At first I was a little lukewarm on the art in this comic, but as I started to read this I started to like it better. I think it just looks a little different from what I am used to reading in terms of comics. I think part of my issue was that this originated as a webcomic, and I think webcomic art just has a different feel to it. I don't think it's bad at all, I think maybe it just wasn't what I was expecting at first, but I grew to love it.

I think what really won me over in this comic was the story. I was so interested in what was going on in this story, and there was a lot going on. The main plot is that Anna has discovered that her twin sister has been murdered and she goes around trying to figure out who in the circus they work for has done it. Anna is a pragmatic and believes in science and reason, which is funny because she is the circus' fortune teller. It's clear she feels bad scamming people, but a girl's got to eat! I really liked that she tried to see reason and find out the clues, even though she is convinced someone in particular has killed her sister. There's also a subplot with the law man of the town having put the leader of their circus in jail for no real reason, and the rest of the circus tries to make more money to collect for his bail. That gets more interesting later in the book, but at first it seemed so out of place.

I couldn't stop reading this and going to the next page, because I just wanted to find out what was going to happen. Anna starts seeing her sister's ghost after her death, and I liked this part because she is 100% convinced that she is going crazy. Or is she? We get some snippets of the sisters lives before the circus, they ran away from an orphanage and I think it's alluded that bad stuff happened there. We don't know what, so I am hoping there is another issue to show us more about this. I'm really interested in what they ran away from, and what Kat has done that other people in the circus think she got what she deserved.

My one complaint about this comic is that it ends on a massive cliffhanger! Like, I kept trying to click over to the next page because I didn't think it was over yet. I thought there was a glitch in the digital file I had, but then I saw other reviews mention the cliffhanger. I am hoping there is going to be another installment because the ending was so crazy and we still don't know who killed Kat. I NEED to know!

I think this is another instance of the author & illustrator being the same person, and I like it. I don't think I've read anything by Gedris before, but I am interested in her work going forward.

*I received a free egalley copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
Happy Reads Everyone!

I found Spectacle to be one of the more unique indie graphic novels that I've read recently. The artwork is as quirky as the subject material, and I really appreciated the diverse cast of characters- especially the dashing Jebediah! I was sucked into the murder mystery immediately, though I did feel some parts are glossed over a little too fast or left a bit too vague. I do understand the author wants to keep us guessing, though. The cliffhanger was for sure a shocker, I think I'd love to see where this circus goes next.

Dammit Netgalley! How could you do this to me??? I received an ARC of this and was really enjoying the story when it abruptly stops at page 115 on a total cliffhanger! where are the last 15 pages???? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?

Kat and Anna are twins, but when Kat is murdered Anna's world is turned upside down. Before, she never believed in the supernatural, but with her sister still around she's left to question her beliefs and wonder who murdered her sister.

This gripped me pretty early. I was eager to see this mystery be solved, but then it continued to expand into something even more. Not only are you trying to figure out how murdered Kat, but there are secrets at play that loom over the story and make you wonder exactly what was going on with some of these characters.

The cliffhanger at the end has left me hungry for more!! I want to know more about this group of people and I definitely want more information on that romance. I will be eagerly looking for the next volume.

Such a fun book and really hard to put down - I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume. The graphics are whimsical and well-detailed, the panel layouts keep the action moving forward and the text is seamlessly integrated and well-chosen; we get believable and interesting dialogue, backstories and necessary info all without any information dumps. Both the characters and plot are developed carefully, and really, what more could you want? A strong protagonist of color - a fake psychic turned detective who has built a steampunk computer to predict the future - a dysfunctional circus family, ghosts, murder. What more could anyone want? Readers who like Nimona or Neil Gaiman will probably enjoy. Highly recommended for middle school and high school (and adults).

Did not finish. This is not what I thought it would be.

I really REALLY enjoyed this graphic novel. It was fresh and the artwork was amazing. I could hear Anna and Kat's voices in my head. The mystery aspect of it kept me going and I went through the whole thing in an hour! Can't wait for volume II.

I'm in two minds about this one. On one hand, it was the most bizarre and wonderful adventure in a creepy circus-setting with everything from murder to people being super sketchy and evasive all the way to ghosts and general spookiness. And the art!! I could gush about the art for days. There's something subtle about it that I just adore.

On the other hand, the entire experience was ruined a bit by the abrupt ending. This could be an issue with the galley, but having read other reviews saying the same, I doubt it. I understand ending something on a cliffhanger, but it just feels off. Doesn't mean I'm not gonna put on my Waiting Hat and sit here all impatient for the summer of 2019 to come around so I can find out what this cliffhanger is all about, though. Because I am. Most definitely.

Loved Yu+Me from this author so I'm not surprised I enjoyed Spectacle.
Keeping my eyes peeled for the next one!

This is a fun murder mystery story that takes place in a circus. Anna works as a tarot card reader, but she has more of a scientific mind. After her twin sister is mysteriously murdered, she appears to her as a ghost. Anna doesn't know if she is going crazy herself or if everything she thought she knew was wrong.



I like the dynamic between science and the supernatural that is presented in this story. The circus members are all so unique and interesting, even right off the bat. This first volume does not end with any big reveals, so I will be looking for the second volume to see more of these characters and to see the mystery hopefully solved.



I give this graphic novel a 4.5/5. I really enjoyed the characters and story, but I was disappointed in the ending of this first volume. I want volume two now!

What a strange and wonderful book. Excited to read more and find out what happens! The artwork is also pretty cool and works will for the setting of the book.

Issa cliffhanger y'all!

This story takes us inside a traveling circus, 'freaks' and all, where we discover that someone in the outfit is a MURDERER! But it doesn't stop there. The pretend psychic discovers that she may actually be able to see the dead after all? It's a lot. A lot is happening here.

Anna, our main character and tarot card reader turned sleuth/ghost whisperer, is devastated at the loss of her twin sister and determined to find justice. I wish we got to spend more time on the actual mystery, as an unfortunate event sidetracks Anna from her mission.

If you don't mind a short graphic novel, with beautiful art, and a story that is left unfinished, then pick this one up. I'd recommend getting Volume 2 at the same time though (to avoid the frustration).

The synopsis had me sold immediately; a murder mystery set in a circus. Also the illustration style is absolutely gorgeous and the kind of artwork I prefer in graphic novels, bright colours and bold lines.

I really like the imagery and visuals throughout this graphic novel and I think that the author struck a great balance between the illustrations and the amount of text on each page. The story flows brilliantly from panel to panel and the personality of each character is evident both in their speech and their expression as it should be.

The story-telling itself is probably the weakest aspect of this book but I think this could be improved in further volumes. The main issue for me was the pacing; it started off really slow with a bit of a rush at the end. However despite this, the plot was interesting and engaging and I would definitely like to see where this series goes.

The cover art and the circus theme are what initially made me want to read this. However, that is only a small part of what makes this such a fantastic read. It is beautifully drawn and all of the main characters that you interact with are given such vivid backstories. Because of the medium that this is being told in, you actually get to see those backstories in a flashback sequence. The main story we are following involvces the murder of Anna’s, the main characters, twin sister. There are plenty of suspects and I was just as curious to follow the clues to find out who the murderer. Unfortuantely, this did end on a cliffhanger without knowing who the murderer is yet. I plan to continue reading the next installment when it’s available to find out. My only complaint is that sometimes the font style and size made the words hard to read.

*I received an eARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Unable to review. When I first downloaded it, the files were fine. I went out of town, and when I came back, none of my netgalley downloads were visible in ADR.

Graphic Novels are becoming more and more of a fave for me. I hardly ever read them before, but I have SUCH a thing for art, and combining that with my love of stories is perfect. I piked this one up on a whim, PURELY because of that gorgeous cover art. It promised me an intriguing murder mystery, mixed with the wonder of the circus and supernatural shenanigans. How could I resist? I'll admit, I wasn't overly convinced my the humour and 'bluntness' of Anna's character to begin with. But she, and this story, really grew on me.

There's no denying that the visuals are stunning. Especially the random character spreads that appear throughout. Gedris is most certainly talented! Whatsmore, the intrigue and mystery surrounding her characters, and the way that she drew them, was awesome. I found them all memorable, my favourites (for some reason) being the slightly vain, definitely seedy, but somehow loveable ringmaster Jebediah Tetanus (THAT. NAME) and the overly-excited, shrill snake charmer, Flora. The way the characters interacted with each other was a lot of fun and Gedris did a great job of revealing their motives and secrets.

The cliffhanger at the end was pretty brutal. That being said, it's made me really excited to read the next one! This is definitely a series I'm invested in. It took a while for the pace to build, and while the Deputy Sheriff story-line was a strange detour, it's primary role was to reveal more of Anna's newfound powers. I think it did so pretty successfully. I'm interested in the relationship between Anna and Kat too. I definitely want to see where it goes!

There are good mash-ups, and there are great ones, ones that make you wonder “how terrific! why haven’t I seen this combination before?” Megan Rose Gedris’s Spectacle is great, combining life in the circus, steampunk touches, a ghost sibling, and a murder mystery.

Anna is the practical twin, creator of a steam-driven conjecture engine that can predict future events using statistics to 78% accuracy. Ironic, then, that she tells fortunes, knowing that they’re trickery. Kat is the twin liked by everyone, a flirt and socializer (although mean to her sister) and a knife thrower. Ironic, then, that Anna finds her stabbed to death.

Kat hasn’t moved on, though, haunting Anna until they can figure out who murdered her. Even with all of this juicy content — it really feels like the reader is traveling with the circus, with plenty of detail to establish the lifestyle in packed layouts — the art is my favorite part of the book, full of sun-drenched color and unusual-looking characters. In particular, Anna’s cloud of hair keeps the reader’s eye on her, and I love her vaguely military coat, symbolizing her unofficial authority as investigator. I wish I could help her; she’s a distinct personality and a sympathetic one.

Kat’s keeping something from her sister, and as Anna investigates, aided by Flora the snake charmer, we learn more about the secrets under the big top (including church-going clowns and a jailed ringmaster). Every chapter has something new and unusual in it.

WHAT?!? This ARC just suddenly ended abruptly! In the middle of a crazy scene!

Was that the end of this volume? Was it a cliffhanger? Or did they just not put the whole thing in the digital edition?

It was an interesting story. The suspense built, and I really wanted to find out what happened. Whodunnit? What’s the deal with the sheriff (or at least what will happen)? What’s the deal with the headaches?

The art really made it feel like an independent comic - but that’s ok. I think it fit with the story.

It’s recommended - as long as there’s some sort of conclusion - even if it’s “to be continued”.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for a copy in return for an honest review.</i>

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2329968558

*received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

How dare you leave me with the unsolved murder, a lesbian romance and an awesome diverse cast? think i'm gonna buy the rest of the series? (i am)
I loved this from beginning to end. circus, lady detective turned psychic. LESBIANS. count me in all the way.

A circus is always a good setting for glamour and intrigue. More than any other show-business career, it has the reputation of wild and dangerous glamour, a group of misfits and outcasts from society living together in close contact and in competition for attention with one another. As much as they resort to more colourful and glittering costumes and pile on the make-up to enhance the illusion, there's always a sense of disillusionment underneath, a sense that they still regard themselves as freak show exhibits, relying on their otherness to make a living. It would not be surprising then that occasionally professional competitiveness, personal weaknesses and romantic inclinations come together to spark off tensions, and even murder.

Megan Rose Gedris's graphic novel series Spectacle has all of the colourful drama and seedy glamour that you associate with circus life, but she also has a few other more unusual elements to throw into the mix that promises to keep the series entertaining and surprising. There is a timeless quality to the tradition of circus life, so it's not until the wagon train arrives at their first destination that you realise that Spectacle is set in the late 1800s in the American west. So there's the Western side of things to add to an already colourful setting, but Gedris also introduces a supernatural element to the story that really shakes things up and gives Spectacle an entertaining and unusual feature of its own.

It doesn't take long either to establish the nature of the drama that occurs within the Samson Brothers Travelling Circus. It centres around two sisters, Kat, who is a knife thrower, and Anna, who is a fortune teller who goes under the circus name of Madame Strange. Anna feels a bit of a fraud compared to her talented sister but she has been working on a device she calls a conjecture engine that can statistically predict events with what Anna claims is 78% accuracy. For all Anna's claims to be able to see into the future however Anna fails to see the death of her sister who is brutally murdered with her own throwing knives.

As tense as relations can get in a circus, there has never been anything like a murder in the Samson Brothers Circus and owner Jebadiah Tetanus wants to keep it under wraps, passing Kat's death off as an accident while Anna searches for the murderer. While Anna's fortune-telling doesn't usually entail any kind of mystical powers, she discovers now that she suddenly has the ability to see the ghost of her sister. The ghost Kat is unable to help her shed any light on the mystery of the identity of her killer however, and residing inside her body, she may prove to be more of a hindrance than a help. Anna however finds that it's not just her sister's ghost she can see, and she seems to have gained a sixth sense awareness. All of which suggests that there's a sinister supernatural element to her sister's death.

Written and drawn by Megan Rose Gedris, the painted artwork of Spectacle takes on a free-flowing life of its own that isn't constrained by rigid panel grids. It may look boldly cartoony, with thick lines and bold colours, but the painted artwork has a lovely flow of its own and has a surprising amount of character and feel for situation. It helps that the circus is filled with the usual colourful cast of characters - and in this period even has a freak show element with Siamese twins, a bearded lady and a mermaid - but Gedris enriches each of them with strong features and behaviours that bring them to life and lift them off the page. With a story that has plenty of other elements to expand upon, including demons and supernatural experiences that haunt Anna's nightmares, Spectacle, Book One sets up the story well, and promises to have a lot more yet to offer.