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Far Arden (2009)

by Kevin Cannon(Favorite Author)

3.74 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1603090363 (ISBN13: 9781603090360)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Top Shelf Productions

review 1: Any book that can bring naval bureaucracy, sideshow strongmen, mythical lands, pirates, orphans wearing dead foxes, and a damaged seaman together is sure to be a winner and "Far Arden" absolutely is. Teetering between romantic realism and total lunacy, "Far Arden" has an abundance of what most comics lack: fun!The thing I like most about this book is it's humor. Comedy is a very tough thing to pull off on the page and Cannon makes it look easy. The punchy dialogue, ridiculous asides, and (particularly) the written actions all bring a welcome measure of comic relief to what is actually a pretty melancholic story. In addition, the artwork is sloppily creative (it was born from a series of 24-hour-comics exercises) and perfectly matches Cannon's wild imagination. The ending i... mores a bit of a letdown but, overall, "Far Arden" has such a good time getting there that it really doesn't diminish the enjoyment of reading it.I can't wait until my son is a little older so he can read "Far Arden" (it has a little cursing and nudity; just enough to be naughty but not over-the-top). This is exactly the kind of book I would give to a kid to kindle a lifelong love of comics.
review 2: Fun! A rip-roaring adventure set among the islands of Northern Canada. Cannon's art is simple without being simplistic, and the story walks a delicate line between tongue-in-cheek and serious adventure. Cannon also favors descriptive rather than onmotopaeic sound effects (e.g. "Uncork" rather than "Pop.") Not many comics use this convention. The only other instance I can recall is Matt Howarth's work. It just adds to the charm of this book. Apparently this was originally serialized online, but the book is handsomely produced and worth owning. less

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