Tongues, Vol. 1

Tongues #1-6

by Anders Nilsen

From the three-time Igantz award-winning artist and author of Big Questions comes a fascinating graphic novel retelling of the Greek myth of Prometheus

“An extraordinary reinvention of some of our oldest stories. Nilsen brings these old gods to an electrifying new life, and gives us a new sense of humanity as well.”—Alexander Chee, author of How to Write an Autobiographical Novel

“Mind-bendingly good. It’s up there with Maus, Fun Home, Persepolis, Jimmy Corrigan.” —Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Set in a version of modern Central Asia, Tongues is a retelling of the Greek myth of Prometheus. It follows the captive god’s friendship with the eagle who carries out his daily sentence of torture and chronicles his pursuit of revenge on the god that has imprisoned him.

Prometheus’s story is entwined with that of an East African orphan on an errand of murder, and a young man with a teddy bear strapped to his back, wandering aimlessly into catastrophe (a character readers may recognize from Nilsen’s Dogs and Water). The story is set against the backdrop of tensions

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, Graphic Novels Comics, Adult

368 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2025

About the author

Anders Nilsen is an American illustration and comics artist. He is the author of ten books including Big Questions, The End, and Poetry is Useless as well as the coloring book A Walk in Eden. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Poetry Magazine, Kramer's Ergot, Pitchfork, Medium and elsewhere. His comics have been translated into several languages overseas and his painting and drawing have been exhibited internationally. Nilsen's work has received three Ignatz awards as well as the Lynd Ward Prize for the Graphic Novel and Big Questions was listed as a New York Times Notable Book in 2011. Nilsen grew up in Minneapolis and Northern New Hampshire. He studied art in New Mexico and lived in Chicago for over a decade. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was a bit overwhelming to encounter. Anders Nilsen has always done philosophical comics, and has been increasingly interested in mythology. Early on he was doing sketchy cartoons, mostly non-narrative, reflections on the world, but here he is interested in the relevance of story and the development of language to the evolution of this world. This 350-page hardcover is just volume one of what we have to say is his magnum opus, the contemporary reimagining of the myth of Prometheus. Of it, Charles Burns says, "this is @1&%ing amazing!"

Give the epic scope of this story, which has us humans nearing the end of civilization, with multiple characters, its feet set firmly in this war and climate change disaster and ancient mythological reflections on the world, there is too much to tell here. One thread, with which we open the tale, is set in a bombed out desert (like near Iraq or Afghanistan, where American soldiers mingle with locals). in the aftermath of war/battles, some corrupt and crazed soldiers find an American boy hitchhiking and a girl living in a bombed out truck, who is set out on an assassination mission.

The other thread features the awakening of Prometheus. Okay, not a lot of action occurs in the book thus far. More talk, dialogue between humans in one thread, dialogue with gods in the other thread. The gods thread includes a discussion between Prometheus and his brother about story, about the development of language and its contribution to the growth of human art and culture. The importance of art, music, too. In these respects it has the ambitious scope of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, which also begins in the desert.

One important question, of course is the destruction of the planet, which is ongoing. So Prometheus and his brother debate about whether the gods should just kill off all the humans who have clearly destroyed things, never-ending wars over diminsihing resources, inequalities, greed, and so on. . . or. might there be some argument for some last chance, given the accomplishments of the past 100 years?

The art is stunning, with some psychedelia and abstract designs interspersed. I will keep reading though I doubt we will see Volume Two any time soon. For fans of mythology, climate change intervention, those who take seriously the threats to our existence. In many respects it just breath-taking, momentous, bringing the old gods back to help us with the war torn, catastrophic present. Important. Oh, there's so much more in here that I haven't discussed. At the very least, check it out. Already in the realm of GOAT comics!

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars--Set in a hazy, fever dream world that combines elements of ancient Greek myth with the modern imagery of the West's wars in the Middle East, this is an extremely unique and beautifully presented graphic novel.

I recognized the hapless "Teddy" character from a graphic novel I read quite a long time ago, but readers would have benefited tremendously had the character guide been present at the book's beginning, rather than the final pages.

[Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering that Anders Nilsen is very much embedded in the world of alternative comics – known for divisive, experimental, formalist work – for me the big surprise with Tongues is how wholeheartedly, unashamedly “genre fiction” it is. It's about a modern-day world where Greek gods are real and have just resumed meddling in mortal affairs after a couple of millennia on the sidelines – a premise that feels like it could come straight from a Neil Gaiman novel or an Image comic. Moreover, to my reading, it's a sincere, serious attempt at genre fiction, with a complex plot and epic stakes; it's not some kind of subversion or reappropriation, and not just an alternative comic that draws on genre elements. Indeed, I feel like this could have a lot of crossover appeal to fans of mainstream genre comics, or could even be adapted into a successful Hollywood movie.

That said, this doesn't feel like Nilsen selling out. This is by no means a phoned-in lowest-common-denominator popcorn comic. Most notably, although the artwork has a level of polish that could make it palatable to mainstream comic fans, it's far from generic, and certainly not rushed in the way corporate comics tend to be. There's a distinctive style, intricate detail, and gorgeous colouring. What's more, this comic features some of the boldest, most ambitious and original page layouts I've ever seen; every page has been painstakingly constructed – both to look incredible and to ingeniously communicate the narrative. Nilsen has said that with this comic he's applying the lessons he's learned through his earlier experimental work, and that makes total sense, as it's full of expertly executed formal techniques.

Narratively, too, the comic is very sophisticated, with real literary heft. It employs a non-linear structure that keeps the reader intrigued without ever being too disorientating, and it's a gratifyingly slow burn, only gradually – often obliquely – eking out details about its characters and backstory and hints of where it's headed. At the same time, it intelligently explores themes of human nature, war, religion, technology, environmental destruction, online radicalisation, mental health, family, knowledge and – most fascinatingly for me – language.

All of my praise does have to be qualified with the caveat that this is the first half of a planned longer work, and it really feels like it. This isn't Rusty Brown (of which the first volume feels 100% like a complete work, despite plans for a continuation) or even Nod Away (of which the first and second volumes contain enough great story to be wholly worth reading despite them seeding many threads for as-yet-nonexistent future volumes). In terms of the story, this first volume of Tongues is mostly set-up, so while I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, I feel like I have to wait for the second half to give a real verdict.

Nevertheless, simultaneously appealing to my highfalutin desire for heady, sophisticated, uncompromising artistic/literary vision, my unpretentious love of good stories, and my geeky predilection for expansive worldbuilding, Tongues is certainly shaping up to be an all-time favourite.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit frustrated with the first half of this book, with its multiple timelines spanning 4000 years, a scattered cast of barely defined characters, and annoying and unnecessary fold-out flaps. But patience is rewarded. As the threads began to cross and merge I found myself getting caught up in this study of Greek mythology and the modern age of man.

Basically, Zeus is worried some child of his will usurp his rule the way he did to Cronos and Cronos did to his father. He focuses a lot of his fretting on Prometheus, the Titan responsible for sparking the rise of man and imprisoned for his sins on a mountain where an Eagle eats his liver every day. And Zeus has his minions on the trail of a magical MacGuffin in a suitcase currently being traded between hands in a Central Asian war zone.

Unfortunately, just as it was really getting good, the book ends on a cliffhanger, awaiting conclusion in a second volume at some undefined point in the future.

Reminder to self: When volume 2 does come out, re-read this one first.


(Best of 2025 Project: I'm reading all the graphic novels that made it onto one or more of these lists:

• Washington Post 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2025
• Publishers Weekly 2025 Graphic Novel Critics Poll
• NPR's Books We Love 2025: Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels

This book made all three lists.)


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents:

Part I.
• The Prisoner's Dream
• Hercules
• The Murderer
• Leda and the Swan
• Fire and Water
• Teddy Roosevelt
• An End in Sight
• Athena Seshat
• Teddy Roosevelt's Dream, Part 1
• The Swan King
• Might and Violence
• The Eagle's Gift
• The New Gods

Part II.
• The Lion and the Mouse
• The North Star
• Get Back in the Truck
• The Messenger's Account
• Goodbye, Uncle
• The Rings
• Human Music
• Astrid's Dream, Part 1
• Gyges Hekatoncheires
• New Flora
• The Long Sleep
• The Monkey
• What Exactly Is Going on Here?
• First Words, Part 1
• Well Shit, It Floats
• Astrid's Dream, Part 2: It Makes Things Disappear
• If I Was Blind
• First Words, Part 2
• Astrid's Dream, Part 3
• Teddy Roosevelt's Dream, Part 2
• Float On

Part III.
• Astrid Underground, Part 1: Daughters of the Voice
• The Prisoner's Visitors, Part 1: People Do Things for Reasons
• Astrid Underground, Part 2: Athena Seshat
• The Prisoner's Visitors, Part 2 The Phaenon
• Astrid Underground, Part 3: The Voice
• The Prisoner's Visitors, Part 3: The Dragonfly
• Surfacing
• Teddy Roosevelt Wakes Up
• And What's Your Name?

Cast of Characters
Acknowledgments

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb storytelling, visually stunning!

[John Caleb Grenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

DUDE.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tongues is an ever-inventive, hallucinatory retelling of the Greek myth of Prometheus transposed to the modern world, and it couldn't look any better.

Via intricate, sprawling panels, we follow three interlinking stories: a captive God's friendship with the eagle that eats his liver each day for providing humanity with fire (and in this tale, language); a young girl tasked with murder accompanied by a surly chicken; and a hapless man wandering the deserts of East Asia with a teddy strapped to his back.

If you'd like to see an eagle try to make sense of an iPhone alongside a cult dedicated to the god Omega, all wrapped up in a genuinely thoughtful, philosophical take on the state of humanity, this the the graphic novel for you. Fans of American Gods and the Netflix series Kaos will lap Tongues right up (pun intended).

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artist Anders Nilsen’s newest multi-year project is Tongues, combining the myth of Prometheus with violence in the scrublands of contemporary Afghanistan. Volume 1 collects the first six chapters of his work in progress, which were first published individually by subscription from Nilsen himself.

Growing tired of being chained to a rock so an eagle can tear out and eat his liver every day, Prometheus tries to strike a deal with his captors to release him: the damage done by gifting humanity with fire too far gone, so what’s the point? Meanwhile, out in the desert, rockets have destroyed a small transport of vehicles, with a young girl and a monkey as survivors, and in another place a teen by himself with a teddy bear strapped to his back walks with seeming purposelessness. Neither the boy or the girl is native to the area, and thus their appearance is more striking. Also in the area are marauders whose purpose is unclear, but which seems more criminal than military. What these narrative strands have to do with each other only slowly clarifies as the story goes on.

Until things start making sense, however, we have Nilsen’s beautiful lines and layouts to enjoy. Meticulously laid out and drawn, two recurring motifs appear that seem to represent organic and inorganic forms, whose relationship also remains, at this point, mysterious through to and including the end of this first volume. The organic relates to a particular plant’s form—symmetrical, smooth-shaped, and unknown: There is a quick-growing plant that bursts forth from cadavers, sprouting at least six feet tall within a day—a curiosity none of the players in this drama currently have time to explore. The inorganic relates to the design of the panels themselves, also symmetric but also with a form that is somewhere between crystal and geometry. This form is mirrored by another mysterious presence: a cube with what appears to be multi-dimensional abilities, including the ability to collapse on itself. This cube, we sense, is the target of the various narrative strands. Prometheus is told that he may soon be released—not due to his petition but because his captors have found a way to eliminate the problem Prometheus started.

For more of my reviews, please see https://www.thebookbeat.com/backroom/...

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vol. 1 of Tongues collects the first 6 issues (plus a supplement) of Nilsen's serialized comic. It's a retelling of the Greek myth of Prometheus, but one that feels much larger and intricate given the exploration of humanity/language, the modern day setting, the cast of mysterious characters, and multiple storylines and supernatural elements. Much of this story felt like I was puzzling out what was going on, who these characters were, how the storylines related, etc. An enjoyable process itself, but all the while you're interacting with these wondrous large pages of detailed, organic shapes and flora surrounding so much of everything. The book itself, feels like some sort of rare art object with special foldouts here and there, thick large-format pages, and this kind of muted color palette I can't quite do justice in words. I'm not even sure how much of this I understood, but I always like being lead there by Nilsen and am already looking forward to Vol. 2.

"History is full of repeating patterns. The world’s chaos can look remarkably like pattern to even the most careful observer. It’s one of the hazards of that mind our acquaintance has given you. But even real pattern is often punctuated by surprise."

[Gus Moystad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nilsen writes so beautifully and his drawings are humble but gorgeous, but where he really shines is in concept, depth of thematic exploration, and character. Ancient gods in modern setting can be so lame, which made me reluctant to read his “Poseidon” book, but having read this, I’m definitely going to return to it. I can’t wait for the next volume. I think this is going to go hard af. The only reason it’s not 5 stars is because the story, necessarily, misses a complete conclusion.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was giant and heavy and very worth it. Would like to read more in a physically lighter format.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am torn on this one. It's a huge accomplishment, a work of stunning length and detail that showcases an attention to process, research, and commitment that are impressive. It's also overlong, drags terribly, and is often weird for the sake of being weird instead of propelling a story. The lecturing becomes tedious. One whole storyline is superfluous (and if it's supposed to become important in Vol. 2, that's too long). If I'm within 20 pages of the end and wondering if I should DNF, something's gone wrong. So, while I can appreciate the work here, I won't be back for the rest.

[Samantha M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like experimental/psychedelic graphic novels, muted color palettes, paying tribute to the old gods via mythological exploration, and have a concern about the deterioration of the planet, then this is the book for YOU. Come for the storytelling, stay for the design and shapes on the page.

[Sole]

El tema no me fascina, pero la explosión de recursos narrativos de esta historieta es maravillosa. Es un objeto realmente hermoso.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent hybridization of Greek/Roman myth with modern warfare and technological advancement. Beautifully illustrated with a compelling story.

[Matt Graupman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calling this graphic novel “ambitious” is a huge understatement. Anders Nilsen’s gargantuan “Tongues” is what you’d get if you combined Jeff VanderMeer’s “Annihilation” with, like, The Bible. Gods scheme against one another, humans plot to overthrow regimes both earthly and heavenly, and SUPER-weird shit happens on every page. I loved it. I didn’t understand all of it, but I loved it. The overlapping storylines are intricate and as compelling as they are confounding and the whole thing looks GORGEOUS. So much creativity bursts out of every panel. Saying I’m curious to see where the next volume goes would be another huge understatement.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated Nilsen’s approach to constructing this graphic novel, particularly the way the panels break free from the traditional grid structure. This unconventional layout adds a unique flavor to the book and is definitely one of its strongest aspects.

However, the story itself is a bit more challenging. The narrative is dense and slow to unravel, and by the end of the first volume, you’re still left with a lot of questions. It takes time to fully invest in the plot, and there’s a sense that this book is laying the groundwork for something larger, making it difficult to grasp without the future volumes. The references to Greek mythology add an interesting layer, but as someone who isn’t an expert in that area, I couldn’t help but wonder if I missed key clues that would have provided more clarity. There may be deeper connections that went over my head.

As for the art, it’s a mix of innovation and inconsistency. The presentation is engaging and fun, but the quality of the drawings didn’t entirely win me over. While I admire the creativity behind the illustrations, the style itself didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped.

All in all, this is a promising start to what could be a fascinating series. The first volume is heavy on plot but can also feel vague at times. It’s a slow burn, and while I enjoyed the experience, I didn’t love it. I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars, hoping the next volumes bring more clarity and depth to the story.

[Anabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm blown away and completely in awe between the artist unique weaving between art, comics, and storytelling.

The original formatting of the illustration, the way the pages are framed, and the attention to detail in every panel, its so amazingly full of life, you'll get lost in the pages looking at all the small details. So, so beautifully illustrated.

We get unique modern-day retelling of Prometheus blended between the original story, current world affairs, and social issues.

This was volume one and a hell of an introduction to this artist for me. I cannot wait to continue this story and read more from them.

I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this e-book ARC and for introducing me to a new amazing artist.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was weird.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m honestly not really sure what I just read. I have no idea what this story is even about. There were way too many words and seemingly no storyline. I don’t get it.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The physical book is large and hefty and long (almost 375 pages). I had to hold it close with brighter light than usual and a step up in reading glasses because the text is small and sometimes muted in color and the scenes at night or underground are very difficult to see. The book got heavy - in two respects: to hold and in scope. There is a lot going on in here.

I read it all in an afternoon into evening and wanted to see it resolved, wanted to know what the author's final say would be after blending and crossing several different storylines. I'm going with 4 stars instead of 5 partly because the ending was very disappointing for me until I realized this is only Volume 1. I'll certainly read the next volume.

But it was still disappointing because I felt some of my confusion should have been straightened out by the end. I like the challenge of puzzling together the storylines told out of chronological order but it seemed overdone (especially the occasional one page glimpse to another character) and not necessarily serving a purpose other than being puzzling. (I mean, are there two different monkeys or just the one?)

It's also a bit talky in places, in fact quite a few places, in particular the page after page of Prometheus arguing with his brother about whether humans ought to be destroyed or preserved. This is the heart of the book (or at least one of them) but it gets very repetitive.

But the visuals, the book and page design, the detailed art, the uniquely individualized character, the vibrant and muted coloring, the panel layouts and the full spread pages and the unusual flow of dialogue and even the framing backgrounds of certain pages are the work of an artist who has mastered his craft. And the psychedelic stuff is...well, pretty trippy.

You can read elsewhere what modern, contemporary issues the author is dealing with here all intertwined with his reimagining of the ancient gods or mythology. No reader need brush up on their Greek and Roman myths but a flow chart of who is who and who did what to whom would be helpful. (And the author could be more direct in naming or identifying his version of the gods as well.) Similarly, the Cast of Characters page which ends this volume would be more helpful if it appeared at the beginning.

Nevertheless, a focused, concentrated reader will find this book very rewarding and interesting.

[Grace Stafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still can't tell you if I actually liked this or not. Some parts worked well for me, but then others dragged miserably.
Subtracting a star because it was a difficult book, physically, to read. The text size throughout is tiny; I know I have poor vision, but I was only inches away from the page at times. The book is also SO heavy and already splitting at the spine. Literally the only comfortable way to read this is to set it on a surface or just opt for the digital version. The handful of foldout pages aren't worth the neck strain imo.

[Cail Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the Greek Lord of the Rings in comics. It’s a lot. It’s magical. It’s genius, GOAT level work from Nilsen, who already blew my head off with Big Questions years ago. Reading Dogs and Water in the library in 2008 was a formative comics experience. This one is not easy to crack into but it rewards patient attention.


“Tongues is a landmark book not only in the history of the graphic novel, but in the history of mythic storytelling”. —Max Porter

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) Some of the finest psychedelic art and strangeness to grace a graphic novel come alive here, and I would consider keeping it around as a curiouso. Yes, the story borrows heavily from myth, but the concepts are very unique and interesting. Its nagging issue is how talky it gets. Characters drag out conversations for pages and it tires.

[Sean Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been on a never-ending quest for a graphic novel with great art and story, and this is one of the few that breaks the mold. It has very inventive artwork that really colors outside of the proverbial lines. The story, while technically a retelling of an old tale, weaves in modern themes. I highly recommend!

[AnnaLePanna PatatboerMozart · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic novel about the struggle each of us might have with humanity. Do we love it, do we hate it or is a bit of both. A very modern aproach with relevant themes and settings, but with here and there references to old and ancient mythology. I would almost say it is like "american gods", but with more depth, relevance and applies to the struggle of being human in a time close to singularity.

[Will McAneny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tongues? More like my tongue is hanging out of my freaking mouth because my jaw is on the absolute floor! Beautiful and unique art, haunting story, incredible world-building. On track to be my favorite book of H1!

[Jay Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, horrifying, unintelligible; entrancing

[Eric Dollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t expecting the story of Prometheus mashed up with current political and climate issues baked into an absolute tome of a graphic novel when I picked this book up, but that’s what I got.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fever dream is a good way to describe this unique graphic novel. Old gods, an orphan child and a young murderer are on separate journeys toward what? I have no clue but it was an interesting read.