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146th out of 326 books
—
304 voters
Bad Island
Something on this island is up to no good . . .
When Reese is forced to go on a boating trip with his family, the last thing he expects is to be shipwrecked on an island-especially one teeming with weird plants and animals. But what starts out as simply a bad vacation turns into a terrible one, as the castaways must find a way to escape while dodging the island's dangerous...more
When Reese is forced to go on a boating trip with his family, the last thing he expects is to be shipwrecked on an island-especially one teeming with weird plants and animals. But what starts out as simply a bad vacation turns into a terrible one, as the castaways must find a way to escape while dodging the island's dangerous...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
August 1st 2011
by GRAPHIX
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4.5 Stars
Bad Island by Doug TenNapel asks the question—Just how bad can the family vacation possibly get? :) This colorful, in your face, action packed comic is full of surprises and heart. It’s BIG heart shows and beats on every page!
Mom, Dad, Reese, and Janie set out rather reluctantly on a family boat trip that runs into all kinds of bad when they hit rough waters. Nothing derails a family vacation faster than a good ‘ole fashion shipwreck! After washing ashore Bad Island, the story turns eve...more
Bad Island by Doug TenNapel asks the question—Just how bad can the family vacation possibly get? :) This colorful, in your face, action packed comic is full of surprises and heart. It’s BIG heart shows and beats on every page!
Mom, Dad, Reese, and Janie set out rather reluctantly on a family boat trip that runs into all kinds of bad when they hit rough waters. Nothing derails a family vacation faster than a good ‘ole fashion shipwreck! After washing ashore Bad Island, the story turns eve...more
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This was ok; there were certain "YA" aspects of it that made it not really my cup of tea, though it most definitely would have been, say, 15 years ago. I think the humor for me wasn't funny and took away from the story - it was goofy and it took away from what could have come across as dark and mysterious and so forth.
My other criticism was that the mysteries and creatures were too many, and too quickly defeated, and didn't have enough backstory. I guess if you put things on a spectrum, with so...more
My other criticism was that the mysteries and creatures were too many, and too quickly defeated, and didn't have enough backstory. I guess if you put things on a spectrum, with so...more
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A family decides to take a family trip out to sea on a boat they had rented. With the boy, Reese, his sister, Janie, and his mom and dad, Reese wasn’t too excited about this trip. But then something unexpected happens, a random storm appears and totally wipes out their boat. When they wake up, they find themselves on a mysterious island. They find something weird on the island but they don’t know what it is. As they journey through the island they find that something doesn’t want them to have it...more
It’s a bad island. The problem is that the shipwrecked family who has landed on its shores doesn’t know it yet. They soon will though once they encounter vicious animals, odd plants, strange markings, ritualistic creatures, and an unexplained set of footprints that keeps showing up at their campsite over night. The adventure that awaits them on this island is one they soon won’t forget, and neither will you.
Doug TenNapel’s Bad Island starts off innocently enough with a family vacation meant t...more
Doug TenNapel’s Bad Island starts off innocently enough with a family vacation meant t...more
My middle son is a graphic novels fan. He started reading them before he was reading regular books early in life, like 4 or 5. He has very eccentric tastes as well, and read books like The little Tyrant, Bone, Sardine in Space, Mail Order Ninja, Amulet and Robot Dreams. However, this book was chosen by my younger son, who is 9. He ordered this along with "Cardboard", which is another great read for boys. The same author also wrote Ghostopolis. I think the characters are quite developed in such a...more
A long time ago there was a race of battle robots. They were so huge, other creatures actually lived on them in order to help them function. During an invasion, their king had to make a decision that would change his family for many many years.
Meanwhile, in present day, the last thing Reese wants to do is go on a boating trip with his family. His little sister and her snake, his botanical mom, and scatter-brained dad manage to wreck their boat on a deserted island, but this is no ordinary island...more
Meanwhile, in present day, the last thing Reese wants to do is go on a boating trip with his family. His little sister and her snake, his botanical mom, and scatter-brained dad manage to wreck their boat on a deserted island, but this is no ordinary island...more
This graphic novel is very much like the TV series “Lost,” but in a comic book for teens.
The story starts out “in another world in another time” with a civilization of giant rocky creatures. Their people are being threatened by someone who wants to enslave them. A battle ensues. And then….
Present day:
A family is stranded on an island after a boating trip. Mom, Janie (little sister) and Reese (older brother) didn’t want to go in the first place, but Dad wants some family time to get everyone away...more
The story starts out “in another world in another time” with a civilization of giant rocky creatures. Their people are being threatened by someone who wants to enslave them. A battle ensues. And then….
Present day:
A family is stranded on an island after a boating trip. Mom, Janie (little sister) and Reese (older brother) didn’t want to go in the first place, but Dad wants some family time to get everyone away...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Dec 18, 2011
Rebecca
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
adventure,
drama,
family-story,
fantasy,
horror,
graphic-novel,
young-adult,
science-fiction
In a distant world, two mighty races battle each other over the fate of a third--one wants to enslave them, the other to liberate them. When the son of the king (of the good giants) decides, against his father's orders, to join the fight, he tips the balance.
Millenia later, in modern times, teenage Reese would rather do anything than go on a vacation with his family. Then, as if that weren't bad enough, they get shipwrecked on an island that they soon discover is populated with bizarre, dangero...more
Millenia later, in modern times, teenage Reese would rather do anything than go on a vacation with his family. Then, as if that weren't bad enough, they get shipwrecked on an island that they soon discover is populated with bizarre, dangero...more
The title is no joke. This island is very bad.
Although Ghostopolis's setting may have appeared darker than this, I was far more creeped out by the content here. We meet all kinds of warped and lethal animals, including the villainization of one of my most favorite icons. The illustrations of the bad, bad things are spikey, unnatural, and assymetrical. Very very ugly for a book this cartoony. There is a dark otherworldly reason the island is the way that it is, and an unfortunate family ends up...more
Although Ghostopolis's setting may have appeared darker than this, I was far more creeped out by the content here. We meet all kinds of warped and lethal animals, including the villainization of one of my most favorite icons. The illustrations of the bad, bad things are spikey, unnatural, and assymetrical. Very very ugly for a book this cartoony. There is a dark otherworldly reason the island is the way that it is, and an unfortunate family ends up...more
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This book is done in the good old comic book fashion. It is full of pictures that tell the story more than the words do. It includes the Wow! Screech! Huff! and Wham that are so fun and expected in this kind of book. The style of drawing is simple and effective, mostly black and white, with some color in it.
The story is that of a typical family with a teen boy named Reese who feels misunderstood by his parents. He has a much younger sister Janie. The sister is very fond of her pet snake; even a...more
The story is that of a typical family with a teen boy named Reese who feels misunderstood by his parents. He has a much younger sister Janie. The sister is very fond of her pet snake; even a...more
Two stories, seemingly unconnected, come together in this sophisticated graphic novel filled with panels that range from a simple close-up of a boy's face filled with disappointment to panels filled with the bones of creatures starting to knit together. The stories turn out not to be all that unrelated after all since both deal with sons rebelling against the fathers they love. Yet, in that timeless coming of age necessity, that rebellion is to expected and even necessary for the sons to come in...more
"'Nope. This island was populated only by hostile creatures ... and I think it was intentional!'
'But who would do that? The military? Some greedy, corrupt corporation?'
'Son, you've watched too many movies.'
'Then who? Canada?'"
After a forced "fun" family vacation turns disastrous, Reese and his family find themselves shipwrecked on a remote island, surrounded by strange plants and wildlife. What the family soon discovers is that the island is the direct product of an ancient battle waged beyond o...more
'But who would do that? The military? Some greedy, corrupt corporation?'
'Son, you've watched too many movies.'
'Then who? Canada?'"
After a forced "fun" family vacation turns disastrous, Reese and his family find themselves shipwrecked on a remote island, surrounded by strange plants and wildlife. What the family soon discovers is that the island is the direct product of an ancient battle waged beyond o...more
Young Reese has no interest in going on a boat trip with his family, but isn't given a choice. Along with his younger sister Janie and his parents, Reese soon discovers that staying at home might have been a good choice for all of them. Caught in an unexpected storm the family finds itself marooned on an island that might be much more than any of the could have foreseen. There are strange plants and animals on the island, some of which are not harmless. Worse there appears to be someone or somet...more
After reading Ghostopolis I was pleasantly surprised to find we had another Doug TenNapel book in our library. I wanted to see if all of his books were as interesting and wonderful as that one. I was not disappointed. Although I didn't like this one as much as Ghostopolis I still enjoyed it very much.
Reese and his family are forced on a family boating trip by his father when things go horribly wrong and a storm strands them on a seemingly deserted island. As they begin to explore the island the...more
Reese and his family are forced on a family boating trip by his father when things go horribly wrong and a storm strands them on a seemingly deserted island. As they begin to explore the island the...more
This is my 3rd book by this author and the deciding book for me on whether I'd continue to read him. I loved Ghostopolis and found Cardboard didn't live up to its expectations, so wondered which way this one would go. I'm pleased to say I loved it. I'm not sure I *quite* got the relationship between the giant rock people and the humans, but I *think* I did. Otherwise, it was great. I loved the whole bad island concept, kind of a twist on the Dr. Moreau theme but with aliens. As with "Cardboard"...more
Well, Bad Island is not terrible, but it is not my favorite graphic novel for children.
The good parts of the book? The story is imaginative, even if not executed very well. It shows a family that sticks together and works together, even though they didn't want to. I like that. Everyone slowly builds trust together (nothing like being stranded on an island with monsters to make you trust your son or daughter) which is a nice change from books about jaded children who hate their parents.
But there...more
The good parts of the book? The story is imaginative, even if not executed very well. It shows a family that sticks together and works together, even though they didn't want to. I like that. Everyone slowly builds trust together (nothing like being stranded on an island with monsters to make you trust your son or daughter) which is a nice change from books about jaded children who hate their parents.
But there...more
I chose this book, because I was browsing the graphic novel section of a library, saw the cover, skimmed through it, and thought it was an interesting book. Bad Island is about a family that gets shipwrecked on a peculiar island. They face bizarre and hostile creatures as they discover more secrets about the island. My favorite quote is said by the island itself several thousand years ago when it tries to defend its planet from invaders. He wants to fight but his father, the king of his people,...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I'm not a big graphic novel fan, but I've started reading them because some of my students love them. Bad Island by Doug TenNapel caught my eye in the last book order as well as those of many students. I have a long list of readers waiting for me to release this title into my classroom. They won't be disappointed.
Reese can think of nothing worse than being stuck on a sailboat with his family for vacation, but his parents insist that he go even if he is old enough to stay by himself. Younger sist...more
Reese can think of nothing worse than being stuck on a sailboat with his family for vacation, but his parents insist that he go even if he is old enough to stay by himself. Younger sist...more
Little more than a thousand years ago on a distant planet, large and small creatures needed one another in a symbiotic relationship. When the prince of one of the large creatures manages to get kidnapped, however, few would see what effect that might have on the future. Fast forward to today and a typical American family is getting ready to go on vacation. Teenaged Reese would much rather stay home by himself but that is clearly not an option. When the family accidentally washed up on a strange...more
like everything else of tennapel's i've read, i had a lot of fun going through this. the quality of his artwork and coloring make his books very easy to visualize as a film, and add that level of cinematics to everything he writes. still, it's hard to not feel like something is missing. tennapel's stories tend to operate on large scales - in this case, a family is marooned on an island that has an apparent connection to a race of ancient super-giant alien cyborgs. which is awesome. but the narra...more
This book is done in the good old comic book fashion. It is full of pictures that tell the story more than the words do. It includes the Wow! Screech! Huff! and Wham that are so fun and expected in this kind of book. The style of drawing is simple and effective, mostly black and white, with some color in it.
The story is that of a typical family with a teen boy named Reese who feels misunderstood by his parents. He has a much younger sister Janie. The sister is very fond of her pet snake; even a...more
The story is that of a typical family with a teen boy named Reese who feels misunderstood by his parents. He has a much younger sister Janie. The sister is very fond of her pet snake; even a...more
It’s enough to make you want to take up brain surgery. I read some comics for kids and I can hardly move through the recycled tropes and old overdone ideas cluttering up the pages. Then I read a book by Doug TenNapel. When the man’s Ghostopolis came out last year I was delighted. Sure, we’ve all seen the idea of the afterlife as a city done before (May Bird, Billy Bones, etc.) but TenNapel’s storytelling managed to incorporate this odd and unique internal logic that I’d never seen anywhere befor...more
Katie Young
Graphic Novel
This story is two stories in one. It starts out in an alien world with giant rock inhabitants who are being threatened with slavery. War breaks out and then the story jumps to Reese and his family’s vacation. They end up shipwrecked on an anything but normal island and realize they are stranded with strange creatures and surrounded by weird plants. Reese’s parents are kidnapped by these creatures and it is up to him and his snake loving sister Janie to save them. All the...more
Graphic Novel
This story is two stories in one. It starts out in an alien world with giant rock inhabitants who are being threatened with slavery. War breaks out and then the story jumps to Reese and his family’s vacation. They end up shipwrecked on an anything but normal island and realize they are stranded with strange creatures and surrounded by weird plants. Reese’s parents are kidnapped by these creatures and it is up to him and his snake loving sister Janie to save them. All the...more
I really like Doug Tennapel, I just have to agree with what I have read from others and what I keep seeing in his work.
He has great story ideas, and he captures emotions and expressions in his art, and the overall look and feel of his books are gripping, they just always end up feeling like sketches or first drafts.
Bad Island is the tale of a family whose boat trip goes wrong, incredibly wrong. Stranded on an island filled with strange and insidious creatures they must struggle to find the secr...more
He has great story ideas, and he captures emotions and expressions in his art, and the overall look and feel of his books are gripping, they just always end up feeling like sketches or first drafts.
Bad Island is the tale of a family whose boat trip goes wrong, incredibly wrong. Stranded on an island filled with strange and insidious creatures they must struggle to find the secr...more
This was quite the interesting read. Bad Island is action-packed, humorous, and leaves thereader with an urge to go on vacation with your family. Okay, maybe not that last one. The artwork was vivid and the creatures were gruesome. I really liked how the fantastical elements surrounding the family's vacation seemed to roll off of their shoulders, like they weren't really affected by the crazy stuff going on around them. At times I liked the cartoonish reactions, but I think that this is a tactic...more
This was definitely an original storyline, but there was so much of it that wasn't explained or elucidated. Frankly, I like a little more meat in my graphic novels.
The other thing that bothered me... there was no clear hero or heroine. Sometimes I thought it was the son, sometimes the parents. I'm fine with more than one protagonist, but when no distinctions about character are made and when none of the backstory about a character is given, it's hard to care what happens.
In the end, I felt like...more
The other thing that bothered me... there was no clear hero or heroine. Sometimes I thought it was the son, sometimes the parents. I'm fine with more than one protagonist, but when no distinctions about character are made and when none of the backstory about a character is given, it's hard to care what happens.
In the end, I felt like...more
More somewhat light TenNapel fun and strangeness, which is exactly what I needed this week. Not too complicated a read, but complicated enough that I'm too curious to not read it in two and a half sittings. I supposed the initial pop and crackle of reading some of his other books might be a little lighter here, but I'm not faulting it that, because it's pretty art as ever I'd hope for in his books. I don't know what I'm getting at. He still makes consistently cool books, so I'll read each and ev...more
I bought this for my school library to add to our still-too-small graphic novel collection. I liked the storyline, even though the father's bravery in the face of really scary creatures seemed contrived. I also liked that the main character, a teenage boy, appears Latino, or part Latino (Mom appears so and Dad is white), because most of my students are and there is still a dearth of incidentally Latino characters (rather than characters in books which are primarily about identity) in children's...more
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