I was unsure about the premise but I really like that I dont know where this story is going. Human mutation stories are facinating in that they are a necessary eventuality so I like seeing how different writers and thinkers see that happening.This is my first Garth Stein work but I am looking forward to Book 2.

This is a solid story told well visually and textually. It's not the most original idea and pleasantly reminds me a bit of the television series Dark Angel, but most stories have been told countless times, with original twists and voices. I especially appreciate the setting that reflects certain issues of our times as it explores timeless ethics. I will definitely read the follow-ups.

The story is a little out of sync-- the backstory isn't revealed until a fair way into the book, so the first part doesn't make much sense. The art is dark and a little bit vague, probably best for people who like "gritty" GNs-- although there isn't much gore or physical violence, the scientific experimentation is meant to be distasteful.Strictly an optional purchase for public libraries.

Wasn't sure about it going in, but I did enjoy this one. The story can be a little too familiar at times (we want them as soldiers plot...ok) and for me the opening was a little too cold - needed some intro to Tuck's current life outside testing. Otherwise, enjoyed the story and art. It's only book one, so things are left on a cliffhanger.

Compelling premise.Thanks to the publisher for letting me read early.

A bare sketch of a fairly generic story is offered up with some scratchy and splotchy art, including one of the most underwhelming four-page fold-out splash pages I've ever seen. Homelessness and parkour are shoved into the book as the protagonist escapes from the secret lab that produced him through genetic experimentation and wanders around Washington State trying to figure out who he might be in the real world.This quick read has a to-be-continued ending that fails to make me care about Book

Garth Stein's first comics series about Tucker, who has been genertically modified to be half-goat, half-human, thus the title Cloven. Set in the Pacific Northwest, the story focuses on the homeless, underdogs, but is really just okay for a beginning volume, like two stars, though I'll admit I like the premise, which was worked out in a short story initially.But the art by Mathhew Southworth, whose work I loved with Greg Rucka on Stumptown, set in Portland, Oregon, gets all the stars. It's reall...

The Cloven Book One is an “ok” start to a story that will presumably be told as a trilogy. The artwork is fantastic and the paneling and layout is unique enough to not be boring. In addition because it was given the Fantagraphics treatment it’s presentation is very appealing with the oversized format and the high quality hardcover binding. All that said, the story seems sluggish and choppy. It is not boring or anything like that, but rather it lacks a hook to mandate a return to find out more to...

So I think this is the first graphic novel I have ever read and it is the first in a trilogy. I've never been sure how to think about a graphic novel, is it a thicker comic book, or heavily illustrated novel. Given I read this one in one sitting, it feels like a thicker comic book. But why does it matter, it was good and I will finish the trilogy. I am a big fan of Garth Stein from Seattle and without knowing it I am a fan of illustrator Matthew Southworth, from Everett who was singer-guitarist

Great start! Here's going there's a volume 2.

I finally got my hands on Book One of The Cloven and it blew my, already high, expectations out of the water. Aside from slowing to wipe drool from the beautifully illustrated pages, I didn’t stop reading until I’d finished, then I went back to drool some more.It’s clear that Garth has exhaustively explored the rabbit hole of genetic-manipulation, which appeals to the sci-fi nerd in me, then he went and worked his magic as a storyteller that makes non-human beings more human than humans 🤯 Beyond...

'The Cloven: Book One' by Garth Stein with art by Matthew Southworth is the first graphic novel in a three part story.James "Tuck" Tucker was born in a lab on Vashon Island in Washington State. He is a genetically modified human crossed with a goat (think faun for how he looks). He manages to escape and finds himself among the homeless population in Seattle, but he has questions about his past. Those show up in flashbacks as the story goes along. Will Tuck find others like him and can he be free...

Thank you to the author & publisher for an ARC of this title, given out at the Library Journal Day of Dialogue conference. Definitely an interesting idea although the graphics of the laboratory babies were a little too difficult for me (I'm a really softie about animals and babies and children being tortured, apparently) to get past. For sure, this is an older teens-and-up reading level.The timeline was a little hard to understand but I'd be interested to read further.

Tuck, a genetically modified half-goat/half-human, finds others like him.I saw this at my library, was impressed with the format (gorgeous book), and decided to take a chance. It has an interesting hook with the genetic modification and some good bits with Tuck's scientist 'father' (particularly the part where he has to give Tuck up). I can appreciate the art, but I'm not a big fan. I don't feel like I need to read the second book in the series.

I like the art, and the story is good. However, I have a factual gripe . . .In my experience, goats do eat lots of things--thistles, weeds, tree bark, paper, whey, banana peels, and even a plastic glove. But they won't eat meat. If you try to feed them beans with meat pieces, they won't eat it, even though they really like beans.Also, if this project was ostensibly to prevent world hunger, it would make pretty good sense for the mutant goat people to consume mainly plants.. . . so hold the hot d...

Interesting graphic novel about a young boy discovering that he is a Cloven (half-human, half-goat). Takes a bit for the story to get good pacing, but the jagged, gritty art is captivating. The ending is a proper cliffhanger & introduction to what will be chaos in Book Two. I’ll definitely read it!