Kim W. Andersson

Uhura: Oh, but they do give us something, Mr. Spock. They give us love. Well, Cyrano Jones says that a tribble is the only love that money can buy.
Capt. Kirk: Too much of anything, Lieutenant, even love, isn't necessarily a good thing.

Wise words Captain! For some reason, that quote came to me when I read this graphic novel. Can't for my life understand why...lol

This is a really cool and entertaining graphic novel, I would say it's really a perfect gift for an ex or an expectant ex hehe.

It's show more a wonderful collection of love stories, but with twists. A mix of zombies, astronauts, monsters, superheros, “ordinary couples” etc. It's hard to stop reading since they are all so short and often very amusing to read...in a sick and twisted way.

Sometimes not even death can give you the peace you seek:

Never break up during an ice skating competition!

Never talk during a movie!

And for love of God never ever dump you kosmonaut boyfriend in space to be with your kosmonaut girlfriend...

Thanks to Dark Horse Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! show less

There's not much else better than Swedish horror.

This book follows Alena who besides suffering the loss of her best friend (and maybe something more?) she's being terribly bullied at her new school. Featuring an absolutely vile girl named Philippa, oblivious teachers at a snooty school, and a murderous specter this book is macabre, disturbing, and gripping. Bonus: A film adaptation was made and the backmatter (at least of the copy I borrowed) includes stills which look absolutely spot-on to show more the graphic novel. (You know I'm going to have to find it streaming online.)

Warning: Adult themes (including nudity) + gore so reader beware if that ain't your thing. show less

In this badly done supernatural thriller imported from Sweden, Alena is a high school girl grieving the death of a friend and being haunted by her ghost. At her new school she is being bullied by a mean girl. (The homophobia is both blatant and internalized.) Eventually, bloody deaths start occurring. It's all very Carrie.

It just feels very exploitative, especially since the creator is male (despite his first name which I usually associate with females).

Somehow this was made into a movie show more (29% on Rotten Tomatoes, 5.5 stars on IMDb), and this edition contains a lot of stills from the movie and some behind-the-scenes commentary by the author. I cannot imagine trying to sit through that. show less

Alena's life is a living hell. Since starting at the snobbish boarding school Alena's been harassed every day by Philippa and the girls on the lacrosse team. But Alena's best friend Josephine is not going to accept that anymore-not from the counselor or principal, not from Philippa, and not from anyone at that horrid school. If Alena does not fight back then Josephine will take matters into her own hands. There's just one problem-Josephine has been dead for a year.

Alena is a twisted, bloody, show more freaky little ride. Alena’s emotions are all over the place. One minute she’s passive, and the next she’s cutting of her own hair and declaring that no one is going to mess with her any more. The reader sees this fluctuation many times throughout the course of the graphic novel. One place there is no wavering is in the personality of Phillipa. That chick is all awful, all the time. Nearly every frame that includes her face shows her mouth opened almost impossibly wide, as if to make it seem that she can unhinge her jaw, like a python. The adults in the story are useless in that they either don’t care or don’t know how to help in a way that actually makes things better. Alena apparently had at least one adult caretaker, but they are never actually shown, and are only heard from in passing. I enjoyed Alena, but can’t say the story really hit the mark for me.
I would recommend this graphic novel to readers 14 and older who enjoy ghost stories. show less