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Giant Days (Single Issues)
Giant Days 2017 Holiday Special #1
Join Esther, Susan, and Daisy as they spend Christmas in a very "Love Actually" London in this tribute to the films of Richard Curtis.
44 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2017
6 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
John Allison
312 books832 followersJohn Allison is the author and artist of the British webcomics Scary Go Round and Bad Machinery.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 24, 2017
Giant Days crosses over with another part of John Allison’s Scary Go Round-verse as Esther, Susan and Daisy visit Shelley Winters in London for a festive tribute to Love Actually (minus Hugh Grant’s dancing = huge positive)!
The Giant Days 2017 Holiday Special is a delightful bumper-edition of probably the greatest comic in the world, just like last year’s was. I love that this is an annual thing now too!
John Allison’s writing is as brilliant as ever and the light and silly romantic storyline, where the girls try to set up Shelley with a suitable beau, is fun. I remember Shelley from Allison’s previous comics That and Murder She Writes where she was a successful YA author so I’m not sure how she went from that to a government job and Allison doesn’t explain it here either, but I expect it has to do with making the Love Actually angle work? I’ve never seen the movie so I didn’t pick up on whatever references are sprinkled here!
It’s an Esther-centric story so Susan and Daisy don’t have much to do though Susan gleefully corrupts poor innocent Daisy by taking her into a sex shop! And the digs at Megabus (an ultra-cheap British intercity bus service) were amusing.
I didn’t love Jenn St-Onge’s art which definitely felt weird as I’m so used to seeing regular series artist Max Sarin’s. St-Onge’s character work is good but the backgrounds were very bare, unimpressive and kinda bland, which is a problem when the setting is a city as remarkable as London! The ending too is a bit abrupt.
That said, Giant Days 2017 Holiday Special is a very enjoyable, perfectly seasonal read for fans of this outstanding title.
The Giant Days 2017 Holiday Special is a delightful bumper-edition of probably the greatest comic in the world, just like last year’s was. I love that this is an annual thing now too!
John Allison’s writing is as brilliant as ever and the light and silly romantic storyline, where the girls try to set up Shelley with a suitable beau, is fun. I remember Shelley from Allison’s previous comics That and Murder She Writes where she was a successful YA author so I’m not sure how she went from that to a government job and Allison doesn’t explain it here either, but I expect it has to do with making the Love Actually angle work? I’ve never seen the movie so I didn’t pick up on whatever references are sprinkled here!
It’s an Esther-centric story so Susan and Daisy don’t have much to do though Susan gleefully corrupts poor innocent Daisy by taking her into a sex shop! And the digs at Megabus (an ultra-cheap British intercity bus service) were amusing.
I didn’t love Jenn St-Onge’s art which definitely felt weird as I’m so used to seeing regular series artist Max Sarin’s. St-Onge’s character work is good but the backgrounds were very bare, unimpressive and kinda bland, which is a problem when the setting is a city as remarkable as London! The ending too is a bit abrupt.
That said, Giant Days 2017 Holiday Special is a very enjoyable, perfectly seasonal read for fans of this outstanding title.
January 22, 2021
This single issue follows the Giant Days girls on a late December trip to London. I enjoyed the witty banter, like I do in every volume and issue of this series, and appreciated seeing the trio outside of their usual setting, in Sheffield University. Much of the focus remained on Esther's friend, who does not appear in the series before this, and I thought the ending a little bizarre, however.
August 16, 2019
St-Onge's style is okay, but I love Sarin's more.
December 10, 2017
A cute and drama-free episode in the lives of our Giant Days trio, but that's only because all the drama is revolving around Shelley Winters. I was never really much of a fan, despite having read Scary-Go-Round after Devouring Bad Machinery. Wish the trio had actually had more screen time but I suppose holiday specials are usually quite different from the main storyline. Wasn't a fan of the drawing style as the depictions of our trio differed vastly from our now-regular artist, but as an art style it was pleasant enough.
April 5, 2018
too much of a boy drama
December 9, 2020
2.5/5
Sé que es un especial, pero no me generó nada de interés. La historia es puro relleno y no aporta nada a la trama principal.
Sé que es un especial, pero no me generó nada de interés. La historia es puro relleno y no aporta nada a la trama principal.
January 19, 2024
Just so unnecessary.
December 3, 2017
Wonderful one shot of the three friends going to London and messing with the life of Esther‘s friend.
June 12, 2018
More Christmas! In June! With Romance!
I guess maybe I should have seen it coming that I wouldn't like this one as much as I normally love Giant Days. I never seen Love Actually (not a big fan of romance movies), and since this one is a tribute to that movie... It also didn't help that the art was totally different from the normal Giant Days. And it wasn't a favourite. Sorry, the style was kind of nice, but it just didn't give me Giant Days vibes. Like this was a fanmade issue instead of an official one.
Plus the story was just so over the top and yet strangely boring at the same time, that I just didn't enjoy it that much. I did like seeing the girls go to London for the holidays (especially now that I visited the place myself this year) and how that amazed two of them (Daisy who never has been to London, and Esther who only has been to London for a school trip). And that we are seeing a new character with quite an interesting life (and maybe a bit of an alcohol problem). She was just like the girls (only a bit more responsible about things), and I loved that.
I liked seeing them walk through London and have a, generally, good time (with the exception of what happened, thankfully Susan is kickass). Next to walking through London, we see them at Shelley's home (which has some magical hidden bunk beds) or at Shelley's work.
But when Esther and Susan went through London, and then Susan's stories. Oh my gosh, I was just laughing so hard. That is Susan for you, daring to do all the things and not giving a rat's ass about anything.
There is quite a bit of romance as Shelley is being wooed by two boys. One lives in her apartment building and has my seal of approval, the other is a guy on a motorcycle and doesn't have my seal of approval. Especially what happened during the date near the end. You just don't do that. I hope that Shelley will pick the right guy.
As for the camera guy at work? I knew he liked from the start, it was quite hilarious that Esther just didn't seem to realise it. :P
The ending had me in stitches though. Especially how Shelley just didn't care any more and just chugged some more alcohol in her body.
All in all, I had expected more, maybe one should have seen the movie this issue is doing a tribute to. Oh well, still happy I had the chance to at least read this issue. Now just a bit longer until the next volume comes out.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I guess maybe I should have seen it coming that I wouldn't like this one as much as I normally love Giant Days. I never seen Love Actually (not a big fan of romance movies), and since this one is a tribute to that movie... It also didn't help that the art was totally different from the normal Giant Days. And it wasn't a favourite. Sorry, the style was kind of nice, but it just didn't give me Giant Days vibes. Like this was a fanmade issue instead of an official one.
Plus the story was just so over the top and yet strangely boring at the same time, that I just didn't enjoy it that much. I did like seeing the girls go to London for the holidays (especially now that I visited the place myself this year) and how that amazed two of them (Daisy who never has been to London, and Esther who only has been to London for a school trip). And that we are seeing a new character with quite an interesting life (and maybe a bit of an alcohol problem). She was just like the girls (only a bit more responsible about things), and I loved that.
I liked seeing them walk through London and have a, generally, good time (with the exception of what happened, thankfully Susan is kickass). Next to walking through London, we see them at Shelley's home (which has some magical hidden bunk beds) or at Shelley's work.
But when Esther and Susan went through London, and then Susan's stories. Oh my gosh, I was just laughing so hard. That is Susan for you, daring to do all the things and not giving a rat's ass about anything.
There is quite a bit of romance as Shelley is being wooed by two boys. One lives in her apartment building and has my seal of approval, the other is a guy on a motorcycle and doesn't have my seal of approval. Especially what happened during the date near the end. You just don't do that. I hope that Shelley will pick the right guy.
As for the camera guy at work? I knew he liked from the start, it was quite hilarious that Esther just didn't seem to realise it. :P
The ending had me in stitches though. Especially how Shelley just didn't care any more and just chugged some more alcohol in her body.
All in all, I had expected more, maybe one should have seen the movie this issue is doing a tribute to. Oh well, still happy I had the chance to at least read this issue. Now just a bit longer until the next volume comes out.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
January 28, 2018
So, first off, I'm not a Love Actually fan, but thankfully this wasn't very much in that vein, aside from a bleak ending, despite being booked as such. It was the threesome meddling in the life of someone Esther knew down in London. There was no emotional investment in the story because a) it was a new character that was "too" perfect and b) I need the WHOLE gang, not just the girls. Also, who was this new artist? Too slick and didn't get the characters at all.
June 19, 2018
It’s funny, you’d think after all this time I’d be used to just how cute Giant Days is, and yet they always manage to surprise me. This Holiday Special is no exception. Also, it’s a little bit longer than their standard issues, which is pretty fantastic all things considered!
The girls go off to London for the holidays (or is it the pre-holidays?), mostly because they’re bored and broke and Esther has a friend that will let them stay for free. As you can imagine having these three in London leads to lots of adventures, but as per usual they manage to surprise us in how they’re done. Well, mostly. Esther’s drama field is really no surprise to anyone at this point.
All in all this was a funny and heartwarming issue. I actually almost wish we’d see more of the new character they introduced, though I understand just how unlikely that is.
The girls go off to London for the holidays (or is it the pre-holidays?), mostly because they’re bored and broke and Esther has a friend that will let them stay for free. As you can imagine having these three in London leads to lots of adventures, but as per usual they manage to surprise us in how they’re done. Well, mostly. Esther’s drama field is really no surprise to anyone at this point.
All in all this was a funny and heartwarming issue. I actually almost wish we’d see more of the new character they introduced, though I understand just how unlikely that is.
December 1, 2017
4/5 stars
I fucking miss Giant Days. I'll be picking up any more specials that come out because I'm going along with trades, and I just miss these girls and the story. There's just something about the characters and the story that I love, especially now I'm going through my first year at University. It's very relevant to my life.
I fucking miss Giant Days. I'll be picking up any more specials that come out because I'm going along with trades, and I just miss these girls and the story. There's just something about the characters and the story that I love, especially now I'm going through my first year at University. It's very relevant to my life.
June 3, 2018
(3.5/5) I will start off by saying that the different style of artwork here was great! It’s very colorful, and beautifully drawn. It’s a nice change of pace. The story was enjoyable, mostly. The ending was darker than expected, and kinda fell flat for me, though.
January 19, 2025
The series to me is so strongly bound to Sarin‘s drawing style that is a genuine shock how well Jenny St-Onge‘s art works here.
Apart from that, it contains all the qualities of the rest of the series.
Apart from that, it contains all the qualities of the rest of the series.
December 18, 2017
This was hilarious! Love Actually meets Bridget Jones's Diary. Love the art style and colouring too. Perfect holiday special!
December 21, 2017
The art was gorgeous but the ending was ultimately unsatisfying :C
December 30, 2017
One of my favorite issues yet!
January 12, 2018
Hilarious, as usual.
March 24, 2018
This comic is... *clears throat* ... CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARMING
July 5, 2018
2,5 stars. very disappointing.
November 18, 2018
Join Esther, Daisy, & Susan as they celebrate the Christmas holidays in London. They shop, experience the wild nature if Christmas shopping & getting the perfect Christmas tree.
December 23, 2018
Quick, fun visit with the girls of Giant Days.
December 30, 2018
The girls have a holiday adventure in London. Naturally, they run out of money on the first day.
January 22, 2019
didn't fancy the artwork or story here as much.
January 27, 2019
Read for fun. This series is so delightful, I'll take anything I can get.
August 31, 2019
3.5 stars
January 9, 2020
I just love this series.
March 5, 2022
05 March 2022
A short and sweet holiday special with equal comedy and realism that's typical of Giant Days.
A short and sweet holiday special with equal comedy and realism that's typical of Giant Days.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews