The Last of Us: American Dreams

The graphic novel The Last of Us: American Dreams is generally praised by fans of the video game for providing a valuable backstory to one of its main characters, Ellie, and her relationship with Riley. Reviewers appreciated how it tied in well with the game's universe and its downloadable content, offering insight into Ellie's rebellious nature and her early journey before the main storyline. Many found the characterization and dialogue to be spot-on, capturing the established tone of The Last of Us. Additionally, some readers enjoyed the art style, describing it as effective in conveying emotion, making the characters accessible, and working well despite its cartoony appearance.

However, a significant number of reviews highlight the book's brevity as its primary drawback. Many felt it was too short to be something special or to add meaningful depth to the lore, leaving them unfulfilled and wishing for more content. This led to opinions that the story felt thin, bland, or inconsequential, offering little new information beyond what was already known or implied from the games. The art style, while appreciated by some, was criticized by others for being "ugly," "atrocious," or not capturing the somber, nuanced aesthetic of the game. Some also noted a lack of the expected post-apocalyptic atmosphere or appearances from infected creatures, and found the dialogue to be dull.

In conclusion, The Last of Us: American Dreams serves primarily as a supplementary piece, offering a brief glimpse into Ellie's early life and her friendship with Riley before the events of the main game. It is best suited for dedicated fans of The Last of Us franchise who are eager to consume every fragment of its lore and are deeply invested in Ellie's character development. However, readers seeking a substantial, standalone narrative, significant new additions to the story, or a departure from the game's established themes might find it too short and insubstantial to fully satisfy.