The world has fallen apart after an earth quake dubbed the Big One destroyed everything with nearly a day's worth of rattling. The realistic relationships between the siblings that are the focus of the story was just right. I do not typically enjoy it when writers create characters that act much older than their actual age and we never see glimpses of their childhood lack of experience. The characters in "Odessa" each acted their own age, despite having to grow up quickly in a post-apocalyptic lands scape and we followed them as they come to realize just how much sacrifice their parent made in order to protect their innocence. This was well played by the writer and aided in the miscommunication trope that continued throughout the narrative. ( I am not a fan of this trope but it served a purpose here).

Odessa is one part thriller, one part light horror, one part slice of life and a whole lot of fun. I have to say that I was not expecting it to lean more on the new adult side as it was labeled as a YA but the action and grit of the story kept me on my toes, The drawing style and use of monochrome color was well done. It has a continuous sense of eeriness through out the chapters. The investment in the character's was worth the time spent on context within the first chapter. There was a mystical element to the story in later chapters (The mist anyone?). I think that fans of horror comics such as the walking dead will find this to be a light fun read.

☆☆.5 | Fast-paced. Predictable. Seen before.

If it weren’t for the insufferable characters, I feel I could have enjoyed this book. The art was truly beautiful; the color pallet was lovely and a few of the panels were truly a pleasure to look at. The pacing was slow in some bits, but it carried its own and wasn’t anything I needed to slug through or catch my breath from.

But as I said, these characters killed it for me. I was constantly annoyed at Virginia and how incredibly bratty she was. She annoyed me to no end, I hated every choice she made, found her overly stubborn and overbearing and rolled my eyes at every other thing that came out of her mouth. Her brothers were supposed to be annoying, I get that, but they were JUST that. Annoying. Irritating. Always causing trouble and making stupid choices. Four Dollars was the only character I didn’t have a horrible opinion of, but that’s not even to say I liked him. He was just… there. As for the other side characters, I felt the same way in the fact that I couldn’t care less.

My other main criticism for this graphic novel was that personally, I didn’t think it brought anything new to the genre. There was no unique twist to this apocalypse, no raised stakes. There were zombies, there were creepy men, there were weird plants. There was nothing too intriguing about the world we saw because although it was drawn wonderfully, it was one we’ve seen a million times before. There were so many openings for societal commentary on familial relationships or gang violence, but nothing was done with those opportunities. War is bad, earthquakes are bad, what’s new?

If you don’t mind unlikable characters or a predictable plot (who knows, maybe you read simply for comfort and just want to read something familiar. This would be a PERFECT dystopian book for you) than you might end up seeing this as the next best thing. Frankly, though, I did not see it as that and I found it sorely lackluster.

I love that this was an OwnVoices work and I do believe that this author is a phenomenal illustrator and has promise as a story teller, I really just wish that in the end I could have found SOMETHING to like about these characters. But, alas, I could not.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Oni Press for gifting me an early review copy of this graphic novel.

3.5 stars. This is definitely an introduction to a wider story. While it's a great setup, you do feel unsatisfied because it feels unfinished as a reader. But I did enjoy it for the most part despite this. I think the dystopian-like world we are introduced to is really interesting. Basically, there was a catastrophic earthquake that split the western US away from the rest of the country, and nothing was ever the same as it was before. Gangs rule California, the worth of currency is based upon whether you're in the north or the south, and San Francisco is nearly completely underwater. I'm really interested in Ginny's journey, and why her mother left their family in the first place. We don't get the answer to that in this book, nor do we even meet her mother. We do however still meet another member of her family, who first appears in disguise, and who begrudgingly helps Ginny and her brothers along in their journey, which I really love. Give me all the grumpy yet compassionate characters. I am definitely interested to see where they go next and who/what they encounter, especially because I do feel unsatisfied. I'm also interested in the relationship between Ginny and Maya, because dear lord, it was mentioned once in passing and then never again?? The art is nice, albeit not really my style and I wish it wasn't completely monotone, but you can't have everything. I will almost definitely be reading the next book to see where Ginny ventures next.

This is the first volume in what will presumably be a series. Its decent enough, though not so much as to entice me back for further installments. The story revolves around a group of siblings look for their mother in a California shattered by earthquakes. The world building isn't so original and the illustration and style not so inventive.

The characters make a fair few decisions which don't seem consistent with their set-up. For one, the father is supposed to come across as mature and loving in respecting his daughter's desire to go in search of her mother, yet it comes across as reckless and irresponsible when we discover the lawless and chaotic world that she must journey through.

There's a particularly egregious instance of deus ex machina in the finale, which left me on a disappointed note.

This is a dystopian graphic novel about 3 kids who leaves their home and go find their mom in the this destruid and dangerous world. The art it's so simple and so beautiful

I really enjoy this story and i can wait to continue reading it.

It’s a shame Odessa wasn’t all that I’d hoped. Hearing that this was a post apocalyptic ownvoices novel featuring vietnamese main characters really peaked my interest.

In a world ravaged by the aftermath of massive earthquakes and societal divide, the Crane family thought they’d been through the worst. Then their mother left without explanation.
It’s eight years later, and Virginia Crane has grown accustomed to caring for her father and younger brothers. When she receives a birthday gift from her mother, Virginia and her brothers set out on a journey to find their mom.

While the art style didn’t play into my personal tastes, I will admit that it fits the post apocalyptic theme well. The characters were drawn using bizarre and played up features, which wasn’t for me, though the black and white drawings accented by pink were nice.

I found it really difficult to connect with anyone in this graphic novel. Virginia and her brothers are the protagonists, yet they undergo very little character development by the end. The supporting cast didn’t serve much purpose except for plot convenience, and the antagonists’ motives weren’t very believable.

By the halfway mark, I’d lost virtually all interest in this story. There were too many coincidences for my liking, and a lot of events happened simply out of convenience. While there are others who may enjoy this story, it really wasn’t for me.

First, I would like to thank the publisher for granting my request on @Netgalley. For the first few pages of the book, I was a little bit confused about the story as I didn’t understand the transitions and who was who at first. Then, it got better and I got into the story. It was quite a nice read but not an extraordinary one either. I’m a bit sad with didn’t get into the Maya/Ginny relationship at all but I hope to see more of it in the next book. Apart from that the plot was full of actions and emotions, especially when this apocalyptic seems so dangerous and full of bad guys. I didn’t get emotionally attached to the characters but I did find them brave and courageous. Concerning the art, I liked the colours (black, white and pink) which I think is better than black and white. I enjoyed the drawings but didn’t love them as this is not really my style. It doesn’t look cute or anything. It is quite a long graphic novel (300 pages) and I believe it could have been shorter, especially since it is not a standalone as I initially thought.

Overall, the story is not extraordinary and a bit complex but the subject of children going through everything to find their mum is heart-warming.

I really enjoyed the story of this graphic novel and found it really intriguing and always made me want to continue reading. I was expecting to absolutely love the art style but unfortunately it wasn't for me and did make the experience a little less enjoyable. I love the pink tones but the style of characters just didn't feel like it fit with the story for me. I also found the speech a little stunted and unnatural which also made the reading experience feel like a bit of a chore.

Thank you Netgalley for approving me for this arc I had enjoyed reading this graphic novel. novel so it's a bit different than the fantasy reads I'm used to. The art really went well with the story I loved the details that went into creating this world and characters. Their were cute moments between the characters especially when they argued because it reminded me how my sisters and I are with each other. It did feel a bit slow at times and it really didn't feel like the characters changed much by the end but I'm really interested in what is next for Ginny and her siblings in the next book so I'll definitely be wanting the sequel.

After the earthquake that tore apart western United States, Ginny and her family are doing their best to survive. When a mysterious package arrives from her long-lost mother, Ginny sets out on a harrowing adventure to reunite her family. Unfortunately, in this dangerous new world, she's doesn't even know where she's going and she'll need a lot of help. A colorful cast of characters including Ginny's funny and clever younger brothers, a pre-zombie passerby, an unexpected relative, and a super lesbian offer help along the way, but through it all, Ginny can't help but wonder if she's doing the right thing. Although decisions always have consequences, the stakes are high in this world full of monsters, villains and motorcycle gangs.
As far as adventure stories go, I was pleasantly surprised by Odessa. Although the plot is pretty cyclical, it reflects a real understanding of choice and consequence as well as regret when things don't go as planned. Each character is distinct, both in appearance and mannerism, making this fairly easy to read. It borders on hopeless at times, but I have faith that throughout the story the characters will find something of value, even if it isn't what they were originally looking for. I am hopeful that the story will continue to be interesting and a little scary.
Most of my students are a bit too young for this particular novel. It does contain sequences of violence and brutality along with swearing and alcohol use. It has appeal for middle to upper grades, though and isn't too overdone to be enjoyed by adults as well.

Ginny lives on the north side of The Line with her dad and two brothers, Wes and Harry. On Ginny's birthday, a strange package arrives at her doorstep. Normally, it wouldn't be a huge surprise, but the package is from her estranged mom. Feeling like that chapter of her life has not come to a close, Ginny embarks on a journey to find her mother in the war-torn, disease-ridden, and harsh world since the "world ended."

I loved this book. I am typically not a fan of YA and graphic novels lumped together, but wow. This book did not disappoint. I will be trying to find the second book in this series as soon as I can. Hill has a talent for creating the scene, and transferring emotions from the page into the reader's heart and mind. 5/5, would highly recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me an ARC of this! Unfortunately, this graphic novel was just not for me. I appreciated the art for its sharpness and bold style, which fit the story quite well. Where this fell flat for me was in the sibling relationships. I reeeealy love a wholesome sibling bond, but they were always getting on each other’s nerves, which also got on my nerves. And this book was looong. A lot could have been condensed to cut the drag.

Odessa is an interesting post-apocalyptic tale; this is just the first installment and the story is far from complete. It is not the most original version of this kind of adventure; the predictability started to get to me because I so frequently thought, "yep, called it". However, the standard issue journey obstacles ultimately didn't prevent me from connecting with the characters or enjoying the book. I'll be keeping my out for the sequel(s) to be sure.

Beautiful art style and a very moving story about a Vietnamese-American girl trying to find her mother after an earthquake changed their lives forever.

Thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Odessa really grabbed me and pulled me into the story of 3 siblings trying to find their mother in a post-apocalyptic world.

The art is gorgeous, and I really loved the characters and found myself constantly wanting to know what was gonna happen next.

Whilst the story is slightly stereotypical in places, I can't wait to see the next instalment of Odessa.

Odessa is in many ways a modernized version of the Odyssey. Set eight years after an earthquake destroyed the western half of the United States, the plot focuses on 17 year old Ginny, who has lived with her father and two younger brothers in Oregon since The Big one changed everything. When Ginny receives a letter and a necklace for her birthday, though, signed from her mother, she leaves the family she’s known best behind in search of the parent she lost years before.

Unfortunately, while the illustrations are striking, the writing feels congested. There’s simply too much going on, especially for the first book in a series. For example, although a post-apocalyptic odyssey necessarily provides challenge, a violent gang war between the Wing Kong in the North and the Gogu in the South is meant to drive much of the conflict in the novel.

In this 300+ page book, I can imagine leaving out 100+ pages and not missing much. While I’ll still be looking forward to Odessa’s sequel, I won’t be grinding my teeth at night worrying about Ginny and her brothers.

Loved, loved, loved this story! The panels draw you into this setting as you follow these characters through a dystopian world. I could not put this down and cannot wait until the next installment! This will leave you highly satisfied.

Faults and Aftershocks: A Review of Odessa
Written and illustrated by Jonathan Hill
Published by Oni Press
Available November 10, 2020
Ages 13+

Eight years ago, Vietnamese-American Ginny Crane’s earth shattered—and not just because an earthquake ripped the West Coast apart, tearing apart the land and communities. No, Ginny’s world was shaken when her mother left her family, taking off without a word. In the years that followed, Ginny and her dad took care of her two kid brothers, acclimating to a new way of life. Now, on her eighteenth birthday, Ginny receives a package from her mother, Odessa. Ginny knows this is her chance to find her mother. Ginny takes off in the middle of the night, leaving her family behind. Her brothers, Harry and Wes, however, tag along on her journey; they miss their mother, too. As the trio bushwhack their way through a post-apocalyptic America, they struggle with who they can and cannot trust. They encounter rival gangs—all bent on keeping their territory intact—and join forces with an enigmatic man called Four Dollars. Jonathan Hill’s images in Odessa are salmon-saturated and filled with exquisite detail. The landscape is decimated, and the population is weary. Hill’s drawings capture the fatigue and manic energy that is integral to their survival. The Crane family is full of love and secrets: the mysterious Four Dollars is actually the siblings’ long-lost Uncle Hank. Uncle Hank, in turn, is deeply connected to the warring factions that plague the Crane’s journey. As family mysteries are unearthed, the Cranes encounter violence and death. Hill ends the story with a new beginning: the remaining Cranes must set forth into Middle America to find the truth. This new #OwnVoices graphic novel from Oni Press is a taut and exciting exploration of perseverance, truth, and unbreakable bonds.

I was under the impression this was a stand alone but unfortunately it's not, which is a shame as it would have made a nice tight 12 issues. The post earthquake apocalypse concept worked well, the addition of magical plants and creatures wasn't necessary. I found the sudden appearance of the brothers and then the friend a bit too convenient, the tone changed when they became a gang, not to mention the implausible uncle plot. Art wise I liked it, clear and easy to follow if a little juvenile in the faces (like a 5-8 book, it was a little Cartoon Network). Another comic in black, white and pink which I like. Overall not as compelling as the concept and the plot was let down by the use of tropes.

Odessa by Jonathon Hill

I don't even know where to start! I think I went in with pretty low expectations - I just thought I'd read this for a bit of fun, but it's seriously professional. The rough drawings and pink colour scheme are beautiful and I loved it when - every now and then - images would appear without words and I could just enjoy the fantastic art uninterrupted.

That's not to say that the words weren't also brilliant.. It had the impact of a action show and I found myself comparing this to The Walking Dead quite a lot. The difference is that we are following a group of kids looking for their mother in a land completely destroyed by an earthquake.

There were so many side plots and they ran in to so many dramas that it ended up feeling like Homer's Odyssey - hence the title Odessa, I imagine.

I can't wait to see the physical copy of this book and to read the next instalment.

Big thumbs up from me!