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Four Eyes #1
Four Eyes, Vol. 1: Forged in Flames
Act One of the epic saga of Enrico, a boy living in an alternate 1930s New York, where dragon fighting is the city's number one underground sport and the cause of his father's untimely death. Enrico's literal trial by fire begins here!
96 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2010
About the author
Joe Kelly
1,044 books191 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 18, 2016
Simpatična grafička novela smeštena u doba velike depresije sa jednom malom izmenom. U ovoj paralelnoj verziji istorije postoje zmajevi i oni su glavni izvor zarade.
Dobar artwork, ok likovi, ok priča. Realna ocena 3,5 ali pošto su zmajevi u pitanju zaokružujem na četiri zvezdice :)
Dobar artwork, ok likovi, ok priča. Realna ocena 3,5 ali pošto su zmajevi u pitanju zaokružujem na četiri zvezdice :)
November 29, 2013
It's 1934 in New York City during the Great Depression and dragon eggs are a coveted item as they can be trained for arena fights which are quite lucrative. Wait, what? Dragons? That isn't in the history books but then this isn't your reality or world, people.
Enrico, a boy who seems to be barely even ten, loses his father to a dragon, comes to hate them early on and gets training to eventually go into a dragon cave with a bunch of other hunters to steal their eggs. It turns into a train wreck.
Written by Joe Kelly. Artwork by Max Fiumara, Nestor Pereyra and Drew Gill. Story idea by Joe Kelly and Max Fiumara.
Artwork had a nice play on light and shadows. Notice the use of one or more characters invading the space of another to economize panels.
ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B plus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B; STORY/PLOTTING: B minus to B; DRAGON FOCUSES/MYTHOLOGY: B; OVERALL GRADE: B; WHEN READ: early to mid December 2012.
Enrico, a boy who seems to be barely even ten, loses his father to a dragon, comes to hate them early on and gets training to eventually go into a dragon cave with a bunch of other hunters to steal their eggs. It turns into a train wreck.
Written by Joe Kelly. Artwork by Max Fiumara, Nestor Pereyra and Drew Gill. Story idea by Joe Kelly and Max Fiumara.
Artwork had a nice play on light and shadows. Notice the use of one or more characters invading the space of another to economize panels.
ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B plus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B; STORY/PLOTTING: B minus to B; DRAGON FOCUSES/MYTHOLOGY: B; OVERALL GRADE: B; WHEN READ: early to mid December 2012.
July 4, 2015
I want to read more comics/graphic novels. I keep saying to myself you love art so much you HAVE to start it now. Well when I saw this on *Netgalley I was transfixed by the cover. I just HAD to check it out.
Four Eyes tells the story of a young boy name Enrico. Taking place in an alternate 1930's, his father is a dragon hunter. When his father dies one day Enrico and his mother are left to fend for themselves. Enrico is exposed to the world of dragon fighting and is soon well over his head.
I was so in love with this! I didn't want to stop reading and soaking in the incredible artwork. The story line was captivating. I don't even know where to start because I'm fangirling it hardcore right now. I mean literally I thought that this was one of the best comics I've ever read. Now to be fair I haven't read very many but it doesn't matter. I could read comic like this all day every day.
The plot was interesting and I love that the main character was a little boy forced to be the man of the house. I love that he is stubborn and has tons of courage but at the same time he is full of heart and cares very deeply for his mom. Him mom is not the best but you can tell she is struggling to do the best that she can.
The art in this...OH MY GOD! This perhaps more than anything has me squirming with delight. It's the tiny details that get to me such as one of the pictures of Enrico shows one of his shoelaces untied. Such a minor thing but it made it all the more powerful and totally gave a complete picture of a little boy trying to make in an adult world.
I tried to see if there were any more in the series but so far from what I've seen there was just Volume 1. If I find out more were done I'm totally there!
With out a doubt this was solid 5 out of 5!!!!!!!!
*I recieved a review copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Four Eyes tells the story of a young boy name Enrico. Taking place in an alternate 1930's, his father is a dragon hunter. When his father dies one day Enrico and his mother are left to fend for themselves. Enrico is exposed to the world of dragon fighting and is soon well over his head.
I was so in love with this! I didn't want to stop reading and soaking in the incredible artwork. The story line was captivating. I don't even know where to start because I'm fangirling it hardcore right now. I mean literally I thought that this was one of the best comics I've ever read. Now to be fair I haven't read very many but it doesn't matter. I could read comic like this all day every day.
The plot was interesting and I love that the main character was a little boy forced to be the man of the house. I love that he is stubborn and has tons of courage but at the same time he is full of heart and cares very deeply for his mom. Him mom is not the best but you can tell she is struggling to do the best that she can.
The art in this...OH MY GOD! This perhaps more than anything has me squirming with delight. It's the tiny details that get to me such as one of the pictures of Enrico shows one of his shoelaces untied. Such a minor thing but it made it all the more powerful and totally gave a complete picture of a little boy trying to make in an adult world.
I tried to see if there were any more in the series but so far from what I've seen there was just Volume 1. If I find out more were done I'm totally there!
With out a doubt this was solid 5 out of 5!!!!!!!!
*I recieved a review copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 5, 2015
Four Eyes, Volume 1: Forged in Flames by Joe Kelly is one of those rare, original tales that must be read and heard. Don't let that it is told in a graphic novel format dissuade you. This is high drama and high fantasy. A tale of survival and redemption. With some of the best comic artwork around.
In an alternate Universe, it is New York of the 1930s, after the crash and work is hard to come by. But on this day young Enrico and his family are taking a day at the beach. Families in this New York don't do this, doing this means going a day without work. But Enrico's father has found a new job and the money is coming in, steady. Enrico's father steals Dragons eggs and on this fateful day, Enrico's life changes forever. He becomes the man of the house. Now he must provide for the home and the easiest and most dangerous way for a young boy to make money is to find and hunt for Dragon's eggs. For in 1930s New York, the most brutal and the most profitable game in town is in underground Dragon fighting. But there is one rule to hunting Dragon's eggs, you must never touch a baby dragon or else they will bond with you and on this day, deep in the caverns covered with soot and eaten bodies, Enrico will hold the runt of the litter in his arms. He will bond with the Dragon Four Eyes.
Original and inventive, Kelly has forged a story here that is fantasy and drama. In Enrico he has created a young boy who idolizes his father and cannot shake the guilt of his death. A boy who would kill to protect his mother and feels the poverty and the danger of the slum around them. Enrico who hates the Dragons who took his father from him, must now find salvation in one.
Kelly has written a masterful tale and with this first volume has laid the groundwork for an epic to come. Very distinctive and clever artwork compliments this story. A terrific read!
In an alternate Universe, it is New York of the 1930s, after the crash and work is hard to come by. But on this day young Enrico and his family are taking a day at the beach. Families in this New York don't do this, doing this means going a day without work. But Enrico's father has found a new job and the money is coming in, steady. Enrico's father steals Dragons eggs and on this fateful day, Enrico's life changes forever. He becomes the man of the house. Now he must provide for the home and the easiest and most dangerous way for a young boy to make money is to find and hunt for Dragon's eggs. For in 1930s New York, the most brutal and the most profitable game in town is in underground Dragon fighting. But there is one rule to hunting Dragon's eggs, you must never touch a baby dragon or else they will bond with you and on this day, deep in the caverns covered with soot and eaten bodies, Enrico will hold the runt of the litter in his arms. He will bond with the Dragon Four Eyes.
Original and inventive, Kelly has forged a story here that is fantasy and drama. In Enrico he has created a young boy who idolizes his father and cannot shake the guilt of his death. A boy who would kill to protect his mother and feels the poverty and the danger of the slum around them. Enrico who hates the Dragons who took his father from him, must now find salvation in one.
Kelly has written a masterful tale and with this first volume has laid the groundwork for an epic to come. Very distinctive and clever artwork compliments this story. A terrific read!
August 10, 2015
'Four Eyes, Volume 1: Forged in Flames' by Joe Kelly with art by Max Fiumara is a story told in an alternate depression era New York where dragons exist. With that as a concept, I think you just have to go with the idea, or it starts to unravel.
Enrico is a young boy who adores his father. Imagine his horror when his father is brutally killed by a dragon. This sets Enrico on the path to the goal of destroying all dragons. What he finds along the way is a shadowy underworld of dragon fighting, and the dangerous job of capturing new dragons to fuel the sport. With a mom doing all she can to keep the family afloat, Enrico decides that he needs to step up and be the man of the house. This puts him in the grasp of a shadowy mob boss type, and walking in to meet the same dragons that did his father in.
It's a volume 1 that feels a bit like a prelude, but seems to be the start of an interesting story. I liked the art by Max Fiumara, especially the set of the jaw that he gives young Enrico. I also like background art like the job lines and bread lines. The dragons are okay, but they are mostly just claws and fangs. I'd like to see where this goes, because I like how this story has begun.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Enrico is a young boy who adores his father. Imagine his horror when his father is brutally killed by a dragon. This sets Enrico on the path to the goal of destroying all dragons. What he finds along the way is a shadowy underworld of dragon fighting, and the dangerous job of capturing new dragons to fuel the sport. With a mom doing all she can to keep the family afloat, Enrico decides that he needs to step up and be the man of the house. This puts him in the grasp of a shadowy mob boss type, and walking in to meet the same dragons that did his father in.
It's a volume 1 that feels a bit like a prelude, but seems to be the start of an interesting story. I liked the art by Max Fiumara, especially the set of the jaw that he gives young Enrico. I also like background art like the job lines and bread lines. The dragons are okay, but they are mostly just claws and fangs. I'd like to see where this goes, because I like how this story has begun.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
January 9, 2016
The premise of Four Eyes is interesting, and provides meat for an emotional story which is well-depicted by Fiumara's art. Enrico is a boy living in Depression-Era New York City, and he and his mother are struggling to make ends meet since his father passed away. Enrico discovers that his father worked for the illegal, lucrative dragon-fighting trade (basically a dragon version of cock-fighting), and seeks a job capturing dragons in the hopes of earning money to survive, as well as getting revenge on the beasts that killed his father. The story is serious, with the volume successfully conveying how Enrico must grow up too soon due to his father's death and his family's financial straights. Joe Kelly and Max Fiumara also take the time and effort to convey Enrico's mother's regret at the fact that her son is growing up too fast, and with no father for guidance.
I couldn't resist the artwork of this one, which is why I picked it up. The pencils and ink are stunning, although the detail makes it a little difficult for the eye to parse. I love that this is in black in white with only an occasional color accent.
I couldn't resist the artwork of this one, which is why I picked it up. The pencils and ink are stunning, although the detail makes it a little difficult for the eye to parse. I love that this is in black in white with only an occasional color accent.
July 5, 2015
I would like to see where this story goes... oops, no more. And the next arc is in September? And that's why they're releasing a remastered color version of the first one (from 2010)? Well, I will be looking out for it and the next arc. With so much to read on hand, I can wait... oh, yes, I can wait. Haha.
Compelling read with an interesting setting & premise. Brought to mind "How to Train Your Dragon" but only in that there is a kid and there are dragons and there are indications that the kid will be doing some dragon training/raising/what-not. Apart from that it's a pretty dark coming of age story set in 1930's Depression Era New York on an alternate Earth where dragons walk the land.
Pretty gritty and probably not what you think.
Compelling read with an interesting setting & premise. Brought to mind "How to Train Your Dragon" but only in that there is a kid and there are dragons and there are indications that the kid will be doing some dragon training/raising/what-not. Apart from that it's a pretty dark coming of age story set in 1930's Depression Era New York on an alternate Earth where dragons walk the land.
Pretty gritty and probably not what you think.
April 4, 2011
I read the back cover -- Depression-era NYC boy gets involved with fighting dragons -- and figured this would be a wacky minor fantasy comic. But no: this is a very tense, gruesome, and ambiguous work. I wouldn't be surprised if introducing fighting dragons to the 1933 criminal underworld becomes some sort of analogue to current 2009-11 economy.
Props to artist Max Fiumara who makes the dragons look alternately hellish and sympathetic, choreographs a couple gripping "battles", and renders wonderfully hellish and/or sympathetic humans to boot.
Props to artist Max Fiumara who makes the dragons look alternately hellish and sympathetic, choreographs a couple gripping "battles", and renders wonderfully hellish and/or sympathetic humans to boot.
May 16, 2016
Actual rate ★★☆
Enrico saw his father killed by a dragon, from that moment, everything changes.
He wants to hunt dragons, he wants to kill them.
We are in an alternative version of New York, in '30 where dragons fighting each other in a stadium full of screaming people.
Bad times for a boy.
This four chapter are forged in flames, steam and rust; illustrations are full of orange and black thick lines.
A good introduction to this story that shows a child that wants to be like his father was.
Not my favourite in these last months, but a good read.
(ARC via Netgalley)
Enrico saw his father killed by a dragon, from that moment, everything changes.
He wants to hunt dragons, he wants to kill them.
We are in an alternative version of New York, in '30 where dragons fighting each other in a stadium full of screaming people.
Bad times for a boy.
This four chapter are forged in flames, steam and rust; illustrations are full of orange and black thick lines.
A good introduction to this story that shows a child that wants to be like his father was.
Not my favourite in these last months, but a good read.
(ARC via Netgalley)
June 21, 2011
Drawings are fantastic, and the story is interesting. Right now the characters feel a little stock, and the story line isn't that novel, but they are well done anyway. Even if the story were terrible, the pictures make it all worth it anyway. Great use of shadow and light in the images, great image and page composition throughout the comic. Looking forward to future volumes.
July 3, 2015
I really enjoyed this. Nice change of pace, and original story. I mean Dragons! enough said.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
August 29, 2018
Odd, sometimes visually hard to understand, but once it hits its stride, very compelling story about a boy who wants to watch monsters die.
Enrico is a boy whose basically lost everything the moment his father is killed. Enrico's mom insists that dragons don't exist, but that's a pretty hard thing to tell a boy who saw his father eaten in one bite. The narrative style takes a bit of getting used and sometimes panels would have been better having more color because deciphering where a head is was hard at times, at least for me. Other panels are absolutely stunning and the drawing style has flairs of Aeon Flux although obviously set in an alternate past where dragon matches were known as the sport of emperors.
This first volume definitely sets the tone and takes its time doing it, which isn't a bad thing at all, but definitely gets better as you progress in the story. The whole translating from Italian gimmick is a bit overdone for a comic and I think it would work better as an animation because language is definitely used to transition from drab, mundane, awful, poverty stricken reality, and the prospect of dragons.
Not a masterwork, but definitely engaging and will be looking for the second installment to see exactly what happens with Enrico and company, to witness a new definition of the word 'tenacity.'
Enrico is a boy whose basically lost everything the moment his father is killed. Enrico's mom insists that dragons don't exist, but that's a pretty hard thing to tell a boy who saw his father eaten in one bite. The narrative style takes a bit of getting used and sometimes panels would have been better having more color because deciphering where a head is was hard at times, at least for me. Other panels are absolutely stunning and the drawing style has flairs of Aeon Flux although obviously set in an alternate past where dragon matches were known as the sport of emperors.
This first volume definitely sets the tone and takes its time doing it, which isn't a bad thing at all, but definitely gets better as you progress in the story. The whole translating from Italian gimmick is a bit overdone for a comic and I think it would work better as an animation because language is definitely used to transition from drab, mundane, awful, poverty stricken reality, and the prospect of dragons.
Not a masterwork, but definitely engaging and will be looking for the second installment to see exactly what happens with Enrico and company, to witness a new definition of the word 'tenacity.'
June 29, 2019
"There is brave and there is blind. The difference is how long you stare into the sun."
I was book browsing and picked this up by chance just because it was done by Image. The story is a little slow to start so I'm thankful I had the entire first volume as opposed to reading it issue by issue otherwise I might have DNF'D after the first.
The black and white art made it a little visually confusing at times when we needed details but the dragons were well done. I was sold to read on by the last page of issue 3 but the cliffhanger ending has me itching for volume 2.
Recommend for any who likes dragons, stories based in the depression era, underdog comebacks or just.. sexy dead Italians? There has to be a niche for that out there right?! Haha!
I was book browsing and picked this up by chance just because it was done by Image. The story is a little slow to start so I'm thankful I had the entire first volume as opposed to reading it issue by issue otherwise I might have DNF'D after the first.
The black and white art made it a little visually confusing at times when we needed details but the dragons were well done. I was sold to read on by the last page of issue 3 but the cliffhanger ending has me itching for volume 2.
Recommend for any who likes dragons, stories based in the depression era, underdog comebacks or just.. sexy dead Italians? There has to be a niche for that out there right?! Haha!
January 6, 2020
Distinctive art style with bold lines and selective, yet effective, use of color. Some scenes are a bit too busy to parse easily.
Characters are strong but there are a few 180s out of nowhere I didn't like.
Felt like it had just started and then I was at the end of the volume - eagerly awaiting the next volume now that setup is all done.
Would greatly benefit from more then 1 female character, especially considering how that lone woman is used in the story.
Characters are strong but there are a few 180s out of nowhere I didn't like.
Felt like it had just started and then I was at the end of the volume - eagerly awaiting the next volume now that setup is all done.
Would greatly benefit from more then 1 female character, especially considering how that lone woman is used in the story.
April 29, 2018
Interesting story and great art (beautiful panels). The characters are well rounded and the dialogues are good. This book has a cinematic quality that I enjoy and the plot is crafted with care and mastery. There are a few questions that are unanswered in this first volume that I hope they are adressed in the second one. I recommend this story!
May 21, 2020
Joe Kelly is the writer I always think of when someone asks who deserves more credit. His work is consistently great. Here, he and Max Fiumara, make an incredible world of depression era New York with a twist. That twist...dragons. Sounds insane but it works. Enrico is such a great character that you root for. Fiumara's art is perfect for the series. I can't wait to read the next volume.
June 4, 2018
Interesting premise, sort of a alt-history - dragons are real & the time is 1934 during the Great Depression, group of men line up to go catch dragons, for fighting. Max Fiumara's art is gorgeous, but Joe Kelly's story & script is weak. The story is very slow for a comic book.
June 10, 2019
Fascinating is how I’d describe this. I wasn’t expecting dragons to fit in with the era they went with, but so far so good.
July 8, 2019
Interesante, veamos como sigue el tpb 2. Fiumara al gran nivel de siempre.
March 19, 2020
The art is great, story is only okay.
April 1, 2020
Sure, we've all wanted a pet dragon at some point, but it's cruel to keep one in the city when you don't even have a backyard for it to play in. Get a gerbil or something instead.
June 23, 2016
Four Eyes, Volume 1: Forged in Flames was not what I was expecting, in very good ways. 1930's Great Depression, New York, a young Italian boy, and dragons.
I need to mention the art first of all, because Max Fiumara has a very unusual but striking style and the cover alone makes it obvious that this isn't your usual comics art style. It's also come to my attention that there are two differing art versions - I read the initial, mostly-black-and-white version, but there was a later colour version released. I have to say that from looking at scans of the colour version, the b/w is far superior, letting you focus on the lines and stylistic choices without distracting you with bright, modern comics colours. The b/w perfectly suits the timeline and mood of the Great Depression, adding to the atmosphere of the work. The occasional use of rust-red for Enrico's gloves, dream sequences and Four Eyes, and pale-blue for a dragon's breath attack were all the more heightened by comparison. [The full-colour versions of those same pages lose so much of the mood for me and actually detract from the lines rather than making me appreciate their beauty.]
The art style also heightens awareness of Enrico's young age, unlike many present-day American comics where young characters are drawn older than they actually are. The dragons have a wide variety of designs and they aren't your usual designs. The designs are a bit chaotic, very monstrous, and a bit ugly - which actually makes them all the more aesthetically appealing, to me, than if they were a regurgitation of existing dragon designs. The fight scenes between two dragons are stunning and some of most beautiful pages of the volume.
Plot-wise, the story takes a while to get going. Quite a while. By chapter four, I was starting to think the story wasn't going where the back cover had hinted it was and I was being cheated, but there was a quick turnabout that had be very satisfied by the end of the volume. On the plus side, while the plot moves slowly (at least in the beginning), important things are still happening: there is fantastic, constant development of characters, setting, and mood. The text boxes are from Enrico's perspective and I can't remember ever reading a comic where the text was so involved in fleshing out the senses the comic itself can't give us - the smells, the sounds, the feelings in Enrico's head. There's a reason Joe Kelly is one of the greats and there was many times it felt more like I was reading a graphic novel adaption of a novel, rather than an original graphic novel.
Enrico is really the only character undergoing any development at this stage, but he's fascinating to watch/read, especially as he learns truths about the world that others have been hiding from him. The rest of the characters are rather cliche - the single mother trying to scrape together money while being hit on by a variety of other men with her dead husband barely in the ground, the guardian African-American man more concerned about this young kid's welfare than he actually would/should be in the middle of the Depression, the utterly immoral and greedy mob boss, the randomly cruel-for-no-reason men joining Enrico in dragon hunting. There's a significant lack of female characters, and the two who exist clearly aren't going to be treated well by the narrative, but at least it's not pretending to show equal or female-centric representation.
What it is about, is a small boy and dragons and the underground world of dragon fighting. And it's doing a great job of making me interested in that.
Rating: 4 / 5 stars. The vengeful, anti-hero adaption of How To Train Your Dragon (To Dogfight).
I need to mention the art first of all, because Max Fiumara has a very unusual but striking style and the cover alone makes it obvious that this isn't your usual comics art style. It's also come to my attention that there are two differing art versions - I read the initial, mostly-black-and-white version, but there was a later colour version released. I have to say that from looking at scans of the colour version, the b/w is far superior, letting you focus on the lines and stylistic choices without distracting you with bright, modern comics colours. The b/w perfectly suits the timeline and mood of the Great Depression, adding to the atmosphere of the work. The occasional use of rust-red for Enrico's gloves, dream sequences and Four Eyes, and pale-blue for a dragon's breath attack were all the more heightened by comparison. [The full-colour versions of those same pages lose so much of the mood for me and actually detract from the lines rather than making me appreciate their beauty.]
The art style also heightens awareness of Enrico's young age, unlike many present-day American comics where young characters are drawn older than they actually are. The dragons have a wide variety of designs and they aren't your usual designs. The designs are a bit chaotic, very monstrous, and a bit ugly - which actually makes them all the more aesthetically appealing, to me, than if they were a regurgitation of existing dragon designs. The fight scenes between two dragons are stunning and some of most beautiful pages of the volume.
Plot-wise, the story takes a while to get going. Quite a while. By chapter four, I was starting to think the story wasn't going where the back cover had hinted it was and I was being cheated, but there was a quick turnabout that had be very satisfied by the end of the volume. On the plus side, while the plot moves slowly (at least in the beginning), important things are still happening: there is fantastic, constant development of characters, setting, and mood. The text boxes are from Enrico's perspective and I can't remember ever reading a comic where the text was so involved in fleshing out the senses the comic itself can't give us - the smells, the sounds, the feelings in Enrico's head. There's a reason Joe Kelly is one of the greats and there was many times it felt more like I was reading a graphic novel adaption of a novel, rather than an original graphic novel.
Enrico is really the only character undergoing any development at this stage, but he's fascinating to watch/read, especially as he learns truths about the world that others have been hiding from him. The rest of the characters are rather cliche - the single mother trying to scrape together money while being hit on by a variety of other men with her dead husband barely in the ground, the guardian African-American man more concerned about this young kid's welfare than he actually would/should be in the middle of the Depression, the utterly immoral and greedy mob boss, the randomly cruel-for-no-reason men joining Enrico in dragon hunting. There's a significant lack of female characters, and the two who exist clearly aren't going to be treated well by the narrative, but at least it's not pretending to show equal or female-centric representation.
What it is about, is a small boy and dragons and the underground world of dragon fighting. And it's doing a great job of making me interested in that.
Rating: 4 / 5 stars. The vengeful, anti-hero adaption of How To Train Your Dragon (To Dogfight).
September 26, 2016
I've never liked the saying "don't judge a book by its cover", mostly because these days book covers can tell you a lot about what's inside. Of course, it can be dangerous with graphic novels because you're never sure whether the cover artist actually has anything to do with the interior art but in this case, something about the cover called out to me and told me to get this book.
The exaggerated stylistic design of the boy with his long neck and giant unweildy head are perfectly contrasted with that intense expression. He's angry and determined, his tiny hands clenched into fists in those ridiculously oversized gloves. And behind him, the disturbing face of... something big, dark and scary. But the boy isn't afraid, he's standing alongside the creature. Without knowing anything about the book, the title could just as easily refer to the monster as the boy.
So, yeah. I felt like I had little choice but to pick it up after all of that went through my head.
Set in a 1930's New York City, very much like our own with the small exception that dragons exist. Why they exist isn't really touched upon, they're just there as part of the backdrop to the Great Depression. And honestly the 'why' isn't important. The story follows young Enrico's struggle to survive in this world, almost entirely alone with the exception of his mother.
I won't go into spoiler territory, but I have to say I found Enrico very likable, he has that attitude of weariness beyond his years combined with a childish innocence, particularly when it comes to the dragons. The story does just enough to draw you in before it abruptly finishes. As far as first volumes go, it's fantastic and I'll be getting volume two as soon as possible.
As I mentioned, the artwork was responsible for drawing me in to begin with, so I was concerned that the interior art may be a let down. Fortunately my fears were not realised as the interior art is just as oddly beautiful inside.
Anyone interested in a well written, wonderfully drawn coming-of-age story (with dragons) should definitely pick this up.
The exaggerated stylistic design of the boy with his long neck and giant unweildy head are perfectly contrasted with that intense expression. He's angry and determined, his tiny hands clenched into fists in those ridiculously oversized gloves. And behind him, the disturbing face of... something big, dark and scary. But the boy isn't afraid, he's standing alongside the creature. Without knowing anything about the book, the title could just as easily refer to the monster as the boy.
So, yeah. I felt like I had little choice but to pick it up after all of that went through my head.
Set in a 1930's New York City, very much like our own with the small exception that dragons exist. Why they exist isn't really touched upon, they're just there as part of the backdrop to the Great Depression. And honestly the 'why' isn't important. The story follows young Enrico's struggle to survive in this world, almost entirely alone with the exception of his mother.
I won't go into spoiler territory, but I have to say I found Enrico very likable, he has that attitude of weariness beyond his years combined with a childish innocence, particularly when it comes to the dragons. The story does just enough to draw you in before it abruptly finishes. As far as first volumes go, it's fantastic and I'll be getting volume two as soon as possible.
As I mentioned, the artwork was responsible for drawing me in to begin with, so I was concerned that the interior art may be a let down. Fortunately my fears were not realised as the interior art is just as oddly beautiful inside.
Anyone interested in a well written, wonderfully drawn coming-of-age story (with dragons) should definitely pick this up.
July 28, 2015
Four Eyes reminded me of How to Train Your Dragon, though this is more violent and nasty. Four Eyes tells the story of Enrico, whose father dies when hunting dragon eggs. The family is poor and Enrico decides to follow his father's footsteps and almost gets killed. He encounter this deformed dragon that he names Four Eyes and on he goes to save the dystopian world. The comic is very dark and sad. There's lots of blood and the dragons aren't really cute, but more like scary monsters. I really hated Enrico as a character though. He has the "daddy is the greatest" syndrome that inflicts all his decisions and it's extremely annoying. Logic and rational thinking are thrown from the window when "daddy seizures" begin. Little boys tend to be like this and I hate it. The plot is interesting and I don't really know what is going to happen, so that's a good thing - Four Eyes isn't predictable.
The art is quite basic the heads being very large though. There's hardly any expressions on the faces of people and this surely looks like of the Marvel comics that Kelly has drawn before. The comic is five years old and now remastered, so that may explain why Kelly doesn't have his personal style yet (if you compare this to I Kill Giants for example). The colors are perhaps too dark and grim, but quite vibrant still. Four Eyes is still an interesting comic and I do hope it'll be different than your basic dragon sagas. I don't know how many in this series Kelly has made, but hopefully there's continuation.
The art is quite basic the heads being very large though. There's hardly any expressions on the faces of people and this surely looks like of the Marvel comics that Kelly has drawn before. The comic is five years old and now remastered, so that may explain why Kelly doesn't have his personal style yet (if you compare this to I Kill Giants for example). The colors are perhaps too dark and grim, but quite vibrant still. Four Eyes is still an interesting comic and I do hope it'll be different than your basic dragon sagas. I don't know how many in this series Kelly has made, but hopefully there's continuation.
July 18, 2015
Wow, this comic was not what I was expecting. For some reason the cover had me thinking this was about rats and even though I had read the description I was so fixated on the rat idea that I put off reading it for a while. Regret, because this seemed like the beginning to a really, really cool story.
And I'm not just saying that because of dragon fireplaces.
And insane illegal dragon ring fights.
Though that is most certainly part of it.
The story of this kid watched his dad die doing something that was so hella illegal that his mom won't even admit to it's existence. He has anger. He has fear. He wants revenge in the way that only a kid could.
And let's not forget the art.
And the gritty yet composed narrative style.
Yeah. This is going to be a good series folks.
Copy courtesy of Diamond Book Distributors/Image Comics, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
And I'm not just saying that because of dragon fireplaces.
And insane illegal dragon ring fights.
Though that is most certainly part of it.
The story of this kid watched his dad die doing something that was so hella illegal that his mom won't even admit to it's existence. He has anger. He has fear. He wants revenge in the way that only a kid could.
And let's not forget the art.
And the gritty yet composed narrative style.
Yeah. This is going to be a good series folks.
Copy courtesy of Diamond Book Distributors/Image Comics, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 21, 2015
It's 1934 in New York City during the Great Depression and dragon eggs are a coveted item as they can be trained for arena fights which are quite lucrative. Wait, what? Dragons? That isn't in the history books but then this isn't your reality or world, people.
Enrico, a boy who seems to be barely even ten, loses his father to a dragon, comes to hate them early on and gets training to eventually go into a dragon cave with a bunch of other hunters to steal their eggs. It turns into a train wreck.
This was really cool to read especially since I had next to no idea what I was getting into, I chose it because the cover was amazing. Enrico's story is incredibly sad and his strength throughout is beautiful to read. The art was stunning and I found myself just looking at the art very often. The story was interesting however as this is the first volume it hasn't really had enough time to get very far. I hope that I can continue to read this series and see where Enrico's story goes.
Enrico, a boy who seems to be barely even ten, loses his father to a dragon, comes to hate them early on and gets training to eventually go into a dragon cave with a bunch of other hunters to steal their eggs. It turns into a train wreck.
This was really cool to read especially since I had next to no idea what I was getting into, I chose it because the cover was amazing. Enrico's story is incredibly sad and his strength throughout is beautiful to read. The art was stunning and I found myself just looking at the art very often. The story was interesting however as this is the first volume it hasn't really had enough time to get very far. I hope that I can continue to read this series and see where Enrico's story goes.
September 24, 2015
I received a copy of Four Eyes from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Four Eyes follows Enrico, an Italian boy growing up amidst America's Great Depression. He loses his father in a tragic and mysterious accident which causes him to discover the underground world of Dragon fighting. Thus begins his adventure.
I loved this story so much. I wasn't really sure what it was going to be about when I started reading, though I had a feeling it was about dragons or dragon-like creatures. The setting was a welcome surprise, and the way Enrico found his way around the city and into the Dragon fighting pits was fun to watch. While I felt that the side characters could use a bit more fleshing out, I thought Enrico himself was rather well done and dynamic.
The art was fantastic as well. It helped enhance the story and was just beautiful in general.
I really recommend picking those up- you won't want to put it down.
Four Eyes follows Enrico, an Italian boy growing up amidst America's Great Depression. He loses his father in a tragic and mysterious accident which causes him to discover the underground world of Dragon fighting. Thus begins his adventure.
I loved this story so much. I wasn't really sure what it was going to be about when I started reading, though I had a feeling it was about dragons or dragon-like creatures. The setting was a welcome surprise, and the way Enrico found his way around the city and into the Dragon fighting pits was fun to watch. While I felt that the side characters could use a bit more fleshing out, I thought Enrico himself was rather well done and dynamic.
The art was fantastic as well. It helped enhance the story and was just beautiful in general.
I really recommend picking those up- you won't want to put it down.
June 21, 2016
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Here we have a tale about an Italian American boy raise during the Great Depression who after his father's tragic death by a Dragon must find a way to make living for he and his mother. Enrico decides to take up the former job of his Father as a dragon hunter. This book was an excellent mix of fantasy and history. Just reading this book I got a feel for life during the Great Depression. Enrico is a interesting protagonist and writer Joe Kelly does a great job giving us pieces of what the character is feeling. The artwork is illustrated nicely by Max Fiumara, though there is no color loved how he uses light in each panel. What is great about this book being in black and white is that the few places where color is used highlight the importance of a particular object or place. I found all the characters captivating and it was extremely cool to learn a little history in a action fantasy tale. I am looking forward to the next volume in the series.
July 26, 2015
This was a weird little graphic novel. There was some confusion with why some people "believed" in dragons and others didn't. In some earlier scenes there were dragons flying above the city, and yet the mother continues to act like her son is crazy for talking about the mythical creatures. I'd get the doubt if they weren't commonplace, but I couldn't tell if they were suppose to be legends or simply rare. Also, my rating is slightly low because the story could have easily been told in lesser time. It takes the whole volume to set up the entire world and mystery. The best comparison I can think of is if the first volume of Spiderman ended with him realizing he has abilities. At least give us a taste of what we're here for! Over all, I think the full series will be interesting and I might read the second volume, but I was a little disappointed in this one by itself.
August 13, 2016
Four Eyes is a graphic novel that was highly recommended to me by a friend. The story is about this young boy, Enrico, who lives in a hellish world set in the future. Enrico loves his father but when his father dies Enrico discovers, slowly , what he did for a living. I seems he found dragons and helped capture them. Enrico finds his father heavy duty fire resistant gloves and sets out to do what his dad did. He is just a small boy with a brave heart who pushes to get into this world.
This is only volume one but I can see Enrico, with his misfit dragon Four Eyes, climbing to the top of the pile.
This is only volume one but I can see Enrico, with his misfit dragon Four Eyes, climbing to the top of the pile.
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