Flight Volume Seven

This is the 7th volume in the Flight graphic novel series. This book contains another set of interesting graphic novel short stories that are all supposed to have some aspect of Flight to them. While this collection was better than Vol 5 and 6; it still wasn’t nearly as strong as some of the earlier volumes.You can see below for brief comments on the included stories and what I thought of them. My favorites continue to be Gagne’s “Saga of Rex”, Kazu Kibuishi’s stories, and the Jellaby stories. I additionally really liked “Live Bait” by Justin Gerard and “Sentinels” by Jason Caffoe.Overall a solid collection of graphic novel short stories. I enjoyed them and plan on reading the final book (8) in the Flight series. I would recommend to those who enjoy sci-fi/fantasy graphic novels.“Saga of Rex: The Harvest” by Michel Gagne’ (5/5)This explains why everything that happened, happened to Rex in the previous installments. Gorgeous illustration and a sweet story.“The Courier: Shortcut” by Kazu Kibuishi (5/5)This was another wonderful addition to the Courier story and of course was beautifully illustrated.“Live Bait” by Justin Gerard (5/5)More fantastic illustration with a story that at first seems predictable but has a touching twist to it at the end.“Kenneth Shuri and the Big Sweep” by JP Ahonen (4/5)This was a continuation of the Kenneth Shuri (unemployed ninja) stories that have been in previous volumes. It’s a cute story but the illustration style is not my favorite.“Premium Cargo” by Kostas Kiriakakis (4/5)This was a cute story that had a fun twist to it. The drawing style was unique and interesting but the story was a bit hard to follow.“Sustain the Song” by Lenland Myrick (3/5) I didn’t really like this story or the illustration style; it was okay but not great.“Overhead” by Stuart LIvingston (4/5)I enjoyed this story and the illustration style but the story felt very incomplete.“Onere and Piccola” (4/5)This was a beautifully done mythology themed story. I liked the illustration as well and enjoyed it.“Fairy Market” by Kadi and Steven Shanahan (3/5)The artwork was very cartoony and sketchy for this story (not my favorite). I also thought the story was goofy and a big silly. It was okay but not great.“I’ve Decided to Become a Skeptic” by Dave Roman (2/5)Very short and silly story. I didn’t enjoy the artwork or the story.“Jellaby: Guardian Angel” (5/5)I always love the Jellaby stories. In this one Jellaby is determined to make everyone’s life better and the shenanigans that ensue are very entertaining.“Career Day” by Bannister and Grmaldi (3/5)This was a cute story but I wasn’t a fan of the artwork. The story was about a boy who follows around his older brother (who is a knight) on career day.“Sentinels” by Jason Caffoe (5/5)This was a very thought-provoking story and had amazing artwork.“King of Beasts: What’s Yours is Mine!” by Paul Harmon (3/5)I liked the color in the drawings and the story would have been neat but it got pretty confusing and was hard to follow.“TT Challenge” by Dermot Walshe (2/5)Very short story about a TT Champion. I didn’t like the story or artwork and wasn’t sure what the point was.“B.L.T” by Drew Dernavich (3/5)This was an okay story about a man who orders a BLT but the place he orders from is out of bacon. This leads him to consider endless possibilities for his sandwich.

I've been an avid follower of this magnificent series since the very first volume and I have come to treasure each subsequent one, but in my mind the past several haven't quite been up to snuff with the forerunner installments that so enchanted me. But only too late did I realize Flight: Volume 7, which, according to Kazu Kibuishi, might be the second-to-last volume, makes the heart soar like I've never seen before in any previous volume.Perhaps two of the most exciting stories in the whole series are enclosed within Volume 7; The Saga of Rex: The Harvest and The Courier: Shortcut. The first puts into perspective and explains the entire story of Rex which had begun in Volume 2 and only now does it end with a supremely touching and fitting end to what had previously become an increasingly confusing and... trippy saga. The second is by Kazu himself. The man always manages to produce some of my favorite stories within the Flight series, and The Courier is no different, and at the same time is very. It gives the young man with the giant bird on the front cover of every volume of Flight his own, quaint story, leading me to hope he's many more stories to tell!The rest of the stories follow the same gambit of stories beautifully varied in their depiction, which make the series work so well. The majestically drawn Onere and Piccola, the modest but funny Career Day, and the short but sweet B.L.T. stories are among my favorites, each being in themselves very original in premise and wholly wonderful to look at ascetically. The others are not without their merits, as they all contribute to the overall package which feels well-balanced in tone.Honestly I wish this series would never end, because I will certainly never stop buying them if they continue to be up to such a caliber. If you buy one volume of Flight, make it this one!

The first couple of Flights were excellent --- there were original stories, and pleasantly-looking art. Sure, some stories had mediocre plot and uninspired art, but the volumes were overall great. Since then the quality declined. There have been fewer and fewer nice stories with each successive volume. This volume is no exception.There are not really good stories in this volume. In my opinion, the best is "Premium Cargo" by Kostas Kiriakakis. The drawings and tone of the story are nice, but it suffers from lack of a plot; there are some hints, but it is not clear what happened. Kazu Kibuishi and Kean Soo deliver solid art, but shallow stories. It is really a pity from the author of "Copper" that is full of many beautiful stories told in a span of a single page. I have never been a fan of the Rex saga by Michel Gagné that appeared in the previous Flights; the pictures looked great, but it lacked a story, and enough hooks to spin my own story. This time there is a story, but it is so shallow and illogical that I really wish it was not there.I am not going to buy the 8th volume.

Holds to the series' level of quality. Simple and child-appropriate, with an occasional veiled socially-dangerous message, but not anodyne like most child-marketed entertainment; and, despite the traces of agenda, it's still good enough to merit five stars.

This turned out to be something that I have really enjoyed and know others would like it just as I have.I have all 8 volumes of these anthology's. They will be read more than once and it will be staying in my collection always.

Beautifully illustrated. There are not many books that exist similar to the Flight series. It's an experience of it's own.

My son loves it

Great product!

Very nice stories

Dirigée par Kazu Kibuishi, auteur américain de comics plutôt orientés "jeunes adolescents", cette collection de miscellanées regroupe dans d'épais trade paperbacks diverses histoires -- "one shot", plus rarement "à suite" ou "à épisodes" --, dues à divers artistes exerçant différents métiers allant de l'animation à l'illustration en passant par les comics.Dans ce volume, on retrouve le canadien Michel Gagné, dont la contribution fait une nouvelle fois l'ouverture. Il s'agit, en une trentaine de pages faites de panels comme issus d'un dessin animé, du début de la saga mystico-galactique du renard Rex publiée à partir du 2è tome de la collection. Kibuishi propose un nouvel épisode des aventures de son facteur chargé de livrer ses messages dans un monde dangereux autant qu'onirique. Les personnages animaliers de l'histoire qui suit, signée Justin Gerard, sont dessinés à la manière d'un livre d'enfant mais les couleurs glauques et le récit "noir", créent un contraste saisissant (un peu à la manière de la série hispano-franco-belge "Black Sad"). Le récit suivant est un nouvel épisode Ken Shuri, le héros de JP Ahonen. Shuri est un jeune père de famille, qui a du mal à trouver une situation professionnelle. Il faut dire que la qualification principale de Ken est... Ninja ! Dans cet épisode, Ken doit gérer les conséquences de la révolte de sa fille contre le "bully" de l'école... Suit une histoire remarquablement dessinée mais dont le scénario (l'enlèvement d'un enfant) fait un peu froid dans le dos, même si ce n'est probablement pas le propos de l'auteur... L'histoire qui suit, signée Leland Myrick dans un style "ligne claire" est un hommage aux soldats qui reviennent à la maison après une guerre, quelle qu'elle soit. Suit un récit apocalyptique dans un New York sous les eaux. On ne sait pas bien si la fin est optimiste... Chapeau les auteurs : Stuart Livingston et Stephanie Ramirez. Cory Godbey propose ensuite un récit légendaire de son invention, que suit une fable des soeur et frère Katie et Steven Shanahan. Dans un style "stills tirés d'un dessin animé", il s'agit d'un gamin qui aurait dû être encore plus vigilant pour être bien "raccord" avec ce que lui avait ordonné sa Maman...Dans la suite de l'ouvrage, on trouve un nouvel épisode, plaisant, de Jellaby par Kean Soo. Et puis une histoire signée d'auteurs français, Bannister & Grimaldi, dans laquelle il est question d'une journée de "découverte de métier" pour un garçon qui décide de suivre son grand frère, ce dernier étant une sorte de Conan dans des temps immémoriaux mais très moyenâgeux dans l'aspect ! La nouvelle écologique de Jason Caffoe est méga-philosophique mais très belle à regarder. Le récit signé Paul Harmon, 'King Of Beasts', a de belles couleurs et de lointaines (mais sensibles) influences en provenances de Mike Mignola. Le découpage est un peu "à la serpe" et il n'est globalement pas aisé de suivre l'évolution du récit. Une courte histoire de motard en 1922, d'un certain Dermot Walsh, offre de beaux dessins dans des couleurs sépia mais peu d'intérêt au-delà. La dernière contribution est due à un graphiste qui travaille pour le New Yorker. Beau design, amusant propos.Globalement, un bel ensemble, dans la continuité des précédents, avec des hauts et... des moins hauts.