Age of Reptiles Omnibus, Volume 1 by Ricardo Delgado is an expressive and talkative wordless graphic novel. However, things were a smidgen repetitive by the final section/chapter as we follow several different species, but all have similar needs and actions. I recommend not reading any of the introductions until after finishing if you are an adult (and since I do not see kids reading them I do not think this will be an issue) as they can, even subconsciously, tell you how you will and/or should feel about things. I skimmed most of the extras and did not read the essays included at the end. These things could be important if you want to see the “entire picture” and process of Delgado, but they are not necessarily needed if you are just looking for a casual read. Though the bonus cover art and sketchbook should be looked at as that process of change and the covers of the issues collected in this edition are just neat.
The art of the actual story is perfect for setting the mood of the scene, or overall tone. There is violence, as after all the reptiles we follow are mostly meat eaters and sometimes animals have accidents, but it is not gratuitously done. What we get is just showing that the reptiles have to eat and have to defend themselves. What is there is nothing we would not see in a nature show of today, and since it is drawn and not realistic, we are taken out of the immediate intensity. My two favorite scenes are first, where the flying reptile is slicing into the clouds. Had this been a movie, as one introduction says it could be, I would expect you to see it coming out the other side, with little to no cloud disturbance (or if it had been more science fiction/fantasy you would enter another world on the other side). The second one is where two sea creatures are dead on the beach with their telling, but seemingly small details, showing. Such as the seemingly aggressor still has its prey in its mouth (the other creature) and both are at least shark to whale sized; as well as one of its fins partly covered by sand peeking out after the body, disappearing and then showing again. Plus even the waves rolling and crashing in the backdrop are causally there, but setting the scene.
I picked up this book on a pure whim at my library. It was beat up and frankly, looked unappetizing. Yet, I had this odd feeling where my inner reading squirrel was telling me to read it. Worse case I didn’t like it and wouldn’t finish. It never occurred to me that it was wordless or would be such an interesting and emotional read. It almost is not for kids, but since there are the layers of “surface story” and a “deeper story” it is good for almost anyone.
by Ricardo Delgado is an expressive and talkative wordless graphic novel. However, things were a smidgen repetitive by the final section/chapter as we follow several different species, but all have similar needs and actions. I recommend not reading any of the introductions until after finishing if you are an adult (and since I do not see kids reading them I do not think this will be an issue) as they can, even subconsciously, tell you how you will and/or should feel about things. I skimmed most of the extras and did not read the essays included at the end. These things could be important if you want to see the “entire picture” and process of Delgado, but they are not necessarily needed if you are just looking for a casual read. Though the bonus cover art and sketchbook should be looked at as that process of change and the covers of the issues collected in this edition are just neat.
The art of the actual story is perfect for setting the mood of the scene, or overall tone. There is violence, as after all the reptiles we follow are mostly meat eaters and sometimes animals have accidents, but it is not gratuitously done. What we get is just showing that the reptiles have to eat and have to defend themselves. What is there is nothing we would not see in a nature show of today, and since it is drawn and not realistic, we are taken out of the immediate intensity. My two favorite scenes are first, where the flying reptile is slicing into the clouds. Had this been a movie, as one introduction says it could be, I would expect you to see it coming out the other side, with little to no cloud disturbance (or if it had been more science fiction/fantasy you would enter another world on the other side). The second one is where two sea creatures are dead on the beach with their telling, but seemingly small details, showing. Such as the seemingly aggressor still has its prey in its mouth (the other creature) and both are at least shark to whale sized; as well as one of its fins partly covered by sand peeking out after the body, disappearing and then showing again. Plus even the waves rolling and crashing in the backdrop are causally there, but setting the scene.
I picked up this book on a pure whim at my library. It was beat up and frankly, looked unappetizing. Yet, I had this odd feeling where my inner reading squirrel was telling me to read it. Worse case I didn’t like it and wouldn’t finish. It never occurred to me that it was wordless or would be such an interesting and emotional read. It almost is not for kids, but since there are the layers of “surface story” and a “deeper story” it is good for almost anyone. 
