The Umbrella Academy Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite
Ratings134
Average rating3.6
Read this volume on recommendation (trying to break my ties with the M universe). It was definitely a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.
Had I not already seen the show, I would have had no clue what on earth happened in this comic. The characters are poorly set up, and the story goes too fast, with all of the reveals coming too quickly so the reader doesn't get any suspense or shock, such as Vanya having powers. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and didn't entirely understand what powers they had. The art is cool but the story is very badly written and if you're going to consume Umbrella Academy content, just watch the show.
Finally popped open my box set of Vol1-3. After finishing the show, I knew it was time to get to the source material finally.
If anything, this comic is more off the rails than the show! Which does make sense, but the show was pretty out there to begin with. A group of babies are all born at the same time, mostly to women that were not noticeably pregnant beforehand. For some reason, Reginald Hargreaves sets out to adopt as many of them as he can, eventually succeeding with 7. As he raises them, it’s apparent that he doesn’t do so out of the kindness of his heart, as each child is only bestowed with a number as a name. And eventually he launching them as their own children led superhero group. It’s apparent that they have their own rogues gallery, as well as some serious successes (and losses, aka Ben) but this is focusing on the adult versions of them.
00.05 has been stuck in the future, desperately trying to solve how to return. When he finally does, something wrong happens, and he is stuck inside his body from boyhood. His return is nothing if not timely, as they have just days to stop the end of the world.
While much of this is like season 1 of the show, it differs in some subtle ways, and in some major ways when it comes to 00.07. There are some absolutely explosive and brutal panels in this, with blood and gore that surprised even me, and it was really cool to see them in full color (reading through TWD had the volumes’ covers in color, but the panels in black and white). The main thing that stood out to me was how much more of the characters you get in the show. There beats and banter is clearly taken from the source material, but its format doesn’t allow for them to open up as much, and that’s where the show really shone for me. But that is the necessary differences when you are reading short form, so I cannot wait to get into vol2 so that I can get into more of who they are. It’s such a fun read.
I'll be sticking to the adaptation (there's a scene where a brother and sister kiss but anyway lets not think about that)
Honestly I really preferred the show over this. While I tried looking at this as just a book, I couldn't help but subconsciously compare the two. The book felt a little rushed and none of the characters really felt like characters. I get that they're supposed to be superheroes and they're not supposed to be entirely realistic, but they all felt very one-dimensional.
Fun. Interesting characters, well drawn, fairly standard plot once you get into it but well told, and it zooms right along.
Strong enough for me to want to read the next issue but Vol 1 didn't get me as hooked as I had hoped for!
For once, I act think I prefer the TV show... Will read the next issues regardless!
Meh. Not really my thing, but at least now that I've seen the source material, I'm even more impressed by the TV show.
Normally I read the thing before watching the thing. However, I'm a rebel even with myself so I went ahead and watched the show first. And I absolutely loved it. Fast forward to now when i finally picked this up....and it was meh.
In comparison to the show...I am 100 percent on board with the changes that were made. I just am. I know it probably goes against Book Worm Rules that the book is always better....and even though that may be true 90 percent of the time ( don't look that up) it's not always the case so stop lying to yourself.
On the comic itself...it's a bit all over the place for me. Like the idea for the story is there and great but it wasn't executed to its full potential. Not bad. I've read bad. This was not bad. Just okay. The art work is not really my jam. Not including all the cover artwork which I think is fantastic.
Uhhh I watched the show and the whole time I was watching it I was like, “I can't tell if I like this??” But ultimately I finished the season. I was invested in most of the characters even if I was eternally confused about what was happening. So I thought I'd check out the book, and the book I felt had the opposite issue–I could more or less follow what was happening (it's still weird obv) but the characters, at least in volume 1, were barely developed at all.
The art is cool and weird.
Honestly I just want #JUSTICE4VANYA will someone please tell me if I will find that in the next 2 volumes? I'll read them if so.
I enjoyed the Umbrella Academy as done by Netflix, so I thought I would try the original graphic novel/comic book. I am not a big reader of comic books, but this was a fun and warped story that channeled the weirdness of the Netflix series.
If you liked the Netflix series, then give the book a chance.
Graphic novels are never going to be my thing, I tell you, but this one is good and I liked the monkey.
It was only a matter of time before my exploration of graphic novels would lead me to a superhero story. Enter the Umbrella Academy, a team of dysfuctional superheroes with many interpersonal issues. The premise of these seven heroes, born exactly at the same moment—some to women who weren't even pregnant—who are taken in by a scientist hoping “to save the world” appealed to me. Plus I could tell right away that I liked the art.
Frankly, the art and the concept are the primary strengths of The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite. That and the dynamics of the family, which added a level of tension the actual nemesis could not. Otherwise, the story was a bit disjointed. Beautiful scenes and ideas are thrown together haphazardly. The result is a superhero story that is a joy to look at and is a quick read, but doesn't stick long with the reader.
I consider The Umbrella Academy a worthwhile venture into the realm of superhero graphic novels, but greater focus on story is going to have to be a priority for me to become a believer.
Started well and got boring very quickly. I guess in the end its just not the type of comic I like. No depth to characters, some funny lines and while the concept was good I just did not prefer the handling. Not my kind of art too so I guess my rating is to be expected.
I won't even try to put my feelings into words. In fact, I'm giving up on writing reviews altogether, after reading Apocalypse Suite. My pen is retiring, it's ink bled dry like my vocabulary, because I am certain there are no words that could ever come close to describing my emotions right now, which are a chaotic mess of awe and shock and reverence. [b:The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 2: Dallas 6413286 The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 2 Dallas Gerard Way http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878822s/6413286.jpg 6602273] . . . your existence is the only thing keeping me from collapsing into a sobbing heap on the floor.
Amazeballs artwork. It was difficult for me to follow the storyline because I'm not quite used to reading comics, but once I got the hand of it, it turned out to be an enjoyable read.
I think that I found this to be very inventive, but something is nagging at me, suggesting that it was just a very well recombined story with many derivative elements.