Zero, Vol. 4: Who By Fire

author: Ales Kot
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/08/17
date added: 2015/08/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Zero Volume 4: Who By Fire' by Ales Kot concludes the series in a sort of stream of consciousness way. Although it seems to have left behind it's earlier story, the themes are still evident here and I quite enjoyed it.

The reader is left to puzzle out events as this volume careens through time, and centers around mushroom experiments and a conversation by William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. The theme of violence travelling from one generation to the next is continued, as is the attempt to extricate it as if it were a blackened part of our own flesh. Grotesque imagery abounds as characters seem to be blooming with growths.

This volume collects issues 15-18 and, as in previous volumes, each issue has a different artist with a unique style. I loved all the art, I liked the stream of consciousness style of the narrative. While I didn't completely know what was going on, I didn't feel completely lost, and perhaps a re-read would set me on the right path. The writing by Ales Kot was strange and illusory. The whole thing is grotesquely beautiful, and while it may not be to everyone's liking, I liked it just fine. It's books like this that show what an art form the graphic novel can really be, and how this sort of story just couldn't be told in print any other way.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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