Odd Thomas is a regular nineteen-year-old with an unusual gift: the ability to see the lingering spirits of the dead. To Odd, it’s not such a big deal. And most folks in sleepy Pico Mundo, California, are much more interested in the irresistible pancakes Odd whips up at the local diner. Still, communing with the dead can be useful. Because while some spirits only want a little company … others want justice.
When the sad specter of a very frightened boy finds its way to him, Odd vows to root out the evil suddenly infecting the sunny streets of Pico Mundo. But even with his exceptional ability – plus the local police and his pistol-packing girlfriend, Stormy, backing him – is Odd any match for a faceless stalker who’s always a step ahead … and determined to kill again?
In Odd We Trust is a graphic novel written by Dean Koontz and Queenie Chan and illustrated by Queenie Chan. I have never read Koontz’ Odd Thomas series, so this was my introduction to the character of Odd Thomas. I had heard, however, that Odd is one of Koontz’s most-liked characters.
This is also the first graphic novel I’ve read that isn’t superhero/action comic based. I’ve been wanting to start reading more graphic novels, and this one was on the library shelf. The storyline sounded appealing so I decided to give it a try.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I suspect it’s hard to convey the kind of depth that a full-length novel can convey within the boundaries of a graphic novel; In Odd We Trust was an interesting and easy read, but I didn’t quite grasp the things about Odd Thomas that have made him Koontz’s best loved character.
A digression: one thing that really confuses me in graphic novels is the use of drops of sweat. Being a mystery buff, my first reaction on seeing someone breaking out into a sweat (who hasn’t just finished running a marathon) is that he’s, well, guilty of something. By the time I finished In Odd We Trust, I knew a character breaking out into a sweat definitely doesn’t mean a character’s feeling guilty (especially since Odd Thomas himself had sweat drops on his face a few times).
So I asked my daughter, who is a big anime fan – she both reads and draws anime. This is what she told me: when you see drops of sweat around a person’s head, it usually means the person is bewildered or astonished or befuddled about something or someone (well, she didn’t say befuddled, she actually said something like, “he’s thinking, ‘what the crud?’”). When the drop of sweat is depicted on a person’s face, it means that character is undergoing some sort of intense emotion.
I suspect with this additional piece of information, graphic novels I’ll be reading in the future will make far more sense.
So, getting back to the review: what I liked most about reading In Odd We Trust, though, was that my copy included an interesting essay by Dean Koontz called “The Odd Face in the Mirror” where he talks about writing the first Odd novel, and working with Queenie Chan on the graphic novel.
It also included the first chapter of Odd Thomas, and that was quite the disaster for me. When I finished up the chapter, I knew I needed to read the rest of the book. And I had an inkling why Odd Thomas is the Koontz character that people like the most.
Where to buy In Odd We Trust:
U.S. (Amazon.com) | Indiebound | Canada (Chapters) | UK (Amazon.co.uk)
Review copy details: published by Del Ray, 2008, trade paperback
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting! I didn’t know that graphic novels have their own ways of indicating emotions.
My son occasionally reads graphic novels….they’ve become a very popular form among YA. Even James Patterson’s YA have been made into graphic novels lately.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
I just picked up James Patterson’s Maximum Overdrive in graphic novel form! I’ve actually read the first novel in the series, and didn’t like it much, so I thought I’d try it in graphic novel form and see if that makes a difference (especially since I’ve recently seen several rave reviews of the series). I’m willing to be convinced, in one form or another!
That’s so interesting about the sweat! And I love that interpretation: “what the crud” !!!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of “A Wish After Midnight” by Zetta Elliott =-.
It’s a great expression, isn’t it? My daughter has a ton of them. Cute boys, for example, are “flawless”.
I enjoyed reading this post. Graphic novels are foreign to me but my son-in-law has been singing their praises for quite some time. I’m going to have to give them a break so I won’t be considered old-fashioned. Thanks for my introductory lesson. This sounds like a good one to try.
.-= Margot´s last blog ..It’s Tuesday: Time for Teasers! =-.
I’ve read the first three Odd Thomas books, and Oddie is definitely a likeable character. I think his appeal is that he’s smart and wise, but at the same time he’s a very pure soul. And the books are full of a great mixture of humor and horror. I haven’t even looked at the graphic novel, though.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Take A Chance Challenge: The Firemaker =-.
Ah, I have also wondered about the drops of sweat. I’ve never been a big graphic novel fan but my sister and my brother-in-law love them. This sounds fun. I’m not much for pictures but the story line sounds interesting enough (no heroics!) to check out.
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Stargirl ~ Jerry Spinelli =-.
Dean Koontz graphic novel, eh? I’d like it if he dug out some of his older works and gave them a similar treatment – such as Watchers, which is a favourite of mine. (Lovable loner, super-intelligent dog sidekick, mad scientists, genetically modified Beastie on the loose – lots to love in that book).
If your young lady is reading Manga or watching Anime, she’ll be growing up presuming that when your happy or angry your face is weirdly, terrifyingly distorted so you look like a sketch of someone sneezing by Salvador Dali or HR Giger.
Just to warn you.
.-= Mikeachim´s last blog ..Nightcrawler Goes Walkies =-.