Review: Lucifer, Volume 1: Cold Heaven

Lucifer, Volume 1: Cold Heaven by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since this book is bound to draw comparisons to Mike Carey's Lucifer series, so I will start out by saying that it is not as good. That doesn't mean this one is bad by any means though. It takes the ideas and characters from that series and builds on them.

Lucifer is back and God is dead. All signs point to Lucifer as the culprit, so he sets out to clear his name along with Gabriel. Things are compounded by a mysterious wound in Lucifer's side that won't close. This gives him motivation to return that makes it so this story doesn't disregard the way the previous series left off.

I like the way the characters are portrayed. Black does a decent job capturing the smarminess and intelligence of Lucifer. Where the book tends to shine is capitalizing on the setting. It pulls in some recognizable characters like Cain and Abel and Mazikeen. The story pulls in some familiar settings like the land of Dreaming. This allows the art to stand out too. There are some really wonderful sequences that could only take place in such a realm.

This book will probably appeal to readers interested in getting into the setting for the first time, rather than fans of the previous series. It does a lot of work to establish who the characters are and their place in the world. After setting the stage in volume one, I am looking forward to picking up the second volume to see where it takes things.

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Review: New Avengers, Vol. 1: Breakout

New Avengers, Vol. 1: Breakout by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Avengers have disbanded. This book explores the idea of what happens in the Marvel universe when the Avengers are gone and settles on the concept that a group of heroes will naturally come together. This time, it gives us the New Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, and Wolverine.

The big thing I liked about this book is the massive breakout of supervillains from Ryker Island. This actually filled in some holes from a few other Marvel books I've read recently. Electro has never been a favorite villain, but his role in this book is done well. And this New Avengers team comes together in a way that is mostly natural. Each of the heroes acts in a way that I would expect from them. Bendis does a great job bringing these characters together.

It sort of fell apart when the group heads to the Savage Land. This part of the story isn't told poorly, but it seemed unnecessary. It does introduce some good ideas for the series. I thought the art was fantastic. Marvel does a great job of nabbing some of the best artists around. There are definitely better titles out there. I found this one enjoyable though and full of potential.

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Review: From the Dead

From the Dead by Warren Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ellis' take on Moon Knight is quite wonderful. This book really captures both the in your face nature of Moon Knight and the sheer insanity of Marc Spector, the man behind the mask.

This volume is made up of a series of loosely connected short stories. I don't recall an overarching storyline that you might get in other comic volumes. It doesn't really matter because each of these stories can stand on their own just fine. Some of the stories pull in more supernatural elements, which work well for with the character but aren't always used. Moon Knight also tries to play well with the NYPD. I liked these interactions. It gives Moon Knight a supporting cast that he turns to as it suits his need.

I loved the art. One thing that I think this volume brings to the character is the full on white suit that he wears from time to time. The visual element this brings to the book is great. And that is another thing this book does fantastically. Besides the white suit and his traditional costume, there are a couple other variations that look awesome. These also serve as a way to explore the character's psyche without spelling it out.

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The Walking Dead, Vol. 2 Review

The Walking Dead, Volume Two: Miles Behind Us. Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn. 2004. Image Comics. 136 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Volume two gives us a nice change as the group moves away from the outskirts of Atlanta and we begin to see more of this new world. There are two major locations: a sub-division and the farm.

I like that this deals with the encounter at the end of volume one between Rick and Shane in a couple of ways. It gives some physical reactions, e.g. the move away from the former campsite, and emotional reactions from a lot of the party. These give us a believable world within this fantastic environment and really builds the characters in some nice ways.

There are a couple additions to this main group, as well as a few losses. I like the growth this gives the book. Despite all the odds this group continues to survive, but is looking for something more permanent. This is a theme that comes up again and again in this volume. It does a nice job of giving motivation to the characters beyond mere survival.

The art is just as good as the first volume. It can be a bit of an acquired taste though. Two things of note about this book/the series in general. First, it is quite wordy. This isn't a bad thing since it is all dialogue between the characters. Second, there are a few inconsistencies with some minor story elements. It's not a detriment to the story that is being told at this point. Otherwise, this is a great character driven book that sets the hook for the next volume.

Faith and the Future Force Review

Faith and the Future Force. Jody Houser, Stephen Segovia, and Barry Kitson. 2017. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 3/5

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

I really like Faith and most of the Valiant comics in general. This one didn't really work for me though because it felt kind of rushed. It does include some of the humor and references that I would expect from the featured characters though.

The main plotline in this book is that there is a killer robot from an alternate timeline that wants to destroy the Valiant universe. Neela, who was introduced in the Ivar, Timewalker series, reaches out to Faith for help in stopping the robot. This mixture works well because they are both kind of sci-fi nerds, one by choice and one by circumstance. There isn't a ton of characterization, which is what I tend to respond to in books.

The plot on this one felt more like a traditional superhero comic book than I'm used to getting from Valiant. Although the idea of a malicious robot bent on killing everything isn't new, the creators put a decent spin on it that leads to a satisfying ending. There is some repetition in the story as they work through how to defeat the robot. It's fun to see the ever increasing cast of characters that are brought in to fight this threat.

I liked the art though. The characters are drawn really well. There are visual cues that add some humor to the book that would be lost in another format, so I appreciate that they used the medium in a good way. The way it is designed sort of reminds me of Groundhog Day. I want to see more from these characters, but there needs to be some more substance.

Bitch Planet, Vol. 2 Review

Bitch Planet, Volume Two: President Bitch. Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro, and Taki Soma. 2017. Image Comics. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Let's start a riot! This book takes us back to the prison planet and goes into the aftermath at the end of volume one. While the first volume was more of an establishing book, introducing the setting and the characters, this second volume takes more focus and fleshes out a few specific aspects. DeConnick's writing is good and the art team does a wonderful job driving things home.

Starting with the art, there is a lot of nudity and violence. This shouldn't be a surprise for anyone that read the first book, but I think it still needs to be said. Anyone that might have been expecting this to let up in that regard will be disappointed. I think the illustrations normalize the setting. For one, the characters are fairly ordinary. There are a wide range of body types but nothing inhuman. And the locations feel like they could be set on Earth somewhere even though much of the book takes place on another planet.

The plot mostly follows one character. We get to see her background as far as the events that led up to her imprisonment. There are some great elements the suggest the type of world these characters are living in, particularly the secret meetings intended to educate young women. I like this glimpse into the regime and how ordinary citizens are reacting to it.

That part of the story is mixed with the present day. The focal character is searching for her sister and ends up finding someone much more influential to the setting. Add on top of this a riot that leads to exposing more of what the regime is up to and the story comes together pretty nicely. It does leave some questions on where the series is going. I like the direction its going in and can't wait to get more of it.

The Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk Review

The Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk. Greg Pak, Carlo Pagulayan, Aaron Lopresti, Gary Frank, and Takeshi Miyazawi. 2007. Marvel. 416 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I've never been a huge fan of the Hulk. He always seems to be portrayed as a big, dumb green monster that will kill everyone yet somehow manages to avoid it. And the premise of this book takes that to the extreme by having the Hulk exiled from Earth by some of his best friends. To say the least, I was not impressed by this beginning.

But it gets way better once Hulk ends up on an alien planet, which of course is not where he was supposed to go. The world building is awesome. There are a bunch of different alien species that are represented along with a familiar face or two. The creators do a fantastic job of fleshing them all out and giving them a purpose. This is a long story arc that gets a good opportunity to ramp up.

Hulk is shown to be a lot more complex in this book than I expected. Sure, there is a lot of fighting and he struggles with being a "monster". By the end of this book he is so much more than that. He displays loyalty, integrity, and even vulnerability. This book takes him from being purely destructive to a realistic character in spite of his powers and origin.

I loved the art. It is very detailed and covers a pretty wide range of characters and settings. There are a few stumbling points where characters seemed a little out of proportion, but they are all pretty minor. There is an excerpt from an issue of Amazing Fantasy featuring Amadeus Cho that really didn't need to be in here. It didn't quite fit with the rest of the book in terms of the story and the art. This book is really a lot of fun to read and took a character in which I had no interest and made me excited to read more.

Princess Leia Review

Star Wars: Princess Leia. Mark Waid, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, and Jordie Bellaire. 2015. Mavel. 120 pages.

Rating: 2/5

A miniseries featuring Princess Leia sounds like it should be pretty awesome, right? This one just didn't do it for me though. It has a lot of good elements that just don't come together well.

Leia is struggling with the destruction of her home planet, Alderaan, right after A New Hope. She sees herself as responsible in a way and is trying to figure out what to do about the remnants of her people scattered across the galaxy. She picks up a sidekick of sorts who acts as Leia's conscience throughout the miniseries.

There is a lot of push for Leia to organize these people without a home and become their leader. The way she takes of to do this and some of the subsequent action made her feel kind of flighty. And I never felt like she stepped into the leadership role her people needed. The way the book ends reinforced that for me.

I didn't care for the art in this book. It came off as too cartoonish, which didn't mesh well with the subject matter. It made it hard for me to take Leia seriously. I liked the idea behind this book, but felt the execution was lacking.

Snotgirl, Vol. 1 Review

Snotgirl, Volume One: Green Hair Don't Care. Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung. 2017. Image Comics. 136 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I only picked this up because of Bryan Lee O'Malley. For those that don't know, he wrote a little series known as Scott Pilgrim and if you haven't read it, go do so now.

Back to Snotgirl. This book is about a fashion blogger named Lottie Person with some serious allergy issues. It compares her public persona to her real life quite a bit and how there is a disconnect between them. She is friends with a lot of other fashion bloggers and is constantly comparing herself to them. There is an insecurity about the character that makes it seem that despite the title she does care.

This book has some really good elements that bring it to the verge of being great, but there is a quality to the writing that holds it back. The whole subplot about her ex's new girlfriend is a perfect example. There is clearly something going on there and yet the protagonist comes off as petty about the whole thing. Could her fears be real? Sure, but her attitude throws me off too much for it to matter. I do like the bits with "Cool Girl" and think that part of the story has the most potential to bring this book up a level in future volumes. I just need a reason to care about Lottie and it isn't there yet.

I did enjoy the art. The coloring is wonderful. The illustrations seem more fitting to a manga, which usually doesn't appeal to me much. It tends to be overly expressive and that pulls me out of the story. This book reigns that in to a degree. By the end of this volume I was enjoying the story and the small mystery. I'd like to see Lottie grow beyond the petty person in this volume but I'm not sure if I'm willing to come back for more.

The Periodic Table of Cocktails Review

The Periodic Table of Cocktails. Emma Stokes. 2017. Abrams Image. 160 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I'll admit that I wasn't wowed by this book. The idea behind it is intriguing. It categorizes cocktails based on different characteristics with the idea that if you enjoy one of them, the others adjacent to it on the table should be a good match as well.

There are a lot of classic cocktails represented in the book. It also includes some modern cocktails that serve to mix things up a bit. The author clearly identifies when she has a preference about one way of making some of these drinks. Many have been around so long that there are innumerable variations. She even encourages the reader to try making small changes to the recipes she presents to see if they like it better another way. I always appreciate seeing that embrace for experimentation when it comes to food and drink because it gives the feeling that these things aren't set in stone.

Another good thing about the book is the anecdotes that accompany the recipes. It usually includes a brief history of the cocktail, many of which are up for debate. These won't add to the experience of the cocktails themselves, but they are fun to read nonetheless. Some of the recipes are just variations based on the type of spirit or liqueur added to the drink. For me, this detracted a little bit from the book because it means that something else was left out. All in all it's a nice book for picking out a new cocktail to try, although I probably wouldn't make them myself.

Cimarronin: The Complete Graphic Novel Review

Cimarronin: The Complete Graphic Novel. Neal Stephenson, Charles C. Mann, Mark Teppo, Ellis Amdur, Robert Sammelin, and Dean Kotz. 2015. Jet City. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I thought this was a pretty cool book. It tells the story of a fallen samurai who travels to Mexico with a Jesuit priest and a Chinese princess. They each have their own motivations for making this trip, but they end up crossing paths in a very interesting way. As someone who likes history, this was a really strong story. It mixes in just enough of some seemingly disparate elements to give it the feel of something that could have happened.

While this isn't a humor book by any means, there are some nice moments that amused me. Mostly these involve the copious amount of brothers that the Jesuit priest has. The relationships between the characters bolster the story a lot too. That combined with the historical details made it enjoyable even though it might not appeal to everyone.

For the most part I enjoyed the art. The coloring and lettering are both done well. There is more action in this book than I initially expected. The only downfall to this is that sometimes the action didn't flow well from one panel to the next, making it difficult to understand how certain scenes unfolded. I was drawn in by Neal Stephenson's connection to the book and it didn't disappoint.

4001 A.D.: Beyond New Japan Review

4001 A.D.: Beyond New Japan. Robert Venditti, Jeff Lemire, Jody Houser, Rafer Roberts, Fred Van Lente, Clayton Henry, Doug Braithwaite, and Robert Gil. 2016. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I liked this book quite a bit. It is a collection of four tie in stories to the 4001 A.D. event from Valiant. It features three previous Valiant heroes and one new one.

The first story tells the history of the massive X-O armor that plays a role in the main 4001 event. I enjoyed seeing the origins of this armor and how it tied into the future storyline. Next up is a story about Bloodshot. Specifically, it is about the nanites and their final mission. This felt like the weakest of the stories to me. Bloodshot has become one of my favorite Valiant characters thanks to Jeff Lemire. It's a nice transition story but didn't add much to the character.

Third is a Shadowman tale. This one raised a bunch of questions for me regarding Shadowman and the Loa. It's pretty cool though because it is set on Earth and explains how these coexisting towns have been able to survive. It also introduces a new character that could easily pick up the Shadowman mantle in the future storyline. Lastly, is the story about Warmother, the new Valiant hero. Also set on Earth, this one shows what I think might be a more common way of life for the planet-bound people in 4001. There is a lot of isolation and scramble for tech. The character is strong and has the makings of a great leader.

The art on all of these are pretty solid. The Bloodshot story has some interesting effects with the nanites. Warmother shows off Earth of the future wonderfully. I thought these stories were great, even though they are mostly tangential to the 4001 event. I recommend reading 4001 A.D. first just because it is easier to see how these stories fit alongside it.

Lighter Than My Shadow

Lighter Than My Shadow. Katie Green. 2017. Lion Forge. 516 pages.

Rating: 5/5

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

There is some pretty rough subject matter in this book. It details one woman's struggle with an eating disorder and sexual assault. I think the book does a wonderful job portraying these issues and shows why it can be so difficult for people that suffer from them to overcome them. While I don't imagine I would ever have to deal with these sorts of problems, I found myself identifying with her at some points.

I loved the art. The use of the "shadow" lingering around her pretty much non-stop was a great visual indicator of what was going on in her mind. It emphasized the struggle and horror of these events. Some of the images can be repetitive at times, which really serves to show how pervasive these type of issues can be in someone's life.

This wasn't an easy book to read, but when I gave it my full attention it move quickly. I have a lot of respect for the creator for putting this out there.

The Walking Dead, Vol. 1 Review

The Walking Dead, Volume One: Days Gone Bye. Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. 2004. Image Comics. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

For those that don't know, The Walking Dead is a book about a zombie apocalypse. It follows the story of a small town cop, Rick Grimes, after he wakes up from a coma to find the world changed. In this volume he has to adapt to the world as it is now and seeks to find his wife and son.

The thing that I like about this book (and the TV show) is that it isn't all about the zombies. Sure, they are ever present, but the focus is really on the survivors. This is such a character driven book and is bolstered by focusing on mundane things at times. The characters feel like real people, even if they can be a bit extreme at times, because their reactions seem natural.

I like the art a lot. It's very distinct and can make certain scenes very unsettling. The art certainly helps set the tone of the book between some of the creepier moments and the landscape images. The lack of color is an interesting choice and it doesn't hinder the book in any way. One thing that stands out to me is that all of the characters have a distinct look. This doesn't always happen, especially for minor characters. This isn't just another zombie story.

Legendary Star Lord, Vol. 1 Review

Legendary Star-Lord, Volume One: Face It, I Rule. Sam Humphries, Paco Medina, and Freddie Williams. 2015. Marvel. 112 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I found this book pretty enjoyable. It takes Peter Quill from the Guardians of the Galaxy and sends him out on his own. The Guardians show up in some small ways, and Kitty Pryde from the X-Men has a big role, so he isn't entirely on his own.

Star-Lord is the perfect scoundrel. He spends a lot of his time doing unheroic things, but when it comes down to it he tries to do the right thing. There are two major threads: one involving Thanos and one involving a criminal known as Mr. Knife. The Thanos one is fun, but I feel like I would have gotten more out of it if I knew the relationship between the characters better.

I liked the art, especially in the second half of the book. There were a few pages where there was too much going on, but not many. This book didn't add a whole lot to the character. It does a nice job of showing off what I would expect from him. I just didn't find enough reason to care about what he was doing. Maybe the second volume will improve on that.

Rai, Vol. 4 Review

Rai, Volume Four: 4001 A.D. Matt Kindt and Cafu. 2016. Valiant Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 5/5

The Rai series just keeps getting better for me. Rather than continuing the story from volume three, which is picked up in the separate 4001 A.D. story, this volume goes back to the beginning. It shows the birth of the first Rai, the role Rai has played in New Japan over the centuries, and a couple of other previous incarnations.

It also lays the groundwork for the entire series by showing how certain issues have come up repeatedly related to Father and his control over New Japan, as well as leading directly into the very first issue of the series. That could be confusing for some readers, but it actually does a great job explaining some of what happens early on.

I love the art. Cafu does a wonderful job with the characters and the environment. Clayton Crain's art on the rest of the series is fantastic, but Cafu is more than capable of picking up this part of the story. There are multiple panels that caught my attention because of how great they look, particularly involving Aboto, one of the former Rais.

While this doesn't tie directly to the 4001 A.D. miniseries, it provides a good deal of background for the setting that makes it worth reading. There are a lot of pieces that could be picked up and expanded in other books. A solid addition to the series.

Bloodshot, Vol. 3 Review

Bloodshot, Volume Three: Harbinger Wars. Duane Swierczynski, Barry Kitson, and Stefano Gaudiano. 2013. Valiant Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I rather enjoyed this volume. It follows directly on the heels of volume two. Bloodshot, the super soldier with tiny robots called nanites in his blood, and a group of young kids that were being held by his former employer are on the run. They are special because they are psiots, which basically means they have super powers.

This book ties into the Harbinger Wars event (hence the subtitle) and covers the major events featuring Bloodshot. One thing I really liked is that the way the book is written, you don't need to read the other portions to understand this one. There are elements that tie into the rest of the overarching story. They serve to build on the miniseries without detracting from this book.

One thing about Bloodshot is that he has no memory of his past, so the reader gets to learn a lot about who he is as he is discovering it himself. With this volume, the story delves into why he was created and just how strong of a hold Project Rising Spirit (the organization that introduced him to the nanites) has on him. It also shows how strongly he will fight their programming.

There is a lot of action in this book, much like the previous volumes. It can get pretty gruesome at times too. The ick factor and how much damage the nanites are able to repair are two elements I enjoy about this series. They allow him to do things that similar books just wouldn't be able to pull off. The art adds a lot to the story at these points and is pretty great overall. The volume ends abruptly and left me with mixed feelings.

Top Cow Freebies

I stumbled across something pretty awesome. Top Cow is offering the first issue, and in some cases the first volume, of a lot of their series' for free. Check it out here! I don't think I've read anything from this comic publisher, but this certainly gives me some incentive to get started.

Star Wars: Darth Vader, Vol. 2

Star Wars: Darth Vader, Volume Two: Shadows and Secrets. Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca, and Edgar Delgado. 2016. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Now this is a good Star Wars book. Darth Vader continues his search for Luke Skywalker, Dr. Aphra pulls off a heist, and they both must evade an Imperial investigator that is closing in on them. It showcases the calculating side of Darth Vader to great effect. I'd heard a lot of good things about Dr. Aphra, but I wasn't convinced until I read this volume. She is more than capable of matching Darth Vader without feeling contrived.

The supporting characters introduced in volume one that I wasn't fond of, specifically the murder droids and the potential replacements for Vader, are used really well here. The droids are a lot more fun to read and felt less like one note characters. Vader's rivals serve more of a purpose without cluttering up the story. They were more believable because they had something to do aside from vying for the Emperor's attention.

And the art is great. The characters are portrayed well and the different locations look wonderful. This book pulls together a lot of elements to make a great story. I want more.

Space Riders, Vol. 1 Review

Space Riders, Volume One: Vengeful Universe. Fabian Rangel and Alexis Ziritt. 2015. Black Mask Comics. 112 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Wow. This book is beyond ridiculous. The characters fly around in a spaceship shaped like a skull and fight all manner of creatures. There are robots, aliens, and even a giant space whale. And the colors are weird in a really good way. They are super colorful, which doesn't happen much in science fiction books.

The actual story left a little to be desired. It follows the captain of this ship as he seeks redemption for a failed mission. He is joined by a robot shaped like a female human, with nipples that shoot lasers, and a semi-pacifist ape. This is a fun book for all the unusual elements. I just didn't feel like I had a whole lot of reason to care about the characters or what happened with them. Worth checking out none-the-less.

TEOTFW Review

TEOTFW. Charles Forsman. 2013. Fantagraphics. 176 pages.

Rating: 1/5

This is way too dark for my tastes. It follows the story of two young adults, one of whom is a sociopath. The story is super creepy and I think Forsman does a great job capturing that element.

The art didn't appeal to me. It fits the story pretty well by highlighting some of the creepier aspects of the characters and their relationship though.

Gotham Academy, Vol. 1 Review

Gotham Academy, Volume One: Welcome to Gotham Academy. Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl. 2015. DC Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did I enjoyed it a lot. Part of the problem for me is that the main character, Olive Silverlock, is suffering from amnesia. This trope is really overdone and can be hard to pull off well. I think when the book moved away from that part of the story and got into the relationships between the students it got stronger. The whole amnesia thing is sort of resolved by the end of the volume, which is a huge plus.

Being an institution in Gotham City, Gotham Academy is old and believed to be haunted. After the students return from summer break, there are strange things happening around the campus. A group of students including Olive decide that they are going to investigate. Quite a bit happens from there, including the appearance of Bruce Wayne and a couple Batman villains. I really like what they do with Killer Croc and the (possibly unintentional) reference to my favorite line from the Batman animated series from the early 90s.

The art is really good. It took a little getting used to because it is a different style than I usually see. It works perfectly for the book and the colors complement it nicely. This book is a nice change of pace from the other DC books I've read recently. Recommended for those that want something different than the usual superhero fare.

Batman: The Long Halloween Review

Batman: The Long Halloween. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. 1999. DC Comics. 368 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I love a good Batman comic, and this is certainly amongst the best. The story takes place over the course of the year, and Batman has to discover the identity of a killer that only strikes on holidays. The introduction describes this as a follow up to Batman Year One, so we see a younger Bruce Wayne that is still working out his role as Batman. The focus is much more on the killer and Harvey Dent. Having read this after watching The Dark Knight, it's easy to see the influence this book had on the movie.

My favorite part of this book has to be the heavy reliance on the crime families of Gotham, specifically the Falcone. There is always mention of how screwed up Gotham is and why there is a need for Batman and using the mafia as a foundation is perfect. Are they the source of all of Gotham's problems? No, but the sheer level of organized crime speaks to why Batman even exists. It is pervasive and the attacks of Holiday begin to shake things up. The use of these more mundane villains, even with the inclusion of a bunch of Batman's iconic foes, helps to set this book apart.

The mystery behind the killer is played out pretty well too. There are so many people that would have the motive and opportunity to attack the members of the Falcone family that it becomes difficult to pin down who is Holiday. Extra points for the use of Calendar Man because he is a strange villain that fits in so well.

Despite being an older comic, I enjoyed the art. There were some images that are certainly indicative of trends in comic art at the time, but for the most part it stands apart. The coloring and use of shadow are both great. There's a reason this is considered a classic Batman title. Definitely worth a read.

Hellblazer, Vol. 1 Review

John Constantine, Hellblazer, Volume One: Original Sins. Jamie Delano, John Ridgway, Alfredo Alcala, Rick Veitch, and Tom Mandrake. 2013. Vertigo. 304 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I just finished this last night, and I feel like it took me forever to read. Mostly because of general life stuff creeping in, but this is a long book and pretty dense. It stands up there with some of the other Vertigo titles that I've read and enjoyed immensely though.

It has a slow build. Which I think is fantastic. Sometimes that can make books drag on. It's executed very well in this case though. The slow reveals allow time to learn more about Constantine, his place in the world, and the types of situations he has to deal with. It's not as action packed as the movie (at least from what I can remember) and it doesn't need to be. This is a great character driven story that mixes in elements of heaven/hell, religion, and morality. I like that it doesn't shy away from some of the nastier aspects of humanity. And it does so in a way that doesn't feel incredibly bleak.

The couple of Swamp Thing issues thrown in at the end were a surprise. I was aware that Constantine and Swamp Thing had some sort of connection, but those issues go way beyond anything that I knew about. That part isn't really necessary to the book as a whole. I'm glad it is included because it expands on the characters and the setting. Plus, it is rather creepy to have Swamp Thing taking over Constantine's body. The details are a little sketchy though.

I thought the art was great. Sure, it's a bit rougher than we might be used to reading now, but the grittiness of the drawings fit so well with the tone of the book.  Some of the color choices are more jarring than the pencils. I am interested in reading more stories about this character, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

Black Canary, Vol. 1 Review

Black Canary, Volume One: Kicking and Screaming. Brenden Fletcher, Annie Wu, Pia Guerra, and Lee Loughridge. 2016. DC Comics. 168 pages.

Rating: 3/5

My first experience with Black Canary came from the Arrow TV series. I feel like some of that characterization is present here, but it takes her in a very different direction. Dinah Lance teams up with a group of teens to form a band that becomes wildly popular overnight. The reasons behind this are touched on in the book. They felt kind of dubious to me though.

I enjoyed the different take on this character, and her band mates actually grew on me as the book went on. Had it been left as a story about a girl and her band I think I would have enjoyed it more. About midway through, other elements from the DC universe are pulled in and that put me off to the book. Partly because I'm not a huge DC reader and partly because some of the characters used seem to pop up in way too many of the books I do pick up.

The art didn't bother me. Not really a resounding endorsement for it. Yet, I think that's a good thing because in a book like this the art can be very hit or miss and ruin the enjoyment. There are some goofy moments with the art, and there are a lot more action sequences than there should have been based on the way it starts out. Despite that, it didn't put me off to reading the story, so there must be something to it that fits the tone. This book, and a couple other more recent DC books that I've read, seem to be trying to be a little trendier or shifting their characters to appeal to a younger crowd. For the most part I think they've done a decent job with it and anyone looking for a change from the regular superhero fare should check this out.

Secret Weapons Review

Secret Weapons. Eric Heisserer, Raul Allen, and Patricia Martin. 2017. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 5/5

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

There is a lot to like about this book. For Valiant fans, it introduces some new characters, while giving new readers a good place to get a feel for the universe. Since it is about the rejects of the Harbinger Foundation, the story is more lighthearted without being goofy. The powers that these new characters possess are lots of fun: talking to birds, making things glow, turning to stone without being able to move, and creating random objects out of thin air.

The thing is, these young people and many others have been revealed to the world. And someone out there wants to see them destroyed. A former Harbinger Foundation leader, Livewire, learns about these kids at the same time as everyone else, but sees it as her duty to protect and train them. So, as someone is hunting them down she is teaching them how to defend themselves. That part of the plot does a lot to set up future storylines, especially if they expand their circle to draw in other rejects.

I think the thing I enjoyed most about this book is how well the characters are developed. We get to see moments that wouldn't necessarily occur in other comics. For example, the character that talks to birds gets a scene where she chats with them about a woman who feeds them in the park. It might sound dull, but it creates a sense of who she is and her place in the world. To see her develop from that point is satisfying.

The art is great. It is used to wonderful effect to show off the characters' powers. But the more mundane moments aren't forgotten about. There is a good balance between the two, especially as the characters are just coming together. I would love to read more about these characters and get a chance to see what they are capable of.

Rat Queens, Vol. 4 Review

Rat Queens, Volume Four: High Fantasies. Curtis Wiebe, Owen Gieni, and Ryan Ferrier. 2017. Image Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 2/5

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

I rather enjoyed the first three volumes of this series, but volume four leaves a lot to be desired. This takes place sometime after volume three, with the Queens returning to Palisade to get up to general shenanigans.

The highlights for me are Braga and Violet's brother. Braga gets to officially join the Queens, which makes a lot of sense. She has been built up as a very interesting character (see the Braga special for more!) and her former adventuring group is pretty much gone. Even though she knows the Queens, including her in the group also gives the reader to learn more about the characters without the information feeling forced.

Violet's brother is back to stoke their sibling rivalry in a big way. He brings in his own adventuring group that sort of mirrors the Queens. I wanted to see more of them because they didn't feel strongly presented. Sure, they are side characters attached to another non-title character, but they could have been built up a little more to give their group some substance.

One of the reasons that I've enjoyed the Rat Queens series is that they are just generally fun to read. Volume four felt like more of a drag though. The humor didn't quite work for me this time around. I did like the art though. The character drawings are great and there are a couple of visual gags that I enjoyed. This volume seems to have lost some of the heart that made the first three so much fun to read. Given the chance, I would still pick up the next volume because there is potential for a lot of silly and unique stories.

Trees, Vol. 2 Review

Trees, Volume Two: Two Forests. Warren Ellis and Jason Howard. 2016. Image Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

In some ways I liked this volume better than the previous ones and there are some parts I didn't like as much. A catastrophic event at one of the "trees" left a lot of fallout. The trees are alien artifacts that landed on earth 10 years ago. Until recently they have not responded to any attempts to interact with them.

Volume two has a lot more focus than volume one. It only follows the storyline of two characters: the mayor of New York and a researcher stationed near the tree that blew up. These characters weren't as interesting to me. The mayor is corrupt and just seemed boring. He is so focused on political maneuvering that the star of this series, the trees, is just a sidebar. His actions seem to be setting the stage for future plotlines though.

The researcher is much more intriguing. First, we get to see bits of what happened directly after the event with the tree. Second, her part of the story gives a different view of what is happening in this future. Her expertise lets her move around the world more easily than others and brings her in contact with wildly different characters.

I like that both of these plotlines share a theme revolving around how the general populace would react to a given set of information. They parallel each other as a result, which makes the book feel more integrated. I wanted more from some of the other characters introduced previously, but these two did a good job of shifting gears.

There are some fantastic images used within the story too. The creators are able to imagine very different locations to set the story and bring them to life. They feel and look different from each other. This makes the setting feel more robust. The character art and the coloring are well done. There isn't anything glaring that felt out of place or turned me off from the book. While it has a different feel from the first book, it is a solid addition to the series.

Paper Girls, Vol. 3 Review

Paper Girls, Volume Three. Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chang, and Matt Wilson. 2017. Image Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Volume three sees the girls taken from the future of 2016 to the far past. Time travel is a huge element to this series, which anyone that has made it this far along should know. This volume does a great job of pulling together just how pervasive it is in the setting, even if there isn't a lot going on in this arc. It focuses more on the girls, their skills, and their relationships.

After the girls arrive in this new time period, they are confronted by another young woman who acts as a guide for them. Through her, they learn that they aren't the first people to visit this period and that bits of technology have been filtering through rips in space-time. I like that this ties up a loose end from volume two, although it creates more of its own. There is also a character introduced that may be extremely important to the overall structure of the story.

As for the art, I'm still enjoying it. It is just as good here as it was at issue one. The color scheme can be jarring because it is different from what is expected. It uses lighter shades, almost pastel. With the amount of nature in this issue, the colors could have made things weird, but it's reigned in just enough.

This volume lays out some plotlines that could result in a big payoff in the next volume. There is one scene in particular that hints at things to come, which indicates the creators have some long term plans. They need to start giving the readers some more details about what is causing all the time travel trouble and the role of the Paper Girls in all of that. Bring on volume four.

Superhero Comics Review

Superhero Comics. Chris Gavaler. 2017. Bloomsbury Academic. 376 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

I'll admit that this book wasn't my favorite. It is very academic, which makes it a bit dry to read. As a result, I took a long time to finish it because I could only read it in small chunks.

There are two major sections of this book: history and analysis. The history portion is quite in depth. It begins by examining adventure books that are a precursor to superhero comics. I've read a couple other books that delve into the history of comics this way and I felt like this one did a good job of not just rehashing what I had read before.

Once it gets into the appearance of comics, it starts to get better. There are a few distinct eras that Gavaler covers. Each one has its own defining characteristics that help to identify them. I think I enjoyed this portion more than the earlier history because I was more familiar with the characters discussed, if not the specific series'. It seemed like there was a diverse choice of characters used, which is nice to show off that this genre of comics can provide readers with more than just white, male heroes.

The best part of the book has to be what I've referred to as analysis. Again, some of what is discussed here has been covered in other books I've read, but the coverage on different artistic techniques that are used and the effects they have is great. I think this book is worth picking up for that alone because it is presented so well. It wraps up with an application of this artistic knowledge to an actual comic, followed by a list of important or influential comics for each era. The book can be a bit heavy at times, but I feel like it has a lot to offer serious comics readers.

Captain Marvel, Vol. 2 Review

Captain Marvel, Volume Two: Down. Kelly Sue DeConnick, Christopher Sebela, Dexter Soy, and Filipe Andrade. 2013. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I picked this up from the library along with volume one and I almost regretted because I didn't enjoy the first book. The story here is better, but goes on a bit too long.

The first part of this book involves a former Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and a giant robot that rises out of the Gulf of Mexico. The relationship between the two women is well done. I don't know anything about Monica though, so I feel like part of their banter loses its impact. The most interesting portion is how it relates to the levees in New Orleans weakening and how the heroes are going to help fix them. Too bad that didn't take up more of the story.

Once that wraps up, Carol returns to New York and is diagnosed with a sickness related to her alien DNA and she is forbidden to fly. This begins to tie things back to volume one. Again, there are characters presented that I'm not familiar with and that aren't introduced very well, so the importance of some of Carol's relationships is lost.

The art splits between a realistic style and a cartoony style. I would have preferred a common style throughout the book. Either one would have been fine. The mix isn't terrible, but it is very noticeable when it does change. There are some cool scenes with the giant robot though.

Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1 Review

Amazing Spider-Man, Volume One: The Parker Luck. Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos. 2014. Marvel. 152 pages.

Rating: 2/5

I really like Spider-Man, but this book fell flat for me. I haven't read the preceding Superior Spider-Man series. There are a bunch of references to things that happened in that run, but I don't think it matters much that I haven't read it. This volume is predicated on that fact that Peter Parker has bad luck, so anytime something happens it seems tied to that. It's certainly a theme that's been used in other Spider-Man books, but it feels overdone here.

This book is missing some of the humor that I expect from Spider-Man titles. It tries. Boy, does it try. The attempts don't work out though. And that is tied into the art, which seems inconsistent. Sometimes the character faces and bodies looked normal, and sometimes they seemed distorted or out of proportion.

It's not all bad though. I liked the use of Electro. What happens with his powers, his reaction to it, and Peter's involvement worked well. It might be the most humanizing approach to a villain that I've seen from Marvel in a while. Too bad the rest of this book doesn't compare well to it.

Descender, Vol. 2 Review

Descender, Volume Two: Machine Moon. Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. 2016. Image Comics. 116 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This book started off a little shaky for me. It had been quite a while since I read volume one, so I had to refamiliarize myself with the characters and what was going on in this setting.

Even though this series seems to be centered around Tim-21, a sentient robot designed to look like a young boy, the parts that stood out in this volume had no direct interactions with him. Andy, who was Tim's owner, learns that the robot is still alive and sets out to find him. He picks up a sidekick along the way. This part of the story is very enjoyable because it starts to fill in some gaps between what happened at the beginning of the series and the present.

The other part of the story featuring the Evil League of Robots (not what they are actually called) could have used some work. It lays some groundwork for what I expect to come in future volumes, particularly when related to Tim-21. There just wasn't a lot to excite me about those portions of the book.

The art is weird and took me some time to get used to. Instead of being very polished and somewhat futuristic looking, as you would expect, it's sparse and almost appears unfinished at times. Once I adapted to it, I decided it works great for this book. There is a nostalgic element for the characters that the art seems to highlight.

Star Wars: Kanan, Vol. 1 Review

Star Wars: Kanan, Volume One: The Last Padawan. Greg Weisman, Pepe Larraz, and David Curiel. 2015. Marvel. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Kanan manages to capture the feel of the Star Wars movies without relying on the central characters. The character is connected to the Star Wars Rebels series, which I've never seen so I have no idea how this compares. I do know that I enjoyed this book a lot.

His story picks up near the end of the Clone Wars, when the slaughter of the Jedi is ordered. From there, he is on the run trying to survive in a universe that he is ill prepared for. There is some tension as the clone troopers from his old squad are hunting him down. Kanan has to forget much of his training to make it, even going so far as to throw in with a smuggler. I like that this gets wrapped back into the present day of the other Star Wars comics that Marvel has been putting out.

The art is great. There are so many strange elements in Star Wars, so having this visual medium to convey the story works wonderfully. It makes it so easy to get a sense of the different characters in a very short period of time. This book is exactly what I want from a Star Wars comic because it makes excellent use of the setting and tells a fun story at the same time.

Chew, Vol. 7 Review

Chew, Volume Seven: Bad Apples. John Layman and Rob Guillory. 2013. Image. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I took a long break between volumes 6 and 7. The series is still good at this point, but this one isn't quite as funny as the previous books. It does have its moments, but it has a much more serious quality to it. It deals with the aftermath from volume six a lot.

Highlights include the strange egg worshipping cult, Tony standing up for himself, and the couple of moments the creators took to poke fun at the series. Even though I didn't enjoy this volume quite as much as some of the previous ones, I'll definitely pick up more. The setting is great and the characters are solid. I've been a huge fan of the at since book one, so it doesn't disappoint one bit in that regard.

Fierce Kingdom Review

Fierce Kingdom. Gin Phillips. 2017. Viking. 288 pages.

Rating: 2/5

I was expecting this book to be a lot more exciting than it turned out to be. Of course, it starts out normally enough as Joan and her son Lincoln are visiting the zoo. Things turn when they are getting ready to leave.

A couple of things bothered me about this book. One is the writing style. Something about the way Phillips writes this story makes it feel forced. This wasn't something that was contained to a certain portion of the book, but kept popping up throughout. Joan seemed to be trying too hard to show how much she cares about her son by focusing on how he used to be. Second, there are a bunch of unbelievable moments. Not in the "I can't believe that just happened!" sort of way, but instead in a "Why would she even do that?" way.

Then there are the shooters. We only really get to see one of them, but they are portrayed as caricatures. They seemed thin and only present to try to force Joan to do something. Which doesn't really work for the most part. It seemed like everything she does is reactionary. She only makes decisions when something else forces her into it. This drained a lot of the tension out of the story for me because she wasn't being dynamic. The flow of time based on the events that occurred compared to the times listed at the beginning of the chapters seemed off.

It's not all bad though. There are powerful moments, especially when Joan is confronted with the baby. And the end, while not entirely surprising, is built up to and presented well.

Star Wars, Vol. 2 Review

Star Wars, Volume Two: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon. Jason Aaron, Stuart Immonen, and Simone Bianchi. 2016. Marvel. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Another Star Wars book set between the original movie and Empire. This volume splits up the characters, with Luke seeking out information on the Jedi and Hand and Leia running into someone claiming to be Han's wife. These stories do eventually get tied back together.

I much prefer Luke's story in this volume because it shows off a bit more of the Star Wars universe. It also expands on Obi-Wan Kenobi and what happened with him after he returned to Tatooine with Luke. The Han and Leia story is more insular. Sure, they are fighting against the Empire and there is a huge claim that needs to be investigated, but it doesn't add much to the whole.

I really liked the art. Everything that happens on the Smuggler's Moon gives the creators a chance to show off some cool stuff unique to Star Wars. More than anything else in this book, it made me want more stories about the Jedi, even if it doesn't feature the heroes from the movies.

Sex Criminals, Vol. 1 Review

Sex Criminals, Volume One: One Weird Trick. Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky. 2014. Image. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

What would you do if your orgasms stopped time? Rob a bank, naturally.

There is a bit more to Fraction and Zdarsky's offbeat series than that. It begins as a coming of age story, which leads into a story about a young woman trying to keep her local library from being shut down. That is, until she meets a man that has the same power that she does.

As silly as this book should be, it's written well and takes time to develop the characters. This makes it a lot more palatable when something ridiculous does happen. The creators manage to keep this from being merely amusing, instead creating something that is highly entertaining and readable. More importantly, they create something that makes you want to keep reading no matter how out there it gets.

My favorite part of this book, aside from the musical number in the bar, is the art. It's done spectacularly well. Especially when the characters enter the Quiet, which is what one of the characters calls the period when time is stopped. So sit back, relax, and probably don't read this in public unless you want to get some funny looks.

El Deafo Review

El Deafo. Cece Bell. 2014. Harry N. Abrams. 248 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This is a really good book. It's meant for younger kids, so some elements, like the toilet humor, might not appeal to older readers. The focus on what it means to be deaf, especially for a young girl that was able to hear until she got sick, is fantastic though. It's scary to think that this kind of thing could happen to anyone.

There are a mix of uplifting and discouraging moments. I enjoyed seeing how the other characters try to help, whether they are successful or not. And it was awesome to learn about the Phonic Ear. This is something that I never knew existed and reading about how much it was able to help is wonderful. The interactions with the other kids and the illustrations would appeal to the intended readers in particular. But the overall experience of reading this book is enlightening.

Moon Knight, Vol. 3 Review

Moon Knight, Volume Three: Birth and Death. Jeff Lemire, Greg Smallwood, and Jordie Bellaire. 2017. Marvel. 112 pages.

Rating: 5/5

The final volume in this series wraps things up beautifully. Where the second part was disjointed, part three uses the structure of the first two sections to give a satisfying conclusion. All the different aspects of Marc Spector's personalities are given a chance to shine. Plus, it brings the story back full circle.

The art is gorgeous yet again. I love the layout work that the creators use because it is different from a lot of other comics. Bellaire's color work is top notch as always. This series is a fantastic look into the psyche of Moon Knight that should appeal to fans and newcomers.

Heartthrob Vol. 1 Review

Heartthrob, Volume One: Never Going Back Again. Christopher Sebela, Robert Wilson IV, and Nick Filardi. 2016. Oni Press. 136 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I love the ridiculousness of this story. A young woman gets a heart transplant and then starts to see the man that the heart used to belong to. After years of playing things safe, she decides to let loose and go on a crime spree using the knowledge imparted to her by the organ donor.

So the concept is a bit out there, but the characters are really well done. Callie and Mercer are a good team, and made me think of Bonnie and Clyde a little bit. It's fun to see the toll their relationship takes on Callie over the course of the book, both physically and mentally. The supporting members of their crime family add some sanity to this crazy idea and even hint at the state of Callie's mind a few times.

I like the art. There isn't anything stand out about it, but it is solid work. There are a few instances where it really drives home some of the concepts used in the book. This is a fun, quirky book with a vibe similar to Ocean's Eleven or The Italian Job.

Fatale, Volume 1 Review

Fatale, Volume One: Death Chases Me. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. 2012. Image. 144 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Ed Brubaker is a great writer. His stories are always really engaging, with interesting characters and decent dialogue. He likes to play the long game with his books, which means the stories tend to be revealed slowly with not a whole lot going on. Plenty happens in this first volume of Fatale, but it is just beginning to scratch the surface.

Jo is the most interesting part of this book. She is the titular fatale and she gets wrapped up in all the different storylines. My problem is that she is kept to the sidelines. I wanted more of her story, but I got to read more about all of the different men that she has been involved with.

The cult aspect is pretty good. It doesn't push things too far, and for the majority of the book it doesn't delve into the fantastic. But I want more of that too. It makes the setting much more interesting to have that supernatural element creep in. As things are, the book didn't interest me enough to seek out volume two, but it is quality work from Brubaker and Phillips.

Bedlam, Volume 1 Review

Bedlam, Volume One. Nick Spencer, Riley Rossmo, and Frazier Irving. 2013. Image Comics. 184 pages.

Rating: 2/5

For a book that is about a former serial killer, it lacks a lot of punch. Don't get me wrong, there is violence up the wazoo. That's about all it had to offer though. The idea of the "reformed" serial killer that wants to help the police find a new murderer is actually kind of interesting. And that part of the story isn't bad. However, I feel like this book doesn't add anything to the concept.

Rossmo's art can be spectacular at times. Within this volume, it seemed kind of lacking compared to his other work. Color is used for dramatic effect. It's cool that it is mostly black and white, with red thrown in for emphasis. This reinforced the dark atmosphere because the red is usually blood and sometimes covers the page.

I'll admit that I'm not usually a fan of really dark stories. They usually sound interesting to me, and then fall short of what I would have liked to have seen out of them. I mention this simply because people that like that sort of thing will probably enjoy this book immensely. Despite some elements that sounded good, it just didn't work for me.

If Chin Could Kill Review

If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. Bruce Campbell. 2015. Thomas Dunne Books. 368 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Why should you care about his book? Whether you are a fan of Bruce Campbell or don't know who the heck he is, his book shows off a different side of Hollywood. Sure, most of his anecdotes take place outside of the glitzy town, but the sentiment remains. As one of the "working stiffs", he puts the effort that goes into the making of movies and TV shows front and center, without downplaying the importance of the people behind the scenes.

I've seen a bunch of stuff with Bruce Campbell in it. This book showed me just how prolific of an actor he is, and it only goes through the late 90s! While he focuses on how he got into acting and the first Evil Dead movie, there are stories about so many different projects. I like that it gives a range because it gives a good idea about how similar and different putting together a movie or a TV show (or small scale vs large scale movies) are.

It helps to have seen Evil Dead to enjoy a large section of this book. If you haven't seen the film (or the sequels at least), there are references to the finished product that just don't make sense. Plus, it would be harder to appreciate all of the work that ended up going into the film without having an idea of how the whole thing turned out. Aside from that, it is a great view of how the regular people involved with these type of projects contribute. Campbell's knowledge of the various roles is readily seen and adds a lot to this insight.

Moon Knight, Volume 1 Review

Moon Knight, Volume One: The Bottom. Charlie Huston and David Finch. 2007. Marvel. 152 pages.

Rating: 5/5

It's hard for me to explain why I enjoy this character so much. His stories are dark and brutal, which usually can turn me off to a comic. Then there are the not so favorable comparisons to Batman (and seriously, who is going to rate favorably against Batman in people's eyes). Sure there are similarities, but Moon Knight has a certain quality about him that tends to be lacking in the DC hero.

Huston captures it perfectly in the first few pages, where Marc Spector, the man behind Moon Knight, talks about why he put on the costume to fight crime. It isn't altruism or revenge, despite being the avatar of the Egyptian god of vengeance. No, for him it is about the sheer joy of being able to do it.

There have always been some psychological underpinnings to Moon Knight stories. How much of what is happening is real or in his head? More recent series have tackled that question in greater detail. This book uses a lighter touch to keep the reader guessing without dismissing everything out of hand. Add in a group that wants to manipulate Marc or see him destroyed and the story becomes engaging on another level. Many recurring characters make an appearance, though not all of them are introduced very well.

I thought the art was perfect for this book. From the beginning, Moon Knight has been a violent character. The art capitalizes on that while managing to keep the worst of it off screen. That might make things worse because the reader is left to fill in the blanks. We do get to see the consequences of Marc's actions, both for himself and for those close to him. This book shows Marc at his worst, but gives hope in spite of the dark, gruesome world he occupies.

Captain Marvel, Volume 1 Review

Captain Marvel, Volume One: In Pursuit of Flight. Kelly Sue DeConnick, Dexter Soy, and Emma Rios. 2013. Marvel. 136 pages.

Rating: 2/5

After reading part of the other Captain Marvel series by Kelly Sue DeConnick, I expected to like this book a lot. The character, Carol Danvers, is actually pretty cool. This volume put her in a pretty mediocre place though.

A chunk of the story retells how Carol got her powers, so it can be a good place for new readers to jump on. I learned some new stuff about her from that aspect of the book. There is a large portion that involves time travel that didn't work for me. That's sort of surprising because I've read a bunch of comics that use time travel and enjoyed them.

This one felt unnecessary though. She is mysteriously sent back to the 1940s, encounters a group of female pilots, some Kree, and an old hero of hers. These elements all seem way too obvious as far as directions to take with the character.

The art is pretty good though. Marvel does a nice job selecting high quality artists. It's probably the strongest part of this book, but it's really not enough to carry things.

Rapture Review

Rapture. Matt Kindt and Cafu. 2017. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 5/5

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

I've been reading through as many comics from Valiant Entertainment as I can. They have consistently put out good books, so it isn't any surprise that I enjoyed this new miniseries. Like a lot of Valiant's books, it builds on what came before while trying to be friendly to new readers. This is a hard feat to achieve, but I think they did a decent job here.

Here's what I loved about this book. First, Tama. This is the current incarnation of the Geomancer. She came from the future in a box. Her attitude is wonderful. The creative team could have made this book really dark, but Tama keeps it light. Plus, she gets to set up the story and provides some hope. And she owns a book that tells the future and has ever changing contents.

Then there is what this book does for Shadowman (or Magpie, not really sure what he is going by these days). I haven't read all of his individual series, so there are a couple things about him that I only know vaguely from reading other books, but Rapture picks him up, dusts him off, and sets him on the path of being awesome. There is a lot of potential for the character at the end of this book, which makes me want Valiant to give him his own series again.

This story mostly takes place in the Deadside, which is kind of like purgatory. I've enjoyed all the books use this location. The sheer craziness of it makes it a lot of fun to explore. And I love the art. It takes advantage of the setting and mixes in the elements I would expect from other books featuring these characters. Could some new to Valiant enjoy this? Sure. But I think having some knowledge of the setting and characters would make this book more enjoyable.

Water Memory Review

Water Memory. Mathieu Keynes and Valerie Vernay. 2017. Lion Forge. 108 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

It seems like a lot of stories targeted at younger readers start off with a move, and this one follows suit. This isn't a bad plot device because it can speak to the isolation that people feel at times. Water Memory is a little different in that the characters are moving back to somewhere familiar rather than away from something else (albeit the daughter never visited this town before).

I like the emphasis on family that permeates this book. It gives the main character, Marion, a connection to this place and drives her to explore. There is a little mystery that comes along with her exploration. It helps move the story along, but didn't seem overly important to the whole work. Instead, there is a focus on the characters, especially showing how they integrate into this new lifestyle and interact with the people there. The stories that are shared and the attitudes of the characters give it the feel of a small town.

The imagery is wonderful, particular the landscapes and background pieces. I could feel it when the storm hits because of how beautifully the art is done. There is a little bit of the fantastical or supernatural that creeps into the story too. The art helps hold the line on this until well into the book, giving hints of what is to come without showing off too early.