Vögelein: Old Ghosts

Vögelein #2

by Jane Irwin

Though three hundred years have passed since Alexi's death, Vögelein finds herself still haunted by the unkept promise she made to her first Guardian. Now the clockwork faerie must confront her past with the help of Mason, an itinerant musician whose spirit bears a striking resemblance to the one she desperately wants to lay to rest. As she struggles to find peace for both herself and Alexi, Vögelein discovers that centuries-old questions rarely have easy answers, intended paths reveal themselves in mysterious ways, and present-day threats strike just as suddenly as those from long ago.

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Comics, Science Fiction Fantasy, Manga

168 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2007

Reviews

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clockwork fae trying to figure out her place in the world since her master's death finally comes to realize she has some unresolved issues with him that she needs to make peace with first. Low-key, but it works.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you pick up the second volume before the first, as I had, the introduction will reassure you that you’ll do just fine. It catches you up where needed and recommends reading the first for key references, but one might dive right in since the volume is in hand. This is true. Vögelein, the clockwork faerie, is dealing with old ghosts in this volume and the historical context is provided as well as her current situation. Jane Irwin settles the reader into the story and the immersion is quick.

Vögelein: Old Ghosts is fairly text heavy, but not in the way you regret Irwin’s decision to tell the story in a graphic medium. There are nice touches with the text, signalling that the text has been translated, providing translations elsewhere. The way the text/images play out reminds me of [director] who spends a lot of time on dialog but keeps the characters or cameras moving to keep the audience from feeling itchy. Like [director], there are plenty of quiet moments as well, transitions, emoting, contemplation. If you are into a lot of color, movement, and sound effects, Vögelein is probably not for you.

I liked the idea of a clockwork faerie, but I like how a fascination can very quickly be made complicated. Vögelein needs wound, for one. But she is vulnerable in other ways. She is able to be exploited in many ways, whether the intentions are good or bad. There are several attributes to consider, her soul being a significant one.

While the fascination with what complications might be unique to the clockwork faerie, there are complications that are much more universal, and Irwin blends the two at times. Vögelein can be read both as a representative of the vulnerable and her own individual character. Irwin is exploring grief and closure, the value of memory and music and moving on. There is also this lovely hunger for magic in the world—and community. The journey is a definite feature. You could keep the reading light, but the novel revolves around a thoughtful, emotional and courageous clockwork faerie that is interested in making the deeper connections as she looks to find her place in the modern world, ages from where she’d first begun.

Vögelein: Old Ghosts feels indie without all the hipster-cute or young adult edged; primarily because it is a different sort of urban fantasy. This one is for fans of old school faerie reads that are looking to be as timeless as they are entertaining. I’d heard of Vögelein from one of those must-read comic lists, and it was strongly attached to Linda Medley’s Castle Waiting. Some of it is in the illustration, some of it in its themes. I think Castle Waiting more accessible to a greater audience but I was glad to have found Vögelein and look forward to catching the first book in the series. I wasn’t as taken with the art work, a personal aesthetic, but it isn’t displeasing, and the form is good. The wings are gorgeous! I like the perspectives Irwin employs, her use of focus and angle is wonderful. I like how the art so effortlessly sets or reflects a mood. I could smell fuel at the fueling station. I could smell smoke and beer and sweat at the tavern. It was an effect I didn’t think about until I was there, caught by surprise because the story is so quiet. I was following the text not realizing how I was being led by the visuals.

Irwin brings the past into the present in ways that still have the potential to hurt. Some things do not change, and some do and for a clockwork faerie in particular, the stakes are high. Irwin does a lovely job of balancing the tension of how Vögelein will be able to let go even as we wonder how she will be able to move forward—actually, Irwin does this using and alongside a cast struggling with much the same. This is one of those where the more I thought about it, the more I liked it, which makes me like it all the more.

The Series Website: besides being very good, it has pages from the book to preview!

[his name slipped my mind and I can't find my notes. will update when that eureka happens.]

L (omphaloskepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the same problems with the art as the first volume (oddly drawn people who aren't always quite proportionate, weird correspondence and scale issues between characters with the backgrounds and to each other, and that horrible typed lettering). Also, I was pretty squicked by the fact that Irwin makes a tribute character out of her friend who had passed away that looks exactly like him, does exactly the same things that he did, and has the same personality... the only difference is that she made the character suffer sexual abuse as a child. For no earthly reason that I could see in relation to the plot. Seriously, the abuse is mentioned in this throwaway scene that could easily have been omitted, and it just seemed like a weird and ill-fitting way to mythologize a dead friend.

[Gphatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her art; I really like her storytelling. I'm afraid I'm a little biased in reviewing this book, as I recognize that while the story itself was slight, I still really enjoyed re-visiting the world of Vogelein.

The detail in Irwin's stories is impressive. There were references to places in Ennis (Ireland) that I've been to; historical touch-points for Romany/Gypsy culture; and lots of fine details in facial expressions, clothing; etc. I hope she continues to develop more stories.

Great graphic novel for mature teens or adults -- or folks that like fairies.

[Amal El-Mohtar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up immediately afte #1 because I loved Vogelein's character and the friends she was making so much. This narrative had less urgency, and the threat felt a little anti-climactic in its resolution, but I have the feeling it's a dropped thread that will be picked up again elsewhere.

I think what I especially love about these books is that I was left smiling when I put them down. That hasn't happened in ages.

[Yune · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this less persuasive than the previous volume. When Vogelein confesses a need to know Romani customs, of course one of her friends volunteers:

"When I was a kid, my mom and I lived upstairs from this old woman who was Romani. We got to be pretty close. If she's still alive, she's probably living in the same apartment. We start driving now, we could be there by morning."

[Ilana Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good to get back to Vogelein and her friends--some old, some new. Love the character of Mason, who was crucial to the story. Sweet, devoted . . . sigh. What every guy should be like! Although I do wish the stakes had been raised a bit in this volume (they were quite high in the first one), it was still great fun to go off on another bittersweet adventure with our Vogelein.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent second adventure for Vogelein as she struggles to find a way to memorialize her old Guardian, Alexi. Again, the endnotes about Rom culture are glorious and this features more than one Irish traditional music session with bios of the musicians at the back. How did it take me ten years to read these again?

[()AARON()]

it was really good. it was well drawn, well written, and overall, a great book. apparently, it is the second book in a series, so i did not read the first on accident, and i will do that and review it.

[Nfnt-robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. A lot of the tendencies of "first indie comic publication"

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the first, but still a fantastic read.

[Cindywho · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short and sweet elegy for a young friend with some lovely drawings. Oh yes, and a clockwork faerie.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

AWESOME illustrations!

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was still pretty good - but felt somewhat more self-indulgent than the first, and all the subplots didn't flow into each other as neatly as they could have.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Sweet. A little fragmented, but the characters were pleasant. Reminded me a lot of Charles de Lint.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series, it is quite imaginative. The concept is cool, a small clockwork fairy. I liked the timid neighbor, she was an interesting character.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you like fairies, gypsies, hippie musicians, and graphic novels...

[Melle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline was all over the map, literally and figuratively. Pretty but forgettable.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

story just kinda ended, well guess there is another one