Motor Girl vol. 1: Real Life

Motor Girl #1-5

by Terry Moore

"When a UFO crashes into Samantha's junkyard, she and her imaginary pal Mike -- a 600 pound gorilla -- are only too happy to make repairs and send them on their way. Now E.T. has a crush on Sam and an industrial giant wants to purchase the junkyard to install an anti-UFO weapon. Sam has never backed down from a fight, she is after all a decorated war veteran, but saving the yard and her new friends will require Sam to confront her PTSD and stand up to the greatest challenge of all ... reality".

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Contemporary, Military Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2017

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

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

purtroppo non c'è il volume della Bao qui su goodreads, quindi metto questo come titolo rappresentativo dell'intera saga. Motor girl mi è piaciuto più di quanto mi aspettassi, a tratti è ironico, a tratti invece si smette di ridere e si ritorna a ciò che la nostra protagonista ha affrontato in passato e a cosa sta affrontando nel presente. ho amato ogni singolo personaggio, ma la scimmia, Mike, è sicuramente il mio preferito! Ve lo straconsiglio, ad ogni modo a breve farò la recensione sul canale così da parlarne in modo più dettagliato 💜

[Artemy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not very well versed in Terry Moore’s extensive interconnected bibliography, so I’m not sure if any of these characters or concepts were introduced in any of his previous comics. Either way, I really enjoyed this quirky story about a girl mechanic and her sentient talking gorilla friend meeting cartoony aliens and fighting for their scrap of desert land against an evil corporate dude and his goons. It’s not some deep layered read, it’s just fun comics. And Moore’s black and white artwork is lovely as usual.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about what happens to people in and after war, told with humor (where appropriate) and plenty of compassion. Sam is a vet who lives and works in a junkyard after a combat injury ended her military career. Her companion is a gorilla named Mike. When a UFO crash lands near the junkyard, it attracts the attention of Nefarious Capitalists who attempt to oust Sam and Mike from their home so they can install an anti-UFO weapon. Sam isn't ready to move on, though, in a lot of ways. It starts as a somewhat goofy UFO story, but Moore signals gently early on that all is not what it appears. The ending isn't sad, but yeah, might make you a little misty. I really enjoyed this.

Motor Girl was collected in two paperbacks, but also a hardcover omnibus collecting the entire series.

[Erik Carl son · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always impressed with each endeavor by Terry Moore. He constantly manages to take what often appears a weak premise - a ptsd veteran and ufos - and manages to make compelling tales filled with humor, horror, and deep dives into the human condition. Go support this book.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Need something to read as a technician and an intern do a duplex ultrasound of the inflamed varicose veins in my leg, but the room is too dim for a book, so let's pull up a graphic novel on my iPad from a Terry Moore Humble Bundle I got three years ago but have barely started reading.

Moore brings his trademark balance between wacky and dramatic to this little ditty about a marine veteran, a former prisoner of war, who avoids coping with her trauma by hanging in a junkyard with her imaginary friend and some alien visitors. Bad guys who want her little portion of the Nevada desert disrupt her status quo.

An intriguing start to a short digression from Moore’s flagship series.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contains material originally published in single magazine form as Motor Girl #1-5.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Moore at his best here. There's humor and cuteness everywhere to be found but there's also real darkness and trauma seeping in at the edges.

In a better world, Terry Moore would be a household name.

[Koen Claeys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great first half.

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moore's universes are always quirky places filled with compelling characters and ridiculous plots that just somehow work. In Motor Girl, he dials these traits to 11, throwing an imaginary talking gorilla in with aliens (that may or may not be real). Readers are thrown into a confusing situation, but it's easy to take with stride. Volume 1 sets up a lot, though tells us little. It's a good introduction and I look forward to seeing where Moore goes with this.

[Dawn-Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick and engaging read. Sam and Mike are really likable characters and have great banter. But it’s also an emotional read, showing how Sam suffers with her PTSD and injuries. It’s really well written, especially considering the somewhat ridiculous premise. Definitely worth picking up if you want something beyond the typical comicbook.

[Kenya | Reviews May Vary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the beginning of everything that Terry Moore writes and then I totally forget about it. I hope I stick with this one!

[Sylexlibris · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

[Erin Bossk (Kross) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Terry Moore. And hew writes the character or Sam with depth and strength and sweetness

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I'm a little prejudiced in that I love most everything that Terry Moore has done. Sometimes I don't always get it, sometimes I am disappointed with how he presents his stuff, but it is always a wild ride.

The one just grabbed me, and I fell in love with it, so far at least. In a sort of Calvin and Hobbes sort of way with the main character, who has PSTD, and has a stuffed gorilla that talks to her, and offers advice. Plus aliens, that are more than they seem.

I have no idea how this will all be resolved, but it is a fun first volume. As he usually does, Terry has many tricks up his sleave, and I'm sure things that seemed unimportant in the beginning will become very important.

[lovett books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Moore prende una ragazza reduce da una missione in Iraq che fa la meccanica, un gorilla, degli alieni, scienziati, sicari, li mette in un calderone, e ne tira fuori una storia che racconta il disturbo da stress post-traumatico.
Samantha vive nel deserto del Nevada e aggiusta auto insieme al suo gorilla Mike nell’officina della vulcanica Libby. Ci ho messo qualche pagina per elaborare la situazione. Mi aspettavo di finire in un fantascientifico trash, invece siamo dentro una realtà più surreale: l’interiorità della protagonista.
Sam e Mike scoprono che “gente misteriosa” vuole l’officina per “scopi misteriosi”. In mezzo a questi scopi ci sono anche gli omini dello spazio che hanno le tipiche sembianze aliene: tondi con le antenne.
La storia di contorno rimane leggera e intrattiene il lettore: gli alieni sono buffi, i sicari non fanno paura e gli scienziati non sono poi così intelligenti. Moore attinge dagli immaginari collettivi (comici) e dai fumetti americani degli anni 80/90 (alieni antennati, roba top secret e i disturbi dei veterani di guerra) per raccontare l’esperienza personale e drammatica della protagonista.
Sam ha combattuto in Iraq, assistendo a una tragedia che interiormente e fisicamente ha segnato la sua vita. I disegni mettono a confronto il presente e il passato della protagonista. Sam non sbrocca mai, non racconta quello che ha passato, non ne parla neanche con la sua amica Libby. I dialoghi infatti sono risicati, l’enfasi ricade sulle espressioni dei personaggi, che si raccontano da sole nonostante il tratto grezzo.
Samantha plasma la sua realtà, ma l’autore evita di tirartelo in faccia. Il lettore viene accompagnato nella mente e negli incubi della protagonista. Dalle sue crisi, mal di testa e flashback, emerge il passato obliato.
L’ho trovato un racconto delicato, una storia interiore e intima che si svela districando i ricordi della mente della protagonista, rivelando la maturità e la sensibilità dell’autore.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antes que nada... esto lo leí en single issues, y aparte, hago este reviewya que leí todos los 10 números de la serie.
En estos primeros cinco números, demasiadas cosas extrañas están sucediendo.
El resumen:
Una morra que es veterana Marine que fue a Iraq tiene alucinaciones con un Gorilla con el que cotorrea de vez en cuando y es bien tranquis el vato. La morra trabaja en el Junkyard de su compa, una viejita amargada que es buena onda con "Motor Girl".
Una invación (I guess...) comienza a suceder. Little green men appear.
El gobierno invade el junkyard y dicen que comenzarán experimentos IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE!
Entonces... more stuff will happen... I guess...
El comic en los primeros cinco números está para ningún lado. Hay algo extraño de por medio, por que hay Gorilas imaginarios y por alguna forma los Little Green Men se leen como... fuera de lugar. No te de ninguna idea de como pueda terminar el comic... PERO! El character devolopment está DE POCA MADRE. Terry Moore es un master en transmitir emociones con pocos trazos y texto y de alguna forma se lee como si el escritor está muy informado en como la vida de estas personas sería.

Lo recomiendo... pero después de leer del #6 al #10... también lo recomiendo... solo para un grupo específico de personas... pero eso es otra historia.

[Paul Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about what happens to people in and after war. It is told with humour (where appropriate) and plenty of compassion. Sam is a vet who lives and works in a junkyard after a combat injury ended her military career. Her companion is a gorilla named Mike. When a UFO crash lands near the junkyard, it attracts the attention of Nefarious Capitalists who attempt to oust Sam and Mike from their home so they can install an anti-UFO weapon.

Sam isn't ready to move on, though, in a lot of ways. It starts as a somewhat goofy UFO story, but Moore signals gently early on that all is not what it appears. The ending isn't sad, but yeah, might make you a little misty. I really enjoyed this.

Motor Girl was collected in two paperbacks, but also a hardcover omnibus collecting the entire series.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been getting tired of the usual superhero comics lately and this delightfully different book provided a refreshing change. Moore is known for great character work in both his art and writing and he doesn't disappoint here, providing us with complex main character whose story is rooted in much real-life tragedy, surrounded by many fantastic and comical elements, only some of which are creations of her own mind. This book is funny, touching, sweet, and full of surprises and emotional depth. Moore's art is great as usual if a bit more cartoony due to the addition of things like talking apes and funny aliens. This has the makings of one of Moore's best books and I hope it continues along this very entertaining path.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread my copy of Terry Moore's Motor Girl. It tells the story of Iraq veteran Sam, her best friend Mike the Gorilla, and a star-crossed alien Bik. At times it's funny and silly, but at the core, it's a beautiful story about the scars you can't leave behind. Like all Terry Moore, the characters he comes up with are just amazing. From the beautiful but damaged Sam, to the bumbling goons Vic and Larry, Moore gives us characters we care about. I don't dare summarize the book, as it has a few interesting twists and turns, but definitely, this is recommended reading.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start! Terry Moore always has original ideas, always something fun, weird, and somehow still poignant and good. Sam is an interesting character, but perhaps a bit too dramatic. The gorilla is excellent, in character and in drawing. Libby is perhaps my favorite: grumpy and loving, perfectly rendered. The aliens and the bad guys are so far mysteries, and hopefully we'll learn more about them and their motivations in the coming issues.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this, I didn't realized what it was about. I thought it was going to be a funny animal humor comic. I eventually realized that the funny animal was the figment of the imagination of a marine suffering form PTSD, and things changed. Yes, there is humor, and there are some ridiculous things, but it's more than that. I expected I'd read this volume and stop, but now I plan to read further volumes when they come out.

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever read Terry Moore's comics before, you know to trust him.

You're best off going into this book having no idea what's happening or what the situation is, and enjoying the ride. It has a bit of a pacing problem, in that it seems to be setting up a fairly long story, and then the end is super condensed action and storytelling. Regardless of that, this is just a solid story unlike any other comic series I've encountered.

[Micah Ulibarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story blew me away. The plot was good and the characters are actually interesting, vibrant and exciting despite being black and white. I definitely want to read the next one. I admit that I have never dealt with PTSD but the way that this book shows it, I think, is fair and emotional and real. It's actually one of the most real moments in almost all of comics that I have read. And considering that that's in a novel where a retired Marine helps a UFO... I think that's saying something.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected. Story was interesting with some funny moments but depth and heart as well. Main character Sam is great, I am looking forward to learning more about her. Artwork is black and white, which I wasn't expecting. Would be interesting to see the comic in colour. But black and white works for the most part.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel was phenomenal. Terry Moore has left me with so many questions about what is real and what is Samantha trying to process remnants of her traumatic experiences as a prisoner of war. Whether she's seeing things or not I am excited to read more!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Terry Moore series that has an excellent first collection. This reads better as a collected edition of the first 5 comics than as separate issues as the reader needs to spend a longer amount of time with the characters and situation to get into it.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new Moore graphic novel. As per his usual - the characters are more-or-less instantly interesting and the visual is its usual beautiful (even if some of it looks a lot like what he's done before). Waiting to see where it goes from here.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha, a veteran, lives in the desert and fixes up what she can. She has a roommate, her imaginary friend, and coping mechanism Mike the Gorilla. When a UFO lands nearby, weird things start happening and pretty soon Samantha is not the only one who is in trouble.

[Ji Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quel mélange d'humour, d'aventure, d'empathie pour ses personnages féminins, d'action et de rebondissement. Avec chaque série, il nous épate.
Terry Moore est un maître comme on en trouve peu dans l'univers des Comics.
Cerise sur le gâteau, c'est une série courte: 10 épisodes en 2 volumes!

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong start to a series with some unique characters. Lots of questions of what's real and what isn't with Moore doing a great job to keep the readers in the dark. Leans a bit more lighthearted than I would like for the subject matter at times but enjoyable none the less.

[Natalie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the omnibus and it's perfect. I might even prefer this to SiP, my fav comic ever.

Terry Moore's black-and-white style is beautiful and compliments the story without over or underwhelming. The characters are rendered realistically and the storyline is full of surprises.

I want more!