We Called Them Giants is a captivating graphic novel that immediately caught my eye with its stunning cover art. The illustration's beauty compelled me to pick it up, even without any prior knowledge of the plot.

The story follows Lori, a teenage girl who awakens to find her world inexplicably devoid of people. I immediately liked the character. The first few full-page spreads are just stunning.

Lori navigates this eerie, deserted landscape, she encounters colossal, mysterious beings—the Giants—whose presence adds to the enigma of her situation—the narrative delves into themes of isolation, discovery, and the profound impact of unexpected connections. I wasn't expecting to be as moved by the story as I was.
Stephanie Hans' artwork is nothing short of mesmerizing. Each page is a visual feast, with rich, evocative illustrations that perfectly complement Gillen's storytelling. Combining the art and narrative creates an immersive experience that lingers long after the final page.
In summary, We Called Them Giants is a beautifully crafted graphic novel that blends a compelling story with breathtaking art. It's a must-read for fans of the medium and anyone looking for a poignant, visually stunning tale.

I picked this graphic novel up on a whim, but I have to say I quite liked it.

The story is an interesting twist on on some familiar post apocalyptic or dystopian. It is unique, unapologetically, unexplained, and ultimately, surprisingly heartfelt. The ending theme, which I will not disclose had every opportunity to come off as try or schmaltzy, yet it did not.

I don’t remember reading anything else illustrated by Stephanie Hans. Her artwork is enchanting and easy to follow. She is a good storyteller and, again, I quite liked it.

The book is an easy read, and, obviously, enjoyable. For anyone wanting a break from superheroes, high fantasy, or doom and gloom, future scapes, I recommend this highly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for a review copy.

While not quite as prolific a duo as Kieron Gillen/Jamie McKelvie, Gillen and Stephanie Hans are a creative team that has excited me in the past, and everything the two work on together at the very least deserves looking into.

That being said, post-apocalyptic stories are a dime a dozen as of late, especially within comic books. An easy sci-fi premise which to base a story, <i>We Called Them Giants</i> is anything but ordinary. It is simultaneously the least post-apocalyptic-post-apocalypse book and the least Kieron Gillen (I mean that complimentary) book I think I have ever read.

Gillen tends to be a bit heady, poetic, imaginative, and high-concept in his work. </i>We Called Them Giants</i> sees Gillen rely on a different skillset; giving the reader just enough to tell a compelling story of three women (Lori, Annette, and Beatrice) and their journey of survival in a barren, bond-building, and heartache while also allowing Stephanie Hans to shine like she has in no other book before. This is easily Hans' best-looking book to date. Hans weaves between raw emotion, lush sights, barren landscapes, and some of the most stunning creatures (some animalistic, some fantastical) in science fiction or fantasy the medium has seen.

Additionally, I believe a huge strength of the book is the OGN format. It was a perfect decision to publish the story this way. I don't think this story could have truly stood up on its own were this to have been released as a miniseries.

This books comes with a high recommendation, and I guarantee once you sit down to read this you will not stop for a single second until reaching the end.

We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen is a gripping and visually stunning graphic novel that blends breathtaking art with a deep, immersive narrative. The illustrations are nothing short of beautiful, with each page offering a sense of scale and emotion that enhances the story’s atmospheric tension. Gillen’s storytelling is masterful, keeping readers on the edge of their seat as the suspense unfolds. The themes of identity, power, and the search for meaning resonate throughout, making it not just an exciting read, but one that leaves you reflecting long after you finish. A captivating, thought-provoking experience from start to finish.

This book was somehow everything I was expecting, and also completely caught me by surprise.

I had just expected it something very intense and heart wrenching but it is actually has a really wholesome narrative about those who love us and how they show it.

DNF this one as well. The art was good but honestly, there's only so much interest I seem to have when it comes to Western style comics. Anything that feels like DC just doesn't hit right for me. I can't put my finger on why, but that's where its at.

This will probably do well in the library though, even if it isn't for me. There are plenty of people who will want to enjoy these visuals.

This was a beautiful graphoc novel. The art is amazing. It is such a sad, gut wrenching story. My only negative is it was so short. Btu so well done.

Beautifully drawn, intriguing plot line… but feels like half executed. You can’t help but come out of reading We Called Them Giants without asking “is that it?” Shame, as the world building was interesting and the art quite eye catching… oh well.

4.5*

"Anything smells good when you're starving."

I wasn't sure what exactly to expect from this, but I trusted Kieron enough not to write a bad story and of course, it didn't disappoint.

In a world where a large portion of the population has disappeared and a fierce gang - 'The Dogs' - run rampant, hoarding and killing, Lori and Annette are simply trying to survive.

Thats when they arrive.

Two giants, red and emerald, unable to communicate with humans. No one knows why they're here or where they came from or what they want, but the unknown is dangerous and Lori doesn't know who to trust.

This was a beautiful story about grief and communication, love and loss, and how our experiences shape our outlook. The artistry was as gorgeous as the writing and brought the coldness of winter and (view spoiler).

The ending was short and succinct without being rushed or feeling out of place. Very much enjoyed every inch of this story and honestly it's just made me want to get a physical copy to admire it even further.

Thank you Image Comics & NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this comic - all opinions are my own.

We need more sci-fi comics one-shots / short graphic novels. This was superb.

Post (rapture-esque)-apocalyptic survival with weird sci-fi elements thrown in. Amazing art, wonderful characters,

Pick this one up!

Lori wakes to find the streets empty. Everyone has gone. Or at least, nearly everyone. She’s thrown into a world where she has to scrape by in the ruins of civilization, nearly starving, ways hiding until she sees them.

What a beautiful story of loss and redemption. Lori is distrustful of the giant,as she should be. The world is ugly as it is,but a world with only scavengers left can be even more so.
Watching her work her way through all that happens gives you hope for some of us.
Beautifully drawn. This is what I have always expected from Speculative Fiction.
Giants was released 11/12/2024
Thanks to @netgalley and Image Comics for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

Lori has realized in her short life that the only person she can rely on is herself. She wakes one day to find that everyone has disappeared. As she walks the empty streets, she finds a friend in a girl named Annette. She is the opposite of Lori, i.e., trusting, outgoing, and optimistic. As they struggle to survive together, avoid the gang called the Dogs, avoid wolves tearing people apart, and not dying from hunger or cold, something falls from the sky. A giant alien being. Is it friend or foe?
The artwork was beautiful, the story was captivating, but there were a few questions left unanswered. However, it is worth the read.

#ThxNetGalley

I was skeptical of this title's premise initially, but this was executed brilliantly. With themes of trust and understanding, this dystopic title has gorgeous artwork that fits perfectly with the story.

I have to start by saying how much I absolutely loved the front cover of We Called Them Giants. It’s stunning, and the art style immediately drew me in—it’s the kind of cover that practically whispers, “Pick me up!” even if you don’t know anything about the story inside. That’s exactly what happened to me. I went in completely blind, just trusting the beauty of the illustrations.

And I’m so glad I did. The art throughout the graphic novel is just as mesmerizing as the cover, perfectly capturing the story's mood. It has this mix of grandeur and melancholy that lingers with you long after you’ve finished reading. Using colour and detail made every page feel alive, and I found myself pausing just to take it all in.

The story itself feels like a modern myth, blending themes of loss in a post-apocalyptic world. The titular giants are both interesting and well-designed but I also like the other groups that have formed as part of this world. It's a multilayer story where everything isn't fully explained which kept the story engaging.

The story is poignant, emotional, and thought-provoking. But honestly, it was the art that hooked me and kept me turning the pages.
If you’re someone who appreciates graphic novels with breathtaking visuals and a story that feels timeless, I can’t recommend this enough. Even if you go in, like me, knowing nothing about the plot, the journey will surprise and move you. We Called Them Giants is a treasure of a book, and I’m so glad the cover convinced me to give it a chance.

Got an ARC through Netgalley, thank you to the publishers!

This reminded me of another graphic novel I read recently — Soma — except this seemed a little more crisp and advanced artistically and plot-wise.

It still wasn’t for me. I am getting a bit tired of dystopian post apocalyptic story-telling with seemingly cynical main/side characters.

I really liked this. The art was really beautiful and atmospheric. I have seen criticism over the vagueness of the setting and character backgrounds, but I don't mind a good bit of vagueness in my apocalyptic/dystopians. I liked the idea behind the 'giant' and humans relationship and enjoyed the narration style. I do think it could have been done with being a little bit longer, to have a bit more connection with the characters. I did read it twice, back to back and think I will buy my own copy, 4.5 stars.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen was I guess what you would call a post-apocalyptic sci-fi adult graphic novel. It had very immersive, somber art and tells the story of a couple of teen girls who woke up to find everyone gone except a few and how they learn to survive in the impossible and diverse new landscape, oh and there are aliens. Not my usual genre, but not bad, and had a heartfelt ending

We Call them Giants is an Achingly Beautiful work of visual Art.

Stephanie Hans is an Artist of whom this is my first viewing & is what ultimately drew me to want to check this story out. From a purely visual perspective this gets a full five stars, however, unfortunately the story lacks any real point of interest beyond a rather basic premise.

Where did everyone go?? Why did only the young & apparently only one adult remain?? Why or where dis the Giants come from? & why were they so diametrically opposite to each-other? Sadly none of these question get any semblance of an answer here & ultimately leaves the reader wanting.

Thank you to #NetGalley & #ImageComics for providing a review copy of ‘We Call them Giants’ for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

We Called Them Giants is a phenomenal dystopian graphic novel! A part of me wishes it was a bit longer, since there are a lot of mysteries that are kind of set up, and very few of them get conclusive answers. However, I think it is the brevity that makes this book so impactful. We Called Them Giants is a story of survival and learning to roll with the punches and find love and compassion along the way.

This didn't take long to read, but definitely packed a punch. I felt surprisingly close to the characters after just a few pages and the concept was interesting, too. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked the art style, but I loved it by the end. It was a fantastic way to depict the otherworldly giants.

I understand that the authors wanted to keep some things a mystery, but I would have liked to have learned a little more about the reasons for the presence of the giants. It would have made the story a bit more rounded. Nevertheless, I was engaged throughout and enjoyed witnessing the growth of the main character!

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for providing this e-ARC for an honest review.