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I Hunt Killers #0.4
Neutral Mask
Connie is the new girl in town, but she already has friends...and maybe even a boyfriend. Her father isn't happy that Connie is dating a white boy like Jasper Dent, and things get even worse when she realizes that Jasper is the son of Billy Dent, one of the world's most notorious serial killers! This is the story of how Connie and Jazz overcame their early troubles and fell in love.
27 pages, ebook
First published August 20, 2013
About the author
Barry Lyga
79 books2,090 followersBarry Lyga is a recovering comic book geek. According to Kirkus, he's also a "YA rebel-author." Somehow, the two just don't seem to go together to him.
When he was a kid, everyone told him that comic books were garbage and would rot his brain, but he had the last laugh. Raised on a steady diet of comics, he worked in the comic book industry for ten years, but now writes full-time because, well, wouldn't you?
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl is his first novel. Unsoul'd is his latest. There are a whole bunch in between, featuring everything from the aftermath of child abuse to pre-teens with superpowers to serial killers. He clearly does not know how to stick to one subject.
When he was a kid, everyone told him that comic books were garbage and would rot his brain, but he had the last laugh. Raised on a steady diet of comics, he worked in the comic book industry for ten years, but now writes full-time because, well, wouldn't you?
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl is his first novel. Unsoul'd is his latest. There are a whole bunch in between, featuring everything from the aftermath of child abuse to pre-teens with superpowers to serial killers. He clearly does not know how to stick to one subject.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 2, 2018
Before taking the plunge into the trilogy Barry Lyga created around the ‘I Hunt Killers’ theme, I wanted to take the time to better understand the characters who appear on the page by exploring the collection of prequel short stories on offer. Those who have read my previous reviews on said stories will see that Lyga has developed some of the characters and the setting of the series in them, providing me, the new reader, something on which to grasp. This story turns the focus on Connie Hall, the new girl in town and seemingly part of the only black family. While she remains coy with everyone about her dating Jasper ‘Jazz’ Dent, she is oblivious as to why keeping it a secret might have been the best idea. It is only when curiosity reachers its limit that Connie seeks information about her boyfriend and learns that he is the son of the notorious Billy Dent, a serial killer who was arrested a few years before. Lobo’s Nod cannot stop talking about him and branding Jasper for the sins of his father. Connie seeks to digest this news but will not react as the others have. Rather, she takes Jasper along to her drama group meeting and has him participate in a neutral mask activity, where he cannot use facial expressions to represent him. Jasper presents a scene to the group, opening their eyes but also Connie’s mind as she makes the all-important lasting decision about the boy she’s been dating and thinking about so much. Lyga does well to provide the reader with a great understanding of the confused Connie and struggling Jasper while also keeping a number of questions on the table for the full-length novels to come. Recommended for series fans and those who want to enjoy a brief respite from their daily lives.
I am pleased to have heeded the recommendation of my friend, who asked that I give this collection my attention. When a read a short blurb from Lyga about his creation of these pieces as a means of filling in the gaps of backstory, I knew I was right to have taken the time to read them first. Now, with this information in my reading quiver, I am armed to better understand the characters as they cross my path and can provide a thorough analysis of their interactions with less of a need to speculate. Connie’s character comes to life on the page, allowing the reader a better understanding of her plight as a child who has moved around so much, but also being the one person in Lobo’s Nod who is unaware of the gossip that has pervaded the town and branded Jasper Dent. She seeks to carve out her own choices with regards to this boy and this will surely help explain some of her future actions when I get to the stories. Jasper is also given some spotlight time as he seeks to explore himself, particularly in the drama exercise, though the reader is left to wonder what’s going on in his head, something that I am sure few have taken the time to ponder. Whatever it might be, there is much to be said about him and the development of a strong relationship backstory here. The narrative flowed really well and I was pleased to see such a connection to the two central characters, as well as some of the peripheral ones, including Dent’s best friend, Howie. I am ready to tackle the final short story piece and then jump headlong into the stories myself, for I am sure they tell quite a tale themselves. Armed and ready for action, I think it will be quite the ride!
Kudos, Mr. Lyga, on another great piece. Your writing seems to transcend the YA genre it has been given, straddling the line between teenage issues and writing adults can appreciate.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I am pleased to have heeded the recommendation of my friend, who asked that I give this collection my attention. When a read a short blurb from Lyga about his creation of these pieces as a means of filling in the gaps of backstory, I knew I was right to have taken the time to read them first. Now, with this information in my reading quiver, I am armed to better understand the characters as they cross my path and can provide a thorough analysis of their interactions with less of a need to speculate. Connie’s character comes to life on the page, allowing the reader a better understanding of her plight as a child who has moved around so much, but also being the one person in Lobo’s Nod who is unaware of the gossip that has pervaded the town and branded Jasper Dent. She seeks to carve out her own choices with regards to this boy and this will surely help explain some of her future actions when I get to the stories. Jasper is also given some spotlight time as he seeks to explore himself, particularly in the drama exercise, though the reader is left to wonder what’s going on in his head, something that I am sure few have taken the time to ponder. Whatever it might be, there is much to be said about him and the development of a strong relationship backstory here. The narrative flowed really well and I was pleased to see such a connection to the two central characters, as well as some of the peripheral ones, including Dent’s best friend, Howie. I am ready to tackle the final short story piece and then jump headlong into the stories myself, for I am sure they tell quite a tale themselves. Armed and ready for action, I think it will be quite the ride!
Kudos, Mr. Lyga, on another great piece. Your writing seems to transcend the YA genre it has been given, straddling the line between teenage issues and writing adults can appreciate.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 18, 2017
Connie is the new girl in town, but she already has friends...and maybe even a boyfriend. Her father isn't happy that Connie is dating a white boy like Jasper Dent, and things get even worse when she realizes that Jasper is the son of Billy Dent, one of the world's most notorious serial killers! This is the story of how Connie and Jazz overcame their early troubles and fell in love.
I loved Connie before I read this novella and I still do.
This novella can be read before starting the trilogy or anytime else if you want more backstory about your beloved characters.
I loved Connie before I read this novella and I still do.
Seriously. Howie is golden. Howie is like the moon.
the moon changes and the moon drive some people crazy. But the moon is always there. That's Howie Gersten. He'll drive you nuts, but he's always there.
This novella can be read before starting the trilogy or anytime else if you want more backstory about your beloved characters.
January 17, 2014
I. Am. A. Puddle.
Firstly kisses to the Twinjas who recommended this short story since the three of us should probably start a WE LOVE CONNIE fanclub.
There are few authors I totally fangirl over to the point of wanting to wear t-shirts bearing the name of their characters or even tattooing "Team Jazz/Connie/Howie" somewhere on my body. No, I haven't done that, but Barry Lyga created three of the most amazing, offbeat and human characters in Jazz Dent, the son of a notorious serial killer, his ride or die best friend Howie (ride or die being very real since he suffers from hemophilia) and his ride or die girlfriend, Connie.
Neutral Mask is the short prequel to I Hunt Killers. Here, Connie discovers Jazz's backstory.
Barry Lyga gives a huge cyber-slap to all those lame White authors who unnecessarily angst over writing multifaceted characters of color. I absolutely ADORE Connie. I love her mixture of confidence and insecurity. She's smart, empathetic and yet unsure of her place in the world, just like many PoC (myself included). This paragraph just made me want to pledge undying love to Mr. Lyga:
At first Connie had been flattered by the girls who wanted her lips and ass. But then it became so frequent a lament that all flattery drained from it and spiralled down some psychological drainage pipe. The white girls yearned for another's lashes and boobs and hair--hair, especially--and eyes and legs and nails and any number of anatomical permutations, but all they ever wanted from Connie were those lips, that boo-tay. No one wanted her hair. No one wanted her eyes.
The irony to me however, is that society DOES want Black women's hair (remember Bo Derek), lips and butts. Society even wants our skin color (tanning salons). What society DOESN'T want is the lack of privilege that sadly goes with being Black and female.
THIS is what good writing is about, showing empathy and knowing the characters as both people AND individuals. Jazz, Connie and Howie in varying ways are outcasts from "the norm". And he wrote Connie realistically without stereotypes. And she ROCKS!
But I can't believe I have to wait until September for the last book.
Firstly kisses to the Twinjas who recommended this short story since the three of us should probably start a WE LOVE CONNIE fanclub.
There are few authors I totally fangirl over to the point of wanting to wear t-shirts bearing the name of their characters or even tattooing "Team Jazz/Connie/Howie" somewhere on my body. No, I haven't done that, but Barry Lyga created three of the most amazing, offbeat and human characters in Jazz Dent, the son of a notorious serial killer, his ride or die best friend Howie (ride or die being very real since he suffers from hemophilia) and his ride or die girlfriend, Connie.
Neutral Mask is the short prequel to I Hunt Killers. Here, Connie discovers Jazz's backstory.
Barry Lyga gives a huge cyber-slap to all those lame White authors who unnecessarily angst over writing multifaceted characters of color. I absolutely ADORE Connie. I love her mixture of confidence and insecurity. She's smart, empathetic and yet unsure of her place in the world, just like many PoC (myself included). This paragraph just made me want to pledge undying love to Mr. Lyga:
At first Connie had been flattered by the girls who wanted her lips and ass. But then it became so frequent a lament that all flattery drained from it and spiralled down some psychological drainage pipe. The white girls yearned for another's lashes and boobs and hair--hair, especially--and eyes and legs and nails and any number of anatomical permutations, but all they ever wanted from Connie were those lips, that boo-tay. No one wanted her hair. No one wanted her eyes.
The irony to me however, is that society DOES want Black women's hair (remember Bo Derek), lips and butts. Society even wants our skin color (tanning salons). What society DOESN'T want is the lack of privilege that sadly goes with being Black and female.
THIS is what good writing is about, showing empathy and knowing the characters as both people AND individuals. Jazz, Connie and Howie in varying ways are outcasts from "the norm". And he wrote Connie realistically without stereotypes. And she ROCKS!
But I can't believe I have to wait until September for the last book.
May 26, 2022
Mi precuela favorita de la esta saga, y no solo por el romance, sino porque creo que muestra una faceta mas humana y menos mecanica de Jazz, al menos a los ojos de Connie.
Lo disfrute muchisimo.
3.25 Estrellas!
October 25, 2014
I enjoyed this prequel a lot! It tells about Connie and Jazz's beginning days and how she discovered he was Billy Dent's son. Loved it!
November 20, 2015
This another short prequel of Lyga's that introduces us more to Connie and Jazz's relationship. Connie discovers Jazz is the son of a notorious serial-killer for the first time and even though Jazz assumes she's going to break up with him, she stays regardless. Ginny Davis is also introduced when Connie convinces Jazz to participate in drama club. She performs a "neutral mask" routine and Jazz has to come up with one before next week. Connie is wowed when he performs, like the rest of the class, and it's eventful and heart-wrenching for most of the audience.
The only reason I gave this a four was because the story didn't flow well for me. It started out being about their relationship and that theme was consistent throughout as Connie discovered his connection to Billy Dent and still wanted to be with him. But I thought it was going in a different direction than it did from the beginning; the summary itself explains that it's all about how Connie's father feels about the situation and although there was a scene with him in it, his approval still clear on the white boy standing, that's pretty much all that happens. I expected a scene later where Connie revealed to him the name of who she was dating but there was no such thing, so I was left kinda disappointed...as if I didn't get any questions answered again.
Sure, if you read the main novels, you know that her father is worried because he's Billy Dent's son. But I was just hoping for the first initial reaction.
And not that the rest of it wasn't good! I still rated it a four. I thought the neutral mask thing was cool and that Jazz's performance was spot on. This has good emotion and a great setup for the following novels.
The only reason I gave this a four was because the story didn't flow well for me. It started out being about their relationship and that theme was consistent throughout as Connie discovered his connection to Billy Dent and still wanted to be with him. But I thought it was going in a different direction than it did from the beginning; the summary itself explains that it's all about how Connie's father feels about the situation and although there was a scene with him in it, his approval still clear on the white boy standing, that's pretty much all that happens. I expected a scene later where Connie revealed to him the name of who she was dating but there was no such thing, so I was left kinda disappointed...as if I didn't get any questions answered again.
Sure, if you read the main novels, you know that her father is worried because he's Billy Dent's son. But I was just hoping for the first initial reaction.
And not that the rest of it wasn't good! I still rated it a four. I thought the neutral mask thing was cool and that Jazz's performance was spot on. This has good emotion and a great setup for the following novels.
August 30, 2014
Another fantastic short story from Barry Lyga, this time from the perspective of Connie! I've loved Connie from the moment I met her in "I Hunt Killers" and I'm happy that we get her POV here.
Connie and Jazz are a rare couple in the YA genre: interracial, understanding, discussing their concerns and genuinely loving each other. I often have to put down a book because my eyes ache from rolling them around so much, but not here. I legitimately care about these two, unlike the typical cookie-cutter white couples that are sickeningly into each other for vague, bland reasons. They can't LIVE WITHOUT EACH OTHER, and this have no lives outside of each other and creaming their panties at the sight of TWU WUV. Connie has a life outside of Jazz and vice versa. Thank fucking God that YA isn't completely absorbed in creating the same, diabetic-inducing "young love."
Book #30 of the 2014 Reading Challenge.
Connie and Jazz are a rare couple in the YA genre: interracial, understanding, discussing their concerns and genuinely loving each other. I often have to put down a book because my eyes ache from rolling them around so much, but not here. I legitimately care about these two, unlike the typical cookie-cutter white couples that are sickeningly into each other for vague, bland reasons. They can't LIVE WITHOUT EACH OTHER, and this have no lives outside of each other and creaming their panties at the sight of TWU WUV. Connie has a life outside of Jazz and vice versa. Thank fucking God that YA isn't completely absorbed in creating the same, diabetic-inducing "young love."
Book #30 of the 2014 Reading Challenge.
October 28, 2013
I love Connie; that is all.
February 26, 2015
Oh to see Jazz through Connie's eyes. That was beautiful. He's beautiful, and so sexy.
January 12, 2020
Readers don’t like backstory huh? Well, this reader loves any backstory you’ll give her! Jazz’s neutral mask performance shares so much about this character, especially since I’ll read the full trilogy.
September 27, 2017
Top read
Love the prequel story's that offer a back story to the fantastic characters from the fantastic I hunt killers books.
Love the prequel story's that offer a back story to the fantastic characters from the fantastic I hunt killers books.
November 27, 2017
This was so good. I loved seeing Connie’s point of view when she found out about Jasper’s Dad and how the relationship started. There was a creepy part but I’ll leave that to you to read.
December 22, 2017
This short story was much better than Career Day, hopefully Blood Boy is just as good as this one.
May 2, 2018
Okay, so far, out of the I Hunt Killers prequels, this was one of the most intense. I absolutely love seeing things from other characters point of views, and I love backstory. And this one was crazy good.
May 11, 2018
Great short story that gave me more insight into what was going on in Jasper's world before the Impressionist came to town. I like seeing more of Connie too.
August 7, 2018
Read it if your a fan of I Hunt Killers.l
I'm reading the short stories in anticipation for my I Hunt Killers series binge read!! :) Love knowing tidbits about the characters.
I'm reading the short stories in anticipation for my I Hunt Killers series binge read!! :) Love knowing tidbits about the characters.
December 24, 2018
Fantastic short story, loved being in Connie's head as she finds out that Jazz is Billy's son. Great short story, and loved the acting!
November 9, 2019
A short story in the I Hunt Killers series by Barry Lyga. The events in this book take place before Book 1. This story is from Connie's POV. Connie has started dating Jasper, and is learning more about the buy she is falling for. Quick and entertaining. Good for fans of this series.
January 2, 2021
I was completely swept up in this snippet of backstory. We learn how Connie overcomes her natural fear of Jazz in order to love him. I want more!
January 16, 2021
I enjoyed the back story of Jazz and Connie and how their quickly developing relationship began.
January 11, 2023
Prequel 4
I’m really glad I invested a few bucks to read these prequels. I really think it will help my understanding of these characters in the current timeline of the trilogy.
I’m really glad I invested a few bucks to read these prequels. I really think it will help my understanding of these characters in the current timeline of the trilogy.
April 13, 2023
connie and jazz are so cute
January 22, 2017
Nice.
January 9, 2016
Kat Mandu says...
This another short prequel of Lyga’s that introduces us more to Connie and Jazz’s relationship. Connie discovers Jazz is the son of a notorious serial-killer for the first time and even though Jazz assumes she’s going to break up with him, she stays regardless. Ginny Davis is also introduced when Connie convinces Jazz to participate in drama club. She performs a “neutral mask” routine and Jazz has to come up with one before next week. Connie is wowed when he performs, like the rest of the class, and it’s eventful and heart-wrenching for most of the audience.
The only reason I gave this a four was because the story didn’t flow well for me. It started out being about their relationship and that theme was consistent throughout as Connie discovered his connection to Billy Dent and still wanted to be with him. But I thought it was going in a different direction than it did from the beginning; the summary itself explains that it’s all about how Connie’s father feels about the situation and although there was a scene with him in it, his approval still clear on the white boy standing, that’s pretty much all that happens. I expected a scene later where Connie revealed to him the name of who she was dating but there was no such thing, so I was left kinda disappointed…as if I didn’t get any questions answered again.
Sure, if you read the main novels, you know that her father is worried because he’s Billy Dent’s son. But I was just hoping for the first initial reaction.
And not that the rest of it wasn’t good! I still rated it a four. I thought the neutral mask thing was cool and that Jazz’s performance was spot on. This has good emotion and a great setup for the following novels.
This another short prequel of Lyga’s that introduces us more to Connie and Jazz’s relationship. Connie discovers Jazz is the son of a notorious serial-killer for the first time and even though Jazz assumes she’s going to break up with him, she stays regardless. Ginny Davis is also introduced when Connie convinces Jazz to participate in drama club. She performs a “neutral mask” routine and Jazz has to come up with one before next week. Connie is wowed when he performs, like the rest of the class, and it’s eventful and heart-wrenching for most of the audience.
The only reason I gave this a four was because the story didn’t flow well for me. It started out being about their relationship and that theme was consistent throughout as Connie discovered his connection to Billy Dent and still wanted to be with him. But I thought it was going in a different direction than it did from the beginning; the summary itself explains that it’s all about how Connie’s father feels about the situation and although there was a scene with him in it, his approval still clear on the white boy standing, that’s pretty much all that happens. I expected a scene later where Connie revealed to him the name of who she was dating but there was no such thing, so I was left kinda disappointed…as if I didn’t get any questions answered again.
Sure, if you read the main novels, you know that her father is worried because he’s Billy Dent’s son. But I was just hoping for the first initial reaction.
And not that the rest of it wasn’t good! I still rated it a four. I thought the neutral mask thing was cool and that Jazz’s performance was spot on. This has good emotion and a great setup for the following novels.
Read
June 22, 2016Neutral Mask
Story (really backstory) continues as Connie and Jazz begin dating and form a deep connection- to Jasper, he supposes this is definition of "having a girlfriend." For Connie, there is so much more involved-her immediate feelings for Jasper, yet her conflict with their race difference. This is a huge difference in her upbringing and culture but is NOTHING compared to Jasper's familial ties and background.
In order to get Jasper "out of his shell," Connie asks Jasper to attend a meeting of the drama club, in which each student performs a "neutral mask" exercise. Jasper's mask experiment shows him as someone dying and coming back to life...symbolism is deep, thinking of him as the enigma he is to everyone, except Connie and Howie.
Beginnings of Connie's conflict but underlying love for Jasper.
He asks everyone to call him "Jazz" now, as part of his rebirth.
Story (really backstory) continues as Connie and Jazz begin dating and form a deep connection- to Jasper, he supposes this is definition of "having a girlfriend." For Connie, there is so much more involved-her immediate feelings for Jasper, yet her conflict with their race difference. This is a huge difference in her upbringing and culture but is NOTHING compared to Jasper's familial ties and background.
In order to get Jasper "out of his shell," Connie asks Jasper to attend a meeting of the drama club, in which each student performs a "neutral mask" exercise. Jasper's mask experiment shows him as someone dying and coming back to life...symbolism is deep, thinking of him as the enigma he is to everyone, except Connie and Howie.
Beginnings of Connie's conflict but underlying love for Jasper.
He asks everyone to call him "Jazz" now, as part of his rebirth.
April 27, 2015
Okay, Lyga said he loves writing these stories, and I've gotta say it shows! He loved writing it and it comes out in this amazing and delightful story that I just can't stop reading!
I do love how this paints out Connie, how it would be to deal with finding out about Jazz. If you dated the son of (insert heinous crime hear) and you found out later because he didn't tell you, what would you do? How would you feel about him when you found out? Are the sins of the father those of the son?
Exploring this without at all getting too existential, just keeping it to the discoverings of a sixteen year old girl, Lyga masterfully writes out how Jazz and Connie fall in love, and it's clear that this is a strong relationship that will play an important role in the series to come.
I do love how this paints out Connie, how it would be to deal with finding out about Jazz. If you dated the son of (insert heinous crime hear) and you found out later because he didn't tell you, what would you do? How would you feel about him when you found out? Are the sins of the father those of the son?
Exploring this without at all getting too existential, just keeping it to the discoverings of a sixteen year old girl, Lyga masterfully writes out how Jazz and Connie fall in love, and it's clear that this is a strong relationship that will play an important role in the series to come.
September 24, 2014
“Here’s an important lesson for you,” she said. “Don’t touch my hair. Never touch my hair.”
“Why not? It’s just hair.”
“No. It takes a hell of a lot of effort and product and money to get it right.
It’s not like white girls’ hair where they can just wash it and blow it out and tie it back or whatever. It takes forever to get it right. So don’t touch it.”
“Got it.”
“Unless I’m wearing it natural. Then you can touch it. But that will never, ever happen.”
Ok. I'm a white girl. I think I need someone to explain to me the dynamics of a black girl's hair.
December 20, 2013
Another tiny story which does a bit to further our understanding of Jasper's difficulties in dealing with life after the arrest (and imprisonment) of his father, a serial killer. This story explains Connie's discovery of the identity of Jasper's father. The scene where Jasper has acted out the neutral mask assignment and Connie's reaction to it, is very touching and does much to show us the conundrum of Jasper's life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews