Graphic Novel Review - Neverland by Joe Brusha (4/5 stars)

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy
Size: 192 pages
Publisher: Zenescope
Release Date: March 15, 2011
ISBN: 978-0982582619
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Gift for Xmas
Rating: 4/5 stars


I got this book for Christmas as a gift. It was a well done rendition of an adult version of Peter Pan. The drawing was fantastic as were the vivid colors used. The story did an excellent job of capturing some elements of mythology as well as the beloved childhood Peter Pan story.

This book is part of the Grimm Fairy Tales graphic novel universe, but works find as a stand alone story. Pan has found a way to live forever in Neverland. Back in our world children are mysteriously disappearing from their beds. Wendy gets involved when her two nephews go missing. Only one person can help her; Nathan Cross was kidnapped and taken to Neverland as a boy...he was the only one to escape back to our world. Nathan is a grown man and constantly medicated to protect him from his delusions. Now Wendy needs his help to cross back into Neverland, save her nephews, and stop Pan's evil reign.

The illustrations throughout are glossy, well finished, and colorful. The only thing that bothered me about them is the women are all drawn in a very overly sexy way...they are pretty much all shiny butts and huge gleaming breasts. If you can get around that fact, the drawing and backgrounds are very beautiful and well done. The overly sexy women didn't bother me a ton, but it did make me roll my eyes a lot.

This is a very dark, creative, and well done retelling of Peter Pan; more than a retelling it is kind of a continuation of the Pan story. Pan has gone evil and stayed in Neverland beyond his time. He is eating the life essence of children to sustain himself. All of the characters are well done. Nathan Cross was my favorite, he kind of turns into a cross between Captain Hook and Bruce Campbell from Evil Dead when he crosses into Neverland. Cross gets a very kick butt metal hook that has wonderful combative capabilities. Wendy stands well on her own as well.

This is definitely not a book for kids. There are some very heavy sexual overtones to the story and lots of gory combat. Still I really enjoyed the continuation of Peter Pan's story cast in an adult light. I thought the plot was very well put together and excellently told.

Overall a very entertaining continuation of Peter Pan's story. Excellent fight scenes, a wonderful plot that blends a little mythology and some fairy tale retelling. The illustrations are beautifully finished and colored; just beware this is one of those comics where all of the women are overly (almost laughably) sexy...there is no way these women could physically move around with the proportions they are given. Definitely a book for adults only, there is a dark sexual and violent overtone to a lot of the story. Still very creative and entertaining retelling; I enjoyed it and it made me want to read more by Brusha.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- Graphic Novel Challenge
- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 150+ Books Reading Challenge
- TBR Pile Reading Challenge