School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up-Lone Sloane finds himself, as the title suggests, adrift in solitude after his spacecraft explodes. Where most people would surely have perished, Sloane survives, managing to evade the all-consuming black hole that has seemingly erased any vestiges of his craft. In its place a stone throne emerges, thus beginning the very trippy voyages of the title character. Druillet's oversize picture book is a psychedelic fantasy reminiscent of the "Bronze Age" of comics (1970-85). His use of worm's-eye perspective, warm colors, monochromatic patterns, and various shades of gray, black, and white capture Sloane's alternating position as the "hunted" and the "one touched by the King of Gods." Readers may find themselves confused by the bizarre surrealism of the illustrations, which occasionally might cause them to lose the story's focus. There isn't much revealed about the protagonist and how he came to be regarded as the sought after "living one," nor why he is a "loner" among his kin. Perhaps the answer to these questions and more will be found during subsequent voyages. VERDICT Recommended for older teens interested in sci-fi/fantasy graphic novels with a retro feel.-Tamela Chambers, Chicago Public Schools © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
First published in 1970, Lone Sloane fits into the genre of cosmic and mysticism-tinged science fiction comics that popped up everywhere at that time. The story follows a space traveler who is transformed by Lovecraftian multiversal gods beyond the comprehension of man, unfolding with a mix of mystical poetry and pulp adventure as Sloane tangles with traditional genre problems such as robots and pirates, as well as abstract, dimension-crossing doppelgangers. Recalling Jack Kirby's work, Druillet's visual universe is an expansive one that can overwhelm two-page spreads with mind-bending abstraction, seemingly impossible geometry, and graphic design elements offering unimaginable worlds and beings. The short story format gives the adventures more of a fable-like quality; they don't have much true narrative depth, but that, too, is part of the charm. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Celebrated French artist Druillet, cofounder of the influential magazine Metal Hurlant (which inspired the U.S. publication Heavy Metal), won a European science fiction award for this visually spectacular 1972 collection. Engagingly pulpy narration relates the adventures of human space explorer Sloane, who is trapped by alien entities and encounters unimaginably powerful cosmic gods while on an interstellar quest. Sloane's remote and indeterminate personality renders the stories less engaging than they could be, but the book's main draw is its astonishing, full-color depictions of extraterrestrial beings, technology, and architecture, complete with feverish baroque detail. -Druillet's human figures, panel-busting designs, and spreads are reminiscent of Jack Kirby's work on series such as New Gods and -Fantastic Four. Yet Druillet's art is sleeker and more art nouveau-esque, and his creatures and themes point toward another avowed early influence, H.P. Lovecraft. Previously published in English in 1973 and 1991, this hardcover edition features sharp, oversized reproduction that does justice to its incredible content. VERDICT A space opera of extraordinary visual splendor.-S.R. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
