Echo: The Complete Edition

Echo #1-6

by Terry Moore

Julie is in the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes an unwilling participant in a web of murder and deceit that becomes nuclear! She is forced to find the maker of the atomic plasma that has rained down on her. As the plasma grows, she gets closer and closer to answers with the help of the original owner of the atomic suit she now wears. A lunatic with powers from the plasma is determined to take Julie and her suit for his own and destroys everything that stands in his way. Julie''s mission becomes too hot for her to handle alone and along with Ivy and Dillon, she must stop the makers of the suit from harnessing the plasma for their own destructive use.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Superheroes

600 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

About the author

Following the examples of independent comic creators such as Dave Sim and Jeff Smith, he decided to publish Strangers in Paradise himself through his own Houston-based "Abstract Studios" imprint, and has frequently mentioned a desire to do a syndicated cartoon strip in the authors notes at the back of the Strangers in Paradise collection books. He has also mentioned his greatest career influence is Peanuts' Charles Schulz.[1] Some of Moore's strip work can additionally be found in his Paradise, Too! publications.

His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including receiving the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 1996 for Strangers in Paradise #1-8, which was collected in the trade paperback "I Dream of You".

It was announced on June 15th, 2007 that Moore would be taking over for Sean McKeever as writer of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane series starting with a new issue #1. On July 27th, Marvel announced that Moore would also take over for Joss Whedon as writer of Marvel's Runaways.[2]

On November 19th, 2007 Terry Moore announced in his blog that his new self-published series would be named Echo and its first issue would appear on March 5th, 2008.[3]

Reviews

[Sapphir · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ingeniously invented, sophisticated (and sometimes complicated) science fiction story with exciting characters and full of heart, humor and horror, as is always the case in TM’s works. And I liked the innuendoes about a lesbian relationship between Julie and Ivy. But why does Julie have to walk around half-naked all the time? And WHAT IS IN THE BOX, Terry Moore???
4.5 stars.

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did like most of this book. The drawing and dialogue are in complete agreement, and the characters are distinct and recognizable types. In particular I really really loved the special ops character who is so much smarter than everyone else around her. She makes the book work. So I did like most of the book.

I was irked by the formulaic story, the dysfunctional and annoying hero of the book, but these are my frequent and expected complaints of comics. This doesn't stop me from enjoying a good book. What kills the "Echo" experience is the way the book just falls apart in the final chapter. There is not a good explanation of just what the hell is going on when people change sizes, why the plutonium suit grows without more material, and just how the whole situation resolves itself since Moore seems to think blasting the hero with a proton gun somehow fixes a million plot holes. Somehow the Chinese stopped building a bomb because...? Somehow the knowledge of the alloy vanished because...? Somehow everyone aged and resized properly because...? So only the good guys escaped the cyclotron implosion because...? They didn't die of exposure in the Alaskan wilderness after the cyclotron explosion because...?

Sorry, to my mind the purpose to a conclusion is to conclude things. To roll along, as this book does for so long, carefully explaining every quirk of the alloy suit only to throw up it's hands and say --Ah, f*@k it. in the last chapter is bad style and makes me sad.
So, really, two stars

[William Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid, I didn't really understand why anyone would bother with comic books like 'Strangers in Paradise'. I just didn't get it. No one in them seemed to have a single super-power. It was in black and white. It just didn't appeal to me.

Flash forward to about 1996 and I see a copy of 'Stray Bullets' at a table at a convention in Rosemont. It had a scared-looking kid on the cover holding a pistol. The art didn't have a bunch of hashing. Lots of solid lines and solid blacks. Normally I wouldn't have cared about it but by then I was a Tarantino fan and thought anything that looked seedy and had a gun in it was cool. I was also deeply in love with the 'Sin City' books and thought I'd give it a shot. From there on out, I put all misgivings about indie presses and creators aside and would let the actual books do the talking instead of my preconceived notions.

So I can thank Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino And David Lapham for all the love I show Terry Moore and his brilliant books.

But, wait. What's this? A Moore book that actually has a character with super-powers? A sci-if book by the man who brought us 'Strangers in Paradise'? Too good to be true.

Although there's a super in this book, it's not a cape. This isn't Superman. It's SIP on a metaphysical level. It's everything human from SIP with a driving narrative story and a singular event with a finish line. It's 40 or so issues of genius. Science meets crime caper meets SIP. This is a perfect book. Moore's writing is so real, so touching and so human that the science fiction aspects seem like actual science. He hit it right out of the park with this one.

Combined with his phenomenal artistic style and masterful use of inks, this is a modern masterpiece. I can't praise it enough. Think Haruki Murakami with even more heart and just as meta.

Writing: A
Art: A

[Saturn · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'aspetto che mi ha colpito maggiormente di questo libro è la grande capacità di Moore di imbastire una sceneggiatura che cattura subito l'attenzione del lettore mantenendo il giusto ritmo per tutti i capitoli. I tre personaggi principali sono ben scritti e funzionano molto bene i loro dialoghi con molti scambi comici e leggeri. L'ossatura narrativa fa capo alla fantascienza apocalittica e post nucleare che è nata negli anni '50, dove si fanno riflessioni sulle intenzioni della scienza e le conseguenze del progresso. Nasce dunque anche una riflessione sull'essere umano e le sue capacità creative e distruttive. I disegni puliti ed essenziali sembrano essere soprattutto al servizio della storia, senza regalare particolari invenzioni grafiche.
Sono rimasta un tantino delusa solo da un finale forse un po' troppo accelerato e semplice che avrebbe meritato quantomeno un ultimo capitolo che dà il tempo alla storia e all'azione di decomprimersi; oppure dopo aver sollevato temi così importanti, ci poteva stare una qualche chiosa filosofica. Invece ci si ritrova con un happening hollywoodiano che mi ha sorpreso per la sua banalità.

[Dayna Ingram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Moore is a god among graphic novelists.

Okay, I super wanted to give this five stars, but whatever actually happened in the Collider at the end was too smishsmashed together and confusing (maybe on purpose, because Moore just needed to wrap things up and the plot was just a backdrop for some delicious character-development anyway) so it's not perfect.

But it's quite an adventure.

I mean, there's an entire "episode" in here that's just three men at a table basically giving us massive amounts of exposition, but Moore's gorgeous artwork and little in-jokes carry me through without leaving me all antsy for some action.

So it isn't Strangers in Paradise (though it appears to be in the same universe), but even so, every scene between Ivy and Julie was burning with so much subtext I thought my copy was gonna go up in flames.

It's really great, and for my money, Terry Moore is the only artist/writer doing female characters justice in the graphic novel world these days. (Prove me wrong, please!)

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, the girl gets an atomic bra and shoots lightning from her boobs.

...

Of course, it's much more nuanced and layered than that. But it's Terry Moore. When he writes a graphic novel, he pours heart and soul into it. Amazing, emotionally engaging, and unputdownable.

[Charlotte Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so obviously written by a man

[Chriso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't technically have this version, I have the individual trade paperbacks. But I'd rather review the whole series since I've read it multiple times. All in all, it's fantastic. The characters are engaging, flawed and as believable as any in a comic. The story builds well and is engaging, exhilarating and frequently poignant. And I can't get over how much I love Terry Moore's art despite the lack of color. His characters all look individual and realistic.

If I had any criticisms it would be two things: 1) I agree with a few folks on here who mentioned the end feeling rushed and like it left too many questions unanswered. I'm all for leaving a bit f mystery, but some of it seemed like maybe Moore couldn't figure out an ending that satisfied him. Or, more likely, he wanted to leave it open ended so he could return to write more Echo one day. And 2) WHAT THE HELL WAS IN THAT BOX?! I swear, it drives me slightly mental that we never find out. Porn? Drugs? A weird sex toy? A severed hand? Dozens of references to "vice" and "perversion" but no answer. I could end up I'm a nursing home at 95 with advanced Alzheimer's and I'd still be muttering "What was in Julie's damn box??" Anyway, I loved Echo. Bummed to read that the rights to the book reverted back to Moore and it seems like a movie won't be in the works.

[Gerardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devo ammettere che il fumetto mi è piaciuto davvero molto, anche se bisogna dire che l'idea di fondo non è molto originale. Non che questo sia necessariamente un male, ma ciò non toglie il fatto che questo fumetto sia una variazione su un tema ben consolidato. Una bella variazione.

Il tema è un classico da fantascienza in piena guerra fredda: la responsabilità che hanno gli scienziati nei confronti del futuro, perché ogni loro scoperta potrà essere utilizzata come arma. In sostanza, ogni nuova invenzione è un pharmakon, cioè un 'farmaco': in certe dosi è benefico, in altre velenoso.

Qui, l'invenzione è una speciale sostanza viscida capace di legarsi al corpo dell'ospitante e di migliorarne le prestazioni. L'individuo diventa contemporaneamente un'arma micidiale e una sorta di guaritore universale.

Fin qui, ricorda fortemente Ghiaccio-Nove di Vonnegut.

Moore, però, riesce a innovare e inserisce un elemento semplice, ma molto interessante: cosa succede nella vita di un uomo medio quando questi ottiene un potere al di là di qualsiasi previsione?

Nel nostro caso, Julie - una donna dalla vita fastidiosamente mediocre - viene colpita dalla potente sostanza. Per tutto il testo sarà un personaggio passivo: elemento da non sottovalutare, perché di solito chi ha il potere è soggetto attivo. Julie ha il potere, ma sarà l'investigatrice Ivy a doverlo gestire poiché è l'unica che possiede l'intelligenza necessaria per farlo.

La trama è ben costruita, con numerosi colpi di scena e dettagli nella vita intima dei personaggi che vengono svelati man mano. Si nota un passaggio da un inizio intimista e un finale degno del più movimentato film d'azione. La suspense c'è e la caratterizzazione dei personaggi pure. L'unico personaggio che convince poco è Dillon, che sembra avere come unico scopo quello di tenere in vita una trama amorosa che, al di là di Dillon stesso, ha dei tratti molto interessanti. E' l'uomo d'azione scemo che controbilancia l'intelligente Ivy.

Il disegno che dona dei tratti così dolci a tutti i personaggi, sembra cozzare con la tensione che la trama vorrebbe creare. Non c'è molta armonia tra forma e contenuto, anche se bisogna dire che così facendo dona una patina di leggerezza che rende la lettura più scorrevole. Il disegno, inoltre, si concede molti particolari sexy: le figure femminili, predominanti nel testo, sembrano sempre essere avvolte da uno strano alone di 'erotica affettuosità'. Preso singolarmente, il disegno è molto pulito e piacevole alla vista, forse più coerente con le parti intimiste che con le parti di tragico conflitto.

Quello che spicca è la veridicità della trama, che sa ben analizzare quali possono essere le possibili conseguenze di un grande potere sulla vita di pochi comuni, comunissimi, mortali. Questo è, forse, l'aspetto che rende questo fumetto molto potente e originale rispetto agli altri testi fantascientifici che trattano dello stesso tema. In questo ricorda il modo di lavorare di Saramago: dato un elemento fantastico, analizzare tutte le possibili conseguenze logiche di quel dato elemento all'interno del nostro mondo.

Quattro stelline perché, dopo tutto, il testo non si allontana da una dimensione confortante, in cui le cose vanno male, ma sempre ai personaggi secondari.

[Old Man Aries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sono passati quasi tre anni dall'ultima volta che ho parlato qui sopra di Terry Moore. Nel frattempo ho avuto modo di incontrarlo due volte apprezzandone le qualità umane oltre che di fumettista e mi sono procurato a New York il volume unico della sua seconda opera, Echo, mentre è tutt'ora in corso di pubblicazione Rachel Rising, sua ultima "creatura".
Ma non divaghiamo, dato che ho colpevolmente già impiegato più di due anni a decidermi a leggere proprio Echo.
Partiamo dicendo cosa non è Echo.
Echo non è Strangers in Paradise e non vuole esserlo. Totalmente diversa la portata delle storie, il numero dei personaggi, il respiro della vicenda. Diverse anche le premesse di base: dove SiP era una storia di tutti i giorni che pian piano introduceva elementi anche molto fantastici, Echo nasce come storia di pseudo-fantascienza in cui gli elementi umani la fanno da padrone.
Ma ciò che non è Echo ci porta direttamente a ciò che è: una storia in cui Moore vuole parlarci delle sue paure sulla scienza moderna, sugli effetti del non sapere quando fermarsi, sull'incapacità dell'uomo nel discernere tra ciò che si può fare e ciò che è lecito fare.
Sostanzialmente nulla che Einstein e tanti altri non abbiano detto prima di lui, ma raccontato con uno stile che pochi autori hanno.
Come dicevo, però, la fantascienza e le paure di Moore sono l'ambientazione, dato che come al solito il punto di forza sono i personaggi e qui il buon Terry dimostra le proprie capacità forse anche meglio che in SiP.
Mi spiego.
SiP era una storia lunghissima, ben orchestrata, in cui sia i personaggi principali che quelli secondari hanno tempo a sufficienza per essere ritratti sotto ogni sfumatura. Certo, un pessimo autore non ci sarebbe comunque riuscito, ma fosse così non staremmo neanche a parlarne.
Echo è una storia molto più breve, nata per esserlo.
I personaggi sono molti meno e questo, di certo, aiuta, ma la capacità di Moore di dare loro spessore e tridimensionalità anche solo con poche battute è impressionante e si nota soprattutto coi comprimari che compaiono per poche vignette.
Moore non crea degli stereotipi, ci racconta delle persone.
Nessuna perfetta, nessuna bianca o nera, tante sfumature di grigio così come accade nella vita reale.
E quindi ecco Julie, giovane donna americana che, in fase di divorzio e senza un centesimo, si trova coinvolta in qualcosa di molto più grande di lei.
Ecco Annie, scienziata geniale e con un sogno e uccisa proprio a causa di tale sogno.
E ancora Ivy e Dillon e tutti coloro che, volenti o nolenti, si troveranno a dover cercare di salvare il mondo e portare a casa la pelle.
Vi troverete ad appassionarvi, a chiedervi come ne verranno fuori, a ridere in alcuni momenti ed arrabbiarvi in altri. Magari non piangerete, non come in SiP, ma difficilmente rimarrete indifferenti.
E per chi ha già letto SiP ci sarà anche una piccola sorpresa, un cameo che personalmente mi ha strappato un sorriso, come quando vedi qualcuno che conoscevi dove meno te lo aspetti e ti viene da dire "ma guarda com'è piccolo il mondo".
Da leggere, gustare, condividere.
E io prometto che non aspetterò altri due anni prima di leggere Rachel Rising.

[Ricardo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never saw the charm in this scifi story. The science is intriguing but some plot threads were left dangling and I just couldn't get past how quippy and oh-so-witty the dialogue tried to be. The simple black and white illustrations were impressive but Terry Moore has a bit of an obsession with pointing out how attractive his female characters are.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

You would think that an almost 600 page book, even if it is a graphic novel, would manage more than one day's commute of reading. But no, beyond the extra hour and a half of bus time I had today and the searing pace of the story, I burned through this in about 4 hours of reading.
The story is moderately epic (dealing with the possible destruction of the universe), but it's told on a very personal level, with less than a half-dozen main characters, all of whom are fairly well fleshed out. These aren't superheroes; they're regular people in an irregular situation, reacting to things in fairly rational ways. The central conceit, an element that is bonded to human neurological responses and gives great power, is explored, as are the dangers of science without consideration of consequences. Very enjoyable read, although the lead female spends much of the story in less than full dress; depending on your definitions of nudity, you may or may not be comfortable reading this in public...

[Ricardo Loureiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This complete edition has a back cover blurb by none other than Harlan Ellison. In it he writes: "Terry Moore does an acre more straight-up memorable storytelling in one black&white issue of ECHO than either of the two comics 'giants' ia a years'-worth of their prolix, boring, barren crossover 'events'."

I could not agree more. Then why not a five star review? Because, to me, the end felt rushed. The climax was a little bit underwhelming and lots of questions went unanswered, like, was the drifter really Cain, why did the unaging of Ivy went suddenly reversed, and a couple others. Also with all the end of the world talk I was expecting a bitter REAL end of the world, but that cannot be blamed on Moore but rather on my mysoginistic propensity.

[Jose Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise was one of my favorites in the 90’s. His beautiful, clean artwork and ability to subtly differentiate characters through simple differences in brush strokes was a lesson in less is more. But that paled in comparison to telling human stories with characters whose personalities came to life. In Echo, he continues that mastery in a sci-fi story that carries over his ability to engage through his story and showing the empathy he imparts on his characters. Did that make sense? I just read 700 pages of this omnibus, my head may be fuzzy.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Echo is pretty good but, just like Rachel Rising, the first few volumes are a lot stronger than the last few. Echo's end was especially weak, it was rushed, confusing and a whole lot was left unanswered. How did Julie get the alloy off her? How did Ivy get back to the right age? What was in Julie's box? How the heck did everyone not die from the collider going off? All unanswered. Going with 4 stars because of the art and for the first few volumes where I was really enthralled.

[Piego di Libri · Rating 5 out of 5]

quella che vede protagonisti Annie, Julie, Ivy, Dillon e Caino è una storia “spessa”, che mescola con nonchalance ingredienti da nulla: fisica, esistenzialismo, politica, riflessioni sulla morte e su Dio.
http://www.piegodilibri.it/recensioni...

[Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the slice of life aspects of this book a lot. However I did not enjoy the superhero and military parts. I just wanted to be in the shoes of the mcs but I kept being taken out of them with stuff I didn’t want.

Great art by Terry Moore as always

[Ifryt Morningstar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ctgt · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the creative twisty plot and the author's storytelling skill. Interesting and skillful character development as well. I deduct a star for the confusing ending. Although perhaps it was only confusing to myself, not to others.

[OmniBen · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review)
This is the first Terry Moore work I have read, despite having several sitting on the shelves behind me waiting to go. And I'm kind of glad I started with this, maybe one of his weaker works, despite it not being particularly weak. Now, I knew nothing about this going in. Literally nothing. I heard there was a Terry Moore book I didn't own and I bought it. I didn't even read the blurb on the back. So to see this turn into something of a (very mild) superhero story was something of a surprise, although it became one so gradually, that you never really noticed until you were immersed in it. That, and the somewhat slice of life story meets superhero story was really quite entertaining, at least initially. The further it drifted away from the 'slice of life' aspects of the characters, leaning into its superhero aspects, it lost a little of its charm for me. Now, there were a few others issues along the way, most of which being the continuously shifting nature of the antagonists (both individual and corporation). Whilst Moore does a good job making the more scientific aspects of the story seem feasible, the narrative pertaining to the corporation and its personnel was so ridiculously haphazard, that it dragged me well and truly out of the story. I would love to elaborate and dissect it in finer detail but we would be in spoiler territory then, so I will leave it there for now.
The other main issue, aside from the execution of the ending (not the actual ending itself) was the length of the story. It really went on a little too long. If a few issues were cut from its run, it would have made for a punchier, better paced run. The second half of the arc was weaker than the first, with Moore appearing to reach at times, filling more than a few pages with unnecessary material which stole from the story, rather than added anything. Those issues, and the pretty poor final issues execution aside, this is an enjoyable little story. It likely won't ever be remembered as fondly as some of Moore's more well known works, but it's certainly worth a look. 4/5


OmniBen.

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd read the collected trades, v. 1-5 (borrowed from a friend), and was waiting for the conclusion to everything, and my friend picked up the complete edition instead, so I got to re-experience the whole series. Lovely.

Julie is out in the desert taking photos when something above her explodes and rains down particles of a mysterious alloy that bonds with her skin. Alloy 618 is part of a secret government-military project and the team of scientists associated with its discovery and testing are being "disappeared." The first of these to go is Annie, who is wearing the alloy (as a suit), when Dr. Foster orders her destruction. Somehow her DNA and consciousness are caught up in the alloy itself and get transfered to Julie.

Ivy is a federal agent who is assigned to track Julie and the suit down, but when she discovers some of its properties - its ability to heal, for instance - and the fact that Dr. Foster is murdering his colleagues, her alliances shift.

With Ivy and Dillon's (Annie's boyfriend) help, Julie-Annie make their way to the super secret, super hidden particle collider (buried a mile and half under the ground in Alaska), where they attempt to stop Foster and his military cronies from destroying the earth and creating what they believe will be the ultimate weapon.

Great story with strong female characters who can use their brains and their brawn (Julie becomes HUGE as the suit/alloy transforms her). The bitchy repartee between Julie and Ivy is pretty amusing, too. Black and white artwork. Ivy returns a mysterious box to Julie at the very end (supposedly filled with embarrassing detritus that caused her ex-husband to file for divorce). I paged backwards and forwards through this collection and I *still* can't figure out what was in it. What did I miss?

[Rasjel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this graphic novel right up to the end. For some reason, Terry Moore is great in the build up to the action, but not so much in the execution. Climactic scenes are blurry, hard to follow, and over in one panel, leaving me confused as to what actually happened. I still don't get how Ivy suddenly wasn't a kid anymore. Or what actually happened when the element 618 entered the collider: it broke and blew up? In the end it was just an accident (the greedy guy shooting at Julie - and then what happened, did the suit let go of her? Did it disintegrate? In which case, how did Julie survive the fall into the huge collider?).

The story was quite interesting - I loved the scientific angle, the reference to the collider, particles, new elements, the idea of be careful what you unleash through your curiosity (or greed). Could have done without the religion that became more overt as the story moved along (seriously, what is the point of Cain being 27,000 years old, it brings no purpose to the plot beyond wanting to make us go "ooooh" for a second, and makes the story at once ridiculous - biblical 'fact' and science fiction just do not mix well).

I could have done without Tambi and Casey: It would have been fine if the story had stood on its own without this wink at Paradise fans.

I really appreciate Moore's art, and how he doesn't shy away from devoting panels to everyday, mundane actions. Still, I do notice he objectifies women just as comic artists do - there are not nearly as many naked men or average-looking naked women in his story as there are beautiful fetishished women touching each other's boobs (the breastplate is a breast!plate to be sure), which shows the unevenness. On the other hand, I do appreciate his presenting gay couples indiscriminately.

Ok, seriously. What could possibly be in Julie's little box that is so embarassing?

[Jason]

As I'm reading this I cannot get over how unbelievably good the art is. Moore is easily one of the best draftsmen ever to work in the comics medium. I'm just stunned by his miraculous ability to recreate textures and movement in such seemingly effortless ink strokes. Just look at the way he draws Julie's hair.
Each individual panel in this book is worth the price of the whole thing.
For some reason I really would love to see him write and draw a Conan story. He's done so much on the feminine side of the human condition, I'd love to see him deconstruct masculinity in the same manner.

A really enjoyable book.
I did find it interesting that Moore sort of short circuits traditional expectations of resolved romantic tensions. You keep expecting one character to get involved with another, then it switches around and that character looks to be interested in another, then it switches up again; it was all very confusing, Which I suppose is an accurate representation of modern relationship dynamics.

But in the end I just really wanted to know what was in that freaking box!!!!
I suppose it was potentially everything that we hide from others.
The things we're ashamed of, the things we love but won't admit, the things we have to have, but can't face up to and take responsibility for.
What's in my box you ask?
I'll tell you, I don't care, I'm not hung up, I'm man enough to own my needs and desires, I have no problem at all telling you in minute detail what's......

Is that the phone?.....

[Moniker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Moore is one of the greats. That being said, "Echo" lives up to his high standards . . . until it reaches the ending. Noticing that I only had one issue left to read, I kept thinking, "How is he going to tie everything up/together?" Sadly, he doesn't manage to complete such a huge task as the reader is left with a rushed ending (I believe there is even a typo - the only one in the series that stood out to me anyway) that could have easily been slowed down into at least five issues and so many missing explanations that it's hard to believe that the story won't be revisited in the future. The characters and their journey were definitely fun, the destination immensely unsatisfying.

**Spoiler(?)**
I've seen this topic mentioned numerous times in other reviews, so here are my two cents: I'm pretty sure that the box contains a "tool". Julie's (ex-)husband even says, "You don't want me anymore," right before asking her if she still uses the contents of the box.

[Suni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bella storia, bei disegni, bel messaggio, bel mix di scienza, filosofia, azione, momenti divertenti e amore, tanto amore, in ogni sua forma.
Peccato per la conclusione frettolosa, perché dopo seicento tavole con al centro una vicenda scatenata da un esperimento nucleare di cui vengono fornite spiegazioni in parte ovviamente fantasiose ma accurate, alla fine Moore ci dice solo chi vince, non come. Pare quasi che neanche lui avesse ben chiara la dinamica.
4 stelline perché per il resto mi è piaciuto e mi ha tenuta incollata (l'ho iniziato piano, accantonato per leggere altro e poi divorato in un giorno e mezzo).

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing story. Julie is an accidental witness to a science experiment going wrong/being sabotaged and is caught in the fall out. She accidentally gets some experimental alloy on her and from there on this story unfolds.

The whole story is about what actually happened with the science experiment, what the alloy is, but most of all about how the characters caught in this mess react.

Moore takes the time to flesh his characters out and make sure the readers gets to know them.

this results in a gripping sf story, with memorable characters and very nice drawings.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great series tainted by a random assortment of science-is-magic nonsense toward the end that seems to come out of nowhere, and an accompanying deus ex machina conclusion that reveals nothing and ties up nothing and basically pissed me off the same way the ending of movies like The Cube or The Ninth Gate did. Really, really disappointing considering how much I enjoyed the first 4/5 of the book.

[Kevin Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this!!! Right now, take $30 and go get this. I swear you won't regret it...well, except for the sleep it will rob you and how you won't be able to read anything else for a few days. It sticks to your ribs, it invades your brain. Damn you Terry Moore!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

REALLY wanted to give this one 5 stars but the slightly-less-than-satisfying-ending tipped it away.