Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris, Volume 1 Review

Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris, Volume 1: Colossus of Mars. Arvid Nelson and Carlos Rafael. 2011. Dynamite Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Colossus of Mars is part of Edgar Rice Burroughs' science fiction setting. This side story looks at the history of Barsoom (Mars) following Dejah Thoris. The setting is pretty rich since it is able to pull from Burroughs' existing work.

I like the story quite a bit. Dejah Thoris is engaged to be married to the son of a rival tribe to create an alliance. The rivalry between the tribes isn't delved into much. It does provide a good backdrop for the events of the book. The secondary part of the story involves one of the tribe leaders resurrecting a colossus, which is an ancient artifact from the earliest days of Mars. He uses this construction to attack his enemies.

There is a lot of action in the book. It moves along really well. Dejah Thoris develops into a fairly strong character. The art is good, but there is a lot of skin shown throughout the book. It is pretty even between the sexes, although it seems to objectify Dejah Thoris a bit. This is based again on the works of Burroughs, so it isn't contained to this work. The visual aspect just makes some of these things more apparent.

It's worth checking out for a view into the setting.

The Opposite of Spoiled Review

The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money. Ron Lieber. 2015. Harper. 256 pages.

Rating: 4/5

My local library did a series of events on personal finances this year, including a community read of The Opposite of Spoiled. I don't think I would have come across the book otherwise. While I've read some other stuff on personal finances, I've never picked up a parenting book.

I thought this book was pretty good for what it is. You won't find information on creating budgets or anything like that. The biggest themes that I picked up from the book are to be open about money and give kids a chance to experiment with spending on their own terms. Lieber encourages asking questions to get to the root of a child's inquiry about money (such as: how much do you make?), giving kids an allowance, and earmarking funds for different activities (save, spend, and give).

The information is easy to read and well organized. While the focus is on parents with kids that are starting to inquire about money, there are tips that any parent could use. The examples he uses are nice, but sometimes felt like they were intended for wealthier or well established families. There are examples along a wide spectrum though, so maybe those are just the ones that stick out in my mind. Lieber's advice is worth checking out.

Nopalito Review

Nopalito: A Mexican Kitchen. Gonzalo Guzmán and Stacy Adimando. 2017. Ten Speed Press. 256 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Mexican food. This hasn't always been the case. I feel like this book showcases a lot of what has drawn me into the cuisine over time. There are a lot of bold flavors and simple recipes that taste great.

Guzmán clearly loves this cuisine and wants to share that love with others. He shares stories about how he grew up around food and which dishes are his favorites. There is a bit of leeway with these recipes too. They might be presented one way with notes about how he has changed the recipes to fit the region he is cooking in.

The best part about it is that all of the recipes are clearly authentic. This starts with instructions on making tortillas at home, an overview of commonly used peppers (fresh and dried), and branching out from the expected Mexican dishes. He draws from recipes found throughout Mexico, so it is not simply a regional cookbook. I found this more interesting because it shows off how varied the ingredients and tastes can be.

I've only read a couple other Mexican cookbooks before, but I would place one at the top of the pile. It has so much that can be useful to beginning and experienced cooks, and presents it in a way that did not feel intimidating at all.

FUBAR: By the Sword Review

FUBAR: By the Sword. Jeff McComsey, Steve Becker, Chuck Dixon, and Jeff McClelland. 2015. Alterna. 296 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

There are tons of zombies in this book. The creators reimagined various historical events (i.e. wars) that feature zombies. Some of them I was able to pick out what they were related to immediately, while others were more elusive. At first I was a little uncertain how this would play out because it seems like a riff on adding supernatural creatures to certain novels. The gamble paid off though.

Most of the stories are pretty short. There isn't a huge investment in any of them so a weaker story doesn't drag the whole book down. The art is great though. Again, some of it is stronger than others, but for the most part it is really good. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations connected to medieval Japan. It would have been nice if the stories gave some more information to clue the reader into where and when the story is set. Some of the stories felt generic because they lacked this sort of detail.

It's definitely worth reading for fans of zombie and alternative histories.

Thrud the Barbarian Review

Thrud the Barbarian. Carl Critchlow. 2013. Titan Comics. 110 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Here's what you need to know: Thrud has a small head, he likes beer, and his approach to every situation is to smash things. The book has a rather silly premise. Every one of the stories could stand alone. I think they work pretty well together.

I'll start by saying that the art is the highlight of this series. Aside from some glaring anatomical disparities, it is fantastic. The style reminds me of Mike Mignola's art, but this originally came out about 10 years earlier. It's worth checking out for the art alone.

The stories are pretty simple. Thrud is trying to enjoy some beer and either someone spills it or he runs out. Whatever the case may be, he is motivated to fight the person who spilled his beer or go on an adventure to obtain more beer. The tales go through a range of locations and enemies for Thrud to fight. They just aren't different enough from each other for my taste.

I received this as part of the November 2016 Comic Bento box.

Black Road Volume 1 Review

Black Road, Volume 1: The Holy North. Brian Wood, Garry Brown, and Dave McCaig. 2016. Image Comics. 136 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I really wanted to like this book. I've read some previous stuff from Brian Wood that was fantastic, and the premise seemed interesting. However, the implementation just wasn't up to my expectations.

So the story is about a man in England known as Magnus the Black. He does odd jobs to get by, which include protecting members of the Christian church as they expand their influence in England. A member of the Vatican is killed under his care and he becomes a hunted man.

Magnus straddles the realm between pagans and Christians in this story. This lets him be a guide to the reader into the series, but his indifference left him a little wanting as a character. By the time the story explains how he got to this point as a wanderer I didn't much care about his background. It could have made him a bit more likeable, yet it might do the opposite. He's more of an antihero without the charisma. The side characters round things out a bit, but not enough to want me to keep reading. Some parts of the story didn't mesh well with the others. It made it feel less cohesive than it could have.

The art is really good. It is quite dark, which matches the story fantastically. Something brighter just would not have fit as well. There were aspects of the art that I didn't care for, particularly the shading over the character faces. It strays a little toward the abstract in the art, but not enough for it to be real noticeable.

Bloodshot Reborn Deluxe Edition Review

Bloodshot Reborn: Deluxe Edition, Book 1. Jeff Lemire, Mico Suayan, Butch Guice, Lewis Larosa, David Baron, and Brian Reber. 2016. Valiant Entertainment. 352 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Holy crap. I've never read a Bloodshot comic before, although he has appeared in some other Valiant titles that I've read. This book covers three arcs in the character's story, and it is amazing. Not being too familiar with the character, I felt like this was very friendly to new readers.

It gives a brief introduction to the character: he is a super soldier that was implanted with nanites to give him increased strength, speed, and healing. He also doesn't know who exactly he is. During a recent event those nanites were removed from his system. Now he is trying to deal with the aftermath of that event and what it means to be normal again.

Given the character's background, it's not surprising that there is a bit of action in this book. The story builds slowly to that action though. I like that there is some balance between the action and character development. It gives him a chance to grow and create relationships with other characters, even if some of those are only in his head.

I mentioned this covers three arcs. The first is about Bloodshot trying to find himself. It leads directly into the second arc in which he wraps up some loose ends. The third arc is way different from the other two though. It jumps between present day and 30 years in the future. The setting in the future reminded me of Mad Max: a bit crazy and over the top, but still a lot of fun.

The art is superb. There is a different style for each of the arcs. The art for the first arc is great. When it came to the second arc, it felt like there was a huge change in style. It definitely took some getting used to. The illustrations are so noticeably different between the two. The third arc felt like less of a shift in terms of technique and colors, but the panel layouts are pretty different. The creators make great use of mirroring events between the two time periods.

As a first time Bloodshot reader, this book is great. I highly recommend it. Jeff Lemire's writing and the art team are a top notch combination.

A Burglar's Guide to the City Review

A Burglar's Guide to the City. Geoff Manaugh. 2016. FSG Originals. 304 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I spotted this book while browsing at the library and I couldn't pass it up. The title is just too intriguing. It's really about how criminals use architectural spaces for purposes other than their original intentions. In other words, they don't obey the common rules of how buildings work.

The first few pages drew me in really quickly. The way it was written reminded me of The Devil in the White City, which was fantastic. It veers into a first person narrative filled with anecdotes about the research done for the book and examples of real life crimes. This approach to the subject isn't bad. It just didn't grab me the same way the beginning did. There is a section that gets into legalese about burglary that felt like it went on too long.

I loved the stories peppered throughout the book, whether they were the author's or a burglar's. These spanned a number of topics such as how a city's structure affects crime, the way a building's placement in the city and layout can draw or deter criminals, and tools that are used in burglary. There is a balance between looking at how burglars act and what the police and others do to try to deter burglars.

The author is clearly interested in the subject and put in a lot of time and effort to write this book. However, it was repetitive at times and seemed to be longer than it needed to be. Definitely worth checking out for the ideas presented and the true crime elements.

Emotional Rescue Review

Emotional Rescue: Essays on Love, Loss and Life--With a Soundtrack. Ben Greenman. 2016. Little A. 250 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

As the title indicates, this book is centered around music and how it relates to aspects of our lives. I like the setup for the chapters. Each one starts with a heading page introducing the topic(s), the next page lists music selections the writer associates with the topic, and then there is an essay about it. Sometimes the topics seemed loosely connected to the music selected, although I was not familiar with many of the songs. That didn't stop me from enjoying the writing because the pertinent details of the music are discussed.

I ended up reading this book on my phone, which is the first time I've used it in that capacity. This book lent itself really well to doing so. Each chapter is relatively short, taking about 5 or 6 minutes to read. So it was pretty easy to open it up and read a small chunk when I had an opportunity without dropping out in the middle of a chapter. I could digest it in smaller chunks rather than trying to sit down and read the whole thing in one go. This gave me some time to reflect back on what Greenman was trying to say at times, which may have made it more enjoyable for me.

His writing reminds me a bit of Chuck Klosterman without being quite so cynical. There are times where his stories put me off, but the honesty behind them kept me reading. He talks quite a bit about how he relates to music. It really is about relationships though. Whether it is something that he experienced directly, or just something he noticed through song or from watching others, there is insight here that should resonate with readers. It is a very personal journey and I'm glad to have had a chance to tag along.

Understanding Comics Review

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Scott McCloud. 1994. William Morrow Paperbacks. 224 pages.

Rating: 5/5

As a comics fan, there was a pretty good chance I was going to love this book. McCloud takes a stab at explaining why people like comics. What about them resonates with us? What makes them unique? How does this particular format compare to other forms of media?

I think what made this book work so well for me is the format itself. It is written as a comic book. This allows McCloud to utilize the page to show the concepts that he talks about throughout. Sometimes it is simple and seems unnecessary, but might be helpful to someone that doesn't read comics. And it is meant to be accessible for anyone, whether they are regular comics readers or not.

The book covers a lot of different topics from the panels and the space in between, known as gutters, to the passage of time and expression of emotions. Every single one comes with examples to guide the reader through his thought process. There are a couple ideas that I did not agree with, but it didn't taint my reading of the book. He puts it out there that the book is meant to foster discussion about comics and to get people thinking about the way they work. Everything in this book falls under that umbrella. It did a great job of getting me to think about comics with some more depth.

These Are My Friends on Politics Review

These Are My Friends on Politics: A Children's Book for Adults (Who Occasionally Behave Like Kids). Billy O'Keefe. 2016. Inkshares. 64 pages.

Rating: 2/5

Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

This book didn't strike a chord with me at all. Maybe I'm just lucky that the people in my life don't act anywhere near what is depicted in this book. It mostly is poking fun at the way people behave when it comes to politics. And there are funny parts. I think the creator has a good pulse on some common social behaviors. Too bad those are just asides to the main focus, which is the way people discuss politics.

The art is cartoonish, which is expected given the subtitle. The interior drawings match the cover art, which is nice to see. Being a creator owned piece rather than coming from a large publisher probably plays a part in that. The layout didn't really work for me though. Every page has the illustrations at the top, depicting all of the characters on the cover image interacting in different ways. These might be the best part of the book because they can be hilarious. Just keep an eye on the pets and the baby. The bottom portion of the page contains the text. It's not a terrible layout, but it felt like two separate pieces that didn't get integrated.

If you want to see people argue about politics, this is the book for you. More importantly, if you like supporting indie writers, I recommend picking it up. It wasn't the right book for me and that's ok.

Champions: No Time For Losers Review

The Champions: No Time For Losers. Tony Isabella, Bill Mantlo, Don Heck, George Tuska, John Byrne, and Gil Kane. 2016. Marvel. 99 pages.

Rating: 2/5

The Champions is a superhero group set in the Marvel universe led by Black Widow. The other members of the team are Hercules, Angel, Iceman, and Ghost Rider. It's an odd mix of characters, but they actually work well together.

There are two story arcs in this book. The story arcs are about as ridiculous as the team itself. In the first arc, Pluto, the god of the underworld, attacks the UCLA campus in an attempt to capture Hercules and Venus, the goddess of love. His plan is to force them to marry his allies and use that as leverage to be able to take over Olympus. The second arc features a villain known as the Swarm, a former Nazi that now has control over killer bees. That should give you an idea of what to expect.

The stories actually aren't that bad. They are put together pretty well. As odd as it seems that these particular characters come together, there are reasons for each of them to be in the area when the attacks occur. Where the book falls short for me is in the style of the book. These stories were originally published in the 1970s, and it shows. There is too much repetition as the characters recap what happened in the previous issues. I understand why it was done that way, but it breaks me out of the story and makes the whole experience less enjoyable.

The art is decent. It is dated a bit, much like some of the writing elements used. There are only a couple times where it struck me as being really good. The book is somewhat progressive by putting Black Widow in the lead role on the team. It's an interesting time capsule of Marvel comics, but nothing too exciting.

I received this book as part of the November 2016 box from Comic Bento.

The Death-Defying Doctor Mirage Review

The Death-Defying Doctor Mirage. Jen Van Meter, Roberto de la Torre, and David Baron. 2015. Valiant Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 5/5

I was excited to read this book. The title and the cover art piqued my interest immediately. I had a vague notion of what the story was about when I picked it up. For met it hit on all cylinders to deliver a good story.

When we meet the heroine, Shan Fong, she is at a support group. She is there to provide closure for some widows using her ability to speak with the dead. The kicker is that her own husband, Hwen, passed away and she is unable to locate his spirit. When an opportunity that seems too good to be true comes along, Shan Fong is skeptical, but can she pass on something that may result in finding her love?

The story uses a lot of really interesting elements. It is part ghost story, part Greek tragedy, with a little bit of Faust thrown in for good measure. Let's not forget the detective, folk magic, and fairy tale elements either. With all this going on, the story could get a bit muddled. The creators handle it wonderfully though. It is layered really well so that the reader is gradually drawn into this mystical world. Shan Fong's past and relationship with Hwen unfold as the story progresses too.

And the art is fantastic. It took me a while to get used to it though. The style isn't quite as polished as I've seen in other books. It sort of reminds me of Mike Mignola's art on the Hellboy series without being as cartoonish. Anyway, the colors are great. The variety really make the pages pop at times, especially once Shan Fong enters the Deadside. It can go from dark and oppressive to bright and open quickly. The use of the different speech bubbles is a nice touch too. I could identify who was talking at times based on that alone.

This boils down to a supernatural detective story with a love story blended in. It is set in the Valiant universe, but it stands on its own really well.

Hulk: Season One Review

Hulk: Season One. Fred Van Lente and Tom Fowler. 2012. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I'm quickly becoming a fan of Fred Van Lente. Everything I've read from him has been very enjoyable. His writing on the Hulk took a character I wasn't much interested in and made him sympathetic.

Hulk: Season One retells the origin of how Bruce Banner became the Hulk. The story takes place in and around a military installation known as Gamma Base. Bruce is here developing a weapon to rival the nuclear bomb and ends up getting caught in the blast. This triggers his transformations into the Hulk, which he tries to hide while simultaneously attempting to figure out what is causing them. Having never read a Hulk comic before, this felt like a great starting point.

There are some characters included that Hulk fans should recognize. These allow for some interesting relationships to develop, both friendships and rivalries. That is probably part of why I found this book so likeable. The characters felt developed enough to understand the interactions between them without having tons of history on them. It also delves into Bruce's background a bit, giving clues as to why he acts the way he does and showing a reason for the Hulk to exist.

The art is cartoonish, which works nicely for the story. It isn't overly serious and the art style complements it. For those that like something a little different, this book includes the first issue of Jason Aaron's Hulk series. The art on that one is superb, and I like the take on the character.

This book leaves a few things unexplained within the story presented. Familiarity with the Marvel universe will allow the reader to fill in the blanks, and those elements aren't things that will ruin the story for a new reader.

Thanks to Comic Bento for including this in the November 2016 box!

Four Letter Worlds Review

Four Letter Worlds. Joe Casey and Jay Faerber. 2005. Image Comics. 144 pages.

Rating: 3/5

This book is an anthology of 16 short stories. There are four main sections: love, hate, fear, and fate. Each of these sections contains four stories related to the theme.

For the most part, I enjoyed the stories. The writing and the art vary quite a bit, which is both a strength and a weakness of this type of book. It makes it possible for a reader to be exposed to an array of creators and content, sampling small amounts that might launch them into a creator's other works.

None of the stories in this anthology were awful. The only one that really impressed me was "Spin" because it is able to tell a story and show the connection to a theme without using any dialogue or exposition. The art conveys everything the reader needs to know and does so wonderfully.

The book exists in a sort of limbo for me. I like the concept behind it, and most of the stories are pretty good. But it didn't leave much of an impression on me.

Buddhism for Beginners Review

Buddhism for Beginners. Thubten Chodron. 2001. Snow Lion. 160 pages.

Rating: 5/5

I've been interested in Buddhism for a while now. This is probably the third or fourth book I've read that touched on the subject. The others gave more of an introduction to the core beliefs, which makes this book make a lot more sense.

The format of the book is question and answer, such as what would occur between a teacher and student. The questions posed throughout the book were ones that the author was asked by numerous people. The goal here was to answer those questions in plain language that would make the topics more accessible. It also sought to correct some misinterpretations that occurred when Buddhism was becoming popular in the West.

I mentioned that having a basic knowledge of Buddhism helps to understand this book, but the author addresses the most important aspects in the first couple chapters. So the rest of the information presented wouldn't be completely confusing to someone with no prior knowledge. I would suggest reading and thinking about the information in the initial chapters two or three times before moving into the rest of the book though. In fact, Buddhism lends itself to that sort of assessment.

Everything is explained wonderfully. There were a few times where I needed to go back to previous sections to familiarize myself with something the author mentions, but that is not a fault of the book at all. It also covers a wide variety of topics. Some of the subjects are questions that I never would have thought to raise. This is a very inspiring book with information that can be useful to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

Classic Penguin: Cover to Cover Review

Classic Penguin: Cover to Cover. Paul Buckley, Elda Rotor, and Audrey Niffenegger. 2016. Penguin Books. 288 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

As a book lover, this is probably a must read. When I say book lover, I mean more than just reading a lot. There is an appreciation for the appearance of the book from the cover to the layout and fonts used. It's a love for the medium itself and not just the content of the pages. I am prefacing my review with this information because this book is about the design of the Penguin classics books, focusing on the cover art.

After reading this book, I feel a little like my process of preparing to read and review it is similar to how many of the illustrators approached the cover designs. I received this book a while back and I was excited to read it. But instead of getting down to it, I put it off. Eventually, I read little bits of it. Just enough to feel like I was making progress. Then I was getting this nagging feeling like I just needed to get it done. Unlike the artists, I didn't have someone at Penguin emailing me asking when my review would be finished.

The book just blew me away once I made time for it. Almost all of the covers are just gorgeous. There is such a range in the styles and complexity of the illustrations and designs that were used. A few books I recognized immediately from the cover without even seeing the title. It also introduced me to some books that I had never heard of. There are more subsets of classics lines at Penguin than I would have imagined existing. Some are quite broad, while others are narrower in scope.

Throughout it all is Paul Buckley's voice overseeing the projects. Paul is an art director for Penguin, and has worked there for a long time. His input on the titles such as how the artists were chosen, various designs that were tried, and the influence that drove the choices are all fantastic. This is balanced out by input from the illustrators and some other members of the Penguin art team. There is enthusiasm and love for books on every page.

Mayhem and Magic Review

Mayhem and Magic. Sarah Fine, Alex de Campi, Dennis Calero, and Andrew Dalhouse. 2016. Jet City Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

Mayhem & Magic is part of the Reliquary series by Sarah Fine. It seems to be a trend with Jet City books that they are connected to a series of novels. I found this one to be developed a bit better than some of the others. As a result, I enjoyed it a bit more too.

This is set in an alternate version of our world where magic exists. Not a new concept by any means, but it does distinguish itself in a couple ways. There are four types of magic and each one allows the user to affect the world in a different way. It is also possible to imbue some of that magic into items or people. There are also some interesting roles based around magic. Some people can use one of the four types of magic, while others are able to see the connections that people and objects have to magic.

Asa Ward is one of the latter type of people, and he uses his ability to track down items imbued with magic, which he then sells. He tries to live below the radar to protect himself and those around him. After crossing a gangster, he is pulled into a battle between different crime factions.

The exciting thing about this book is how Ward interacts with the world around him. His position lets the reader get a glimpse of all four types of magic in action. We see his capabilities, something he cares about, and something he fears. Taken as a whole, these elements give life to the character.

I didn't care much for the art though. Like some of the other Jet City books, there is too much shading used. The characters don't stand out very much. However, this is contrasted nicely by the colors used for the magic. Each type has a different color and it becomes easy to identify which one is being employed by color alone.

I like the setting that Fine created. Ward is a great character to introduce the reader to that world.

Archer & Armstrong, Volume 1 Review

Archer & Armstrong, Volume 1: The Michelangelo Code. Fred Van Lente, Clayton Henry, Matt Milla, Dave Lanphear, and Mico Suayan. 2013. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Archer is a young man who can replicate any fighting style he sees. He was also raised at a fundamentalist religious theme park to become a trained assassin. Armstrong is a 5,000 year old immortal who is always looking to have a good time, which usually involves alcohol. They meet when Archer leaves his home for the first time on a mission to kill his family's greatest enemy.

This book strives on being ridiculous. The premise is silly while being familiar. I like the asides that mention what sort of style Archer is using in different fights. There are also some nice references to other comics. I've read one other book featuring these characters, but this one sets the stage nicely. It gives enough information to allow the reader to get familiar with the characters. At the same time there is stuff here that hardcore fans will get a kick out of.

There is a bit of a thriller element as they try to track down pieces of a machine known as the Boon. What made this book work is that it combines elements from a few different genres without feeling forced. The art is pretty good too. I definitely like the interior work more than the covers. Something about Mico Suayan's style doesn't appeal to me. The rest of it meshes well with the story being told.

Comic Bento November 2016: Remember the Titans

Comic Bento is a blind subscription box service that provides four or five graphic novels each month. Each monthly box is tied together as part of a theme. The theme for the November 2016 box is Remember the Titans. These books feature characters that are larger than life.

The first book this month is Hulk: Season One (Fred van Lente and Tom Fowler; 2012; Marvel). The Hulk is the perfect character to include in this box because he is such a brute. I don't think I've read a Hulk book yet, so this is perfect for me. Plus, Fred van Lente is writing it. I've read a couple of his other books and they were great. I'm excited to see what he will do with the character. The art looks good, although it is more cartoony than I have come to expect from more recent Marvel products. It seems to fit the character well. There is a sample at the end of the book from another Hulk series that has more realistic art, which looks awesome.

Next up is Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris, Volume 1: Colossus of Mars (Arvid Nelson and Carlos Rafael; 2011; Dynamite Entertainment). If you haven't already, go read A Princess of Mars. This book is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' series set on Mars. It follows the character Dejah Thoris hundreds of years before she meets John Carter. One thing that I can say about the art is that there is a ton of skin. I'm not sure how this will affect my reading of the book, but I am interested in delving back into this fantastic world.

The third book featured in this box is Thrud the Barbarian (Carl Critchlow; 2013; Titan Comics). Thrud is big of muscle and tiny of head. He'd rather fight his way out of a situation than have to think at all. The book made me think of Conan right away, and it appears to be a parody of the famous character. Comic Bento has done a great job of picking out some pretty humorous books. I hope this follows that trend. Plus, the art looks fantastic.

Fourth, we have Kaijumax Season One (Zander Cannon; 2016; Oni Press). So this book is about a prison for giant monsters like the ones that Godzilla faces off against. I don't think anything else needs to be said about the story. The art is really different on this one, but it seems to fit the story perfectly.

Finally, there is The Champions: No Time for Losers (Tony Isabella and Bill Mantlo; 2016; Marvel). That's right, there are five books for November. This one features Hercules, along with some friends, battling some pretty big opponents. This book collects some classic issues from back in the 70s. I can definitely tell that these are some older comics just flipping through the book, but hey it should be fun to read nonetheless. My only real quibble with this one is that it isn't bound like a normal trade, but is styled after the floppy books.

Shadowman, Volume 1 Review

Shadowman, Volume 1: Birth Rites. Justin Jordan, Patrick Zircher, and Brian Reber. 2013. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

It felt odd reading this so shortly after the Valiant Masters edition of Shadowman. Jack Boniface is presented quite differently in this book. There are some similarities with the earlier rendition, but this version isn't quite as well developed.

Magic is front and center in this book, although it loses some of the voodoo elements. I like how these magic elements play together. It allows the creators to present some interesting villains in the form of demons. Master Darque, who is a long time antagonist to Shadowman, is present, but his servants are the ones doing the heavy lifting here. I enjoyed how these were mixed to show the reach of his power.

Jack has a couple of allies that want to protect him until he can master the Shadowman powers. These allies round out the story in a nice way because they balance out Jack's ignorance of this magical world he gets thrust into. They are able to give him some guidance. In the end, it is up to Jack to embrace his power and take a stand. The sequence that occurs the morning after he first becomes Shadowman is very reminiscent of the earlier series.

The art is phenomenal. We get to see a couple different takes on Shadowman. Master Darque and his minions are executed superbly. And then there are the Deadside sequences, which take place in a magical realm similar to limbo. All in all this is a nice reintroduction to the character. I'm excited to see where it goes from here.

Time Trial Review

Time Trial. Rysa Walker, Heather Nuhfer, and Agustin Padilla. 2016. Jet City Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

So this book is connected to Rysa Walker's Chronos Files series. I really like the idea behind it. There are time travelers that use keys to move around different eras. One group, known as Cyrists, want to take over the world and another group is out to stop them.

Time Trial seems to take place concurrent and after the events of the novels. There's time travel involved so I wouldn't quibble about any oddities with events. Anyway, Clio is the main character and her family is part of the group fighting the Cyrists. She is coming of age and wants to branch out on her own, ending up in 1931 Chicago. There she becomes involved with the trial of Al Capone and an old acquaintance of her parents.

There is a bit of time jumping that occurs after Clio meets the other time traveler. I liked seeing the different periods, although they could have been more varied. These highlight the differences between the two groups as well, even though it isn't stated outright. It gives a nice feel for the characters. I might have liked the story more if it had been more subtle about bringing in the Cyrists and really just let it be about Clio.

The art varied a bit for me. I like the character art. The period pieces are done nicely. The effectiveness of the coloring threw things off for me. There are times where the illustrations get too dark and muddle the drawings of the characters. This particularly bugged me when it meant half a character's face would be in shadow when it didn't need to be.

Despite some problems with approaches to the art and the story, it is still enjoyable. It takes a unique approach to time travel that is worth checking out.

Valiant Masters: Shadowman Review

Valiant Masters: Shadowman, Volume 1: Spirits Within. Jim Shooter, Steve Englehart, Faye Perozich, David Lapham, Don Perlin, Mark Moretti, Bob Hall, Steve Ditko, and Jose Delbo. 2013. Valiant Entertainment. 184 pages.

Rating: 5/5

This book collects some Shadowman comics from the early 90's. The art shows its age, mostly because it is not as polished as current comics. That didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book though.

Jack Boniface is a jazz musician in New Orleans. After a strange one night stand, he begins to develop powers that are stronger at night, which he uses to fight crime. How Jack adapts to his powers and the characters around him make this stronger than the average superhero story. Of note are Jack's housekeeper Nettie, Elya, and Master Darque.

There are supernatural elements to this story, beginning with Jack's transformation. Voodoo is a big component as well. I love that the creators tied in voodoo and other New Orleans elements because it gives it some more authenticity to the book. The magic isn't as prevalent early on, but becomes a big part with the introduction of Master Darque and the origins of Shadowman.

The story detours away from New Orleans for a couple issues in the middle to tie into a crossover event called Unity. These weren't bad though. I felt like I got enough information on the event to enjoy these issues while still remaining focused on Shadowman. It introduces an important character and sets up some future plotlines. The zero issue does a nice job of tying some things together. All in all Shadowman was a fun read.

Thanks to Comic Bento for including this in the October 2016 box.

Hockey Karma Review

Hockey Karma. Howard Shapiro and Andres Mossa. 2016. Animal Media Group, LLC. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Forever Friends trilogy (The Stereotypical Freaks and The Hockey Saint are the other two books). The book is a progression from the previous stories and is set about 10 years after The Hockey Saint. It follows two friends, Tom Leonard and hockey player Jake Jacobson.

Jake is near the end of his career and battling with replacement and drug addiction. The creators did a great job of showing how these affected other aspects of his life. While Jake's life is deconstructing, Tom is working on building things up. He starts a relationship with his high school crush and develops plans to improve the community where the book is set. These events unfold over the course of the hockey season, which works nicely to pace the story.

The art is markedly different from the previous books. Mostly this is in the characters, which makes sense because they are a bit older now. I enjoyed it in general. There were a couple panels where the angle of the illustration combined with the character design made it look a little odd. The action shots on the ice are well done.

I think this is an excellent conclusion to the series. Although the characters are older now, it should appeal to teens that might have read the first two books or anyone that enjoys hockey stories.

Doctor Strange: The Flight of Bones Review

Doctor Strange: The Flight of Bones. Tony Harris, Daniel Jolley, Ray Snyder, Kieron Gillen, Paul Chadwick, Frazer Irving, Frank Brunner, and Ted McKeever. 1999. Marvel. 192 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I've read a couple of other Doctor Strange books recently. This one came along as part of the October 2016 Comic Bento box. It's a good collection of stories centered around the character, but it didn't feel as strong as the other books.

Doctor Strange is a sorcerer that investigates supernatural phenomena and protects the Marvel universe from magical threats. There is a decent introduction to the character explaining who he was, how he got his powers, and what he does now. This is spread out throughout the book so a new reader shouldn't feel overwhelmed with the information. And it feels like it is geared more as a collection to get new readers familiar with the character than a story meant for long time readers. There are a couple elements that I am familiar with due to the other Doctor Strange books I've read that I don't recall being explained in this book though.

As a collection it is pretty good. I definitely enjoyed it. There are a variety of stories and the art has quite a range. Both the stories and the art range from dark to almost neon levels of brightness. It has a little bit of something for anyone.

The Mask Strikes Back Review

The Mask Strikes Back. John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke. 1996. Dark Horse Books. 128 pages.

Rating: 5/5

If you aren't already aware, the Mask is off the walls bonkers. In this book, a group of teens find the mask and each one proceeds to take a turn wearing it. The cops and an old foe are hunting down the returned Big Head. Since he is able to change shape easily and shrugs off most damage, there isn't much that can phase him.

The tone of the book is mostly consistent even though there are four different personalities that need to contend with the mask. They all try to use it to achieve their dreams with varying results. I haven't read the other books in the series, but I have seen the movie. There are a couple points where I didn't know what the characters were referring to as a result. This is ok because I was able to get the gist of it and those moments weren't key to the story.

The creators clearly had a lot of fun with this book. The trading of the mask between the characters allows them to delve into four different aspects of Big Head without having to start over each time. A couple of these stand out a bit more to me because of the awesome art that came out of it. It can get cartoony at times, which works with this character. The colors are fantastic. Most of the time they make the illustrations pop off the page. This was such a fun book, although there isn't a lot of depth to it.

I received this book in the October 2016 Comic Bento box.

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Vol. 1 Review

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Volume One. Greg Pak, Mirko Colak, and Cory Smith. 2014. Dynamite Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Turok has got to be one of the more ridiculous books I've read recently. It follows a young Native American that is an outcast from his tribe on the island of Manhattan before it has been settled by Europeans. The tension comes when a ship arrives with a crew that is looking for gold. They've also brought dinosaurs with them.

There is a lot of action in this book, which helps make it a quick read. Turok is pretty adaptable to it all. I think his status as a loner and the skills he shows early on support this ability. How he became shunned isn't presented in much detail. There is just enough to pique the reader's interest and maybe keep you coming back for more. I would have liked more character development in general.

The art is superb. The dinosaurs look awesome and the knights provide a nice feel to the book. These elements are integrated well. The fairly realistic style works perfectly for the setting too. There are some areas for improvement, but it was a fun read that hit a lot of great elements for me.

I received this book in the October 2016 Comic Bento box, which takes a look at characters and books from the 90s.

Rick and Morty, Volume 1 Review

Rick and Morty, Volume 1. Zac Gorman, CJ Cannon, and Marc Ellerby. 2015. Oni Press. 128 pages.

Rating: 3/5

This is the last book from the September 2016 Comic Bento box. I've never watched Rick and Morty, but this book definitely has an adult swim vibe.

Morty and his grandfather Rick travel to various dimensions generally creating havoc as they go. This felt like a collection of five distinct pieces, although there are some elements that carry through all of them. Those elements show some creativity that made it more enjoyable as it went on.

I liked this book well enough, but it can be pretty superficial. I can't say whether this is a fault of the book or the franchise as a whole. The characters were mostly one dimensional. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I didn't care for any of them. They just weren't very likeable. The plots don't add much depth either.

The art as a whole didn't appeal to me. The character drawings seem true to the show, but doesn't add much. The colors are interesting and some of the aliens/non-human creatures are done well. This should appeal to fans of the show. Others could take it or leave it.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Volume 1 Review

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Volume 1: The Coulson Protocols. Marc Guggenheim and German Peralta. 2016. Marvel. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This book was included in the September 2016 Comic Bento box, which was full of books related to TV shows. Marvel has had a surge of live action shows recently and there are a plethora of animated series that could have been linked into this box. Having watched the first three seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. recently, I'm glad they chose this book.

There are some similarities between this book and the show, particularly the appearance of the main group of characters. All of them are featured on the show and the character art is influenced by the actors. Some people might not like that aspect, but I think it is great. It gives a sort of cohesion between the two mediums. There are some noticeable differences as well, but I won't mention specifics due to potential spoilers.

Anyway, in this book someone has attacked the Pentagon and stolen some information. This causes Coulson to reach out to his old girlfriend, Lola, to find out more about what is going on. From there, it leads to a chase for the perpetrator, which gives the creators an opportunity to bring in some Marvel heroes that couldn't appear in the show.

The characters felt pretty true to what I expected from them. The book is able to capitalize on the relationships built into the show despite the deviations. It even carries some of the same type of humor. I enjoyed the art style quite a bit. The colors worked perfectly and there is some great detail work. I'm interested to see what's in store for the team.

Garbage Pail Kids Review

Garbage Pail Kids. James Kochalka, Hilary Barta, Roger Landridge, and others. 2016. IDW Publishing. 120 pages.

Rating: 1/5

I received this book in the September 2016 Comic Bento box. It was not for me though. I've never seen the show it is based on. The book is filled with toilet humor, which I could probably forgive except there is no story. Each part of this book is a vignette that last no more than 5 or 6 pages tops. These are so disconnected that I felt no connection to this book whatsoever.

There are characters that recur over the course of the book, but they get no introduction, so fans of the show might like it but it can leave anyone else lost. Each one has some gimmick that ties into the humor of the book, although there can be some overlap between characters.

The art seems to be right in line with the cartoon. It isn't my style, and it tries to be disgusting. Sometimes it hits the mark and sometimes it just tries too hard. That being said, there are some clever moments. The art in particular is used to poke fun at quite a range of topics. There are some stories that tackle nerd culture, but these felt like they went on too long.

This book states right out that it is for immature readers and it is not wrong.

The Last Sacrifice #1 Review

The Last Sacrifice #1. Joe Hart, Stuart Moore, and Michael Montenat. 2016. Jet City Comics. 32 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy through Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

The story is set in the near future. Something happened that caused the birth rate of female humans to plummet, which is a reverse of Y: The Last Man. This follows Janie Tanner while she is on the run trying to protect her sister. There are numerous groups that are trying to find any women they can with different agendas.

The art is okay. I can't think of any drawings that were bad, but on the flip side there weren't any that floored me. This is a decent introduction to the story and the characters. It spends a lot of time setting things up. There is a bit of potential in this story, but the portion contained here didn't wow me. I can see this developing into something cool.

Princeless, Volume 3 Review

Princeless, Volume 3: The Pirate Princess. Jeremy Whitley, Rosy Higgins, and Ted Brandt. 2015. Action Lab Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Check out my reviews of volume 1 and 2.

Adrienne and Bedelia continue their adventures by rescuing the "princess" Raven, who is the daughter of the king of pirates. Like the other princesses in this series, she has been locked away in a tower. However, she is much more capable of defending herself. She fits in great with the heroines until she heads off to seek revenge on her brothers. Of course, Adrienne chases after her.

The relationship between Adrienne and Raven is really the focus of this volume. These two young women are very similar in many ways, even though they had different upbringings and training. There is just enough tension between them to keep the story interesting. It is paced very well with a lot of action sprinkled throughout. The creators do a nice job of contrasting this with the interaction between the girls. I think the message the book settles on is fantastic as well.

Once again, the art is perfect for the story. There might be a slight variation from the previous volumes, but the characters are instantly recognizable so it wouldn't be a problem. This book hit a little bit of a slump in terms of cleverness. Part of this is the story and part of it is the use of references. I enjoyed the book in spite of it.

Batgirl, Volume 5 Review

Batgirl, Volume 5: Deadline. Gail Simone, Fernando Pasarin, Jonathan Glapion, Robert Gill, and Javier Garron. 2014. DC Comics. 256 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Gail Simone's writing on Batgirl has been superb, and the art backs it up perfectly. There have been some bumps along the way though. Deadline wraps up this run of Batgirl really well.

Although this book doesn't have a cohesive story along all the issues, each piece is strong and adds to the character. And boy is this book off the wall compared to some of the others. Not only does it take a lighter tone at times, it dives into the supernatural elements with gusto.

It starts off with a dream sequence/alternate reality where Batgirl and Knightfall are best friends and Gotham is the safest city in the world. The art for this story is reminiscent of the rest of the series, but it is so much brighter. It gives a nice contrast to the other stories being told. Another issue has Batgirl rescuing a group of teenagers that summon a demon while playing a game.

The supernatural flavor continues with the return of Strix. She teams up with Batgirl to track down a vampire that is preying on the citizens of Gotham. There is also a story centered around Batgirl and Poison Ivy. This one is cool in concept, especially progressing over the course of a year and connecting to each of the seasons. However, I get the feeling this ties into Birds of Prey to a degree, which I have not read. That background might make this particular portion more enjoyable.

Lastly, we get to see some progression with Barbara Gordon's personal life. This isn't really separate from the other stories found in this volume. I love this book because it looks at the character from so many different angles, and each one feels valid. Having read the first book in the next run of Batgirl already, I can say this one sets it up perfectly.

Amaro Review

Amaro: The Spirited World of Bittersweet, Herbal Liqueurs, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas. Brad Thomas Parsons. 2016. Ten Speed Press. 280 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The title is a mouthful, but it tells you exactly what you are getting into. And the author does a great job of embracing the subject in depth. This sort of thing appeals to me, so I might be a bit biased.

As the title suggests, amari are bittersweet, herbal liqueurs. The flavors can range quite a bit, but there is a similarity of ingredients used to make them. The author covers a lot of different varieties too. Most of them are Italian, but some come from other regions. There are even a few American craft amari coming out now. Don't worry, he gives a great overview that tells you everything you need to know about these liqueurs.

In addition to giving a profile on commercial amari, which includes known ingredients, origin, and a flavor profile, he tells us ways that these can be used in making cocktails. This is probably the largest section of the book, and it includes riffs on classic cocktails as well as some new ones. He wraps it up with a small section on making your own amaro. I'll definitely try this down the line, but there are a number of suggested ingredients that I just don't have at this time.

There are a nice variety of pictures in the book, and anecdotes to go along with the pictures and the descriptions of the various liqueurs and cocktails. These give it body that would otherwise be lacking. The photos include bottles of well known amari, examples of the cocktails, and even some of the people he came into contact with while crafting the book. This book should appeal to cocktail nerds.

Wild Card Review

Wild Card. Jim Butcher, Mark Powers, and Carlos Gomez. 2016. Dynamite Entertainment. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wild Card is the second graphic novel set in the Dresden Files universe that I've read. This one takes place further into the series than I've read, but it has a lot of the same elements that make the series so enjoyable.

Harry Dresden is the only private detective in Chicago that is also a wizard. The blend of the realistic setting with magic works great. He is asked to investigate the deaths of two young women, which leads him into a feud between vampires, the mafia, and the police force. This is all orchestrated by a mysterious bad guy.


The art is solid, and the whole book looks great. Karin's depiction is a little off from that I remember from the books. Unless something changed with her that I'm not aware of, it could bug fans. It wasn't anything major though. I swear the bad guy looks very similar to one of the creatures in the other Dresden Files graphic novel I read.

On its own, the book isn't anything special. The story is fun to read, but it doesn't explore any themes in depth and doesn't reveal much history of the characters involved. Anyone that reads the series should enjoy it for another chance to visit these characters though.

4001 A.D. Review

4001 A.D. Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain. 2016. Valiant Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I would have enjoyed this book more if I was more familiar with the character Rai. The setting itself is handled well, and I was able to pick up the characters easily. It just didn't seem to stand alone as well as some of the other Valiant events that I've read.

This book is set in the future, obviously. It takes place in the city of New Japan, which orbits the Earth. An authoritarian AI known as Father controls the city. Rai leads a group that is rebelling against Father. An epic battle reminiscent of anime fight scenes occurs.

The impetus behind the story isn't anything new. It is still enjoyable though. This isn't a great place to jump into the Valiant Universe, but I feel like fans of Valiant, and Rai in particular, will love it. It's clear that Rai's story has been building to this event.

The art is awesome. There were a couple times where the pages felt crowded, but that is balanced out by some great spreads that give the feeling of how epic this showdown is meant to be. It ends with a nice interaction between Rai and one of the other characters. Plus, it gives this part of the Valiant Universe a good jumping off point for the next part of the story.

Comic Bento October 2016: Gnarly 90's

First things first, Comic Bento is a blind subscription box service. Every month they select four or five books based on a theme. For October, all of the books are related to subjects that were popular in the 90's. I am pretty excited for this Comic Bento box.

I'm not very familiar with Turok. I know the name and remember there being a video game based on it. Turok, Dinosaur Hunter, Volume 1: Conquest (Greg Pak, Mirko Cook, and Cory Smith; Dynamite Entertainment) looks amazing. There are Indians, dinosaurs, and knights, which makes me think this book will be a lot of fun.

The Mask Strikes Back (John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke; Dark Horse Comics) is probably going to be as ridiculous as Turok. When four teens get a hold of the mysterious artifact, only trouble could follow. Having only seen the Jim Carrey movie, I feel like I am in for a treat with this book. The art looks great, although it isn't quite as polished as current comics, and promises to get pretty out there.

Doctor Strange: The Flight of Bones (Various creators; Marvel) is quite timely with the release of the new movie for the MCU. I've read a couple of other Doctor Strange books recently, so it will be interesting to see how this one compares. This book appears to be a collection of stories, and the art reflects that. It ranges from dark and serious to bright and childish.

Last up is a book in the Valiant Masters series. From what I can gather, subscribers will receive one of three hardcover books covering a classic character from the Valiant universe. I received Shadowman: Spirits Within (Jim Shooter, Steve Englehart, Bob Hall, David Lapham, and Steve Ditko; Valiant Entertainment). I've been loving the books I've read from Valiant's relaunch, but I haven't read any Shadowman books or the earlier stuff yet. I look forward to getting some history on this character, especially with so many big names attached to it. The art is a little dated, but the book still looks amazing.

The Blacklist, Volume 1 Review

The Blacklist, Volume 1: The Gambler. Nicole Phillips and Beni Lobel. 2016. Titan Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

The Blacklist is based on the NBC TV show, and was included in the September 2016 Comic Bento box. I've never seen the show, which is a crime drama. It actually worked really well in the graphic novel format.

This is a brand new story that takes place within the show's setting. The cool thing about it is that one of the writers from the show worked on this book. These lend strength to the book because it isn't just a rehash of the show and it is able to draw on the knowledge of the creators.

As for the story itself, it is pretty solid. It follows Liz Keen, who is an FBI agent, and a criminal informant, Red Reddington, that will only work with her. They are brought onto a case after the FBI is set up for the murder of a politician. Together they have to find out who is behind it and bring him in.

There is a bit of backstory for Liz and Red individually, so people unfamiliar with the show that might be interested in the book can still get something out of it. It does give some information on their working relationship, but it isn't developed too greatly. The supporting characters add some depth to the setting also.

Probably the weakest element of the book is the art. It's good for the most part, although the character faces can be a little off at times. The styling fits the book pretty well though. This wasn't a book I would normally pick up, but I enjoyed it.

Sam and Fuzzy Fix Your Problem Review

Sam & Fuzzy Fix Your Problem. Sam Logan. 2016. Blind Ferret. 365 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I received this book in the August 2016 Comic Bento box, whose theme is animals. It features a character that is basically a live teddy bear. This is Fuzzy. He swears, smokes, has amnesia and creates general mayhem.

The book is told in two time periods. The first is right after Fuzzy awakens with amnesia. He teams up with a young woman who is a notorious thief. Despite their strange meeting, they team up and become friends. The second time period is set ten years later. The young woman is out of the picture, replaced with Sam and a few others. They operate an agency that specializes in solving strange problems. Plus there are ninjas.

There is a bit of humor in this book focusing on ridiculous situations, which is sometimes taken to an extreme. It fits though. This piece manages to pull it off because of the talking teddy bear. Despite being a webcomic originally, this book paces itself pretty well. Sometimes webcomics tend to jump around or just feel choppy. This book didn't have that problem at all.

The art feels right at home with this book. Some of the illustrations are ridiculous, which fits with some of the story elements. It is black and white, and I feel like this is a point in its favor. The drawings are a bit cartoony, but I got used to it pretty quickly. Sometimes that style can keep me from enjoying a book.

This is a longer book, so more can be packed into it, but there is a lot going on here. I enjoyed the characters and want to see what happens with them next.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Volume 1 Review

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Volume 1. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Robert Hack. 2016. Archie Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I never expected to enjoy an Archie comic quite as much as I did Sabrina. If you're like me and the only experience you've had with the character is the ABC TV series, you can still get quite a bit out of this book. There are some familiar characters and it expands on Sabrina's story in a unique way.

The premise for this book is that witches like the ones that were persecuted in early America are real and worship Satan. In fact, this is tied into the history of the characters, which made the book stronger to me. There are little things the creators included that tie back to this fact as well. It's not going to change the story if you miss them though.

Anyway, Sabrina's mother and father are out of the picture so she resides with her aunts. Given the nature of the relationship between Sabrina's parents, they decide to move to another area and join a different coven. They prepare her to become a bride of Satan on her 16th birthday. Of course things don't go as smoothly as expected.

As much as I enjoyed the story, I felt conflicted on the art. It fit the time period wonderfully. Sometimes the character faces seemed off and that was a little jarring. The coloring is done well, but towards the end of the book it gets a little sloppy. This may have been intentional to match what is going on. It just didn't work for me. The book is worth checking out to read something different.

Bending Steel Review

Bending Steel. Aldo J. Regalado. 2015. University of Mississippi Press. 288 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It starts out slow and can be a bit dry at times. There is a lot of material that introduces the comic book superhero. Once the author gets through that and into the meat of the book, things get interesting quick.

This feels like it was approached similar to an academic paper to some degree. It starts out by looking at early American adventure stories. He examines character tropes, themes, and cultural influences that shaped these stories and ultimately led to the creation of superheroes. The book benefits from this because it is very thoughtful and thorough. But it has the potential to turn off readers that are more interested in the later periods discussed.

The payoff to this slow buildup is worth it though. The author is able to draw comparisons between those earlier pieces and their creators with the superheroes that came out in comic books and those creators. He does give a good overview of the history of comic books as well. That information might not be as useful to diehard fans that are familiar with it. I felt like it was well presented and gave me a lot of knowledge that I didn't already have.

There is a bit of focus on major comic book series from Marvel and DC. This works well to establish the tone of the books and eras discussed. I would have liked some mention of independent comic books that follow along the path that he creates through the book. Overall this is a great read for anyone that has an interest in comic books, specifically superheroes.