JOE QUINN’S POLTERGEIST is a graphic novel that doesn’t actually revolve around Joe Quinn, but instead is centered on a young teenage boy named Davie. Based off the language and some of the places mentioned, I’m guessing the story takes place in England. Joe Quinn is a strange kid whose father is in jail and whose mother apparently lived a wild life before Joe was born. One day, Joe shows up to pester Davie and Davie’s friend Geordie. Davie and Geordie are watching some girls play tennis. Joe shows up and tells them there’s a poltergeist in his house. He asks Davie and Geordie if they want to come see. Davie doesn’t want to, but Geordie does. After their visit, Davie begins to believe there really is a poltergeist in Joe Quinn’s house, but Geordie thinks he’s kind of daft and tells him it was just Joe throwing things around. As the story progresses, the reader learns that the real poltergeist is within Davie as he still hasn’t come to terms with the death of his sister. He starts conversing with a local priest, but things really don’t go as expected.
Based upon the advertising, I had assumed that JOE QUINN’S POLTERGEIST was going to be a graphic novel story about things of the supernatural and some young kids. Turns out, it’s not. It’s a “realistic” graphic novel, meaning that the story is firmly grounded on terra firma with no attachment to anything supernatural. The poltergeist in the story isn’t a supernatural ghost. Instead, it’s the inner turmoil Davie feels about the loss of his sister.
Also based upon the advertising, I thought this was going to be a children’s graphic novel. It is not suited for children at all. Teens might enjoy the book. However, while the main characters are teens, the story is really an adult story.
I was really disappointed by JOE QUINN’S POLTERGEIST. It is true that the story wasn’t what I expected. However, putting that aside, the story itself really isn’t that great of a story. There really isn’t much of a story at all. In the end, instead of knowledge, Davie basically learns that everything is meaningless and there is only us. There’s no hope. There’s no redemption. There’s no real ending. In tone, the book reminded me of a Raymond Carver story. If you enjoy depressing and dreary fiction, seeped in realism, then you might enjoy this book.
