Man Is Vox: Paingels

    (Candle Light)

Whatever universe Thomas has cooked up in his mind, it would be nice if he let his readers in on it. Instead, he simply throws this mammoth graphic novel at the audience and tells his story, oblivious to the fact that there is nothing to help the reader understand, much less care, just what it is he’s trying to say. With enough perseverance, more than this book deserves, a reader can ascertain that a metaphysical presence wants to be born in human form but has unwisely chosen to take possession of a newlywed husband who is unable to impregnate his wife. But figuring out how to start the car doesn’t mean one knows how to drive it, and the rest of the story remains difficult, if not impossible, to decipher. Allen’s experiment with radically different art styles in each chapter at least gives readers something to look forward to, visually. He dabbles in everything from childish crayon scrawls to collage to simulated primitive computer graphics, giving at least the illusion of an interesting package. But that’s all it is: an illusion.

— Jim Johnson
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