Flight Volumes 2-4 Review
Contributors: Way to many to name
Editor: Kazu Kibuishi
Publisher: Villard Books
Where do I start this review? I figured I would kill the time today waiting on new comics by reading volume 2 of this series. Figured since Nick did a review of Volume 1 you kind of get the idea of what these collected works are about. I went ahead and read volume 2 and then 3 and couldn’t stop till I was done with four. So instead of killing time, I found myself lost in a childhood fantasy world that I don't get to revisit often. There are not enough words to do this series justice.
Flight volumes 2 through 4 like their predecessor are a collaborative celebration of all that is wonderful in comics; a gathering of some of the best established creators along with a number of new stars which shine brightly. I’m not talking just comics here people. I’m talking about game designers, story board artist, video game conceptual artist, and even guys from Pixar. While it would be easy to simply adulate this fantasy anthology and speak of nothing but the credible artwork, there are reasons to explore the wonderful writing that takes place. Kazu Kibuishi and all his collaborators have captured something magical and delightful within these books. Each story does have the theme of flying, but you guessed it, some more blatant then others.
Each cover has that Studio Ghibli feel to it that just seems to want to take you away to a magical world of time forgotten. Of course one could gather that every story is going to be anime influenced by just looking at the covers, but with a wide and varied array of different art styles you will be awestruck. All the stories are extremely entertaining and imaginative. They range from comedic to dramatic, and you'll find yourself reading these strips over and over after devouring the book. Some have a way deeper meaning when you read it the third time around.
Some of these wonderful stories that stand out to me are: The Edge which follows two brothers who find out who really lives at the edge of the world. Vodoo, a wonderful story about a whale that wants nothing more than to fly. The Robot and the Sparrow a friendship between machine and bird, but a deeper meaning is hidden within that first layer. Twenty-Four Hours which is just visually stunning! And of course each volume has a continuing story by Michel Cagne, who can draw some adorable furry animals.
To say I highly recommend this series is just an understatement. I guess I really can’t see a perfect comic collection without these books in my mind. This series is not only for fans of the comic genre, but I can’t imagine a library being complete without copies of these books in their possession. There is so much energy portrayed in each story, it can literally change your mood and that my friends takes talent. A+
