Shred or Dead takes place in Claris Hills, the absolute capital of skate culture. Here, skate crews rule the streets, and turf wars are settled through challenges. Each skater has a level, like in a video game, which defines their strength. We follow Noob, a skater who wants to join a crew and must prove her skills. But just after passing the test, their turf is claimed by skaters of a much higher level.

First and foremost, Shred or Dead is pure madness—humor, pop culture references, and, of course, tons of skateboarding action! No traditional fights like in a Marvel or DC comic, but rather wild challenges thrown down by different characters to cross into or claim territories. While the tone remains quirky throughout, there’s a shift at the halfway mark: the “over-the-top” factor cranks up even higher, pushing absurdity and action to the next level.
Good news, though—if you don’t know anything about skateboarding, no worries! None of the tricks actually exist, just a few clever wordplay references to keep the theme alive, along with plenty of skateboards, of course.

The art style might divide readers, but it stays true to the author’s identity, in line with their other works. The colors are vibrant, and the action is easy to follow, both in narrative panels and the more dynamic ones where movement flows effortlessly.

Throughout my reading, I laughed a lot at the references and caricatures the author used. I initially expected a realistic skateboarding comic, and after a brief moment of adjustment at the start, I totally got hooked!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

It was great finding my way back into vibe of old school skateboarding. While I wasn’t into skateboarding itself at the time, being highly uncoordinated, I did love to watch the classic skaters (Hawk, Hosoi, Caballero) and equally loved the iconography of the classic and modern brands (Powell-Peralta and Bones Brigade, Spitfire, Creature.) While I didn’t skate, I did witness many instances of mall security harassing skaters.

This book brought back a lot of find memories by way of its 80’s-early 90’s vibe. This was a fun time to live, and the quirky/ zany style of this book channels it perfectly. It won’t be for everyone, but if you were young in the 80’s you’ll dig this.

The design of “Tony Hawke’s” noggin… hilarious. I see you.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I give all the props to the author illustrator for his hard work and creativity. I don't doubt that this book will have its audience. Unfortunately it's not me. It wasn't generally relatable and the substitute swearing was a big turn off. I wish it the best and hope that it will land in all of the right hands.

Just finished reading an arc of "Shred or Dead" and I got to say, this book healed my inner child. The art style is reminiscent of 90s and early 2000s Cartoon Network with a Nickelodeon Rocket Power feel. The story keeps getting better with each chapter; adding in a new crazy turn each page. Highly recommend if you're a fan of videogames like Ollie Ollie World or graphic novels with a slapstick vibe.

[English is not my first language, sorry if there are mistakes]
Shred or Dead is about a gang of kids being kicked of a skatepark by a much more experienced gang. From there, they'll do their best to gain experience to kick them out, with a lot of epic and wierd adventures involving a lot of skating.
Though it is not the kind of subjects I generally enjoy, I found this comic book fun, absurd, with a very good sense of composition and action.

No matter how I tried, I just couldn't get into this book. I think the artwork is cool but I didn't enjoy the story. Unfortunately not for me but I'm sure that someone else will love it

If you’re into skateboarding stories with a fantastical twist, this out-of-this-world tale is a must-read! The story follows our main character, who dreams of joining a skateboarding crew—until the top crew rolls in and takes over their territory. Things take a wild turn when an alien shows up, and it’s up to the protagonist and her magic skateboard to save the day.

This story combines the thrill of skateboarding with a "save-the-world" vibe in a unique fantasy setting. The art perfectly complements the story, bringing the action and characters to life in a way that’s visually stunning. Whether you're into skating, fantasy, or just a fun, adventurous read, this book delivers!

The artwork reminds me of the Loud House. This is about a town known for its skateboard gangs or crews. A not-so-great crew of misfits are trying to level up and find a place to shred. The way this book is drawn makes the gang seem like they’re from the movie Grease or from West Side Story rather than what most modern gangs are like. There is some narrative and in all honesty this book is boring. I am DNFing at 24%. I like the artwork and even part of the concept, cannot get past how boring it is.

Super vivid and funny middle grade graphic novel about a city full of skateboarders and the battle for territory. I loved the story of finding your power and your people, but as a whole this was a little too long and a bit too busy for me. I could defintiely see kids loving this though!

I would’ve eaten this up when I was a kid. It reminded me of getting the Cartoon Network magazines and annuals which I absolutely loved. I don’t feel like I was the target audience for this at my current age, but it had a great art direction and a really fun sense of humour that I can imagine would be brilliant for a middle grade audience.

Super colorful and expressive artwork, kind of reminiscent of old Cartoon Network shows.
A promising but ultimately kinda forgettable cast of wacky characters.
A story that goes in... unexpected directions.
"Shred or Dead" was just okay. It's quite childish, but rife with references that only older readers will understand and appreciate. I think it'd make a pretty compelling indie cartoon series actually. It ended up being nothing special for me, but a younger audience might enjoy it. All in all, I have to admit I'm pretty head empty about it.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and excited kids book. This will be a great read for kids and will keep them engaged.

“Grab a bag of Cromps and pop open a can of Spüz—Shred or Dead is the toastiest odyssey on wheels! Stuffed to the crust with warring skate crews, an ominous Oracle, dumb babies, and a secret circus skate park, Shred or Dead is the absolute capital of comic book fun.” —Jess Smart Smiley, creator of the What Happens Next graphic novels