If you know Scott Pilgrim, then you know then you’ve already been introduced to Bryan Lee O’Malley, however, when someone recommended Seconds to me, I was curious. In many ways, this standalone comic is a stunning, complex, and contemporary graphic novel that is woven with great storytelling and a graphic style that appeals to a wide range of readers.
Katie Clay, the main character is a chef who runs a hip and popular restaurant. Her vision is to open another restaurant with a new vision, a new idea, and a new start. She feels like she is in limbo as she looks forward but feels trapped in her current life. When she sulks in her bedroom, one night, she finds a strange and foreboding box in her dresser. She opens the box and finds a kit for undoing her bad decisions. Step one: write down your error in the little notebook. Step two: eat a mysterious red mushroom. Step Three: go to sleep and when you wake up, your life is changed. Sounds simple. Katie is a successful professional, but not the most mature, friendly, kind person. While most of the time, her missteps and regrets are minor, she begins to think that the box in her dresser can change all that. Before things get too far out of hand, she meets the “house spirit” who warns her that she should not be meddling her past as it will certainly have grave impacts. This graphic novel even breaks the fourth wall, in a playful, innovative vision of storytelling. The art work, retains O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim style, but it is enhanced in some unique and focused storytelling areas. Described as a manga-style, it is the artistic vision of this comic that makes it different, compelling, and better than some of the other time altering stories. It is about an empowered woman who wants to change parts of her life and win her vision of her life, but with it comes the sacrifice of those specific changes.
The good news, this is not Ground Hog Day, in fact, O’Malley is much more innovative and fresh with the idea of possessing god-like powers to undo mistakes. Katie is well crafted artistically and narratively in that she would appeal to a teenager or an adult equally. While the character is illustrated in an O’Malley style that makes her seem young, she has the life and sass of an adult. Pushing the character to cover that much space allows more people to identify with the protagonist. Katie sometimes feels like a bossy seventeen year-old, but she also has the responsibility and the vision of her adult self. This is a graphic novel that will draw you in. You will want to finish it in one sitting, even though you know you should slow down and savor it a bit. There are a lot of different elements to like here, colorful and dynamic art work, compelling storytelling, and a time shifting story that is innovative and fun to read.
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Reviews with images
Devoured in a Day
I bought this book because I am a huge fan of the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World movie. I have never read the Scott Pilgrim books and figured I go the gist of it from the movie. But when I heard the Scott Pilgrim author Bryan Lee O'Malley had a new book AND Joss Wedon loved it - I knew I had to have it.Seconds is about Katie, a twenty something girl who has found quick success with a restaurant she opened with her friends. She makes some mistakes and is in desperate need of a do-over, luckily for Katie, a mysterious girl appears in the middle of the night with simple instructions for a do-it-yourself do-over:1. Write your mistake2. Ingest one mushroom3. Go to sleep4. Wake anewThis book is delightful, unique and funny. If you have never read a graphic novel this is one to check out, the story is so good. A great read you can devour in a day - which you will because it is IMPOSSIBLE to put down.
Top reviews from other countries
Großartig. Die Geschichte hat komisch geendet und die Hauptfigur hätte nicht mit dem Typen zusammen kommen sollen sondern das Restaurant öffnen sollen
Gute Sache das
Reviewed in Germany on March 6, 2024shinyksword
Una historia bonita que envuelve viajes en el tiempo y el cumplir un propósito
Reviewed in Mexico on December 24, 2020
Nikolai
Perfecta novela gráfica que no defrauda y en la que los lectores de Scott Pilgrim encontrarán muchos guiños de su autor
Reviewed in Spain on May 10, 2017