Categories: Literature

Book Review: Scott Pilgrim

Review by: Mia Herrera

For those of you who haven’t yet heard of Scott Pilgrim, you’re hearing about him now: Scott Pilgrim, written by Bryan Lee O’Malley, is the hero of the hippest, coolest graphic novel series out there at the moment.

The Scott Pilgrim series is a five (soon to be six) book set featuring a 23-year-old man-boy (he hasn’t matured just yet) living in downtown Toronto. Early in the series Scott falls in love with the mysterious Ramona Flowers – a girl with a lot of baggage (seven evil exes aiming to kill Ramona’s next boyfriend, to be exact). In order for Scott to officially date Ramona, he must grow up and assume the responsibility of a fully functioning adult in addition to defeating Ramona’s evil exes.

If the plot sounds wacky, that’s because it is. Scott Pilgrim is a fantastic blend of coming-of-age angst, heart-tingly romance and wry comedy. And don’t worry, boys, despite the plot’s various love triangles, Scott Pilgrim is not for girls only. The series can certainly appeal to readers of all ages and types. Add to the mix guitar-chord illustrated soundtacks, cooking instructions, and references to Scott’s development in video game fashion and you have one amazing comic.

It’s questionable whether many authors can pull off the hodgepodge found in the Pilgrim series, but O’Malley definitely does. The books are good for an easy, amusing read or an in-depth exploration of image and word. Images are detailed and precise despite the seemingly simplified character illustrations, and Scott’s life is rife with meaning for transitioning teens and adults. On top of all that, the books are especially intriguing with familiar references to the hometown we know and love (Yes, you will get a thrill from hearing that Ramona works for Amazon.CA not .com, that Scott’s sister works at Second Cup, or that Scott fights someone in Honest Eds). I personally find it extremely refreshing to encounter a popular novel based in a Canadian setting.

If my extremely positive review hasn’t yet convinced you of Scott Pilgrim’s greatness, even the big wigs at Universal Studios have jumped onto the Pilgrim band wagon. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is currently in production and filming in our very own downtown Toronto, to be released in 2010. The movie, directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), stars Michael Cera as Scott (Superbad, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Also a Canadian, in case you didn’t know) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona (Samara from the Ring 2. Except in this movie she’s super hot instead of scary). Universal’s option of the series basically means that if you think Pilgrim is big now, it’ll be even bigger in a year or two.

If you’re just hearing of him now, don’t forget to let everyone know where you heard about him first! When everyone’s talking about it down the road, you can say that you heard about it ages ago right here on Live in Limbo.

Review by: Mia Herrera

For those of you who haven’t yet heard of Scott Pilgrim, you’re hearing about him now: Scott Pilgrim, written by Bryan Lee O’Malley, is the hero of the hippest, coolest graphic novel series out there at the moment.

The Scott Pilgrim series is a five (soon to be six) book set featuring a 23-year-old man-boy (he hasn’t matured just yet) living in downtown Toronto. Early in the series Scott falls in love with the mysterious Ramona Flowers – a girl with a lot of baggage (seven evil exes aiming to kill Ramona’s next boyfriend, to be exact). In order for Scott to officially date Ramona, he must grow up and assume the responsibility of a fully functioning adult in addition to defeating Ramona’s evil exes.

If the plot sounds wacky, that’s because it is. Scott Pilgrim is a fantastic blend of coming-of-age angst, heart-tingly romance and wry comedy. And don’t worry, boys, despite the plot’s various love triangles, Scott Pilgrim is not for girls only. The series can certainly appeal to readers of all ages and types. Add to the mix guitar-chord illustrated soundtacks, cooking instructions, and references to Scott’s development in video game fashion and you have one amazing comic.

It’s questionable whether many authors can pull off the hodgepodge found in the Pilgrim series, but O’Malley definitely does. The books are good for an easy, amusing read or an in-depth exploration of image and word. Images are detailed and precise despite the seemingly simplified character illustrations, and Scott’s life is rife with meaning for transitioning teens and adults. On top of all that, the books are especially intriguing with familiar references to the hometown we know and love (Yes, you will get a thrill from hearing that Ramona works for Amazon.CA not .com, that Scott’s sister works at Second Cup, or that Scott fights someone in Honest Eds). I personally find it extremely refreshing to encounter a popular novel based in a Canadian setting.

If my extremely positive review hasn’t yet convinced you of Scott Pilgrim’s greatness, even the big wigs at Universal Studios have jumped onto the Pilgrim band wagon. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is currently in production and filming in our very own downtown Toronto, to be released in 2010. The movie, directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), stars Michael Cera as Scott (Superbad, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Also a Canadian, in case you didn’t know) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona (Samara from the Ring 2. Except in this movie she’s super hot instead of scary). Universal’s option of the series basically means that if you think Pilgrim is big now, it’ll be even bigger in a year or two.

If you’re just hearing of him now, don’t forget to let everyone know where you heard about him first! When everyone’s talking about it down the road, you can say that you heard about it ages ago right here on Live in Limbo.

Review by: Mia Herrera

For those of you who haven’t yet heard of Scott Pilgrim, you’re hearing about him now: Scott Pilgrim, written by Bryan Lee O’Malley, is the hero of the hippest, coolest graphic novel series out there at the moment.

The Scott Pilgrim series is a five (soon to be six) book set featuring a 23-year-old man-boy (he hasn’t matured just yet) living in downtown Toronto. Early in the series Scott falls in love with the mysterious Ramona Flowers – a girl with a lot of baggage (seven evil exes aiming to kill Ramona’s next boyfriend, to be exact). In order for Scott to officially date Ramona, he must grow up and assume the responsibility of a fully functioning adult in addition to defeating Ramona’s evil exes.

If the plot sounds wacky, that’s because it is. Scott Pilgrim is a fantastic blend of coming-of-age angst, heart-tingly romance and wry comedy. And don’t worry, boys, despite the plot’s various love triangles, Scott Pilgrim is not for girls only. The series can certainly appeal to readers of all ages and types. Add to the mix guitar-chord illustrated soundtacks, cooking instructions, and references to Scott’s development in video game fashion and you have one amazing comic.

It’s questionable whether many authors can pull off the hodgepodge found in the Pilgrim series, but O’Malley definitely does. The books are good for an easy, amusing read or an in-depth exploration of image and word. Images are detailed and precise despite the seemingly simplified character illustrations, and Scott’s life is rife with meaning for transitioning teens and adults. On top of all that, the books are especially intriguing with familiar references to the hometown we know and love (Yes, you will get a thrill from hearing that Ramona works for Amazon.CA not .com, that Scott’s sister works at Second Cup, or that Scott fights someone in Honest Eds). I personally find it extremely refreshing to encounter a popular novel based in a Canadian setting.

If my extremely positive review hasn’t yet convinced you of Scott Pilgrim’s greatness, even the big wigs at Universal Studios have jumped onto the Pilgrim band wagon. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is currently in production and filming in our very own downtown Toronto, to be released in 2010. The movie, directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), stars Michael Cera as Scott (Superbad, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Also a Canadian, in case you didn’t know) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona (Samara from the Ring 2. Except in this movie she’s super hot instead of scary). Universal’s option of the series basically means that if you think Pilgrim is big now, it’ll be even bigger in a year or two.

If you’re just hearing of him now, don’t forget to let everyone know where you heard about him first! When everyone’s talking about it down the road, you can say that you heard about it ages ago right here on Live in Limbo.

Review by: Mia Herrera

For those of you who haven’t yet heard of Scott Pilgrim, you’re hearing about him now: Scott Pilgrim, written by Bryan Lee O’Malley, is the hero of the hippest, coolest graphic novel series out there at the moment.

The Scott Pilgrim series is a five (soon to be six) book set featuring a 23-year-old man-boy (he hasn’t matured just yet) living in downtown Toronto. Early in the series Scott falls in love with the mysterious Ramona Flowers – a girl with a lot of baggage (seven evil exes aiming to kill Ramona’s next boyfriend, to be exact). In order for Scott to officially date Ramona, he must grow up and assume the responsibility of a fully functioning adult in addition to defeating Ramona’s evil exes.

If the plot sounds wacky, that’s because it is. Scott Pilgrim is a fantastic blend of coming-of-age angst, heart-tingly romance and wry comedy. And don’t worry, boys, despite the plot’s various love triangles, Scott Pilgrim is not for girls only. The series can certainly appeal to readers of all ages and types. Add to the mix guitar-chord illustrated soundtacks, cooking instructions, and references to Scott’s development in video game fashion and you have one amazing comic.

It’s questionable whether many authors can pull off the hodgepodge found in the Pilgrim series, but O’Malley definitely does. The books are good for an easy, amusing read or an in-depth exploration of image and word. Images are detailed and precise despite the seemingly simplified character illustrations, and Scott’s life is rife with meaning for transitioning teens and adults. On top of all that, the books are especially intriguing with familiar references to the hometown we know and love (Yes, you will get a thrill from hearing that Ramona works for Amazon.CA not .com, that Scott’s sister works at Second Cup, or that Scott fights someone in Honest Eds). I personally find it extremely refreshing to encounter a popular novel based in a Canadian setting.

If my extremely positive review hasn’t yet convinced you of Scott Pilgrim’s greatness, even the big wigs at Universal Studios have jumped onto the Pilgrim band wagon. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is currently in production and filming in our very own downtown Toronto, to be released in 2010. The movie, directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), stars Michael Cera as Scott (Superbad, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Also a Canadian, in case you didn’t know) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona (Samara from the Ring 2. Except in this movie she’s super hot instead of scary). Universal’s option of the series basically means that if you think Pilgrim is big now, it’ll be even bigger in a year or two.

If you’re just hearing of him now, don’t forget to let everyone know where you heard about him first! When everyone’s talking about it down the road, you can say that you heard about it ages ago right here on Live in Limbo.

Mia Herrera

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