Graphic Novel Review – Brody’s Ghost Collected Edition by Mark Crilley (5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Older Teen
Genre: Graphic Novel/Supernatural/Mystery
Length: 600 pages
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Release Date: May 10, 2016
ISBN-13: 978-1616559014
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Gift
Rating: 5/5 stars

“After losing his job, his girlfriend, and his home, Brody learns that things can get even worse when he begins seeing a ghostly teenage girl watching him in the street. What he hopes is a hallucination proves all too real when the ghost tells him she needs his help hunting down a dangerous killer, and that he must undergo training from the spirit of a centuries-old samurai to unlock his hidden ghost talker powers.

While Brody initially goes along only begrudgingly, the mission becomes terrifyingly personal when he learns that his ex-girlfriend is destined to be the killer’s next victim. As he evades the police and his ex’s criminal boyfriend, Brody enters a race against time to learn the killer’s identity before the night of her foretold doom!”

I had picked up the first volume of Brody’s Ghost last year and read it and loved it. However, I didn’t really want to buy all the other volumes separately (they are really short and not available at my library). So I was very excited to hear that this was being released. It was a very well done supernatural thriller/mystery and I enjoyed it a lot.

Brody is going through rough times when Talia, the ghost of a teenaged girl, finds him and coerces him into helping her solve a mystery involving a serial killer and strangled women.

This book does a wonderful job of presenting a creepy and complicated mystery that is fun to watch unfold. Brody goes through some serious character development along the way; getting his life back on track and finding his place…all while trying to solve this mystery.

I also really loved the the old samurai ghost who trains Brody; he is hilarious and lots of fun.

The illustration is really well done and I enjoyed it a lot. The drawing is all black and white (I usually prefer color), but it sucked me into the story so thoroughly I didn’t notice the lack of color. The frames are very easy to follow and character expressions are really well done, as are the action scenes.

Overall a fantastic graphic novel that I would definitely recommend. Especially recommended to those who like supernatural mystery types of graphic novels.

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