The Dam Keeper is gorgeous, and poignant. So sad and always hopeful. I'm in love with the world and I'm worried about the characters so much! Can't wait to read the rest.

Initially I wanted to check this out because the short film had been nominated for an Oscar. I am glad I did! The story is compelling and illustrated as heartwarmingly as its short film counterpart.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

The Dam Keeper is a story of a young pig and his adventures while keeping the town safe from the fog by an ingenious machine known as the dam.

A read which I am sure many will find entertaining. Pig is the new dam keeper (following in his father’s footsteps). Pig is thrown into a situation with Fox (his best friend) and Hippo (a bully to Pig). They are thrown out beyond the dam and are in unknown territory and feeling vulnerable as they try to make it back behind the dam, to the safety of their town.

I found the graphics okay, at least the ones that were not so dark it was hard to make out what was going on. I realize this is part of a bigger, ongoing series, but it seemed to me that there was not much storyline other than getting lost and trying to get home. Nothing to prompt one to another book.

Though I did quite enjoy the three meeting up with “Van” – he was an interesting addition to the story. Actually added enough to the story to keep me entertained enough to finish the story.

Sadly, this particular graphic novel was just not my cup of tea.

This is a stunning graphic novel based on a short film about Pig trying to keep away the fog from the place he lives. This volume ends on quite a cliff hanger and leaves you wanting to know what will happen next.

What a wonderfully creative surreal world: talking animals, mysterious deadly black fog, and the epic windmill dam that keeps the fog at bay. Pig is in charge of the windmill and knows like clockwork when the fog will return and when he has to run it...but the fog's been on a more erratic schedule lately and suddenly it attacks the dam while the three unlikely her/friends(?) are inside...and they are swept to the barren wasteland beyond! Can they survive the fog when no one else ever has and can they get back home?? Such intrigue!

The only thing that bothered me was why don't the main three characters have names? Pig, Fox and Hippo? Hippo once calls another classmate Mary, so obviously there are names around. Do they just call each other by the animal words as nicknames?

It was very charming. The art was whimsical and I enjoyed the lightness and simplicity and almost dream-like quality of the story.

Pig's father built and maintained the windmill and dam that protects his town from a dark, killing fog. But when a tidal wave of fog sweeps he and his friends over the edge, they must find a way to get back before the next wave hits.

Deceptively soft and simple, the story shapes up to be a big adventure both deeper and darker than the cute animals lead one to expect.

The Dam Keeper is a gorgeous graphic novel that serves as a sequel to Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi's award-winning short film of the same name. I actually read the book without having seen the film first or even realizing that it was a sequel to anything. The book manages to stand on it's own and the story is very easy to jump right into. So don't be discouraged from reading it just because it's a follow up to something else!

The Dam Keeper tells the story of a young pig named, well, Pig. He lives in a world of anthropomorphic animals terrorized by a mysterious and deadly fog. Pig keeps this fog from overwhelming the valley in which he lives by maintaining a powerful windmill atop a massive dam. He inherited his duties from his father who presumably committed suicide by walking into the fog one day. But while Pig's entire life revolves around protecting his community, that doesn't mean he has a whole lot of friends. He has just one, in fact: a young fox named Fox. But Fox has other friends including the bully, Hippo, who never misses a chance to tease Pig.

The three become an unlikely trio of adventurers in The Dam Keeper as they explore the world beyond the damn. After the fog recedes the kids find themselves stranded out in this very dangerous, seemingly unexplored world. And so they must work together to find their way home before the fog comes rushing back.

Probably the most obvious thing about The Dam Keeper is how gorgeous the artwork is throughout. This is one of the best looking books I've read in a while. It captures much of the same look as the short film while improving on it to a certain degree. The 'brush strokes' are clearer in the book versus the film but the character designs and world are much the same.

One of the things that sticks out to me about The Dam Keeper were the odd character names. I don't understand how in a world where animals talk and live ordinary lives they all seem to take their name from their species. If they were just ironically calling each other 'Pig,' 'Fox,' and 'Hippo' then I'd understand that. But this whole naming scheme begs the question: What was Pig's father's name? What was his mother's name? Were they all called Pig or did they just really give their kid a super unoriginal name?

Despite that, I really did like this book.

Pig is an interesting character and I it's really sad to see how everyone treats him so poorly when he literally keeps the city safe. He's a child entrusted with this immensely important job so you'd think people would treat him better. But he's a relatable character. I'm sure a lot of particularly talented kids have still felt like the odd one out even when trying to spend time with their own friends (as Pig does when he's with Fox). Seeing Pig come into his own is a worthwhile journey all it's own and it parallels the kids' exploration of the world beyond the dam.

The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger with the characters embarking on the next stage in their adventure. It leaves you wanting more but it ends on what feels like a natural break in the story. The second - and currently final - book should wrap up the story nicely and I'm looking forward to seeing how Pig continues to grow.

The Dam Keeper is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that tells a really great story that readers of all-ages are going to enjoy. Readers are going to love Pig and they will find his journey captivating if for no other reason than the breath-taking visuals. Folks who have seen the short film and those who have not will equally enjoy the story. And if you haven't seen it you'll likely want to by the time you're finished. It's a great read and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

A REVIEW COPY WAS PROVIDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW

What strikes me most about this book is the level of detail. We're talking about grand, near 3D, textured images. Its really quite lovely to look at. Of course appearance isn't everything. When it comes to plot this one falters a little bit. Simply put, not a lot happens in these pages. There's the inciting incident but not much else. Not even much characterization much less what's actually going on. Many unanswered question. Lots of room for development in future though.

Lovely first book in an animal fantasy series. The art is digital so it's beautiful and feels like watching a movie as you read it. A plot similar to "Attack on Titan" where we have a walled city which thinks the world beyond is dead and gone. Except, the threatening force here is a dark rolling fog. The main character's father created a dam to hold back the fog and save the town. So much time has gone by now that the people have forgotten all about the threat and the dam keeper. After his father goes "crazy" and disappears into the fog it is up to Pig to keep the darkness away. A great cliffhanger ending!

I was a fan of the short film so, I was really excited to read this. I enjoyed this graphic novel and I know my patrons will as well.

My students love graphic novels. Our school library's circulation is something like 30-35% graphic novels with graphic novels making up about 10% of the total collection.

I would guess my classroom library numbers are similar. It's with that in mind that I am always on the lookout for new fascinating graphic novels sure to grab my students' attention!

With a stunning premise, a fun cast of characters, and mystery worth the dare of diving into, The Dam Keeper is a book you are going to want to have in your school, classroom, or home collection (Maybe even all three if you are lucky)!

Anyone who has ever enjoyed series such as Bone, Amulet, The Last Airbender, and The Nameless City will surely appreciate the complex world Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi have created and will definitely be anxiously awaiting the next installment in this cool series!

No need to hold back on purchasing this one, The Dam Keeper comes out 9.26.17 🐷💨

Whimsy and magical, this tale is brought to life by the watercoloresque panels and lively characters. A must read!

OMG how can it end like that??? I need more!

This was not what I was expecting - much darker and deeper than I was anticipating from the cover. A story of loss and survival.

As haunting an apocalyptic as humanities own struggle with the dichotomy of lightness holding back the darkness and the unknown swing of the pendulum of tides. Brilliant and atmospheric with deep pedagogical undertones that will make this appealing to a wide audience.

A somewhat creepy middle-grade level graphic novel starring a pig called Pig, his best friend Fox and Hippo. They live in a walled city where a dam, invented by Pig's father (Pig Sr?), helps keep the mysterious "fog" at bay. The fog is malevolent and kills everything in it's path. Nothing can survive out in the fog...except when Pig, Fox and Hippo end up beyond the dam, they discover that there's more to the fog that they thought. Obviously the first book in a series, so lots of set up and lots of unanswered questions, but the illustrations are lovely and the story is intriguing. I need to get my hands on volume 2.

The fog has killed everything in the world, but is kept away by the dam Pig’s father built to protect their home in Sunrise Valley. After Pig’s father walks into the fog, it’s up to Pig to keep the dam working—but something is happening with the fog. Something deadly. Something that is going to destroy the tranquil town and its unsuspecting residents.

Like a lot of other reviewers, I was lulled into thinking this was going to be cute, cuddly and heartfelt after looking at the adorable anthropomorphic animals and the beautiful cover art. This graphic novel, the first in hopefully many, is something more than that. It’s spooky and dark, with artwork that adds to the sinister and malignant danger lurking in the fog. Contrasted to the blithe and downright normal (minus the people-animals) life in Sunshine Valley, the fog seems even more deadly and disturbing.

The supporting characters are well drawn but simplistic in nature. Fox is the cool friend with lots of connections and Hippo is the annoying sidekick who can’t decide if he’s a bully or just petulant. Pig, on the other hand, is more complex and manages a range of emotions on his porcine features as he contemplates a life alone and misunderstood as the dam keeper, and grief for his lost parents, particularly his crazy father who walked willingly into the fog.

It’s a good read, and while I’m not well-versed in graphic novels, I think this is a pretty good addition to the field. The art and text are well balanced and support each other, and the story-arc is nicely done, setting up the series for the next installation.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This story is a bit sci fi and all fantasy. A young pig is the Dam Keeper now, since his father went into the unknown. There is a fog that approaches the city and only their windmill can hold it back with the help of the dam. He does what he learned. But then the fog changes...

First Second Books and Net Galley let me read this graphic novel for review (thank you). It will be published September 26th.

Pig is alone. His mother died, his father went insane, and he has almost no friends at school. Fox is nice to him but she's friends with Hippo who is not. When Fox comes to visit and brings Hippo, he's not happy but he tries to be nice. Suddenly the fog is moving when it shouldn't be and the dam breaches! They run from the falling structures and find themselves outside the walls...

There is plenty of adventure, odd creatures, and another city there. They just want to go home but they're not sure how to get there. Perhaps someone in the city will help them.

This is the first in a series and it's interesting enough to keep me reading. I want to know if Pig finds his father and how he, Fox, and Hippo survive. Wouldn't you?

The stunning cover attracted me to The Dam Keeper and the illustrations inside are of the same quality. I didn't realize this was the beginning of a series, but there are several interesting mysteries left with loose ends to be explored in future installments. In a lot of ways The Dam Keeper reminds me of the Amulet series, both series' have beautiful illustrations with detailed landscapes that inspire the imagination. Other than the stunning artwork, I am not a big fan of wildly popular Amulet because the storytelling and originality fall short, luckily The Dam Keeper doesn't suffer from this problem, it has a promising story set up. The Dam Keeper would be great for young graphic novel readers, especially fans of Amulet who are hungry for more epic illustrations.

This is a gorgeously illustrated graphic novel about an orphaned pig who is now in charge of keeping the dam in working order. The dam is a windmill designed to keep a destructive fog at bay. The piglet's responsibilities include monitoring the movements of the fog and he has realized that the it is acting erratic and gaining force. On the day two of his classmates visited the windmill the fog came back with a vengeance and they found themselves outside the walls of their city, trying to outrun the fog before it gets them.

This one will grab you from page one and the ending will keep you eagerly awaiting the second volume.