Manuel
Realmente quería que me gustase este clásico de mi país, pero se me hizo imposible, quiero juzgar esta historia como alguien que lee esto hoy en día porque al final eso es lo que tiene que hacerse, “clásico” es algo que perdura en el tiempo como digno de imitación, esto no es un clásico, es un mero hito del cómic al ser el primero en español, y nada más.
Historia básica con mucha acción que avanza muy poco y sin ningún tipo de desarrollo de ningún tipo más que más acción y cada tanto una respuesta típica al misterio, y con algún que otro concepto que habrá sido interesante para la época pero nada revelador hoy en día (esto sería entendible en un clásico pero como ningún otro aspecto es remarcable en la obra repito mi noción de que esto no es un clásico).
No trata ningún tema a más de dos niveles de profundidad.
Personaje principal básico que es el “héroe colectivo” pero sin nada característico más allá de eso, secundarios más de lo mismo, un dimensionales que solo son herramientas para que avance la trama de manera básica, sin mencionar el (explicado por la época) machismo sobre los “personajes” femeninos.
Buen arte pero la relación entre el texto y las imágenes es deplorable, se nota demasiado que fue el primer cómic en español, porque no es un cómic, esto es un libro con imágenes, literalmente hay paneles con texto abajo describiendo lo que se puede ver en el panel ¿Para que contar una historia en un medio visual si se va a describir a detalle todo lo que pasa?, y detalle tedioso y repetitivo en eso, ni hablar del nulo flujo entre el texto y la imagen que hace hiper tediosa la lectura.
En fin, no me parece que el famoso Eternauta aguante hoy en día ni como historia ni como “cómic”, sirvió como historieta de diario en su momento, y al ser el primer cómic en español, y ser argentino, se exagero fuera de proporción su valor como algo más, sin ningún otro mérito original.
Review for the whole series
I'm seeing so many people trashing on this manga because of the way it begins, it starts with this guy that doesn't understand himself and does some pretty perverted stuff, and I'm not sure if people read this and to clean their conscience they rate it low, but that's just the cataclysm, the story evolves into something way more complex and thought-provoking, to explore a character that doesn't know where to fit in society and what to do with his impulses and emotions, he just has to find a place in this world, and here comes the second main character of the story that helps him start to develop that, it all then comes full circle in the last chapter which finishes the series in such a perfect way.
This is a story about self understanding and coming to good terms with your dark side, all through your environment and the people that you relate with, yes it has some overly dramatic and exaggerated moments but that's how manga tells its story sometimes, and it helps to bring emotion to the page, and yes it has some “weird Japanese stuff” but when you really understand it, It's not actually weird at all, and its just human nature.
Also, I have to mention the superb art, paneling, imagery and symbolism of the series.
Overall one of the best psychological manga I've read, 9/10.
This feels like a prelude to the big story that's about to unfold in the rest of the saga.
The plot is simple with focus on themes, ideas and most of all I feel like it has two objectives:
First in getting us to know the main character seeing him struggle and be the hero, and we understand his noble intentions and where he comes from, while in contrast knowing that he will do these terrible things that we are told by him that he will do, since the story is being told in the future by him. It's very much like seeing Anakin in the prequels knowing what he will become, but here the author actually says that the right choice for Anakin would've been to become Darth Vader, so that's a hook for ya.
And second in introducing us to a lot of characters that are clearly gonna have more to do in the bigger story later, which I feel like it's a cool idea but maybe there were too many so a lot you are gonna get more out of in a reread than in actually remembering that they had a role in the first book later on, since they have very small roles and we are told by the MC that they where important in his life later basically, it was a problem for me since I learn the names by repetition, not by being told that they are important one time in an 800 page book.
Overall the beginning was the highlight for me, and then I felt like the middle part dragged a little longer than it needed and then it picked back up in the ending.
Very good read and it sets the saga nicely.
One of the best pieces of media I've ever come across and it beat Steel Ball Run as my favorite western.
Character is the name of this book.
Probably since I was born almost my entire family told me to read this book, so now at 23 I read the whole thing for the first time, they couldn't have been more right.
10/10
I'm so happy to say that the last book of the triology is my favorite one.
It was everything the last books where but perfectioned, so much happened and the journey was so “journeylike”, you don't just get the highlights you get everything, but when things could feel a chore you get the big character moments that may happen during some mundane stuff but it is so well written and it feels so real that it explains the characters so well in that.
I also love the reveals and how the magic ended playing out in this one and also how Hobb writes it entangled with emotions and feelings is brilliant.
The character interactions and plotlines and how they resolve feel so realistic I can't explain how but it just feels like a reflection of real life and not something that's written for the sake of telling a story.
9/10
MILD SPOILERS I guess but if you thought this book was gonna have a big battle in the end you weren't paying attention.
Hobb continues to make everyday life in a small town interesting and it doesnt get monotonous i dont know how she does it, i felt like this one went a little longer in the middle maybe but other than that its better than the previous entry in every way, specially that ending.
Alright Hobb knows how to write, I loooved the detailed but not ultra dense prose, it hits the perfect spot.
And the coming of age story is so beautifully done, the characters were greatt, if this is the worst book in the series oh boyy.
I actually laughed when I learned why everyone cried at the end of this book lol
Fun read but nothing special, yet?
The story was very vanila but very well crafted, the pacing was on point, not too fast, not too slow at any moment, and it was always engaging, and the dialogue was nothing crazy but it felt very natural for the first half of the book when the protagonists where talking between themselves.
Then by the ending is where i expected this book to get more personality in it of itself, but it instead the ending was even more vanila, which i didnt dislike, i just expected that for it to be like a 4 star, to become its own thing by that point, i dont think this book has any big flaws, except if you count being basic a flaw.
I dont mind tropes as long as they are used to tell something new, i've heard this series becomes its own in the second book tho so im very thrilled to keep goin, since i see a loooot of potential here.
The first 3/4 are a great detective story and world building that intrigues and gives a very magical vibe.
The other 1/4 was a little disappointing with the main bad being a bit underwhelming and the revelation too.
That said, I'm hooked.