The Unwritten Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity

If you aren't someone that generally purchases comics, or graphic novels because you feel as if instead of a solid story you're mostly just looking at graphic panels from page to page, I would recommend giving this volume a try.There is a story here, it's unique and if you're someone who loves to read the literary inferences will please you (and not just Harry Potter, there are many many more). The summation of the plot above and by other reviewers is a good indication as to where this goes; Tom Taylor, the son of an infamous author whose insanely popular boy wizard has taken the world by storm gets thrust into the thick of an otherworldly mystery involving secret details hidden in works of literature, a mysterious map, a sect of very dangerous people who will do anything to keep this mystery and fictional characters breathing and being in the actual physical world. Sound interesting and exciting? I thought so and I was pleased with the overall presentation. The book itself is a solid introduction, not many extras to speak of, but a great way to jump into the story line and a firm grasp for what's ahead.This premise is really quite clever and I think this would make a fine film, if not a franchise. The art is fine and while some remark it is text heavy, I think this story is not your typical panel action type of comic and you can expect it to remain text heavy through out further volumes.Give this a try, you might find you enjoy comics/graphic novels. Now with them being available for the color tablets, it's even easier to collect them.I recommend these as well:American Vampire Volume 1  American Vampire Vol. 1 (Scott Snyder and Stephen King re-imagine the first Vampire, really great writing and a wonderful art, also adult.)Sweet Tooth Volume 1  Sweet Tooth Vol. 1: Out of the Woods (a really great post-apocalyptic story that just came to an end so if you're looking for something that just won't go on infinitely pick this up, it's fantastic, the art isn't as advanced but the story will leave you satisfied)

Tom Taylor is a man who makes a living off his father's legacy that made him a character in a beloved series akin to Harry Potter. When it is implied that he's not who he says he is, he has to leave the country and he ends up in an even weirder situation where the real and the written seem to be merging.The concept for Unwritten has a very classic Twilight Zone feel in that things that seem logical aren't and waht seems illogical just might be. There is also a lurking conspiracy behind the weirdness.The story by Mike Carey has a lot of potential. While I didn't feel like I got to become invested in Tom's plight, the mystery was enough to keep me reading. Is the vampire guy real? Is Tom who he thinks he is? What happened to Wilson Taylor? The questions are somewhat answered although they only generate more questions but I like that kind of stuff so it was enjoyable to me.Art by Peter Gross is serviceable although not particularly striking. The chapter cover art by Yuko Shimizu was quite distinctive. I almost wished her work was used as part of the story.The end is a bit confusing and it makes me wonder if the next installment will continue with Tom Taylor or if it'll leap into another "Unwritten" victim, so to speak.Either way, I'm curious to see where this is going.

I'm going to open up my statement by saying that I appreciate VERTIGO, I appreciate it a lot. It continues to feed me with compelling storylines that sooner motivate and persuade me to at least try a story, rather than not give it a second glance.The Unwritten is not bad, not bad at all. The only unfortunate consideration that comes to mind is all the critic reviews and introduction by Bill Willingham, as a whole they REALLY hyped it up. However, I finished the first volume feeling like it wasn't enough to sell all the hype; it just felt too short. Regardless, I did find the storyline interesting. Carey does a fantastic job of creating an introduction that can be considered parallel to the fanatic obsession with the world of Harry Potter, I couldn't help but laugh as he mentions Harry Potter directly. It makes fiction fans look... Well, pathetic, compulsive, void of reality, and truly like a host of lunatics as the main character strives to live desperately free from judgment, mockery, accusations, and real harm. But Carey has done something fun and pushed the main character into exactly what he's been trying to fight and avoid his entire life. Tom, seems to find himself in situations that are all too comparable to what the fictional Tommy would go through.Unwritten has adopted allusions towards many famous novels and stories that have evolved through time, and it does it well. I look forward to purchasing the next volumes, so that I may find more impressive things within the story. I suggest buying it if you want a fun read, and I suggest at least buying the second volume at the same time so that you're not sitting there thinking how short your time spent was.

I bought this for two reasons; I have read and enjoyed Mike Carey's Felix Castor series and some of the Hellblazer series so I hoped the writing would be good. I was also seduced by the cover - which is always a bit of a mistake because covers are usually done by different artists.I liked the premise. Tom Taylor's life is coming apart. He's struggling with his self esteem, trailing a series of failed career attempts as he rides the gravy train of his involuntary alternative identity, the boy wizard in his father's mega selling world famous book series. Things start to unravel when a journalist publicly challenges his identity and his fans turn against him. The story is disjointed, flicking between Tom Taylor's present 'real' life, flash backs, forays into his father's 'Tommy Taylor' series and lots of borrowing from familiar classic fiction. As this is the first few issues of a long series, it is to be expected that it is a highly unfinished story.On the whole, it reminded me of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, borrowing heavily from other peoples' work, repackaged into a new narrative. I confess I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that; I can't decide whether it's new and clever, or just lazy meta-plagiarism that conveniently fills the pages. For example, "How the Whale Got His Throat" by Kipling is reproduced in it's entirety.I'm also a bit ambivalent about the artwork. While perfectly competent, I found the style a little bit staid and I wasn't sold on the muted colouring. I'd love to have seen what someone more visceral, like Ben Templesmith would have made of it.

This book on the surface is a Harry Potter pastiche, though as you read further into it, there are also many paralells with the life of Christopher Robin Milne. Made in to a character in a popular childrens book series by his missing father, Tommy Taylor makes a living on the comic convention circuit. However, as the book progresses, it becomes clear that the stories written about Tommy may not be entirely ficticious. An entertaining and cleverly written book.

A strong first volume that definitely leaves you wanting more. Great art particularly in terms of illustrating the sometimes lenghty prose. The kipling story at the end

This first volume of Carey and Gross's work sets the scene for what could be a rival to 'Preacher', 'The Sandman' and 'Fables' (which it is closest in nature to).Telling the story of Tommy Taylor - a man who has lived off of the royalties of his father's books - featuring Tommy himself as a wizard at school with two friends fighting a dark lord. Or so he believes. Within the first two issues, his life is turned upside down as revelations regarding his and his fathers past surface. His livelihood threatened, and after an accident that makes people believe he is the 'real' Tommy Taylor and general messiah, he goes in search of his past.Urban fantasy and horror which, with each subsequent volume gets better and better, Carey's prose is as usual excellent and the artwork sets of the quirky nature of the tale.Strongly recommended. I just hope that the publishers of the comic listen to the fans and keep it going unlike the also excellent 'Crossing Midnight'.

Ugh. I can't give this more than 2 stars, because it was horrible to read. The problem is not the story itself, which has potential (I think...) but the format. This was, after all, sold as a Kindle edition. It's completely illegible on a Kindle. Yes, there's 'panel view', but it doesn't work at all well, zooming in at the wrong level and leaving sentences to break off-screen. Switching between panels is clunky and counterintuitive. I literally could not read this graphic novel on my Kindle. So I tried an iPad. Much better. Until three quarters through, where some bright spark has decided to switch to a horrible cursive font. The letters and words merge into one another, leaving an unintelligible mess. Whole sentences went unread. A terrible waste of time and money. I certainly won't be downloading any more in the series. If you're interested in the story, I urge you to buy a paper copy.