Eden
by Script & art by Tomek Woroniak

Europe Comics
Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date 22 Apr 2020  

Description
Once upon a Christmas Eve, animals begin to talk. And they refuse to be muzzled again. Humans aren’t going to like what they have to say, and it isn’t long before the consequences of the animals’ newfound communication turn tragic. Not understanding their pets is no longer a valid excuse for ignorant masters, and shunning those who squeal and chirp ceases to be feasible. The tables are turned, and it’s up to humankind to deal with the situation. A smart, thought-provoking book that prompts readers to rethink their habits, and which stands as a superbly crafted, emotion-packed story.

REVIEW

I can’t say I enjoyed Eden. Too many of the elements did not work. It is overly long. The black and white art in parts is fantastic but also inconsistent. It would have benefited Woroniak
to have worked with an editor that could chop 20 or 30 pages from the novel.

Eden is set in a world where animals begin to talk and have taken over. I kind of fell at this hurdle. In terms of suspending my disbelief and falling into the world that the author created I just didn’t. I just don’t believe that with humanities violent capability that this would have happened.

Humans have been relegated to being an underclass, and there are hints that the new animal regime is rife with hypocrisy and abuse.

The themes of veganism, virtue signalling, tyranny, and, how to navigate a brave new world are all explored.

The dialogue is effective. It is in turns sharp and funny when it needs to be, and it also pulls on your heartstrings, especially in the scenes between Simon and his parents. I did a podcast about this book, and I was less harsh on it there but thinking about it now I don’t think I can recommend it. The good stuff in here is marred by cliché drug-taking scenes and a protagonist that is hard to root for because he is so passive.

Woroniak is a talented cartoonist, and I’d look forward to reading his future, but for me, this was a miss.