I had a blast reading Deathbed! As you can tell by the dscription, it's a wild ride, but that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. It's unique and keeps the reader on their toes. The artwork fits the style and tone perfectly. If you'd describe yourself as an eccentric reader, this is one you'll want to try!

What did I just read? No, really. What was that? It starts out as a batsh*t story about the world's most interesting man who is trying to have his life story documented and it showed some (weird) promise. Then it suddenly devolves into a self-indulgent reflection on what life means and what's any one person's story really worth. I don't know what Joshua Williamson was personally working through when writing this, but I wish him luck and good mental health because this was some "teenager figuring out how big the world is and how small they are" banality.
WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY too much nudity for sheer shock value in a book that really spent a lot of time trying to throw weird shocking things at you. I'm not trying to be a prude when I say that it was over the top, it was just trying to provoke a reaction in case the mummy-ninjas didn't get one.
I was intrigued by this and then I was just disappointed by this. It had all kinds of potential, but just couldn't figure out what it wanted to be or say.

One Sentence Synopsis: Eccentric man returns after 20 years missing with a hell of a story.

Why You Should Be Reading: What starts out as a somewhat simple assignment turns into a psychedelic and supernatural adventure of a lifetime. The combination of art and insane twists & turns leaves you with this vivid picture of what Valentine Richards is going through as she tries to figure out if this old man is pulling her leg.

Maybe he’s telling the truth, maybe he’s lying out of his ass, but the story he told made it so I burned through this in one setting. Afterwards I was left staring off into space trying to piece together what I read. If that isn’t enough reason for you to be reading this then I don’t know what is.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Urban Fantasy, Zombies

Other Books by Joshua Williamson: Nailbiter, Ghosted, Birthright Vol. 1

Learn more about the author HERE.

Buy Deathbed HERE.

Add Deathbed to your Goodreads HERE.

“Deathbed” [Joshua Williamson/Vertigo/152pgs] is the kind of story that Baron Munchausen would be proud of. It is ludicrous in the best possible way because it examines the notion of self in a completely self-indulgent way with a protagonist that is just out of control in the most interestingly possible ways. Antonio Luna has a perception of his life story that is permeated on what he believes is truth and not necessarily the experiences of the people his path has crossed with. The gestation of the story is based on Luna bringing in a slightly washed up writer (Valentine) with one great book to her name to write his story. It ends up being just a ruse to bring his enemies back into the open and have a last big hurrah. The situations that Luna brings himself to including a lost lover, a cult he founded and even the aspect of truth pools guarded by murderous women and jellyfish are just part of the shenanigans, The art is florid and fast paced but also definitely R rated in its perceptions. As a balance, Lobo, another DC stalwart, would be proud. Luna is an accessible character because you see all his failings even as you are along for the ride. Valentime, the writer, in her own special way, is a foil that is not a romantic interest, simply more of a wary chorus to Luna’s Hamlet (which is more spot on than you might think) heading down his path. The resolution also paints to that sense of self in an existential way that gives the piece a definite sting and pertinence. It is a fun ride.

A

By Tim Wassberg

I really liked how this book dealt with tropes of adventure movies and comics. Though the nudity and violence might make it tough for public libraries, academic libraries should still buy it.

I was rather surprised by Deathbed. The adventure it took me on was unexpected and full of lots of intense twists and turns. Val gets taken on a journey she didn’t expect, but as it moves forward it’s sure to be one she will never forget. If you are looking to read something different then this is the graphic novel for you.

Valentine Richards is fit – despite the old woman's bouffant hair, she looks wonderful, whether falling out of a leafy bikini or swaying in purple jeggings. But the real focus of our attentions is supposed to be the bizarre past and future of her subject, a chap that looked the spitting image of Green Arrow once upon a time, and is now an ageing adventurer, and lead cultist in a cult of, er, himself. Mummified ninja things have failed to kill him, and so have decided to kill off everyone who knew him, thus negating his existence – hence Val's presence by his side as official biographer. No, Boswell and Johnson have never looked like this...

This is a really fun look at the legacy we choose to leave for others – or, indeed, whether we should have that as a concern as we go about our lives. A dated art style (bringing to mind the Golden Age, as the artist's work on The Shadow seems to have leached through to these pages, as well as, of course, vintage Vertigo) nails this as a book of a certain type. But what it chiefly will be remembered for is actually giving us the heights of the picaresque, to a narrative form that really on reflection seems fit for nothing else. Eye-opening and thoughtful, then, and a strong four stars.