Top of the Pile - 11/28/12

Three Books from Image

Morning Glories #23
Chew #30
Fatale #10

Since three of the more interesting titles came in this week (all from Image Comics), I figure I’ll give a quick blast out on my thoughts on these books.

The actual first book I read was Morning Glories number 23. The previous book, number 22, came out almost two months ago and I really didn’t remember much of the confusing storyline. To be honest, I don’t remember many of the characters either, but I think I like this book in an odd way. I find the art by Joe Eisma the best part I most look forward to when a new issue comes in. I would buy the collected volumes of this for my library. And it could go into the YA area with a little wink and nod since there are some violent images thought this series.

Chew number 30 was next up. With a fold-out covers showing the wedding of Toni Chu, this is the last book in a five issue story arc called Space Cakes. I still find this book very clever and funny (there is usually one or two tasteless puns that make laugh out loud), I always try and recommend this to the teens who come into the library. I placed the first two volumes in the adult non-fiction area because of the cannibalism and profane language.

And finally Fatale number 10 was the last of the three. Like Chew, this is the end of a story arc. This neo-noir story wraps up with the ritual sacrifices, bloody murders and manipulations to come to a satisfying conclusion. However, I’m not sure if this is a graphic story that would appeal to many library readers (who tend to be the teens in my facility). I don’t think they would have the understanding of the hard-boiled stories to appreciate the effect the creators are striving for. Perhaps if it were shelved in the fiction area next to the other similar stories, it would get more life. But I believe it would get lost in the collection without much pimping of the library staff.

So those were the book at the top of my pile this week.

Top of the Pile - 10/17/12

Chew #29
Story by John Layman

Art by Rob Guillory

There wasn’t a huge pile this week. Just 8 books. So what ended up at the top of the pile this week was Chew #29. Chew is an interesting book from John Layman and Rob Guillory about a post bird flu world where chicken is outlawed. Government agencies like the FDA, NASA and USDA have extraordinary powers police powers to maintain order.

This books been going on for a couple years now and it’s established its style. John Layman writes ridiculous plots and characters that are laugh out loud funny. And there is fun artwork by Rob Guillory with many little background elements that make you look extra-long at each page. And some weird cliff hanger that leaves you guessing until the next issue. One thing that was missing was all the damn cat pictures at the end of the book. (I’m not a cat person…)

This issue is part 4 of a 5 part story called Space Cakes. It’s not the best issue of Chew that I have read, but it was still fun. I don’t know if Space Cakes has the most concise plot and I’m sure to have fun as it wraps up. This is the type of series you would lost reading if you picked it up in the middle. So as a single issue I can’t really recommend it. But as a series, it’s been one of my favorites. Does that make sense?

As for adding Chew to public library collections, it is a good book to select. I have purchased the first two volumes of the collected volumes. They are in the adult non-fiction area for the profane language and cannibalism. They check out pretty well but unfortunately I don’t select in that area anymore.