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Hardears

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Barbadian folklore meets superheroes in this Afro-Caribbean fantasy adventure story—now in paperback
Hardears is an Afro-Caribbean fantasy adventure graphic novel by Matthew Clarke and Nigel Lynch. The story takes place in an alternative world on Jouvert Island—a magical analog of the island of Barbados, and begins when a superstorm of unprecedented strength obliterates the island, leaving it totally defenseless.
As the island reels from the devastation, Mr. Hardin, the head of the Merchant Guild, charges in and promises to rebuild the economy of the island by creating jobs in his giant corporation. However, it's soon discovered that Hardin is a parasite and is capturing people from the island and using their life essence, or vibes,to feed his factories.
Bolo, a local hero, saves his love Zahrah from Hardin and his cronies, but the lovers are then framed as rebels against the state. The state has been compromised by the factories, and the workers who know the truth about Hardin must go into hiding. If Bolo, Zahrah, and their allies don't take down Hardin and the corrupt government, all will be lost. Together, they must find the strength of their island and ancestors to fight the evil forces that have taken over their homeland.
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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from April 5, 2021
      Lynch and Clarke (Life & Death in Paradise) reunite in this spellbinding fantasy adventure. On Jouvert Island, a setting-as-character that pops off the page, lives a man of great vibes called Bolo. When his home is devastated by a hurricane, the sinister Mr. Harding rushes in to exploit the tragedy, with his massive factory that offers the only jobs left. Bolo’s love interest Zhara gets swept up in Harding’s plot, and it’s up to the pair to stop Mr. Harding from draining the island dry. The lore, magic, and history of Clarke and Lynch’s realm render it immersive, fanciful, complex, and deeply Caribbean. Instead of allowing any singular character to shine, they convey the shaking of a community, which explores all aspects of a traumatized society. Hypocrisies are pointed out and the ending is not a neat happily ever after, thus staying true to the overarching social commentary. All this is only heightened by Clarke’s dramatic art, which frequently employs larger-than-life splash pages, creating a palpable atmosphere. The spectacle carries the staying power of a bona fide folktale.

    • Booklist

      April 15, 2021
      After an unprecedented hurricane forms in the Caribbean, Jouvert Island is left in ruins. Mysterious industrial magnate Mr. Harding comes to the rescue, offering to employ the citizens in his business. However, it soon becomes evident that Mr. Harding's intentions are not altruistic, and the inhabitants of the island work together to regain control of their environment. The fictional setting, created by Clarke and Lynch, is governed by guilds that represent various humans and mythological creatures, working simultaneously on world building and evoking atmosphere, with Caribbean folklore as the basis for many of the characters. The illustrations are detailed, both for figures and setting, evoking superhero comics through the level of action conveyed, and the vibrant colors are perfect for the tropical setting. At the beginning, a guide to the numerous characters helps with identity and background, and the book concludes with an academic afterword on Caribbean comics. Fans of Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings may eagerly embrace the politics and interactions between the various races of the Hardears Islands.

      COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Library Journal

      December 3, 2021

      Drawing from Barbadian folklore and customs, Clarke (Heart Man) and Lynch (Life & Death in Paradise) spin a lush Afrofuturist fantasy about multi-species heroes foiling an evil industrialist named Mr. Harding, who is the offspring of a human plantation owner and a soucouyant (a shapeshifting being who sucks life essences from others). The unscrupulous Harding uses his robotic military forces to exploit Jouvert and its neighboring islands of the Hardears archipelago. It's up to lovers Bolo and Zhara to persuade other humans and a variety of jumbees (supernatural beings) to set aside their squabbles and destroy Harding. Humanoid hurricanes, flying trucks and buses powered by gargantuan sea creatures, and giant ships driven by tuk bands load the story with whimsical surprises. The novel's odd but satisfyingly down-to earth ending leaves this confection more solid than it appears. Clarke's spectacular hyper-colored artwork renders characters true-to-life and robust, whether pitched into a swamp of bird droppings or hovering over an attacking robot. An afterword from scholar Cathy Thomas (Caribbean and Black diaspora literature, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara) provides cultural context. VERDICT With outstanding worldbuilding, this immersive, unusual adventure will charm fans of the fantastic, leavened with realistic social commentary.

      Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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