Member Reviews
I've been meaning to read this title even from the time that the singles were first coming out and then I got approved for a Netgalley eARC of this bind-up back when it was coming out and I, unfortunately, didn't pick it up then either! I finally read it and it was so good!! This first volume is setting up a really interesting, if a little convoluted, story and I'm here for it. There are elements that I just didn't understand, but I feel confident that they will make sense later on in the series so I'm taking them as intriguing elements of this early story. The story is Sci-fi, time-traveling horror and I'm loving it so far. Can't wait for more.
In a not so distant future, the world is on the brink of collapse, and a group of indigenous Americans believe it is the United States' fault so devise a plan to go back in time to kill Christopher Columbus before he 'discovers' America, thereby hopefully changing the future and making the world a better place. Of course, like almost all time travel stories, this doesn't go to plan and things don't change, so an alternative plan needs to be arranged (see volume 2!).
This is a very clever idea for Stephen Graham Jones' first foray into comics writing, and I appreciated the scope of his story. I thought it was interesting with the group that was left in the 'now' who have history books and are reading, waiting for history to change itself, thereby knowing that the team sent into the past succeeded in their mission However, if history changed, wouldn't their memories just change along with it, therefore reading the history books would kind of become pointless? I may have missed something here and just decided to smile and nod and accept that this was how time travel vs memory worked in this world, at least to make the narrative move along.
I had not experienced Davide Gianfelice's art before and found it appropriately dark and moody, fitting the tone of the book. I'll be reading further volumes as they become available.
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW for an advanced eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
As an educator, I would reserve this for high school juniors and seniors. As a reader and history buff myself, I found this volume absolutely amazing! The genre blending of sci-fi and historical fiction is done so well. The topic is fascinating. I think this would be great for mature high schoolers in a book club format; there is so ,ugh to discuss from climate change to colonization.
Thank you NetGalley, the author & the publisher for the opportunity to read this.
A dark and twisty story about time travel and trying to save the world. I really enjoyed the artwork; it complimented the story perfectly and didn't shy away from the violence inherent to the story. It makes me eager to dive in to the next issues ASAP.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. The downfall was that I requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before the book was archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!
I couldn't finish it. I wanted to like it but the execution didn't work for me. However, I loved the art and coloring, they were great. The sceipt, however, wasn't strong enough to catch my attention.
Stephen Graham Jones writing comics about indigenous timetravellers trying to kill Columbus to save the world from the plague called America, give it to me instantly!
This is the first arc of the story (collecting the first 6 issues) that basically wraps up the premise and gives some answer to the question whether having killed Columbus would change the world for the better, but raising more questions on the go and looking at the cover, title and pitch of the second volume the story goes quite unexpectedly to what I'd assumed based on the kill-Columbus premise.
There are basically two timelines in this volume, 1492 and 2112, but with flashbacks for the 2112 story, and also nothing is as simple as it seems. The 1492 timeline basically follows the journey of Columbus's ships with the timetravelling assassin/earthdiver Tad on board. If you're familiar with the author's works you won't be surprised that the story turns into a slasher horror at one point. Tad is a linguist in 2112 and his journey from a scholar to someone who kills people is really intricately drawn.
The 2112 timeline is quite complex and often challenging to keep track of with the lot of characters and events and it turns out to be leading up to some pretty unexpected events.
I really liked the atmosphere of the story and the graphic style and the dark but vivid colors fit perfectly. I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next volume.
Thank you to NetGalley, the creators and the publisher for providing the ARC.
A journey through time and into the heart of darkness. Link to No Flying No Tights review.
https://noflyingnotights.com/?s=earthdivers
DNF - The concept was what compelled me to read this, but the story itself unfortunately didn't capture my attention.
In 2112, the apocalypse is ongoing. Rivers are drying up, civilizations are crumbling, and some folks are escaping to outer space. But a band of four Indigenous Americans have decide to try and fix things by sending one of their group back in time to kill Christopher Columbus and prevent the climate disaster that is occurring. So Thaddeus Many Horses from the Lakota nation traveled back via a cave to the time of Columbus. But all his attempts to change time only altered reality a bit, not enough to save the climate. So what will they try next? It will be interesting to find out!
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this volume.
I think I was wanting too much from this and it didn’t bring everything for me. A lot of the reviews were all praises but I didn’t feel all the samet. The artwork was amazing, I really liked the faces and I could feel (well see) their emotions clearly. The colouring was done really well and I love vibrant designs in graphic novels.
It was a bit difficult to constantly go from 2112 and 1492. I think both of the times were written well, maybe it was just the way the scenes would move from between the different times? I didn’t really understand the 2112 plot all too well? It felt like Jones was trying to push too much plot into the novel. But as I haven’t read any of his other books; I don’t know if that’s something he usually does.
The characters were interesting and the story was really really good. The synopsis is what made me want to read it in the first place. It just wasn’t all enough to make me like it a lot more. I won’t be reading the next volumes but I will read more from Stephan Graham Jones.
My only gripe here would be that there were a lot of different characters from the 'present' and they didn't all get enough of a personality to help differentiate them so I was definitely left a little confused still but I'm okay with a little bit of confusion, especially in sci-fi. Otherwise I enjoyed this and I'm excited to see where this series goes.
Summary:
The world is falling apart - just like we were warned about. Humanity has long given up hope of saving the planet. Those with the means have fled, leaving those without to deal with the fallout. This is where our story begins.
A group of Indigenous outcasts have found a very interesting feature in what was once a beautiful part of America. This mysterious cave seems to have the ability to transport people back in time. Desperate to save their country, their people, and the world, they devise a plan: to kill Christopher Columbus.
Review:
I've come to a conclusion: I will pretty much read anything that my favorite authors write. That officially includes Stephen Graham Jones. I fell in love with his work when The Only Good Indians was released, and that isn't going to change anytime soon.
Getting back to the point - Earthdivers Vol. 1 is rich, intense, and deeply horrifying. Stephen Graham Jones has a way of writing horror so that it slowly seeps into your bones. It doesn't slap you in the face. But it does linger. Oh boy, does it linger.
I'll admit that I was a little hesitant about the core concept of Earthdivers. Not because I have a problem with the idea of hunting Columbus. It's just that I generally prefer to keep real historical figures out of my time-travel adventures.
But my god, it's worth it. It's so worth it! This book is tense. It's dark, too, delightfully so. Looking back on it, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I certainly can't wait to start reading the second volume!
Regarding the artwork, let's just say that it perfectly matched the story's tone. Davide Gianfelice and Joana LaFuente gave us visually stunning settings and characters. I love the overall design, and many smaller choices helped to bring the whole look together. Likewise, Steve Wands helped to further enhance the look. It was perfection.
Highlights:
Historical Fiction & Horror
Time Travel
Hunting Columbus
Trigger Warnings:
Graphic Elements/Death
Thanks to IDW and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was a fascinating story. The year is 2112, the apocalypse has happened, and earth is either flooded or completely dry. A group of four find a magic cave. It allows them to travel back in time. They are of Indian nations, who believe the best way to save their people and their country is to go back in time and kill Columbus. Seth Grimm Jones writes stories that keep you thinking and staying in your mind for a long time. His debut graphic novel is no different. There are times I wish this was a full novel, but it is superb. It is violent and bloody and gory because it is horror, but done as only South Graham Jones can do.
I am so glad I picked this up. The story is so fascinating with a time travel element the art was very nice and really appealed to me. I highly recommend.
it starts in the near future and civilization is coming to an end. a group of Indigenous friends trying to survive discover a time travel portal in a cave. they decided that in order to fix the world they should go back and kill Columbus before he "finds" America, though it is not as easy as they thought.
you will be hooked after the first issue, this volume was not enough and I cant wait to read the rest of the volumes as they come out.
feel free to search out some reviews from Indigenous reviewers as I'm not qualified to speak on these topics but Stephen Graham Jones has not disappointed with this.
What if Columbus had never "discovered" America? A group of people who have found a cave that allows you to time travel - one way only - are determined to find out.
This is a time travel slasher movie. There are, atter all, three ships worth of people to take out to stop Europeans from landing. But at what cost? The traveler's marriage and family for sure. But what happens to someone when they start being responsible for deaths of others? How do you reconcile doing awful things to individuals with those actions being "for the greater good"? Can you come out the other side the person you were, or do you become someone else?
Lots ot things to think on here, and fun diversions with slashery fun meted out by the underdog with justice on their side.
An intriguing premise, but the open end of this first volume left me a bit frustrated. The art was very dynamic.
I absolutely love Stephen Graham Jones and devoured these issues of Earthdivers as single issues. It was such a treat to get a complete volume bind up. Stephen's writing works so well in an illustrated form. I loved seeing his voice and take on an alternative history/time travel story.
Enjoyed this new comic book. Have always enjoyed novels by Stephen Graham Jones, and his move into comics is just as great. Can't wait to continue reading this series. #EarthdiversVol1 #NetGalley
Action-Packed and thought provoking! I sped through this one, even though I intended to savor it. A great commentary on racism, while being accessible, interesting, and fun.