By Peter Wartman
Publisher: Uncivilized Books
ISBN: 9780984681433
Wading through the enormous choice of cartoon and comic related books each month creates something of a quandary as to what to take a chance upon, but every now and again it results in a real gem falling into your lap. So is the case with Over The Wall by Peter Wartman, a solidly realised fantastical tale of a girl searching for her brother.
The wall in question surrounds an enormous and ancient city, but the human population have deserted it and now live a simpler life in the countryside beyond. We learn that in the past humans employed demons to help with tasks in return for names or stories, but despite achieving so much together the relationship turned sour and the demons became greedy, eating the names of the people so they would forget who they were and in turn be forgotten by those around them.
The people abandoned the city and created an invisible barrier that followed the outline of the city’s great wall, trapping the demons within but allowing the humans to pass back and forth, although this is only something people did as a coming-of-age rite. It is from this latest rite that the girl’s brother has failed to return, and she’s already forgetting who he is. She steals away in the night, climbs the wall and breaches the barrier into the city. However, she’s not alone, as she’s met by a demon who appears to want to assist her, so she must grapple with whether or not this will help or hinder her attempt to find her brother.
The art is really nicely done, using just a single colour on top of a black and white illustrations to create an other-worldly atmosphere, but what’s particularly nice is the level of thought and detail put into the design of the city, adorned with decorative reliefs, statues and idols to conjure up a place of ancient standing and increasing neglect. But the real triumph of the book is its originality and its tender approach to the naive but courageous quest of the sister.
Upon finishing it I immediately handed it to my daughter who devoured it with equal relish. Certainly a book for any age group, and one I wouldn’t be surprised to see being snapped up by one of the proliferation of animation companies and expanded for the big screen.
And if you liked that: Try Monsters On The Hill
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