Over the Wall - by Peter Wartman (Paperback)

About the Book

A young girl explores an ancient city and grapples with strange creatures and the amnesia of an entire civilization.

Book Synopsis

One of 10 Best Comics and Graphic Novels of the year.--The Onion
Great Graphic Novel for Teens--Young Adult Library Services Association
A great wall separates a magnificent metropolis from the surrounding countryside. All humans are banned from ever entering the city. A young girl is determined to enter the forbidden city in search of her lost brother. When she crosses over, fantastic adventures ensue in narrow medieval streets, ancient temples, and abandoned bazars of the haunted city. To save her missing brother, she must grapple with mythical creatures, explore the mystery of the missing inhabitants, and cure the amnesia of an entire civilization. Over the Wall immerses the reader in a richly imagined world of coming of age rituals, lost worlds and the nature of memory. The beautiful two-color art vividly brings to life the fantastical architecture of mysterious metropolis and faintly evokes the crisp lines of Japanese anime. Over the Wall is a stunning debut from a young and talented cartoonist Peter Wartman.
Peter Wartman is a designer by day and a cartoonist by night. He lives and works in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Over the Wall is his first graphic novel.

From the Back Cover

A great wall separates an ancient metropolis from the surrounding country side. Abandoned, shrouded by time, forbidden to all. No one may enter the mysterious city... Who dares to go over the wall?

Review Quotes

One of 10 Best Comics and Graphic Novels of the year.--The Onion

Great Graphic Novel for Teens--Young Adult Library Services Association

Above all of the book's technical virtuosity is a loving eye for charismatic characters who earn their charm--especially the girl and the demon she encounters as she enters the city, whose wary relationship winds up making for a simple, stunning payoff at the end that's as heart-piercing as the greatest moments of Jeff Smith's Bone.--The Onion AV Club

[The heroine's] venture into the city [is] presented by Wartman in lavish inks and detailed haunting, labyrinthine architecture. Wartman's use of silent panels, distance, and scale suggest the overwhelming revelations facing his youthful challenger, and his visual focus on the role of storytelling is often ingeniously presented through stone inscriptions and statuary that expand upon the story. [Over the Wall is] a highly approachable adventure tale that explores the nature of quests and the motivations behind them.--Publisher's Weekly

Middle-school readers will love this strong young woman and her dramatic fantasy-adventure.--Booklist

Like the old fairy tales, the story is dark, but our heroine is plucky and determined. Unlike the old tales, there is no clean sweep of an ending. Over the Wall breaks the mold by reminding us that life is not a fairy tale. Things are still unresolved, still broken, despite our best effort.--Sequential State

I can barely believe this is Peter's first graphic novel. He's arrived on the published page fully formed with exceedingly attractive cartooning skills and the most extraordinary ability to propel his protagonists through a completely credible, solid labyrinthine environment shown from multiple and thrilling camera angles.--Page 45

Wartman arrives like a bolt-out-of-the-blue into the world of all-ages and young adult comics. It's less a question of 'where has this guy been hiding?' -- Minnesota, apparently -- and more a sense of relief at the arrival of such a talent. [...] Over The Wall is a wool sweater sort of a comic; it envelops and comforts, but also prickles with reality. --Comics Bulletin

There's more than a little Jeff [Bone] Smith flavor in these proceedings, which means that the DNA of Smith's influences (Carl Barks and Walt Kelly) can also be seen.-High Low Comics

Over the Wall succeeds most in its lavish illustrations of the mythological city. I'm a nut for maps, world building, and architecture, and Over the Wall creates a fully-imagined place that inspires exploration of every panel. It's a great book about friendship and family and coming-of-age, and one that will fit comfortably on any readers shelf next to the Bone and Amulet books.--iFanboy

"Over the Wall is a wonderful book. A rescue mission and accidental vision quest set in a pertly realized dark and derelict land. A humble totem to remember what is important... family, friends and sincerity."--Aaron Renier, author of The Unsinkable Walker Bean

About the Author

Peter Wartman is a cartoonists and designer. He lives and works in Minneapolis, MN.