with an evident respect for history, they bring the pages of textbooks to life for the young adult reader
-- Children's Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013
enlightening
-- Children's Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013
even-handed in its representation, Paddy Lynch's understated artwork complements McConville's engaging and historically accurate material
-- Children's Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013
a wonderful atmospheric ambiance
-- Books Ireland
effective text and graphics have brought the episodes vividly to life
-- Books Ireland
one to be highly recommended
-- Books Ireland
this graphic novel is important
-- http://girlslikecomics.com
McConville's writing is at all times very tight; Big Jim is clearly a work that's been edited and rewritten and edited some more, but the process stands to the finished product
-- http://girlslikecomics.com
I had my stepfather read it, to see what he thought. He's a huge history buff. It was the first graphic novel he'd ever seen, He said - I think it would be a great introduction for young people coming to history for the first time, who want to know what happened and get a taste of the era, but don't want to have to go diving into some big tome.
-- http://girlslikecomics.com
accessible format
-- eastwallforall.ie
beautifully illustrated
-- eastwallforall.ie
the children ... were fascinated by their [Rory and Paddy's] presentation
-- eastwallforall.ie
McConville's writing is skilful
-- Look Left
Lynch's artwork is extremely effective, as rough and dark as the era it depicts, and interesting use is made of archival photographs cleverly interspersed throughout
-- Look Left
quite witty in places
-- Look Left
an enjoyable and unique read, as well as being a great introduction to the Lockout in it its centenary year
-- Look Left
an immersive, almost thriller-like, storytelling style
-- NewsFour
enjoyable to read ... a good sense of the time
-- thecomiccast.com
would highly recommend people buy it
-- thecomiccast.com
'the Irish comics industry has never been in better form, something which this offering from Rory McConville and Paddy Lynch only serves to confirm'
-- Sunday Business Post
'[O'Brien Press graphic novels] appeal as much to children as to older readers'
-- Evening Echo
'a valuable and refreshing look at an important part of Irish history'
-- Evening Echo
