Bitch Planet, Volume 1 Review

Bitch Planet, Volume 1: Extraordinary Machine. Kelly Sue DeConnick. 2015. Image Comics. 136 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Bitch Planet reminds me of The Hunger Games and Orange is the New Black. It follows a group of female prisoners that have been targeted for being non-conformists in a highly patriarchal society. Their crimes include things such as being a bad mother. After an incident at the female prison world, known as Bitch Planet, they are given an opportunity to compete against a men's team in the competition known as Megaton.

The first issue was a little unsatisfying, but the story picked up quickly. The characters, both the prisoners and those on the side of the patriarchy, are well developed. Each one is unique and brings a different personality. The Megaton competition is described briefly and will be more prevalent later on. It resembles other contact sports like rugby but there must be more to it.

One element I like to see in graphic novels is the creators using the whole page. Meaning the things happening in the background add to the book, and that is present here. This makes the whole experience more engaging because you will miss little things if you aren't paying attention. The ads at the end of each part are great as well. They are reminiscent of the ones that appeared in older comics while fitting into the setting.

There is nudity, violence and profanity so it isn't for younger readers.

The Walking Dead Survivors' Guide Review

The Walking Dead Survivors' Guide. Robert Kirkman. 2011. Image Comics. 112 pages.

Rating: 3/5

A great companion to The Walking Dead comic series. This book gives an overview of all the characters that appear in the first 84 issues. The information on each character includes whether they are alive or not, when they appeared, how they left (if applicable), and any contributions they made to the story.

Obviously, some characters will have more information presented than others because of how long they are around. One element that I really liked is the background images. They are white or black depending on whether a character is still alive or not. Very simple but informative just by looking at a page. This is an encyclopedia of the characters rather than a continuation of the story.

The information is good but repetitive at times. Some of the entries could have been combined. There are definitely spoilers so avoid reading this until you are past issue 84 or don't care about spoilers. The story in the comics is different from the TV show, but they are basically the same. There are different characters around at different parts of the story, so it isn't as good for those that only watch the show.

The Hockey Saint Review

The Hockey Saint. Howard Shapiro. 2014. Animal Media Group. 133 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for free from NetGalley.

The Hockey Saint centers around two hockey players, one amateur and one professional, that quickly become friends. Tom Leonard is a college student who idolizes Jeremiah Jacobson and seizes an opportunity to meet him.

The bond that forms between the two men occurs naturally, and doesn't feel forced. The effect they have on each, good and bad, is slower to develop and deepens their relationship.

There are two elements that threw me off the book: the artwork and the investigation into Jeremiah. One of the league executives auapects Jeremiah of misconduct and hires a former FBI agent to investigate him. A lot of the story surrounding the investigation is repetitive, while the art felt understated throughout.

I enjoyed The Hockey Saint for the most part. Although it is presented as a hockey story, it is more about the characters and their relationship.

Red Sonja, Volume 1 Review

Red Sonja, Volume 1: Queen of Plagues. Gail Simone. 2014. Dynamite Entertainment. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Red Sonja is a badass. She talks big and has the skills to back it up, killing her enemies with impunity. Plus she loves drinking and wears a chainmail bikini. She can be a bit ridiculous, and the book is fun despite some pretty serious situations.

The premise is that Red Sonja was a slave until the king was deposed. Since then she has pledged loyalty to the new king. Recently a plague has broken out in the kingdom and an army is on its way. Red Sonja must do everything in her power to protect those that helped her, including training villagers and facing an old friend.

The style here is very reader friendly. Events shift between the present and three years ago, filling in Red Sonja's history as she tackles the current challenges. Two things that I would have liked some elaboration on are the Zamorans and where Red Sonja learned to fight. These aren't things that break the story, but I wondered about them.

I loved the alternate cover art at the end of the book. The cartoon style art captured the essence of the character without having to be overly sexualized. There are a lot of excellent female artists present.

Clan Apis Review

Clan Apis. Jay Hosler. 2000. Active Synapse. 158 pages.

Rating: 5/5

I never expected a book about the life of a honey bee to be so engaging. The hero/narrator of the book is a worker bee named Nyuki. The story follows her through the entire life cycle of the bee. It is well researched and presented in a fun way. I laughed out loud numerous times while reading this. There is a lot of information packed in here about life inside and outside the hive.

Altered Carbon Review

Altered Carbon. Richard K. Morgan. 2003. Del Rey. 375 pages.

Rating: 4/5

What would it mean if we didn't really die? In Altered Carbon, a sci-fi detective novel, that is a reality. When a person dies, their consciousness is downloaded until it can be resleeved, or put into another body. These can be synthetic bodies, clones, or even the bodies of people that have committed crimes and are downloaded out of the body to serve their sentence. While still available, multiple resleevings are typically limited to the wealthy or members of military organizations. Real death can still occur if someone's stack, the device implanted in their spine to record their consciousness, is destroyed.

Takeshi Kovacs has been brought to Earth by Laurens Bancroft to find out who "killed" him. Bancroft's place in society allowed him the luxury of having a backup to his consciousness, as well as the money to hire someone to find his killer. Kovacs must adapt to a new environment and a new body, while wading through a prior police investigation and a following a bread trail that leads him into the underbelly of Bay City, formerly San Francisco. His training with the Envoy Corps, a high level military organization, allows him to adapt quickly to his new circumstances. Despite, or maybe because of, Kovacs' hyper-violent, over-sexed, and drug filled life, he makes for a very engaging narrator.

Running throughout the story is the question of what it really means for people to live in a world where bodies are basically disposable. This is examined through an ethical and religious lens. There is a thoughtfulness to this idea that brings the world to life.

The book harkens back to works like The Big Sleep, but felt too reliant on violence.

Civil War: Front Line, Volume 2 Review

Civil War: Front Line, Volume 2. Paul Jenkins. 2007. Marvel. 160 pages.

Rating: 3/5

This should be read following the main Civil War storyline and Front Line, Volume 1. My review of volume 1 can be found here.

The stories that began in the first volume are wrapped up here. "Embedded" was not quite as strong as it was in the beginning. I still enjoyed it, but the focus definitely shifted and a traitor is revealed on the pro-registration side. The ending was nice for Ben Urich and Sally Floyd. I wasn't impressed with "The Accused" in the first volume of this series, but the progression of Speedball is much better here. It made the character much more likeable for me.

"Sleeper Cell" was lackluster. It tied in well with the other stories, but it just felt unnecessary to the overall event. Both "Sleeper Cell" and "Correspondence" are wrapped up before the other two stories. "Correspondence" didn't add much either, so having these dropped earlier doesn't hurt the book at all. The book helps wrap up the Marvel event and gives some insight on how Iron Man and Captain America got where they are at the end of the main story.

Considering the entire Front Line story as a whole, I would give it 4/5. Neither of the parts can really stand on their own and are much stronger as a whole.

Civil War: Front Line, Volume 1 Review

Civil War: Front Line, Volume 1. Paul Jenkins. 2007. Marvel. 208 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I recommend reading the main storyline to Marvel's Civil War event before starting this. After a fight between the New Warriors and a group of supervillains killed 612 people, including 60 children, in the town of Stamford, CT, the country calls for the registration of all heroes. There is a political theme running throughout the connected books pitting the pro-government/registration group against those that see this as a violation of their personal freedom.

What this volume does is follow two continuous stories, a third smaller story, and snapshots of historical war events. These focus more on side characters that aren't central to the debate over the hero registration act. Even though the biggest heroes aren't the focus, they do make appearances throughout. To me, this book gave the Marvel Universe more character. It shows how the actions of the heroes affect regular people, making it feel like a living world.

"Embedded" is the first storyline presented, which centers around two reporters: Ben Urich and Sally Floyd. The story is strong and ties into the main storyline the best. Ben Urich is a recurring character in various Marvel series, and that connection helps lead the charge here. The reporters and this story flesh out the political aspects of the event.

The other main story covered in this volume is "The Accused", featuring Speedball, the only member of the New Warriors to survive the New Stamford event. He represents the anti-registration heroes in a more subtle way than Captain America or the heroes that side with him. Speedball is held responsible for the deaths of the people in New Stamford, and is eventually imprisoned. We see other heroes treated similarly, but his involvement in the event that sparked the war makes him easy to follow. I disliked his attitude throughout the story though. He comes across as a jerk compared to what is going on around him.

"Sleeper Cell" is the shorter piece in terms of the length of each story and how many parts there are. It felt unnecessary in this volume because it didn't add a lot to the overall story. It introduces the Atlanteans in a very slow way and doesn't explain their presence very well. The final piece is a series of shorts labelled as "Correspondence". These focus on different wars in history and are inspired in a variety of way, such as poems and letters. The best part about these was the side-by-side panels showing the historical war and how the Marvel Civil War parallels it.

I wasn't satisfied with where this left off, which is not surprising since it is in the middle of the various stories. Worth reading as a companion to the main storyline, but needs the second volume to make it feel complete.

The Dreadful Fate of Jonathan York Review

The Dreadful Fate of Jonathan York: A Yarn for the Strange at Heart. Kory Merritt. 2015. Andrews McMeal Publishing. 128 pages.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for free from NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

Jonathan York is a mild-mannered man who gets lost in a swamp. He stumbles across a trio of travelers, who help him find a safe haven. The payment to stay at the inn is a story. York cannot tell a story and is sent back into the swamp, where he has a series of adventures. York learns a few things about himself and finds his way back to the inn. The very end is particularly satisfying after seeing York grow.

I liked the story well enough, but it is the visuals that accompany the story that I loved. The creatures that York encounters remind me of something out of a Dr. Seuss book mixed with Alice in Wonderland. Each one is unique and has a dark quality about it. The tone is fairly light to balance things out.

Recommended for middle school students and fairy tale enthusiasts.

ODY-C, Volume 1 Review

ODY-C, Volume 1: Off to Far Ithicaa. Matt Fraction. 2015. Image Comics. 136 pages.

Rating: 2/5

ODY-C is a reimagining of Homer's epic as a space opera. This seems like an amazing idea to me, but the execution falls short. One major difference is that the cast is entirely women. There is an explanation within the story for this, which fits pretty well. Another difference is the order of events. It starts around the same point, but the trials are where it differs.

This made the story feel disjointed because it didn't follow the expected story. On top of that, the characters aren't introduced properly. It felt like the reader is expected to be familiar with all of them already.

Despite these failings, there are elements that I enjoyed. The art is fantastic. This was the driving force for me. I also liked the all female cast. They set the story apart from the original in a unique way that is supported throughout. The whole scene involving the Cyclops was great. It just didn't have the oomph to carry the whole book.

Maybe if I was more familiar with the original I would have enjoyed this more. This is worth checking out for the art at least.

Daredevil: Born Again Review

Daredevil: Born Again. Frank Miller. 2009. Marvel. 248 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This is one of those books that really highlights what Frank Miller can do and why he is so well regarded as a comic writer. It is not without its flaws though.

The storyline is better than the previous ones in this series that Miller worked on. He has hit his stride with the characters and there is a level of comfort that shines through. The plot here is that the Kingpin of crime has found out that Matt Murdoch is Daredevil. This sets the tension pretty high right away. Murdoch crumbles as everything is stripped away from him due to the Kingpin's attacks on his personal life.

I really like the mirroring of Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdoch. As Murdoch hits bottom Fisk is on top of the world. This slowly shifts as Murdoch gets his life turned around. Things aren't perfect for him at the end, but he does get his feet under him and is in a pretty good place. There are hints that Murdoch was having trouble before the Kingpin got involved. That part of the story didn't feel developed enough. For the amount of repetition within this volume, I feel like that downward spiral could have been presented more.

The side stories did a pretty good job of supporting the main action. The first involved Ben Urich, a reporter for the Daily Bugle that discovered Matt's secret previously. He is fighting to clear Matt's name from Kingpin's attacks. The second is about Karen Page, Matt's former secretary and the source of Kingpin's information about Matt, as she tries to return to America and Matt. I didn't like this one as much because she is portrayed very negatively. She is strung out on drugs, involved in adult films, and doesn't present as likeable at all. The third side story follows Matt's former partner, Foggy Nelson, and his latest ex-girlfriend, Glori. I felt like this was here for comedic effect that didn't work very well. I was disappointed with Foggy considering how close he and Matt are supposed to be. The concern he should have had fell short of where I thought it would have been.

There is some more revealed about Matt's background and this sets a hook for future stories. It fell short on his Catholic upbringing. That seemed to be a large part of the character and could have been used more. The culmination with Nuke/Simpson was nice and gave some details on a character I was unfamiliar with until I watched Jessica Jones on Netflix. The final issue in this volume, which actually appeared first chronologically, doesn't add much either.

Born Again is a great representation of Daredevil. Anyone interested in the character after watching the Netflix series should pick this up. It doesn't start at the beginning, but that was covered well enough to let this hold up on its own.

Ms. Marvel, Volume 1 Review

Ms. Marvel, Volume 1: No Normal. G. Willow Wilson. 2014. Marvel. 120 pages.

Rating: 4/5

The premise behind this book is not unusual: an unpopular teenager develops an alter ego and uses it to fight crime. Between the plot, the humor, and the bumbling hero, it made me think of Kickass quite a bit. There are a few aspects that set this one apart from other superhero books though.

The heroine is a Muslim girl whose family moved to Jersey City from Pakistan. There are some stereotypical aspects to the family, but overall it is a positive portrayal at a time when it is needed. Kamala Khan struggles with her identity throughout the book: at school, within her family, and as a hero. Given that she is in high school and the age of the target audience, this is an excellent theme. The way her costume changes is one example of how she embraces her identity as the book moves on.

How she gets her powers is a little strange and didn't feel explained well enough. As an origin story the overall tone is good. There is a bit of humor throughout, and I enjoyed that the writers took the time to tuck some into the background. The things Kamala does as Ms. Marvel are minor, though they have meaning for her. It wouldn't have fit the story to have her battling a major villain right off the bat.

I think Marvel fans will like this one. Definitely worth checking out for kids in middle school or early high school or anyone that likes female protagonists.

The Photographer Review

The Photographer. Emmanuel Guibert. 2009. First Second. 288 pages.

Rating: 5/5

First off, this is the story of Didier Lefèvre's journey into Afghanistan in 1986 as part of a Doctors Without Borders mission. He signed on to photograph the journey into Afghanistan and record the work this group was doing. At the time, local Afghans were fighting the Soviet Union.

The story alone is amazing. The extreme conditions that the group had to contend with just to reach their destination is powerful. The work they performed and the atrocities they had to help the locals face adds on top of that. It is interesting that Didier chose to break off from the group for the return journey, which may have been the most harrowing part of the story. He certainly changed as a result of this experience.

The story is only part of the book. That could have been conveyed in a memoir. The mixture of photos from the mission and the illustrations that accompany them add another layer of complexity. I found myself staring at the pictures. Some were because of how perfectly Didier was able to capture the human moments and the beauty of the stark landscape. Others stood out because of how horrific they were. I liked that the photos are in black and white while the illustrations are done in color. This gives a nice contrast. There is also a good cultural contrast between the mission workers and the local Afghans displayed here.

My only real complaint is that many of the photos are so small. It makes it hard to focus on the detail at times. Usually this happens when there are a series of pictures focused on a person or event. The slight differences emphasize how Didier was always looking for what he calls "a good photo".

This is a book that I would recommend for almost anyone. The content can be difficult to deal with at times because there are some very graphic scenes, but it is not gratuitous in any way.

Hellboy in Hell Volume 1 Review

Hellboy in Hell, Volume 1: The Descent. Mike Mignola. 2014. Dark Horse Comics. 152 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I should probably have finished reading the regular Hellboy series before jumping into this one. The story actually works rather well on its own, but I think it would be helpful to have known more of the story going in. The only real spoiler here is that Hellboy dies. How do you think he gets to Hell though?

The series title tells you exactly what to expect going in: Hellboy is in Hell. He doesn't grow much in this volume. In fact he is pretty passive throughout. The biggest piece of action happens offstage and is only hinted at. There are references to his heritage, although it doesn't add much to the mythos. It's the side characters like Edward Grey that make this one worth reading. Grey seems to be a sort of guide for Hellboy, and brings in some literary references that I enjoyed.

The art is typical for the Hellboy series. I'm not a huge fan of the style. It is unique though and certainly plays into the stories very well. Overall it boils down to this: fans of the Hellboy series should enjoy this one and anyone new to the series should start elsewhere.

The Unwritten, Volume 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity Review

The Unwritten, Volume 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity. Mike Carey. 2010. Vertigo Comics. 144 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Who is Tom Taylor? That is the question that haunts the protagonist. The son of a famous writer that disappeared mysteriously and the inspiration for a series of books reminiscent of Harry Potter, he does not have much of his own identity. The title alone gives a nod to Harry Potter, and there is a joke about the similarities as well.

There are tabloids, ravenous fans, and a gathering of horror writers that try to get at his real identity. Then the characters from the books start showing up in Tom's life. It is up to him to determine if they are real or just another group of people bent on exploiting him.

The art will be familiar to anyone that has read the Lucifer series by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. This series has potential, but I wasn't hugely impressed. The first four parts are cohesive, but the last part felt out of place. It did give some insight into other characters though.

I recommend this for any fans of Carey's other books or fantasy stories based in our world.

Saga Volume 5 Review

Saga, Volume 5. Brian K. Vaughan. 2015. Image Comics. 152 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This is a solid volume in the Saga series. A lot of the storylines that were left hanging at the end of volume 4 are wrapped up here. Volumes 4 and 5 should probably be viewed as one book.

While many storylines are being closed off or brought together, there is not a lot of new material. This is a good thing because I was a little disappointed with the way volume 4 left off. Here it resets the story and sets it up for chances to branch out again.

Anyone that has read this far into the story should really pick up volume 5.

The Umbrella Academy, Volume 1 Review

The Umbrella Academy, Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite. Gerard Way. 2008. Dark Horse Comics. 184 pages.

Rating: 2/5

I really wanted to like this book. Think the Incredibles meet Tim Burton. Sounds like an awesome idea, but it didn't pan out very well for me. This is the story of seven people that were born under mysterious circumstances, were brought together by a mad scientist and raised to be a crime fighting superhero team. Since they are basically a family, they have all sorts of squabbles throughout the book.

I never found a reason to care about the characters though. The seven are referred by their respective number or superhero name and don't get an identity beyond either of those. They are each supposed to have some sort of power, but that isn't touched on very much. The most likeable character for me is number five, whose experiences help to drive the story.

The first part is actually pretty good and felt like it was written as a standalone introduction to this crime fighting group. It centers around the group as ten year olds fighting the Eiffel Tower, which is being controlled by a zombie robot. This is actually a decent story. Then the rest of the book is tacked on after they have grown up. There is little explanation or transition between the two parts. That is where the book fails for me. There is too much that happens with little reason shown for it. I really liked the art though, especially for some of the more ridiculous concepts.

Recommended for fans of My Chemical Romance (Gerard Way is the front man for the band) or Gabriel Bá.

Barefoot Gen, Vol. 1 Review

Barefoot Gen, Volume One: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima. Keiji Nakazawa. 2004. Last Gasp. 288 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This is a tough book to review. It is the story of a boy and his family in the months prior to the U.S. dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The family is poor and has sacrificed much for Japan despite being opposed to the war. They are malnourished and seem to encounter problems any time they have access to more food. Since the story is told through a seven year old boy, much of the horror is downplayed. But it is still there, particularly when soldiers are on stage and after the bomb drops.

The struggle of the Japanese people is front and center. Even the soldiers that volunteer for the war are affected. Gen's family is treated pretty harshly all around for speaking against the war. The only other character that is treated similarly is a Korean refugee. The tone and setting immediately made me think of the animated film Grave of the Fireflies and the novel Hiroshima. Both deal with the same subject, but those focus more on the aftermath. Since this is the first of a ten book series, Nakazawa will definitely cover that aspect.

The only thing I didn't care for in this book is the art. It fits very well with the protagonist, but it is too cartoony for my taste. It's not a make or break thing for me, but it can distract from the story being told.

Anyone interested in history, especially WWII, should check this out. But everyone should read something telling the story of this bombing. It is so much more striking to read a first hand account than to just be aware that it happened.

Batgirl, Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection

Batgirl, Volume 1: The Darkest Reflection. Gail Simone. 2012. DC Comics. 144 pages.

Rating: 5/5

This is the first Batgirl title that I've read, and it was great. Years ago Barbara Gordon was shot by the Joker and crippled. Recently, she was able to recover her ability to walk and she donned the Batgirl mantle once again.

What made this work for me is that Barbara struggles with the decision to go back to actively fighting crime. There is a mix of confidence and uncertainty that makes her relatable. The appearances of Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne could have detracted from the book, but the creators pull it off with a style that I felt enhanced the book without taking Barbara out of the spotlight. The art is pretty solid. About what I've come to expect from DC artists.

The subtitle for the volume, the Darkest Reflection, is appropriate in a number of ways. The main villain that Batgirl is confronting calls himself the Mirror. The obvious connection to the title is that mirrors show a reflection. The Mirror uses his costume to show his victims their true self before killing them; each victim is someone that narrowly escaped death in the past. Barbara's internal struggle with becoming Batgirl again plays on the subtitle as well. When she can't stop the Mirror because of a flashback to the time when she was shot plays into that. If she can't get over that shooting, will she ever really be able to be Batgirl?

As serious and dark as the writing can be, it is able to retain some levity. This mainly comes through in the Dick Grayson story, but it appears elsewhere in the book. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who likes reading superhero stories, particularly DC readers.

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 3

The Wicked + The Divine, Volume 3: Commercial Suicide. Kieron Gillon. 2016. Image Comics. 200 pages.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for free from NetGalley.

Rating: 2/5

Let me start off by saying that I really enjoyed the first two volumes of this series. This one is a bit different because there is a guest artist for each issue in the volume (six total) and each issue focuses on a different god. The main storyline appears here and there, but it is on the back burner for this volume.

The use of different artists for each issue is a fantastic idea, but not all of the styles worked for me. Similarly, the quality of each story was mixed. Issues #14 and 16 were the most satisfying in terms of art and story. These covered Woden and the Morrigan respectively. The art is probably closer to the first two volumes, and the they do the best of integrating the overall story.

The issue covering Tara (#13) felt conflicted. This mirrors the feelings she has about herself, but the awe the other characters seemed to have for her earlier never becomes realized. Amaterasu's story (#15) only shed a little more light on the character and felt more like filler. Issues #12 (Baal) and 17 (Sakhmet) were not satisfying in terms of art or story. They serve to transition the story between volumes, but that's about all.

If you liked the first two volumes, I would suggest at least giving this one a try. There is enough here to entice fans to keep reading.