Pacific Rim: Tales From Year Zero

First off I would like to say that the overall rating of this product would've been FIVE stars. Sadly I had to take off one star for its including unnecessary partial nudity scenes. Without these, the book would have been a great comic to share with kids and teenagers. I know that comic books artist strive to include these things to attract more customers, but IN MY OPINION, they could have still told this amazing story without including these things.For those who do not know what this book is about, it is a graphic novel that is meant to be a prequel to the upcoming 2013 film Pacific Rim by Warner Bros. Pictures. It helps explain how the Pacific Rim universe came to be, with the earth invasion of giant inter-dimensional monsters (called Kaiju) and mankind's attempt to stop them by fighting them with giant human-piloted robots/mechs (called Jaegars).Now onto the review:Okay, in regards to the STORY of this book, it starts off in the middle of the Kaiju War with a reporter interviewing several characters who have been affected directly by the events that have unfolded over the years of battling the monsters. They tell their stories and the reader is taken through flashbacks back in time to different dates of importance during the beginning of the Kaiju war. The depth of each character and their story really helps set the foundation for some of the characters that will appear in the movie. It also explores the conception of the idea of the Jaegers, the challenges that involved creating them and piloting them.You will learn more about the characters from the movie and see what motivates them to keep fighting the monsters. These stories include:Stacker Pentecost's story (portayed by actor Idris Elba)Raleigh Becket's story (portayed by actor Charlie Hunnam)Mako Mori's story (portayed by actor Rinko Kikuchi)and others...In regards to the QUALITY of this book, it is a really good quality hard cover with an amazing picture in the front. The illustrations of the book are attention-grabbing and highly detailed. You can tell a lot of thought went into designing the Kaiju monsters and the Jaegars (not only for this comic but also for the movie), and they are wonderfully illustrated here in comic book drawn form (as opposed to the CGI, real-world appearance they will have in the movies).A great part of the product the inclusion of an AMAZING two page Introduction by writer Travis Beachman in which he details his ideas about creating the universe of Pacific Rim and the story that they try to tell from it. It is as he says "The [Pacific Rim] world doesn't fit in its story; the story fits in the world"! Also includes a few pages that illustrates the process of creating this graphic novel: from script to layouts, from shaded drawings to fully colored and worded panels! A great addition to the novel!In conclusion, an AMAZING experience for anyone, but especially if you are planning to see the movie Pacific Rim when it hits theaters July 12, 2013.

First let's address some things mentioned on some other reviews:-Quality of the art work - I haven't read a lot of comic books and/or graphic novels, but I have read several, about a dozen or so. The art work here at least as good of most I've see else were. It doesn't knock it out of the park, but doesn't suck; it's middle of the road, and there's nothing wrong with that. I can read everything clearly, in just a second or two I can pick out all the relevant information from each panel so as not to disrupt the flow, but there is enough detail that I can really dig into most of the panels for more.-Nudity - There really isn't. There is one panel in which a character is in the shower, her arm covers anything that might be "risqué." There are also a few (three I think, I'm not positive on the number) of scenes of pilot's minds connected to control the Jaeger. This is shown with a commonly used ethereal, out-of-bodyesque dream state; and is typical for these types of shots done nude, i.e. clothes don't show up in the mind's eye (although, apparently eyeglasses do). Here either arms/legs, hair, or mist like shadows cover everything. Your typical beach shows just as much (or more) skin.Now the good:This is an interesting look into the early days of the Kaiju Wars. You get to see some of the back stories for several characters and concepts. As the introduction to the book states, any good fictional universe should be as expansive and real as our own. This book shows a peak into some of that.The bad:-- NOTE: This is a minor complaint at worst, in some way (read on and you'll see what I mean) it's even a plus --This book is short. You can read it in about a half an hour. In some ways that's okay, it leaves you both wanting to know more and knowing that there is more here that can eventually be found. That's what makes for a really good supplementary material/expanded universe, the knowledge that there is more to the universe that just "the story."

It took 20 people to create this graphic novel, and it comes off as a complimentary piece to the movie. For those looking for mindless explosions, look elsewhere. For those who love more context to their stories, this is perfect.Naomi Sokolov (who is an exclusive character to this graphic novel) interviews three central characters to the story: Tendo Choi, who was in San Francisco during the events of K-Day (the arrival of the first Kaiju, Trespasser), Dr. Jasper Schoenfeld, one of the creators of the Jaeger Project, and Stacker Pentecost, Raleigh's CO and heralded Jaeger project. Through the flashbacks revealed in this graphic novel, you see the unseen backstory of the events of K-Day, the personal drama surrounding the creation of Brawler Yukon, the first Jeager to kill a Kaiju, and why the war with the Kaiju is so personal to Stacker Pentecost.The story aspect makes you want to read it again, since the story fits together like a jigsaw puzzle in correlation to the events in the film. The Illustrations add proportionate scope when the Kaiju appear in the story, yet with the subtlety, the meaning, and the mood when it relates to the characters outside of the Jaegers.I read the graphic novel after I saw the sublime Pacific Rim, and this serves as a great companion piece to the movie. I spent $15 for this product, and I am happy to report that it is worth every last dime. If you have not picked up this story yet, I give it a wholehearted recommendation.

First off, if you are wanting tales of Jaegers destroying Kaiju, this isn't for you. Save your money and don't write a bad review of this excellent book. This is a prequel primarily focuses on showing the back story of characters from the film and to a lesser extent, the development of the Jaegers. By the end, you will know more about the characters, appreciate the film more and also want more of this book and film!

I bought this before the film came out so I could get an idea on how this all began.I must say I am impressed It gave me a good understanding of several characters we see in the film and also serves as a kind of origins story for some of the characters as well as showing how the jeagers were created to fight the kaiju's.Overall I think this will be great for those who want to know a little more about before the event's of the film.

Not long enough for me, I read it in about 10 minutes but what a worth while addition to the Pacific Rim universe. Three prequel stories to take the reader from the first Kaiju attack, Stacker and Mako and the Beckett Brothers to the start of the movie. I just wish there was more.

Excellent read, good graphics not brilliant, over a bit too quickly. just leaves you wanting to read more about this universe. One of those films I would love to see a sequel or a prequel or both.

Great quality, Artwork is excellent and really like how it fleshes out the story.Here comes the But.... Its Short.Real short, and I think it doesn't really represent great value for money.