30 Jan Graphic Novel Review: The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag

I picked up The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag knowing it was a graphic novel, but I was not prepared for just how hauntingly beautiful and immersive the illustrations would be. Stålenhag’s reputation for blending evocative art with melancholic storytelling had me intrigued, and this book delivered on every front.

What’s it about?

The Electric State is set in an alternate 1997 America, a desolate and dystopian version of the West Coast where technology has spiraled out of control. The story follows Michelle, a teenage runaway, as she travels through this eerily empty landscape with her robot companion, Skip. Their goal is to reach California, where Michelle believes she’ll find answers about her missing brother and the collapse of their world.

The narrative is told through a mix of text and breathtaking illustrations, creating a unique blend of story and art. The backdrop of Michelle’s journey is a decaying America, littered with remnants of once-great technological advancements. Towering drones and abandoned robots stand as eerie monuments to a civilization brought to its knees by a mysterious virtual reality system known as the Neural Network.

As Michelle travels further, the story reveals how the Neural Network seduced and ultimately enslaved humanity, turning its users into lifeless shells. The world she navigates is hauntingly familiar yet utterly alien—an apocalyptic vision of what happens when technology runs unchecked. Her personal story of loss and survival is deeply intertwined with this larger narrative of societal collapse, and Stålenhag expertly ties the two threads together.

The book’s illustrations amplify the story’s emotional weight, capturing the vast, empty landscapes and the strange beauty of a ruined world. Each image feels like a snapshot from a dream—vivid, surreal, and tinged with melancholy.

What This Chick Thinks

Reading The Electric State was a mesmerizing experience. Simon Stålenhag’s artwork is the heart of the book, and it’s nothing short of extraordinary. His illustrations blend hyperrealism with a retro-futuristic aesthetic, creating a world that feels both grounded and otherworldly. The muted color palette, with its soft blues and oranges, evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia that perfectly complements the story’s themes.

Michelle’s journey is understated yet deeply moving. Stålenhag’s decision to tell her story in a quiet, introspective way allows the reader to focus on the weight of her loss and the desolation of the world around her. The relationship between Michelle and Skip, her robot companion, is subtle but poignant, adding a touch of warmth to an otherwise cold and lonely world.

The pacing is deliberately slow, allowing readers to linger on the images and absorb the details of the story. While the minimalistic text may leave some craving more traditional narrative structure, I found the balance between words and visuals to be incredibly effective. The illustrations do so much of the storytelling that the sparse prose feels like an intentional and powerful choice.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to provoke reflection. It’s a chilling commentary on humanity’s relationship with technology and the potential consequences of losing ourselves in it. At the same time, it’s a deeply personal story about grief, memory, and the enduring need for connection.

Final Thoughts

The Electric State is a stunning fusion of art and storytelling that lingers long after the last page. Simon Stålenhag’s illustrations are nothing short of masterful, capturing the eerie beauty of a world teetering on the edge of collapse. This is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction, graphic novels, and anyone who appreciates storytelling that’s as much about what’s shown as what’s said. I’d rate it a solid 9 out of 10.

Try it if you like:

• “Saga” by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
  A graphic novel series blending stunning artwork with a deeply emotional story of survival and connection.
• “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel
  A haunting tale of a post-apocalyptic world that focuses on art, humanity, and the fragments of what remains.
• “Black Mirror” (TV Series)
  If you enjoy dystopian narratives exploring the dark side of technology, this anthology series offers a similar sense of unease and introspection.