Review by Frank Plowright

Having had an enriching experience in Alaska, Lauren Greene decides it’s time to head back to Detroit to meet some friends and confront some problems concerning the AI that accompanies her. Von Allan indicates some time has passed since the end of Vol. 7 via Lauren’s broken arm now having recovered.

This is an uncharacteristically unconvincing episode for Allan. It turns out dangerous people from Detroit have been keeping tabs on Lauren throughout her Alaskan sojourn, but rather than tackle her somewhere remote where options are available, they want her to return to Detroit and willingly return the artificial intelligence they consider their property. This is explained in one of a couple of scenes extended too far beyond what’s necessary to know and beyond the bounds of character development, the other being the explanations accompanying Lauren’s Alaskan departure.

It does, though, result in her acquiring a VW campervan, used well by Allan as a distinct visual counterpoint to conditions as Lauren drives through Alaska. There are a multitude of European graphic novels fetishising classic cars, and if Allan ever tires of Wolf’s Head, there’s a home for him there. Lauren is as ever accompanied by her dog Sankō, and Allan’s as good at drawing wildlife as he is with technology, while the people also transmit as having real emotions.

Given some scenes could have been considerably contracted, there may be some disappointment at this volume being largely the set-up for Vol. 9. We leave Lauren trying to formulate a plan, but the AI seemingly unco-operative.

Allan’s back of the book pages are always interesting, and the essay this time is more personal than usual, concerning the life and death of a good friend, noting how little real support there is for people suffering with mental health issues.