My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Oni Press for an advance copy of this graphic novel set on a far distant planet, featuring a nameless protagonist who hides his face, his troubles, and the people he comes to protect.

All of us have things we don't like about ourselves. Maybe to paraphrase Frank Zappa, One of our legs is shorter than the other, and both of our feets are too long. This are obvious, or at least obvious to ourselves. Sometimes though the things that we need to change aren't physical they are emotional, maybe a rememberance of things past. Maybe one hopes that changing something will keep the people they love safe, an argument no one can shake a person of, no matter how odd it sounds. Maybe it is best to hide, best to not be seen, or to help people. No matter how lonely it makes one, or how many people might get hurt. Faceless and the Family by Matt Lesniewski is a science fiction graphic novel, set on an anatomical world full of wonders, dangers, guilt, bad guys, and a hero starting to find himself.

Our story takes place on the Hand Planet, a planet, shaped like a hand, with cities full of people living in the fingers, the palm and near the wrists being wastelands, where life is hard, and people and gangs can be harder. Faceless is a man who was once a member of the gangs, until he fled, leaving his family and past behind, hiding under a big pipe that covers his face, trying to keep the people he loves safe. Scavenging for food Faceless comes across a giant, who is carrying an immense load of stuff. The giant wanted to see the Hand, but didn't want to leave anything behind, so he carries everything with him. The two men are attacked by a giant wart, inside of which is monsters. Taking shelter the two become friendly and vow to travel together. Soon they are joined by a young woman fleeing a cult. And a man who has lost his wife, but has found something more. Soon there is trouble and Faceless must decide the price of anonymity for his old family, and the family he has recently gained.

An odd story that is far more about guilt and responsibility than it is a free ranging science fiction story. Each of these characters are damaged in unique ways, and all carry the burdens of responsibility. Some free themselves, some move on. The world is interesting, I don't remember ever reading about a hand world, and I liked what was happening. This comic reminds me very much of the Mister X comics by Dean Motter. There is a similarity to style, to art and the way both creators tell their story. The art is really good. A mix of European and a style all one's own. A richness to backgrounds, the characters and the environment. Matt Lesniewski style works really well here, and the art really moves the story along.

For people who enjoy weird stories in their graphic novels. This is not a tale for everyone, though the art might bring a lot of people in. Fans of Mœbius' Airtight Garage stories as well as like I said Dean Motter's Mister X will definitely like this story.

I loved the use of visual elements and science fiction commentary in this book. It was a unique read and would be a wonderful way to expand readers’ horizons about what graphic novels can do. A very enjoyable book, indeed, for a range of readers.

Thanks to Oni Press and Netgalley for letting me read this. Truth is, it's very,very hard to review this - it's completely bonkers and seems to make no sense in places but Matt Lesniewski's art is stunning and worth just spending time staring at it for a long time to let it sink in. I enjoyed it generally even if I prefer my comics to be a little more linear in story. Good overall, though.

I loved the graphic style of this book, it had a real Gilbert Shelton feel to it though it was without colour.

The panels were always full and busy, sometimes too busy as the storyline was a touch confusing and rambling and I occasionally got lost with what was going on.

Loved the concept of the planet but just felt there wasn't enough of a cohesive story to carry this concept far and it felt wasted.

The writing and dialogue in this book reminded me of Moebius' Edena in that straddles adventure science fiction and a more allegorical type of storytelling. This lets the story be both a fun road trip a weird scifi world and a moving depiction of how we deal with the burdens we each carry. In the art the thing that stood out to me was the lettering. Every sound effect was incorporated into the action of the panel. The composition of each panel reminded me Picasso's Guernica in the way that shapes bend and melt around each other and yet, the action being conveyed was always still readable. I will definitely be revisiting this story as I'm sure there is more to uncover.

Netgalley Review

Star Rating; ★☆☆☆☆

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I selected this book. Then I read it. I still have no idea what I got into.

The art was neat, and it seems like It has some interesting possibilities for storyline, but It was a
jumble of mess to me. Normally, train wrecks draw your attention. They bring all the rubbernecks to gawk and be interested, but this one was a train wreck that I didn't feel like watching. I hope you like this more than I did, but you'll have to read it and decide for yourself.

This is certainly a unique story. The world-building, the characters, and the art style are pretty unique in their own right. But unfortunately, I found myself not really caring for the plot. It moves very quickly and is constantly introducing new characters. You only get one monologue of them explaining why they're wandering and why their lives are so sad before the plot moves on. It doesn't really let you connect to the characters, they just feel sort of empty. I feel like if the story was longer, they could have fleshed these characters out some and really made them something interesting. The overall story felt a bit circular. In the end, I was left feeling "Why did I bother to read this then?". The art style as I've already said, is very unique. But it translates extremely poorly into a comic style. I could barely figure out what was happening in scenes because of how over-stylized everything was. The action scenes were a muddy mess, and the page flow was non-existent. I am not saying the art style is bad, it just doesn't work for a comic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Faceless and the Family is an idiosyncratic graphic novel about a guy heading to a city that's a finger on a floating hand to get some surgery. It's also a story about found family and the importance of communication. And it's also about avoiding the monsters that live inside giant warts.

So, yeah, it's a very unique story. But more than that, it boasts some astoundingly interesting art. Matt Lesniewki's art is a wonderful hybrid of underground comix art, European illustration, and comic book wackiness. It's a joy to behold and carries the book to heights it might not have achieved otherwise.

I'd recommend this to anyone who really digs comic book art and who likes odd stories.