Skin & Earth HC

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

This story along with her skin and earth album are amazing! I don't like reading but I couldn't put this down until I reached the end. About to give it another read through.

Lights is one of the most amazingly talented humans ever. The entire Skin & Earth project is magnificent!

Arrived in perfect condition. Has QR codes for extra goodies like merch, behind the scenes, and music videos. A really interesting comic.

Truly a work of art. So impressed with all that lights has put together to make this work with the skin & Earth album. The talent is apparent and the story is intriguing and not at all possible.

I never review things but I had to review this. I've been a huge fan of Lights since her first studio album. This was a great concept and fit so well with her album. I couldn't put this down; I can't wait to see more!

AWESOME!!! Lights is the best artist around!! I listen to her music every day on my way home from work. I enjoy reading her comic book series and love the artwork on every page. Highly recommend it.

I absolutely LOVE Lights! Her story is amazing and the art in this novel is stunning. It made me re-love the Skin & Earth album all over again. Can't wait for more from her! I highly recommend this!

This was an amazing comic, the storyline was beautiful, and the introduction at the begining of the book was filled with emotion written by lights, cant wait to order the other books!

I could not put this one down! Such a great story, made by a phenomenal artist (and person)! Love you bunches, Lights!

I think this book is wonderfully written and illustrated. I’m proud to own it as a part of my library. Good job, Lights!

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

Must read for any fan

Came in great shape !! And great story

I love this book, I can't wait for more.

Great comic! Ordered it for my brother and he loves it

Lights is amazing. This total immersion of music, comic, and online content took an incredible amount of effort and was pulled off brilliantly. Can not wait for the next installment.

Came in perfect condition, I love everything about this comic

The fact that Lights wrote such an awesome story goes hand-in-hand with the amazing music that she rights. I can't wait for more!

A vividly illustrated graphic novel with a great story line

I’m not a huge comic buff but I have a handful I love and that have caught my attention and this definitely one of them.

Amazon concept, amazing art, amazing music, amazing comic! Can’t say enough good things about Lights and her work all around. Love this comic.

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

Such an incredible story and album. Beautiful artwork. A must have! I've always been a fan of Lights and she's outdone herself with Skin & Earth.

I love how interactive the whole project is! Lights is a stellar artist on so many levels.

Great graphic novel, can't wait to see what comes next

This is a concept graphic novel joined with Lights' concept album of the same name, and the package is well crafted and interesting. I can't comment in any useful way on the album except to say that I've sampled all of the tracks and they complement the novel well and, judging from comments and reviews, have been very well received by fans. The novel has a table of contents that ties each track to a chapter in the novel as a listening guide, and I always think that's a clever and sort of funky bonus. Anyway, as to the novel, it seemed to me that you could read it literally as an apocalyptic fantasy adventure, or metaphorically as a take on a young woman's journey to self discovery and empowerment, (or, here's an idea - both ways). Enaia Jin lives in a city divided into concentric circles, with the inner circle the most poisoned and despoiled, and other circles leading eventually to a city of grace, beauty and ease. The damage has been caused by a vaguely described but typical rapacious and evil corporation. En is led first by a lover and then by a mystical spirit sort to discover the foundation and history of this ruined world and then to be challenged to do something about it. NO SPOILERS, but En's journey involves betrayal, confusion, double-crosses, misdirection, twists and surprises. The twists are especially clever and imaginative, and for such a familiar overall premise there are still some surprises to be found in this telling. There are plot holes here and there and some jumps and bumpy parts, but the storytelling struck me as generally clear, fair, and comprehensible. Lights doesn't hide out in artsy-fartsy mumbo jumbo. She is both trying to make some points, (about stress, turmoil, doubt, outsiderness, responsibility, trust), and set out a substantial fantasy adventure that is empowering and inspirational. Fine by me. The artwork struck me as serviceable. Pencils and inks are clear and colors are a bit muted. While the panels and spreads aren't ever drop dead arresting, that doesn't seem to be the point. The art frames and illustrates the story, which is, after all, its main job. So, this didn't strike me as a vanity project, which is sometimes what you get with these multi-media concept undertakings. En's journey is interesting and well told, and Lights does a nice job keeping it all together. An interesting find. (Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I got an ARC of this book. I saw Lights perform when I was first starting college. I was front row, right by the speaker. She was the opening act and I ended up going out and buying her CD. I got a wild urge to listen to her again a few months back and discovered her Skin & Earth album. I was in love, then I learned it was also a graphic novel. Normally I don't go for graphic novel or other media tie ins like this. Art Pop ruined that idea entirely for me. This however worked and it worked SO WELL. Every song is a chapter in the book. There is even a chapter for the interlude. It was amazingly paced. I read slightly faster than the songs, so I would have to wait to continue reading or I would have to skip to the next song, but it still worked. Multiple times I read the line the character said that was a lyric in the song, gave me chills every time. The art isn't perfect, the plot isn't either. Yet it feels like some of the open ended plot points are intentional. There is a great deal of world building that doesn't bog down the story. If there is a sequel (PLEASE BE A SEQUEL), then it would hopefully explain some more of the world. There is clearly a caste system in place, just like so many other dystopian novels. This one was introduced with En coming home from school. It isn't made super clear how bad that difference is until much later in the book. It was really interesting watching how things would come out. En didn't know much about the world and the reader learns with her. There got to be a bit of supernatural, cult stuff near the end which can be hit or miss with me. The ending felt a bit rushed, so I am really hoping a sequel will be able to address that. It was much to easy for En to get away, there has to be a reason for that since so much of the book seemed so well thought out, this stood out as my main issue with the plot. En was obviously flawed and had to confront some of those flaws, though not all of them were confronted yet. En's desire to be loved no matter the source was just starting to be confronted. It was clearly from the loss of her parents, but the ramifications were so large. It was amazing to see a flawed character in a dystopian. It was En's flaws that made the story progress. If she had been more wary of people for example, then she would not have run into a lot of the trouble she was in. It was wonderful. I want more of En, if that wasn't painfully obvious by now. There were some queer minor themes. En being cannonly not straight. She dates a male character and then starts something with a female character. The gender wasn't the focus, but more her desire to be loved and her inability to be alone. It was a non-issue in the plot which I crave in any book with a queer character. It is so refreshing when sexuality isn't a huge focus, but is instead allowed to just exist.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley So I've never even heard of Lights but I saw this book on NetGalley and I liked the cover and it sounded interesting so I figured I would give it a shot. Now this is a special edition that has the codes printed on the page so you can listen to the concept album as you read it, but I'll admit that I didn't actually listen to the music because I think it would have distracted me during my first readthrough. I'll probably end up listening to the album at some point because I did really enjoy this, but I rarely like all the tracks on any given album so usually me and concept albums don't get along that well. For the first few issues this seemed like a fairly standard sci-fi / dystopian story, but once Mitsuki showed up everything got flipped on its head in the best possible way. I really like where the story went and I will definitely check out the next volume when it comes out. I really liked the character designs as well and while the art is a bit rough at times I think there are some really great layouts and panels in this volume so it was still really pretty overall. Also I think it's just really impressive that a musician with no prior comics experience put this together, really great for a first book.

"Time only matters in places where it runs out." This was pretty cool. And Lights is a pretty amazing artist. (That’s her name. Lights. In case you didn’t get that.) But this is more an experience than a comic. First of all, the comic was a different and creative take on the dystopian world. The story pulls you along with some great art to match. But it’s pretty amazing when you realize that the writer also drew and inked the book. Oh, and she also wrote the soundtrack to the book. You’re supposed to be able to scan the QR codes to take you to the song for each chapter. But I was able to find the album on Spotify and listened to it while I read. All together it makes up a pretty cool experience - as I said at the beginning of this review. Oh, and then watch the video for the song We Were Here and enjoy the scene from Chapter 7 of the book in live action. The whole thing is pretty badass and makes you realize Lights is quite the artist. Check out this comic, the accompanying album, and the video. **Thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for a copy in return for an honest review.

This is a concept graphic novel joined with Lights' concept album of the same name, and the package is well crafted and interesting. I can't comment in any useful way on the album except to say that I've sampled all of the tracks and they complement the novel well and, judging from comments and reviews, have been very well received by fans. The novel has a table of contents that ties each track to a chapter in the novel as a listening guide, and I always think that's a clever and sort of funky bonus. Anyway, as to the novel, it seemed to me that you could read it literally as an apocalyptic fantasy adventure, or metaphorically as a take on a young woman's journey to self discovery and empowerment, (or, here's an idea - both ways). Enaia Jin lives in a city divided into concentric circles, with the inner circle the most poisoned and despoiled, and other circles leading eventually to a city of grace, beauty and ease. The damage has been caused by a vaguely described but typical rapacious and evil corporation. En is led first by a lover and then by a mystical spirit sort to discover the foundation and history of this ruined world and then to be challenged to do something about it. NO SPOILERS, but En's journey involves betrayal, confusion, double-crosses, misdirection, twists and surprises. The twists are especially clever and imaginative, and for such a familiar overall premise there are still some surprises to be found in this telling. There are plot holes here and there and some jumps and bumpy parts, but the storytelling struck me as generally clear, fair, and comprehensible. Lights doesn't hide out in artsy-fartsy mumbo jumbo. She is both trying to make some points, (about stress, turmoil, doubt, outsiderness, responsibility, trust), and set out a substantial fantasy adventure that is empowering and inspirational. Fine by me. The artwork struck me as serviceable. Pencils and inks are clear and colors are a bit muted. While the panels and spreads aren't ever drop dead arresting, that doesn't seem to be the point. The art frames and illustrates the story, which is, after all, its main job. So, this didn't strike me as a vanity project, which is sometimes what you get with these multi-media concept undertakings. En's journey is interesting and well told, and Lights does a nice job keeping it all together. An interesting find. (Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

(Disclaimer: I received this free book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.) Skin & Earth is an immersive experience to the core. Not only does each track of her album refer to part of the comic book, but the comic itself has QR codes within to link you to her music and bonus features. This makes reading a whole new level - one that I adored. Is there really anything Lights cannot do? There are all these gorgeous little world building details in the panels, and at the heart of the comic is so much more.

I requested this title without knowing anything about it. The cover alone caught my interest and I felt I had to know what it was about. I was not disappointed. The artwork in this was beautiful and kept me entranced. I was such a fan of there being a soundtrack to listen to as I progressed through, it gave more meaning and emotion to what I was seeing. At times the pacing seemed off, and it was hard to make it through certain parts of the story. These parts quickly gave way to "more entertaining" parts and I was able to quickly read through this. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a new story that will get them hooked.

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

This is a concept graphic novel joined with Lights' concept album of the same name, and the package is well crafted and interesting. I can't comment in any useful way on the album except to say that I've sampled all of the tracks and they complement the novel well and, judging from comments and reviews, have been very well received by fans. The novel has a table of contents that ties each track to a chapter in the novel as a listening guide, and I always think that's a clever and sort of funky bonus. Anyway, as to the novel, it seemed to me that you could read it literally as an apocalyptic fantasy adventure, or metaphorically as a take on a young woman's journey to self discovery and empowerment, (or, here's an idea - both ways). Enaia Jin lives in a city divided into concentric circles, with the inner circle the most poisoned and despoiled, and other circles leading eventually to a city of grace, beauty and ease. The damage has been caused by a vaguely described but typical rapacious and evil corporation. En is led first by a lover and then by a mystical spirit sort to discover the foundation and history of this ruined world and then to be challenged to do something about it. NO SPOILERS, but En's journey involves betrayal, confusion, double-crosses, misdirection, twists and surprises. The twists are especially clever and imaginative, and for such a familiar overall premise there are still some surprises to be found in this telling. There are plot holes here and there and some jumps and bumpy parts, but the storytelling struck me as generally clear, fair, and comprehensible. Lights doesn't hide out in artsy-fartsy mumbo jumbo. She is both trying to make some points, (about stress, turmoil, doubt, outsiderness, responsibility, trust), and set out a substantial fantasy adventure that is empowering and inspirational. Fine by me. The artwork struck me as serviceable. Pencils and inks are clear and colors are a bit muted. While the panels and spreads aren't ever drop dead arresting, that doesn't seem to be the point. The art frames and illustrates the story, which is, after all, its main job. So, this didn't strike me as a vanity project, which is sometimes what you get with these multi-media concept undertakings. En's journey is interesting and well told, and Lights does a nice job keeping it all together. An interesting find. (Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

The comic was pretty engaging, especially for a first comic attempt. The most impressive part is that she created an entire album and comic to go together. This is one of my favorite albums, and I enjoyed seeing the story develop through the lyrics.

Wonderful Comic, Lights is so good at weaving everything together to create a smooth experience. The bonus content is amazing as always & with the announcement of Skin and Earth going into TV/Game Production in the next year or so, makes it 10x more awesome. The album ties in really well with the comic and vica versa! :) Don't listen to the 4 Star or 1 Star people, Lights absolutely kills it. Every. Time.

I've been listening to the album she made along with this since it came out and finally got around to reading this. Lots of twists and turns. Interesting storyline. Different from things I usually read. And unexpected. Listening to the album as I read was pretty cool

Beautiful to experience along with the album. The artwork and music is so moving. Lights continues to ooze talent everywhere.

my girlfriend loves this so much

Love it!!

As a fan of lights I'm not sure why it took me so long to read this. I loved immersing myself in the story and listening to th album at the same time. Well written and great to learn how lights created this and everything that went into it. I loved the paradise lost reference too! Must read for anyone into post apocalyptic worlds and anything sci fi, you don't have to be a fan of lights to get this!

Brilliant!!! Very pleased and arrived well within time frame.

So worth buying!

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

Is there anything LIGHTS can't do? Amazing artwork and a good story that matches her latest album. Gotta check it out if you're a fan!! I am usually not a big comic books fans, but it totally captured my attention. I like that all the issues are in one book, a lot more convenient. Bonus, my copy was signed by the artist!

I bought all the comics individually but there’s just something about having them in graphic novel form. I love Lights, I love her music, and I love Skin & Earth. LIGHTS IS QUEEN!!

I have loved LIGHTS' music since middle school, and she did not disappoint with this graphic novel either. The story is amazing, and the album that goes with it is beautiful. The quality of the book is really nice, AND it was autographed by LIGHTS herself! Could not have been more pleasantly surprised.

I've been a LIGHTS fan for a while. She worked so hard on this comic, and I really admire her for it. It is uique and great idea that she merged her songs with each chapter of the comic. Awesome :)

Great story, great graphics when is the next book coming out???!!!

Amazing collection inside one hardcover book. Didn’t know it was signed by Lights, which was a huge bonus! Great quality overall

Lights' work is just amazing, and this book is so beautiful! Very happy with the fact that it's signed as well.

My pre-ordered copy just came in the mail!!! I even got the autographed one!!!! SO HAPPY!!!!

Such a talented singer, songwriter and now author/artist.

Girlfriend loved it, I also got her the lp record

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.

C'est la première fois que je lit un livre et que j'écoute un album du même nom et que les chansons ont un lien en particulier avec le chapitre. Je le recommande fortement

Nice story, beautiful drawings. And don't forget about the music, it's amazing!

Plot great Art great Love lights

muy buena encuadernación y materiales. Una lástima el elevado precio para lo que es.

Love it.

Perfection!

Great art!

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH 😍

The series is meant to be read all in one go, so buying this as a volume rather than as individual comics is a good idea. The comics don’t stand well on their own. They’re too short to really grab your attention. As a volume, however, the comic is good. In my opinion, LIGHTS should have published this as one book. The story itself starts off kind of boring. Obviously there is a lot of world building and context that needs to be given to the reader. Because the book is so short, this takes up a lot of the space of the book itself. Most of it is more of a prequel than anything else. Towards the middle things start to get really good. It looks like it’s going to be a really interesting series. This book is definitely more of a prequel than a first book. You don’t really get into the action until later. Good first book, can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Great concept and a fun companion to the Skin & Earth album, though it feels like most of the story was thrown into the last issue, which makes it feel a bit rushed towards the end. Still a very impressive package for someone who was previously only known for her music. The story isn’t perfect, but I am left wanting to know more about this intriguing, post-apocalyptic world from the mind of Lights, and it seems highly likely there will be a follow up to fill in the blanks. Artwork has a detailed and colorful style to it. Initial hardcover copies are all signed by Lights (first 5,000 copies, I believe) which is a great bonus. The QR code extras are a bit lackluster. Most of them only point to a short sound clip of each song from the album, or music videos/live performances that are linked from Lights’ YouTube page, and merch items from her online store, which are all available to everyone. It’s an engaging feature, nonetheless, and makes you feel like you’re exploring the world that Lights created, versus just reading it and moving on. Also worth noting that this first pressing seems to have some issues from the printers. Several pages have a blurry/dropshadow-like quality to them, which didn’t seem to be an issue in the single issues, from what I’ve heard. It’s still readable, but worth mentioning if these kinds of defects bother you.

i've been a fan of lights since the 7th grade and she's been an inspiration. the plot of skin & earth is alright, but the art and universe that it's set in is fantastic and I can't wait for her to release volume 2! beautifully bound, high quality color and printing. worth the re-read again and again!

This woman is a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to support her as an artist until she decides to hang up her boots. Highly recommend!

You will find it hard to put this story down. It’s simple but engrossing. Lights is so talented and never ceases to amaze me with her brilliance and creativity!!

This comic collection is beautiful. Such a cool concept of merging arts. Absolutely love everything about it.

I was waiting for the full series to come out before I bought this version, the QR codes are fun, but after a while, I forgot about pulling my phone out to do that and just played the album while I read instead. LIGHTS said there might be more to the story, so I'll be ready to buy the next volume if she decides on that.

I’ve been a fan of lights for about ten years now. I always thought she was brilliant, and this comic along with the experience it provides simply amazes me. The little details that went into everything that makes up the whole project of skin & earth really gives you a lot to enjoy. I’m so excited for the future of skin & earth and what is to follow!

A couple of the QR codes took more effort than usual, but just youtube it if you have issues. Great read with the soundtrack

I am in love with the characters and the story.