It’s time to review The Glass Scientists Vol 1 by S. H. Cotugno, but first…

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Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: 5 Stars, Graphic Novels, Sci-fi/Fantasy

Reasons to read it: Beautiful art, a great twist on an old tale, and laugh-out-loud moments. 

Sometimes a book sneaks up on you.

Sometimes it’s thrown into your face. 

The Glass Scientists did both of those things. 

I have to admit something first… I didn’t look into the book when the publicist reached out to me. I clicked on the webcomic link and that was about it. I was too enamored by the reference to a previous blog of mine to really care. So, I had no idea what the plot was about. I didn’t know what to expect opening the first page. 

But it was meant to be.

With the fact that the story is a retelling, going in blind was the best case for everyone. There were no preconceived notions around the story of Jekyll and Hyde. Instead, I was surprised at Cotugno's fresh take on a very old story. Honestly, I love Cotugno’s take better anyway. The Glass Scientists is a great example of taking something that already exists and making it your own. All it takes is a bit of imagination… *and a little bit of pixie dust* The fresh take continues around Franekstien and the doctor. Contugno did a good job of making the story their own without stepping all over the original creature. 

Contugno also did a great job of letting the layers of the story peel away. There was a lot to digest at first, but Cotugno was able to show instead of tell – something even harder to do in a visual sense. It’s not as easy to allow a character to go off on a monologue around the creation of this or that. The writer has to rely on the dialogue and scenes to build up an entire backstory. As more of the layers in The Glass Scientists were peeled back, the more shock and awe the reader enjoyed. The foreshadowing started on the first page, keeping the reader on their toes before they even knew what was happening. 

Now for the art….

I didn’t skimp on checking out the art. Since reading Estranged, I’ve really gotten into the genre, but I’ve also gotten picky about the style. Some styles are an immediate no. They take more away from the story than add to it. For me, the art needs to be a third character. It’s the backdrop to the entire world. It’s the part of a story authors obsess over. There’s no exception when it comes to a graphic novel. In every way, it’s a million times harder. After visiting the webcomic for The Glass Scientists, I was ready. I only needed to see a few panels to know that I wasn’t going to have any problems jumping in. The colors are bright and vibrant. There’s an edge to the panels while also keeping the top layer more cozy than scary. All in all, I think that Cotungo did a perfect job. I spent a few more moments on each panel because we all know that I tend to skim and move on. 

As the trend of cozy continues, The Glass Scientists is definitely one that I would recommend. It’s the Ted Lasso of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde franchise. The story and the characters pick you up while also toeing the dark for those readers who like to live in the shadows. I’m already cursing the book gods for sending The Glass Scientists my way. 

When is Volume 2 coming out??? 

And who do I have to beg for a copy? 

Happy Reading.

Love,

Kait