White Sand, Volume 1 Review

White Sand, Volume 1. Brandon Sanderson, Rik Hoskin, and Julius Gopez. 2016. Dynamite Entertainment. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Brandon Sanderson is a fantastic world builder. Admittedly, I've only read a couple of his solo books and the ones he wrote for the Wheel of Time series. Each of the stories felt distinct though. This one goes off in another direction compared to his other stories I've read. I know this connects into some of his other works, but I haven't read those and this still felt like a solid story.

It is set within a desert region of a planet. There is a group of people known as Sand Masters that are able to manipulate sand using magic. The protagonist is a member of this group, but at the lowest levels because his ability is minimal. After some events that I don't want to spoil, he sets out on a journey with a group from another region of the world, which opens things up quite a bit.

I thought the art fit this book perfectly. It can be monochromatic, which makes sense in a desert, and the illustrations have a grainy quality to them. There were times when I found it difficult to differentiate characters because of this though. As the story progresses, there is more color introduced. Only a couple of times do any of the images stand out.

As the first part of the story, this sets the tone really well. It has a mostly self contained story while setting up the next portion. The main character is a stereotype of sorts. Maybe its because of the fantasy genre or perhaps it is Brandon Sanderson, but I felt like the attitude and situations were not unique. That said, this book was enjoyable and I'm looking forward to continuing the story.

Trees Volume 1 Review

Trees, Volume 1. Warren Ellis and Jason Howard. 2015. Image Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Ten years ago aliens came to Earth, dropping massive structures around the world, causing widespread destruction. These structures came to be known as Trees. All attempts to make contact with the aliens has been met with silence.

This book tells the story of three characters in different parts of the world that all live within the shadow of the Trees. One is a research scientist in Iceland, another is a student in China, and the third is a young woman in Italy. They are all searching for knowledge about themselves. I like how similar their stories are even though they the focus is very different in each. There is a connection between the characters that I would like to see expanded down the line. The aliens remain mysterious, although there are events that hint at more contact.

Warren Ellis seems to have a reputation for making really dense books. I wouldn't say this book falls into that category though. It was fairly easy to get into, and I found it quite enjoyable. I couldn't put it down. Part of the reason is the art. There are some spectacular images in this book. These are juxtaposed with a lot of mundane pictures as well. That isn't a knock against the book, it just shows how people have moved on despite the strange events that have occurred. Plus, these tend to make the bizarre ones stand out more.

Fans of character driven stories should pick this up.

Harbinger Wars Review

Harbinger Wars. Duane Swierczynski, Joshua Dysart, Clayton Henry, and Clayton Crain. 2013. Valiant Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This is the fourth book from the Comic Bento June 2016 box. Harbinger Wars is a crossover event from Valiant and it is packed. I haven't read the tie in books, of which there are only two. This one holds up pretty well on its own though.

It can be a bit complex though. There is an organization that was keeping children with powers, a rival group recruits a mercenary to break them out, the mercenary wants to protect the children, and a team of powered heroes gets involved. Each of these stories tied together pretty well, but there are a ton of characters and they can be difficult to keep track of. I think it helped that I've read some other books featuring these characters so I have an idea of how they fit together. A new reader might feel lost though.

The story is presented in a frame, where a character from one of the groups is being debriefed by the US government. His narration gives an overview of the events and then the book shifts into the past to get into the meat of the story. Sometimes this type of storytelling can bug me, but I liked it for this book. One thing that helped is the use of different art styles depending on whether it is the present or the past. And the art is good. It can be pretty gruesome at times, but the images bring the story to life.

Armor Hunters Review

Armor Hunters. Robert Venditti and Doug Braithwaite. 2014. Valiant Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 5/5

I am continually impressed with the quality of the books from Valiant. This one came in the June 2016 Comic Bento box, which features a long time Valiant hero, X-O Manowar. He is a Visigoth from the 5th century that wears a suit of alien armor, which gives him incredible abilities. In this book, a group of hunters that have been tracking down these suits of armor comes to Earth.

There is a lot of action in this book. It moves along very quickly without sacrificing the story. The bad guys do represent some common tropes to superhero comics, but their motives for coming to Earth make sense. Their abilities and actions match perfectly for their mission. Never did they feel incapable or like they were pushovers.

This is an "event" book, which means that there are other Valiant titles that tie into this story. It stands well enough on its own that you probably don't need to read those other books. I liked this one so much that I plan to pick up those other books just to see how the rest of the story plays out. For the sake of saving space, some of the action takes place off screen and probably gets featured in one of those other books. I've read some books that take place after this one, and it's great to see that what happens here carries through to future books.

I loved the art. It is part of what was so engrossing about the book. I wanted to keep reading partly because there are some gorgeous drawings, even when it includes destruction. I'll admit that there were a few that struck me as odd, but they never got in the way of my enjoyment of this book.

Grave Sight Part 1 Review

Grave Sight, Part 1. Charlaine Harris, William Harms, and Denis Medri. 2011. Dynamite Entertainment. 64 page.

Rating: 3/5

I got this as part of a Humble Bundle that I purchased a while back, which is good because I probably would not have picked this up otherwise. It is a little shorter than the other graphic novels I read. Also, I've never read anything by Charlaine Harris, so I don't have anything to compare this to in that regard.

The protagonist, Harper Connelly, is a supernatural detective. She has the ability to see how people died, but not who killed them. She and her brother travel around the country selling her services.

There is a bit of potential for this series. I really like the idea behind it. The execution was a little flat though. There are a couple plot holes that either just got overlooked or ignored. What bugged me most about this story is that Harper was hired to investigate a murder in this town and everyone acts like they don't want her there. As soon as she is ready to leave, people start approaching her asking her to stay. And part of that is because their initial skepticism about her is addressed, but that could have been handled much better.

The art is pretty standard for the most part. I wasn't too excited about it, although I do like some of the techniques used related to Harper's ability. When she uses her sight, her eyes change. This can range from being subtle to overt depending on the drawing. There is an attention to detail here that makes it good. The second aspect is related to the events that she sees. It is clear to the reader that it is something she is seeing because of her ability and not another part of the story or a flashback related to another character.

I imagine the novel series this is based on would be quite popular. I've got mixed feelings on this adaptation. Given the opportunity to read the rest of the story, I would certainly take it. However, I don't see myself going out of my way to get the next part.

I Read Comic Books

Some things have changed for me recently and I haven't been able to get as much reading done as I would like. Fortunately, I came across a comic book related podcast that I have been enjoying immensely. It is called I Read Comic Books and features comic picks, general comic book discussions, comic book news, and usually some comic related topic that makes up the rest of the show. Each episode is an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes long.

The guys (I'm still in the archives and realize there have been some changes to the contributors) are pretty entertaining. Each one has a particular publisher they like to read, though over the course of the episodes I've listened to they've expanded into others based on recommendations and such. I found my way to the podcast through a group on Goodreads. It's nice to get a different take on some of these books, particularly ones that I may not end up getting to. It is also a change of pace from the Image podcast that I've posted about in the past. I highly recommend checking out the podcast and the Goodreads group.

Saga, Volume 6 Review

Saga, Volume 6. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. 2016. Image Comics. 152 pages.

Rating: 3/5

If you're reading this, you are probably familiar with the Saga series in some way. It started out as a fun, slightly offbeat love story in the guise of a science fiction tale. There were a lot of great elements, led by the art from Fiona Staples. The last few volumes have lost some of the feel that drew in a lot of readers. While Hazel is the center of the series, the friction that developed between her parents has left it kind of stale.

So there are a few things going on in this volume. First, Hazel is in kindergarten. In prison. I actually would have liked to see this aspect of the story developed some more because it was one of the more enjoyable points. It is told through the perspective of a young child, so what is here actually makes a lot of sense. Second, there are three different groups trying to track Hazel down. Each one makes sense within the story, and each group has different dynamics that give them some individuality.

Hazel is probably the highlight of this book, followed shortly by her parents working together again. The sections involving the reporters were decent. They aren't really my favorite characters though. Frankly, I'm not sure who either of them are and just consider them more as one character. I was disappointed with the bounty hunter's part of the story. There is some cool art involved with his parts, but he felt a little superfluous.

The art knocks it out of the park again. This has been the consistent high point throughout the series. Some of it might be standard faire at this point, but each plotline has at least one moment where the art is superb. This might be what brings me back to the next part of the series. That and the bombshell at the end of the book. Stupid cliffhanger.

Faith, Vol. 1 Review

Faith, Volume 1: Hollywood and Vine. Jody Houser, Marguerite Sauvage, and Francis Portela. 2016. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Faith is a young woman obsessed with superheroes and all things geeky. When she gained powers, she decided she had to use them to help people. This comes in a little later. She has established a superhero identity, Zephyr, and moved to L.A. Of course she has a secret identity and a day job that lets her hear about important events.

As she settles into her new life, she learns of a missing young man and begins to investigate. The events that unfold cause Faith to question herself and seek support from her friends to complete her mission. This results in some appearances from other Valiant characters, but the focus remains on Faith the whole time. There are some clichés in this book, but they help to establish the character.

One way that Faith is different from other superheroes is her size. The art celebrates who she is in every way. The creators don't shy away from her size and use full page spreads to show off the character. I applaud them for this. At times the proportions of her body seem a bit off though. It could just be the artist's style. There are a lot of bright colors that reflect Faith's attitude as well. She is sort of bubbly and optimistic, and the art supplements that.

I had a few minor quibbles with the book, but it was enjoyable. I am interested in picking up the second volume to see what happens with her next.

A&A: The Adventures of Archer and Armstrong, Volume 1 Review

A&A: The Adventures of Archer and Armstrong, Volume 1: In the Bag. Rafer Roberts and David Lafuente. 2016. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

Archer and Armstrong are all sorts of ridiculous. It starts with the title of the book, which is just a mouthful. Armstrong is a 7,000 year old perpetual drunkard with a magical bag that may just contain infinite space. Archer is his sidekick and current best friend.

Armstrong decides to enter his magic bag in search of a bottle of booze from a previous adventure. Creatures begin to escape the bag, and Archer goes in after Armstrong so he can close the bag. Archer leaves his sister and her group of nun assassins to guard the entrance. Archer and Armstrong run into goblins, trash golems, and Bacchus (yes, the god) within the bag. Bacchus has a grudge against Armstrong and is determined to escape and cause chaos.

This is another book that is pure entertainment. Sure, there are some dramatic moments, but the book is driven by silly things. The closest thing I can relate this to is a buddy movie. These guys are friends, get pissed at each other, and eventually make up to save the day. It is a fun story, but it may not be the best jumping on point for these characters. There is a history between these two that is hinted at throughout the book, but is not covered in detail.

I enjoyed the art, but some of the panel layouts were odd. At times, there are illustrations that are broken into boxes when they probably didn't need to be. This follows other parts of the book where the same technique is used well because of the way the drawings are set up. The pictures lean toward cartoony aspects. This fits the feel of the book perfectly. The creatures and events are buoyed by the art, whereas a more realistic approach would make the book feel too over the top. I've read a few different Valiant books recently, and this one has a completely different vibe from the other ones.

Harbinger Volume 2 Review

Harbinger, Volume 2: Renegades. Joshua Dysart, Phil Briones, Barry Kitson, Lee Garbett, and Matthew Clark. 2013. Valiant Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 5/5

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I received it in the June 2016 box from Comic Bento, so I didn't get a chance to read volume 1 yet. There is an opening page that gives some background for readers like me that didn't pick up the first volume, which is quite nice. Even without that, the book is pretty friendly to new readers.

This book details how the group known as the Renegades formed. It includes some fallout from the first book, which I thought was detailed enough here that I could get by without knowing exactly what happened before without being overly repetitive. Basically, the leader of the Renegades was recruited by the Harbinger Foundation, they had a falling out, and now the Renegades are being hunted. Each issue in this volume tells the story of one of the members of the Renegades.

So each issue focuses on one character and is told from the point of view of that character. But their stories tie together very nicely, and that background information is interspersed with the main plotline. This gives the book a very cohesive feel even though there are multiple voices used and a bunch of smaller stories included. It feels like a good jumping in point because you get to learn about all of these characters in one go without being overwhelmed.

The art is fantastic too. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations that went along with each character's awakening. This helped reinforce how different each of the characters are. And the characters are very different, both from each other and from what you'd think of as a typical superhero. Each character could probably have their own series based on them, yet this book captures enough to make them distinct.

Dirk Gently's Holisitc Detective Agency: A Spoon Too Short Review

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: A Spoon Too Short. Arvind Ethan David and Ilias Kyriazis. 2017. IDW Publishing. 120 pages.

Rating: 3/5

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

I remember reading a couple of the Dirk Gently books by Douglas Adams. They were enjoyable. Not quite the same level as the Hitchhiker books, but still pretty good. This graphic novel is based on and follows the spirit of the character.

As a holistic detective, Dirk Gently deals with supernatural phenomena. The story is driven by the idea that everything is connected, and it touches on predestination at times. Dirk admits to running the other way when weird things happen to try to avoid them. So the weird event that holds sway in this book is a family that has lost all means of communication. During his investigation, Dirk picks up an assistant and travels to Africa.

The thing about Dirk Gently is that it is meant to be humorous. Anyone that has read a Douglas Adams book should have an idea of what to expect. The humor in this book is pretty dry, which isn't particularly enjoyable for me. Though I did find myself chuckling more as I read further into the book. Maybe it was just a matter of adjusting to the writing style.

What stuck out for me is the art. It ranged from bugging me to being amazing. One of the things that bugged me was the depiction of Dirk. His hair is ridiculous, which just struck me as being over the top. This didn't match what I visualized from reading the books and it may have contributed to keeping me from getting into the book.

On the other hand, there are moments where the illustrations complement the events of the story superbly. At one point the drawing on the page spirals to match what is happening to Dirk. Later, there is an adult situation and the art frames it really well. There is creativity and playfulness here that makes the book worth picking up. Some of the elements didn't appeal to me though.

Jessica Jones: Alias, Volume 1 Review

Jessica Jones: Alias, Volume 1. Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos. 2015. MAX. 216 pages.

Rating: 2/5

I feel ambivalent about this book. Everything is just sort of OK. It does have a couple things going for it. First, this collects a few more issues than a normal trade. That works for this series because it combines two arcs that are somewhat related. Second, the writing is very good. The book is published under Marvel's MAX imprint, which means there are adult situations and a lot of swearing. I think it could have been done just fine without those.

Jessica Jones used to be a superhero named Jewel. She decided she didn't want to do that anymore. Now she works as a private investigator, mostly spying on cheating spouses. In the first half of the book she gets involved in a political scandal surrounding Captain America. The second half delves more into her character, and she is juxtaposed with a man she is investigating.

The art is probably the biggest thing that killed the book for me. It feels rather sloppy at times. I think they were trying to get a grittier feel through the art to go along with the darker tone of the story. There are some areas where it is clear that drawings were reused.

I wanted to like Jessica, probably partly because of the Netflix series. She felt so emotionless at times though. It does speak to where she is in her life, but it made it difficult to get into the book. There are glimpses of the character she used to be and where this series is headed. Unfortunately, it didn't appeal to me much and I don't see myself reading further.

Comic Bento July 2016

Comic Bento is a blind subscription box service. They send a box of four to five graphic novels every month based upon a theme. The July 2016 theme is They Robots. Every book in this box features a robot in some way.

First up is It Came! by Dan Boultwood (Titan Comics). The cover and the name struck me as being inspired by a B movie immediately. The art inside the books harkens back to bad sci fi movies as well. That won't put me off though because this book seems like it is supposed to be very tongue in cheek. The description from the back of the book of a robot from Mars invading the English countryside (War of the Worlds, anyone?) with "knuckle sandwiches" just makes it sound more ridiculous. I expect this one to be fun.

Next up is BubbleGun, Volume 1 by Mark Roslan and Mike Bowden (Aspen Mlt Inc). First of all, Aspen provides another Comic Bento exclusive cover. Very cool. This one is set in the future and people are using cybernetic enhancements that blur the line between human and robot. The book centers around a team of mercenary thieves that are on a job that is more than they bargained for. I enjoy heist caper style books and movies. I'm hoping this will have the same energy level and intelligence that can make the genre great.

Third is Diesel Sweeties: Bacon is a Vegetable, Coffee is a Vitamin by R. Stevens (Oni Press Inc). This is from a web comic series, which I'm not always a big fan of. The title alone makes me want to read this book though. I flipped through it and all of the art is designed like an 8-bit video game, and that just makes me want to read it more. There are robot characters involved, but there isn't really a plot with this one.

Lastly, there is Voltron Year One by Brandon Thomas and Craig Cermak (Dynamite Entertainment). I have fond memories of the Voltron cartoon (rightly or not), so I am excited to read this book. This tells the story of how five young men were chosen to control the legendary robot and how they deal with the pressure. The art doesn't look too impressive on first glance though.

The books in this box are a bit lighter in tone than the previous ones I've received. As long as they can deliver on fun and humor, it should be a good one.

Doctor Strange, Volume 1 Review

Doctor Strange, Volume 1: The Way of the Weird. Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo. 2016. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Maybe it is coming off reading The Oath, but this book felt incomplete to me. Part of the reason is that it just didn't seem friendly to new readers. Sure, it gives an overview of how Stephen Strange became the Sorcerer Supreme, but there are elements of his background that didn't get an explanation or felt underdeveloped.

So, Doctor Strange is a magician. This book revolves around the fact that magic comes with a price. Doctor Strange has been using his magic without paying that price, and now something terrible is about to happen. Odd things have been happening within the magical realm. Strange sets out to investigate it, but quickly finds that his dimension is beset by a group seeking to destroy magic.

I enjoyed the portrayal of Strange himself. The way he conducts himself in this story is what I would expect of him. His sidekick/servant, Wong, is present, but his role feels downplayed. Instead a woman that comes to Strange for help sort of takes on that position. The book starts out slow. The first couple issues give an introduction to Strange and set the tone for the series, with only hints at the later story that develops. There is limited space, but I would have liked to have seen more on these invaders that he has to deal with.

The art is great. The illustrations mesh with the character's history as well a the early descriptions for some of the magical elements. There are some odd panel arrangements though, where there may be a couple panels with an extra image off to the side that isn't really connected to the sequence. For me, the book looks great, it captures the feel of the character beautifully, but things don't mesh quite as well as they could have.

Legends of Red Sonja Review

Legends of Red Sonja. Gail Simone and others. 2014. Dynamite Entertainment. 152 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I loved Gail Simone's run on Red Sonja. It was my introduction to the character and she handled it so well. There were parts of the plot that didn't appeal to me. This book is basically a sum of that run with guest writers brought in.

Gail Simone wrote the frame of the story in which a group of mercenaries called the Grey Riders are hunting Sonja for killing a prince. They travel across the land searching for her and they are told tales about her exploits along the way. The guest writers step in for each of these side tales.

These tales are entertaining. None of them stick out to me as being bad, although the artwork can be hit or miss. I like that the guest writers use their own take on the character or tell the story from the perspective of a side character. That perspective can skew the view of Sonja that has been built, but it feels natural to get these extreme views. It speaks to the way that depending on who you ask, you can get a different story of events.

There are times where the book does not transition well between the frame and those other stories. Sonja is also off stage for a lot of the book, even though she is being talked about by these other characters. Things pick up once she gets more involved in the overarching part of the story. Overall, this is a nice tribute to the character.

Captain Marvel, Volume 1 Review

Captain Marvel, Volume 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More. Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez. 2014. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Kelly Sue DeConnick might just be one of my favorite comics writer. Admittedly, I've only read a few of her books so far, but I have loved every single one. I didn't know much about Captain Marvel going into this book. The creators did a great job presenting her as a hero, even when she struggled with situations.

So, Captain Marvel decides to head into space to represent the Avengers. Her first mission involves a race of refugees who are being forced off their replacement home world because masses of people are doing from a mysterious disease. There is a bit of action in this book, but that is more to keep the pace going. The real meat of the story is Captain Marvel coming to understand these aliens that have lost their home once and are being asked to abandon another one. Diplomacy becomes more important to resolving the situation. Although punching things can help at times.

Captain Marvel feels like a real person, which is probably the single biggest reason that I enjoyed this book so much. From her encounter with Iron Man to the problems with her cat to her struggles within the context of the story, she just comes across as normal. Sure, she has some cool powers, but that really just augments who she is. The other characters help keep the book fun as well.

The art is fantastic. I particularly like the times where Captain Marvel transforms. Each one feels different and captures a separate part of that transformation. There wasn't a single part of the illustrations that disappointed me.

Devolution Review

Devolution. Rick Remender, Jonathan Wayshak, and Jordan Boyd. 2016. Dynamite Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

Devolution is a ridiculous book. It is over the top in so many ways. Trying to take it seriously may leave you unimpressed.

Everything begins when scientists decide to remove religion from the world by tampering with the human brain. As a result of their efforts, a disease breaks out that reverts every living thing on the planet to a previous state of evolution. A select few are inoculated against the disease. Raja is the daughter of one of the scientists involved. She believes that she knows of a way to fix the problem if she can only make it to L.A.

The characters she meets along the way add to the silliness. There is a doctor that everyone wants to kill but won't because of his skills. The leader of the group she encounters is a brutish, violent, oversexed man. Most of the other characters don't survive long enough to matter much though.

I wasn't a huge fan of the art. It followed the same over the top style as the rest of the book, so it fit in quite well. The creatures that come about as the result of the experimentation were the best part of the illustrations. There are cavemen, dinosaurs, and giant spiders to name a few. But the drawings of the people were just too out there at times.

This felt like a way to write a zombie apocalypse book without using zombies. I thought it was a lot of fun for all that. The message at the end of the book is probably the most serious part and tied things together well enough. You'll probably enjoy this book if you like movies such as Hot Fuzz or Super Troopers.