3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Esemtu is a graphic novel written by Karin Springer and illustrated by her daughter, Raphaela Springer. The first volume follows the trio of university students Ethan, Dave, and Isabella as they try uncovering the mystery behind a refugee’s death in Vienna. The central pieces in their investigation are the Esemtu: the oldest representations of Sumerian gods. Why would someone resort to murdering to get one of these statues? Will our heroes manage to stop the culprit before it’s too late? These are the questions you'll ask yourself as you read this book.
Fans of mystery plots with supernatural elements will find plenty to enjoy. The first portion of the story plays out like classic detective fiction, while the final pages unveil hidden occult phenomena. But whether he’s dealing with people or gods, Ethan remains calm and analytical, using his intellectual skills to crack the case. Readers who enjoy smart detectives should appreciate Ethan’s grounded but insightful deductions, as well as his quirky enthusiasm and curiosity.
Speaking of characters, Dave and Isabella are a bit outshined by Ethan, but they still provide valuable contributions. Dave is a very empathetic person who tries carrying everything on his shoulders and blames himself for the refugee’s death. Isabella is sadly not very fleshed out in this first volume, but she’s still a likable protagonist with plenty of fun interactions with other characters. I particularly enjoyed her teasing by Ethan.
The book’s overall presentation is great, featuring beautiful illustrations with distinct character designs and simple but functional backgrounds. I only found two minor typographical errors that most readers won’t even notice: a missing comma and a misspelling of “separating” as “seperating.” My one complaint is that the final action scene doesn’t feel as dynamic as it should be, likely because the sound effects blend into the background rather than calling the reader’s attention and heightening the scene’s tension.
Unfortunately, the story falls flat towards the end, especially during two important moments. The first one is when a huge secret is revealed to one of the characters and their reaction is subdued and unrealistic. The second one is the confrontation with the culprit, who becomes a cartoonish villain and spills all of his secrets for no good reason. The main characters’ actions after the encounter also feel quite foolish given how smart they’d been up to that point. These narrative decisions make sense if one wants to move the plot forward quickly, but they end up weakening the characters in the process.
I rate Esemtu 3 out of 4 stars, deducting one point for the lackluster ending. It’s a lovely graphic novel for young readers, featuring charming characters, an intriguing murder mystery, and a myriad of paranormal secrets. Indeed, there’s only one instance of vulgar language in the book, making it suitable for teenagers. That said, I wouldn’t recommend this graphic novel if you’re looking for something more mature and realistic.
******
Esemtu Vol. 1
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
