Orphan Black: Helsinki

Orphan Black Graphic Novels #2

by Graeme Manson (Writer), John Fawcett (Writer), Heli Kennedy (Writer)

Helsinki
Spoken in hushed tones, the word means almost certain death for the clones of Project Leda. Learn the dark secrets of this codename in this special event miniseries by co-creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Media Tie In, Mystery

120 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 2016

About the author

Orphan Black co-creator, writer geek, cinephilic tendencies. Horses and trout.

Reviews

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.

I stumbled upon this on NetGalley and, being a fan of the show, decided to give it a try. I'm disappointed that, unlike all of the other comic books they provide, this one was incomplete and therefore, I could not read the ending, which has also affected my rating. I might change it once I actually know how the story ends.

Now, for those who are not familiar with the TV show Orphan Black, it is great! The main story revolves around a group of clones and includes a lot of drama, action, thriller and also some comedy.

That being said, I expected the same level of fun from Orphan Black: Helsinki, and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed thoroughly the new characters/additions to Clone club and reading about project Leda and Rachel was also lots of fun. Rachel, as a character, was herself, her usual bitchy self. Among the clones we saw, Veera was very interesting, although I did not fully get why she was such a big and personal issue for Rachel. I also enjoyed reading about Niki and her posse, but again, as I could not finish the volume, I didn't get whether Suvi was her monitor.

Out of the entire variety of events, I loved the 9/11 the most. It had a huge significance to the entire story and was a clever twist in the particular events of the volume.

As for the art: I did not dislike it per se, but I had a hard time deciding whether certain characters are part of the clones until it was otherwise proven by the narration or the characters' statements. Jade and Niki, for the most part, were very hard to distinguish as clones. Rachel was the easiest one, she had the biggest resemblance to Tatiana Maslany. And if I was not aware of Helena as a character from the show, I would definitely not realize that she was also a clone.

Recommended? Yes. But first watch the show, it makes all the difference. And it's awesome.

[Mitticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

**e-arc gently provided by Netgalley**

Thought, this volumen seemingly contains the issues 1-5, my digital pdf copy ends at 79% (page 82), so I didn't get a conclussion. There is no covers nor transitions between them.

In season 3 of Orphan Black is mentioned: "abort Helsinki". That incident is described in this comic. When 17 year old Veera Suominem discover been secretely filmed by her 'uncle', before run away she dig the names of 2 other girls from his computer and start a searching without realizing this is more complicated and dangerous than she thought.As described before by Ferdinand and Rachel: six Leda clones terminated in Helsinki within 24 hours with 32 as collateral damage.

Veera is homeschooled, and later confess have asperger, she is very smart but is very difficult for her to interact with many situations. However, some things are similar -and equally confusing- as in the serie. The problem is the comic don't help to provide the in-dept of the acting, is more shallow.
The art also didn't help to tell apart the clones, and add to the confusing.




-Rachel was a psico since childhood.
-We are still unclear about the reason of the experiments. The same goes for Neolution objetives.

I will like to know the ending.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the universe of Orphan Black, Helsinki is spoken in hushed tones, a simple word hiding a probably horrific event, but it’s never explained in the show. So when I saw this graphic novel, of course I jumped on it.

It was great to learn all sorts of things about the show. The aforementioned Helsinki, of course, but also how Helena got onto Katja, the birth of Charlotte, the start of the “relationship” between Rachel and Ferdinand...

And following the last paragraph you probably got that this is not a graphic novel to read if you’re not already familiar with the Clone Club, lol.

I’m not a big reader of graphic novels so I have no idea if this one was any good technically (like the narration, dialogues, etc.), but for an Orphan Black fan it was a good read and answered a few questions quite nicely.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh boy. Was this ever a mess. The pacing felt rushed, the story felt jumbled, and the artwork was...well..not my favorite (it looks *nothing* like the cover, fyi). Unless you are a dead-hard, gotta collect everything fan of Orphan Black, skip this one.

**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, so maybe it wasn't so good, but I read it immediately after watching the series finale, and I wanted to know more about MK, so I was happy enough with it. What can I say, the core concept of Orphan Black is just so good and ticks all my boxes.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm madly in love with Orphan Black, but this just fell a little bit short for me. I made many connections at the end, but was confused throughout.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

These Orphan Black comics are always a lot of fun - interesting stories that hold the same tone as the TV show does, art that absolutely resembles the actors portraying the characters, captivating additional storylines and background information about the characters and events us Orphan Black fans have all come to care for so much. Definitely recommend this to any Orphan Black fan curious about Helsinki.

This bind-up comes out July 12, but the single issues are already out and can be bought in comic book stores or downloaded as ebooks.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had the drawing style been better able to identify characters as clones, this would’ve had a much stronger impact on me. As is, it felt rather rushed and wish it had been drawn out a bit more, especially as this is an event that is whispered about all through the television series. Poor MK. I still somehow manage to have a soft spot for Ferdinand and Rachel, despite it all....

Don’t read this unless you’ve already watched the series, as this volume and the cameos are fun but would be rather confusing and disjointed otherwise.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've fallen into a wonderful whole of graphic novels this weekend and the second volume of 'Orphan Black' was one that I'd been meaning to read for a long while. I absolutely love the TV series and reading the second Orphan Black book makes me want to re-watch it!

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Fans of the series will likely enjoy this tale of the Helsinki clones. For me, the lack of attention to detail, rather incoherent story and lack of a really strong story arc left a very flat experience. Orphan Black Helsinki isn't terrible but it struck too many disenfranchising wrong notes to be a really good title.

Story: A clone in Tapiola, Finland becomes aware and tracks down her 'sisters'. As Veera travels to find the other clones, she makes a good friend in one but not all will come on board that there is a very real and present danger. Until one of them dies.

It likely won't matter to those who aren't Finnish, but clearly the artist either visited very quickly or was using post cards to draw the Helsinki city and suburbs. Ironically, I have lived in the City (Tapiola) in which this story takes places and it nor the people bear ANY resemblance to the Finnish City. Stupid things like non Finnish storm drains in the streets, cars having the wrong license number sequences, houses and schools looking like someone stuck North America into Finland, etc. all bothered greatly. Imagine someone from Finland drawing an Orphan Black New York and putting a Chrysler Building in there for flavor and then showing a suburb in queens populated with WWII era log houses (rintamamiestalo) so prevalent in Finland. It'd look stupid to you, right? But it is more than that - from a school with the wrong naming conventions to very unFinnish mores; clearly, this was written/illustrated by individuals who grew up in North America, not Finland. Heck, even the character Veera's dossier listed her in Helsinki - when she was actually in Espoo - a completely different City.

Similarly, the characters were so North American as to be ridiculous. From the wild parties to the almost California-like party atmosphere. The way they handled situations and each other were very North American and not Finnish. So sure, it's not going to bother anyone outside of North America but it is just so sloppy and unprofessional not to research the story/art better.

The story doesn't resolve and ends rather abruptly. Although not listed, this likely was meant to continue/will continue further since were get very little in the way of point or resolution. The writing is admittedly somewhat shallow and the art is serviceable, details aside. So those invested in the series will likely enjoy Orphan Black Helsinki. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mini-series set in 2001 and all about the Project Leda clones. It gives you an array of new (and some already familiar) characters and an even more detailed look in the Project Leda backstory.
I’m a huge Orphan Black fan and I’m already counting down the days until the next season of Orphan Black starts on TV. So I was beyond stoked to be able to read an Orphan Black comic!
The storyline is extremely strong and it captures the essence of Orphan Black perfectly. It adds some very interesting background information to the already familiar characters and it reminds me a lot of the TV series. The artwork is also on point and resembles the actors portraying the characters.
Very much recommended for every Orphan Black fan.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Alesandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm probably dead now.
I'm so so sorry MK...

This was just as good as the tv show.
What I loved a lot was the artwork, but I somehow didn't always see that all the clones looked alike. Might just be me though.

If you love the show, you should definitely read this.

[Suzanne Berget · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAAAAAH!!

[Amber B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool addition to the television series. Part 1 was off to a rough start and had me worried but 2 - 5 was really excellent

[Daphne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely love Orphan Black, but this was a major disappointment. Everything that was great in the show -- the complex characters, heart-racing action scenes, fully developed relationships -- we completely missing in this comic. I understand that this is a relatively short comic, but I think it could have easily been better. I wasn't a fan of the art style and didn't think the clones looked like each other or like the clones in the TV show.

I can deal with bad art, but I couldn't deal with the awful story. All the characters were extremely one-dimensional. Rachel was somewhat developed but since this was supposed to the M.K.'s story I was very disappointed. Even though this is her "origin story", I felt like I didn't get to know her very well. There were a couple scenes mainly the one's of M.K.'s childhood that included Rachel that weren't fully explained and I'm not sure why not. I'm especially annoyed that her relationship with Niki was so shallow since they seemed to have had a really strong relationship in the show. In the comic they didn't spend much time together, so it's odd that M.K. was as attached as she was.

Honestly, I'm probably going to completely forget about this comic and not count it as cannon. It wasn't very good and the show is better without it. I will admit I liked seeing Ferdinand again though :/

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than the first Orphan Black graphic novel. Where the first basically retold the story of the TV series this one took some that was mentioned quite a few times on the show and gave us the full back story of what actually happened. This makes it a fantastic bridge between the show and the graphic novel series.
The story takes place in the early 2000s in Northern Europe (you probably guessed that from the title) and follows a group a teenage girls who come together to try and figure out why they all look alike.
It was really interesting to see what was going on before the TV series starts. We get to see a few characters we meet in the show but the majority are new. As a large number of characters in the Orphan Black world are clones it's always fun to see what they do to differentiate them from each other from their looks to their personality they are never the same.
The story is full of action and can be read as self contained. The artwork is of a good standard but as always there is the odd character seen in the show that just doesn't quite look right.

[Edmund Bloxam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I remembered why I stopped watching the show from this.

It's all much-ado-about-nothing. There's a group of clones that are inexplicably out in the world, and even more inexplicably kinda near each other.

There's some scientists chasing them, but there's so much emphasis on character over plot that, for all intents and purposes, nothing much happens.

It says something that the tv show reviews all emphasised how well the actress did in portraying all the characters, which was extraordinary I hasten to add. But none of them said anything about the story itself. In this book, the artist has made all the clones look different, or isn't good enough to make them all look the same. I didn't know who was a clone and who wasn't. That kinda defeats the point of this whole exercise.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant way of expanding the Orphan Black universe without getting in the way of the TV show. It was great to see some young clones from around the world, and the brutal way they are dealt with by Dyad. It's also great to give characters like Ferdinand and Marion a chance to shine, and show that there are deep histories to these characters outside of their interactions with Sarah Manning. However the artwork is not always brilliant, and it's hard to keep track of who are clones as they don't particularly look like each other! 4 stars.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have been an avid fan of Orphan Black from the beginning. This book delves into the character in somewhat disappointing take. This book has none of the heart, warmth and characters true selves. did. It is what it seems a futile attempt to expand on an idea that has run its course. Too many factors were left out and leaving a true fan wanting and needing more. I am heart-stricken to admit this is not worth the energy to read.

[Steph_d · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED finally learning about What happened! the characters were just as I have imagined and the story for right into the TV show perfectly. I actually also really liked the style it was drawn in too. I hope they expand on this more though as I can't get enough of this show or it's characters

[Debra Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the killing of clones in Europe is revealed along with MK's backstory.

[Malola · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I'm obssessed with the show.)
I found it highly touching the friendship between Mika/Veera and Niki.

[Berni Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Orphan Black. What's not to like?

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

To come

[Edward Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better than volume one with an original story that doesn't life too much from the show. A great read for fans and new readers alike.

[Aja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explanation of “Helsinki” from the series.

[Bethany Paisley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a massive fan of the show, I loved seeing what actually happened in Helsinki.
These graphic novels are great for filling in the gaps and enriching the storyline.

[Salamanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously I needed to find out what happened in Helsinki. However there's a line in Polish that I immediately noticed wasn't in a correct case form. Did the writers use Google translate?

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Reread)

[Jessica Panzarino · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*