Koom Kankesan at Comicon.com has written a detailed advance review of Volume 2 that also serves as a great preview and breakdown of how the book works. It’s definitely worth a read!
Oh, and that headline’s nice, too:
Advance Review: Once Upon A Time Machine Volume 2 Transcends The Limits Of Greek Myths
The best part of seeing people react to the book is finding out what pieces speak to each of them the most. It’s always different, and always interesting!
Filed under Reviews
Comic Book Resources has an exclusive preview of some beautiful art from Volume 2. They’re showing off a couple pages each from the epic “Theseus and Metrotaurus” by Ronald Wimberly and “Game Changers” by Ben Kahn (script), Alexandria Huntington (art), and HdE (letters).
Meanwhile, the book’s just starting to get some advance reviews. The first one’s short, but very sweet!
On her review blog, Carrie Griffin says: “This was everything for my Greek Mythology loving heart. I loved how much these short comics felt like the original myths but also the changes to them. This was a great fresh take on each of the tales used and is one of a kind. Also, the different styles made each tale stand out on their own. I recommend this to anyone who loves great comics and/or Greek Mythology.”
We’ve just added a new permanent page on this website, where we’ll collect all the praise & press we can find for Once Upon a Time Machine in one place.
If you’d like to indulge us in our vanity, go check it out!
And remember, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the book, too! Let us know what you took away from it on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or Amazon!
Filed under Interviews, News, Reviews
We’re right at the end of our release month, and we’ve seen lots of new reviews pop up in the last few weeks that are definitely worth sharing!
(See some advance reviews we found previously here, here, and here!)
Jordan Callarman at Fanboy Comics recommends it to anybody with “fond memories of that big book of fairytales that you used to have when you were a kid,” saying:
“Anthologies can be somewhat hit or miss, but Once Upon a Time Machine is consistently great throughout. With so many different creators, the artwork and writing style is constantly in flux, and I found myself excited to get past each new title page and see what type of story lay in wait for me next. That sense of anticipation stays with you as you work your way through the book, since you truly never know what to expect.”
Melissa Megan at Talking Comics calls out her favorite stories, and sums up:
“It’s a giant book stuffed to bursting with great stories told with truly unique characters, based on classic fables. Every piece presented here is a quality piece of work and will provide hours of whimsical, light hearted reading.”
Bookworm1858, meanwhile, had a hard time picking favorites (but did anyways!):
“Overall: A really great collection-everyone a winner and something to please all tastes!” 4.5/5
Thorverine at Comic Book Therapy struggled with his review:
“I honestly and truly tried to find something to say I didn’t like about the book, but I couldn’t do it. It’s not a 400 plus page narrative, it’s a collection with the same overall theme of sci-fi or futuristic elements. You may not be completely sold on one story, but you turn the page and there is one that completely blows you away. No matter your tastes, there’s something for you in this. I cannot recommend this highly enough and give it a 5/5 because that is as high as it goes.”
Devon Sanders at CHUD.com writes a very personal (*sniffle*) review, adding:
“This is a gorgeous, GORGEOUS presentation. Clocking in at over 400 pages, this book is the type of thing I absolutely adore; beautifully crafted genre stories that take full advantage of the medium of comics.” 4.5/5
Stumptown Trade Review appreciates old stories told in brand-new ways:
“In each case the writers succeeded in pushing themselves far beyond the confines of the story and managed to create something entirely unexpected.”
Jo Ann the Book Faerie does, too:
“I found this to be a most fascinating read…Even if your young ones have no interest in fairy tales, I think this book will grab their interest anyway.”
Stephen at Page 45 talks about his favorite stories and imagery:
“A magical cover by Farel Dalrymple whose cast gives a clue to the contents: dozens of short stories inspired by traditional fables and fairytails, each diverging radically from the source material.”
Kate O’Neil at The Fandom Post has some clear favorites, as well:
“The classic parables told in fairy tales mix surprisingly well with warnings of a future out of control which permeate traditional science fiction. There’s a good range of different art styles, mediums, and choices for subject matter on display in this hefty 400 plus page volume, but I recommend reading it in sips rather than gulps.”
Jordan DesJardins at Comic Booked states his take simply enough:
“So what exactly makes this book so good? Everything!”
Finally, Rob Bricken of the awesome nerd blog Topless Robot recently ran a contest with our help, but not without giving his thoughts on the book, first:
“Once Upon a Time Machine is awesome…It’s over 400 pages, is full color, and is somehow only $25 — it’s a steal (and Amazon currently has it for $13.50, which is even more absurd). Frankly, I loved it.”
And if you’re curious to see the Topless Robot contest’s winners…click & see the awesomeness they cooked up here!
SFRevu, the monthly online sci-fi magazine, has published a great advance review of OUATM in its September issue.
Here’s a taste:
“Carl and Stevens have done a masterful job, enlisting marvelous creators and unleashing them on nearly every fairy tale an American parent (like me) might imagine. It’s a volume that adults and children will greatly enjoy, with clever, insightful, and witty tales abounding on every page.
If you are looking for amazing new visions and interpretations of classic tales, this is the book for you.”
Head on over to SFRevu for the full review!
Auggie Talk Review: “Once Upon a Time Machine”
Auggie over at Auggie Talk seems to have gotten her hands on a review copy of Once Upon a Time Machine.
She may not be a regular comics reader, but she gave the book a chance…and, well, I’ll let her speak for herself! Here are some clips from her review that made us feel the most tingly inside:
“When I received this book for review I wasn’t aware that it was a comic. At first I was wary, but it was actually very entertaining and spectacularly well done.
“I zoomed through the 400+ pages of AMAZING illustrations and FANTASTIC fable twists. It took a creative bunch of people to come up with such different perspectives on such old fables.
I can’t tell you how impressed I was with the presentation of these stories. Just as the synopsis stated this comic is for both young and old. There is nothing particularly disturbing drawn so parents should have no problem with youngins picking it up, but there’s enough meat in the story that older readers will find enjoyment just as readily.“I have to tell you my favorite story and my favorite depiction. My favorite story in the bunch was “Rikki Tikki Tavi” (I watched that movie over and over and over again as a little girl) and my favorite depiction was “Little Red Riding Hood.”
“I do very much recommend that you snatch this up when it becomes available in October.”
Thank you, Auggie! We are flattered!
Once Upon a Time Machine 