ApocalyptiGirl: An Aria for the End Times – Graphic Novel Review

by | Jun 17, 2015 | Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews, Reviews | 0 comments

ApocalyptiGirlApocalyptiGirl: An Aria for the End Times
Andrew MacLean
Dark Horse Comics
June 16, 2015
Reviewed by Jess Landry

Familiar with the post-apocalyptic world? Good, then you should know the basics, like the crumbling structures overgrown with foliage; the typical war between survivors with conflicting ideals of the new world; and the general lack of food, conversation and cleanliness.

ApocalyptiGirl: An Aria for the End Times is all those things we know and love about the end of days, plus a little more.

The story follows Aria, a girl on a mission to find an ancient relic on a war-ravaged, post-apocalyptic Earth. Along with her cat Jelly Beans (who splits at the first sign of danger, in normal asshole cat fashion), Aria’s been on the hunt for six years and that time has taken its toll on her mentally and emotionally. Her travels in search of the relic take her in and around ruined cities all while avoiding the dangers of warring tribes, the elements and other threats that come along when civilization has gone kaput.

Author and illustrator Andrew MacLean has created a character that’s an honest portrait of a girl who’s pretty much alone on an entire planet (give or take a few hostiles). Aria doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. She’s a fighter. She’s tough as nails but she’s also human. She’s been riding solo without much (if any) human contact. She has one-sided conversations with her cat Jelly Beans, inanimate objects and the voice inside her head. She kills only when she has to and it’s not a choice she takes lightly. It’s refreshing to see an honest female protagonist take on the apocalyptic genre.

MacLean has a simple and effortless illustrating style. The images don’t overcomplicate things; they go hand-in-hand with the story itself. For those who like a little action with their apocalypse, the graphic novel doesn’t skimp on the explosions or blood and guts. There’s plenty of sword slicing and dicing, a Gundam-style (Pacific Rim-style for the movie buffs) fight scene, badass gadgets and guns. Oh yes, lots of guns.

The page count is the only negative here: ninety-seven pages isn’t enough to tell the whole story. It’s abundantly clear there’s plenty more in store for Aria, so fingers crossed this is only the beginning of her adventures through the universe with Jelly Beans by her side.

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *