10/11/2012
Name : Kim (lutrasilvereye)
where do you hail from : Western Australia
Review of the product : I've now read this twice and was as engrossed the second time as I was the first. I feel like it is suitable for young readers as well as old. The art is absolutely stunning, and makes me want to colour it in! I'm looking forward to the next parts eagerly, and hope Travis can achieve his dream with Bean. Fantastic plot, characters, storyline, art and I can only recommend it at the highest level to other fantasy readers.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

10/11/2012
Name : Toby
where do you hail from : New Hampshire
Review of the product : The Bean has an engrossing story with wonderful art. The art is filled with world filling details that lend so much to the story. The world grows with each page and the characters grow and blossom as the story progresses. Each new page and each new book are highlights of my days and months.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

6/26/2012
Name : D. Huynh
where do you hail from : ON, Canada
Review of the product : The bean vol 1 has been an addicting story, where I could not stop flipping the pages to continue the story. Intertwined in Bean's adventure, you not only take astride in his footsteps but also the woven destiny imparted to other supportive characters. As each of the character sets off in his or her own path, will their paths ever intersect? Perhaps in future volumes will I find that answer. As a reader, I had great difficulty putting down Vol 1. Fortunately, Trav has segregated each adventure arc with a blank page which allows me to finally set the book down and savour the thoughts of curiosity on what is to come. The Bean is a storyline that I recommend others to read for future generations to come.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

4/6/2012
Name : Brett
where do you hail from : Maryland
Review of the product : The Bean vol 1: Riddles & Shrooms introduces us to a new high fantasy epic. Some say high fantasy is done to death, but what they really mean is that they have read too much junk high fantasy. The Bean is not junk. The story is well told, the characters have interesting distinct personalities and the art supports and strengthens these characters. I care about all of the characters, none of them are throw-aways. I have to regrets about The Bean, that I did not discover it sooner and that the whole story is not complete, so I have to wait to see it all unfold. I can not wait to see how it all comes out and am really looking forward to reading The Bean for quite awhile.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

4/3/2012
Name : Joshua Sloan
where do you hail from : Everett, WA
Review of the product : Totally, completely worth it. If you're here, you probably are already aware of what a high-quality story this is and want to own your own copy. These volumes are as high a quality as you can get for graphic novels. Each page is pristine. The text is easy to follow and the art looks incredible on the page. The cover artwork is great as well. And one thing that for some reason I really pay attention to--there's actually something written on the spine. =P A lot of indie comics don't have that, but this looks like a full-scale production through and through. The bonus info at the back is cool, too.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

3/5/2012
Name : AP Furtado
where do you hail from : Orlando
Review of the product : I love the fantasy genre. But there's a big difference between fantasy stories that I like and fantasy stories that I love. What makes that difference is the creator. Many creators whose work I enjoy can whip-out a good fantasy story and entertain me just because of my love for the genre. There's only a few though, whose love for the genre and the story that they're telling truly makes me love what they do. I know Travis and I know that The Bean is his passion. It shows on every page. I know how much effort and time he puts into creating the world of The Bean and it's something I can really appreciate. Even if I didn't know Mr. Hanson; upon reading this fantastic epic, his love of what he's doing would resonate with me, pull me in and allow me to escape and play in his world while turning every page. This is why I love The Bean. Whether it's for inspiration, adventure or just a desire to escape into a fully realized world in a genre I love...I look forward to escaping into The Bean's world any chance I can get.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

3/3/2012
Name : John
where do you hail from : AZ
Review of the product : This is a great graphic novel. Many of my wife's students have enjoyed reading it and we both loved it. The artwork is fantastic and the story is fun. I would recommend this for both children and adults who still feel young at heart.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

3/2/2012
Name : heidi2524
where do you hail from : TX
Review of the product : Great art and story. Nice to have the first set of comics as a compilation.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

3/2/2012
Name : Andy
where do you hail from : http://lithicbee.wordpress.com
Review of the product : The Bean starts out in what feels like your typical fantasy world set-up. There are humans, ogres, elves, and goblins, and the story is centered around an orphaned human boy named Bean whose father disappeared, resulting in Bean having to work as an indentured servant to an ogre who runs an inn. Bean is soon caught up in an adventure that deals with an evil, rhyming troll and a revelation about Bean's missing father. So what elevates this work above other Tolkien-esque fantasy stories? Travis' artwork, for one thing. His landscapes (both above and below ground, but more on that in a bit), the fantastical flora and fauna that inhabit them, the run-down feel of the world the characters inhabit, and the style of the characters themselves, all work together well. I find myself examining every panel for the details it holds, rather than simply rushing through the story. Travis is able to breathe life into the world and the characters, so that you believe in and connect to even the most inhuman of characters. I especially enjoy the underground worlds that Travis creates, both in this story and his prints. I love stories, fictional and true, about underground environments hidden under the world we know, and once The Bean heads underground, you have caverns full of decrepit statues, endless staircases, rusting pipes, ancient hieroglyphs, and hints of monstrous things lurking at the edge of darkness. Basically, everything I think is cool about the underground. The other thing that kept me reading was a second plot about a ranger who goes searching for Bean only to stumble onto a larger threat facing the region, which may just loop back around to tie into Bean's own hidden history. There are also hints of influences of Michael Moorcock and even The Legend of Zelda thrown in here (those might just be my perception), and by the end of Volume One, the series was hitting all the right notes to entice me to read on.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

3/2/2012
Name : C.S. Daley
where do you hail from : Somewhere Over There
Review of the product : Drawn in landscape form The Bean is a lovely comic telling the story of a young boy named Bean who suddenly finds himself in the middle of a hunt for a very mythical item. The book has battles, humor, goblins, ogres, mysterious strangers. It is a lovely journey told through pictures and words. The thing I am most impressed by it is how well the story unfolds. How beautiful the words and pictures work together to cement the heroic tale in your brain. After I finished volume one I simply could not wait to read the next one. The story has such a light and wonderful touch. It is subtle and full of joy and magic. Something everyone in your family can enjoy. You can feel Mr. Hanson's passion leaking out all over these magical pages. So many details, so much story. The landscape drawings jump off the page and really allow Mr. Hanson's art to shine. The Bean is one of the most delightful tales I have had the privilege to read in years. I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes

3/2/2012
Name : Krystia
where do you hail from : Earth
Review of the product : I must say that this graphic novel is very entertaining and captivating. It sucks you in and wraps you up in the story line, making you constantly want to know more. I would rank it up there with the graphic novel Bone in how amazing the artwork and story line is. This is a great read for anyone (families, teens, kids, adults, elderly people. Trust me you wont be disappointed
Would you recommend this to someone else : Yes