The world is a terrifying place for a victim of would-be murder after their miraculous survival. Knowing that there are people out there who went out of their way to attack and viciously maul you, when you never even knew they existed and could have gone your whole life happily never knowing they shared this mortal coil with you...well, the thought jars every second into sharp relief. There is no sense of security or ease or peace. There is only constant vigilance, and suspicion that the next attack will come from the charming young woman down the street, the college student at the gym, or the man in the coffee shop with the melodic voice.
This is Alice's life, and it has me spell-bound already. She has done everything she can think of to make her prepared for the next attack - which she clearly feels is inevitable. She is determined that next time, it won't be a miracle that she survives. Next time, she will live by choice and maybe even take her attacker down in the process. So when she is reached out to by Mister Tender after all these years, she doesn't shy away - though part of her wants to. A bigger part of her seems to feel that she is ready to meet him again. It's as though she is exhausted from the constant strain of being on guard and desperately needs the vigil to end. I think she knows that what she's doing isn't really living, and she can't start to live until Mister Tender is gone for good.
Mister Tender, for his part, is one of the most terrifying villains I have ever come across. A graphic novel character that reaches out and touches the minds of those strong in violence but weak in sense of self. People who want to put on the skin of something they know and identify with that gives guidance to their actions. Even an apparently harmless teenage girl can become a vicious predator when she puts on that mask. Worst of all, for Alice, Mister Tender could be anyone, everyone, and vanquishing one doesn't mean somebody else won't pick up the name and come after her again.
What a truly terrifying story! I have goosebumps and cannot wait to pick up the full book and read it - probably in one sitting.
This is Alice's life, and it has me spell-bound already. She has done everything she can think of to make her prepared for the next attack - which she clearly feels is inevitable. She is determined that next time, it won't be a miracle that she survives. Next time, she will live by choice and maybe even take her attacker down in the process. So when she is reached out to by Mister Tender after all these years, she doesn't shy away - though part of her wants to. A bigger part of her seems to feel that she is ready to meet him again. It's as though she is exhausted from the constant strain of being on guard and desperately needs the vigil to end. I think she knows that what she's doing isn't really living, and she can't start to live until Mister Tender is gone for good.
Mister Tender, for his part, is one of the most terrifying villains I have ever come across. A graphic novel character that reaches out and touches the minds of those strong in violence but weak in sense of self. People who want to put on the skin of something they know and identify with that gives guidance to their actions. Even an apparently harmless teenage girl can become a vicious predator when she puts on that mask. Worst of all, for Alice, Mister Tender could be anyone, everyone, and vanquishing one doesn't mean somebody else won't pick up the name and come after her again.
What a truly terrifying story! I have goosebumps and cannot wait to pick up the full book and read it - probably in one sitting.