Published by Humanoids
Out June 17, 2015
More information on the Humanoids website.
Review by Jack Auty
Child of the Storm, the debut graphic novel by Manuel Bichebois, presents a fantasy adventure within a steampunk setting. Fantasy science and arcane magic combines to create a universe that is hugely intriguing, with the potential to have huge lore building as Laith, an orphaned child, has powers that rival nature itself.
Refreshing and invigorating, Child of the Storm subverts typical fantasy clichés. The graphic novel highlights that the main character needs to learn skills to continue on their path. Laith is almost the antithesis of the typical fantasy hero – he tries to exclusively live in peace and only participates in conflict if it directly involves him or his people. This, along with many other reasons, is why Child of the Storm is different. We see the development occur and we travel with the character.
The art style of this novel is something to behold, as Didier Poli and Giulio Zeloni have developed a unique style that is hugely pleasing to look through. The environments are beautiful, possibly inspired by other classic fantasy universes like that of Lord of the Rings. Both the creatures and characters have an intriguing form, as well. With some characters being anthropomorphised animals we know from our world – such as the walrus sea captain – and others being ‘regular’ humans, the thematic mix between fantasy tropes and typical comic conventions are clear.
While the pacing of the graphic novel is a bit off, Child of the Storm is an enjoyable read, especially if you’re looking for something to allow you to explore hidden themes within the graphic novel genre. Bichebois’ writing may require a bit of refinement to be easily transferred from video game script writing to storyboarded graphic novels, but it is definitely worth the purchase.