*WARNING: The Following Review Contains Mature Topics.*
Before we start, a special thanks to Black Panel Press for reaching out and the ARC of this title. As a reminder, if you’re interested in reading my previous reviews, click here.
“A nightmare, anxiety attack, or bad trip?” From the renowned Danish creators Henrik Rehr (Tribeca Sunset, Gavrilo Princip, La chute de Cuba) and Jan Solheim (Hjertestop (The Oh My Godz, #1), Se mig! (Alberte i børnehave #6), En dum dag (Alberte i børnehave, #1) comes a crime story creeping out from the shadows, through the eyes of a woman caught in tragedy and despair. Wretched brings readers into the deepest, darkest parts of the human mind and the world of crime, a woman caught in the crossfire of drugs, mental distress, and abuse, and looking desperately for a way out. Wretched is one of the first books since Paru Itagaki’s Drip Drip that has struck a cord in me that most books don’t, and that specific feeling is dread and uncertainty.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s a way that you can tell a good story by how it makes you feel, how it can make you think, and how it is portrayed. This is the first time I have read Henrik Rehr and Jan Solheim’s work and I have to say I am impressed by Rehr’s script and Solheim’s art for Wretched. This story is a grim reminder of what people have experienced in their lives, whether it be a friend, or perhaps a loved one going through a rough time.
While I can’t go into real detail about the book due to the themes the Graphic Novel addresses, Jan Solheim’s linework was something that fitted perfectly for what story Rehr was trying to tell. Solheim’s art showed how chaotic drug and substance use and abuse can be, accompanied by a glimpse into mental distress with attempted suicide and murder. Aside from making readers think, it does offer other things to question the narrator, looking for clues in the illustrations that she is telling the truth or lying.
Wretched will be available to purchase at your local bookstore or e-retailer on December 31. You can order yours today on Amazon.
In the meantime, if you know someone going through distress, a medical crisis, substance problems, or having thoughts of suicide, here is a list of numbers you can call for help:
- Medical Emergency 911
- Suicide and Crisis Line 988
- Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
- Poison Help Hotline 1-800-222-1222
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-622-4357)
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Final Grade:
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