Alex and Ada Vol. 3 is the conclusion of the story and wraps up what I think is one of the best graphic novel series I've read in a long time. After the events of Vol. 2 Alex and Ada have become a couple but are in more danger than ever. Ada was seen at a confrontation between the FBI and an android friend, and then sparks fly when someone close to Alex has a problem with Ada. And the government crackdown on renegade sentients is ongoing. Things are a little more intense in this one, and Alex and Ada have t make a tough choice when everything goes wrong.
The government crackdown hits close to home and they have to decide whether to run and where to go. The scenes with them on the run are some of my favorites as they are willing to give it all to stay together, to be free but it doesn't look good.
This one was probably my least favorite simply because I wasn't crazy about the ending. It feels a bit rushed after the pace of the first two volumes- there was a lot of set up in the previous ones, with a satisfying emotional payoff but here things happen almost too fast. Maybe that's realistic though- after all once the crackdown touches Alex and Ada they have to go on the run and they run out of choices quickly. There are a few shocking moments including a betrayal I didn't see coming, but there are also the nice quiet moments and humor that I enjoyed in the first two. Alex's friends are one of the best parts of the story- they're diverse, realistic and loyal and for the most part they accept Ada as one of their own.
I can't say enough about this series however. It's been very enjoyable get to know these characters, the world is very like ours and many of the issues raised will seem familiar. Issues of identity, gender issues, even spirituality is touched on briefly- does an android have a soul? It's questions like these that make this a thought provoking book, even as the clean art and crisp storytelling make the pages fly. I didn't necessarily like the ending (the end itself was fine, I just wasn't crazy about how they got there) but I would recommend this series highly to anyone who is interested in good storytelling.
I haven't read any graphic novels in a long time. Glad you liked this one so much. Maybe it's worth a look see. :-)
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental My TT
It's a good one, hope you get to take a look!
Deleteit's always a bit complicated when you don't really like the end of a book... I didn't know about these ones but thanks for the discovery!
ReplyDeleteThere's just a certain thing about the ending I didn't like, but on balance these are good. Thanks for stopping!
DeleteI'm glad you really liked these graphic novels! I definitely have to read them sometime. :D
ReplyDeleteI did, I hope you read them! Then tell me what you think... :)
DeleteYou have me really intrigued and wanting to try this series! This would've way more graphic novel-y than the others I've tried so I'm looking forward to trying them.
ReplyDeleteI hope you try them! I think they're a great introduction to graphic novels, or good for people who read one occasionally but not all the time. Great story!
DeleteThis collection looks really interesting. I've been thinking about starting the Alex and Ada series for a while. I might have to do that soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope you give it a try if it looks interesting. I think it's a good series.
DeleteWow, I'm glad you liked it so much! It sucks that the ending was rushed (I hate that too, which is kind of what happened with iZombie), but at least it wasn't so much so that it ruined the series for you. Thought-provoking is good, and so are twists you don't see coming, and so is intensity, so this actually sounds like a good volume to me lol. I'll have to give this series a try :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like it, I've seen a few reviews knock it for the art style but I liked the art. The ending was fine but it was how they got there that threw me a bit. I see what they were going for in terms of relevance maybe, but it wasn't a direction I was expecting. I liked seeing how Ada adjusted to humanity though, and the underground rights (for androids) culture interested me. I liked it all in all, and there are a few set pieces where I think the art really makes it work. :)
DeleteAdmittedly I actually don't love the artwork, but I don't dislike it either. So it won't get bonus points from me lol, but it shouldn't detract from the story either.
DeleteI'll be curious to see what you think if you read it. I guess this was Sarah Vaughn's first solo writing credit (think I read that somewhere) so I may have to see what else she writes. I like what she did here.
DeleteI checked my elibrary and they only have the first volume, and I'm on a super strict book buying budget right now :-/ I'm gonna wait and see if they get the rest before I start it.
Delete