What do you think?
Rate this book
Run Wild
When all of civilization begins turning into animals, only two people remain--young siblings Ava and Flynn. On a desperate search for their mother and safety, they’ll traverse a wild and unruly landscape, make friends and foes of all species, and discover what really makes them human.
Run Wild reunites storytellers K.I. Zachopoulos and Vincenzo Balzano, the visionary creators of The Cloud, as they explore the incredible lengths people will go to realize their dreams.
Run Wild reunites storytellers K.I. Zachopoulos and Vincenzo Balzano, the visionary creators of The Cloud, as they explore the incredible lengths people will go to realize their dreams.
132 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2018
2 people are currently reading
1390 people want to read
About the author
K.I. Zachopoulos
17 books47 followersK I Zachopoulos participated in POPGUN (Volume 3 & 4), the Eisner award winning, comics anthology published by Image Comics. He is the script writer of MISTER UNIVERSE (Image Comics). He worked as a script writer for the series of the MISERY CITY comic books from Markosia . After the end of MISERY CITY, he wrote THE FANG (Markosia). Together with Vincenzo Balzano created the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids’ Comics nominated fantasy graphic novel, THE CLOUD (Archaia). His latest work is the surreal fairy tale RUN WILD (Archaia).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 11, 2024
داستانش در مورد دنیاییه که آدمها و حیوونها با هم ترکیب شدن و آرومآروم اون روح حیوانی داره همه چیز رو تصاحب میکنه. فقط دوتا بچه زنده موندن و راه برگشتن همه چیز به قبل رو هم یک نفر فقط میدونه. این دوتا بچه به کمک یکسری حیوون (قبلا انسان) دارن سعی میکنن به اون یک نفر مخصوص برسن و یکسری حیوون دیگه (مشخصا اینا هم قبلا انسان) جلوشونو میخوان بگیرن.
من خیلی از داستانهایی که ترکیب جادو و علمی تخیلی رو دارن لذت میبرم، اما مسئله اینه که واقعا کار ظریفیه و تا الان چند بار فقط نمونههای خوبشو دیدم. این جز اون خوبها نبود. ایدهی جالبی داره ولی داستان به شدت شلختهس، همش شبیه شعار دادن بود و گرههایی که مینداخت وسط رو تلاش نمیکرد باز کنه. همین باعث شد خیلی روایتش مصنوعی باشه و من حداقل از لحاظ داستانی خوشم نیومد.
ولی تصویرسازی خوبی داره، با اینکه اونم بدون اشتباه نیست و تقریبا هر جایی که دیده بود با استایل قبلی نمیتونه یک چیزی رو خوب بکشه خیلی ساده یک استایل جدید رو استفاده کرده بود. در کل به نظرم از اون گرافیک ناولهاییه که بهتره تصاویر رو نگاه کنین جای خوندن داستانش.
من خیلی از داستانهایی که ترکیب جادو و علمی تخیلی رو دارن لذت میبرم، اما مسئله اینه که واقعا کار ظریفیه و تا الان چند بار فقط نمونههای خوبشو دیدم. این جز اون خوبها نبود. ایدهی جالبی داره ولی داستان به شدت شلختهس، همش شبیه شعار دادن بود و گرههایی که مینداخت وسط رو تلاش نمیکرد باز کنه. همین باعث شد خیلی روایتش مصنوعی باشه و من حداقل از لحاظ داستانی خوشم نیومد.
ولی تصویرسازی خوبی داره، با اینکه اونم بدون اشتباه نیست و تقریبا هر جایی که دیده بود با استایل قبلی نمیتونه یک چیزی رو خوب بکشه خیلی ساده یک استایل جدید رو استفاده کرده بود. در کل به نظرم از اون گرافیک ناولهاییه که بهتره تصاویر رو نگاه کنین جای خوندن داستانش.
April 17, 2021
Looks nice, but the story is difficult to follow and doesn't tie up all loose ends.
December 5, 2024
میتونم بگم اولین کمیکی بود که تونستم با تمرکز هم متنش رو بخونم و هم از تصاویرش لذت ببرم!
همیشه یه مقاومت قوی در برابر کمیک داشتم چون نمیتونستم تمرکزمو بین متن و تصویر به تعادل برسونم:)))
ولی بلخره تونستم.
واقعا تصویرها خیلی نرم و لطیف و لذت بخش بود مخصوصا توناژهای خاصی که برای هر بخش استفاده شده بود
قشنگ حس و حال داستان و می پاشوند تو صورتت :دی.
خلاصه که تجربه جالبی بود.
به امید کمیک های بیشتر
همیشه یه مقاومت قوی در برابر کمیک داشتم چون نمیتونستم تمرکزمو بین متن و تصویر به تعادل برسونم:)))
ولی بلخره تونستم.
واقعا تصویرها خیلی نرم و لطیف و لذت بخش بود مخصوصا توناژهای خاصی که برای هر بخش استفاده شده بود
قشنگ حس و حال داستان و می پاشوند تو صورتت :دی.
خلاصه که تجربه جالبی بود.
به امید کمیک های بیشتر
August 10, 2018
Beautiful and haunting artwork. Cool story concept. Not super great execution.
I felt like I only had a vague idea of what was happening throughout the entire thing. It felt like the author wanted the story to be broad and poetic for such a massive audience that he sacrificed a lot of concrete details and clarity. Even by the end, the whole relationship between the humans, the animals, and their souls barely made any sense.
Maybe it would make a bit more sense with a reread? Not sure when I would be driven to pick it up again, though.
Pretty art, but otherwise, nothing to write home about.
I felt like I only had a vague idea of what was happening throughout the entire thing. It felt like the author wanted the story to be broad and poetic for such a massive audience that he sacrificed a lot of concrete details and clarity. Even by the end, the whole relationship between the humans, the animals, and their souls barely made any sense.
Maybe it would make a bit more sense with a reread? Not sure when I would be driven to pick it up again, though.
Pretty art, but otherwise, nothing to write home about.
March 31, 2019
Surreal and wonderfully illustrated. Had a fun hour reading, will re-read paying more attention to the illustrations now. Somehow it seemed a little too implausible, making it far more fantasy than can be related to while staying in the current world. Uses the graphic novel format wonderfully, though.
March 21, 2020
I am really interested in stories that detail the end of human civilization and what might happen after.
I felt like the backstory was kinda convoluted (I will need to reread the end to understand the choices the characters made). But it had some ecological/environmental components that I liked.
The art in this was really unique to me. I loved the use of colors too.
I felt like the backstory was kinda convoluted (I will need to reread the end to understand the choices the characters made). But it had some ecological/environmental components that I liked.
The art in this was really unique to me. I loved the use of colors too.
March 30, 2024
K.I. Zachopoulos and Vincenzo Balzano are as good together as Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean in their best work.
July 23, 2018
Bottom line up front: art is great, but the story is choppy, and at the end of the day, it is my own tastes that prevented me from loving the book.
Firstly, the art in this book is fantastic (in multiple senses of the word). I caveat that with the fact that I am a sucker for water color in comic books (e.g. Dustin Nguyen and Jeff Lemire). Vincenzo Balzano's style is perfectly suited for the surrealism of the story. Each page looked like a dream painted and scratched onto the page. It just works really well with the world that he and K.I. Zachopoulos built.
Zacholpoulos' story-telling style, however, is very choppy and almost rushed in this book. To give him the benefit of the doubt, this may have been intentional in an effort to mimic the pacing of a dream-like world. Though Zachopoulos never establishes that level of surrealism, and instead, treats the narrative as if it should be traditionally linear. Scenes end too quickly at times; what he may have intended to be big moments are not properly teased in preceding pages, and as a result, those "big moments" lack the impact that I think the creators were going for.
Overall, though, the book is a fine piece of escapism. The message of loss and hope is subtle enough to stick a soft enough landing. I admire the ambition of the story and the scope of world-building, but the creators didn't give themselves (or weren't given) enough time to flesh out ideas that needed to be established to become invested in the world/characters. If my personal tastes ran a bit differently, it might get an additional star.
Firstly, the art in this book is fantastic (in multiple senses of the word). I caveat that with the fact that I am a sucker for water color in comic books (e.g. Dustin Nguyen and Jeff Lemire). Vincenzo Balzano's style is perfectly suited for the surrealism of the story. Each page looked like a dream painted and scratched onto the page. It just works really well with the world that he and K.I. Zachopoulos built.
Zacholpoulos' story-telling style, however, is very choppy and almost rushed in this book. To give him the benefit of the doubt, this may have been intentional in an effort to mimic the pacing of a dream-like world. Though Zachopoulos never establishes that level of surrealism, and instead, treats the narrative as if it should be traditionally linear. Scenes end too quickly at times; what he may have intended to be big moments are not properly teased in preceding pages, and as a result, those "big moments" lack the impact that I think the creators were going for.
Overall, though, the book is a fine piece of escapism. The message of loss and hope is subtle enough to stick a soft enough landing. I admire the ambition of the story and the scope of world-building, but the creators didn't give themselves (or weren't given) enough time to flesh out ideas that needed to be established to become invested in the world/characters. If my personal tastes ran a bit differently, it might get an additional star.
February 8, 2019
Let me clarify that the art is gorgeous, but the story leaves a lot to be desired -- with multiple gaps in the storyline and rushed in other parts, quite a bit of unexplored creativity remains where the founding idea could have developed into something truly fun.
October 9, 2020
I recently discover the work of Vincenzo Balzano, which is the illustrator of that book. I love his works. his style, remind me a bit of Jeff Lemire in some way. Unfortunately he only did the art and not the story. The story was okay, nothing bad in it, just very light and slow so I didn't enjoy it very much.
I think that younger reader might enjoy it more, could be a good way to get into a different style of comic and into a weird fantasy word with great artwork. Maybe not... but I think it might.
I think that younger reader might enjoy it more, could be a good way to get into a different style of comic and into a weird fantasy word with great artwork. Maybe not... but I think it might.
April 17, 2021
A rather beautiful story artwise, and a rather confusing story plotwise.
I enjoyed every single frame of this book, but its almost absurdist story had trouble to follow the story as a whole, especially in the topic of the events that took place in the past.
Especially in the first half of this book it was like reading a story where you have no narrator to set you up the scene, -any scene, and you have to figure out by the dialogues what's going on.
I enjoyed every single frame of this book, but its almost absurdist story had trouble to follow the story as a whole, especially in the topic of the events that took place in the past.
Especially in the first half of this book it was like reading a story where you have no narrator to set you up the scene, -any scene, and you have to figure out by the dialogues what's going on.
August 4, 2021
Graficky veľmi príjemný a príbehovo obrovský - tak nejako by sa dal opísať tento komiks. Uchvátil ma a získal si ma svojou metaforickosťou. Pretože tento príbeh bol jedna obrovská metafora a morálnymi presahmi, o ľuďoch, ich povahách, o sile obety a aj o tom, ako sa v mene dosahovania svojich cieľov často meníme na zvery - v tomto komikse dokonca doslova.
April 14, 2019
The art style this was done in was incredibly beautiful but the story was a little depressing. Still good though!
May 2, 2021
More like 3,5
October 5, 2023
Lovely art and great concepts. Didn’t feel like I understood it or that there was a concrete ending. Might read or skim again to see if it’ll then make a little more sense.
November 20, 2023
To me this is an amazing artbook with a touch of story. But if I consider it as graphic novel, there is lack of narration. Especially the ending was rushed and loose. It would be a great book if the gaps in the story were completed.
But the art though...
I can't express my feelings when I see texture in graphic novels or comics etc. Digital or not when I see watercolor, pastel, coal, or colored pencil together,,, Mixing them with a simple but gorgeous palette with a focus color,,, Imma goner. And jealous.
so 5 points to the style, two points to the narrative
;;;
deamorski
But the art though...
I can't express my feelings when I see texture in graphic novels or comics etc. Digital or not when I see watercolor, pastel, coal, or colored pencil together,,, Mixing them with a simple but gorgeous palette with a focus color,,, Imma goner. And jealous.
so 5 points to the style, two points to the narrative
;;;
deamorski
May 14, 2021
This entire story is like an apocalyptic fable from a mythology that never existed. But it starts off on such an ethereal plane that we can never quite relate to any of its characters, so the result feels like we're reading something written 5,000 years ago, knowing we'll never fully understand what it is the author truly intended.
October 28, 2018
Tedious, terribly illustrated post-apocalypse story where people turn into animals and only the last two human kids can change them back. I had no idea what was going on pretty much the entire time and nothing about the story made me care enough to want to figure it out. Hard pass.
January 30, 2020
Fantastically beautiful art, less fantastic storytelling.
July 18, 2021
Run Wild
JULY 17 2021
3 Stars
Stunning art, which alone, would be a 5/5. Otherwise enjoyable, but more suited as a mature children's book. I wish I could be the adult reading this to a child, because that would be a moment I would remember.
Mini synopsis:
Two children find themselves lost in a world where they must struggle to survive the dangers they will face amongst a world of animals who have met their own dangerous fates. Are they the last of humankind? Where is their mother? What has happened to the world they once knew? Will they survive? Only time will tell.
Confusing at times, but certainly readable and mostly understandable. The art is stunning (and you know I can't resist good art when I see it, so I had to pick this one up). I think this feels like a child story but a little more mature. Reading it through that lens, I appreciated it a lot more than I think I would reading it as if it was written for a general audience (because the language used would have bothered me a lot more). Overall, I enjoyed it. It won't go down as a favorite of all time but it was well enjoyed, and I think I'll still have a hard time convincing myself to get rid of it (even if, in part, I keep it to reference the art).
Until next time.
This is my opinion and never meant to completely discourage anyone from reading anything they think they may like reading. Good luck and happy reading!
JULY 17 2021
3 Stars
Stunning art, which alone, would be a 5/5. Otherwise enjoyable, but more suited as a mature children's book. I wish I could be the adult reading this to a child, because that would be a moment I would remember.
Mini synopsis:
Two children find themselves lost in a world where they must struggle to survive the dangers they will face amongst a world of animals who have met their own dangerous fates. Are they the last of humankind? Where is their mother? What has happened to the world they once knew? Will they survive? Only time will tell.
Confusing at times, but certainly readable and mostly understandable. The art is stunning (and you know I can't resist good art when I see it, so I had to pick this one up). I think this feels like a child story but a little more mature. Reading it through that lens, I appreciated it a lot more than I think I would reading it as if it was written for a general audience (because the language used would have bothered me a lot more). Overall, I enjoyed it. It won't go down as a favorite of all time but it was well enjoyed, and I think I'll still have a hard time convincing myself to get rid of it (even if, in part, I keep it to reference the art).
Until next time.
This is my opinion and never meant to completely discourage anyone from reading anything they think they may like reading. Good luck and happy reading!
December 27, 2018
I won this graphic novel as part of a good reads giveaway, and I was super excited to get a chance to read it.
The art is simply beautiful, very the colors are very emotive, but also evocative of fantasy landscapes. The art style has a a touch of impressionism, especially with how perspective and body proportions are handled. It's incredibly aesthetically pleasing [to me], and at times it is reminiscent to the video game journey, in how the art makes me feel.
As for the story itself, it wasn't what I was expecting. I sort of thought it might be the children running wild in the woods and finding themselves in nature. Instead it's a story about how one man wanted to control the world by merging people's souls with animals, how one woman tried to stop him, and how her children are now the key to maybe stopping the damage that's running wild throughout the planet [not fix it, but just stop it from getting completely worse].
There is a much deeper message beneath the story being told, I don't have a full grasp on it from just one read through of the book. But it feels like the story is trying to give insight into the strength of the human soul as part of nature. But I'm still not fully certain. Whatever the case it was a beautiful book, and I had a lot of fun reading it, and I hope to gain more insight in future read throughs.
The art is simply beautiful, very the colors are very emotive, but also evocative of fantasy landscapes. The art style has a a touch of impressionism, especially with how perspective and body proportions are handled. It's incredibly aesthetically pleasing [to me], and at times it is reminiscent to the video game journey, in how the art makes me feel.
As for the story itself, it wasn't what I was expecting. I sort of thought it might be the children running wild in the woods and finding themselves in nature. Instead it's a story about how one man wanted to control the world by merging people's souls with animals, how one woman tried to stop him, and how her children are now the key to maybe stopping the damage that's running wild throughout the planet [not fix it, but just stop it from getting completely worse].
There is a much deeper message beneath the story being told, I don't have a full grasp on it from just one read through of the book. But it feels like the story is trying to give insight into the strength of the human soul as part of nature. But I'm still not fully certain. Whatever the case it was a beautiful book, and I had a lot of fun reading it, and I hope to gain more insight in future read throughs.
August 3, 2018
Things start out simply enough for Ava and Flynn as they set out to find their mother, but are soon complicated when they meet Beatrice, a giant talking fox. Humanity, the fox explains, has fallen victim to a terrible failed experiment, making everyone slowly turn into a wild animal— some more dangerous than others. Ava and Flynn are the last two humans on earth, and with the help of some wild animals they must make the perilous trek to find the mysterious scientist Papa if they are to save humanity’s soul.
This graphic novel by K.I. Zachopoulos and Vincenzo Balzano is a magnificent, dream-like fairytale of human ruin, survival, and sacrifice. The watercolor-like illustrations are both clear in terms of their connection to the story, and imaginative renderings of a post-apocalyptic world unlike any I’ve ever seen. The way the human-animal hybrids are depicted is especially notable, and the careful use of color builds the emotional weight of the story. The book’s captivating premise and sparse text raises many compelling questions for the reader. While the illustrations are perhaps too dark for young readers, graphic novel devotees will find much to enjoy within this enchanting and memorable tale.
This graphic novel by K.I. Zachopoulos and Vincenzo Balzano is a magnificent, dream-like fairytale of human ruin, survival, and sacrifice. The watercolor-like illustrations are both clear in terms of their connection to the story, and imaginative renderings of a post-apocalyptic world unlike any I’ve ever seen. The way the human-animal hybrids are depicted is especially notable, and the careful use of color builds the emotional weight of the story. The book’s captivating premise and sparse text raises many compelling questions for the reader. While the illustrations are perhaps too dark for young readers, graphic novel devotees will find much to enjoy within this enchanting and memorable tale.
December 16, 2018
First thing you’ll notice, if you're lucky to hold this book in your hands, is the quality of the printing. Everything from the embossed front cover, to the solid hardback binding, to the high end paper, makes it a great item to own. Then it’s the attention to detail: the carefully crafted graphic design, the gorgeous illustrations, the masterful lettering. And then -and most importantly- the profound story.
Run Wild tells the tale of two young siblings who wander a desolate land in search of their mother, while struggling to hold onto their humanity in a world where everyone is turning into beasts. With the heart and soul of a Miyazaki eco-conscious fable, and a taste for the symbolic and the surreal, the story elegantly drifts from the naivety of childhood to the complexities of human nature.
Now, I understand that some readers might find the storytelling somewhat disjointed. But it’s this very kind of abstract narration that makes the whole reading experience almost metaphysical. To me, both the art and writing serve a single purpose: to reconstruct the fleeting sensation of a dream. And that’s what makes it so special.
A truly beautiful work of art.
Run Wild tells the tale of two young siblings who wander a desolate land in search of their mother, while struggling to hold onto their humanity in a world where everyone is turning into beasts. With the heart and soul of a Miyazaki eco-conscious fable, and a taste for the symbolic and the surreal, the story elegantly drifts from the naivety of childhood to the complexities of human nature.
Now, I understand that some readers might find the storytelling somewhat disjointed. But it’s this very kind of abstract narration that makes the whole reading experience almost metaphysical. To me, both the art and writing serve a single purpose: to reconstruct the fleeting sensation of a dream. And that’s what makes it so special.
A truly beautiful work of art.
July 27, 2018
I've bought, after being already fan of this duo thanks to "The Cloud" edited as well by The BOOM!Studio Archaia, the new graphic novel "Run Wild".
Personally I've found this work even better illustrated and articolated than the first one. "Run Wild" bewitch already from the cover, with a red horns deer ready to welcome you into what it is a real oniric travel.
The high quality print give the deserved prominence to the Balzano's drawings: here he can give free vent to his magic and illustrative style characterized by his evanescent features. The succession of colors reflect the whole spectrum of emotions and values (brotherhood, willpower, humanity) and perfectly binds the never trivial Zachopoulos's story, which can also count on a noteworthy lettering.
Not least, the open final lets catch a glimpse to hopes and a possible continuation. Love it!
At the end, "Run Wild" is a complete and of a particular sensitivity work and that's why after have devoured it from reading to admire every time always different facets I can't wait to see other from this amazing team.
Personally I've found this work even better illustrated and articolated than the first one. "Run Wild" bewitch already from the cover, with a red horns deer ready to welcome you into what it is a real oniric travel.
The high quality print give the deserved prominence to the Balzano's drawings: here he can give free vent to his magic and illustrative style characterized by his evanescent features. The succession of colors reflect the whole spectrum of emotions and values (brotherhood, willpower, humanity) and perfectly binds the never trivial Zachopoulos's story, which can also count on a noteworthy lettering.
Not least, the open final lets catch a glimpse to hopes and a possible continuation. Love it!
At the end, "Run Wild" is a complete and of a particular sensitivity work and that's why after have devoured it from reading to admire every time always different facets I can't wait to see other from this amazing team.
May 14, 2023
Beautiful illustrations that are the highlight of this. Like The Cloud, the story gets really muddled and bogged down by a ton of exposition later in the story. Zackopoulos has this stream of consciousness style of writing that doesn't always make sense.
The story is about a brother and sister, the last two humans on Earth. They are being pursued by these talking animals while other animals help them. I'll leave at that in case you want to read it as to what is really going on. It gets out there.
The story is about a brother and sister, the last two humans on Earth. They are being pursued by these talking animals while other animals help them. I'll leave at that in case you want to read it as to what is really going on. It gets out there.
March 2, 2019
A strange little stand alone about the human/animal divide and what makes one "wild." A brother and sister forge through a post-apocalyptic world where humans are turned into animals in order to restore some balance to ecological disaster. The art is nice, the story is a little loosely structured and much goes unexplained, which isn't necessarily problematic, as the major themes and purposes of this piece come through.
October 9, 2024
Our library only had to book electronically which made it a less than ideal read, but I still loved the art work. I found the story confusion, but part of that was probably the apps fault as it would knock me out of the book after a few pages. All in all the art alone is worth picking the book up for and that's high praise from me as I typically don't read graphic novels, but will pick one up if a friend recommends it.
August 10, 2018
What is a soullll.
What makes us different than animals?
Are we?
Duh duh duhhhhhh. It wasn't fantastic, but it was interesting, and cool watery monsterish animals loping about in an utterly dystopian and unidentifiable earth-world were a pretty ok place to hang out for a not super long read. Cool enough, could have been a little tighter or sharper, but didn't absolutely need to be.
What makes us different than animals?
Are we?
Duh duh duhhhhhh. It wasn't fantastic, but it was interesting, and cool watery monsterish animals loping about in an utterly dystopian and unidentifiable earth-world were a pretty ok place to hang out for a not super long read. Cool enough, could have been a little tighter or sharper, but didn't absolutely need to be.
January 27, 2019
" I'm different. I'm disappearing. Changing. Do I hold fast to my humanity? Or do I give in to the animal?"
Wow, this graphic novel was fantastic! The story was thought provoking and the illustrations were striking! They were surreal, like floating in and out of a dream space. The use of color was perfection. I would highly recommend this both for its creative storytelling and artwork.
Wow, this graphic novel was fantastic! The story was thought provoking and the illustrations were striking! They were surreal, like floating in and out of a dream space. The use of color was perfection. I would highly recommend this both for its creative storytelling and artwork.
February 11, 2019
I'm really torn on this one. The art is great and I think the story is interesting. However, it feels like a bastardization of a number of different ideas in film and print, all mixed together in a way that doesn't feel quite genuine. That said, it may just be my consuming of too much media that makes me feel that way so I still gave it a four.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews