Ghostopolis

Absolutely amazing couldn’t put it down.

Doug's latest graphic novel is no exception to the quality of his more recent group of novels such as Tommysarus Rex, Black Cherry and Monster Zoo. There is a great understanding of the world and how to have something extraordinary happen without having it seem out of place and that all his books have a real soul to them and this is no different. I was first impressed by the overall quality and time that has been put into this production even daring to go full colour. The book opens with a young boy named Garth who has a mystery illness which is killing him and he only has months to live. And also introduces a character Frank Gallows who can only be described as a ghost detective who is making sure no ghosts escape to the human world. One issue is he is very bad at it and in a pursuit of one of the escapee ghosts he prematurely sends Garth to Ghostopolis a city between world for spirits. He has now no choice but to rescue the boy and find out what mystery's this ghost city holds for the both of them. I think its an enchanting read for young and old and is a good introduction to the other Novels or one to pick up if your already a fan of Dougs writing.

Frank Gallows is a sloppy but effective agent of the Supernatural Immigration Task Force, responsible for tracking down ghosts lingering on Earth and sending them back to the netherworld of Ghostopolis. One day he mistakenly sends terminally ill (but still living) 12-year-old Garth Hale to the afterlife, a grave error that means he has to follow and extract the kid. Unfortunately, no one's been successfully extracted in more than twenty years... Nonetheless, Frank follows the boy in and adventures ensue as he tracks Garth down and they (along with Garth's grandfather and Frank's ghost girlfriend) get swept up in the machinations of the evil Master Vaugner, who's seeking to rule the afterlife. It's a classic plucky-kid-and-team-of-misfits-vs.-evil-baddie-and-his-many-insect-minions tale, but well told with plenty of humor and action. The mix of feel-good positive messages and action with creepy creatures makes it a winning combination for parents to safely read along with kids. I've only read a few of Tennapel's books, but his humor has always struck just the right balance of goofy slapstick and sharp wit for me. Great stuff with real heart to it!

A GIFT WELL RECEIVED

Started off ok. Unfortunately, it was over long and silly. It was an effort to read to the end. Then to discover that it hadn’t been worth it.

Ghosts roam among the living on Earth, and it's up to Frank Gallows to go and catch them. However, Frank isn't exactly the best guy for the task - he's lazy and messy and usually eats food in people's fridges after a successful catch. Nevertheless, he still gets the job done. That is, until he accidentally transports his ghost horse AND a human boy named Garth to Ghostopolis. Now, it's up to Frank and his mysterious ex-fiance, Claire, to go back and return Garth to Earth. There's one small problem: Master Vaugner controls Ghostopolis and won't let Garth - a boy who seems to have as much power as himself - go. So, not only does Garth have to get through mummies, zombies, and skeletons alongside his loyal bone-horse, Skinny, but he also has to fight a powerful dark master in order to return to his mother. Doug TenNapel writes an intriguing story about the afterlife and where ghosts come from. His graphic novel is full of eye-catching illustrations and witty jokes that pull the reader in from the first line. GHOSTOPOLIS is recommended for anyone who's up for a quick and fun read; this book won't disappoint. Reviewed by: Steph

I read this at age 10 and it stayed just as great at age 19. A lot of nostalgia to be honest but my little sibling will enjoy it I’m sure

I must admit I walked into this story cautiously, as it didn't grip me from the beginning. Once I got deeper into it though, I wondered why I ever doubted. This is a great story with characters you can relate to, characters that'll make you laugh, and some that you can't quite wrap your head around. There's a strong Christ figure in the story, as there is with much of TenNapel's art, but I felt this one was a little forced. The message is still great though, and Doug TenNapel always manages to give a salvation message without sounding too preachy or turning people off from the story. I am a Christian but do not appreciate when books try to shove messages down my throat, and TenNapel does not do that. His books are a real gem because of it - I've never found any like them. Story-wise it's fun, there are a lot of interesting characters, and it has a message that'll grip you at the heart. As far as artwork goes, it's pretty lush. A minimum of strokes is always used for the maximum effect, as with all of TenNapel's work. But this one is different because it's in color. The colors are strong and bold without being ugly - very artistic. I love it. In short, this book is good and worth a read. Hey - it didn't get slated for production as a movie for no reason!

Venu du cinéma d'animation et du jeu vidéo (mais il est aussi apparemment musicien !), Doug TenNapel publie avec une régularité de métronome des trade paper backs depuis 1998. Dessiné dans un style à mi-chemin entre le franco-belge du journal Spirou (avec 3 à 4 cases par page comme du temps des "mini-histoires" !) et Darwyn Cooke, ce roman graphique étonnant allie humour, poésie et macabre. Un jeune garçon condamné par la médecine se retrouve dans l'univers des morts un peu plus tôt que prévu suite à une imprudence causée par un chasseur de fantômes qui opérait dans la maison d'à côté. Le livre nous raconte les aventures de ce garçon dans un monde des morts en pleine ébullition, ses diverses rencontres (y compris avec le chasseur de fantômes venu à la rescousse) et comment il va en revenir. Une excellente découverte due aux "recommandations" d'amazon.com !

TenNapel's Ghostopolis is truly a work that is so deeply tied to its author that one might find it difficult to separate one from the other. But it is because of this connection that makes the work live a life apart from its author. Like C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia or J.R.R. Tolken's Lord of The Rings, TenNapel has nurtured this creation enough to face the world on its own. Ghostopolis' world is rich and very alive, despite the fact it takes place in the World of the Dead. So much is there without blatant explanation, building a sense of mystery. This entices the reader to explore and enrich his knowledge of history and culture so that he/she might discover more of what lies within the pages. Ghostopolis is a book that will spark new excitement beyond the first read-through. As a reader goes through life and grows in knowledge and experience they can return to this book to discover a whole new experience. Aside from the world, the journey of Ghostoplis is equally enriching and contains layers that can be unfolded based on a reader's experience in life. This is a story about growth, maturity, and responsibility. Instead of focusing these themes on just youth, TenNapel demonstrates how people of all ages need these lessons and experiences. This opens the door so that readers of all ages have something to relate to in the story. This is TenNapel's finest work to date, not just as storyteller but as an artist. Visually, Ghostopolis is just as rich as the story. TenNapel has put out his best in Ghostopolis, ensuring that this a book will live a life beyond himself.

Un jeune garçon, atteint d'une maladie incurable, fait la tournée des médecins en compagnie de sa mère, qui ne peut se résoudre à lui donner des soins palliatifs. Ces premières pages sont très touchantes, très réussies. Puis l'enfant est expédiés, par erreur, et prématurément, dans le monde des morts. Un monde de fantômes où les personnages apparaissent à toute allure, surgis de tous côtés: le rythme de l'action est certainement proche de bien des jeux vidéo. On sort, là, du côté intime, poignant, des premières pages. L'intrigue de la mère et du garçon mourant n'est pas très exploitée au bout du compte. Un peu dommage.