The topic "Giant witch hunt" refers to a situation where there is a widespread and intense search or investigation for supposed wrongdoers or criminals. It is often characterized by a frenzy of accusations and a rush to find and condemn individuals without proper evidence or due process. The term "giant witch hunt" draws a parallel to the historical phenomenon of witch hunts, which were widespread in Europe and the American colonies between the 15th and 18th centuries. During these times, individuals, mostly women, were accused of practicing witchcraft and subjected to trials and persecutions. Often, these accusations were based on superstition, fear, or personal vendettas, rather than actual evidence. Similarly, a giant witch hunt today can refer to a situation where there is an exaggerated and irrational pursuit of alleged wrongdoers or criminals.
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.
Similarly, a giant witch hunt today can refer to a situation where there is an exaggerated and irrational pursuit of alleged wrongdoers or criminals. It often arises in times of fear, uncertainty, or social unrest, and can be fueled by media sensationalism, political opportunism, or mass hysteria. The consequences of a giant witch hunt can be severe.
#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.
Innocent individuals may be wrongly accused and suffer reputational damage, loss of employment, or even physical harm. Moreover, the focus on finding culprits without proper evidence can divert attention and resources from addressing the root causes of societal problems or addressing genuine threats. To avoid falling into a giant witch hunt mentality, it is important to uphold principles of fairness, due process, and the presumption of innocence. It is crucial to base accusations on solid evidence and rely on impartial investigations before jumping to conclusions. Additionally, fostering a climate of open dialogue, tolerance, and empathy can help prevent the proliferation of witch hunts and promote a more just and equitable society..
Reviews for "Unlocking the Secrets of Gigantic Witch Hrst: A Guide for Beginners"
1. Mary - 2/5 rating - I didn't enjoy "Gignt witch hrst" at all. The story felt disjointed and hard to follow, with many plot points that didn't seem to connect or make sense. The characters were also poorly developed, and I found it hard to connect or care about any of them. Additionally, the writing style was awkward and filled with grammatical errors, which made reading this book an even more frustrating experience. Overall, I was disappointed with "Gignt witch hrst" and would not recommend it.
2. John - 1/5 rating - "Gignt witch hrst" was a complete waste of my time. The book had no clear storyline or structure, and I couldn't make sense of what was happening. The writing was confusing and filled with unnecessary descriptions that added nothing to the plot. Moreover, the characters were flat and lacked depth, making it impossible for me to invest in their journey. I struggled to finish this book and felt no sense of satisfaction or closure when I finally reached the end. I would not recommend "Gignt witch hrst" to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2/5 rating - I was really disappointed with "Gignt witch hrst". The story felt like a jumbled mess of random events, and I struggled to find any coherence or meaning behind it. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real development or growth throughout the book. Additionally, the writing style was awkward and hard to follow, with many grammatical errors that disrupted the flow of the story. Overall, "Gignt witch hrst" left me confused and unsatisfied, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Michael - 1/5 rating - I regret picking up "Gignt witch hrst". The book lacked a coherent plot and felt like a collection of random scenes stitched together. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or substance, making it impossible for me to form any connection with them. Furthermore, the writing was filled with grammatical errors and awkward sentences, making it a chore to read. I struggled to finish this book and felt no sense of satisfaction or closure by the end. I would not recommend "Gignt witch hrst" to anyone looking for a well-crafted story.