Saga continues to impress and shock. This series is definitely not for everyone and I feel like this issue went farther when it comes to controversialSaga continues to impress and shock. This series is definitely not for everyone and I feel like this issue went farther when it comes to controversial issues and content than any previous issue. It makes it one heck of a ride, but proceed with caution if you offend easily!
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For me, the controversial content (which I cannot specify without spoilers) is presented in a fascinating and moving way. It is not always easy to weave sensitive content into a story, but this volume handles two or three hot button topics pretty perfectly.
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The art continues to be fantastic: detailed, beautiful, at times grotesque, always wonderful to look at. I am so glad that this series has kept up a high standard of illustration through eight volumes.
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Graphic novel fans, sci-fi fans, fans of stories that do not hesitate to shock in order to make a statement - you must all read this series!
Merged review:
Saga continues to impress and shock. This series is definitely not for everyone and I feel like this issue went farther when it comes to controversial issues and content than any previous issue. It makes it one heck of a ride, but proceed with caution if you offend easily!
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For me, the controversial content (which I cannot specify without spoilers) is presented in a fascinating and moving way. It is not always easy to weave sensitive content into a story, but this volume handles two or three hot button topics pretty perfectly.
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The art continues to be fantastic: detailed, beautiful, at times grotesque, always wonderful to look at. I am so glad that this series has kept up a high standard of illustration through eight volumes.
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Graphic novel fans, sci-fi fans, fans of stories that do not hesitate to shock in order to make a statement - you must all read this series!...more
V is for Vendetta is one of those graphic novels that I would think that everyone at least kind of knows about due to the 2005 movie with Natalie PortV is for Vendetta is one of those graphic novels that I would think that everyone at least kind of knows about due to the 2005 movie with Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving or the fact that the Guy Fawkes mask from it has become a popular pop culture symbol. It has been a long time since I have seen the movie, but it feels like in many ways it followed the graphic novel closely. But, if you want the full experience of the story as it was meant to be, reading the graphic novel is a must.
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This was definitely the longest it ever took me to complete a graphic novel. This is not the fault of the graphic novel itself, it just happened to be chosen as the monthly read for one of my book clubs when I was in the midst of one of the worst reading slumps of my life. Because of this, I never really gained any momentum with this one. So, do not look at the length of time it took me to read this one and it does not really reflect my experience with it at all.
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However, I would not say I am in with the people who were blown away by this book or feel like the experience is life changing. I know that this story has a passionate following considering it has become the symbol of how some people feel about government in general. It is very easy to see why this is the case as this book doesn’t pull any punches in the same way that 1984 didn’t pull any punches. And, while I can 100% appreciate that, I didn’t quite connect with this as much as I had hoped. I truly think that this relates to the fact that time in my life that I met this book. Over the past few years of dealing with political debate in America, I have become quite exhausted with it all, so I think this felt like reading the news that I have been trying to avoid!
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All that being said, it is a good and thought-provoking story. If you enjoy dystopian fiction and don’t mind when it doesn’t fall too far from the reality tree, then you will find something here to scratch your reading itch.
This was an interesting but slightly less than usual graphic novel experience. I picked it out as an impulse borrow from the library as the bright andThis was an interesting but slightly less than usual graphic novel experience. I picked it out as an impulse borrow from the library as the bright and colorful cover stood out in the new graphic novel release section. Ended up being worth the impulse . . .
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A little bit spy/espionage. A little bit unrequited love/coming-of-age story. The protagonist is more of the narrator/storyteller than an actual participant in the events of the story. But, just being in the thick of it all affects him in a big way – both past and present.
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The art is fun and interesting to look at. As you can see from the images I have included, it has a very 1960s feel to it which serves to draw the reader into the time period even more. This is a case where the art is intricately involved in telling the story as well. This title is worth it just to see some of the cool imagery.
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This book may not be for every graphic novel fan. But, if you enjoy espionage and/or period specific art styles, this title is very worth checking out. And, if your interest in graphic novels is just to find something new and unique, this would be perfect for you.
I am a fan of Terry Moore. I have been reading his stuff for about 25 years. Strangers in Paradise is fantastic. I really loved the first few issues oI am a fan of Terry Moore. I have been reading his stuff for about 25 years. Strangers in Paradise is fantastic. I really loved the first few issues of Echo. I had been hoping for big things from Rachel Rising
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There may still be big things to come, but volume one was not, for me, a spectacular start - 2.5 to 3 stars. If I was not already a Terry Moore fan, I am not sure that there is enough here to motivate me to move on to volume two. I think I have come to expect that, if I am going to like a series, the first issue or volume should give me a cliffhanger or some serious motivation to continue. I have started several TV shows lately where the first episode has such a bang, I just have to keep going. I did not find that "WOW" with Rachel Rising volume 1.
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The standard character and mystery introductions are here. There are a couple of interesting events that occur. But, I am not connecting to any of the characters yet - they just all kind of blur together for me. I am hoping that when I continue with volume two, what has been flat so far starts to develop some depth.
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The art is great. I love Moore's art and I don't think that will ever change - no matter how well I am connecting with the story. His black and white drawings are always captivating and well detailed. This is probably enough by itself to keep me coming back.
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If you are looking to try Moore, try Strangers in Paradise. If you are already a Moore fan, at least this is some more of his work to read if you are done with SiP!...more
Slaughterhouse-Five is a weird book. In prepping to review this adaptation I saw several mentions of it being practically unadaptable to any other forSlaughterhouse-Five is a weird book. In prepping to review this adaptation I saw several mentions of it being practically unadaptable to any other format. However, I think this graphic novel version does a pretty darn good job.
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Both the original and this version are weird. They are hard to follow. But they are oh so beautiful in their melancholy cynicism that is tainted with a little bit of hope. The story is a non-linear reflection on life that varies from the gut-wrenchingly real to the outlandishly absurd. It really is a story worthy of classic status and it was expertly handled and adapted by Ryan North and Albert Monteys.
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The art is perfect and wonderful to look at. It goes from light to dark and realistic to far fetched with perfect fluidity around our tragic hero, Billy Pilgrim. It is detailed where it needs to be, simple in other perfectly placed areas. I think it was the art that really helped make the unadaptable adaptable. I would love to read more works illustrated by this artist.
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I always say you should read the source material first – and I agree with that statement here. However, this is an adaptation worthy of the original and should be checked out by fans of Vonnegut’s work.
I continue to be very entertained by the Chew graphic novel series!
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Always funny! Slightly irreverent! Maybe not something to read around mealtiI continue to be very entertained by the Chew graphic novel series!
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Always funny! Slightly irreverent! Maybe not something to read around mealtime – it might either make you lose your appetite or get sick to your stomach. But at least you will be laughing while you do!
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While the story is great, the artwork is even better. It is a carnival for your eyes! The goofiness and cartoonishness (is that a word . . . cartoony-ness maybe? ...more
I have been enjoying a lot of non-fiction based or fiction based on non-fiction graphic novels lately. This falls into the first category and is a retI have been enjoying a lot of non-fiction based or fiction based on non-fiction graphic novels lately. This falls into the first category and is a retelling of the life of a Syrian refugee family around the time of the 2016 United States presidential election. This is a good story to read for a white, middle American male like me who was not as fully aware of the plight and worries of refugees in the shadow of an incoming administration very vocally planning to close borders; it led some to villainize and threaten people from other countries and cultures to an extent I was not fully aware of.
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One of the tough things about a story like this is that my anxiety really acts up when I hear true stories of people being awful to each other. It is one of the reasons I have backed away from the news and most social media in 2020 – just too much hate! I don’t understand why it has become more normalized to be mean to each other. I know there are many thoughts and opinions on this, and it is not my intention to begin a political discussion, that will just get my anxiety going even more. But, to willingly read a story taking me out of my comfort zone like this is a pretty big deal in 2020. The fact that it shows normal people trying to lead normal lives being met by hatred and fear is disappointing and, frankly, nauseating.
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All of that being said, while it was a good story that I am glad I am aware of (despite my disappointment in the behavior of my fellow man), I was not quite as captivated by the way the story was told and the accompanying imagery as I had hoped I would be. It was by no means “bad”, it just did not grip me as much as some other non-fiction graphic novels do. Also, some of the dialogue felt forced to make a point – if the delivery does not feel organic, for me it stands out and feels odd. What I am guessing what happened was the author took several real-life scenarios and tried to summarize them on one page which led to a few awkward deliveries.
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I can summarize my overall experience in this way: an interesting and important story with a lackluster delivery. But you may enjoy the delivery more than I did – and I think you should try it!...more
As an issue by itself: 4 stars As an issue continuing the storyline of a series: 2.5 to 3 stars
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I am not really sure what happened to this seriesAs an issue by itself: 4 stars As an issue continuing the storyline of a series: 2.5 to 3 stars
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I am not really sure what happened to this series, but it seems to have gone off the rails from the original plot. What started as an intriguing mystery (which may still be in there somewhere) turned into an action packed revenge story for this issue.
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As mentioned in my star rating at the top, I really did enjoy the action and the revenge. And, if this stood alone I could easily walk away giving it 4 stars. But, trying to reconcile it with the plot I was given 4 issues ago, I am totally lost. I think there is only one issue left so we will see if it comes full circle.
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The art is just okay for me in this series. There are a few really great frames but a lot of the times the faces and expression seem slightly off/incorrectly proportioned. The covers are much better and I wish that had been the art used in the story.
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So, I cannot say I continue to recommend this title. It had some cool stuff early on, but feels like it is fading away....more
Over the course of the movie series I know there has been much swooning over James Bond and his body. I recall that Daniel Craig coming out of the watOver the course of the movie series I know there has been much swooning over James Bond and his body. I recall that Daniel Craig coming out of the water in blue bathing trunks in Casino Royale caused the temperature to rise for many. So, it goes without saying that The Body is an important part of James Bond lore, and there is now a series of graphic novels which take one story and focus on specific parts of the it in each issue.
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I thought this was a pretty creative approach to a well-known series. Since there have been so many books and movies, I am sure it can be difficult to come up with new and creative ideas. While the over-arching story is typical bond, giving a very specific focus to a part of the body in each adds some depth that makes what might normally be ordinary more extraordinary.
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The story has one author, but each issue has a different illustrator. Sometimes this bugs me, but in this case, it worked to give several artists a piece of the story and let them run with it. While some of the illustrations I enjoyed more than others, overall it was a visually satisfying adventure.
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If you have thought about trying the James Bond graphic novel series, this is one worth checking out. You get some of the typical bond tropes you know and love with and interesting and creative twist on presentation. ...more
I was born almost a decade after most of the chaos surrounding the Vietnam War in the late 60s/early 70s. I can oPowerful and moving - 5+ Stars
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I was born almost a decade after most of the chaos surrounding the Vietnam War in the late 60s/early 70s. I can only imagine what it was like to grow up with the threat of being drafted and the chaos of military action on our home soil. Unfortunately, 2020 has shown that maybe we have not come quite as far from the events of Kent State as we hoped.
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Backderf does a great job with all of his research and sharing this important story using the graphic novel medium. It may not seem like a topic for a "comic book", but it really does a great job in making a complicated and difficult subject relatable. As the story is told, he makes you want the visuals and then he gives them to you instantly. I looked up a few of the backgrounds on Google Maps and he did a great job in accurately recreating the setting. Just amazing all around.
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Speaking further about the visuals, I enjoy Backderf's style. It is a bit cartoonish and sometimes reminds me of old Mad Magazine art, but that does not get in the way of telling a serious story. It is enjoyable to look at and very precise so that there is not a lot of "extra" to get in the way of the main focus of each panel. Again, really great stuff here!
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I have read non-fiction recently about 9/11 and mention in that review that the story might be a difficult one for some, but sometimes the truths are hard and we still need to learn about them. That is the case with Backderf's Kent State, and I think anyone would benefit by reading this, learning, and remembering what happened 50 years ago in northeast Ohio as Americans attacked other Americans in a conflict that could have been avoided. Again, it is a lesson I think that some still need to learn....more
I had to read through several parts of this one twice. Not sure why but sections just were not working for me the first time through. But after re-reaI had to read through several parts of this one twice. Not sure why but sections just were not working for me the first time through. But after re-reading a majority of it a few weeks after finishing the first time, I ended up feeling like it was another good entry in the series.
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Perhaps the need to reread comes from this volume having a different feel than the previous volumes. Each volume focused on the onslaught of one particular type of beast. In this one, the mystery is more of an existential crisis brought on by madness. Instead of the monster being a 20 foot tall sasquatch-cyclops (sas-clops?), the monster may be you!
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The art continues in the same vein as earlier volumes. Since I have enjoyed it all along, I continue to enjoy it here. There is some really cool fantasy-horror imagery; some of which is worth looking at even if you don’t read the story.
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Again, it’s another strong entry in the series. You may encounter some issues getting into parts of it like I did because of the slightly different feel. However, a second look goes a long way with this one!
“Looking into the biographies of my childhood TV favorites, I found that many of their life stories have a particular tragedy to them. The world uses “Looking into the biographies of my childhood TV favorites, I found that many of their life stories have a particular tragedy to them. The world uses them up and then tosses them out.” - Author Brian “Box” Brown in the Author’s Note for Child Star
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Child Star is a conglomeration of pop culture realities into one fictional tale. If you were a fan of sitcoms in the 80s and 90s, I think you will find a lot of nostalgia and several plot points that will sound familiar from actual stories of child stars from that era. I don’t think it is any secret that in general Hollywood chews up and spits out child stars, and this is that story in words and pictures.
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I enjoyed both the story and the art. I have noticed the art format of limited colors (shades of blue, grey, in this case orange-ish with black and grey) in a lot of the recently released titles I have read. Seems to be common for non-fiction or fiction based on non-fiction titles. I do enjoy this artistic choice and I think it appropriate that stories of former child stars has a “Sunday Comics” feel as well.
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Child Star is a fun little get away with some seriousness and drama included. Your thirst for nostalgia will be quenched but, if you have been paying any attention to pop culture for the past 30 year, I don’t think you will be surprised by anything in this story. ...more
2020 was weird enough, so how did I decide to start 2021? With a title that screams “this is gonna be weird”: Basketful of Heads
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It’s Joe Hill a2020 was weird enough, so how did I decide to start 2021? With a title that screams “this is gonna be weird”: Basketful of Heads
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It’s Joe Hill and with that title, if you have had any experience with Hill, you know it is will be some pretty gory horror. He has a history of releasing some very decent graphic novels. If you haven’t tried the Locke & Key series you really should.
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Unfortunately, this was probably my least favorite of his so far. Not that I think everyone who likes Hill and/or horror comics will have the same lukewarm experience as I did. Overall, I just found it kind of silly – not horrifying or suspenseful at all. I guess you could say that it was a horror/comedy, but that doesn’t feel right either as it seemed more like it was accidentally silly. But, maybe not . . . maybe that is exactly what Hill was going for. It just didn’t feel like organic horror/comedy.
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The art was decent. It reminded me a lot of the art in King’s Creepshow, so if you are nostalgic for an 70s-80s comic book feel, this should fulfill that need. While it was not consistently strong throughout, it was still one of the highlights of the experience.
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I can’t say I suggest you rush out and read this one. But, if you are looking for a Hill or horror title and have nothing better to do, it is not a terrible way to spend a couple of hours.
Side note: some of the alternate art/covers featured in the collected edition are very cool!
Very nice start to a series! The first volume of graphic novels does not always draw me in, but Descender did a pretty good job of hooking me for the Very nice start to a series! The first volume of graphic novels does not always draw me in, but Descender did a pretty good job of hooking me for the long haul!
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My first impression was that this was going to be an odd one so I worried that it would take me a while to get into. When I read another sci-fi title, Saga, I ended up enjoying it, but it was so unusual that it did not click for me right away. It was not until vol 2 or 3 that I was hooked. With Descender vol 1, the writer and artist did a fantastic job of giving backstory, introducing characters, and world build in short order without causing too much confusion.
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I really enjoy what they have done with the art here. It is impressionistic – fuzzy lines, incomplete images, etc. - room for your imagination to run wild even with some of the imagery defined for you. Sometimes I don’t care for impressionistic art in graphic novels, but it really works and is very well done here.
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If you enjoy sci-fi and graphic novels and you have not tried this one, I think you should. I am really glad that I did and I am looking forward to checking out more volumes.
I will start this off with a 1-Star review disclaimer. There are probably some who will enjoy this book. I am sure the author/artist is an awesome perI will start this off with a 1-Star review disclaimer. There are probably some who will enjoy this book. I am sure the author/artist is an awesome person and she has published a graphic novel and I have not, so she has had more success in the genre than I have. Maybe this just wasn’t written for someone with interests like mine. So, this review is simply my experience with the book and may not match your own. But, I have to review how it honestly made me feel.
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Have you read a book or seen a movie where the focus of the story is a romp across Europe? Seems like there have been a series of comedies and romances over the past 20 years with the many countries of Europe as their setting. Imagine those stories, but with no humor or interesting dialogue and you have The Contradictions. Seriously, it is just two or three characters wandering about Europe looking for something to do and not having much success. The main characters are blah, the people they meet are blah. I kept figuring there would be some big climax to make it all worth it, but (SPOILER ALERT) there is not.
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For me, the art was not much better than the story. Not very much dialogue and the images don’t do that great of a job conveying a story without words. Each of the characters kind of look the same, so it was a bit hard to tell who was who. You have to look for subtle clues – slightly different hairstyle/hair color, glasses, black dots for freckles/pimples, etc. Sometimes I have read blah graphic novels but the cool imagery made up for it. That did not happen here.
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Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this to anyone simply for the same reason I would not tell you to go and sit and wait for a bus if you have nowhere to go: it would be boring and pointless. ...more
A decently entertaining volume of this very odd sci-fi/horror/western! At times, I ask myself why I am reading this because I can’t real4 Stars
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A decently entertaining volume of this very odd sci-fi/horror/western! At times, I ask myself why I am reading this because I can’t really tell if I am enjoying it or not. But, usually by the end of each volume I think to myself, “Yeah, that was pretty cool!”
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The story of East of West is so weird, each time I start a new volume I am not really sure what is happening. But, then again, it is likely that I had no idea what was happening at the end of the last volume either. This is a title where you just have to sit back and go with the flow.
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This volume seemed extra heavy on the big, epic art panels. Instead of a bunch of cells per page, I felt like I was more often looking at one large focused image. This was pretty cool as it allowed me to really take in the art without words in the way. And, the art is really, really awesome so I was glad to see this.
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If you are into bizarre, mind-bending, sci-fi/horror mixed with a bit of alternate history, this is for you! (Did I add too many criteria points there? If someone specifically defines their interests as “weird, mindbending, sci-fi/horror, alternate history” I would be surprised. But you never know!
Does Joe Hill write novels or graphic novels? Answer: both equally and very well!
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This collection showcases 4 of Hill's graphic novel series (5 Does Joe Hill write novels or graphic novels? Answer: both equally and very well!
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This collection showcases 4 of Hill's graphic novel series (5 if you split the two Cape storylines). I know that a few of them are based on his novels and short stories, but I am not sure if all of them are. So, I suppose I could re-answer my first question to say that he writes novels and stories that lend themselves very well into graphic novels.
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The art throughout this collection varies. But, I enjoyed each in their own way and they were well selected to illustrate the source material. Creepy, dark, and humorous when it needs to be - just a lot of fun to look at!
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If you are looking for some creepy tales for Halloween (or maybe for Christmas) this would be a great place to look!
I have a confession. A confession that I am truly ashamed of, but I think I have made an improvement on over the last few years. I had made a habit ofI have a confession. A confession that I am truly ashamed of, but I think I have made an improvement on over the last few years. I had made a habit of flippantly tossing OCD as a descriptor of things in my daily life.
“I just want to get pizza again . . . I must be OCD.”
“I prefer to wear polo shirts to work . . . that is so OCD!”
“I have to update my Goodreads status every day . . . isn’t that OCD of me?”
One day my wife called me out and told me that I should stop saying that. It is disrespectful to people with OCD and minimizes the struggle people with OCD have. She was so right and I am so thankful for the course correction – while every so often I find the words working their way to my mouth, I feel I have done a lot better in not saying it and working to change my mindset so that I am not even tempted to say it.
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While I have my struggles with anxiety from time to time, I have been able to get a pretty good handle on it. After reading about Katzenstein’s battle with his brain, I consider myself lucky that any issues I have with mental stress are a cakewalk compared to his. Not that I have anything to compare it to as I have not read much about OCD, but I feel that this must be one of the best interpretations of OCD to help those who do not struggle with it understand what it is like.
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I love how Katzenstein was able to integrate his love of drawing comics with telling his story. At times it is funny, at times serious. You can easily see how humor was a defense mechanism for him and while I was often laughing . . . I had to stop and think about the underlying pain. It is really a striking contrast that adds to the brilliance in telling the story this way.
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This book does not take very long to read and is very worth it for the message it shares. If you have ever been curious about OCD or, like me, find yourself nonchalantly using the term “OCD” in your life, I think you should give this a try to help put the struggle into perspective.
I went back and looked at my review of volume 1 of this series. Other than different pictures, I could pretty much copy and paste my review!
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FirI went back and looked at my review of volume 1 of this series. Other than different pictures, I could pretty much copy and paste my review!
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First similar point: This is Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside, Creepshow, etc. If you enjoy those, you may enjoy this series.
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Second similar point: Stories were okay, but not super tight or mind blowingly awesome. This is a bit understandable with the limitation of getting every story in within the limitations of one comic book issue. But, some of the stories in this collection so far have handled that limitation better than others. Positive note: there is some really interesting creativity in this series.
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Third similar point: The artwork doesn’t do much for me in this series. Overall, feels a bit sloppy. There will be one really awesomely drawn frame followed by one where the proportions of the faces and the bodies feels off. As I stress in my review of volume 1, it is not that I can do better, but, then again, I don’t draw comic books at all! ...more
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