Unfortunately I didn't get to finish this before it expired (got about halfway through), but from what I read I was totally enthralled. Who knew pinball had such a rich history?? I learned so much and it made me yearn to go out and find a pinball game to play. The artwork was excellent. I can't wait to read the rest when I purchase it for my library.

This book is a true love letter to pinball. It covers the history of the overall game and the evolutions of the components as well as the market’s ups and downs. The artwork is gorgeous and colorful, just like the backboards we are used to seeing. For casual pinball players, some of the language of the book may come across as hyperbole or lofty, but hard-core fans will likely see a fellow enthusiast. The back of the text has a glossary and gaming tips.

This text is part of a newer trend of non-fiction graphic novels. While the subject is not on the top of my list, I still learned something and appreciate this trend of dispelling graphic novels as a somehow lesser-than mode of storytelling.

This graphic novel was a lot of fun and so informative! The history of pinball is long and complex and Jon Chad made it very entertaining. I'm not a pinball enthusiast by any means but at one point I could have considered myself a casual player so when I could read about the history in such an easy and engaging format, why not? And I learned so much and was so jazzed about pinball that I found a local place to go play!

I recommend that you read this book and then you will certainly want to find a place to play! If you're a novice player like me, be sure to check out the tips in the back of the book about different flipper techniques!

I like playing pinball, despite being terrible at it. I’m not an enthusiast but I really enjoyed reading about the history of the game. The illustrations are superb and really helped make the story clearer.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I like comic books from First Second Publisher.
I had no idea that pinball machine is created with such a complicated way.
The graphic illustrations also help me to understand how the machine was built.
A good one!

This was good! I’m a casual fan of pinball machines, and this was a well-researched, interesting read about the history of pinball machines. Will recommend to anyone who is a fan of arcades or nonfiction histories. I even picked up a few tips for playing! It made me want to play, and now I have a bunch of new facts about pinball machines to share as I do. Recommended.

I really love it when the graphic novel medium is used for non-fiction. It’s such an interesting melding of concepts and PINBALL is no different. I’m not necessarily a pinball enthusiast, but I really enjoyed going through its history in this book—especially through its art. It had me searching up where I can find local pinball machines by the end.

Thank you to First Second Books for providing me with an ARC for a fair review.

I am not a Pinball Wizard. I enjoy the game when I see it at bars, but I've never been "good" at it. Jon Chad's "Pinball" discuses the history, adversity, several near death experiences, and future of the the game in a vivid format, taking inspiration from the machines themselves to discuss how the game has evolved and continues to progress. I would have appreciated a brief tangent on the pre-installed Windows version that we all know and some of us love, but I understand that this was about the physical game, not the computerized versions (which you cannot jostle)

Although, I wasn't necessarely interested in the history of pinball. (To me it was just that game on the computer that I played when the Internet was down, from when I was a kid.). I liked this book, because without it being too theoritical, it explained well the beginning and the life of what was once the best game in town.

It actually made me want to try out the different universe found in a game of pinball.
I also was very fond on the colors and the drawings.

I am not great connoisseurs of such things. But I did like this read !

What a fascinating book about the history of pinball. As a kid, you just play them and don’t think about all that has gone into the making of a machine and the science involved, but goodness, it’s intriguing! I distinctly remember learning how to use the flippers; to get the ball back under control. Developing skills like what part of the flipper to hit the ball with and with what force to get the ball where I wanted it to go.

Learning about how the pinball mechanics have evolved makes you appreciate the game even more. Learning about the history and efforts to label the game as an influence to a future life in crime is rather hilarious… albeit true. The illustrations are well done and keep the book engaging. I like the game designer narration parts where they discuss their process. The addition of the how to develop flipper skills, game anatomy, tips, and glossary offer a incentive to put your skills to the test if you see a pinball machine.

Thank you Netgalley and First Second Books for this ARC. What a great addition to our library collection! Maybe it will encourage students to try (or continue to enjoy) a pinball game when the opportunity presents itself.