Metal Angel: Five Graphic Novellas by Felix Carrion
What's It About?
"Metal Angel- Five Graphic Novellas" is a collection of short graphic novels that are more like intimate reveries, ideas that have circulated in the mind of the artist/author for years. More than ever these stories find relevance in and refer to present day situations, problems that affect the person day to day and a society over the course of history but in a fantastical way.When people think of graphic novels, they often associate the genre with flashy superhero comics or children’s stories. And while these types of titles also have their place in the world of graphic novels, they’re not the only ones. Oftentimes, graphic novels are far more profound than the public gives them credit for — and Felix Carrión‘s Metal Angel is one such example. This book contains five illustrated novellas that are sure to provoke deep thought. Little wonder, when this collection consists of ideas that have circulated in the mind of the creator for years.
Tackles the Difficult and Profound
Described as a “collection of short graphic novels that are more like intimate reveries,” Metal Angel strives to tackle the difficult and the profound alike. The author entreats readers to take their time with each graphic novella, taking in each story’s symbolism and deeper meaning.
In Three Men Out, a man encounters violence on his walk through a city, thinking of his family and his life even as he knows that death is his companion.
In Children Rising, Carrión depicts the intricacies of an apocalypse as children join to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, and what that means for the future of the world they strive to save.
In Visitor On the Boxcar, time travel gives two strangers the opportunity to cross the divides of history, and provides one young man with a tool from the future to change the events of the past.
In Elders Emerging, a journalist attempts to cover the endless wars and conflicts from where he’s become trapped in his hotel room — only to witness unidentified ships appearing across the entire planet. The world assumes that these powerful entities are aliens, come to take over the world — but sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction.
The last story, Metal Angel, is one Carrión describes as being partially autobiographical. He depicts a young girl who is terrified of the outside world, and retreats into herself to rely on her own imagination for her own happiness. That fantasy world keeps her spirit alive when all seems lost and ends up saving her in a far more literal way than anyone could have predicted.
Striking Images and Carefully Selected Text
With striking black-and-white images and sparse, carefully chosen text, Metal Angel succinctly depicts issues of war, violence and struggle that are all too relevant to the modern-day reader. Even with the added fantastical element, the stories are sure to resonate with us and remind us of the real-world problems we face.
And it’s exactly that relatability that Carrión has worked so hard to depict — what he’s spent years ruminating on, honing his stories for maximum effectiveness and poignancy. The novellas transform into visual statements, reflecting our own experiences and lives back at us for us to contend with our existence. For a powerful, deeply personal selection of stories, look no further than Metal Angel. Take the author’s invitation to take your time and sit with each story — you never know what you might discover about yourself and the world around you.