Review: Ghostopolis
Sep 06
“Art and story by Doug TenNapel
I’ve been a fan of Doug TenNapel’s work for many years. Books like “Gear” and “Iron West” are among my favorite graphic novels and my copies bear fuzzed corners and worn covers earned by countless loans to friends and family. The mix of funky (sometimes vaguely naughty) humor, dynamic action and underlying (and usually spiritual) moral lessons make for a potent, readable mix in most of his books.
In the interest of fairness, I must admit that I have, on occasion, been put off by some of the more blunt and humorless manifestations of political or religious messaging in some of his work. Most notably, “Earthboy Jacobus” – an otherwise rollicking and bombastic adventure – was ruined for me by the overt and mean-spirited political commentary that is shoehorned into the beginning of the book. It’s the only one of Mr. TenNapel’s books that I won’t loan out. Thankfully, such lapses are rare.
Don’t let the fact that Hugh Jackman signed to make a film version of it a year before it ever saw print dissuade you – “Ghostopolis” is a great read.
It’s filled with the kind of humor and heart and action that Mr. TenNapel is so adept at delivering. The story is a lot of fun and is certainly safe for young adult readers without pandering to them either. The initial set-up and establishment of the Ghostopolis as a setting are wonderful. The cast of characters is diverse and distinct and the reader will be hard-pressed not to feel invested in their adventures. That being said, after the rather luxurious trip through the first 3/4 of the book, the VERY end of the story winds up feeling a little rushed by comparison. A lot of loose ends get tied up in the final pages and it sometimes feels like things are being glossed over.
When the story gets “spiritual”, it does so with an obviously Christian tone, but in a way that’s quite moving – even for a reader like myself who doesn’t share the author’s beliefs. Mr. TenNapel delivers a Christ analog that only makes a couple of brief appearances, but in the process presents a clear and powerful portrait of what (I assume) the author finds attractive and compelling about his own faith. It’s not a wishy-washy “Jesus-as-hippy” presentation, either. It has a macho kindness that really stood out and impressed me. If I HAD to believe in a God, I think I’d probably want it to be Mr. TenNapel’s.
Artistically, it is (as expected) gorgeous. My only complaint is that the coloring detracts from Mr. TenNapel’s fantastic illustration. It’s a minor complaint, to be sure, but I strongly prefer to absorb great line-work directly – without having it muddled by post-production coloring and effects.
