Odd Is on Our Side (Graphic Novel)

Dean Koontz' "Odd Thomas" is a wonderful character brought to life in a series of text-only novels. This graphic novel is an excellent new view of him. The story is solid, the artwork is great. Recommended!

I made the mistake of not reading the review first and just bought the e-book based on the author. What a HUGE disappointment. I did not realize what type of book it was never having read graphic novels before. Being new to Kindle I did not know there was a 7 day return policy. Be sure to read reviews first. They are very helpful.

Didn't realize I was purchasing a comic book: just assumed it was another Dean Koontz novel of the 'Odd Thomas' series. I guess face value isn't face value when it comes to e-books. Graphics are too small for my 67 year-old eyes to read without straining. Feel like I've been duped on this one. Too bad, because I just received my Kindle in the mail today and "Odd Is On Our Side" was my first book ordered. The old axiom of 'live and learn' rears its ugly head on this one...

Like many others, I see Dean Koontz and Odd Thomas and I "one-click" without reading reviews. I don't like "graphic novels" (comic books), even if I COULD read it on my kindle, which I can't. I think the biggest disappointment was the fact they did not advertise it as a graphic novel, taking advantage of gullible fans like me.

Sorry, Dean, I feel sad and violated.

I didn't really realize what a "graphic novel" was, I guess. In case you also are a little unclear, it is basically a comic book. The best part of it was at the end, when they give you a few chapters of preview of an actual book, which I had already read. I felt ripped off with a 15 minute read at the same price of a real book. I found it pretty unsatisfying for a hard core reader.

I rarely read reviews because I like to judge for myself, and never have written a review. However, in this case I wish I had read them. This is the most disappointing book I have ever started. I will not finish. If I wanted a comic book, I would buy one. Save your money. This is a huge rip off.

I love Dean Koontz books, but was disappointed that this was more like a comic book than his usual. I read it because I like the Odd Thomas books. If I knew it wasn't the regular novel I wouldn't have purchased it.

Having read and loved all four Odd Thomas novels, I was excited to get a copy of the graphic novel, ODD IS ON OUR SIDE by Dean Koontz, from the store Vine. I've never read a graphic novel, so this was a new experience. It was a good story, and interesting to read in comic book form, but it really is nothing more than an afterthought. The story has no subplot, character development or depth.

Odd is a twenty-something fry cook in Pico Mundo, California. He has the unique talent of seeing dead people and easing them into the other side. Often the dead appear and ask him to help him right a wrong. Also, Odd sees bodachs. They are mysterious, black ghost-like creatures that usually appear when something bad is about to happen.

When many bodachs appear around a Halloween festival, Odd investigates because he knows something must be wrong. Then he sees a young girl covered in a bed sheet and realizes she's dead, and holds up a sign that says "Save Me."

That's really all the plot you need to know, because it really isn't much more substantial than that. I read the book in about 40 minutes. It is fleeting and really adds nothing to the Odd Thomas canon. In fact, this book seems to be set before any of the books were written. While I'm always glad to read more Odd Thomas adventures, I hope the next will come in novel length form.

A definite departure from typical Koontz fiction, the Odd series of graphic novels have confused a lot of fans of the author. To Koontz fans I urge you to remember that this is a book for teens, and thus is totally different from his typical novels. As a stand alone graphic novel I think it is actually quite good!

Its a graphic novel, and a really quick and exciting read. The story is interesting and ends with a bit of a twist that I wasn't expecting. From what I know, the Odd series has quite a fan following among teens, and it is easy to see why. The story is about young adults and the books are a breeze to read. I think that this series would be a great way to get teens excited about reading. The graphic side of the book is interesting and well drawn. There doesn't seem to be a lot of hidden imagery or symbolism going on here, its just your basic graphic representation of what is going on. Overall a really fun read, if you know what you should be expecting!

Odd Thomas is introduced to a new group of readers in this graphic novel based on the Dean Koontz character. For those of you unfamiliar with "graphic novels" stop and take a look before buying this. It is basically a comic book. But manga is so much more than a comic book, and if you don't appreciate this, then this will not be the book for you.

The book is illustrated by Queenie Chan, a Hong Kong born manga artist who lives in Australia. She is quite well known in manga circles and has a distinctive artistic style. She becomes involved in manga projects for her interest in the story and her role in its telling.

The story is written by Fred Van Lente and Dean Koontz. The reader will become aware of Koontz characters being written by someone else soon into the reading. If you've read any of Koontz' Odd Thomas novels, then you are already familiar with Odd. This is a prequel, and Odd is younger than he is in the novels. The characters are fairly well written, and include Odd, his girlfriend Stormy Llewellyn. There are quite a few assorted ancillary characters who make appearances in other Odd Thomas books.

The story is a fairly simple one, involving disappearing children, Halloween, and maybe some poison. Included along the way are some ghosty characters, seen only by Odd.

This book is classic Koontz. It is in a completely different format than most readers are accustomed to, or I dare say, even interested in. Beware before you buy! But for young readers, reluctant readers, anyone with a short attention span, lovers of the supernatural, or manga fans, this is a well written, well illustrated book.

***I read the paperback version, and the font and pics are of typical size. My understanding is that the Kindle version may be more difficult to read.

This graphic novel was a huge dissapointment; short and bittersweet and only sweet because of the art. I got it because of the Koontz name but really it doesn't lend itself to the graphic-novel format in this edition.This is the second graphic-novel for the character Odd Thomas but it lacks a punch.I think it takes more than ghosts and goblins and Elvis Presley running around Pico Mundo, Cali to create an engrossing story;his partner Stormy Llewellyn helps with solving the ghostly problems and her character adds to the mostly lacking intensity of the graphic-novel. The actual drawings are pretty good and one of the saving graces of this venture into mass produced media for all. In the end I would recommend reading one of his books like the Odd Interlude trilgyOdd Interlude #1 (An Odd Thomas Story) Odd Interlude #2 (An Odd Thomas Story) Odd Interlude #3 (An Odd Thomas Story) and let your imagination draw the pictures in your mind.

I generally don't read graphic novels, so keep that in mind as I attempt to rate one...

Dean Koontz has written a series of novels about Odd Thomas, and this graphic novel is a prequel to those. While I prefer and liked the novels better, I thought this book was entertaining, and quick and easy to read; a good book to pass the time during a stint in a doctor's waiting room, for example. I read it with one of my young kids during such a visit, and she seemed to like the story and asked me to finish it for her once we got home.

The story isn't as dark as the novels, and feels more like a Saturday morning cartoon. The characterization isn't really consistent with the novels either. In the novels, Odd Thomas and his girlfriend Stormy are, well, odd. In this graphic novel, they seem too popular and outgoing, more like Fred and Daphne from Scooby Do cartoons than the quirky characters they are in the novels. Stormy comes across sort of silly at times too, which is NOT the way her character is in the series of novels.

Nonetheless, the story is entertaining for both adults and kids -- especially when you read it together -- and though I'm not a big fan of graphic novels, I did enjoy myself while reading this one, and have lent it out to friends and family.

This is the second Odd Thomas manga graphic novel in the series. They don't really build on each other, or at least the first two don't, so reading In Odd We Trust isn't really necessary (though it was good as well), but you should definitely read Odd Thomas (the first novel) before entering here. Although this is technically a prequel to that story (as denoted by the presence of characters who die in the first novel), the characters are all introduced and forged in that book better than they can be here by simple nature of the medium.

In this installment, it's Halloween in Pico Mundo and Odd has a nagging sense of impending catastrophe. It's just a feeling, nothing more....until he sees one of the fleeting demons he calls bodachs, living shadows that seem to thrive on catastrophe and suffering. A single bodach is bad, but a whole swarm? That heralds destruction on a biblical scale....and unknown to Odd, there are a lot more in town than the one he's spotted....

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed all of the Brother Odd books by Dean Koontz, so I was curious about this little graphic novel. I have to say I was not disappointed. The story line they chose occurs at Halloween and is true to the first Odd Thomas book. I think teens who read graphic novels will like this book and buy it. I highly recommend all of the Brother Odd books for those who want more of the young frycook who sees dead people: Brother Odd (Odd Thomas Novels),Odd Hours (Odd Thomas Series), and Forever Odd (Odd Thomas Novels).

I loved the black and white art which was great. It was fun seeing faces put to Odd Thomas, Stormy, Ozzie and even the spooky, dark spirts called Bodachs. The artists did a superb job.

My only complaint was the brevity of the book. I think 10 or 15 more pages would have benefited the story greatly. But overall, I was not disappointed and plan to pass my copy on to my 14 year old grandson who enjoys graphic novels. I hope to see more of this series made into graphic novels.

Think of The Sixth Sense drawn in Manga. Odd sees spirits of the dead who appear to warn of some impending trouble, or linger for reasons of unresolved business. When he sees Bodachs on Halloween, shadowy wisps that fly off in directions, he knows it's a sign of trouble.

Odd is On Our Side is a graphic novel, with some behind the scenes write-up on the Odd novels, and the illustrator's sketches to come up with some of the characters. For a young-adult readership, it seems to tame the material, though there is some gun violence that makes me wonder if it's intended for an older audience. The story and style work together, with some depth of technique and story craft, though not a very involved narrative. Just a simple episode, like a Saturday morning comic, compared to a summer blockbuster movie.

Halloween in Pico Mundo, California has fry cook Odd Thomas concerned as he fears there is much more afoot than just trick or treaters. Something does not feel right; which is odd for a person who communicates with Elvis and helps restless spirits with their needs before they move onto their next resting spot.

As Odd struggles with his gut insisting that something evil is coming and his spiritual advisor Elvis unable to help him, he turns to girlfriend, Stormy Llewellyn. She encourages him with her at his side to investigate the horde of bodachs appearing; always an omen of a horrific event to come shortly.

The second graphic comic rendition of an Odd Thomas novel (See In Odd We Trust) is an engaging entry but lacks the freshness of the original tales as fans already know what occurs to whom. Still the illustrations by Queenie Chan are fun to follow for readers who will compare her version to our imagination; as in my mind she captures Thomas' essence and somewhat Stormy, but Elvis still needs to be found. The story line is entertaining but is no match to the novel while the addition of twenty odd additional pages following the story seems more like padding. The apparent targeted young newcomers will enjoy Odd is On Our Side.

Harriet Klausner

Odd is on Our Side introduces us to the legendary Bodachs and an interesting mystery. This Halloween looks like it'll be on everyone will remember! Plenty of excitement with bombs, parties, and murder! It looks like Odd will have plenty of help though from his friends and even an unexpected spirit. I loved the witty banter between Stormy and Odd.

Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series is renowned for its plucky and rather innocent main character, his totally unexplained talent in a totally unexplained paranormal environ, and the storylines of the Odd Thomas novels, which are a good mix of gumshoe mystery and the otherworldy evil that he skirts alongside but rarely confronts directly.

None of these fanstastic plot devices are present in this rather blatant filler plot line of Odd's premonition concerning the upcoming Halloween festival. There is decent artwork, and appearances of some of the supporting characters taht're good enough to reinforce your perception of what they are supposed to look like rather than annoying you for being so off the mark.

Overall, this is not worth the read, much less the purchase. They could've continued alogn their previous vein of makingthe novels into mangas, but for whatever reason they decided that taking a mediocre plot and painting it in Odd Thomas colors would help it carry through. Most disappointing of all (spoiler alert), the plot twist hinges on a 21 year old man who's a bordeline private detective not realizing a 68 year old woman is in fact a 55 year old man. Weak, weak, weak.

I havent read the first novel in the graphic series but have read the entire adult series so I was familiar with the story line. The graphic novel was fast paced and not confusing like I find most graphic novels. The artwork was top notch. Odd is trying to figure out why he sees so many bodachs and uses his abilities to figure out which ghost needs his help this time. I emjoyed this story and will be buying it for my cousin since I got him into the first. Great book for teen boys!

Just in time for Halloween in Pico Mundo, we have a graphical novel by Dean Koontz and Fred Van Lente. The illustrations are spectacular and hit the nail on the head for how I would depict Odd, Bronwen (Stormy Llewelyn) and those nasty Bodachs. It is chalked full of all of the great stuff you have come to expect in a "Odd" book and more. If you are a fan of Odd Thomas, you will love this and want to add it to your collection. Even if you are not a fan, you can not go wrong with having this little gem around Halloween. The illustrations are done by Queenie Chan and really bring the characters to life.

Dean Koontz books are generally pretty interesting, but as a graphic novel it really didn't do much for me. The artwork wasn't true manga (which I generally don't read) but more like a hybrid.

I suppose if you really like the Odd series, you might overlook the shortcomings of this book (or maybe not). I'd probably not recommend this book.