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The Sanctuary #1-3
The Sanctuary
An original, wordless graphic novel debut. In Nate Neal’s first full length graphic novel, the author explores the primal mysteries and sordid inner workings of a Paleolithic cave-dwelling tribe, creating an original “silent” reading experience by using symbols instead of words.
When a mysterious nomad girl is offered up as an item of trade, she seeks refuge by forming a tenacious friendship with the local cave-painter turned outcast. Together they set out on a dangerous mission to bring truth to their corrupt tribe with the help of their new discovery (via some psychotropic mushrooms): drawings that tell a story. Subsequently, they become enmeshed in the violent power struggles and sensual intrigues between the alpha males and alpha females.
In Sanctuary, art, inspiration, and communication is in conflict with tradition and law, and the novel dramatizes the moral imperative of man facing the truth even at the cost of his, and society’s, lives.
Featuring its own delicately crafted Paleolithic language, The Sanctuary breaks new ground by bringing complex ideas to the page with primal immediacy and sophistication through Neal’s adroit use of pantomime storytelling that provide many layers of symbolism and meaning. This is a darkly comic journey through a prehistoric re-imagining of art and comics. 200 pages of black-and-white comics
When a mysterious nomad girl is offered up as an item of trade, she seeks refuge by forming a tenacious friendship with the local cave-painter turned outcast. Together they set out on a dangerous mission to bring truth to their corrupt tribe with the help of their new discovery (via some psychotropic mushrooms): drawings that tell a story. Subsequently, they become enmeshed in the violent power struggles and sensual intrigues between the alpha males and alpha females.
In Sanctuary, art, inspiration, and communication is in conflict with tradition and law, and the novel dramatizes the moral imperative of man facing the truth even at the cost of his, and society’s, lives.
Featuring its own delicately crafted Paleolithic language, The Sanctuary breaks new ground by bringing complex ideas to the page with primal immediacy and sophistication through Neal’s adroit use of pantomime storytelling that provide many layers of symbolism and meaning. This is a darkly comic journey through a prehistoric re-imagining of art and comics. 200 pages of black-and-white comics
- GenresGraphic NovelsComics
200 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 18, 2018
This is the rare graphic novel that utilizes the form and my take a few re-reads to fully grok. Very few comics need annotations. This book, with an off-the-cuff remake could just be "turning primitivism into pretension". It's got controversial Dave Sim, check. The artist makes jokes about James Joyce and self-deprecates self with inside flap, check. The original name of the book was just going to be "Bison Cave Symbol", check.
It's got layers to it, but ultimately it doesn't seem to be as clever or as deep as it thinks it is. And that is what I feel is the primary issue with the comic book and literary fiction genre currently.
It's got layers to it, but ultimately it doesn't seem to be as clever or as deep as it thinks it is. And that is what I feel is the primary issue with the comic book and literary fiction genre currently.
October 4, 2010
... easy to read even w/ my limited comprehension of the caveman language. Nate Neal's messy hatching suitably conjures an immature world, in which flickering torchlight illuminates casual, clumsy acts of violence. The head caveman's discovery of the painter's secret stash of drawings made me feel vicariously gigantic inside, like the first time I made a girl laugh (back in the stone age).
Ask me again after I've decoded all the grunting cavespeak.
Bonus track: Dave Sim's foreword's trash-talking of Fantagraphics readers: priceless.
Ask me again after I've decoded all the grunting cavespeak.
Bonus track: Dave Sim's foreword's trash-talking of Fantagraphics readers: priceless.
December 2, 2017
This could have been a very powerful comment about artists' place in society if it weren't for the silly ending. Still, it's a fun, unconventional "read". I felt like an anthropologist doing field work as I tried to decipher the gobbledygook that the cavemen in this story speak. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quirky, thought-provoking graphic novel.
February 18, 2011
UL NU KAA! KA SEEL UL KAS!
KA AWO VEY-LES!
KA AWO VEY-LES!
February 23, 2020
Set in prehistoric times this novel deals with the inner struggles of a cave dwelling tribe and the origins of religion and art. For the novel Neal has created his own primitive language, but it in no way impedes the readers understanding of the material. A simple, yet complex, book it explores power vs. humanity, art, and communication in a unique experience.
April 4, 2018
The history of comics and necessity of storytelling and creativity, told in the form of an outcast caveman painting on cave walls while his tribe is bullied by three witchy ladies. Excellent, and beautifully drawn.
March 7, 2011
I've really never read anything quite like this. Neal's done something quite unique in his imaginative portrayal of cavemen and cavewomen, and their language is really fun to try and figure out. I read the book twice in one sitting and only managed to translate a few words here and there, but as Dave Sim writes in the introduction, further readings would probably reveal a deeper understanding and subsequently better readings. I love the scope of the story, what's being said about the use of art in life, and I really love some of the surprise ending.
I hope this gets quite popular; I'd love to see more from Neal.
I hope this gets quite popular; I'd love to see more from Neal.
June 24, 2011
Highly inventive and well worth reading.
February 13, 2014
This is a wonderful and haunting tale of the stoneage. Well worth checking out if you like non-traditional comics or Stone Age tales or both. It rewards careful study.
September 9, 2015
What did I just read? Difficult to follow, and not just because of the made-up "primitive" language... Then it just got silly
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2010
fresh, new, beautiful...
March 11, 2013
A silent comic (sort of). Communication and truth versus tradition and corruption.
June 3, 2014
3.5 Stars
it was just a very quick read.
I enjoyed it but the ending was weird.
it was just a very quick read.
I enjoyed it but the ending was weird.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews