This is a beautifully drawn and thoroughly enjoyable read.

The story is about the time between, and the interaction between a young girl and the envoy sent to collect her. The interaction changes both parties and the reader is drawn in to the drama unfolding between them.

I found its philosophy engaging and interesting, and the characters fascinating and multi-faceted.
It has the slight unreality of a dream, in parts, which itself adds to the story in a positive way, and because of that, deep feelings are dealt with in a non-threatening way.

I can't say much more without it being a spoiler, but the book is for anyone interested in dreamtime, philosophy, the concept of death as an emissary or character, karma, drama, or anyone interested in thoughts and feelings.

Simply brilliant. This deserves to be a great success. I hope more is on the way from these authors.

I gave this a three out of five stars. I really like the art style of this one and the story. TW: for suicide and death

Although I did like the art style and the storyline of this graphic novel, it did take me a very long way through the story to figure out what was going on. However when it did click with me about Karma and reincarnation, it did make me stop and think about what ive done in my life that could be seen as 'wrong'. I would like to see how this graphic novel story goes and how the people above deal with the main character. The art style is very unique and makes it stand out. However it is also very explicit.

3.5

I really liked the drawing, the selection of colors and the landscapes. History is a very original idea, but being the first part and in this format, one is left with too many doubts.

What is really bad is the typography, it makes the reading complex and some words are not even understood.

Still worth the wait for the second part.

A polite warning: this review contains some discussion about suicide.

Is there life after death? Who knows, but according to Karmen there will at least be a guide, a sort of accountant who talks to you while the higher ups decide on your further fate, which seems reincarnation.

Karmen is such a guide, but she differs from her colleagues (and there are colleagues) in that she is actually interested in the dead people she talks to.

A young woman, Catalina, slits her wrists while sitting in the bath. She dies, although she hasn't realised that yet. Karmen appears to guide her, and tells Catalina that she can now fly, and doesn't need to put on clothes because no one can see her anyway. Catalina goes along with this because she thinks she's dreaming.

It becomes clear that Karmen is unusual, although I'll have to wait for further volumes how that plays out.

It's a beautifully drawn book, one of the best I've seen in a long while. At first I was skeptical about one of the women characters being constantly naked, it could be typical objectifying European trash, but it keeps decidedly on the right side of that line. If it is typically European, it's because it sees nakedness as nothing special. (That said, I will note that there is another just dead person, who is a man and decidedly not naked. He dies under clothed circumstances, but still.)

The way the book handles death and suicide, is quite thoughtful (maybe a bit too judgemental regarding suicide).

A solid recommendation from me.

Karmen was a comic about death and suicide which had a different feel to it than I thought going in.

While I felt that the beginning of the comic couldn't fold my attention, the characters didn't grab me, and the world was bland, somehow I still got to the end of reading this and loved it. It felt so impactful. Somehow it didn't answer any questions or tell you how to think yet it made to think as a reader, not only about the lives of the people in the comic but also your own.

I was thrown for a loop a few times in the story, and all of them were pleasant surprises. Not to say that all of them were "good" or I was glad that all of them happened, but they were surprises that felt unique and original, and fit this story so well.

There are lots of trigger warnings to go along with this book. The main ones being suicide, self harm, death, car accidents, and abandonment. I also don't recommend this comic to anyone who objectifies or cannot handle the female body, as one of the characters is naked through most of the work, in a completely non-sexual way.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me this in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐ out of 5
Keywords & trigger warning: graphic novel, nudity, mental health issue, explicit depiction of suicide

"Do I really want to stop living? Will my parents cry if I'm no longer in this world?"

Bless you Netgalley for giving me an arc of this comic, it is really beautiful. Karmen Volume 1 tells a story about Catalina, a college student who decided to kill herself because of heart break and met a grim reaper named Karmen. It is a journey of how the self-absorbed Catalina learn to open her eyes and see the consequences of her action, although when she finally understood, it is too late already.

I love everything in this book, from the art to the messages it conveys. The art is pretty. It is detailed and the art style is unique. It accentuate the "odd" feelings in some part of the book. The narration is deep and meaningful. To those who might had any thoughts to stop living, the messages resonate well. It is sensitive and deeply personal. Death is irreversible and we learn it the hard way when we follow Catalina's journey.

>3.5/5<

[ESP]
Angustia, desesperación y soledad se mezclan en una obra impactante y humana. Karmen cuenta la historia de Cata, una joven que se suicida y debe enfrentarse a su decisión, bajo el cuidado de una suerte de ángel bastante peculiar y sarcástica.
Este primer volúmen finaliza con el caso de Cata y asumo que la continuación tratará otro, es una historia que se lee en unas horas y te atrapa bastante.
>>Advertencia: Desnudez, suicidio, menciones de muerte, muertes gráficas, salud mental.

*Pronto reseña completa en el blog

[ENG]
Angst, loneliness and depression are the center of Karmen.
This is the story of Cata, a young woman who takes her own life, and she has to come to terms with all her regrets in life. All of this in company of Karmen, a very sarcastic and peculiar angel.
TW/ Suicide, grapich images of suicide and death, mental health issues, depression, nudity, blood.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I loved the art style. the colors and the detailing in the drawings are so, so good. the story itself is also amazing, not only it has a message, but the plot is actually funny at times. i loved Karmen's personality and sarcasm.

I never thought a graphic novel could be the medium to touch on such a sensitive topic with irreverence and humor. Karmen doesn't take itself too seriously, but it seriously takes on a delicate issue.

What a story.

Catalina a.k.a Cata and Xisco have been life long friends, from school mates through young adulthood. Cata lives in Palma with her roommate and anxiously frets about her relationship with Xisco, calling him frequently. Until, one day in an impromptu move driven by her sadness over Xisco, Cata slashes her wrists in the bathtub. This is where the titular character Karmen shows up. Karmen is an angel of death from High. She's decked out in a skeleton unitard and expresses empathy for her cases, including Cata. She guides Cata, forevermore naked, out to the streets to explore the city. Karmen cracks jokes and encourages Cata to explore her memories and feelings.

This story was oddly beautiful, quirky, and darkly clever. A strange combination but it totally works. The overall feel was dreamlike. The artwork was lovely with lots of pastels and detailed scenery and cityscapes. I am eagerly anticipating volume 2.

What to listen to while reading (or taking a break)
Little Bit by Lykke Li
Somebody Else by The 1975
I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt
Hurt by Johnny Cash
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space by Spiritualized

"Sometimes a dream remains clear and leaves us with a sensation of reality for a few brief seconds after we awake, long enough for the disoriented mind to adapt to its new state of awareness. Then, quickly, the memory of it becomes increasingly indistinct and fragmented, until we have completely forgotten it."
Karmen
Guillem March

First, look at the cover! Its GOREgous! The illustrating inside is equally as beautiful. Karmen comes from High where he assignment is to take your soul and navigate it until it is reincarnated. How cool is that! There are a bunch of rules and she, of course, pushes just about every boundary.

The story was binge worthy. The art, top shelf. I definitely recommend for guys, gals, dudes, witches, and those that especially love karma in action.


Thank you to Guillem March, Europe Comics, and NetGalley for gifting me an audio copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Karmen Vol. 1 is the English adaptation of a French Dargaud comic by author Guillem March.

This is a story of a girl’s suicide, of pain, resentment and regrets, and what comes after. Which isn’t what you would have guessed.

No time lost to bring the main character to the point of killing herself (for a man that wasn’t worth it, but I won’t judge). She then gets stuck in ghost form and meets death, or an angel of death. A crazy hysterical and funny one (for us, not for the recently departed). She’s not Neil Gaiman’s Death, for sure (more like Delirium). She doesn’t seem to want to bring her to the light right away, either, but rather letting her have fun in her ghost form. She’s part of some sort of bureaucracy, and seems to viewed as a rebel by her superior. I Wonder why...

Nice use of color palette. Blank backgrounds to focus on characters. Sound effects in line with the crazy character. Harley Quinn would be jealous. Dynamic use of panels, with the main character using lucid dream training to fly, and crossing panels while doing so. She visits beautifully detailed sceneries. The story is more often told with pictures than words. Surreal atmosphere fitting to the story.

No extras in the backpages there. We europeans don’t that much. But, it’s worth it. Can’t wait for the next volume.

Thanks to Europe Comics and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

The art. Beautiful. The exploration of suicide. Beautiful. The portrayal of death. Beautiful. I really loved this book and the characters within it, it didn't shy away from graphic scenes yet it did so very graciously and respectfully. However, I would say that some could argue that it does victim shame (ever so slightly) but I feel that it is used as a plot device that allows the author to explore grieving and understanding the impact of suicide on others. Nonetheless, a beautiful story about finally letting yourself fly free and be yourself...even if it means flying naked.

I like Guillem March's art a lot, even if the gratuitous nudity is a gift to his critics and added nothing to the narrative, but the story is no great shakes. Spirits wandering around, no real narrative drive, nothing compelling about any of the characters - weak sauce.

TW: Contains graphic images of suicide and death.

Well that was unexpected. I loved the artwork. The colour in particular was stunning.

The story follows Karmen (angel of death/civil servant) and her new case Catalina who is a little self absorbed and at the start not that likable but by the end I was kind of coming around to her.

Karmen is kind of bananas and more than a little obsessed with farts. I liked her though and I liked her work ethic. I found it interesting how her 'department' has become more concerned with numbers and bonuses and not the well-being of the souls they collect. Karmen seemed to want to do more than just the basic job description. I'd like to read more.

TW: self harm, suicide, blood, death. These are depicted in the graphic novel. Proceed with caution.
*note - this graphic novel contains nudity

This was a really unique graphic novel. It dives into life and death as well of the consequences of how we decide to live our lives. It had an interesting take on suicide. I would like to see the next volume dive more into mental health and make things seem less black and white when it comes to suicide. The art style was beautiful. I would definitely be interested in a second volume.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Thanks #Netgalley for hitting me up with this comic :)

I loved Karmen and read it in one sitting.

Karmen V1 was an interesting, and unique take on death, suicide, and loss. Karmen reminded me of some kind of Grim Reaper character, and her personality spilled out of the pages and left me wanting to see more of Karmen.

The comic follows the "afterlife" of Cata, recently deceased, and how she comes to terms with her death. Karmen is involved with this by helping Cata navigate the sense of loss that she [Cata] has left in her wake.

The art is absolutely gorgeous and some of the panels make you feel as though you are part of the world.

I read this in one hour and I absolutely loved this.
This comic addresses death, suicide, and loss in a way that I have never watched, read or seen before. As much as I enjoyed this book, I felt that Karmen was such as preachy character (which is normal because she more of a grim reaper, or a collector of souls, similar to what is in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak) who made Cata both understand the loss that she has created in the world and how shortsighted and selfish she was for taking her own life. Suicide is a very sensitive topic but at the same time a very important one to have, This book makes me think of a book a read recently "HERE AT DAWN" a particular poem "you matter, you are valuable, your life is not only your gift, but it belongs also to others"
you don't just lose your life, you also steal or deprive millions of people from their gift.

ANYWAYS
Here we see a quick montage of Cata's relationship with Xisco and how they got to a point where he was cheating on her with a friend of theirs and she just felt lost in the relationship. The next thing we know is Karmen (a lady with pink hair and a skeleton customer) walking up the stairs and into a bathroom where we saw Cata had slit her wrist and is in a pool of her own blood. Karmen was very funny and made it easier for Cata to accept the new situation or rather plane that she now was in.
They go on a journey around the city and Cata learns to fly and also accepts the situation and how she had contributed to her depression and social anxiety. A particular line that Karmen said that stuck with me was
"Think about it, there are only advantages (i.e. to being dead) you can't tell anyone what is happening to you (being Cata was a ghost), but that's okay because it turns out that no one is worthy of hearing your secrets anyway" This just made me think about people who bottle things up and don't share their worries (I cannot claim that there are certain people who cannot tell other because they have no one around them who is willing to listen, however, there are many helplines that everyone should be aware is available, don't be alone)

While reliving memories and meeting another person who was not necessarily remarkable but was taking life by the horns and giving it all he can. He ends up dying and that was an eye-opening experience for Cata even though it was too late.

"Your own existence only has any meaning when you're part of other people's lives"

I loved this comic so so much. The art style was so realistic and good (I loved the character design of Karmen!). The story line was interesting and poignant and the book dealt with important matters. I was really impressed. I only wished to know a bit more about what lead Cata to what she’d done and on her relationship with her roommate & best friend.