Butterfly Gate

by Benjamin Read (Story), Chris Wildgoose (Illustrator)

A Brother and Sister leave our world and its rules behind, journeying into legend through the Butterfly Gate, where every step they take will come at a price.

Butterfly Gate follows the story of two siblings who, after throwing themselves headlong into another world, must face the brutal reality that lies beyond and find their place amidst an empire built after a revolution against the Gods.

An ongoing, episodic, SF odyssey, Butterfly Gate is also a silent comic, conveying the story purely through its imagery.

Suggested for Mature Readers.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Comic Book, Fiction, Comics

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Benjamin Read writes comics and makes films. He wrote the multiply award-nominated PORCELAIN: A GOTHIC FAIRY TALE, the silent comic BUTTERFLY GATE, and children’s book, NIGHT POST, as well as the TRUE GRIT and SUPER 8 comic adaptations. He also wrote and produced the films ARMISTICE and 500 MILES NORTH. He is one of the founder members of the Improper Books comics collective, and is fuelled principally by tea and whimsy. He is currently working on the rest of the Porcelain sequence, alongside writing his first novel.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like this are why I read independent comics.

Generally speaking, if I read 20 indie comics, here's what I find.

5 comics that are just excuses to draw mostly nekkid women.
4 comics that are beautifully drawn, but with bad/confusing storytelling.
3 comics with good story, that are visually confusing.
2 comics written to a narrow niche audience.
3 good comics.
2 *really* good comics.
1. amazingly awesome comic.

This comic isn't just the amazing comic I stumble onto 5% of the time. This is better than that. This is a comic that tries something startlingly new AND doen't have any glaring problems that detract from the cool concept. And it is a good story in its own right. This is a top 1% comic.

It's a story entirely without words. But the progress of the narrative is delightfully clear.

It's absolutely worth your time. It's a comic you should make a point of seeking out and experiencing.

I desperately hope it gets the attention it deserves and they continue this series. I want to read more of it.

[Kitty G Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely and brutal comic from this wonderful duo. They did Porcelain and Briar so well that I was pretty sure I'd really enjoy this one too, and of course I did :)

This is a silent story told in vivid brilliant colours and savage pictures. The two young characters seem to get mixed up in something otherworldly very early on, and this leads them into all sorts of crazy troubles and mishaps.

I loved the honest brutal nature of this and the stunning artwork I've come to expect from this pair. It's a very short one, but it's just the start to what I hope will be a fabulous series ;) 4*s

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the heck?

Like a silent movie with so much noise because the calm characters do things that's not good for your peace of mind.

[Soaring Leaves · Rating 1 out of 5]

The no dialogue intrigued me, but the story just fell off fast, they basically did some blood magic to open up the comic Stargate and go through to another world.. where they became freedivers to search for treasure ..for reasons. Later they find a dead alien (?) and I assume get some alien powerup or..
Whatever, who cares, this was never finished and ends at around 45 pages in.
A waste of time.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this title on an electronic device. I suspect it would have greater impact with a print copy given the story is told with just its imagery. I may need to reconsider my rating.

[Vaclav Orlovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Koji je kurac sa ovom djecom

[Malum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some nice art but that's about it. As far as I know this was never finished and what is here can barely be called a story.

[Mikael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great! but there's not more?

[Jeffy Ancel · Rating 2 out of 5]

[2.5]

[Lucy Cokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew my mind. It was just...incredible! I wanted it desperately after Porcelain and I was not disappointed at all.

This is a book which is carried COMPLETELY on its illustrations and I have to say, they were wonderful. Some of the best art I've seen.

These guys definitely deserve more of the spotlight.



Started and finished as part of Bout of Books 10.

[Halina Hetman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Німий мальопис з цікавою зав'язкою, який відчувався дуже незавершено через те, що автор намагався розповісти складну передісторію в кінці без єдиного слова (навіть відгук звучить заплутано, а уявіть як це читати в малюнках і без будь-яких пояснень). Арт цікавий, і за намагання зробити щось дуже унікальне та незвичне від мене три зірочки.

[Miriam Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and fast-paced comic – perhaps a little too fast-paced in places – filled with incredible illustrations; it has opened my eyes to a new form of storytelling (the silent comic). Ending with the ever ominous “to be continued”, even thought I was slightly confused in places I would still be interested to see what happens next.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic artwork with a dark story, all the more haunting for being silently told.

[Robert]

A curious experiment. Would 'read' more. Bit annoyed the story isn't complete.