The Cruz de Caravaca is a religious amulet that holds great significance in the Catholic faith. It is believed to offer protection and ward off evil spirits. This sacred symbol consists of a cross with two horizontal arms, usually adorned with intricate engravings and a small figure of Jesus on the front. The origins of this amulet can be traced back to the Spanish town of Caravaca de la Cruz in the region of Murcia. According to legend, the Cruz de Caravaca was discovered in the 13th century by a group of knights during the time of the Christian Reconquest of Spain. It is said to be a piece of the True Cross, the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
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.
It is said to be a piece of the True Cross, the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. Legend has it that the knights found the cross in a cave, where it was said to have been hidden by angels to protect it from destruction. The Cruz de Caravaca is often worn as a necklace or a pendant, but it can also be displayed in homes or placed on altars.
#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.
Many devout Catholics believe that this amulet possesses healing powers and can bring good fortune. It is not uncommon to see people wearing the Cruz de Caravaca during important religious ceremonies or when seeking spiritual protection. The amulet is also closely associated with the legend of the Santo Grial, or Holy Grail. According to some versions of the legend, the Cruz de Caravaca was used to unlock the power of the Holy Grail, a vessel said to contain the blood of Jesus. This further adds to the mystique and allure of the amulet. In conclusion, the Cruz de Caravaca is an important religious amulet in the Catholic faith. Its association with the True Cross and the legend of the Holy Grail adds to its significance. Whether worn as a personal talisman or displayed in a place of worship, this amulet holds great spiritual meaning and is believed to offer protection and blessings to those who possess it..
Reviews for "The Caravaca Cross: An Amulet with the Power to Bring Good Fortune"
- Maria - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "La cruz de caravaca amuleto". The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were bland and uninteresting. Additionally, the acting was subpar, with many of the actors delivering their lines with little emotion. I had high hopes for this film, but unfortunately, it fell short in every aspect. I would not recommend wasting your time on this.
- Carlos - 1 star - "La cruz de caravaca amuleto" was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The story was nonsensical and poorly written, and it was incredibly boring to watch. The special effects were laughably bad, making it hard to take the film seriously. Overall, I found no redeeming qualities in this movie and regretted wasting my time watching it.
- Laura - 2 stars - I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled to warn others about "La cruz de caravaca amuleto". The film had potential with its interesting premise, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The pacing was inconsistent, with some scenes dragging on for far too long, while others felt rushed. The character development was also lacking, leaving me apathetic towards their fates. I had hoped for an engaging supernatural thriller, but was left disappointed.
- Alejandro - 1 star - "La cruz de caravaca amuleto" was a complete waste of time. The acting was terrible, with the cast delivering their lines with little conviction. The story was confusing and poorly executed, making it hard to understand what was happening on screen. Additionally, the special effects were low-budget and unconvincing. Overall, I would not recommend this film to anyone looking for an enjoyable movie-watching experience.