Graphic Novel Review – Flight of Angels by Rebecca Guay and Various Authors (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Graphic Novel
Length: 128 pages
Publisher: Vertigo
Release Date: December 4, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1401221478
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Gift
Rating: 4/5 stars

“The diverse mythology of angels is explored in this lushly painted graphic novel from high-profile fantasy authors including Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and Bill Willingham (FABLES).Deep in the woods outside of a magical kingdom, a strange group of faeries and forest creatures discover a nearly dead angel, bleeding and unconscious with a sword by his side. They call a tribunal to decide his fate, each telling stories that delve into different interpretations of these winged, celestial beings: tales of dangerous angels, all-powerful angels, guardian angels and death angels, that range from the mystical to the mysterious to the macabre.”

The back copy does a great job of summarizing this. Basically an angel falls from the sky and a group of faeries find him. They then conduct a tribunal to decide what to do with him. As part of this tribunal each of the faeries tell a story of where they think the angel came from and how he ended up fallen.

The main story including the faeries was done in sepia tones while the stories that they tell (each one by a different author) were done in full color. There is a variety of artistic style throughout (each story that the faeries tell has its own style) and all of it is very beautiful. I enjoyed the art a lot and thought it was stunning to look at.

I do wish that the book had been a bit clearer about which story was by which author. They tell you in the front of the book, but as you read the graphic novel the transitions to the different story (while clear because of the switch to color) don’t specify which story and author you are switching to.

The whole thing is decently put together but ends up feeling more like a loosely connected series of short stories about angelic origins than an actual graphic novel. The plot of the faeries contemplating where the angel has come from only loosely joins these stories together.

Overall this was a good collection of angel stories loosely pulled together by an over-arcing plot. I really loved the illustration/art throughout and thought the stories were good, if not absolutely fantastic. I would recommend if you like fantasy graphic novels and/or are interested in angel themed short stories.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Mount TBR Reading Challenge
– Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge