Lora Innes

This is the first graphic novel/comic book I've read, and if more of them are like this, it definitely won't be my last. I've debated reading a comic before (mainly because I love the Marvel arcs), but have always felt overwhelmed by the options and didn't want to commit to the research I felt it'd involved. Goodreads itself actually recommended The Dreamer comics to me, and when I checked it out, I saw the author offered it free on her website. (which is awesome btw)

The Dreamer has so much show more to offer: historical fiction, suspense, action, romance, and even mystery (how are her dreams so real? and later...which part is reality; is there a psychological reason? time travel?). There were so much I loved about this comic. It was refreshing to see high school kids act like actual teenagers- fawning over crushes, feeling distant and disagreeable with their parents, the petty fights with friends. And of course the dreams, when history came in to play, was so action packed and emotionally ridden. These sequences were my favorite.

I really felt Bea's turmoil as she first found the dreams disconcerting and later became obsessed with them, spending almost every waken minute thinking about Alan, Nathan, and the other Patriots. I also liked how Bea's character stayed essentially the same, whether in present day or the 1700s. There were subtle differences (there's no way she could get away with being a 21st century girl back then...), but her overall personality remained unchanged. It helped with the cohesiveness of the story and also made for some great dream scenes.

As Bea becomes more invested in her dream world, she begins to neglect her reality, and she has to deal with the consequences. Like Bea, I am thoroughly invested in her American Revolution dreams and cannot wait to see what happens next. show less

The Dreamer is one of my favourite webcomics and one of my favourite works of historical fiction. It has really sparked my interest in the history of the Revolutionary War, and Lora Innes really brings the individual people to life. I was so glad when IDW released this second volume because, as much as I love being able to read the story online, everything about the story is better in print format. This volume picks up right where the first one left off, and Bea is struggling to balance show more herself across two worlds: her present-day life and her life in 1776, accessed through her dreams.

I am eagerly awaiting the release of the next volume, though I have a feeling it will probably be awhile before it comes out. show less

ETA: The rating's gone down on this book due to spam from the publisher/distributor, Diamond Book Distributors. I disliked the graphic novel, but gave it a generous rating because I love the television series. The publisher flushed away that goodwill.

His legend,
Her legacy,
Their law.

I've completely and unabashedly loved the tv series based on this comic book series, so I was really looking forward to reading this comic compendium. It didn't take long, though, before I was just confused. show more John Henry? Mars Del Ray? Dolls is Wynonna's boss? Well, I suppose he is in the series as well, but it's not as blatant. What's even more confusing is that a little 'net searching shows that while it all started with the comics, this comic miniseries is a tie-in to the tv series. (Looking at the covers and descriptions for other miniseries, there doesn't seem to be much of a connection; if that's Wynonna on the cover there, she's a bosomy blonde. Very bosomy. I mean ... remarkably bosomy, even for a comic book.)

The relationships were odd here. I was constantly distracted by trying to figure out when this was supposed to take place in relation with the series, with "John Henry" running around, and Dolls taking Wynonna on missions to kill zombies and chupacannibals. And Wynonna keeps getting people killed because she's hot-headed, and Dolls keeps chastising her for not being a better agent. (Considering she hasn't had any training, I'm not sure what he can realistically expect.) Peacemaker doesn't appear until page 93 of a 120-page book; prior to that, she "blams" away right and left with apparently ordinary weapons. Basically, everything that makes the story the story on Syfy is missing or askew. Where are the sisters? What about the curse? What are they all doing out of Purgatory? Is it really supposed to be spelled Beau Beau? Some of these questions are answered in the last third or so of the book - but it's all just very odd.

The writing was pretty clever, though it suffered in comparison with the show; as always in comic book series the art varied wildly among the books contained in this omnibus, from really wonderful to a bit rocky to painfully awful. (You'd think they would have found someone who could draw horses for an issue with horses in it.) I should have learned by now that a stunning cover (and this one is gorgeous) does not mean the interior art will be any good. I can't help it - I went to art school. I just want better than bad comic art.

I'm glad to have seen the books; I won't look for any more. I can't wait for the show to come back, though.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review. show less

The Dreamer captures the history of Revolutionary War figures---Captain Nathan Hale, Lt. Col. Thomas Knowlton, General William Howe and Private Frederick Knowlton---with richness and accuracy, and throws in a high school love story, too. We see so much written in books and in the movies about other American wars but not a lot about the American Revolution, the most important event in our history!

Bea is a student in high school with all the anxiousness, gossip and silliness that goes with the show more title. We see Bea get flustered when discussing her love life, especially when her cousin John teases her (right in the middle of a conversation with her girlfriends about that dreamy Cato).

Normally I'd say gag me with a spoon kiddies, this ain't for me. Except, she has these dreams.

Close your eyes and find yourself locked in a cabin; British commander Howe's cabin to be precise. For those of you not in the know, he was the guy routing the Colonials in 1776. She's rescued by a young man with a facial birthmark. They start falling for each other, then ....

She wakes! She continues mooning over this guy in her dreams to such a degree that she feels she's cheating on him when she tries to go out with Cato.

It's an interesting tale -- she closes her eyes and she lives the life of a young girl in love with a Revolutionary soldier. She opens her eyes and she returns to school with another man in her life. It's not really cheating -- is it?

She finds herself in a museum and sees a painting of the Revolution with soldiers in various states of death and dying and she notes a name -- she knows him, she must warn him!

But she's so excited, she can't sleep!

Lora Innes put together quite the comic book/web comic. She gets the reader interested in the hows and what's of the Revolution against the British, circa 1776, with all the anxiousness and social awkwardness of a 21st century high schooler. The art is nicely done, the love scenes are tasteful and tender; the war scenes are exciting and full of tension and the muskets come to bear.

The title is "The Consequences of Nathan Hale" who, as you know, was executed as a spy by General Howe and shouted the famous cry, "I only regret that I have but one life to give to my country." Looking forward to seeing how Innes handles and mixes that!

There's an art gallery by Jenny Frison that shows various gothic scenes and models. If you don't have the patience for the graphic novel, check out the web-comic online at: www.thedreamercomic.com.

Nicely done. show less