Sticks and Stones

Rating:
Summary: didn't really move me
Review: I really wanted to like this book, and I was impressed with the concept of a graphic novel without words. My first thought was that this was a very creative idea. Unfortunately, the plot was simplistic and didn't do much for me. The book's theme about pride and power was superficial and revealed no great insights into human nature. Furthermore, the book reads very quickly and doesn't justify the price. On the positive side, the art was generally good, and the message was certainly noble. It was even politically correct with a nice bit about diversity and tolerance. This would have probably scored more points with me if it had been written as a children's book. There were moments of cleverness and I thought that the Biblical-style flood was an appropriate end. Still, the book could have given us more, and I felt vaguely disappointed after reading it.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent, wordless storytelling.
Review: I was immediately drawn in to this book and couldn't put it down. The black & white artwork is simply stunning (and several sequences are beautifully colored, adding to the meaning and message). The magic here is that everyone, from small children to adults, will enjoy the story and take meaning from it -- it is timeless in its power and truthfulness. This brings to mind great graphic storytelling triumphs such as Lynd Ward's wordless woodcut novel, Gods' Man, and the stark landscapes and touching simplicity of George Herriman's "Krazy Kat" comic strip.