While this is an amazing graphic novel, I can't see myself wanting to read it again. I knew about the unsettling undertones before I started reading, which may have colored my experiences, but the interaction that Christine has with Panther and Bonzo and the others are... so palatably wrong and sad and not right that it was honestly hard to watch her go through that. Panther "sniffing her out" by using hide and seek as an excuse to stick his nose in her crotch, him attempting to lick the spots of her, the massage, the big bear hug where he's on his back and she's on her stomach, the disturbing and highly suggestive ending of the twister scene, telling Christine to ask for the key to her room back from her father, all of these made me physically want to tell her to pay attention and tell her dad.

And while I did have some unanswered questions (how did they get in? Were they wearing costumes so she was more confused and couldn't identify them? Why did Panther stay with her after his friends did what they did? If he wasn't into them doing that, why did he invite them over in the first place? Was Bonzo Christine's subconscious or something? How could it be that he was replaced?), the fact that everything was left in a dreamlike hazy state where there were no easy answers was real and heartbreaking. Sidenote: I did think Panther trying to integrate Bonzo into his weird seduction/imaginary world with Christine was pretty funny; Bonzo flatly trying to describe the wonders of Pantherland in mundane adjectives was classic deadpan humor.

Panther changing appearances every panel (just about) was a great touch, as was the visual difference between real Bonzo and Pantherland Bonzo. The hazy uncertainty of it all, except for the terribly uncomfortable black and white scenes, is perfectly depicted by the surreal art style, and the dialogue and constant misdirections add perfectly to the atmosphere. ( )

SO GOOD. Good and terrifying and psychedelic and menacing and fascinating. Definitely for weirdos who like DeForge, Jacobs, and Vehlmann. ( )

Beautiful, absorbing, funny, unsettling, legitimately kinda scary...I really liked this.

I know "THIS-meets-THIS-meets-THIS" things are annoying but I thought of a good one for this: It's like Toy Story 3 meets Lisa Hanawalt meets Rory Hayes...'er something. ( )

Like its subject matter, Panther lures you in with colorful, unbelievable, beautiful tales, only to terrify you in the end. ( )

I'm torn on how to rate this one. The art is stunning, and I'm not used to reading horror. I'm utterly distraught by what happens; I feel sick. I didn't "enjoy" it, but it was incredibly well made. It's going to stick with me for a long time. ( )