Violet

Not giving this 2 stars because it's bad, I'm giving it 2 stars because it's not a whole story. I DO NOT understand this modern publishing model of Trade Paperbacks collecting pieces of a story arc, just wait until the rest of the issues are out! It's a disservice to the story, pacing, and the readers.

I do genuinely like the set-up here but that's all it is, the set-up to a story! I will be very interested to see how this goes about tackling its gay characters, two of which being suspected murderers, whether or not it ends up having something to say about why gay men turn to violence or (the much preferred) how gay men are framed as deviants and put away for crimes they didn't commit.

Like I said though, not even a complete story arc, just a fragment of a longer narrative. Will be waiting for the eventual Library Edition that actually collects the entire story.

...I really wish this had been a truly trans story as I know reading something like this when I had been in middle school would've have been so so impactful. As it stands it is ever so slightly gender queer but at it's core it really does seem to be another story about a boy and a girl falling in love.

I adored the art throughout and there were certainly plenty of cute moments, I just think I wanted more than the story was willing to give.

I know the series probably gets better from here but I can't help but give this first volume a 5. Heartbreaking, depressing, hopeful, beautiful, dreamy. Absolute perfection of the medium, I'm in love already.

More of a 3.5 than a four since it's certainly not my favorite Gaiman. Giving it a four just for that chapter in Gotham, really lovely characterization all around. That appearance of Swamp Thing was also just beautiful and might just be my favorite scene in the entire book.

#39-40 - Mask - ★★★★ (Fun nightmarish horror story. Really Nightmare on Elm Street-esque visuals.)

#50 - Images - ★★ (Bland Joker Story.)

#52-53 - Tao - ★★★ (Decent Spiritual story with Kung-Fu action. Great art.)

#54 -Sanctum - ★★★★★ (Mike Mignola issue, one of my favorite Batman stories of all time.)