Review - Dingo #1

Dingo #1
Created and Written by Michael Alan Nelson
Art by Francesco Biagini
Boom! Studios

First part of a 4 issue mini-series, it tells the tale of man (called Dingo) with hard luck who is trying to get a box back. The box was lost by his rock star brother and bad things happen when it's opened. On his way from LA to Las Vegas to retrieve the box, Dingo somehow gets lost (must of strayed off Zyzzx road) and befriends/adopts a huge black dog named Cerberus. The issue ends with Dingo's ex-wife showing up with some thugs to take the box and kill Dingo.

Even though this is only four issues, I'm not going to continue getting this one. The mish-mash of Dingo's noir voice over narration and Greek Mythology updated to today didn't impress me enough to keep going on this title.

Comics for the week of December 23, 2009

Gotham City Sirens #7
Spider Woman #4
Guardians of the Galaxy #21
Detective Comics #860
Battlefields: Happy Valley #1
Wolverine: Origins #43
Madame Xanadu #18
Chew #7
Wonder Woman #39
Irredeemable #9
Victorian Undead #2
Uncanny X-Men #519

Must be extra thick this time to make up for no shipments next week.

Review - Sweet Tooth 1-3

Sweet Tooth 1-3
by Jeff Lemire
Vertigo

Vertigo snagged me with this book by offering the first issue for only one dollar. Their dollar strategy didn't work with their book Greek Street, but Sweet Tooth grabbed me and I had to get the following issues to see where Jeff Lemire would take the story.

Sweet Tooth is about a boy named Gus who was raised by his dad alone in a cabin isolated from all human contact. Gus also happens to have antlers and ears like a deer. Being told by his father never to leave the forest and to keep away from people, his dad dies leaving Gus alone. After a while, he wanders beyond the forest and gets assaulted by a couple of good ol' boys. Getting rescued by a man named Jepperd and discovering that Gus has a penchant for sweets, the two of them go off to find the safe place called The Preserve for Gus to live.

The story grows with each issue making it far more intriguing. It turns out, in the story the world has gone through a major catastrophe of some type and the population of the planet is mostly decimated. And that there are other children out there who have animal attributes like Gus, who seem to be immune to whatever is killing people. As Gus and Jepperd start their journey, we realize the extent of the devastation and the amount of danger is in this world. But Gus isn't dumb or so naive to follow Jepperd blindly. And indeed, Gus isn't sure he should even completely trust Jepperd, but travels with him anyway.

As I mentioned, this book grabbed me and so far, won't let me go. In each issue we find out more about Gus and his world. With sparse, dark artwork, Lemire creates an atmosphere that creates an unease in the reader. Heavily shadowed with dark colors and very little light, a bleakness is represented in almost every panel of this comic.

I would definitely recommend this comic for our older teen patrons. The level of suspense is gripping and grabs you and pulls you along.

Review - The Color of Earth

The Color of Earth
by Kim Dong Hwa
First Second Books
 

I had been reading about this book in several library type magazines as being well done. And last month I added the three book of this trilogy to the buy list for the library.

The Color of Earth is a coming of age story set around a young woman named Ehwa. She is 10 at the start of the book and lives with her widowed mother who runs the tavern in an rural village. Set in Korea during the early 1900s, this first book in a trilogy is a wonderful story with very pretty artwork. By the end of the book, Ehwa is a young teenager and her interests in boys is growing.

The relationship and discussion between Ehwa and her mother makes up most of the story. As Ehwa asks questions about growing up and she is told about life and relationships, many of the answers involve stories of flowers, insects and the wind. Ehwa notices a young monk in training and equates him with tiger lilies. Another boy, who is the son of the orchard grower, makes an impression on Ehwa, but has to go back to the city for his studies. And throughout the book, Ehwa's mother is loving and supportive of the decisions Ehwa makes concerning her life. The analogies for love and sex are almost poetic and in some sense (from my cynically unromantic point of view) almost unintentionally comical.

The art is very well done. Mostly using line drawings for the characters, occasionally they jump into a Japanese chibi style when appropriate. Also, though most of the background art is sparse, occasionally a realistic drawing of a landscape will be presented to effectively add to the drama of the tale. And once I figured out that Ehwa has a solid top with a patterned skirt and her mother is opposite with a patterned top and a solid skirt, it was much easier to follow the story.

Since the library has a new Young Adult librarian, I'm going to let her decide if these books are going to go into the adult non-fiction area of the young adult graphic novel section. Personally, though the themes are of love and sex, this treatment is very poetic and thoughtful.

Comics for the week of December 16, 2009

Deadpool #18
Dark Wolverine #81
Batman #694
Astonishing X-Men #32 and #33
Incorruptible #1
Spin Angels #4
Power Girl #7
Haunt #3
Kookaburra K #2
Mighty Avengers #32

Review - Teenagers from Mars

Teenagers From Mars
Written by Rick Speares
Art by Rob G
Publish By Gigantic Graphic Novels

Luckily, the library budget has been increased and there is more money for me to pick up graphic novels for our collection. I can be a little more experimental in selection and get some of the less well known publishers books. And when the book Teenagers from Mars came across my selection list, I decided to add it to the months book order.

Written by Rick Spears with art by Rob G, this is a story set in a town called Mars. Originally an eight issue series, this book collects all the issues in this one volume. Mars is where teenagers who are on the outside of "normal" society are ostracised by adults who just don't understand. Two teenagers, Macon who is a comic book creator who gets fired from MallMart for refusing the order of his manager to remove the comic books because of a mothers complaint about the "disturbing and totally inappropriate" comic. The other teen is a punk girl named Madison who joins with Macon and they become partners fighting against the establishment creating a group called the Comic Book Liberation Army. As they marshal the nerdy subculture of Mars against the establishment, the level of stakes in their revolt become more pressing.

This book is not subtle. On initial reading, I actually thought it was too blunt in its message. I found it distracting how the action ratcheted almost to an unbelievable level. But Rick Spears created characters which are not too deep, but they do represent the greater feeling of persecution outsiders might feel. And as I pondered this book for a couple days, I grew to appreciate Spears' passion for free speech and expression that is expressed. He even talks about the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and a case they helped defend. I think his bluntness of the message is in direct correlation to his belief in the message.

It took me a little to grow into the artwork. It's not strange or anything, but coming off reading Marvel and DC books for the past couple weeks, I had to adjust to the black and white pages. His figures are dynamic and the faces are expressive and interesting. The backgrounds are sparse, but that's ok because the setting is not relevant to the message of the story.

I'm going to put this book the adult non-fiction area. There is profanity and nudity that could, if a sensitive mother of a 13 year old sees it, turn this book into a real live version of itself. I think its great for our community because I know there is a teen subculture that appreciates expression and free thought which this book celebrates. And hopefully an adventurous teen will find this and appreciate its blunt message.

Comics for the week of November 25, 2009

Dark Wolverine #80
Madame Xanadu #17
Guardians of the Galaxy #20
Detective Comics #859
Chew #6
Gotham City Sirens #5 and #6
Dominic Fortune #4
Uncanny X-Men #517
Immortal Weapons #5

Review - Ball Peen Hammer

Ball Peen Hammer
Written by Adam Rapp
Art by George O'Connor
Publish By First Second

Ball Peen Hammer is about a society suffering from an unknown disease which affects 96% of the population and is fatal. Told through a hand full of characters which initially seem unrelated, the reader gets glimpses into how society has changed with many of its inhabitants suffering from this modern day plague.

There are four main characters. Two men, Welton, a musician, and Aaron, a writer are holed up in a basement while a woman named Exley is helping a teenage boy named Horlick atop clock tower. All of them are trying to figure out how to survive in this broken, dangerous world. It seems there is a group that assigns individuals gruesome tasks which they must complete. But no one knows who this group is or why they these tasks are required. And tension in the story grows as we learn more about the characters discuss their situations and responsibilities.

Adam Rapp is actually a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, and musician and this is his first time writing a graphic novel. I didn't know he was so versatile when I picked this up for the library. But on contemplation after reading, it's easy to see how this could be set as a play. With just a couple settings and limited characters, there is depth to the story that isn't present in most comics.

What's interesting is that the two groups each emphasize a different aspect of this broken society. Welton and Aaron discuss the tasks individuals are given, art, and the reason why they ended up sitting in a basement. While Exley and Horlick are growing emotionally closer to each other with little thought about why they are in the terrible situation society seems to be in. Rapp is able to use these two groups to look at the same situation from two different angles giving the reader a more nuanced look at the world he has created for this book.

The art by George O'Connor is a little cartoony, but very well done for this work. The color palettes change between the pages concerning Welton and Aaron or Exley and Horlick. The characters are all very unique and have great expressions. The backgrounds are somewhat sparse, but in a post-apocalyptic work, it is very appropriate.

The blurb on the back cover is from Booklist magazine and says "Not for gentle readers". I am putting this in the adult non-fiction area of our collection because there are some harsh language and graphic violence. I can see a school librarians in Kentucky would be nervous ordering this.

Comics for the week of November 18, 2009

Irredeemable #8
Kookaburra K #1
Spider-Woman #3
Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #5
Wolverine: Origins #42
Victorian Undead #1
Mighty Avengers #31
Haunt #2

Comics for the week of November 4, 2009

Sweet Tooth #3
Detective Comics #858
Madame Xanadu #16
Psylock #1
Batman #692
Cinderella #1
Wonder Woman #37
Guardians of the Galaxy #19
Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1

Review - Gregory

Gregory
by Mark Hempel
Piranha Press

Twenty years ago a silly little graphic novel came out of the Piranha Press imprint from DC. Called Gregory, I found the story very funny and sometimes deeply poignant. Created by Marc Hempel, it's the story of Gregory. A big headed kid in a straitjacket who lives in an asylum with his friend, a talking rat named Herman Vermen. Gregory usually talks in monosyllabic grunts and enjoys running around, but the action is what happens around him. Sometimes a therapy cat is brought in to help. Other times he escapes from his straitjacket and flails his arms around. But Gregory just exists happily in his own little cell.

When this book came out in 1989, I passed it around to all my friends. They all fell in love with Gregory. Unfortunately, since I added this book to the library collection in 2004, it has only checked out 4 times. I think this book is lost in the shuffle of the graphic novel shelf. It's not thick and it doesn't have a steroid pumped superhero on the cover. Perhaps the Library of Congress is deterring people from borrowing this book with the very offputting subject heading "Institutional care -- Comic books, strips, etc." Whatever the reason, I do try and suggest this book whenever a somewhat curious person comes in looking for a graphic novel.

Gregory is labeled "for mature readers" I suspect primarily for the language. If our library had an older teen and younger teen areas, it would definitely go into the former. But it's audience is definitely for teens and young adults. Gregory is able to be content within himself and his environment (a cell with a drain, window, door and light bulb) without any need to be more that what he is. People come and go, trying to help, hurt, fix or change Gregory in some way, but he stays true to himself.

Comics for the week of October 28, 2009

Daredevil #501
Fables #89
FVZA #1
Teen Titans #76
Fantastic Four #572
Jack of Fables #39
Justice League of America #38
Queen Sonja #1
Nova #30
Wolverine Art Appreciation
Pilot Season: Declassified

Review - Castle Waiting

Castle Waiting
by Linda Medley
Fantagraphics Books

Fantasy stories usually start with a humble character who through circumstances has to go through a quest and save the entire realm from Evil. Castle Waiting isn't like that. With the first issues of the comic self published, it was recognized as being outstanding and was picked up Fantagraphics Books. With 400+ pages, this hardcover graphic novel is wonderful and would appeal to fans of Bill Willingham's Fables or the books by Gregory Maguire.

The story starts with a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, the castle after the princess is awoken after 100 years becomes Castle Waiting. This is where anyone can find sanctuary and protection. A pregnant Lady Jain is travelling to the castle and meets many interesting characters along the way to her destination. Once at the castle, its residents tell their stories with extended flashback sequences. Like Sister Peaceful, who tells Lady Jain her whole story of how she became a member of a society of bearded nuns. This story in flashback takes up about the entire second half the book, which is ok since it's done so well.

The story is told in little black and white panels, with thick dark lines almost like a woodcut print. The characters are expressive and distinctive. And some of the architectural drawings almost remind me if the drawings in the David Macaulay books. Medley populates her fantasy universe with characters which have unique personalities. Each have their quirks, but all of them stay true to themselves as the story progresses.

This book is a good fit in our library since it covers many areas. It makes a great fantasy story tweens and teens since the story is mostly character driven. There isn't even a single sword fight in this book. Like many fairy tale retelling, there elements of the original stories with a modern twist. And unlike Fables, it doesn't have the mature situations that might concern some parents.

Comics for the week of October 21, 2009

Chew #5
Wolverine: Origins #41
Dominic Fortune #3
Spider-Woman #2
Dark Wolverine #79
Power Girl #6
Mighty Avengers #30

Review - Jenny Finn: Doom Messiah

Jenny Finn: Doom Messiah

Written by Mike Mignola and Troy Nixey
Art by Troy Nixey and Farel Dalrymple
Publish By Boom! Studios

The story of Jenny Finn starts out by introducing the reader to Joe, a confident strong man who is new to the seaside town set in Victorian times. Within the first couple pages, fish whisper the word "doom" to no one in particular. A prostitutes client morphs into a twisted tangle of tentacles. And Jenny Finn wanders around the bad end of town and though Joe tries to help her, she refuses saying that she is wicked and belongs there. As the story progresses, Joe tries to gain the attention of Jenny Finn and Jenny Finn grows fond of Joe and tries to protect him from the strange things happening in the town.

Mike Mignola is a master in the comic world. His artwork and storytelling are unique. And with this story which would fit well in a collection of Lovecraft stories, Jenny Finn: Doom Messiah pulls on the same tools used in the good Cthulhu tales. Joe blunders into deep secrets that people shouldn't try to uncover, but he follows the path to the end. The story alludes to inconceivable powers that should not manifest on Earth. And unlike Lovecrafts stories, there is a little bit of steampunk elements added into the story.

The first three chapters art was done by Troy Nixley while Farl Dalrymple did the art for the fourth chapter. The entire book is black and white, which almost makes it seem like an illustrated story from an old newspaper. Nixley's art is more flowing that Dalrymple, but the change is style, which are similar, didn't detract from the story as a whole. I found the characters faces were the most interesting. The expression were often twisted and contorted to a point where the normal people often looked as grotesque as the monsters. Perfect for a story like this one.

This book appeared on one of our monthly selection lists and I picked up this book for the library based on Mike Mignola being the writer. I'm glad I did. Though the story would be considered PG-13 in the movie world, it is shelved in the Teen Graphic Novel area. And though I have, this one seems to be the least popular circulating only 3 times. Perhaps to promote circulation, I'll ask to create a Lovecraft display just prior to Halloween and more people will find and appreciate this book.

Comics for the week of October 14, 2009

Batman #691
Web of Spider-Man #1
Uncanny X-Men #516
The Marvels Project #3
Liberty Comics #2
Deadppol #900
Anna Mercury 2 #2
Batgirl #3

Review - Good-Bye

Review - Good-Bye

by Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Drawn and Quarterly

Not all manga is about magical schoolgirls, hyperactive ninja orphans, or half human/half dog demons. An example of a work that doesn't fit the mold is a book called Good-Bye by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. Originally published between 1971 and 1972, this book contains 9 stories that are set between the end of World War II and then. Though the stories are not interrelated, they are mostly about the bottom of society. Tatsumi tells small tales about prostitutes, sexually repressed loners, closeted cross dressers and other members of society many would consider fringe elements.

Tatsumi doesn't really put any moral values on his sad characters. Instead, he relates their tale without any comment, though we know that the characters often feel shame themselves. The tales end ambiguously with no clear resolution. Unlike morality tales where the bad guy has to get it in the end, the stories in Good-Bye, though often depicting reprehensible people, conclude before any clear resolution.

I guess Japan in the early seventies an interesting place. While World War II was still in peoples memory, it was far enough away in the past where young people didn't have direct memory of the war. Also, the county was about to boom economically. So these stories by Tatsumi are almost a warning not to fall into a decadent lifestyle or loose. In an interview with Tatsumi in the back of this volume, he describes his condition at the time. "As an alienated manga artist working away in a cramped room, I couldn't help but feel disconsolate."

This book is something libraries should carry, but not in the teen section. The subjects are certainly something young teens should be wary of reading. But there are many older teens and adults I've meet here in the library who are really into Japanese history and culture. These people usually have read most of the manga in the library, but haven't seen works like this before.

Comics for the week of October 7, 2009

Batman and Robin  #5
Deadpool #16
Astonishing X-Men #31
Wonder Woman #36
New Mutants #5
Planetary #27
Irredeemable #7
G.I. Joe: Cobra Special #1
Sweet Tooth #2
Spin Angels #2
Marvel Divas #3
Haunt #1

Review - Marvel Divas

Review - Marvel Divas
Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art by Tonci Zonjic
Marvel Comics

Mini-series are very interesting to me. In some ways, I expect them to be really well done. There is no ongoing story or continuum to maintain. But I also expect some of the more creative elements of comic book writing and art in these stories since they are not the regular ongoing stories. So when Marvel Divas came out, I decided to pick it up. After all, its only 4 issues. And though not a hugely groundbreaking story, I think I do see where Marvel was going with this series.

Marvel Divas is the story of four of the lesser known female heroes from the Marvel universe, Hellcat, Ms. Marvel, Black Cat and Firestar. These four get together regularly for dinner and drinks and gossip about their boyfriends, shopping, other heroes and the like. It is very much like Sex in the City. But the end of the first issue is where the major drama is announced for the series. It turns out that Firestar has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The three other members of the group then throw their full support behind Firestar and her upcoming battle.

There are side stories with each of the characters. Ms. Marvel is having an on again/off again relationship with Brother Voodoo. Black Cat is trying to open up a detective agency without the help of her boyfriend. And Hellcat is being propositioned by her former boyfriend Son of Satan to help out with Firestars treatment. But with any favor from anyone from Hell, there are always conditions.

I found this story to be very interesting and different than most of the Marvel recent stories. There is absolutely no big tie in to the Marvel Universe altering stories like Dark Reign and War of Kings. And though they did do a very good story a long time ago on the Death of Captain Marvel (1982) where he gets cancer and all the Marvel uber-brains can not find a cure for him, there is no magical Marvel cure for Firestar either. Firestar must go through normal treatment like any normal person would. But I am glad to see that, unlike the Death of Captain Marvel story, this story is primarily of hope and survival. Cancer research and treatment has changed since 1982 and I believe the tone of the story reflects the advancement in medicine since then.

The artwork it interesting. It is not very "marvel" in its style. There is no dynamic poses or dramatic angles to heighten the action. With no real battles or fights, there isn't any reason to have the hugely kinetic pages other superhero comics have. Rather it is very subdued style. The figures are more angular and simple than the covers. The colors are muted and the backgrounds simple.

When this series gets collected into a trade paperback, libraries should consider picking this up. Though its getting better, there is still less girl oriented superhero comics available, and this one is different than the regular fare. With the plot focused on a character with cancer and the fact that it stands alone away from the ongoing stories from the Marvel Universe, I think that would make it a little more accessible to people picking this up without any real background knowledge.

Comics for the week of September 30, 2009

Fables 88
Dark Reign: The List - Daredevil 1
Thor 603
Echo 15
Teen Titans 75
Fantastic Four 571
Jack of Fables 38
Gotham City Sirens 4
Nova 29
Justice League of America 37
Thor Annual 1

Ladies in the Comics

I don't know why, but I've been picking up many comics with women as the main character. Usually its because of some creator I really like.

It started with Wonder Woman, which was drawn by Terry Dodson. He has long since left doing this book but I still keep getting it because of the great writing if Gail Simone.

Next was a book from the Vertigo line called Madam Xanadu. However, it wasn't the artist this time but the writer. Matt Wagner, who wrote Mage and Grendel is revitalizing this very minor character from the DC Universe. And the latest story arc has the art of Michael William Kaluta, who has been a favorite of mine since Startruck in 1985.

For the pure fun of it, I've been getting Power Girl. Primarily because of the artwork of Amanda Connor. With all the jokes about Power Girls physical attributes along with some good action and funny writing, this campy book is really entertaining.

For a darker comic, Detective Comics is now highlighting Batwoman. All the bat books are up in the air because Bruce Wayne is presumed dead and all the other characters are taking over. And with a new creative team, I'm finding that the artwork of J.H. Williams III is something really special.

And finally, this last week I grabbed issue 1 of Spider-Woman. This is created by the team of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev who did a great job on Daredevil a couple years ago. This moody and atmospheric book will be one I'll be picking up each month.

So I don't know if more books are being published that have female characters, or the creators I'm interested in are doing more books with women, but I am really enjoying these books and will continue to get them.

Comics for the week of September 23, 2009

Detective Comics 857
Wolverine: Old Man Logan Giant-Size 1
Uncanny X-Men 515
Wolverine Origins 40
Immortal Weapons 3
Madame Xanadu 15
Power Girl 5
No Hero 7
Spider Woman 1
Guardians of the Galaxy 18

Review - Mahoromatic - Full Metal Maid Collection

Review - Mahoromatic - Full Metal Maid Collection
Sentai Filmworks
700 Minutes

With the anime DVD producers here imploding here in North America, I've been picking up some of the older shows that are being re-released. And recently I grabbed the complete reissue of Mahoromatic. Originally released by Geneon in 2002, Sentai Filmworks (formerly ADV) has released the 2 seasons and 1 OVA in a single package.

This show starts off with Mahoro, the most advanced battle robot used by Vesper, being decommissioned. Her remaining operating time is limited and she is asked what she would like to do for here remaining time. Next we meet Misato, a junior high boy who is living by himself after his parents have died. He is looking for a maid and after being rescued by Mahoro from a busjacking, she is hired on a trial basis. From this point, the typical harem show ensues. There are the three female classmates who have a crush on Misato. And there is the busty, horny teacher who constantly pines away for and hits on Misato throughout the series. But there is also the added plot developments concerning Misato's parents and how he is related to Vesper and Mahoro. And once all the characters are in place and the story progresses, the usual anime practice of putting them in the typical Japanese year appears is used for the episodes. There is the school festival, the Christmas/New Years parties, the trip to the beach for Golden Week, and of course, the hot springs episode. Intrigue builds as factions fight behind the scenes for the Earth and its inhabitants while Mahoro's life span dwindles away. We are reminded at the end of each episode how many days are left in her service.

I found this show to be pretty standard as far as these types of stories. Gainax produced this show and their work is always worth a look. The style is clean and the animation is above par. There is many instances of gratuitous fan service. Mahoro is on a constant search for Misato's porn stash of dirty magazines. The teacher, if in real life, would be a headline on the Smoking Gun web site with her advances on Misato. And of course, the talk the girls have about breast size is a running gag throughout the show. For this reason, I would warn libraries about this title. It is rated age 17+ and with good reason. There is very little blood (except for an occasional nosebleed) and less swearing. But the nudity would be a red flag for sensitive viewers wanting to watch this.

Comics for the week of September 16, 2009

Batman and Robin 4
Dark Wolverine 78
The Marvels Project 2
Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth 3
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus 1
Mighty Avengers 29
Dominic Fortune 2
Batgirl 2
Spin Angels 1

Review - X-Men Misfits 1

Review - X-Men Misfits 1
Written by Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman
Illustrated by Anzu
Del Rey Manga

I'm not sure how the relationship came about, but Del Rey is repackaging Marvel characters into a manga style book. They did it for Wolverine book a couple month ago. And they have done another retelling, this time of Kitty Pryde and her first year at the Xavier Academy.

The story and personalities of the characters are completely different than the actual Marvel Universe. The book tells the story of Kitty Pride being recruited by Magneto, who is a professor at the academy. Once she shows up in Westchester, where the school is located, she is informed that she is the only female student. (Storm and Jean Grey are professors) So Kitty then becomes the center of attention by all the shonen-ai style male students and is very quickly compelled to join the Hellfire Club. This club is the on campus A list, popular students. Kitty also strikes up a romance with Hellfire Club member John (Pyro), but she finds herself being intrigued by the cold and aloof Bobby (Iceman).

There are side stories and characterizations that make this fun for X-Men readers. Fred (The Blob) is a nice, gentle guy who hangs out with Scott (Cyclops) who is an angry vegan. Warren (Angel) is the head of the Hellfire Club along with members Forge, Quicksilver, Longshot and Havoc. And while eating lunch in their special dining room, their servant Sabertooth is bringing them their food. This book is filled with little inside winks and nods that fans would find fun to chuckle at.

The artwork is very good for its recreation of the manga style. Characters go chibi at the appropriate times. The typical visual queues are present and anyone who has read any shojo books would know exactly whats happening. One fun think is where Kitty, when she goes chibi, has cat ears and a tale. I'm currently working my way through Fruits Basket and this X-Men book uses the same style where a simple icon at times represents the character.

This book will reside in the teen area with the other manga books. It has been rated for ages 13+, but there is nothing too objectionable in here. There is the romance story and some mutant destructive hijinks, but nothing I don't think even the most sensitive parent would object to. I just hope that I remember to pick up the next volumes when the come out.

Review - Chew 1-4

Review - Chew 1-4
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory
Image Comics

From what you read by the creators of this book, they never thought their comic book would be popular at all. It has no superheroes and has a bizzare premise, especially for a detective story. But only after a couple months, demand for the first issue was so high, it is on its fourth printing.

Chew is about a detective named Tony Chu who is a cibopathic. What that means is he is able to sense everything that the food has undergone prior to his eating it. And he lives in a world where the US Government has outlawed the possession, transportation and consumption of chicken due to concerns about the bird flu. The first issue starts where Tony and his partner are undercover to bust chicken speakeasy, and while tasting the soup Tony senses the memories of a cook (who accidentally cut his finger while preparing the meal) who happens to be a serial killer. He knows the killer/cooks name, and the names and location of his victims. By the end of the first issue, Tony has been fired from the local police department and hired by the FDA, which is now a law enforcement agency protecting America from chicken.

If you think of comic books like television shows, there are only a handful of types on at a time. You can watch a crime show, a doctor show, or a reality show. There isn't too much else on. But occasionally something new comes on that takes people by surprise. Chew is like that. Who would of thought that a detective comic where the main character has to eat a part of the victim and protect us from chicken would be such a hit. But I think that it's so different comic readers flocked to it.

Looking at this comic at face value, it's really grotesque. Cannibalism can be funny is done right. And with the way John Layman writes the story, you can tell he's having a ball pushing the limits of good taste. Also the art by Rob Guillory is the most rubbery I've seen in a long time. Like Layman, you can see he's having a ball drawing this book with his figures bending a contorting and his hyper use of foreshortening.

I'm waiting for this book to come out in a trade so I can get it for the library. There is some harsh language, but nothing teens haven't read before. So other than the eating of various body parts, every public library should think about getting this for their collection.

Review - Asterios Polyp

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli
Pantheon Graphic Novels

Very occasionally, I read a graphic novel or comic series and think that it might almost be literary in its scope. It's kind of like reading a Joan Didion over Nora Roberts. The monthly comics that come out are quick fun reads, but they are like the schlock fiction that gets released all the time. Other authors take years to complete their works and once they come out, the craft of the work is evident on every page. David Mazzucchelli has created a book that falls into this latter class.

Mazzucchelli is known to me with his artwork on Batman: Year One and Daredevil, written by Frank Miller. But I haven't seen his name much since then. But I was intrigued by advanced press that I was reading about this book and picked it up for myself.

The story is about an architecture professor from Ithaca College named Asterios Polyp, who has won several awards but has never had any of his designs built. The story start with him sitting alone in his apartment. Then a lightning bolt strikes setting his home ablaze. Grabbing a couple items, he then leaves his burning past ending up somewhere in the midwest. Working and living with an eccentric, loving family, Asterios remembers back on his life. He was not perfect. In fact, we was a self centered, egotistical, blowhard. Dealing with subjects like middle age, divorce, self discovery and fulfilment, this book is far more than just what most people would consider a "comic book".

David Mazzucchelli is known as an artist and it is evident in this work. The style is not like most comic books. The style is fluid depending on what the story is trying to say. Sometimes it is very representational while other times he goes into a more surreal tone. But the art always serves the story, and thankfully doesn't read like a movie storyboard. But like good graphic novels, the art expands on the story far more than more prose would add.

This book should be in most libraries and brought out when an adventurous adult comes up and asks for something different to read. Teens would not appreciate or understand most of the themes, so I wouldn't catalog in the YA area. But it's also a shame that most libraries put in the nonfiction collection. Books like this deserve to be placed in a (as yet) mythical collection, adult graphic fiction.

Comics for the week of September 2, 2009

Irredeemable 6
Immortal Weapons 2
Batman 690
Hotwire 4
Deadpool 15
Chew 2
Chew 4
Scourge of the Gods: The Fall 3
North 40 3

Review - The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite

The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite
Written by Gerald Way
Art by Gabriel Bá
Dark Horse Comics
 
Published by Dark Horse, The Umbrella Academy garnered some buzz when it first came out because it was written by a guy named Gerard Way. What makes him special is that he is a musician in the rock band My Chemical Romance. But I picked up the trade paperback which contains 6 comic issues based on the good words I was hearing about the book from various sources.

The story starts with with a bit where at the exact same instant in time, 47 babies were unexpectedly born. Of all of these special babies, seven of them were adopted by millionaire inventor Reginald Hargreeves. With these children he created The Umbrella Academy is a group of 7 children who all (except for number 00.07) have extraordinary powers. And when asked why he adopted these special children, his response was "to save the world." From this point, the story jumps to the future where Hargreeves has died and the children get together for his funeral. It turn out that the children grow up to form a dysfunctional family of super heroes. And that's where the fun of the story lies.

It's been a decade or so since I read the Grant Morrison run on Doom Patrol, but I get the same type of vibe. I mentioned in the review for Seaguy (also by Grant Morrison) that strange is good, and this makes a valiant attempt to reach that surreal level of strangeness. Quirky things just appear in the story without any explanation. For instance, there are talking chimpanzees living and working alongside humans. But it all works in the continuity of the story. The artist Gabriel Bá has a blocky hard style in this book which also fits well with the narrative. The character designs are most striking and the backgrounds are full of detail of this unique world they have created.

I would recommend this book for any library. There is some graphic violence and some mature themes. But again, nothing more that one can see on a primetime drama show on television. This book is best placed in the teen areas of libraries, but could easily be of interest an older audience.

Comic Books by "Real" Authors

Recently, several authors who are more noted to writing novels have written comic books. Sometimes its their own works that get turned into a graphic format, or they write a comic storyline with an already established character. Whenever this happens, there is a little buzz in the comic book world that a new, previously untapped audience might be reached. And usually, I try and get these works for the library.

Wonder Woman: Love and Murder by bookclub favorite author Jodi Picoult
Identity Crisis by best selling suspense writer Brad Meltzer.
Welcome to Lovecraft by horror writer Joe Hill.
Ultimate Iron Man by Orson Scott Card, the scifi writer of all the Enders books.
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter by paranormal fantasy author Laurell K. Hamilton.
In Odd We Trust by all time best seller Dean Koontz.

And yesterday, I picked up for myself a new John Constantine graphic novel called Dark Entries by Ian Rankin who is famous for writing the Rebus mysteries. I'll get it for the library if the budget allows...

Comic Con Odds and Ends - Part 4

There is a section on the exhibit floor of the Comic Con called artists alley. This is where artists can rent a table and setup shop to sell sketches, books or whatever. When I wandered this area I saw a book that I have reviewed previously and liked a lot titles The Eternal Smile. So I went over and met Derek Kirk Kim. I told him how much I liked the book and how I picked it up for the library and try to get people to check it out all the time. He seemed flatted and humble with my fanboy ramblings. I bought his comic Lowbright #1 and read it that evening when I got home from the Con.

Lowbright is a collection of Dereks comic strips and sketches that he has made over the last couple years. It was a small comic book that was self published. (Looks like it was color photocopied) The book is mostly one page comic gags about his virginity and how he can't meet the right girl. But the first story is about 5 pages long and its about the 10 reasons he has not had sex yet. It made me laugh out loud, but also made me feel for him. This was an unexpected gem that I found at the Comic Con this year.

Comic for the week of August 26, 2009

Thick week. Too many book...

Detective Comics 856
Wolverine Origins 39
Deadpool 14
Wonder Woman 35
Batman and Robin 3
Dark Wolverine 77
Batgirl 1
Madame Xanadu 14
New Mutants 4
Deadpool: Suicide Kings 5
Guardians of the Galaxy 17
Doktor Sleepless 13
Power Girl 4
Gotham City Sirens 3
Mighty Avengers 28

Review - Satsuma Gishiden 1-3

Satsuma Gishiden Vols 1-3

Created by Hiroshi Hirata

Dark Horse Comics

I wish I had time to read more manga. Usually there is 30 or 40 volumes to the story lines and it's hard enough to keep up with everything else. I don't know how some of the kids can read a manga book in about 15 minutes. But there is some manga I pick up because it looks interesting or I really liked the anime. And when there was a Dark Horse manga sale on, I picked up the 3 volumes of a period samurai saga called Satsuma Gishiden.

These amazing books tell the tale of a samurai clan who during peace time has to lower themselves and do common labor. Eventually, the clan called upon by the shogun to work on a huge undertaking of making levies on three rivers to protect the surrounding villages. However, the clan feels this is an indirect attack on them which will keep the warriors away for years and bankrupt their savings. But due to the samurai code, the must obey the shogun and go on the journey.

Instead of following a single character, Satsuma Gishiden tells stories which focus on the ethics and principles of samurai, usually with someone committing hara-kiri at the end. The tension in the books arises when samurai who live by a strict code of honor with the reality of lowering themselves to do the shoguns bidding. The main theme of the stories relate to how a highly rigid society has to deal with a forced change.

The art is for the most part is astonishing in these books. The black ink work looks like a storyboard for a good black and white samurai movie. The action is very strong and the blood and guts are all over. One interesting thing that I haven't seen before is that some of the dialog is written in a more artistic calligraphy, and the editors did not remove this. Instead they put the translations next to the balloon with the original calligraphy.

I'm not sure if this set is necessary for libraries to own. Though the themes of honor and change are certainly not a problem, the level of violence might be a concern for some readers. Dark Horse has rated these books for ages 18+, which I think that's a little too excessive. But having these manga volumes in the adult area shouldn't raise any issues.

Autobiographies in Graphic Format

I mentioned earlier that Maus was one of the best graphic novels produced. And it is a biographical look at the authors fathers experiences. But there is much of the work that is autobiographical. Art Spiegleman examines his relationship with his father in view of the horrendous experiences his father had prior to moving the the United States. Other works are autobiographical and touch on extremely sensitive issues. Here are some others that are worth reading that are in the library:

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison

Bechdel

Alison comes to terms with her family life as she confronts her own sexuality. By discussing her father's closeted gay life and suicide and her growing up in what appears on the surface a traditional family.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

Growing up in Iran, Marjane was a child when the Islamic Revolution kicked the Shah out of power. Moving from a war torn country to Europe by herself in her early teens, this story combines both the political events of Iran with the individual struggles of a young woman.

The Photographer: Into War-torn Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders by Emmanuel Guibert

Set during the Soviet invasion, Didier Lefevre is a photographer hired by Doctors Without Borders and tells his story of a single expedition into the mountains of Afghanistan to provide medical help the mujahadeen. Told with his photographs and drawings by Emmanuel Guibert, the reader is given an on the ground view of the conflict.

French Milk by Lucy Knisley

Lucy moves to France with her mother for a month for her 22nd birthday. This is her journal/sketchbook of here observations about and experiences in Paris.

Must Read Graphic Novels in my Library

If you're new to graphic novels and comic books, the library has many highly regarded works that have been around for years. These are some of the best, most acclaimed titles to read if your not familiar with the graphic novel format.

Maus by Art Spiegelman
Published in two volumes, this work was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize. It tell the story of the artists father who was a Polish Jew both before and after the Nazi invasion of his home land. Very personal storytelling makes this one of the best graphic novels created.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley
Frank Miller created this four issue re-imagining of Batman in 1986 where Bruce Wayne comes out of a ten year retirement to clean up Gotham City. Batman was redefined completely with this book and Frank Millers dark vision of Batman is still used today for the current comics and movies. But at the time in the mid 1980s, this type of portrayal of any iconic hero was brand new to comic book readers.

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Released the same year as The Dark Knight Returns this work is a brand new vision of the psychology of super heroes. With the recent movie, this comic series has checked out a bit more than usual. I've had a copy of the Watchmen in the library since it opened.

Sandman by Neil Gaiman and tons of fantastic artists
There are 10 volumes and is one of the first long form comic books produced. Not to say that other superhero books haven't been out longer, but Gaiman had a clear story arc in mind and ended the series after 75 issues. Reprinted in 10 volumes, the library has all of these for you to enjoy. (except someone lost the first volume that I'll have to replace soon)

Bone by Jeff Smith
This is a fantasy book about a white blob looking critters who were transported to a world of dragons, princesses and other fun monsters. Originally released as comic books and eventually picked up by the huge children's book publisher Scholastic, there are nine volumes to the series.

Black Jack by Osamu Tezuka
I've put this on the list because Tezuka is considered the father of Japanese comics (or as it is commonly know manga), and Black Jack is one of his better known characters. Black Jack is the greatest surgeon in the world and is ask to cure the most dificult medical problems, but often the price is more than the patient expects to pay. Though the library has only a single volume of Black Jack, there is tons more that's currently being released.

Comic for the week of August 19, 2009

Echo 14
Daredevil 500
Fables 87
Jack of Fables 37
Justice League of America 36

Comic Con Odds and Ends - Part 3

Sometimes something just catches your eye and you have to stop and look. While walking by the Arcana booth, I saw a comic cover that was mostly black with a little white and just a splash of red. I thought it looked like some Frank Miller Sin City thing. And then I noticed the title, Helen Killer, and I knew I had to pick it up.

Helen Killer 1-4

Written by Andrew Kreisber

Art by Matthew JLD Rice

Arcana Comics

Helen Keller was tough by Anne Sullivan at the age of 6 how to communicate feeling sign language. But who knew that later on, Alexander Graham Bell created special glasses called the omnicle, which when used give Helen both sight and hearing. But there is also a couple side effects. Helen can see the aura of people, and the more evil they are, the blacker the aura. She gains super strength and agility. But also, the more she uses the omnicle, the greater the feelings of rage and murder well up inside her. Neat invention, huh?

Helen is approached by the secret service to protect President McKinley at the 1901 Pan American Exposition. But true to history, the assassin Leon Czolgosz is successful in shooting the President in a receiving line, despite Helen's best efforts. But there is a more mysterious plot in the works by Alexander Grahams Bells arch rival.

This comic is a fun romp through history. Kreisber uses many real historical figures to tell this story. But once you realize that it's pretty cool to see Helen Keller break into some sweet ninja action kicking henchmen ass, the realization that there is not much else to the characters becomes clear. Anne Sullivan just seems to complain that Helen shouldn't be out on missions. Alexander Graham Bell is like a melding of M and Q from the James Bond stories. Like any historical work of historical fiction, the writer needs to add more depth to the characters to make them interesting. Otherwise, the story just isn't interesting after a while.

The Sunny Side of the Street

I was thinking about the the content of my site and realized that there is a flaw. I'm hoping to provide guidance to readers on comics and graphic novels and what is good and bad. But I'm limited to what I either buy for myself or for the library, and I don't want to waste money on purchasing crummy comics. So all the reviews I most likely will do will be positive in some manner. As a result, if you read my blog and see that I like everything, that means I'm spending my and the libraries money for good reading. But I'll definitely let you know when I get the stinker.

Comic Con Odds and Ends - Part 2

The Bean - Riddles and Shrooms by Travis Hanson

As I was walking along a less crowded aisle, a guy asks me if I want to have a sketch. Dumbfounded, I said "sure" but had no idea what I wanted him to draw. After fumbling around a little, I said "how about a dragon?". After about a minute, he hands me a really cool line drawing of a dragon. wow.

With this marketing strategy, I had to buy his book, the Bean. It's a story about a boy named Bean who has been left as payment to the Silver Dagger Inn as payment by his apparently deadbeat dad. Bean is then made to do all the grunt work by the ogre owner Gort. But the other workers in the inn treat Bean with compassion and look out for his well being. Bean is sent out to get some more shrooms and goldenberries by the cook Groggle (who is also an ogre) and is told not to dawdle.

This book has great potential. It was basically the introduction of all the characters and the action ramps up at the end leaving the reader waiting for the next issue. The art is very clean and the style, while cartoon like, suits the story well. Some of the pages have very detailed backgrounds that sometimes seems a little too much for a black and white comic, but the character designs and facial expressions are strong enough not to get lost. But it is clear that Travis is a very talented cartoonist and artists.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens to poor Bean and his workmates at the inn.

Comic Con Odds and Ends - Part 1

I attended the San Diego Comic Con last month and had a ball walking around the small presses and self published books and picking up some of the works they were selling. Here is the first posting of some of the books and my thoughts on them.

North Country by Shane White

This autobiographical graphic novel is told in a series of flash backs as an adult Shane returns home for a visit. Starting with his "first life" as a bird who dies when he falls out of his nest, the rest of the story are is told in snippets of mostly bad memories from his dysfunctional family life. The abusive, alcoholic father is the focal point of the book as Shane relates stories on how he tried to win his approval ultimately come to terms within himself of understanding, accepting and perhaps even loving his family.

The art in this book is really interesting. Shane changes styles for each memory vignette he relates. This gives the book a dreamlike quality that works well. When young Shane is given a Superman cape, the art is changed to look like old comic book newsprint. The color palettes change as good and bad memories often using more muted, less vibrant colors to emphasize the drama of the situations.

When I met Shane at the Comic Con, he was working in his sketchbook at the NBM Publishers booth. He was promoting an upcoming book he did called Things Undone. Its about a young man who slowly changes into a zombie. And he says, like North County it is also autobiographical. I'll be sure to pick it up in the near future.

Comic for the week of August 12, 2009

Batman 689

Chew 3

Dominic Fortune 1

Uncanny X-Men 514

Deadpool 13

Marvel Divas 2

The Marvels Project 1

Sourge of the Gods: The Fall 1

Sourge of the Gods: The Fall 2

Review - Tyrese Gibson's Mayhem! #1

Tyrese Gibson's Mayhem! #1
Written by Tyrese Gibson, Mike Le and William Wilson
Art by Tone Rodriguez
Image Comics

Have I read this before? A masked vigilante is out to exact revenge against an unreachable mob boss named Big X. The book starts out in a Chinese restaurant, straight out of a John Woo film, where the hero charges in with the help of his accomplice and slashes, gashes, shoots and deep fries bad guys to find out where the shipment is to be dropped off. Next we find the hero (going by the name of Dante) praying that he can exact his revenge on Big X and not, as the priest suggests, for his own forgiveness. The final part of the book is where Dante breaks up the shipment and we finally see Big X who tells his henchmen "first one to bring me his bleeding head gets ten million."

I don't really know who Tyrese Gibson is. I did look him up on IMDB and saw that he appeared in a bunch of movies. But I think that someone should have gave him some comic books to read before letting him write one. The plot is so standard and uninspired that the twist/cliffhanger at the end is not that surprising. But it reads like a standard action film that I loved to watch in the 1980s.

The art by Tone Rodriguez is ok. There is nothing hugely striking as being fantastic with a uniquely visible style. Nor is there any panel that shouts out as being done in a half assed manner. There is violence, but it doesn't make me wince. There are explosions, but I didn't really feel the force of them. Competent but not spectacular.

So if you pass on this title on the shelf, don't worry about it. There are many better books out there for us to read.

Review - House of Mystery vol. 2

House of Mystery : Love Stories for Dead People
Written by Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham
Art by Luca Rossi, Tony Akins, David Petersen, Henry Flint, Bernie Wrightson and Kyle Baker
Cover by Esao Andrews
Vertigo

This is the second volume of the Vertigo fantasy/horror series consisting of issues 6 though 10 of the ongoing comic series. This story continues where the main character, named Fig, and her companions of the house, looking for an escape from the house, go into the basement to see if they can find a way out. More mysteries are discovered and more stories are told as the reader tries to figure out exactly what might be going on.

This book borrows from the Sandman story lines by using Able (the original owner of the House of Mystery) as part of the back story for this series. The house also doubles as a bar where beings meet and tell stories (kind of like the Inn at Worlds End, also from Sandman) And there is a forward motion to the convoluted main plot line. Fig learns a little about her background and we learn a little more about the other members of the house.

I find this series interesting because it really doesn't answer all the questions it raises. There are many things left unanswered that actually bother me that its left hanging without any resolution or explanation. Hopefully, as the story progresses, all these loose ends will be addressed, but somehow I don't think that's what the creators were thinking of with this series. After all, it is The House of Mystery.

As for the art, what's really cool about this series is the side stories that are interjected periodically in the main story line. Usually these are stories within stories that a patron of the tavern tells to pay their tab. These stories are done by a different artist. And with a a completely different art style, these little gems interspersed through the story break up the strangeness. And with phenomenal talents like Bernie Wrightson, and Kyle Baker, these little interludes are a great way to break up the story.

I purchased this for the library but it will not go into the Teen area. There is some profanity and sexual situations that might be off putting for more sensitive parents. I would not let the mature nature of the title deter any library from selecting this book, but if money is a little tight in the budget this book is certainly not a necessary classic for a well stocked library collection.

Comic for the week of August 5, 2009

Here's this weeks list ranked by the order I'll most likely read them...

Detective Comics 855
Irredeemable 5
Wolverine Origins 38
Madame Xanadu 13
Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth 2
Wonder Woman 34
Captain Britain and MI13 15
Dark Wolverine 76
Power Girl 3
North 40 2
Guardians of the Galaxy 16
Deadpool Suicide Kings 4
Wolverine Noir 4

Review - Negima!? Season 1 and 2

This is an older review I wrote July 15th, 2009.

Title: Negima!?
Volume: 1 and 2
Running time: 650 min
Distributor: FUNimation

Professor Negi is a young wizard sent to a girls school where he must, for part of his training, teach a class of 31 girls. This is the second version of Negima that has been animated, and though I only read the first 4 volumes of the manga, it veers away from the original story. But the art and design of the animation is far more stylish than the first animated series.

The story is pretty good, where Negi must keep his magic identity hidden from everyone, and fails miserably. And to keep from being reprimanded from the Magic Council, he needs to make a pact with the girl who discovers his secret. And of course, to form the pact, the two must kiss (which is the most dramatic thing anyone could ever do in any anime story). The first part of the series (13 episodes) is mostly Negi making pacts with the entire class. The second part of the story happens when the class is transported to another parallel realm and must try to find their way home. And through the series, the running gags keep cropping up. Chupacabras. Bad ramen. Failure (in a good way)...

The story moves along and a pretty quick pace, with many quick cuts to unrelated jokes. After a couple episodes, I was surprised with the similarities to the other anime series Pani Poni Dash. Or for the more Anglo minded, like the way Family Guy cuts away to a non sequitur jokes throughout their episodes. However the jokes in Negima aren't as off color. Also, each girl has a character which is basically a one joke note. But there are 31 of them, so the tune doesn't get too stale.

I had fun with this series. I didn't have to think too deeply to understand the story. And the animation in this second series is far better than the first series. If you're into the girls school/magic thing, it's definitely worth watching. But if you're looking for something serious, try elsewhere.

Review - GI Joe: Cobra 1 - 4

This is an older review I wrote June 29th, 2009.

story by Christos Gage and Mike Costa
art by Antonio Fuso
covers by Howard Chaykin
IDW

I never was into the new GI Joe as a kid. It was a little after my time. Instead I had the old school tall talking beaded supercool GI Joe as a boy. But there were two main reasons I picked up this limited series from IDW. First off, IDW will be attending the library readers festival in September and also the covers were done by Howard Chaykin.

Now that I've finished reading all four issues, I thought they were well done. The story involves a malcontent GI Joe soldier, with the code name Chuckles, who is taken out of regular training and sent into deep cover to try to infiltrate Cobra. Unlike the GI Joe that I remember, there is no camp or super improbable technology in this story. Something must of happened to the "Yo! Joe!" early 1990s version to today because this story, by Christos Gage and Mike Costa was a gritty spy story with blood and sex that would make any espionage fan happy. But if you're familiar with any of the deep undercover types stories, many of the same tropes are used. How to maintain cover. That point where the agent decides to do something rash to go deeper. And ultimately, how to get out. And this story has all these elements.

The artwork by Antonio Fuso is good. Dark and thick, its almost expressionistic, and portrays the dark story well. The characters are easy to recognize and the action is easy to follow. There is a starkness to the frames that, though doesn't distract from the story, is different than the "marvel" style of everyone flexing. And the backgrounds a muted and clean, without too much added detail to distract from the action. The only drawback is that seems to be little movement in the figures.

So this GI Joe book I picked up because I felt I should, I actually enjoyed. The espionage and intrigue was well done and there was no hint of any of the old, cheesy Joe I remember as a kid. I might need to look at the other GI Joe titles when I have a chance.

Review - Seaguy: Slaves of Mickey Eye 1-3

This is an older review I wrote June 9th, 2009.

Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Cameron Stewart
Vertigo

"Oh, for weirdness' sakes, Junior! Why all the blubberin'?" is how issue #3 of Seaguy: Slaves of Mickey Eye starts. And I can sympathise with Junior.

This is the second Seaguy series, and though I picked up the first one when it came out, I could not remember anything about it other than it being very strange. And a handful of years later, Grant Morrison has hit us with the next chapter of Seaguy. And after I started reading it, most of the characters came back to me. Seaguys love interest, She-Beard. His mentor Seadog. His (dead) best friend Chubby the Tuna. And even The Gondolier, who Seaguy, when he has the time, wagers his life by playing chess.

This story is a surreal dystopian tale about a society run by Mickey Eye. Mickey Eye has pleasure zone amusement parks, cartoons on television and toys for everyone to buy. But Seaguy, who really has shown no exceptional abilities, craves adventure of a superhero and despite Mickey Eye and his followers, sets out to end the tyrannical rule of Mickey.

The art work by Cameron Stewart is surprisingly normal for such a strange story. His lines and colors are clean and bold. There is no problems following the story through the art. She-Beard actually looks pretty hot (though she would kick anyones ass who says so) and there are some exceptional work done on the autosaur skeletons.

I can't recommend this book to everyone. A person must have a sense of the absurd to appreciate this. Often, as I was reading, I would just have to suspend any thought and just say "ok, that's how things are done in the world of Seaguy." Not that there is anything wrong with that. After all, if there is no logic in the world of comic books, what do we have?

Review - The Eternal Smile

This is an older review I wrote June 2nd, 2009.

The Eternal Smile : Three Stories
by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim
First Second

This is a book I ordered for the library since I really enjoyed American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. (which the library also owns) The Eternal Smile is actually three stories, each with their own style. But each of the stories are related thematically, about awareness and acceptance of your surroundings and yourself. I know. This describes just about every story ever written, but these stories are different enough where the reader is basically led to the same feeling, but by very different paths.

The first story, "Duncan's Kingdom", is about a young man who must kill the monster to marry the princess. But the lines are blurred between reality and imagination. The second story was my favorite. Basically set in the world of Disney's Uncle Scrooge, but with frogs instead of ducks. Entitled "Gran'pa Greenbax and The Eternal Smile", this story is a parody of the Carl Barks Duckville stories. But as Gran'pa Greenbax tries to make more money, he realizes that there is more than just the town he lives in and his money pond. The final story, called "Urgent Request" is about a shy, lonely office worker who asks for a raise. After being rejected, she finds solace emailing a Nigerian prince. She dreams of being swept away to Africa and becoming a princess.

After reading this book, it wasn't obvious to me that there were thematic elements consistent between the three stories. But as I pondered them while sitting on the reference desk, I realized that all of them had placed the characters into positions where they were forced to ask the deep questions concerning their identity and their need to use imagination to go beyond their lives. And the different art styles help convey the feelings of each story. With the fantasy, almost manga, style of "Duncan's Kingdom" and the practically monochrome, cartoon look of "Urgent Request", the artists have integrated the art into the feelings of the stories in a dramatic manner.

So, this graphic novel is one of the better ones the library received and is a definite read for everyone.