The Hollows by Chris Ryall

The Hollows Reviews

• 
  Christine

  To say that this graphic novel offers anything new in the context of a dystopian future would be correct. To say that it is bad would be incorrect. I’ve seen most of the ideas in other works, including the idea of people living in trees. Of course, zombies are the latest fad.
  Yet, there is something about this comic. Maybe it’s the character of Urp, who should be marketed as a toy even if he (?) does look like a cross between a pink jellybean and a booger.
  No, that’s not it.
  It’s the earnestness about it as well as a lovely since of the human. It is even present in the panels.
  The story concerns a scientist who may be responsible for the dystopia that he find himself, a place where people live in huge giant trees to escape the Hollows, the zombies. When people who live in the trees need something they scavenge from the world below, and it is on one such shopping trip that Mr. Flying Man, as he becomes, discovers something. And it is a bit more than Urp.
  It is the reaction to the discovery that leads to the overall impression of the comic. The earnestness that pervades it. And it is this unnamable feeling that makes the comic a joy to read, even if it does borrow from other sources. Think of Harry Potter and distillation that Rowling did. That’s what this is.
  
  
  (Copy via Netgalley)
• 
  Wayne McCoy

  In a dystopian future, an inventor discovers a group of survivors and comes to terms with the horrors he has unleashed on mankind.
  
  In a future version of what seems to be Japan, the ground is ruled by the Hollows, a roving band of monsters that seem to act a lot like zombies. To escape the horrors on the ground, large cities are built in trees. A man looking to care for his family, uses a pair of wings to fly to the ground to look for supplies. He finds a group of survivors living on the ground, and when he gets back home, he can't help thinking of them and how he can help them. He uses his abilities as an inventor to try to make their lives better, with mixed results.
  
  It's an interesting take on the dystopian zombie story with some memorable characters, including a young girl who rivals the main character's knack for inventing things. The story by Chris Ryall includes a redemption and forgiveness theme that play out, and I found it to be a lovely story. The art by Sam Kieth, while not my favorite style, had some high points: A man soaring with wings outstretched, a giant tree holding a city in it's branches, and an adorable survivor with an eyepatch. I found it touchingly included the human element in the main characters foibles and flaws.
  
• 
  Amber

  It was a pretty good read. I enjoyed it. If you like zombies, this one is for you.
• 
  Mia

  The art <<<<<< the actual story. It was ok
• 
  I'mogén

  This graphic novel is set in a future Japan, where Tokyo has been destroyed by Hollows. The rest of civilisation have been forced to move up into the trees, with the rest perishing down below.
  This story was super unique and actually quite moving, emotionally. I guess you could say it's a "zombie" books for something similar to compare it too, but really it's about the people and I loved that.
  The art is totally one of the main aspects of this story that really connected me to what was happening. I just loved the art style. I'd describe it as a sort of sketch, with a flash of colour here and there, blueprint-esque at times and I feel like crayons were used at points. Whatever it was it added texture and the striking shades accentuated the heightened scenes caused by the crisis of the moment.
  I quite like the little panels at the back. I sort of tried to imagine how the story would play out, but it was nice to guess.
  The characters were great. I'd say our main ones were Craig-San and Lani. The prior I felt lacked empathy and was a bit heartless, but I think he was masking his true feelings. I liked the characters overall.
  I was a bit shocked by Lani and Eiko's relationship at the end. I thought if anything it would have developed more into a motherly-daughterly bond, especially as Eiko only had boys and Lani had no parental figure
  
  Unexpectedly loved this story. I borrowed it from the library and tempted to get my own copy!
  
  Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
  Gén
• 
  Cale

  This is a book to look at more than to read. Chris Ryall's story about trying to find redemption in a world you destroyed has its moments, but its Sam Kieth's very distinctive art that makes the story work (or not, if you don't like his style).
  Craig is an inventor trying to find ways to make life better for his people in the city trees that exist above a world decimated by the hollows (basically energy vampires). His motivations are central to the story, as he discovers life among the legions of hollows and tries to find redemption.
  Kieth's art makes some of the crazier concepts like the supertrees work, but only some of the time - the quality varies from beautifully detailed to what almost looks like sketch previews of pages in some places. His people especially vary in their renderings (although Urp is delightfully absurd throughout). It's a bit disconcerting, but I think that's always been a hallmark of Kieth's style.
  
  If that variation in quality is distracting, you may want to avoid this book - the story, while interesting, is definitely secondary to the art. Cautiously recommended.
• 
  Matt Graupman

  Chris Ryall’ and Sam Kieth’s “The Hollows” is insanely random and randomly insane. How else could you possibly describe a comic that takes place in a dystopian Japan where the rich and privileged live in cities perched in enormous artificial trees that tower above a post-apocalyptic hellscape overrun by zombified mutants? It’s lunacy. Probably too lunatic for it’s own good, honestly. I love Sam Kieth’s sketchy style, like if Leonardo da Vinci did drugs and made comics; there’s no one doing it quite like him and I can guarantee that you’ve never seen anything resembling “The Hollows” before. The downside is that Ryall’s story can’t really keep up and basically ends up being a framework for Kieth to hang his artwork on but it’s cool. This is one of those comics where you just sort of strap in and hope you can hang on for the ride.
• 
  Albert Yates

  Japan is in ruins, and hordes of soul sucking monsters surround the new super cities making sure that the population never sets foot on the ground again. Well , with the exception of the people who actually still live there and fight the monsters every day.
  
  On of the inventors living in the safety of the skies above longs for adventure and decides to use his wings to look for his own supplies and instead finds himself trapped amongst the monsters.
  
  A really good book, a quick read but was drawn exceptionally well. I would like to see Chris Ryall partner with Ben Templesmith at some point. That would be an amazing team.
• 
  Kristin Elizabeth

  Delectably dark artwork paints the world of the Hollows, where the priveleged live in tree cities while the rest are left to fend for themselves against the undead hordes. A great story about regret and redemption with a dystopian flavor. There is a melancholy that shrouds the entire plot and that remains after the graphic novel is put down.
• 
  Kate

  I loved the art in this comic. I also loved the juxtaposition between horror and small cute things with sassy characters.
• 
  Jack

  The story and characters are pretty forgettable, but Sam Kieth’s art and designs are interesting.
• 
  Hugh

  Super awesome story and my favorite illustration style of a graphic novel I have ever seen! Leaves you wanting more, which is a good thing in my opinion when it comes to visual stories.
• 
  Donyae Coles

  This was not a great outing. The story was fairly weak and the art isn't Kieth's best either.
• 
  Shawn Ingle

  Post-apocalyptic story about family, loss, regret, guilt and redemption.
• 
  Moon

  I had a hard time getting into the story. I
  I'm a Sam Keith fan (loooooove The Maxx) so his art is what I liked the most about this. If I could give half a star I would give this
  a rating of 2.5.
• 
  Maddy Johnson

  The idea and the book was excellent, the artwork was definitely with its charm. The pacing was kinda fast, that being said it left me with more questions especially with Urp.
• 
  Estibaliz79

  Interesante y entretenida historia de corte futurista y toque 'zombie', ambientada en el Japón de un futuro no tan lejano, en el que unos pocos elegidos viven en ciudades construidas en superárboles, mientras en las ruinas del pasado sobreviven unos pocos entre las hordas de esos 'the hollows' que dan título a la serie.
  Buen ritmo para una historia que transmite, con personajes sólidos en los que sin duda destaca por su particular encanto 'Urg'... la mascota del futuro :P
• 
  Matthew

  Note: I read the single issues.
  
  I'm a huge fan of Sam Kieth, and this is him at his best. It's a post apocalyptic fantasy mainly about redemption.
• 
  Kit

  Not the best of Keith's work, for sure. A dull, somewhat dispassionate effort.
• 
  Mersini

  Fantastic art. And though not a particularly original story, it was emotional enough that it didn't matter.
• 
  Andrew Kleimola

  The Hollows is very strange and not entirely satisfying. There are some big ideas that arent fully formed, and Kieth's sketch-style illustrations match the sketched ideas.
• 
  Calder Zimmerman

  Really good art but weak ending that has an inconsistent plot detail
• 
  Adam Šilhan

  Kiethova kresba je tradičně super, příběh je ale celkem zmatený a moc nefunguje.