The illustrations in this title are by far some of the favourite I have seen in a graphic novel since I first opened Saga

The story premise was unique and exciting but it missed something in the way it was executed. I can't put my finger on what but there was just something lacking about the story and how we got from beginning to end.

The artwork is really what carried this story for me and I just wish the story that went along with it was to the same standard.

The artwork in this is really really beautiful. I did want a little more from the story itself, but it was still a good read. It just felt a little rushed, and the book was short, but I’m still glad to have read it.

‘We Called Them Giants’ is a story of found family and survival at the end of the world.

This is a short but impactful graphic novel. In the limited time we spend with Lori, Annette, and those they meet, we gain a real sense of who they are as characters, offering a glimpse into how different people navigate survival in a post-apocalyptic world.

While the simplicity of the story felt appropriate to the narrative, I couldn’t help but wish for more time to get to know the supporting characters and the world they inhabit.

The art style is strikingly beautiful, with a colour palette that complements the setting and tone perfectly, really adding to the overall atmosphere. I look forward to exploring more of this captivating visual style in future works.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans, Clayton Cowles, the publisher Image Comics, and NetGalley for this eARC. This graphic novel has stunning colors. It is visually attractive. However, the story seems incomplete and simplified to a point where none of the two main elements are satisfactory (everyone gone and then giants, which may or may not be completely unrelated). The resolution will leave you starving, especially since it appears like a one-shot.

We Called Them Giants has a very dystopian apocalyptic vibe. Lori, our protagonist, wakes up one day to find everyone in the world has disappeared. Until she finds another survivor. They continie to struggle trying to survive. And then they find a gang called The Dogs. The Dogs are dangerous and scary. We don't know why other than they give off bully vibes. But we have to stay away from them. And they don't share. And they wear bird masks from Spirit Halloween that resemble the plague masks from the 1900s for some reason. And then there are the wolves. Yes, random wolves show up. And THEN they come across two fiery giants, one red and one green. One seems to be friendly. And one seems to be evil. Are they aliens? Are they angels? There ARE quite a few subtle religious references throughout the story. There's an epic battle that doesn't make any sense. And then the three surviving girls head off into the sunset to live out their days as the last humans on earth I guess. Absolutely nothing about this book made sense. Nothing was explained. Where did everyone go? Why did some people not go? What are the alien angel beings? Where are all the animals? I have more questions now than when I started the story. I did very much enjoy the gorgeous artwork. And the premise was strong. The choppy execution I wasn't so fond of.

I read that this is a standalone which is a shame. It would be amazing as a series. There are so many directions the storylines could go. I still definitely recommend picking this book up and giving it a try for yourself.

Lori is a foster kid. She knows that sooner or later, everyone who says they care about her is going to disappear. When her adoptive parents vanish, along with almost every other person on the planet, she has the cold comfort of validation.

There are a few people left, including Annette, a friend from school with relentless Girl Guide spirit, and the Dogs, a group of stragglers who instantly form a postapocalyptic-style gang. There are also giants. Stephanie Hans renders them in flames of red or green, something beautiful and intense beside the grayed-out cartoonishness of the other characters.

The question, of course, is whether Lori is right. Can she trust anyone else? I can report that the answer is sometimes yes but sometimes also no, and that tension is where the story really shines. If "Can people ever be OK to each other?" is a question you've been turning over in your own mind, this might be a good fable for a dark November.

The art in this is absolutely gorgeous (as in DIE) and it helps it play out somewhere between an extended single issue comic and a graphic fable. It's good stuff, but it also feels at times like a longer narrative that got truncated in a way. There is a lot of exposition throughout, handled in a way that makes it feel almost more like an adult picture book than a comic at times. Still, absolutely gorgeous.

The artwork in this short (just over 100 pages long) graphic novel is striking. The images feel as apocalyptic as the story, showing characters in a dark, shadowy landscape. One of the things I love about the book is that all three central human characters are women. At the beginning, Lori and Annette meet someone in a mask with a weapon who tries to prevent them from stealing cans of food. This person turns out to be an older woman the girls eventually meet again.

Much of the story is told in narrative that’s divided into short sentences arranged at the top or bottom of the panels. I love the way the panels are arranged on the pages. A lot of pages have tall, narrow panels side by side, showing a sequence of events. This made each panel seem huge and drew attention to the details of each image.

The storytelling itself is a little bit choppy, jumping from a few lines about Lori’s backstory straight into the present apocalyptic world without offering much explanation about what happened. The story leaves a lot of unanswered questions. We never learn what caused so much of the population to disappear, for example.

What does come into stark focus, though, is the relationship between Lori and her friends and the giant they call Red. They look for ways to communicate their needs and ultimately form what feels like the kind of relationship between a caregiver and a pet.

All in all, I can see why so many people are talking about this book. The illustrations are truly compelling. Readers who like dark fantasy will not want to miss this one.

Such a thrilling read!

Very engaging and the illustrations were beautiful.

The characters were relatable in their decisions and actions, even when they were divided.

Read in one sitting!

This was a great graphic novel, and I would love to see more from the world. The art is top notch, and the story is interesting.

This is incredibly raw and beautiful (and I mean that about the writing and the gorgeous artwork). My only complaint is that the story isn't longer, but I love that it exists.

"To survive you need to know what exactly you have to be scared about."

While this book fell short with stereotypical characters and plain world-building, it rose through the plot and the atmosphere it conveyed.

The post-apocalyptic ambiance is materialized by the incredible drawings. The dull colors made the desperation of the world even more tangible. The brighter colors were reserved for the mysterious Giants that fell from the sky. Are they saviors? Celestial beings? Killers? No one knows, but the vibrant colors they bear add to their mystery. The unraveling of this mystery is what drives the plot forward and keeps us guessing.

I understand graphic novels are a LOT of work, which is why they're usually not very long. With that in mind, I can say that I did enjoy the book. However, I can’t deny that I wish it would’ve been longer, to dig deeper. I’m still curious to see what other works these authors did.

I love this book for so ,many reasons: sassy and strong female protagonist, engaging story line, and the everlasting struggle for power. It's a fast read packed with so much discussion worthy drama on each page. The graphic art suits the story. I wouldn't change a thing about this book. It's my favorite graphic novel of 2024.

We Call Them Giants is a fun dystopian with an emotional twist. I was left with questions as many things were not explains but I still enjoyed it. The illustrations are so life-like. Thanks to for approving me.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel; the art is absolutely stunning and felt like each page brought another gorgeous painting. I am excited to see more from the illustrator.

Lori wakes up one day and everyone is gone- but that’s not surprising for Lori, because as a girl who has grown up in the system; everyone always leaves eventually. She finds herself in this dystopian world, food is scarce and the majority of other survivors are hostile. Lori struggles on surviving alongside fellow orphan Annette until one day, two ethereal alien giants appear- are they good? Evil? Did they cause this and what are their motives? Could they be trusted?

The characters were great and each their own individuals. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I feel like it could have benefited from being a little bit longer, but I also have no qualms about the plot points that were kept shrouded in mystery. I was definitely left wanting more!

Thank you to NetGalley & Image Comics for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fantastic. The art was beautiful and the plot made me feel things - desperation, loneliness, love. In a way, the relationship between the Red Giant and humans made me think of how my pets probably feel when trying to communicate to me. What a hauntingly beautiful story. Every page felt like looking at a masterpiece. The character relationships felt very realistic. I would recommend this to anyone.

This was a really interesting concept. I loved the art, especially of the giants and their homes. I think a little more time could have been spent pre-apocalypse to build on the characters more. I personally didn’t connect with them and would have liked to have known who they were before the Giants came.

Gillen’s skillful storytelling brings depth and humanity to characters who are both larger-than-life and achingly relatable, blurring the lines between heroism and hubris, reverence and rebellion. This is a story of love, power, and the eternal human drive to find meaning in the forces that shape our lives. The giants of the title are more than just powerful beings—they are symbols of the weight that past generations leave on the present, and each character’s journey speaks to the struggle of living up to, or breaking free from, these legacies.

Lori is used to everyone abandoning her, but even she isn't prepared when she wakes up to find almost all humans gone. She and her friend Annette scrape by, dodging gangs and scavenging for food. Then, the Giants arrive, bringing new resources but also new complications.

We Called Them Giants explores how we build relationships, particularly with those who communicate differently than us. It ultimately comes down on the side of love and care uniting us, regardless of our species. The illustration is gorgeous, with interesting uses of perspective to convey motion and the relative scale between the humans and the giants.

Excellent GN, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review