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Harmony #1

Memento

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Lorsque la jeune Harmony se réveille, amnésique, dans une cave inconnue, elle ne dispose que de peu d'informations pour comprendre sa situation : le nom de son logeur, de mystérieuses voix dans sa tête et un don nouveau pour la télékinésie.
Mais il va falloir que la mémoire de l'adolescente se débloque et que tout lui revienne enfin (ses pouvoirs, sa relation avec son hôte, l'existence des autres enfants, le camp d'entraînement) pour contrer les dangers qu'elle devra affronter. Beaucoup de questions restent en suspens, et le combat ne fait que commencer...

56 pages, Hardcover

Published January 29, 2016

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Mathieu Reynès

36 books11 followers

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5 stars
78 (22%)
4 stars
149 (42%)
3 stars
103 (29%)
2 stars
18 (5%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
Profile Image for Chad.
8,625 reviews964 followers
May 19, 2021
10 Cloverfield Lane with telekinesis instead of aliens. The beginning is confusing. It starts off with 2 seemingly unrelated asides that don't come into play in the rest of the book at all. Then Harmony wakes up in a basement with no memories and an old man taking care of her. She slowly starts developing mental powers as she becomes aware that her caretaker knows more than he's saying. The book ends with here getting her memories back.

I loved the art. Even though this set up has become something of a trope, it was done well.

Received a review copy from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Devann.
2,452 reviews174 followers
January 5, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This isn't a bad start to a comic but it's not very creative either. A conventionally attractive blonde woman wakes up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere with no memories and discovers she has unexplained powers! Stop me if you've heard it before. The art is great though and I suppose with more time and details it could develop into a more unique story. With only 60 pages in this first volume there's not very much time for the story to find its feet, but I could probably be convinced to try volume 2.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,867 reviews81 followers
March 8, 2018
This is a version of the trope you are all familiar with. Young woman with power has amnesia, so doesn't know what her power is, or who she is, or what evil she is facing.

In this case she is rescued by someone she doesn't know, but it is hinted that he is someone important to her, by the end of the first volume of this book.

It is a slow burn to find out what her powers are, and who the enemy is, but by the end of the first volume we have seen and met both.

Not bad, quick read. Nice illustrations, and no gratuitous nudity, which is nice for a French graphic novel. It will be interesting to see where this goes.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Profile Image for Niki.
842 reviews142 followers
March 19, 2018
Some really, really cool art, paired with a rather cliche story (girl with amnesia and superpowers is trying to remember her past). I have to be honest, I mostly read it because of the art, and it delivered. I will probably read the next volumes too.

**Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this graphic novel to read!**
December 29, 2017
The art is brilliant, but the story is nothing new. The attractive amnesiac blonde with superpowers who appears to have escaped from a science facility where she was groomed to do cool shit with her brain?...stop me if you've heard this one before.

The way the panels are set out and the art style is where Memento shines. It's flawlessly executed with the panels really serving to highlight moments of tension. With a mix of dark, light, pretty and violent, I would love to see Reynès art used to illustrate a more original and engrossing story. It was the saving grace of this otherwise run of the mill graphic novel.

The dialogue is fine, and the characters look like they could have some interesting development in future instalments. The first issue's short page count didn't really do a lot to get me immersed in their story yet though.

Overall, there's nothing new here. Check it out for the art, but if you want the story, just watch Stranger Things. Harmony is basically Eleven.
662 reviews29 followers
March 26, 2019
3⭐️

Un bon début, mais qui manque beaucoup d’information.

Quand je commence une série de bande-dessinées, je veux comprendre ce que je lis et avoir un suspense à la fin qui me pousse à continuer la série. Ici la fin est intéressante, mais je n’ai pas compris grand chose à ce qui se passe. On termine le tome 1 et on a toujours très peu d’information sur qui est Harmony. On ne sait pas d’où vient son pouvoir, ni comment elle connait l’homme qui l’a « sauvée » (William?). Je trouve le manque d’info un peu exagéré.

Par contre, côté suspense, la fin nous en donne bien assez pour qu’on veuille se rendre au 2ème tome. La fin est plutôt relevée et nous laisse amplement anticiper la suite.

Un très bon choix de BD moins connue pour les ados qui ne veulent pas trop s’investir. La liste musical accessible sur le site de l’éditeur (que je n’ai pas écoutée) est aussi bon ajout multimédia.
Profile Image for Sushmita (Fervently Curious).
63 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2018
I was looking forward to reading this book, but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it at all. The story was very confusing and we were not provided with any explanation as to what was happening.
The concept was interesting, but it was badly executed.

The artwork is beautiful though! Mathieu Reynès is such a talented artists.

This book was provided by the publisher (via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Kasper.
407 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2017
I got a free copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, thanks!

This has a pretty interesting concept and awesome artstyle. Though I wish it was longer, 58 pages is too short.
Profile Image for শুভঙ্কর শুভ.
Author 9 books48 followers
October 19, 2017
সময় কাটানোর জন্য ভালোই বলা চলে। চারপাশের ভনভন থেকে নিজেকে দূরে সরিয়ে রাখতে ভালো ফল দিয়েছে।
Profile Image for Fanna.
1,005 reviews531 followers
December 31, 2017
3.5/5

I loved this book more as a graphics' fan than a reader.


Let's start with the things I liked —all the sketches, the panel-positioning and the dialogues. Comics particularly draw me in for the way it's almost a book I can watch and a film I can read, and Memento was really good in that aspect. Each and every detail is well accounted for; even the angles for each sequence is well thought out and put on paper. Coming on to the dialogues, they worked really well for me. More often than not, I feel the need of captions alongside a few scenes but this comic was good enough with the dialogues. I'm not an expert when it comes to the technicalities, but as a reader, the art was the best thing about it.

Having said that, the story wasn't that interesting. The usual trope of a superhuman teenage who has no idea of who she is or why she's demonstrating weird super-abilities, made the story a bit predictable. Everything played out as expected, though the last bit was cleverly (and very well) left for the next editions to follow. Clearly, I'll be looking out for the sequel, even if I solely want to please my eyes with the amazing illustrations.

I'll recommend this to all those who are looking for some creatively crafted sketches that layout the story well enough to not be bothered by a predictable plot.


Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book via Netgalley but that in no way influences my rating and/or opinions about it. Thank you Europe Comics and Methieu Reynes!


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Profile Image for Wayne McCoy.
4,042 reviews26 followers
December 25, 2017
'Harmony #1: Memento' with story and art by Mathieu Reynes starts out weird, and then gets weirder. It also gets more comprehensible, which is a good thing.

After a prologue in ancient history, we meet up with a family having dinner. The father is interrupted by a phone call. The story that follows makes a bit more sense.

Harmony wakes up in a basement, and she doesn't know how she got there. She seems to be the prisoner of a strange man who lives in a remote house in the woods. Her mistrust includes pretending to take the pills he is giving her and only pretending to be asleep. As she starts to remember things, and odd things start to happen, she has to decide if she should trust this man to help her.

I went back after I read this and started over and the first 9 pages made a lot more sense. I'm glad I stuck it out because the story about Harmony was pretty good. I also really liked the art.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Profile Image for Leigha.
687 reviews23 followers
December 30, 2017
The first volume left a lot to be desired, but there was enough there that I would be interested in the second volume.

This is a whole load of confusing. First the first part that seemed like medieval, and the the part where Harmony wakes up. Nothing is explained. Honestly feels like I was reading #10 in a series. I liked the artwork during the modern part of the story, it was beautiful, especially when she activated her powers and had blue eyes.

The story has great potential.

*Provided by Netgally*
Profile Image for Louis Skye.
588 reviews7 followers
January 11, 2018
I got a copy of this book from Netgalley. Good start to what will eventually be a series.

A young girl wakes up in a man’s basement. She has no memory of who she is or why she is there. But, when she starts hearing voices, she realises that there is more happening here than she can possibly handle.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the art. It is a bit whimsical and the heads are disproportionate to the bodies, but that’s art for you.

I did think there was too much packed in here than was necessary. We have the opening pages in some ancient land, fast-forward to the present and you have a man talking about some echo, only then do we meet our protagonist. It could have been better laid out if it focussed only on the young girl, instead of introducing other elements that will only be developed later.

I might be interested in reading more but that depends on the next issue.
6,454 reviews70 followers
August 3, 2020
3,5/5. Une BD qui me laisse mitigée. En tant qu’adulte, rien ne m’a vraiment accroché, en raison d’un aspect déjà-vu de l’histoire, mais une histoire tout de même intéressante, qui pourrait plaire à des lecteurs plus jeune ou ayant moins lu. J’ai adoré les illustrations, très vives, de belles couleurs. Sans être un coup de cœur, une bonne BD bien exécutée.
Profile Image for Daphnee .
319 reviews221 followers
December 28, 2017
Harmony by Mathieu Reynès was really entertaining and the illustrations were so beautiful. I really enjoyed this first tome.
Profile Image for Ama ✨.
57 reviews26 followers
January 19, 2020
J'ai beaucoup aimé ma lecture du premier tome un peu mystérieux, on ne sait pas trop ce qu'il se passe mais on a envie d'en découvrir davantage ! Hâte de lire la suite !
Profile Image for Melissa.
361 reviews148 followers
May 29, 2016


*Copy received from Ballon Media Publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Memento is the first book in the Harmony series. If I have to categorize this book I would add it on my fantasy & what-the-hell-is-happening shelves! I loved this one so much! As it's the first book everything is still very new and mysterious.

Our main character wakes up alone and very weak in a basement. She doesn't know how she got there and she doesn't remember anything. Someone comes to her in the basement and acts all kind and seemed worried about her. He gives her food and the opportunity to wash herself up and wear clean clothes. And yet, he doesn't tell her anything, locks her up and gives her these weird pills to swallow. She starts to remember a small thing and then the most impossible things happen... Who is she really? Why can she do certain stuff?



Not only the plot of the book was awesome but it has also gorgeous and full colored artwork. I loved it so much. It's gorgeous! The only negative thing I can say is: IT'S TOO SHORT! :( I want more and more! The ending was WOW! I've been left with a million questions and a burning desire to reread it immediately!

I saw on the back that there are two more issues to be released though, so I'm super excited about these! They're called Indigo & Ago. So definitely pick this one up if you love comics/graphic novels with a fantasy-twist!

Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Artwork: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall book: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Dr. T Loves Books.
1,383 reviews3 followers
April 5, 2021
What it's about: A girl wakes up locked in a basement with no memory of who she is. Her captor seems to be gentle, but why is he keeping her locked up and not answering her questions? And what are the strange voices she hears in her head?

Soon, the girl realizes her name is Harmony, and that she has some abilities beyond the norm.

But those abilities have made her valuable to a shadowy company that wants to study her, and others like her. And they'll do anything to get Harmony back.

Anything.

What I thought: The story starts with a strong hook. It develops at a somewhat leisurely pace. When I realized this book was from a French creator, I wasn't too surprised, because an American book would have advanced the plot a lot faster.



One of the more interesting aspects of the story is a series of interludes showing a civilization from 4,000 years ago whose members had telekinetic abilities. There are hints that a few of those folks are still around - perhaps some of those we see in the interludes, which would make them very long-lived.

Why I rated it like I did: It's not a bad story, and there are a few interesting twists along the way, but there wasn't much that seemed to break new ground for me.

Also, there seems to be some casual racism. There's a Jewish character with a huge nose who is more concerned with profits than the welfare of the children (though he later seems to change his mind a little bit). There's an ancient Native American woman who seems to have mystical powers and the ability to communicate with at least one animal. Most of the characters are white; some are light tan.
Profile Image for Ressa.
74 reviews21 followers
January 3, 2018
The first thing that struck me was the art.

[Complete review, with pictures, links and a trailer, here.]

The artwork is right up my alley: realistic to a certain degree with graceful lines that express motion quite well. The attention to detail was amazing: it made me linger over the panels, admiring the lines, the background, and the characters.

On Goodreads, Memento (Harmony #1) by Mathieu Reynes has an overall rating of 3.88 with 69 ratings (as of 23/12/17). My impression of Memento: now this is real art - and it’s 58 pages long, too!

4 STARS.

I was struck throughout by how put together the panels are. Sometimes, in comics, especially where there are limited pages or limited space, the panels don't flow, but become random scenes of the story, giving off this really jagged feel. With Memento, though, the story flowed smoothly for the most part (very few places felt rushed, like the transition between Mahopmaa's ritual and Harmony seeing Nita after the ritual, but these don't stand out too badly).

The font choices matched, for the most part. I did feel that the bubbles were too generic: it’d have been nice if the shape of the bubble matched the font type - shouting would go in jagged, spiky bubbles, for example.

The plot itself was good. I would have preferred more answers to my questions, but I don't feel put out by that. Instead, I get the feeling that Memento was planned pretty well, with a beginning-middle-end that draws the reader in. There were quite a few different points to follow - four? five? - but not too bad. They would tie in eventually, I hope.

In other words, if I saw the sequels in bookstores where I live, I'd probably get them - if just for that amazing, eye-candy art.

DISCLAIMER: NetGalley provided me with a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Profile Image for Tim.
1,012 reviews18 followers
June 5, 2020
[Recensie van Album 1-5 (Memento - Dies Irae)]

Wat moet ik hiervan zeggen...? Ik weet het niet goed...

Het is geen slechte reeks, maar ook geen geweldige. De personages zijn over het algemeen wel plezant, maar er zijn er ook niet echt waar ik echt fan van ben, waar ik naar uitkijk om ze terug te zien. Bovendien is het verhaal voor mij net iets té donker getint, volgens mij - letterlijk en figuurlijk: bij momenten is het nogal negatief, en ook het kleurgebruik is niet helemaal mijn stijl.
Wat me bovendien ook stoort, is dat het soms lijkt alsof de tekeningen door twee mensen zijn gemaakt. Naargelang het standpunt tegenover de personages, bijvoorbeeld, zien die er soms een beetje anders uit. Dat wordt wel vaker gedaan in strips, maar ik ben daar persoonlijk nooit echt voor te vinden geweest.
Het verhaal op zich is ook wel plezant - zoiets dat gemakkelijk wegleest, weet je wel: kinderen hebben superkrachten, volwassenen zijn er bang van en/of willen ze uitbuiten voor eigen gebruik, d.w.z. (meestal) louche zaken, en alles loopt in het honderd - maar je hebt hier dus ook al wel een heel aantal varianten op dit thema gelezen, waarschijnlijk, en zo veel extra dragen deze strips daar niet toe bij.
Het had, volgens mij dan toch, ook beter geweest als het verhaal na een drie- à viertal albums was afgerond, maar nu is er weer een nieuwe cyclus begonnen en wie weet hoelang het verhaal in totaal gaat doorlopen.
De eerste cyclus (Albums 1-3) is vertaald, dus die kun je rustig lezen. Persoonlijk was ik wel tevreden met dat einde, je merkt wel dat er nog meer gaat komen, maar het is ook niet zo dat dat écht nog noodzakelijk is om te lezen.
Eindoordeel: zo'n reeks die je op een regenachtige namiddag van de bibliotheek kunt gaan halen en waar je anderhalf uur mee in je luie zetel gaat zitten om eens een keer te lezen. Plezant tijdverdrijf, leest vlotjes weg, en dan is het klaar. Zo'n strips moeten er ook zijn.
Profile Image for Mutated Reviewer.
838 reviews15 followers
February 14, 2018
Goodreads Synopsis:
One day, Harmony wakes up in an unfamiliar basement having completely lost her memory. All she now knows of the world is the name of her “host,” the mysterious voices in her head and a newly discovered talent for telekinesis. She’s going to have to get her memory back pretty quickly in order to face the dangers that await her. There are so many unanswered questions, and the fight has only just begun…

My Review:
Let me say first that I really like the cover of this book. It really stood out from everything else around it and made me want to read the description. A girl named Harmony with mysterious powers and glowing eyes has lost all recollection of her life, and finds herself locked in a basement with a man she doesn't know taking care of her. He says he hasn't done anything to her, but she finds needle marks on her arms and her head feels different. Can she really trust him? She also has been having weird dreams. What is going on? I wanted to read this as soon as I got it, but had to put it on the back burner while I finished up other things. Although only sixty two pages, this book sucks you in and really gets you wondering what happened, and what's going to happen. It's exciting and different. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.

Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the authors twitter.

https://www.amazon.ca/Harmony-1-Memen...

https://twitter.com/MathieuReyns

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
Profile Image for Bryttany Smith.
5 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2017
Harmony: Memento, written and illustrated by Mathieu Reynes, is primarily about a girl named Harmony who wakes up in a strange basement, with no memory of who she is and some mysterious circumstances surrounding her.
I went into this story knowing almost nothing and I think it’s the best way to do it. The entire time I read the story I was trying to figure out who her allies were, what was happening and how all of the different interweaving parts of the story connected to Harmony’s. Without this the graphic novel wouldn’t have been as interesting and more than likely would have ended up losing my attention.
This is only the first volume or book of the series, so there isn’t really much to talk about in terms of character or world building because all of this things haven’t truly been revealed yet. That being said, it truly holds its own and made me want to read the next volume.
I would pick this up if you’re a fan of X-Men, especially of the Jean Gray character. This has a very similar feel to that, and even some Thor and Loki like relationship dynamic in a brief section of the book. Ultimately, I would give this a four and a half stars because the artwork grows on you, the storyline is familiar, yet not completely overused and I’m definitely intrigued to see where this goes next.
4/5 stars
Profile Image for Lily Wonka.
64 reviews3 followers
November 27, 2018
Harmony, c'est comme ça que l'appellent les voix dans la tête de cette jeune fille qui se réveille dans une cave, où un barbu bourru lui fait avaler des cachets "contre le mal de tête".
Qu'est-ce qui débloquera ses souvenirs ? Pourquoi cet homme la retient-elle chez lui (bon même si elle passe de la cave au grenier) ? Qui est la vielle femme au loup qui est venue le voir ? Qui sont ces gens qui s'attaquent à Harmony ? D'ou lui (re)viennent ses souvenirs et ses pouvoirs ? Un tome 1 qui ne nous éclair pas le moins du monde mais nous donne soif de lire la suite.

***

Harmony, that's the name the voices in her head use to call her after she wakes up in a cellar and is given meds to "calm her headache" by some gruff guy.
How to unlock her memory ? Why is that man keeping her inside his house (though she has moved from cellar to attic) ? Who is the old lady with the wolf visiting him ? Who are those people and why are they after Harmony ? Where do her memory and powers end up coming from ? A first volume which does not really answer any of these questions but does make you want to read the rest.
Profile Image for Freelfe.
361 reviews6 followers
December 17, 2017
Ma chronique : http://freelfe.blogspot.fr/2017/12/ha...

Harmony est un premier cycle de trois BD qui nous propose Mathieu Reynès. Chaque tome coûte 12€ pour 56 pages. Cette excellente série est publiée aux Editions Dupuis.

Nous y suivons principalement le personnage d’Harmony qui, dans le premier tome, se réveille dans un endroit qui lui est inconnu, amnésique. Ce premier tome pose les bases d’un univers prometteur et se lit très agréablement. J’ai beaucoup aimé les dessins, le personnage d’Harmony et l’avancée proposée.

Dans le second tome, nous découvrons le passé d’Harmony, comment elle en est arrivée là, ce qu’elle fuit… J’ai tout simplement eu un gros coup de cœur pour ce second tome que j’ai trouvé captivant ! J’ai dévoré cette seconde BD !

J’attends avec impatience le troisième tome de ce cycle

Conclusion

Un début de premier cycle prometteur, captivant et intéressant. J’ai été complètement séduite par ces BD et je les recommande chaudement !
Profile Image for Emily Beaver.
340 reviews44 followers
December 29, 2017
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into when I first saw this book. The cover and synopsis appeared and sounded interesting, so I thought I'd give it a read.

I can't say that it was a disappointment, but it wasn't a quite page turner either. I liked the concept. However, I think it could've been executed differently without stereotypical characters. The artwork was good, I wasn't overly impressed by it. But I am very picky when I pick up a graphic novel. I decided to give this one a change because the synopsis sounded promising. I will say, there are scenes when the story did not disappoint. However, with the bland character, I could not devour the story as fast as I would've liked.
Profile Image for Paul Franco.
1,374 reviews11 followers
January 2, 2018
After two arrogant brothers in Ancient Greece have a tiff, the story goes to. . . 4000 years later! Yeah, good luck understanding that.
A young woman is stuck in a cellar, later an attic, being taken care of by an old man who claims to have found her unconscious, but she can’t remember anything.
Best part about her character is her sense of humor, like “This time I really do think I fried my brain.” She’s smarter than she looks, with the “changing clothes” gambit.
I like the part with the bird, and the glass of water. But it really is a strange story, going from fantasy and supernatural to military sci-fi. It ends with a “to-be-continued” vibe and what looks to be a back-cover blurb that gives a lot more info than the actual story.
7,269 reviews97 followers
January 3, 2018
This is very good - it's just that there's so damned little of it. It's the by-now standard tale of a girl discovering her secret powers are being suppressed, but quite what they are beyond telekinesis, and why she's hearing voices in her head and is trapped in an old man's rural cottage basement, are to be explained. Unfortunately, that's about all we get out of this - this book is a perfect set-up, but you're going to be left anxious (as am I) about finding out the full story. With the original French in three parts so far, there is a chance the whole thing is not complete yet - one can only hope...
Profile Image for Rebecca..
152 reviews29 followers
December 31, 2017
Ok so I picked this up not really thinking I would enjoy it.... oh how wrong I was! I went into this wanting a quick read to see if I enjoyed the graphic novel format. What I got instead was a main character who you couldn’t help but sympathise for, and a supporting role in Nita that you couldn’t help but love in a supportive way.

I dint know if this is the only volume out right now, or whether this is even a full volume, but I need to know what happens next?! What happens to Anita and Harmony? Who is after them? When is the next one available? All very important questions that I need answers to ASAP.
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