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H2O Graphic Novel, Volume 1
Set in the not too distant future� When a 100-year global drought devastates the Earth and a failed rainmaking experiment destroys the atmosphere, humankind teeters on the brink of collapse. As the remaining nations wage war over dwindling water supplies and natural resources, two rival scientists on opposite sides of the world discover a lost glacier high in the Andes-- setting off a deadly race to claim and control the planet’s last known source of fresh water. The story focuses on Aaron Turner, a brilliant volcanologist with a secret past he’d like to keep hidden. Aaron’s known for his radical, sometimes controversial theories and his intelligence is off the charts, but he’s trapped in the shadow of his father’s brilliance and failures � a burden that may finally lift if Aaron reaches the buried glacier first. But a terrible revelation awaits underground that threatens the very existence of their mission. Created by Liquid Comics and producer Eric Eisner’s, "Epic Cycle" graphic novel imprint. Written by Grant Calof (Eternity Kill) with artwork by Jeevan J. Kang (Nowhere Man; John Woo’s Seven Brothers, The Sadhu).
Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 2, 2017
The premise of this graphic novel is interesting, but the way in which it was executed didn't really cut it for me. H2O is set in the year 2250, after one hundred years of the entire Earth being in a drought. An attempt to fix the atmosphere created "radiation storms" that burned anyone in its scope. The blurb on the back cover asks "How quickly would we 'de-volve?'" but the contents inside the book don't necessarily show this.
The main problem I had with this book was how normal the communications technology was shown, and how many people there still were in the world. I'm not a scientist by any means, but I would think that if the Earth hadn't gotten rain in one hundred years, all life would very quickly become extinct. How would we stay alive without being able to grow food? If radiation storms are burning people and cities, how are there any places still left to inhabit? If the entire world went without water for one hundred years, I imagine we'd be a lot closer to Mars, in appearance and ability to inhabit.
The technology used for computing and communication seems very close to today's technology, but I just don't know how these types of things could continue to run without the people behind that technology keeping it going. The premise is interesting and thought-provoking, but the way the book is carried out doesn't make sense in this way. The idea behind the story is what I liked most, because it got me to think about these types of hypothetical situations and events. The book just didn't go the way I would think these things would, if they were to actually happen. Yes, I know this is fiction, but it just raised too many questions and not enough clear answers for me (especially in the fact that it's never explained why it stopped raining in the first place).
In addition to these issues, the character development was attempted, but it just didn't make me feel anything for the characters. I really hate the trope of blaming the son for his father's mistakes, and this becomes the main nemesis' backstory. The main woman's backstory is pretty thrown together as well, and it all felt quite rushed. I understand that it's a short book, but at this point, we could have done just fine with barely any character's backstory because it didn't have an emotional affect on me.
When I review graphic novels and comics, I like to note the art style, because it's incredibly important in these formats. The artwork in this book wasn't bad or good, really. It was good for the story, as the images are clear and not confusing as to what action is taking place, but it wasn't anything special that stood out to me.
Overall, it was just an okay book. I didn't hate it, because it made me think, but I just don't particularly care for it. Again, the premise of a world-wide draught is interesting, and would probably make a really good hypothetical documentary or podcast, but it just doesn't hold water in the plot that was carried out (pun intended, sorry not sorry).
This review and others can also be found on my book blog: swimmingthroughliterature.wordpress.com
The main problem I had with this book was how normal the communications technology was shown, and how many people there still were in the world. I'm not a scientist by any means, but I would think that if the Earth hadn't gotten rain in one hundred years, all life would very quickly become extinct. How would we stay alive without being able to grow food? If radiation storms are burning people and cities, how are there any places still left to inhabit? If the entire world went without water for one hundred years, I imagine we'd be a lot closer to Mars, in appearance and ability to inhabit.
The technology used for computing and communication seems very close to today's technology, but I just don't know how these types of things could continue to run without the people behind that technology keeping it going. The premise is interesting and thought-provoking, but the way the book is carried out doesn't make sense in this way. The idea behind the story is what I liked most, because it got me to think about these types of hypothetical situations and events. The book just didn't go the way I would think these things would, if they were to actually happen. Yes, I know this is fiction, but it just raised too many questions and not enough clear answers for me (especially in the fact that it's never explained why it stopped raining in the first place).
In addition to these issues, the character development was attempted, but it just didn't make me feel anything for the characters. I really hate the trope of blaming the son for his father's mistakes, and this becomes the main nemesis' backstory. The main woman's backstory is pretty thrown together as well, and it all felt quite rushed. I understand that it's a short book, but at this point, we could have done just fine with barely any character's backstory because it didn't have an emotional affect on me.
When I review graphic novels and comics, I like to note the art style, because it's incredibly important in these formats. The artwork in this book wasn't bad or good, really. It was good for the story, as the images are clear and not confusing as to what action is taking place, but it wasn't anything special that stood out to me.
Overall, it was just an okay book. I didn't hate it, because it made me think, but I just don't particularly care for it. Again, the premise of a world-wide draught is interesting, and would probably make a really good hypothetical documentary or podcast, but it just doesn't hold water in the plot that was carried out (pun intended, sorry not sorry).
This review and others can also be found on my book blog: swimmingthroughliterature.wordpress.com
October 3, 2017
This book has a unique premise - the end of the world coming not through zombies or alien invasion or war but through climate change. The world has been drying up after a hundred year drought and there is no water left. That premise should be enough to carry the book but unfortunately, the writers decided to ignore this in favor of following an adventure story as two rival factions search for a hidden glazier. The trouble is not so much in the story but in the rather bland, predictable characters and the fact that no-one seems to be affected by the drought that has destroyed the world. International air travel is not a problem, the surviving population seems to live in comfort and the governments are fully functioning. This is the best possible scenario for the apocalypse I've ever read. Also, the story seems rushed and generic and both the rather weak love story and rivalry between the two alpha dogs heroes seems forced and add nothing to the story. This book is well done and the artwork captures the crumbling world effectively with scenes of collapsing cities and oceans turned into desert wastelands but he the story and forgettable characters is too much of a negative to overcome. There might be a good story out there somewhere concerning global warming but this book is not it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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