The Griff
Stereotypes, muddled story sink alien-invader graphic novel.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this graphic novel is set in the wake of an alien invasion in which most of the planet's human population has been wiped out. The surviving characters fight off griffin-like dragons, resulting in much gunplay and explosions, though no human blood or casualties are shown.
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What's the Story?
After an ancient beacon leads a gigantic alien spaceship to Earth, griffin-like dragons destroy the planet's defensive infrastructures and wipe out most of the human population. Two survivors, a skater-punk, and a sexy Goth game designer, travel from New York to Orlando, where they team up with a killer whale trainer and a buff commando-type. This unlikely quartet struggles to unveil the secret behind the invasion and find a ray of hope for humanity.
Is It Any Good?
The choreography of the action sequences rarely makes sense, the dialogue sounds strained, and the characters are one-note stereotypes. Christopher Moore is an accomplished satirical novelist (Bite Me, Lamb, The Stupidest Angel), but he and his collaborator, screenwriter-director Ian Corson, display no facility for comics scripting in this muddled, unfunny, annoying graphic novel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what life might be like after a major catastrophe. What supplies would be required after a disaster, such as an earthquake or tsunami?
How does the book portray the use of guns and other weapons? Are they the most important factor in the war against the griff?
How is telling an action-filled story in a graphic novel different from one told in conventional chapters? Which one do you like better?
Book Details
- Authors: Christopher Moore, Ian Corson
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: William Morrow
- Publication date: July 19, 2011
- Number of pages: 160
- Last updated: September 22, 2015
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