☆☆☆

[yuuago]

Currently about halfway through reading A Redtail's Dream. My main thoughts are, in no particular order:

☆ I feel like there are probably a ton of mythology references that I'm not getting. While I have read the Kalevala, it was ages ago, and I read it very quickly. So while I do recognize some of the really basic stuff, and have a general understanding that Tuonela is the land of the dead and so on, there's a suspicion that there are a lot of things I'm missing. Maybe I should dig out my copy of the Kalevala after this and give it a re-read. I might discover some things.

☆ Hannu is kind of an ass, but I enjoy him anyway. There are times when he seems to be easing up and becoming a little less of an ass, which is nice. Hopefully by the end of his journey, he'll have developed into a kinder person.

☆ Favourite secondary character so far is Åsa, from Ch3. No surprise there; I like tough old ladies. :) And her seal friend is so cute.

☆ Speaking of Chapter 3, that's when I found myself getting really into it. Before that, it was kind of so-so. I'm not sure if this is a common experience, though. But! Some parts of that chapter really made me laugh, so I think that was what tipped me over into liking it a lot.

☆ My gods, the art in this comic is gorgeous. Especially the background work - take a look at this page (I don't think it's spoilery? None of what's said makes sense without context, at least). Simply gorgeous. Though of course that's a dual-page spread, so it goes without saying that it'd be extra cool, but even the regular pages tend to look really nice - like so.

[Edit]

I finished the comic tonight and OH MY GOD....



I ship Hannu with Ville.

I ship the main character with his dog in human form and I'M NOT EVEN SORRY.

I loved the comfort dynamic they had going on and then when Ville ended up permanently human at the end I just-

I don't even know. I'm so confused.

Well, whatever. I've shipped weirder things.

But leaving that weirdness aside, HOLY SHIT everything that went down in Tuonela. THAT BATTLE WITH THE SWAN, IT WAS EPIC. And then when there was the possibility that Hannu would be stuck permanently in the underworld while Ville was forced back, nooooo [/sob]

I liked the ending. Excellent ending. I liked it very much. :) Even if it's a little weird.

<3 <3 <3

Comments

[yohjideranged]

I am going to have to read this now based on the art alone... :)

So, now, I have to make some time for it. :(

[yuuago]

:D I hope that when you get around to it, you'll enjoy it! The upside is, it's finished, and it's a relatively quick read (550 pages, ish?). Though I will warn that it starts off slowly - the Prologue is kind of blah, but I'm not sure I'd recommend skipping it, and like I mentioned, things didnt't really click for me until chapter 3. But the art is still gorgeous in the early parts, even if the pacing is kind of wobbly.

Also, from what I remember, you like people with animal ears? There is some of that in this. :D Though it's only for one chapter, but still.

[yohjideranged]

Ooh...I want to read it more now!

But thanks for the heads up on the prologue...I'll wade through.

[dhampyresa]

I am totally down for a Kalevala (re)read, jsyk.

[yuuago]

Ahhh that sounds great!! Have you read it before? I can't remember which translation I was using, it wasn't one of the online ones.

[dhampyresa]

I've read about 17 of the Songs, iirc. It was in French translation though (excellent translation, I should pick it up again).

I read most of what I have read way back when aphanonmeme was doing a collective read through.