Available Formats
Neurocomic
By (Author) Matteo Farinella
By (author) Hana Ro
Illustrated by Matteo Farinella
Illustrated by Hana Ro
Flying Eye Books
Nobrow Ltd
1st September 2013
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
741.5
Hardback
144
Width 168mm, Height 230mm
A genre-splicing collaboration between a neuroscientist and a comics artist (who also happens to study neuroscience) about the way our brains work.
Welcome to Neurocomic, a visually captivating adventure through the brain. Neurocomic is populated by quirky creatures, bizarre landscapes and famous neuroscientists. Our nameless protagonist evades vindictive colossal squid, negotiates mysterious trap doors, battles Boschean narcotic demons and navigates forests of neurons to take you on a rapturous journey through the most complex organic structure in the universe. Neurocomic makes a baffling, mysterious subject approachable for the layman but it's also a wonderful object in its own right, one that cries out to be picked up and read. Produced in association with the Wellcome Trust, the largest medical charity in the world, Neurocomic is a wonderful introduction to the complexities of the brain.
"This remarkable collaboration between Dr. Hana Ro (and god knows I love few things more than a female neuroscientist) and neuroscience-PhD-turned-illustrator Dr. Matteo Farinella, with support from the Wellcome Trust, explains the inner workings of the brain in delightful and illuminating black-and-white illustrations, covering everything from perception and hallucinations to memory and emotional recall to consciousness and the difference between the mind and the brain."
Brain Pickings
"I wish there was more of this art/science crossover in science books, dont you"
It's Okay To Be Smart
"This unusual comic, both written and illustrated by neuroscientists, is sure to excite readers to further study the brain.[] easy-to-understand illustrations and explanations of the underpinnings of neuroscience.
American Association for the Advancement of Science
"The books descriptions of the cellular mechanics behind neurological function (often narrated by comically illustrated versions of pioneering neurologists) are captivating and informative. This book should please anyone who loves graphic novels or enjoys an entertaining read on neurology."
American Scientist
"...incredibly informative and obviously expertly presented. Its two young creators --- she earned her Ph.D. in 2007, he obtained his in 2013 --- lend expertise and authenticity to the project, which was no doubt a labor of love for them both. The comics format allows them to have a great deal of fun with the material, which is enjoyable for the reader as such heady topics as "Is my mind something else than the brain Or is the mind just a product of my brain" are covered. If youre at all interested in the question of what makes you truly you, this is the comic to help you better understand both the answer and the question."
Graphic Novel Reporter
"This is a book for laymen and beginner students, not experts, but if youre interested in taking a surreal but simple trip through the incredibly complicated landscape inside your skull, this might be the rabbit hole youre looking for."
Wired
"By turning neurons into trees, the depths of memory into caves, and the minds self-deceptiveness into a haunted castle, Ro and Farinella take you on a visual and verbal rollercoaster ride into your own brain in hopes of bringing the non-brain surgeons of the world closer to cutting through all the scientific jargon and considering the big questions of brain versus mind, how we remember, and how we become who we are. A mind trip in every sense of the word, Neurocomic gets into your head to get you into your own head."
The Big Think
"While the concepts are still probably heady for a casual reader to immerse themselves in, Neurocomic is great for someone with a predisposed interest in science, especially young adult readers. A book like this can be an excellent gateway for young minds into further scientific studies."
Mental Floss
"Written by two neuroscientists, this book uses a journey through the human brain to show us all its wonders. We follow the protagonist meeting various strange characters inhabiting the world of the mind, learning something from each of them. Engagingly trippy, in the best way possible."
Comic Book Resources
"The book is a psychological and anatomical Alice in Wonderland where a central male figure with a cartoonishly large head and very amusing facial expressions encounters a "force" pulling him into a cheerful-looking young womans brain on a sunny day. Thereafter he finds himself in a "dense forest" of the mind, or the brain, to be more exact. Here his tutorials begin, because if he ever wants to escape, he must map the brain with the aid of significant neuroscientists throughout history who he encounters. "
Bleeding Cool
"It combines all the best elements of science, art, humor, story and information. It illuminates the brain in new and wonderful ways. [] Its an altogether engrossing and entertaining way to learn about the brain. We often see science as stuffy and serious, but this book injects so much playfulness and humor into neuroscience, that its an irresistible way to learn. The drawings are lively and expressive. I love the playful way brain functions are characterized. [] Nobrow has done a stellar job in publishing it. Its a delight to hold and behold. I worry that the era of beautiful books has come to an end with ebooks, but publishers like Nobrow are putting those fears to rest."
Joy Corcoran
Dr. Hana Ros is a neuroscientist with a Phd from Oxford University, UK.Dr. Matteo Farinella is an illustrator specialising in graphic journalism and scientific illustration. Farinella received a PhD in Neuroscience from University College London in 2013.Neurocomicis Ros and Farinella'sfirst title with Nobrow.