setting. The problem comes in when you realize that you'll still be working 40 hours per week, and doing so out of a van fucking sucks. I mean, it's great to be somewhere else, to do some traveling, but a part of what makes traveling fun is that you're usually not working while you're traveling. For me, editing web pages or whatever is no more fun if I'm doing it in a van in a great location, and what I'd prefer is to do it in a house with a toilet that you press a lever and everything just goes away. Plus, it's not all going to be Yosemites. You'll be in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Idaho at some point, freezing your balls off, really thinking about your life choices.
Couch Surfing: It seems like movies love to show an itinerant lovable loser who's crashing at someone's house, but then realizes the dude has a family and can't just party all the time, and the lovable loser's presence is causing marital friction. I think for me, couch surfing sucks because it's hypocritical: I don't want to get a job and be a part of the system, man...but I DO want to have a place to live, so long as someone else is doing the work part, and I'm 100% okay with that person being my friend.
Communes: The problem is, eventually your kids grow up and realize how much of a sex thing this was.
Life on Mars: This I could be a sucker for. Remember that thing a few years ago where they were having weirdos send in videos to be part of a Mars colonization project? Whatever happened to that? I was tempted, I'll be honest, but then I realized that the applicants were all either A) Former drama kids who would be SO annoying after a decade, or B) Old guys who had basically no life and figured they may as well commit a sort of suicide by going to Mars with no way of returning home. Seriously, there were A LOT of these in the videos. Which, don't get me wrong, I will be that depressed old guy in a few years, once I can rightfully be called old, I've got nothing against them. But I think I'd prefer not to spend my life between those two groups. Plus, I was like, "There's not one fucking dentist on this crew. Shouldn't there be one dentist?"
You know, the house a bunch of kids live in, and it's disgusting and doesn't really work, and eventually it gets bulldozed, and like 5 people are upset about it, but by the time they're 25, they're like, "Eh, that was probably for the best"?
Punk house life is probably at the top of the list of things that sound great during a specific part of your life, but you age out of them pretty quickly.
In fact, I think most alternative living situations are this way:
Van Life: Seems great, definitely built on the premise that you could wake up and be in Yosemite tomorrow! Lots of great Instas where someone is working, back doors of the van open, and they're sitting at a laptop in a beautiful setting. The problem comes in when you realize that you'll still be working 40 hours per week, and doing so out of a van fucking sucks. I mean, it's great to be somewhere else, to do some traveling, but a part of what makes traveling fun is that you're usually not working while you're traveling. For me, editing web pages or whatever is no more fun if I'm doing it in a van in a great location, and what I'd prefer is to do it in a house with a toilet that you press a lever and everything just goes away. Plus, it's not all going to be Yosemites. You'll be in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Idaho at some point, freezing your balls off, really thinking about your life choices.
Couch Surfing: It seems like movies love to show an itinerant lovable loser who's crashing at someone's house, but then realizes the dude has a family and can't just party all the time, and the lovable loser's presence is causing marital friction. I think for me, couch surfing sucks because it's hypocritical: I don't want to get a job and be a part of the system, man...but I DO want to have a place to live, so long as someone else is doing the work part, and I'm 100% okay with that person being my friend.
Communes: The problem is, eventually your kids grow up and realize how much of a sex thing this was.
Life on Mars: This I could be a sucker for. Remember that thing a few years ago where they were having weirdos send in videos to be part of a Mars colonization project? Whatever happened to that? I was tempted, I'll be honest, but then I realized that the applicants were all either A) Former drama kids who would be SO annoying after a decade, or B) Old guys who had basically no life and figured they may as well commit a sort of suicide by going to Mars with no way of returning home. Seriously, there were A LOT of these in the videos. Which, don't get me wrong, I will be that depressed old guy in a few years, once I can rightfully be called old, I've got nothing against them. But I think I'd prefer not to spend my life between those two groups. Plus, I was like, "There's not one fucking dentist on this crew. Shouldn't there be one dentist?"
Read
June 30, 2021I don't remember where I first saw this book, but the moment I read the synopsis, I knew I HAD to read it right then!
Most stories about internet friends end in a negative and fear-inducing way. And while I agree with the message they are trying to convey, it's sometimes nice to see a different approach to the subject. That's why I was excited to pick up this book.
Though we have yet to find out what direction this goes in, it's been fairly positive so far.
We follow two different storylines:
Allison, a teenage girl living with her abusive father, starts to find comfort in talking to a guy named Samir, whom she met online.
Richard, who recently moved to a new town and is constantly being bullied by his now-classmates, meets Tina, who helps deal with the bullies and introduces Richard to her housemates.
Both the stories merge in the last chapter where it ends on a cliffhanger.
The book is set in 90s and you can really see the era shine through the panels. I am sure there were a lot of references and other stuff that would be nostalgic for someone who's lived during that time. While I personally couldn't appreciate the BBS panels as much as I wanted to, it was still a delight to read.
There's nothing more I can say about how much I liked it. It was pretty short, and I think I need to know where the story goes from here before I decide on a rating.
Very excited for the next volume!
Most stories about internet friends end in a negative and fear-inducing way. And while I agree with the message they are trying to convey, it's sometimes nice to see a different approach to the subject. That's why I was excited to pick up this book.
Though we have yet to find out what direction this goes in, it's been fairly positive so far.
We follow two different storylines:
Allison, a teenage girl living with her abusive father, starts to find comfort in talking to a guy named Samir, whom she met online.
Richard, who recently moved to a new town and is constantly being bullied by his now-classmates, meets Tina, who helps deal with the bullies and introduces Richard to her housemates.
Both the stories merge in the last chapter where it ends on a cliffhanger.
The book is set in 90s and you can really see the era shine through the panels. I am sure there were a lot of references and other stuff that would be nostalgic for someone who's lived during that time. While I personally couldn't appreciate the BBS panels as much as I wanted to, it was still a delight to read.
There's nothing more I can say about how much I liked it. It was pretty short, and I think I need to know where the story goes from here before I decide on a rating.
Very excited for the next volume!
June 1, 2021
Okay, this was incredible (pun intended? lol)! I didn't have much expectations for this, only that I found the premise so interesting. Now I can say that I am pleasantly surprised!
Incredible Doom was simple, yet so poignant. It showed the magnificence of using computers and the internet for the first time. And it also highlighted how amazing and comforting it can be, as it helps in connecting people and forging unexpected friendships. It also featured queer characters, which I didn't expect! I loved that. My exact rating: 4.5.
Anyone looking for a fast and yet moving read, this graphic novel is for you!
Thank you so much to Epic Reads/Harper Alley for sending over a finished copy! This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
Full review on my blog soon!
CW: child abuse, domestic abuse, bullying, violence
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Incredible Doom was simple, yet so poignant. It showed the magnificence of using computers and the internet for the first time. And it also highlighted how amazing and comforting it can be, as it helps in connecting people and forging unexpected friendships. It also featured queer characters, which I didn't expect! I loved that. My exact rating: 4.5.
Anyone looking for a fast and yet moving read, this graphic novel is for you!
Thank you so much to Epic Reads/Harper Alley for sending over a finished copy! This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
Full review on my blog soon!
CW: child abuse, domestic abuse, bullying, violence
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
July 5, 2021
Oh man, this was such a good read. I was four in 1994, the year this GN takes place. Some of my earliest, and fondest memories were playing Doom and Duke Nukem with my dad on our brand new computer. I was too young to know about BBS, but it seems like an early chat room.
This follows two pairs of teens who meet online, and their lives become intertwined. Even though I was only four in 1994, this novel still resonated with me. I have met so many life-long friends online. My best friend and I both met our husbands online playing video games. I love seeing the early stages of the internet. It just makes me so thankful for how far we’ve come!
I’m having trouble articulating why I loved this so much. I think it’s because I could see myself being any of the characters if I was a teen in that time. I’d recommend it to any computer nerd.
This follows two pairs of teens who meet online, and their lives become intertwined. Even though I was only four in 1994, this novel still resonated with me. I have met so many life-long friends online. My best friend and I both met our husbands online playing video games. I love seeing the early stages of the internet. It just makes me so thankful for how far we’ve come!
I’m having trouble articulating why I loved this so much. I think it’s because I could see myself being any of the characters if I was a teen in that time. I’d recommend it to any computer nerd.
August 12, 2022
slayed so hard i can’t wait to read the second one
November 1, 2021
I like it because of its dark subversiveness for sure. I didn't know what to think as I got started and then when it maneuvered from Allison to another character Richard, I was a bit confused about where it was going and then it all started coming together in a way that was a little genius, a little punk, and a little quirky that was matched by the blue and black color scheme.
Allison's father's anger is never fully explained however it seems to come from a place of trauma and control. He often tells Allison not to show her body off to boys and then in another breath explains how everything in the house, including her, is his. And his anger is confusing to Allison who reaches out to someone via "the internet", a new thing, and finds a boy who is willing to meet her in the middle of the night to get to know her.
Richard is a new kid in town who is already the target of some serious physical and emotional violence, however misplaced, because of his uniqueness. It's not until he receives a note in his locker to log in to a specific server on the internet and there would be someone there who could help him out. He's curious and then realizes that this girl, Tina, is willing to do anything to help him against the bullies.
The two stories are connected by this thing called the internet. It's a bit Paper Girls, Vol. 1 with a little Ready Player One and I love it.
Allison's father's anger is never fully explained however it seems to come from a place of trauma and control. He often tells Allison not to show her body off to boys and then in another breath explains how everything in the house, including her, is his. And his anger is confusing to Allison who reaches out to someone via "the internet", a new thing, and finds a boy who is willing to meet her in the middle of the night to get to know her.
Richard is a new kid in town who is already the target of some serious physical and emotional violence, however misplaced, because of his uniqueness. It's not until he receives a note in his locker to log in to a specific server on the internet and there would be someone there who could help him out. He's curious and then realizes that this girl, Tina, is willing to do anything to help him against the bullies.
The two stories are connected by this thing called the internet. It's a bit Paper Girls, Vol. 1 with a little Ready Player One and I love it.
April 27, 2022
This book follows four wayward adolescents as they find connection through the early days of the internet. I truly felt transported to the 90’s while reading this. I was surprised how much the story impacted me and I appreciated the way things came together at the end of the book. Looking forward to more of this.
April 18, 2023
It’s 1994 and the internet is new. In this coming-of-age tale, four teens come together in an unlikely alliance as their home lives fall apart around them.
We are introduced to Allison, whose manipulative and abusive magician father tries to control every aspect of her life. She finds refuge in the new computer he brings home and discovers an online community and really connects with a young man Samir (Sam). We also really get to know Richard, a teen who has recently moved to a new high school, where he runs into someone he knew years ago from summer camp, who starts to bully him and creates false rumors about him to his new classmates. While being attacked in the hallway by this bully, an unlikely punk savior appears to help Richard- Tina, a tough computer expert who lives with other teens in a house in the country.
Eventually, Allison escapes from her violent father and she and Sam are on the run in the middle of the night. On a parallel journey, Richard is thankful for Tina’s help, but feels confused and trapped with Tina’s housemates, recognizing they aren’t true friends like his group of friends from his old school. But circumstances and their connection online lead the two pairs to meet on the last page, opening up further adventures for this new quartet.
This graphic novel effectively captures the early 1990s and reminds us of that era of technology -computer usage before the World Wide Web via dial-up with a text-based bulletin board system (BBS). It looks so very primitive now but was cutting edge for a new generation of youth who would come of age with home computers. I remember being in awe of a family that I babysat for in my neighborhood who had a computer and then a few years later in college when one of my rich sorority sisters was the first to have her own computer vs the rest of us who had to use the college’s computer lab. Now everyone seems to have their own private laptops- how far we have come in a relatively short time.
The art is done in black and white with blue accents for shadows and to infer other colors. A variety of panel placements and computer screens successfully pull you into this world of technology and limitless possibilities. The art style reminded me somewhat of Scott McCloud of Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art and Daniel Clowes of Ghostworld. Clothing and hair-styles of the grunge-inspired youth, are captured well in the minimalist illustrations, with solid line art.
Incredible Doom is set up to be an ongoing series, and I’m invested enough in the disenfranchised and realistic characters to look for future volumes. These tail-end Gen X teens are looking for connections, and I have enough nostalgia for that era to tune in for more.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2021/06/0...
We are introduced to Allison, whose manipulative and abusive magician father tries to control every aspect of her life. She finds refuge in the new computer he brings home and discovers an online community and really connects with a young man Samir (Sam). We also really get to know Richard, a teen who has recently moved to a new high school, where he runs into someone he knew years ago from summer camp, who starts to bully him and creates false rumors about him to his new classmates. While being attacked in the hallway by this bully, an unlikely punk savior appears to help Richard- Tina, a tough computer expert who lives with other teens in a house in the country.
Eventually, Allison escapes from her violent father and she and Sam are on the run in the middle of the night. On a parallel journey, Richard is thankful for Tina’s help, but feels confused and trapped with Tina’s housemates, recognizing they aren’t true friends like his group of friends from his old school. But circumstances and their connection online lead the two pairs to meet on the last page, opening up further adventures for this new quartet.
This graphic novel effectively captures the early 1990s and reminds us of that era of technology -computer usage before the World Wide Web via dial-up with a text-based bulletin board system (BBS). It looks so very primitive now but was cutting edge for a new generation of youth who would come of age with home computers. I remember being in awe of a family that I babysat for in my neighborhood who had a computer and then a few years later in college when one of my rich sorority sisters was the first to have her own computer vs the rest of us who had to use the college’s computer lab. Now everyone seems to have their own private laptops- how far we have come in a relatively short time.
The art is done in black and white with blue accents for shadows and to infer other colors. A variety of panel placements and computer screens successfully pull you into this world of technology and limitless possibilities. The art style reminded me somewhat of Scott McCloud of Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art and Daniel Clowes of Ghostworld. Clothing and hair-styles of the grunge-inspired youth, are captured well in the minimalist illustrations, with solid line art.
Incredible Doom is set up to be an ongoing series, and I’m invested enough in the disenfranchised and realistic characters to look for future volumes. These tail-end Gen X teens are looking for connections, and I have enough nostalgia for that era to tune in for more.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2021/06/0...
January 9, 2023
How early BBS systems were the most punk rock mutual aid system EVER, told through a series of interwoven graphic vignettes featuring ostracized teens living outside the typical Happy Family Unit situation. Thanks to Jessamyn West for her review; I might not have encountered this otherwise. Highly recommended.
April 23, 2021
I stumbled upon this comic years ago during its original run online, and was delighted to see the story continue in this collected edition. The characters are well-drawn -- both literally, in a beautiful ligne claire style reminiscent of Hergé and Scott McCloud, and in terms of how they spring to life in dialogue and action. I really like the clever, often innovative panel-to-panel storytelling -- the way computer screens become comic book panels, and moment-to-moment changes in what someone types on those screens become character-defining incidents.
Bogart's clever script captures that teenage sense that every interpersonal drama is huge and momentous -- yet also clearly establishes very real, compelling, even harrowing emotional stakes for its characters. It's tough to pull off the kind of balancing act this book achieves with seeming ease; at once, it's harrowing and suspenseful, warm and funny, painful and tender.
Though Incredible Doom stays firmly in the realm of the realistic, I found it as riveting and entertaining as any four-color flight of fancy. Whether you were a kid in the hazy proto-Internet days this book captures so well (like I was, barely), or just want to flash back to the strange alien world where people traded music on cassette tapes and phones remained firmly attached to your wall, you won't regret reading this book.
Bogart's clever script captures that teenage sense that every interpersonal drama is huge and momentous -- yet also clearly establishes very real, compelling, even harrowing emotional stakes for its characters. It's tough to pull off the kind of balancing act this book achieves with seeming ease; at once, it's harrowing and suspenseful, warm and funny, painful and tender.
Though Incredible Doom stays firmly in the realm of the realistic, I found it as riveting and entertaining as any four-color flight of fancy. Whether you were a kid in the hazy proto-Internet days this book captures so well (like I was, barely), or just want to flash back to the strange alien world where people traded music on cassette tapes and phones remained firmly attached to your wall, you won't regret reading this book.
January 7, 2021
Great exploration of teen life at the dawn of the internet. Bogart and Holden focus are four teens with unique experiences that will relate to a lot of different people. They have individual struggles, hopes, and fears but they all ultimately want the same thing--freedom to be themselves. I especially appreciated that this graphic novel handled emotional and physical abuse with seriousness and tact. The content was dark but all-too-familiar for too many kids in this age range. I could see this helping a lot of people. Great art style as well.
**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
June 15, 2021
VERY reminiscent to a time and place (the early days of the internet.) It's cool as an adult to remember the promise of what could be - how different from how it is taken for granted now.
I think teens would enjoy looking at it from a historical perspective - I did the best I could to pretend I didn't remember PINE email. :-)
Also, I was just reading along and suddenly realized it was almost over and AHHHHHHHH!
I think teens would enjoy looking at it from a historical perspective - I did the best I could to pretend I didn't remember PINE email. :-)
Also, I was just reading along and suddenly realized it was almost over and AHHHHHHHH!
November 18, 2021
This one is great but there is a lot more story to tell.
September 7, 2021
CW: Swears, Domestic/Family Violence
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I thought the characterization of Allison, Sam, Richard, and Tina were all well done throughout. The illustrator did a good job matching character motivations with the dialogue in each panel.
Incredible Doom tells the story of four teens in the early 90's using a primitive form of the internet. The story unfolds as Allison and Sam meet on the internet, and they form a relationship. Richard moves to a new town where he does not fit in and Tina, using the internet, protects Richard from bullies. The four of them find safety and comfort in the computer but they strive for human connection beyond that reach of cyberspace.
I am a child of the early internet but not THAT early, so I gained some new insights. I was never aware of the bulletin board system, or even how difficult it was to get online. So I feel like I learned something about the not-too-distant past that I never knew. I am rating this one star less because I am not sure how the rest of this story will unfold. This is only the first volume, so now that all the characters have met I am excited to see where it goes.... I just hope it will be well executed.
I can also really only recommend this graphic novel if you are in the older grades as there is some mature content throughout.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I thought the characterization of Allison, Sam, Richard, and Tina were all well done throughout. The illustrator did a good job matching character motivations with the dialogue in each panel.
Incredible Doom tells the story of four teens in the early 90's using a primitive form of the internet. The story unfolds as Allison and Sam meet on the internet, and they form a relationship. Richard moves to a new town where he does not fit in and Tina, using the internet, protects Richard from bullies. The four of them find safety and comfort in the computer but they strive for human connection beyond that reach of cyberspace.
I am a child of the early internet but not THAT early, so I gained some new insights. I was never aware of the bulletin board system, or even how difficult it was to get online. So I feel like I learned something about the not-too-distant past that I never knew. I am rating this one star less because I am not sure how the rest of this story will unfold. This is only the first volume, so now that all the characters have met I am excited to see where it goes.... I just hope it will be well executed.
I can also really only recommend this graphic novel if you are in the older grades as there is some mature content throughout.
November 22, 2022
This was good. Made me angry, which is what it was supposed to do lol. Cared way more about Allison’s story than Richard’s.
April 24, 2023
Holy shit this story was so cool! I enjoyed it so much more than I even anticipated. A cool story of the youth of the 90s using the internet before it was the internet, essentially, to connect, share, learn, and effectively change their lives for the better because of it. It's got a 90s punk DIY vibe but married with some nerdiness (love a good star trek reference). It also deals with a small, yet incredibly touching LGBTQ+ moment and I was super there for it.
Pick it up.
Pick it up.
October 5, 2021
Loved the 90s setting, loved the computer nerd-ery, loved the teenage insta-love that feels accurate. Didn't love the aggressively abusive father. Incredible Doom needs to come with a trigger warning on the cover. There's "I want to run away from my mean dad" and then there's "I need to run away from my potentially murderous dad." Who is also a stage magician? I can't tell if the author is attempting to play for humor by giving the dad that career. It doesn't work, if that's the case.
Trigger warnings aside, Incredible Doom is excellently written, has stellar pacing, and contains crisp, clean art that accurately depicts computer access in the 90s. I'm too young to have visited bulletin boards online, but I'm old enough to have helped run a friends-only web forum in the early aughts. Needless to say, a lot of the technical elements in Incredible Doom sang to me.
A lot of the teenage details also rang true. Richard and Samir are lonely dudes who hang onto the first semblance of friendship/love that comes along. They make bad decisions, but for good reasons. Incredible Doom is kind of a wholesome book in that way. You will root for these characters, especially Allison, who (again) is being chased by her rage-fueled father. The cliffhanger ending has me desperate for the follow-up volume.
Trigger warnings aside, Incredible Doom is excellently written, has stellar pacing, and contains crisp, clean art that accurately depicts computer access in the 90s. I'm too young to have visited bulletin boards online, but I'm old enough to have helped run a friends-only web forum in the early aughts. Needless to say, a lot of the technical elements in Incredible Doom sang to me.
A lot of the teenage details also rang true. Richard and Samir are lonely dudes who hang onto the first semblance of friendship/love that comes along. They make bad decisions, but for good reasons. Incredible Doom is kind of a wholesome book in that way. You will root for these characters, especially Allison, who (again) is being chased by her rage-fueled father. The cliffhanger ending has me desperate for the follow-up volume.
August 31, 2023
School Library Journal's review of this 1994-set graphic novel about teenagers involved with BBS culture calls it "achingly poignant" and I have to agree. The artwork has a moody vibe, and many of the topics it takes on are very serious: child abuse, runaways, bullying, etc. But across the two books in the series so far, it also celebrates the saving potential of internet friendships, punk houses, finding a place where you can be yourself, and has queer rep I really appreciated.
I can't possibly know how much of my emotional resonance with this series is because I so clearly remember the tech era it's set in. I do feel like this series hits the mark perfectly on how it feels to be a teenage outcast, to want to escape your family, and to crave creating a new kind of space with other like-minded people - be that online or offline. Wonderful read, and I'm looking forward to the third book.
I can't possibly know how much of my emotional resonance with this series is because I so clearly remember the tech era it's set in. I do feel like this series hits the mark perfectly on how it feels to be a teenage outcast, to want to escape your family, and to crave creating a new kind of space with other like-minded people - be that online or offline. Wonderful read, and I'm looking forward to the third book.
December 14, 2020
Set in the '90s during the early days of the internet, Incredible Doom follows the lives of four small-town teens and the unexpected (sometimes risky) ways they connect via dial-up a text-based bulletin board system, or BBS. Although there are darker moments, the accompanying code screens will be nostalgic fun or just simply insightful for many.
My thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for feedback.
My thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for feedback.
January 6, 2022
The first volume of a series about teens in the early ‘90s making life-altering choices thanks to the worlds opened up to them by the early internet.
I was never involved in BBS/IRC chat rooms, but my partner did and he talks about it often. My parents did get a Mac back when they cost multiple grand (1997/1998) and we got dialup pretty early on. I remember the early days of perusing message boards as a teen, the bloop bloop bleeeng bleeeng ka-boop ka-boop of dialup Internet, and the excitement at connecting with people outside of my tiny (&very isolated) sphere of influence. Kinda miss the simplicity of those days — no photos aside from teeny avatars that were not personal photos, no videos, just text and maybe smiley emoticons if you were lucky! The preMyspace days.
I loved the artwork and the different shades that differentiated past and present. Definitely cannot wait for volume 2.
I was never involved in BBS/IRC chat rooms, but my partner did and he talks about it often. My parents did get a Mac back when they cost multiple grand (1997/1998) and we got dialup pretty early on. I remember the early days of perusing message boards as a teen, the bloop bloop bleeeng bleeeng ka-boop ka-boop of dialup Internet, and the excitement at connecting with people outside of my tiny (&very isolated) sphere of influence. Kinda miss the simplicity of those days — no photos aside from teeny avatars that were not personal photos, no videos, just text and maybe smiley emoticons if you were lucky! The preMyspace days.
I loved the artwork and the different shades that differentiated past and present. Definitely cannot wait for volume 2.
September 8, 2021
Done all in blue tone, this graphic novel begins the story of a girl in the early 90s fleeing her abusive father, the boy helping her, and the help they find through early internet bulletin board services. It was by equal turns, heart breaking, exciting and terrifying.
December 1, 2021
Some heavy topics in this one, but depicted in a very delicate way. It was nice to see a story that shows the good side of the internet, though it got me worried for a second at the very end... relieved to see how things were resolved and both main arcs connected finally, even thought this can sure be qualified as a cliffhanger.
Some interesting art too, though not necessarily my cup of tea, so I enjoyed it but didn't fall head over heels...
Some interesting art too, though not necessarily my cup of tea, so I enjoyed it but didn't fall head over heels...
July 20, 2021
Nails the depiction of the early days of online life on a style reminiscent of Stray Bullets.
June 23, 2021
Although every one recognizes how painful, awkward, and sometimes horrible our teen years are, has anyone wondered about how our dysfunctional society exacerbates all of the difficulties?
Man, this is strong stuff, pulling up buried teenage anxiety that I did not think was still there,...
Let's all help our own culture by acknowledging that we have emotions.
Man, this is strong stuff, pulling up buried teenage anxiety that I did not think was still there,...
Let's all help our own culture by acknowledging that we have emotions.
June 20, 2021
Finished this in a few hours - loved it. The artwork, the style, the story, amazing. I love graphic novels, but I haven’t read some for a while - and I was gifted this ARC copy from Harper Collins, so huge thanks to them! This version doesn’t have the two-colour included, but I swear it doesn’t need it, it’s so effective still in the black and white style.
If you want an introduction into Graphic Novels then definitely give this one a go - very emotional storyline with themes of friendship, love, family, and belonging.
If you want an introduction into Graphic Novels then definitely give this one a go - very emotional storyline with themes of friendship, love, family, and belonging.
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