Review: Lower Your Sights
From Mad Cave Studios
This is a special anthology supporting Ukraine and in conjunction with Voices Of Children from Mad Cave Studios. I was able to read Lower Your Sights.
Mad Cave Studios and Voices Of Children have teamed up to publish Lower Your Sights, a graphic novel anthology, to raise awareness and proceeds for children impacted by war.
Comic creators and pin-up artists worldwide all came together to tell stories that focus on the consequences of war, the peace/relief effort, and the resulting long-term ripple effect. These are tales about the human condition and how combat affects soldiers, family members, friends, students, doctors, politicians, and allies from afar.
Earnings from the book’s sales are being donated to the Voices of Children foundation, to provide psychological, psychosocial, and evacuation assistance to Ukrainian children.
Cover Artists: J. G. Jones, Ryan Sook, Yev Haidamaka
Writers: Matt Kindt, Jim Zub, Rich Douek, Andy Eschenbach, Beck Kubrick, Bob Frantz & Kevin Cuffe, Brian Hawkins, Charlotte Balogh, Ellie Egleton, Ennun Ana Iurov, Eric Palicki, Gabe Valentin, Jarred Luján, Joe Corallo, Jonathan Hedrick, Justin Richards, Lela Gwenn, Matt Harding, Matthew Clark, Matthew Dow Smith, Sem Chyhlintsev, Shane Patrick White, Shane Roeschlein, Tim Daniel & DB Andry
Artists: Richard Pace, Justin Greenwood, Dave Chisholm, Matt & Sharlene Kindt, Liana Kangas, John K Snyder III, Alejandro Rosado, Alex Moore, Andi Santagata, Andriy Lukin, Anna Papadopoulou, Beck Kubrick, Bryan SilverBax, Chas! Pangburn, Dani Weires, Ellie Wright, Ennun Ana Iurov, Francine Delgado, Frank Cvetkovic, Gab Contreras, Gabo Elías, Ignacio Di Meglio, Irlander Romero, Joe Hunter, Josh Jensen, Justin Birch, Kateryna Kosheleva, Kote Carvajal, LetterSquids, Lucas Gattoni, Marissa Louise, Matt Harding, Matthew Clark, Matt Krotzer, Micah Myers, Nicky Noons, Patrick Brosseau, Richard Pace, Ryan Odagawa, Sean Dicker, Sean Von Gorman, Sofiia Lyt, Shane Patrick White, Sierra Barnes, Stelladia, Taylor Esposito, Tim Daniel
Ukrainian Creators: Yev Haidamaka, Inna Vjuzhanina, Tanya Vovk, Anastacia, Andriy Lukin, Andy Ivanov, Art Studio Agrafka, Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, Gexis, Iryna Babenko, Iryna Potapenko, Kateryna Kosheleva, Mari Kinovych, Marta Koshulinska, Mikhail Dunakovskiy, Nina Dzyvulska, Olena Dziura, Polina Khrystoieva, Sem Chyhlintsev, Sofiia Lyt, Yana Strunina
Editor: Chas! Pangburn
It’s difficult to say, with a subject such as this, that I enjoyed reading this. What I would say is I was engrossed. Once I picked up this unique anthology, I didn’t put it down.
Yes, there are some challenging reads here, but I think that is the right decision. The situation in Ukraine is difficult, and there is a lot to take in - even just by watching what is happening on the news. What this anthology does is give some different points of view. There are some historical facts, as well as some more up-to-date items.
There are stories set in the future that look to the past. Some of the stories teach you the region's history (some I was unaware of), and others look at the now. Each one fits into this anthology well, and they all have their own special storyline beats. Many caused me to pause and think, and this is how stories such as these can work.
Throughout the book, there are different art styles. Some are darker and rougher, while others are more cartoony. I like all the choices within, and the mix makes the reading aspect easier as you change gears.
You get a feeling of hope once you have finished it.
There are 22 stories within, each with its feel and different art.