"Amulet" is a graphic novel series written and illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, a popular American comic book artist and author. The series follows the journey of a young girl named Emily Hayes and her younger brother, Navin, as they navigate a fantastical world filled with adventure and mystery. The story begins when their mother is mysteriously abducted by a creature from another dimension. In order to save her, Emily and Navin must move with their Great Uncle Silas to an old, eerie house in a new town. As they explore their new home, they discover a secret room containing a mysterious amulet that grants them incredible powers. With the amulet in their possession, Emily and Navin find themselves thrust into a hidden world populated by strange creatures, mechanical monsters, and powerful allies.
That was J.L. Bell’s point in his review. He said the fact that the characterizations were a little two-dimensional might be due to this being the first part in a series. But I don’t think that works for me. For example “Jellaby” was this perfect little book that also happened to be the first in a series and didn’t need subsequent titles to make the first one strong. Weep not for my criticisms. Any man who has already sold his film rights to a project that involves Will Smith’s kids is gonna do just ducky without my blessing.
I have it in my grade 9 classroom library, and it s my go-to book for reluctant readers, especially those of the male variety although lots of girls read it too. Kids who claim to hate reading come alive when they discuss the book the main thing they love, other than the art, is the balance of plot development and action.
With the amulet in their possession, Emily and Navin find themselves thrust into a hidden world populated by strange creatures, mechanical monsters, and powerful allies. Along their journey, they encounter various fantastical creatures and unlock the secrets of the amulet's true nature. Throughout the series, Kibuishi's beautiful illustrations bring the story to life, immersing the reader in a rich and vibrant world.
#297—Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
Graphic novels can be a tricky beast to review. While some are dialogue and exposition heavy, reading like a novel with pictures, others rely more on visual storytelling. This means you can sweep over a number of pages in seconds as you take in the sequence of events, but ultimately there is not as much story there to review as you first expected.
This is one of those times, so I’ll be reviewing the first two books in this series, The Stonekeeper and The Stonekeeper’s Curse, just so I have more material to work with.
Amulet is a nine part graphic novel series written and drawn by Kazu Kibuishi. I always envy writers who can draw (or artists who can write). It feels like they can convey more of their vision than either a writer or artist can on their own.
The story starts off with young Emily Hayes involved in an accident that leads to the tragic death of her father. Two years later, she, her mother, and her brother all move into her great-grandfather’s house, Silas Charnon, and it soon becomes evident that her great-grandfather was no ordinary man. Strange forces lurk in the shadows, as Emily discovers an amulet hidden in the study, and activated by her blood.
After that, things get weird.
Before I go on about the series, a bit about the author. Kazu Kibuishi was born in Tokyo but moved to the US when he was four, and started drawing at age five. Though he initially went to university to study film (“I was trying to quit drawing”) he instead ended up starting his comic career there writing for the Daily Nexus.
He eventually caught the eye of Erik Larsen and Image Comics with an idea for an anthology series called Flight, and followed that up with another anthology called Explorer. The first volume of Amulet debuted in 2008 and, as of this writing, the series is up to book 8. The final book in the series has been announced, but not released.
Now, back to the weird. So, Emily’s mom gets swallowed up by a giant arachnopod thingy in the basement and carried off to a fantastical world full of monsters, evil elves, and humans turned into anthropomorphic animals… as you do. Emily and her brother Navin are forced to chase after her.
Along the way, Emily learns that the amulet she found possesses great power, along with great risk. It also talks to her, guiding her to none other than her long lost great-grandfather, who is on his deathbed in a remote house surrounded by waterfalls and populated by robotic assistants, one of which is a pink cartoony bunny rabbit called Miskit.
From there, the two children must hatch a plan to rescue their mother with the robots’ help, except there is another force at play. The prince of the Elf King wants the amulet for himself, but perhaps the person who wears it is more valuable to him…
But this is only the beginning, because Emily, having accepted the power of the stone amulet, is now bound to it. Cursed. She cannot remove it, and while she can control it, it also seeks to control her.
Oh, and there’s a whole underground rebellion against the evil elves and large stone houses that transform into giant robots and talking trees with magical fruit… It’s pretty wild.
As I stated earlier, this is not a story that is heavy on exposition, relying on the art to help carry the story. And what great artwork it is. While it is of a simple cartoony style for the characters, Kibuishi’s backgrounds have a wonderfully painted feel to them, especially the splash pages showing off key moments.
In many ways, the story is set up like storyboards for a movie. That’s not as common a trait as you might think. Many western comics (especially superhero ones) showcase moments of action very well, but don’t work in that “storyboard” way of setting up your camera shots. Try using your average superhero comic as a guide for shooting a scene, and it would be a mess. But on the page it looks damn cool.
Amulet, on the other hand, feels like you could use this as the layout for an animated movie, and the pacing of the sequences also lends to that cinematic feel.
I’ve seen comparisons made for this series to Jeff Smith’s Bone, and I can see why. The varied artwork, blending cartoonish and realistic elements, as well as comedy and drama, should definitely appeal to fans of the series.
While marketed for kids, this definitely falls under the sub-category of family entertainment, as I think adults will enjoy it just as much. Just don’t expect each book to take up more than a couple of hours of your time.
While marketed for kids, this definitely falls under the sub-category of family entertainment, as I think adults will enjoy it just as much. Just don’t expect each book to take up more than a couple of hours of your time.
His distinctive art style combines vibrant colors, intricate details, and unique character designs that captivate readers of all ages. One of the standout elements of "Amulet" is its strong emphasis on family bonds and the importance of teamwork. As Emily and Navin face various trials and challenges, they learn to rely on each other and their friends to overcome obstacles and save their mother. The "Amulet" series is a thrilling and captivating adventure that combines elements of fantasy, action, and mystery. It has garnered widespread acclaim for its compelling storytelling, well-developed characters, and stunning artwork. Along with its engaging plot, the series also explores themes of bravery, responsibility, and the power of imagination. Overall, "Amulet" by Kazu Kibuishi is a must-read for fans of graphic novels and fantasy alike. Its gripping narrative, breathtaking artwork, and heartfelt themes make it a truly unforgettable reading experience..
Reviews for "A Deeper Dive into the Characters of the Amulet Series by Kazu Kibuishi"
1. Jane - 2/5 stars - I found "Amulet" to be quite underwhelming. The storyline felt disjointed and rushed, with characters that lacked depth and development. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The illustrations were beautiful, but the lackluster plot and unengaging writing overshadowed any positive aspects. Overall, I was disappointed by "Amulet" and struggle to understand the hype it has received.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - I couldn't even bring myself to finish reading "Amulet". The story was predictable and unoriginal, and the characters were shallow and one-dimensional. The pacing was off, with important plot points being rushed through and others dragging on unnecessarily. The artwork was the only redeeming quality of this graphic novel, but it wasn't enough to salvage the overall lackluster experience. I was left feeling disappointed and unimpressed by "Amulet".
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Amulet" based on the positive reviews I had seen, but it fell flat for me. The plot felt confusing and convoluted, with too many subplots overlapping and distracting from the main story. The characters lacked depth and emotional development, making it difficult to empathize with their struggles. While the illustrations were visually appealing, they couldn't make up for the overall weak storytelling. I can see why some people may enjoy "Amulet", but it simply wasn't my cup of tea.