DiSCONNECT

A touching story of two friends overcoming grief. Its a very stylized, and funky graphic novel. the art style reminds me of early 2000's punk zines. the way it visually depicts how the musicians sounds fit together is very interesting. Definitely worth the read.

Excellent debut. Great character designs and the depiction of the feeling of music is unique but immediately understandable.Very skilled meditation on grief and loss.

This book is an interesting and awesome read. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it to those who are looking for a quick meaningful read. The art is my favorite part of the book, incredibly unique.

Magnus Merlin’s new graphic novel is ostensibly about a cat and a frog recording some music over a weekend.To some comic authors, this would have been a silly little romp about recording contracts or a battle of the bands, but this is not that kind of story at all. Instead, it’s a deep look at friendship and coping with loss through shared trauma and music.Often, I get annoyed at comics with slow pacing but this is the exception to that rule. The wordless, musical jam sessions speak volumes more than paragraphs of words might. Comics are not always well suited for a story about musicians, besides the occasional biography of a rock star, but this really makes me believe that Magnus knows what it’s like to be in a band and trying to get your emotions out through playing rather than talking.The artwork seems deceptively simple at first with black and white line work? But it also develops its own visual language of colors and shapes to represent music rather than just musical notesThe anthropomorphic character designs help us get a sense of the characters archetypes without being distracting.At 156 pages it is impressive that there are so few characters. Mostly keeping the action to just the 2 or three protagonists to focus on their internal struggle rather than their outward adventures.The dialog leaves a lot unsaid. A less skilled author might have put “I’m sad, our friend died” but Merklin instead has created realistic organic conversations letting the reader infer what is going on with the characters. “Show it don’t tell it”The sobering subject matter might be able to help others confront their own relationships and comes to terms with real life loss.

DiSCONNECT Hardcover by Magnus Merklin - Author, ArtistPublisher: Black Panel PressVisuals and Style: The book is a hardcover, primarily printed in black and white, with occasional color pages. The use of anthropomorphic animal characters works surprisingly well within the narrative. What impressed me most was the unique way the book illustrates sound. Even though I am not a big music enthusiast, the abstract style and use of color effectively visualize the music being played, clearly showing when the sounds were "off the radius" from one or other of the characters. I loved the color and abstract style used for the sound backgrounds.Story Summary: The plot centers on three young musicians who once played incredible music together at a remote cabin. Following the tragic death of one of the friends, the two survivors reconnect for the first time after one year. They receive permission from the deceased friend's parents to stay at the same cabin for a week's vacation in exchange for fixing the leaking roof.Emotional Journey: The two remaining friends attempt to play music again with their drum set and guitar. They struggle to find their amazing sounds, a clear acknowledgment of how much they miss their best friend. The story follows their emotional journey through fights, crying, and conversations as they try to reconnect with their music and each other.I really enjoyed it even better than I expected. I love the color and abstract style in the sound background! The graphic novel, DiSCONNECT by Magnus Merklin, is a compelling read that exceeded my expectations.

A tale of music and friendship that really hits you in the feels. After reuniting to continue their music remnants of a tight band process their grief through creative process.

Such a clear, kind take on loss. I read it twice, it was so good. A modern, realistic, and honest look at friendship and grief. A fast read that makes you want to read slowly. Perfectly rendered.

This is an amazing story that follows the a couple band members meeting back up later in life to finish a track. I’ll be honest, the art style isn’t my favorite and can be confusing at times, but the story is great enough to keep you compelled and you still learn to love and feel for the characters. As a musician I enjoyed the way the book uses music to connect to the reader as well. My favorite part is the “soundtrack”. There are moments where the characters listen to songs. If you listen to them as you read it, it becomes almost diegetic. Worth a read! :)

This was a fun read. The art is unique and refreshing. Merklin did a really great job with book.

DiSCONNECT is a touching and emotional story about grief, friendship, and the creative process. It beautifully captures the emotional rollercoaster of losing someone close and trying to find healing through art and connection. The story felt heartfelt and sincere, and the themes really resonated with me. While the artwork wasn’t exactly to my personal taste, it still complemented the tone of the story well. Overall, a moving and thoughtful debut graphic novel.