The Shadow Hero Review

The Shadow Hero. Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew. 2014. First Second. 176 pages.

Rating: 5/5

The Shadow Hero tells the origin story of the first Chinese superhero, the Green Turtle. This is based off a short lived comic series from the 1940s. Hank Chu is living in the city of San Inciendo with his parents living a normal life until his mother decides that he should become a superhero. The sequence of "tests" that she puts him through is amusing and reminiscent of many origin stories for other heroes.

There is a lot here that is very tongue-in-cheek. In spite of the levity, the story can get quite serious. Hank is reluctant to take on the superhero mantle. Family is something that is very important to him and events surrounding his family push him to fulfill his mother's wish, edging the line between levity and tragedy.

This book is really well balanced: drama and comedy, eastern and western cultures, individual and family. The creators do a great job supporting this in the story and the art. The characters have life to them and there is depth to the book. I can't recommend it enough.

Free DC Comic: Superman/Batman

Comixology has a free Superman/Batman comic to coincide with the new movie. Here is the description provided:

After a quick origin recap of our world's finest heroes, a new, improved Metallo has come on his birthday to attack both Metropolis and Gotham, bringing the guardians of each city together for a monumental battle! Plus, Lex Luthor assembles a mysterious super-team assigned to "help" the Man of Steel.

The art by Ed McGuiness is fantastic. I really enjoyed the first few pages showing the origins of Batman and Superman. There is a nice compare/contrast going on between the two heroes. I wasn't impressed by Metallo, but I was not familiar with the character going in. There just wasn't enough development for my tastes, but the short format (only 26 pages) doesn't allow for a whole lot.

The final scene of Lex Luthor's super-team gives some hints of who is involved. It is definitely a hook to get people to come back for more.

Moon Knight, Volume 2 Review

Moon Knight, Volume 2: Dead Will Rise. Brian Wood, Greg Smallwood, and Declan Shalvey. 2015. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I want to start off by saying that I've always enjoyed Moon Knight stories. Marc Spector was a mercenary who died on a mission in Egypt, was resurrected by the Egyptian god Khonshu, has multiple personalities, and now fights crime in New York.

The creators nailed the character in this volume. This follows a stint by Warren Ellis that I really liked as well. When I read the description for this book I was thrown a bit because it seemed like they were trying to do too much, but it all ties together pretty well. Plus, one of his costumes is an all white three-piece suit.

Marc Spector is seeing a shrink and Moon Knight is fighting to save the life of an African dictator. Spector is beaten, arrested, abandoned by Khonshu, and has to fight his way back out of the mess he created. The doctor and the dictator, and their relationship, are kind of the backbone here, but they give Moon Knight a chance to shine. There is a slow build to connect things and then it lets loose.

The creators really embrace the various personalities associated with Moon Knight. From the art used to depict them to the "team" they form to stop a terrorist, there is a lot of effort put into them. This probably isn't the place for a beginner to start, but anyone with some familiarity with the character should enjoy it.

Injection, Volume 1 Review

Injection, Volume 1. Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey, Jordie Bellaire, and Fonografiks. 2015. Image Comics. 120 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Maybe not being too familiar with the works of Warren Ellis is a benefit here. Injection is the story of a group that created an AI and let it loose on the internet. The characters come from diverse backgrounds.

It can take some time to get into the story, but it is a rich one worthy of the effort. As we learn what happened and how the characters are reacting to it, the creators draw us in more. There are a few scenes that are kind of crazy. The characters may not be likeable, however this makes them feel more real.

The art is about what I would expect from the creators involved. It is fairly realistic, but has a quality that sets it apart.

Free Image Comic: Ringside #1

Image Comics is currently offering a digital copy of Ringside #1 available for free. Find it on the Image website or Comixology. This will be available until 3/30/2016 at 11:59 PST.

Ringside #1. Joe Keatinge, Nick Barber, Simon Gough, and Ariana Maher. 2015. Image Comics. 38 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I feel like my connection to wrestling is matched pretty well with the creators of Ringside. It isn't something I follow any more, but I have watched on and off over the years.

Anyway, Ringside is about a former wrestler, Danny "The Minotaur" Knossos. His story reminds me of the movie The Wrestler, but he seems to have things together a bit more in this first issue than the guy in the movie. We get a tour of his former associates and an introduction to a young wrestler trying to make a name for himself.

The story didn't blow me away, but it is a nice introduction to the setting and characters. There is clearly more to Dan than we see here. The ending should hook anyone that enjoys the rest of the story into checking out more of the series.

The art is fine, but there are times where shadows are used almost excessively. There are points where it works to give a good reveal though. I feel like the creators could have shown a bit of the characters and built a bit more into the world. It's hard to judge based off one issue how the rest of the series will go.

The column at the end was great. I always enjoy reading what the creators have to say about themes,  influences, and the characters they created. They make some excellent connections that I wouldn't have thought of myself.

East of West, Volume 1 Review

East of West, Volume 1: The Promise. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta. 2013. Image Comics. 96 pages.

Rating: 5/5

East of West is the story of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and a group of humans known as the Chosen that are attempting to bring about the end of the world.

I found this story fascinating. There is a bit of a learning curve to understand who's who though. The Horsemen are splintered: Death is on one side and War, Conquest, and Famine are on the other. And Death is accompanied by two unnamed companions, shapeshifters that can turn into ravens (or crows maybe? Some sort of black bird anyway) and wolves respectively. As we learn more of the story, the two sides come together pretty well. There is a bit of a mystery/chase element to it. Although there isn't a direct confrontation between them, the creators did a good job tying things together and setting a hook for future parts of the story.

The art is fantastic. The characters are done very well and the color choices make for some beautiful images. There are definitely some western vibes from the art, but the use of technology solidifies it as a science fiction story. Part of what I liked is that it doesn't sit in one particular genre.

I recommend Pretty Deadly for anyone that enjoyed this.

The i Word: Kurtis Wiebe

I've been listening to past episodes of The i Word, which is Image Comics' podcast. I decided to share the latest episode because I have really enjoyed the Rat Queens series that Kurtis created. For those that don't know, Rat Queens is a fantasy series about a group of very different women that have become a surrogate family for each other.

The podcast is very informative, but there are a couple spoilers for the current arc. The first half of the show is focused on Rat Queens and how Kurtis got into comics. The second portion is about D&D and live streaming on twitch.tv.

Check it out on the Image website. There are links to the show archives and iTunes for more episodes.

Hawkeye, Volume 2 Review

Hawkeye, Volume 2: Little Hits. Matt Fraction, David Aja, Steve Lieber, Jesse Hamm, Francesco Francavilla, and Matt Hollingsworth. 2013. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Unlike most of the second volumes that I've read recently, this one was better than the first. Maybe I was more used to the style the creators used, or perhaps the characters are just better established. Volume 2 collects Hawkeye #6-11.

Clint Barton is an expert marksman with the bow and arrow and a member of the Avengers. This series focuses on what he does when he isn't being an Avenger. He is also a landlord, thief, and general troublemaker living in Brooklyn. At times he teams up with Kate Bishop, who has also taken on the mantle of Hawkeye. For all the animosity that builds up between them, they seem to be very good friends.

The volume starts off a little weak but shows a lot of Clint's good character. The East Coast is hit by a massive storm and Clint helps one of his friends/tenants pick up his father before his house floods. Things pick up quickly with the return of the Russian mafia from volume 1 who want revenge against Clint. This escalates as Clint gets involved with Penny again, also from volume 1. To make matters worse, all of the important women in Clint's life decide to intervene for better or worse.

It might seem like there is a lot going on, and there is, but it comes together quite well. The creators do a good job of keeping it light too. Seriously, how could it not be considered light with Russian gangsters running around saying "bro" all the time? Anyway, I enjoyed the direction they took with it and the final chapter, featuring Pizza Dog, is amazing. Almost everything is conveyed using images, with very little dialogue.

Prez, Volume 1 Review

Prez, Volume 1: Corndog in Chief. Mark Russell, Sean Parsons, Ben Caldwell, Mark Morales, and Dominike Stanton. 2016. DC Comics. 144 pages.

Raying: 3/5

What happens when we become so disenfranchised that we allow a teenager to be elected the president of the United States? This apparently. Beth Ross was a lowly worker at a corndog restaurant until a training video that she starred in went viral. A law allowing corporations citizenship also abolished the minimum age for elected office. So when the people can't decide between the candidates available, they make their own.

There is a lot of great stuff in here. It is scary how well the creators make this seem possible. The current political climate in the U.S. definitely plays a part in this. And Beth handles herself really well with the help of an ostracized senator that becomes her vice president. The way technology has grown and become integrated into everything is plausible. That is part of the driving force of the book, although it isn't really mentioned within the story.

The creators push their hand a little too much at some points. Playing the congressmen as having the personality of teenage girls for example. Don't get me wrong, it is funny, but not really what I was looking for in this book. The cat flu was ridiculous as well and didn't play quite as well as the bird flu in Chew. It didn't seem like it was affecting the nation that seriously to influence events of the story. Some more development of how things got to where they are could be useful.

This is a good alternative to all the superhero books that DC puts out. I would like to see the creators expand on some of their ideas in future portions of the series.

The Stereotypical Freaks Review

The Stereotypical Freaks. Howard Shapiro. 2013. Animal Media Group, LLC. 140 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Disclaimer: I received an ebook from NetGalley for an honest review.

The Stereotypical Freaks is a graphic novel about a group of friends that must confront one of the hardest things in life. It begins with two young men deciding to participate in their school's battle of the bands contest. The only problem is that they need to find two more people to be in their band. Each of the four band members feels like a stereotype in some way: honor student, jock, goofball, and exchange student.

The characters are really well developed, and the relationships between the boys feel authentic. Their love of music brings them together. That is only the beginning though. We see damaged relationships get mended, passion and dedication to their music, and new relationships strained. Some of the dialogue can be cheesy, but it was never off-putting for me.

Two things about the format stood out to me. First, the beginning of each chapter has a title page with recommended music to listen to. This usually tied into the chapter in some way. Second, the art is all black and white, which I liked. The changes to the appearance of the characters over the course of the book is really well done.

The Stereotypical Freaks is the first book in the Forever Friends Trilogy.  Check out my review for the second book, The Hockey Saint.

Red Sonja, Volume 2 Review

Red Sonja, Volume 2: The Art of Blood and Fire. Gail Simone and Walter Geovani. 2014. Dynamite Entertainment. 152 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Check out my review of Red Sonja, volume 1.

Red Sonja, volume 2 collects issues #7-12 and #0.

The title for this volume, "The Art of Blood and Fire", is appropriate because Sonja is tasked with finding the greatest artisans in six different fields by a dying emperor. She has a month to do it, and the emperor has promised to release all 1,000 of his slaves if she is successful.

Each chapter is centered around a different artisan that she is trying to recruit. Although characters will appear in multiple chapters, each one feels self contained while sticking to the overall story arc. This made the whole book feel pretty cohesive.

Sonja is out of her element though. Sure, she can do the whole rescue/intimidate people into following her shtick. But artisans aren't really her thing. This is apparent from the first chapter. Sonja is more rustic and down-to-earth, while the story puts her in the heart of civilization (even if parts of it aren't very civilized). Her personality is infused into the whole story despite that.

Chapter 0 is more of a one-shot. Sonja has gone missing and is presumed dead, while a down on his luck warrior claims to be her widower. Everything comes to a head when Sonja returns and decides to confront the man. This story is a great snapshot of who Sonja is.

The art, as always, is fantastic. As with the first volume, I loved the alternate covers at the end. This is still a good book, but it didn't catch me quite the way that volume 1 did.

Symmetry #1 - Free Image Comic 3/16-3/23

Symmetry #1. Matt Hawkins and Raffaele Ienco. 2015. Image Comics. 30 pages.

Rating: 4/5

The digital copy of Symmetry #1 is available for free from Image and on Comixology until 3/23/2016 at 11:59 PST.

Symmetry is a science fiction story about a utopian society created after A.I. became widespread. It reminded me of The Giver, but with greater technology. In fact, robots are everywhere and everyone has an A.I. implanted in their heads at birth.

There is not a lot of plot in Symmetry#1. It sets the stage by following Michael through his life, until an accident occurs during a field trip. The world building is great and Hawkins uses a couple pages at the end to explain how he approached the story.

It is almost creepy how uniform everyone is. Every moment seems to be regimented to prevent any free thought. Even vacations are planned out. People only come together to produce children, not for real relationships.

Lazarus: The First Collection Review

Lazarus: The First Collection. Greg Rucka, Owen Freeman, and Michael Lark. 2014. Image Comics. 245 pages.

Rating: 2/5

This book collects issues #1-9 of the Lazarus series. There are two story arcs, "The Family" in issues #1-4, and "The Lift" in issues #5-9. The story is set on a future earth where the 16 richest families in the world have split up control, replacing the current governments.

"The Family" revolves around the Carlyles who control the western portion of the United States and Canada. It eases the reader into the world by establishing some of the major players and showing what Forever Carlyle, one of the so-called Lazarus, can do. She is protector of the family, but struggles with some of the decisions she has to make to keep it safe. The family is attempting to resolve a feud with one of the neighboring families. The contrast that the creators show between them is pretty interesting.

"The Lift" focuses less on the Carlyles by incorporating a poverty stricken family, the Barrets, who live in Carlyle territory. The story is split between Forever trying to uncover a plot that could weaken the Carlyle family and the Barrets as they struggle to escape poverty. This arc is done well and the creators do a good job of linking these stories.

The world the creators built is fantastic. It is well thought out and almost has a life of its own. I was disappointed that there wasn't a better effort to get the reader more familiar with the world and the jargon used. In the first arc there is reference to population in terms of family, serfs, and waste. There isn't much to distinguish between the three castes though. This is covered better in the second arc, but I would have liked to see it addressed earlier and more clearly.

Outside of Forever Carlyle and the Barret children, there isn't much for character development either. We see other characters on stage and what they are doing at the time. However, the limited view that the creators use puts a little too much distance between them and the reader.

Descender, Volume 1 Review

Descender, Volume 1: Tin Stars. Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. 2015. Image Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Descender opens with a moment of terror. Gigantic robots, larger than a planet, appear out of nowhere. There is one for each major planet within the United Galactic Council (UGC). They attack without warning and then disappear. From there, the story fast forwards ten years. During that time, practically every robot that can be found has been destroyed, often for sport in gladiator type arenas.

There are two storylines that intertwine. The first follows Dr. Jin Quon, the most advanced robotics expert in the UGC. The other is about a robot named Tim-21, who is designed to look like a boy and act as a companion to human children. Tim has been offline for the past ten years, and recently awakened to discover that everyone in his colony was killed in a mining accident. When Dr. Quon learns about Tim's existence, he enters into a race to reach Tim before anyone that would wish him harm.

A number of other characters appear, some briefly and some throughout, but each one adds life to the story. Bandit and Driller are two other robots from the same colony as Time, which add some comic relief. Telsa and Tullis are members of the UGC traveling with Dr. Quon to track down Tim. There are even people known as Scrappers, basically bounty hunters that target robots, joining the search for Tim. What happens when these groups come together is not like any of them expected.

I enjoyed the story, but the art is what made it great. The images themselves are beautiful. The technique used here is interesting because it is not as glossy or polished as many graphic novels are, but that gives it more character rather than detracting from the work. There are a lot of contrasting colors, which is used to a nice effect.

This was listed for mature readers, but I think teens would be fine with it. There is some violence and profanity though.

Batgirl Volume 2 Review

Batgirl, Volume 2: Knightfall Descends. Gail Simone, Ed Benes, Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes, and Alitha Martinez. 2013. DC. 192 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Check out my review of Batgirl, Volume 1.

Batgirl, Volume 2 collects issues #7-13 and #0. In some ways I liked Volume 2 more and less than Volume 1. Batgirl has some more confidence here and really hits her stride. On the other hand, this arc was all over the place. It didn't feel quite as cohesive as the previous arc.

Barbara Gordon is Batgirl and the daughter of the police commissioner, James Gordon. She is back fighting crime after being shot and crippled years ago. There is some exploration of the shooting in this arc, but it doesn't feel like a rehash from before. This is something that haunts her, so it makes sense that it shows up in the story from time to time. We start out seeing when Barbara originally chose to take on the mantle of Batgirl. A pretty good depiction. I think this shows a lot of Barbara/Batgirl's personality.

Next, a masked figure calling himself Grotesque is robbing the rich of Gotham city and Batgirl is on his trail. What she finds will open up an old wound. The format on this one is a little weird. It starts in the middle of their fight, jumps back to what instigated it, and then jumps ahead again. I enjoyed where the creators took this part of the story. Barbara is faced with a tough choice and her decision makes sense after everything unfolds.

From there, she encounters the Court of Owls. They are targeting prominent figures in Gotham, and use threats against Commissioner Gordon's family to keep him from contacting Batman. This chapter ties into the Night of Owls event, and those that aren't familiar with it could feel a little lost. The goals of the Court of Owls aren't explained. They come and go pretty quickly, making this feel less integrated into the whole.

The third group that Batgirl runs up against led by a woman calling herself Knightfall. They are attempting to eradicate crime in Gotham by ruthlessly targeting criminals. After they try to recruit Batgirl, she teams up with a detective who has been tracking her and Batwoman to bring them down. These chapters were great and foreshadow a bit. I am interested to see if that foreshadowing comes into play in future volumes.

There is a side story involving Barbara's brother, James Jr., throughout the volume. It is building to a confrontation between them. This portion of the story is not my favorite, but it is setting the groundwork that I hope to see explored in more depth.

Rat Queens Special: Braga #1 Review

Rat Queens Special: Braga #1. Kurtis Wiebe and Tess Fowler. 2015. Image Comics. 30 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I don't typically read or review single issues, but this came as part of the Image Comics Humble Bundle that I purchased. I've read the first two volumes in the Rat Queens series, so I was looking forward to reading this one. This was not included in either of those volumes. It is available in the deluxe edition though.

The Rat Queens is a sword-and-sorcery series featuring an adventuring group of female protagonists with the same name. This standalone issue is about Braga, who is a member of the Peaches, one of the competing adventuring groups. It takes place between Rat Queens volume 1 and volume 2.

Braga tells the story of how she was once the prince of an orc tribe. Yes, you read that correctly. She is a transgender character. That isn't the point of this story though. As the prince, she led troops into battle but wanted something more. This special turns some fantasy stereotypes on its head, which is something I would expect based on the rest of the series.

I liked that the creators took some time to focus on one of the side characters. Its a good introduction to Braga and left me wanting more. The art was good, although the style differed a bit from the rest of the series. What turned me off was the dialogue. Some of it just seemed over the top and unrealistic. It was a bit jarring and kept me from really caring about the characters.

There is some violence, profanity, and nudity, and is not appropriate for younger readers.

Just the Tips Review

Just the Tips. Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky. 2014. Image Comics. 96 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I received this as part of the Image Comics Humble Bundle that I purchased. It wasn't one of the books in the bundle that I was excited about though. This is definitely not something to let your kids read.

Just the Tips features a variety of items taken from the creators' series Sex Criminals, plus some bonuses. These include tips, positions, and stories amongst other things.

Although it's an offshoot of a graphic novel, the book is mostly prose. The images are mainly in the positions pieces. These can range from hilarious to disturbing. I found that the book read pretty easily and quickly. My favorite parts were the stories and confessions. Each one is a little story, whereas the tips and other pieces were more like one liners.

The whole thing is satirical. No one should misconstrue this as a serious guide to sex. And the creators do a really good job of making it funny. I laughed out loud a number of times. But it never really drew me in. I think someone who has read Sex Criminals might have more interest in this.

Starve #1

Image Comics has made Starve issue #1 available for free until 3/16/2016. You can get a digital copy directly from Image or from Comixology.

Check out my review of Volume 1 to see what it is about.

Batman, Defender of Gotham City Review

Batman, Defender of Gotham City: The Incredible Story of the Dark Knight. Dean King. 2012. Platinum Publishing. 74 pages.

Rating: 3/5

The information in Batman, Defender of Gotham City is great for the uninitiated. It gives an overview of Batman's publication history, beginning in 1939. It continues through the various eras, touching on the comic series and the TV and film adaptations. Long time fans of the Dark Knight could pass this by since it wouldn't add much to their knowledge of the vigilante.

I would have liked to have seen a much more in-depth look at Batman. As a primer, this is a good book, but there is a bit of repetition for such a short piece. The editing is subpar in places, particularly toward the end of the book. The top ten Batman story arcs contain some good choices, and there are even a couple I haven't read yet. Now I'm inspired to seek those out.

Eye of the Drone Review

Eye of the Drone, Suki & Finch Volume 2. Rebecca Merry Murdoch and Muhammad Tauhidul Iqbal Sampad. 2015. Bark and Howl Press Ltd. 120 pages.

Rating: 1/5

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for free from NetGalley.

Eye of the Drone didn't work for me. The character images superimposed over real life photos seems like it would be pretty good, but they weren't integrated well enough and it became distracting. The cover is a pretty fair example of what to expect within.

The other aspect that disappointed me is that there is no introduction to the characters or what they are doing. This is the second volume in the series so the creators may have assumed that readers would already know the background from the first volume. Even though this is directed at children, there should have been some reasonable explanation for what the characters are doing and why. Bits of their mission can be gleaned from reading this story, but it doesn't explain everything.

The characters Suki & Finch are doing research on different feline species around the globe. They are travelling without adult supervision, but they are not alone. There are fantastical elements to this book, such as talking animals and the appearance of Santa Claus and fairies, which would probably make it more enjoyable for young readers. Also, they are being pursued by a drone that is owned by a large timber company, whose owner is concerned that their activities may cause problems for the company.

This book is mainly geared toward being educational, and covers elements beyond the cats that the kids are researching. There is also a continual theme of environmentalism, touching on how human actions are affecting the habitats of wild animals.

V for Vendetta Review

V for Vendetta. Alan Moore and David Lloyd. 2005. Vertigo. 296 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I feel like V for Vendetta is discussed as one of those iconic graphic novels that anyone interested in the genre should read. Which makes it surprising that it took me so long to read it myself.

The story is about a man who has given himself the moniker "V" and a young woman that he rescues named Evey. They live in a version of England that is controlled by a very conservative government run by a group known as the Head. The Head is similar to Big Brother from 1984. This group came to power after a nuclear war broke out and now everyone is trying to pick up the pieces.

This is a political book. It shouldn't come as a surprise that two of the major themes revolve around government oppression and responsibility. But it is the story of V, a former prisoner to the current regime, that makes it palatable. Without his revenge story, it would be too dark. He gives the reader hope, even when he is committing acts of terrorism.

The artwork is a bit dated since this was written in the early 80s. But there are some clever uses of illustration here, particularly within "The Vicious Cabaret" scene. There are elements of the story and the characters that wouldn't work if this was written today, but it still holds up. I can understand why this is such a well regarded title.

Epic Zero Review

Epic Zero: A Superhero Adventure of Epic Proportions! R.L. Ullman. 2015. But That's Another Story...Press. 186 pages.

Rating: 4/5

What lengths would you go to to fit in? For Elliott Harkness this question needs to be answered on his twelfth birthday.

Epic Zero is the story of a boy in a family of superheroes, except he has no powers. This is what they term a "Zero", while someone with powers is known as a "Meta". The "Metas" are split into eight categories based on what type of power they have, such as super strength or flight. Elliott does what he can to contribute to his family's fight against crime, but is left behind when a crime occurs.

I liked the voice the author uses. Elliott's personality is displayed well, and he is a pretty likeable character. Since he has no powers and feels kind of like an outsider, it is easy for the reader to identify with him. He gains some confidence after making a new friend at school, and this ultimately leads him down a path of self-discovery.

Some of the characters here are borrowed from other sources, although given different names and changed slightly. The author actually brings this up at one point in the story, which made it less corny for me. The villains could have been fleshed out better to make them more engaging. The showdown at the end was pretty satisfying given how the story builds to it.

The book is definitely intended for younger readers, but the writing is good enough that even adults can enjoy it.

Ms. Marvel, Volume 2 Review

Ms. Marvel, Volume 2: Generation Why. G. Willow Wilson, Jacob Wyatt, and Adrian Alphona. 2015. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Check out my review of Ms. Marvel, Volume 1.

Generation Why continues the adventures of Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. This book is more focused, while expanding on some of the themes from the first book. It centers around her encounters with the villain known as the Inventor.

Kamala is still unsure of herself, trying to figure out the extent of her powers. Plus, she is struggling to balance her personal life with her superhero persona. These come to a head a couple of times in this volume. These aren't unique themes to the genre, but they are handled pretty well here. I like that this tension leads to an explanation of how she obtained her powers, although it felt like there are more details that need to be given yet.

Having the Inventor and his creations appearing throughout the entire arc made it feel more cohesive. The problem with the missing kids is explained, and its done in a really smart way. It asks questions on what the place of teenagers are in the world and delves into environmentalism. Kamala's personality comes through more as well. I kept seeing her labeled as a nerd, but the first book didn't really give me that impression. That aspect is more solid here without being over the top.

One thing bugged me while I was reading this though: why doesn't anyone notice that Kamala and Ms. Marvel have the same giant dog with a tuning fork on its head? Oh well, its still a fun read.

Lumberjanes Volume 1 Review

Lumberjanes, Volume 1: Beware the Kitten Holy. Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke Allen, and Shannon Watters.  2015. BOOM! Box. 128 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Lumberjanes is a story about five girls attending a scout camp, who encounter three eyed beasties and must unravel the mystery of the holy kitten...er, kitten holy.

I enjoyed the layout of the book. It begins as being a scout guide, and each part introduces a badge and the qualifications for obtaining it. The story for the individual sections follows the girls through adventures that tie into that particular badge. The writers have a lot of fun with this tie-in.

There are two problems I had with this book. The first is that the girls did not feel distinctive enough for me. Maybe if they had been introduced a little better this could have been mitigated. The second is that there isn't a resolution to the problem presented at the beginning. This will likely be addressed over multiple arcs, or through the entire series, but it left me feeling unsatisfied at the end of the book.

That being said, the writers make each part enjoyable. They clearly enjoyed writing it and there are some very clever sections that allow each girl to take center stage.

Fieldhouse Review

Fieldhouse. Scott Novosel and Sam Sharpe. 2016. Fieldhouse LLC. 64 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through Goodsreads Giveaways.

Just from seeing the hardcover book I could tell there was a lot of care put into it. Fieldhouse is about Scotty Novosel's dream of playing basketball for the KU Jayhawks. He doesn't fit the ideal basketball player physique, but he has heart.

What makes the book work for me is that it is clear that he put in a lot of time and effort to achieve his goal. It isn't an easy path either. There are times where he is discouraged and doesn't think he will be able to succeed. The people around him provide support in a variety of ways.

It is an inspiring story that anyone can enjoy. There is a sports theme, but that isn't the point of the book. Scotty's attitude and response to obstacles is what shines through in the end.

Warren Ellis: The Captured Ghosts Interviews Review

Warren Ellis: The Captured Ghosts Interviews. Patrick Meaney and Kevin Thurman. 2013. Sequart Research & Literacy Organization. 160 pages.

Rating: 2/5

I must need to read more Warren Ellis books. I wasn't very interested in the early portions of this book in which the interviewers ask him about his life and how he got into comics. Maybe if I was more familiar with his works it would have been better for me, but I doubt it.

The highlight of the interview is when they discuss the comics industry in general and the writers and artists Warren has worked with or influenced. The description sounded great and the interviewers cover the topics mentioned pretty well. I just didn't find myself caring about his answers.

There is a lot of repetition in the questions and answers as well. Since this was pared down for a documentary, I think it would be better to skip the book and watch the film. I recommend the book for anyone still interested in delving deeper afterwards.