Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2007, Love and Rockets isfinally released in its most accessible form yet: As a series ofcompact, thick, afford...
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reviews
Oct 20, 2011
Nicole
rated it: 
To be perfectly honest, at the beginning of this book, I was completely lost. There was a cast of so many characters, with so many random, seemingly senseless things going on, that I couldn't quite orient myself until, some time further into the book, I began to realize that this was just how the book was written. This first volume isn't even able to be considered as a real book, in a sense, because it's a collection of shorter stories all put together into one large volume. In fact, I think the
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Jun 15, 2009
Jason
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(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com:]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)
Regular readers know that I make my way through graphic novels on a pretty regular basis, usually only ten or twenty pages at a time while in bed at night; and hey, what should just happen to pop up at my neighborhood library the other day than the collected "Palomar" stories fr More...
Regular readers know that I make my way through graphic novels on a pretty regular basis, usually only ten or twenty pages at a time while in bed at night; and hey, what should just happen to pop up at my neighborhood library the other day than the collected "Palomar" stories fr More...
Feb 25, 2009
Hillary
rated it:
My first bigger book by Gilbert (and only my second overall, after Speak of the Devil), and I was a little worried about how he'd compare to Jaime, but I may like his stuff just as much. Had a brief discussion about it last night with Casey and came to the conclusion that it's mostly just more intense and adult and gets there faster than Jaime's stuff does. It's not just that there's a lot more sex and violence (although there is; even this first book is, like, jam-packed with wang), but also th
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Dec 25, 2011
Saila
rated it: 
I love Gilbert Hernandez's Palomar stories. They are always funny, tragic, and for me, familiar and exotic at the same time. This collection, how ever, wasn't the most complete. It has several small stories, not always in chronological order, which makes it sometimes hard to follow. They refer to incidents happening on other stories, not included to this book. In most cases, it makes an impression of a story, that goes beyond what is revealed. But sometimes it's just irritating. Still, if I have
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Aug 21, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
Officially calling myself out for previously being too much of a lit-snob to read graphic novels as an adult. Thanks to an enthusiastic recommendation from a trusted friend (who also noted that this book was a great intro to Love and Rockets), I recently picked up this collection and essentially could not put it down until I finished it.
Heartbreak Soup is the story of multiple generations of the residents of Palomar, a fictional Central America town, over time. Yes it's a comic, but i More...
Heartbreak Soup is the story of multiple generations of the residents of Palomar, a fictional Central America town, over time. Yes it's a comic, but i More...
Jan 03, 2009
Scott
rated it:
This is a good book. RI would describe the content as raw but it does have a refined qualities. It is rather pornographic. Or at least erotic. Hernandez enjoys sexual themes and he does an excellent job with them.
I loved this book (sex and all) because Hernandez captures the little town and really develops his characters. This is a huge key to enjoying the story is to love (or at least know) the characters. Hernandez has painted these characters beautifully. He has also incorporat More...
I loved this book (sex and all) because Hernandez captures the little town and really develops his characters. This is a huge key to enjoying the story is to love (or at least know) the characters. Hernandez has painted these characters beautifully. He has also incorporat More...
Jan 16, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
I guess I've always been far more interested in Jaime's "Love and Rockets" contributions, and there's really no denying that the Maggie and Hopey stories are more inclined to resonate with my own misguided youth, but there's really something complex and melancholy about Beto's Palomar series that worked so much better for me reading them all anthologized rather than in fits and starts in the single issue comics. I think I'll probably wear this book out re-reading it. Calling these st
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Apr 22, 2011
Ryan
rated it: 
I'm still parsing my feelings on this.
While I did read this entire collection in a little over two hours, my interest flagged near the end and I was a tad tired of the style, drawing and writing.
Up until then, though, I was intrigued by this Latin America magical realism soap opera in comic form. There's heartbreak, murder, lust, friendship, love, sex, ghosts, brujas, and so much more.
I don't know. I enjoyed the stories--most of them--but as I reflect back on them More...
While I did read this entire collection in a little over two hours, my interest flagged near the end and I was a tad tired of the style, drawing and writing.
Up until then, though, I was intrigued by this Latin America magical realism soap opera in comic form. There's heartbreak, murder, lust, friendship, love, sex, ghosts, brujas, and so much more.
I don't know. I enjoyed the stories--most of them--but as I reflect back on them More...
Oct 25, 2011
Mark
rated it:
As the summary on the back cover of this collection attests, "in the third issue of Love and Rockets, Gilbert Hernandez abruptly jettisoned his Marvel and Heavy Metal-influenced sci-fi yarns to focus on the day to day tribulations of a tiny Central American hamlet more or less untouched by time--Palomar." Mr. Hernandez gives his readers a clue to this transition in the story "Love Bites." As the story opens, Heraclio begs his lover Carmen not to destroy his copy of Gabriel Ga
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Jul 15, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
This is a very large compilation of Palomar stories- so large, in fact, that I ended up spending a good part of yesterday sitting outside the library on a bench reading so I could finish the darn thing and return it. I think sitting en pleine air only aided the stories, however- a bit of breeze and the general heat of a less-humid DC day got me into the feeling of this Central American town. I did not enjoy it at first, and was continually frustrated by not knowing what was going on, or who wa
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Jan 07, 2011
Tim
rated it:
This collection of comics tells interlinked tales set in a fictional South American town, Palomar. Characters come and go, grow older, and interfere with each others' lives, often with catastrophic results. I love the way that minor characters appear in the background, their lives progressing in only in glimpses. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is clearly an influence (100 Years of Solitude is evened referenced in one episode). One episode, 'Duck Feet' is one of the most powerful comics I've read in a lo
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Dec 03, 2008
Baklavahalva
rated it:
Two pages and I was hooked. Saw this book at UNCG's library (so happy to see that university libraries everywhere are making collections of graphic novels). Dark and brooding; warm and wonderful. It has everything: violence, paranoia, sex, friendship, larger-than-life women with larger-than-life breasts, fried slugs, panther attacks, enormous sculptures and temples left by ancient tribes that strangely resemble extraterrestrials.
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Feb 02, 2011
Mon
rated it:
Palomar isn't a particularly attractive graphic novel. Nobody has the ability to fly, there is no costume, villain with weird laughs, super speed, teleportation, time warp, fluffy animals, or even girl with really big eyes.
Maybe that is why it's literary.
It's easy to poke fun at superficial comics and post lolcat pictures instead of writing a proper review here. My own lack of description should thus hopefully convince you how good this is.
Maybe that is why it's literary.
It's easy to poke fun at superficial comics and post lolcat pictures instead of writing a proper review here. My own lack of description should thus hopefully convince you how good this is.
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Dec 18, 2010
Iz
rated it:
What first attracted me to the Love & Rockets series was the art, which is my favourite out of any graphic novels I've read. After reading Heartbreak Soup, I couldn't stop thinking about Palomar and the people who live there, the very latin-flavoured magic realism, the moody, dreamy, strange, sexy tone of the stories, how it's all so wrong but so right at the same time. I can't not love it.
May 05, 2011
Christopher
rated it:
A true classic. I'm glad I finally read it, if only to experience a truly unique voice in comics, especially when it came out in the early 80's. Beautiful art, lovely writing, and a true sense of the wonder that runs beneath normal, ordinary lives.
Jan 01, 2012
Katie
rated it:
it took me a long time to get into the love and rockets series, but all of a sudden i'm thinking about vicente, luba, chelo, jesus, carmen, pipo, and the strange little town of palomar every time my mind wanders...
Aug 15, 2011
Lindsay
rated it:
I haven't read many graphic novels, and I definitely haven't read any in an anthologized format like this one. I do enjoy magical realism occasionally, though, so I liked reading a Latino-tinged take on the genre.
Dec 18, 2011
Kenny
rated it:
A great introduction to Love & Rockets and a great book, period. From the very beginning Palomar feels like an actual living, breathing community, just bursting at the seams with vibrant characters, each with a story to tell.
Aug 04, 2009
Mateo
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Loved this comic...a beautiful rendition of hispanic culture and the magic realism / close-knit community made it seem as though it were an illustrated Garcia Marquez book.
Nov 29, 2008
Craig
rated it:
Gilbert's Palomar series isn't quite as great as Jaime's Locas, in my opinion, but I'm sure that's totally a matter of taste. Still entirely great and worth reading.
Jan 16, 2012
Brandon
rated it:
The first story in this collection was solid, but didn't really prove itself in terms of how well the series is regarded. And then there was the rest of the book. Amazing. Highly recommended. Now, to try out some of Jamie's stuff.
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Jul 29, 2011
My first foray into magical-realist comic books and I absolutely loved it. It won't be my last. Thank you Piers for introducing me to this genre. x
Dec 25, 2010
John
rated it:
Not as good as Jaime's stories (I mean, how can you beat sci-fi punk chicks?), but then again, what is? Still oh-so-neat.
Nov 04, 2007
Jennifer
rated it:
I'm only slightly acquainted with the Love and Rockets series. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There's no real plot or story arc -- and that's fine with me. The characters change, more is revealed about them, they are complex and fully articulated, and are what drive the series. There are a ton of characters too, and I felt like I knew everyone by the end of this collection. I like the graphic style, though occassionally the women begin to look alike. It's weird, it's odd, it's very slice
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May 31, 2009
Leighwoosey
rated it:
More fantastic and desperate human tales from masterful graphic story tellers.
Nov 09, 2010
Athena
rated it:
This is the first I've read of Love and Rockets, and sadly, after all the good things I had heard, I couldn't really get into these stories. I didn't find any of the characters, plots, or dialogue compelling, and I don't usually go for this kind of comic art. I was interested in the sense of place that Hernandez crafts, but it got monotonous after a while. Maybe I'm missing the point... I actually bought three of the Palomar collections around the same time, so I might change my mind as I keep r
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Feb 28, 2011
Emily
rated it:
the characters and stories in love and rockets are completely addictive. while i don't feel as attached to any of gilbert's characters as i do to maggie and hopey, i love the inhabitants of palomar as a whole. the heartbreak soup stories are more serious and sad than jaime's locas stories, but full of truthful, beautiful moments. oh, and there's a great story that features tons of cameos, from maggie and hopey to frida and r. crumb. some of the best comics i've ever read.
