Virgil Review

Virgil. Steve Orlando, JD Faith, Chris Beckett, and Thomas Mauer. 2015. Image. 104 pages.

Rating: 2/5

Meh. That about sums up my feelings on this book. Virgil is the story of a gay police officer in Jamaica that gets outed, is beaten and left for dead, and goes on a killing spree.

This book does a great job of shining a light on how gays can be treated in society, whether intentionally or not. It's disturbing to see how quickly these characters turn on each other mostly because I could see it happening, although probably without the same level of violence shown in the book. For all that, I felt like the book was lacking in depth.

The illustrations are done well, but the color choices were odd. The vibrancy works for the locale and the subject matter. However, some images used colors that were so different from what the reader might expect that they seemed out of place. This book goes all out in so many ways. It might have been better served by toning something back.

Afterlife with Archie, Volume 1 Review

Afterlife with Archie, Volume 1: Escape from Riverdale. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francovilla. 2014. Archie Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I wasn't too familiar with the Archie characters going into this book, but I don't think that diminished my enjoyment one bit. The classic characters are thrown into a zombie apocalypse started by Jughead and Sabrina. It gives a darker portrayal of Sabrina, which leads perfectly into the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The story gets incredible dark at times as the kids try to deal with their friends and family that have turned.

I like the variety of relationships that are shown. It includes the love triangle between Archie, Betty, and Veronica, Jughead's friendship with his dog, and a crushes between loads of characters. The creators do a great job of fleshing out the Archie setting just by using the characters. They also utilize the horror elements nicely. Anyone familiar with other zombie stories will recognize the story even without knowing all the characters.

The more of Francesco Francovilla's art that I see, the more I like it. There are some really cool scenes that his art brings to life. And the colors complement the story and setting. Afterlife with Archie uses a fun gimmick that works. Check it out.

Dhammapada: Annotated & Explained Review

Dhammapada: Annotated & Explained. Jack Maguire and Max Muller. 2002. Skylight Paths. 160 pages.

Rating: 5/5

For anyone interested in Buddhism, this is a great read. The Dhammapada is a collection of the Buddha's teachings, so this book gives an overview of the main concepts.

This book uses the translation from Max Muller for its base. The translation itself is very understandable. I haven't compared this to other translations, but it felt easy to read. Jack Maguire's notes and explanations add some depth for Western readers. These are helpful throughout. However, there are some passages that benefit from his explanations more than others. These aren't long asides, which I found useful because they weren't too distracting from the main text.

The introduction and some of the notes give some cultural context for this work as well. This is important to keep in mind because there have been changes since it was first collected that make certain passages seem antiquated. It's a great introduction to Buddhism and is something that I could see rereading multiple times.

The Good Earth Review

The Good Earth. Pearl S. Buck and Nick Bertozzi. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

This is a review of the graphic adaptation of The Good Earth rather than the original novel. The story is about a poor family in rural China that receives a change in fortune. It progresses through the life of Wang Lung with some great insight into the hardships these families face and ending off with the rise of communism.

I love how unapologetic this book is. It shows some of the difficult decisions that people face and doesn't shy away from the negative aspects. There are positive moments as well, so it isn't all depressing. I found myself disliking Wang Lung for some of the things he does, but the writing kept me interested in what would happen next. The events that shape the story are significant,  but don't always get a proper introduction.

As a graphic adaptation, the art is the very important. It adds an element to the story that makes it more visceral. The art is simplistic and doesn't really follow current trends in comics, which is perfectly fine. It uses a lot of exposition and supplements it with poignant images. They are not over the top and match the tone of the story well. Often it is an image of the characters with some background details thrown in. Reading this adaptation is a nice way to discover the story.

Quantum and Woody, Volume 1 Review

Quantum and Woody, Volume 1: The World's Worst Superhero Team. James Asmus and Tom Fowler. 2013. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Quantum and Woody is pure, irreverent fun. These guys are something else, although they resemble a couple of guys from a buddy cop movie. The comic format is perfect for capturing their antics, which begin almost immediately after they meet. These guys are adopted brothers that are constantly vying for their father's attention until he dies under mysterious circumstances.

I like their relationship a lot. They were inseparable until Woody pulled a stunt that forced him to leave. Combined with their daddy issues it creates a good amount of tension between the two men. And Woody's crass nature and general disregard for the rules doesn't help things any. The way they gain their powers, and ultimately how they decide to use them, ties things together really well. Then there is the goat.

Tom Fowler's art is great. It creates a cinematic feel that meshes well with the story and character personalities. Bring on more Quantum and Woody!

Mer Review

Mer. Joelle Sellner. 2017. Lion Forge. 128 pages.

Rating: 3/5

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

So this book is aimed at a young adult audience. I mention this because I'm not part of the target audience, which may skew my reading of the book. Anyway, the book is about a young woman who has lost her mom and her family has moved to a new community. Plus mermaids.

The themes of loss and feeling like you don't fit in can be powerful for the intended audience, but they felt a little forced to me. This might partly be because the characters aren't developed as much as I like. Things are paced very well, although it does seem rushed during some of the transitions. Probably the best thing about this book is the mermaid culture that is developed. These creatures are shown to be separate from human society but still reliant on it in a way. I wanted this to be built up more.

The art is fine. It tends to be cartoonish, which works for this book but isn't my favorite. It gets a bit sloppy at times too. That probably is related to the style of the art though. Teenage readers should enjoy this book.

The Comic Book Story of Video Games Review

The Comic Book Story of Video Games: The Incredible History of the Electronic Gaming Revolution. Jonathan Hennessy and Jack McGowan. 2017. Ten Speed Press. 192 pages.

Rating: 3/5

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

There is way more information here than I was initially expecting. It begins with pinball machines, early computers, and their creators and continues to the present day with next gen game consoles and mobile apps.

This book is pretty comprehensive for the format. It covers a good deal of time and connects things together through associations between various creators. I did lose track of who was connected with which system over time. The amount of information covered cause the book to move at a slower pace than I wanted. While I wanted information on more recent game companies, I appreciate the groundwork the writers laid with the periods they chose to focus on.

The biggest strength of the book has got to be the art. When talking about video games, it makes sense to include visual references. The creators go all out with visual references to numerous video game characters and franchises. They play around with page layout at times, which I feel works very well. Fans of video games will get a lot out of the book from the art alone. Choosing the comic format fits perfectly with this topic.

DMZ Volume 3 Review

DMZ, Volume 3: Public Works. Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli. 2007. Vertigo. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

It's been a while since I've read the first two volumes, but this one has a bit of a different feel. Matty, a journalist in Manhattan, dives into a story and bites off a bit more than he can chew. He is investigating a company called Trustwell. However, the story ends up being more about the people he encounters during his investigation than about the company itself.

The shift in focus allows the story to delves into some interesting ideas, such as what would drive people to operate as terrorists in an environment like this (this is happening amidst the second American civil war). Matty's decisions aren't always good ones and that makes him feel more complex. Even when he tries to do good, the effects aren't always what is intended.

The art is just as gritty and good as the first two volumes. This is taking place in a brutal situation and the art matches that perfectly.

Klaw Volume 2 Review

Klaw: The Second Cycle. Antoine Ozenam and Joel Jurion. 2017. Lion Forge. 144 pages.

Rating: 2/5

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

Book two picks up shortly after where the first one left off. It delves more into the mythology of the Dhizi and Angel's struggle with his powers. There are some solid ideas in this book, but they never came together in a way that satisfied me. I like the mystical animal powers and the anime-esque art. The coloring is well done too.

The story is haphazard. There are times where it is following a plotline and a new one gets shoehorned in when the first one is done. It didn't have a logical progression aside from jumping ahead in time. And I didn't care much for the protagonist. Some of the issues he had to deal with, like problems with his girlfriend, should have made him relatable. However, there wasn't enough depth to the characters. It's as if they were secondary to the mythology behind the story.

Killers of the Flower Moon Review

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. David Grann. 2017. Doubleday. 352 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Yikes! This book is both fascinating and terrifying. It reveals some of the brutality directed toward Native Americans well into the 20th century. That is coupled with the early days of the Bureau of Investigation, which would later become the FBI.

I loved the history aspect of this. Grann sets the scene perfectly to lay out how the Osage got to the point where the book opens. There is more than just murder involved in the destruction of these people. After giving this insight into the Osage, the murders, and what was and was not being done in reaction to those murders, he shifts into the FBI. This mirrors and contrasts the information on the Osage. We get to see the beginnings of this organization and some of the pitfalls it had to deal with early on.

The book is well researched. I enjoyed the writing a lot. Even though he goes in depth on a lot of people and the events, it never felt like it got bogged down. It reads very easily for such a heavy topic.

Ivar, Timewalker, Volume 3 Review

Ivar, Timewalker, Volume 3: Ending History. Fred Van Lente and Pere Perez. 2016. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Volume three is a great conclusion to this series. The relationship between Ivar and Neela is excellent. There are some expected moments, but those don't really hinder the story at all. Instead, the volume embraces the wackiness I expect from the series. It has all sorts of time travel fun.

I love what Pere Perez does with the art. He adds a lot to the playfulness of the series. Oh and there are dinosaurs so enough said.

Darth Vader, Volume 1 Review

Darth Vader, Volume 1. Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larocca. 2015. Marvel. 160 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Darth Vader is a great villain. This book ramps up his ruthlessness and intelligence. I was a little surprised by the level of violence though. Vader typically seemed like a villain that used others to get things done, which does happen here too. He also takes direct action at times. Capturing the different sides of Vader is one of the things that this book does really well. It even hints back to events from the prequels to flesh things out. And the art is top notch. Marvel does a great job of bringing in good artists for their books. This one won't disappoint in that regard.

The story itself seemed kind of weak to me though. The tension between Vader and Palpatine is good. It shows how harsh walking the dark path is. I feel like the story got pushed along at times in strange ways. It's almost as if the creators weren't sure how to connect story points and just glossed over things to keep going. That probably seems a bit harsh, especially because the book is good as a whole. Those moments just happened too often for my taste. This volume does a great job of fleshing out the Star Wars universe and getting into the head of Darth Vader. Fans of the franchise won't want to pass it up.

Black Widow, Volume 1 Review

Black Widow, Volume 1: The Finely Woven Thread. Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto. 2014. Marvel. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

For my first Black Widow story, I rather liked this one. It pulls her out of the super hero world and shifts it over to more of a spy one. She still works to do good, but it is less out in the open and she gets to be more selective about her work. There is a lot more action in this book than I was expecting though. For someone who works from the shadows, she gets into the thick of things quite a bit.

I feel like this book makes the character more approachable. She still has an edge of mystery around her. The creators just work subtly to show her as a more rounded person. Black Widow is actively trying to atone for actions from her past. There are a few appearances from other Marvel characters. I think this worked better that there wasn't a bigger presence by some of these other characters because it would have taken away from Natasha's story.

The art is good. There weren't any confusing images, which is always a plus. It can get a little over the top in the latter half of the book because of the characters involved. I enjoyed my first Black Widow book and will probably continue reading this series.

Eternal Warrior, Volume 1 Review

Eternal Warrior, Volume 1: Sword of the Wild. Greg Pak, Trevor Hairsine, and Clayton Crain. 2014. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 3/5

The Eternal Warrior is the protector of the Earth. He has fought for thousands of years with no end in sight. Then one day he is asked to do the unthinkable and walks away from it all.

I will say I like the premise behind this book much better than the execution. This character chooses to sit on the sidelines after being in the thick of things for so long and I kind of wanted him to just do something. The book doesn't lack for action, but it seems more like he is being swept up in the events around him rather than taking control. A large portion of the story involves the children of the Eternal Warrior. This felt out of place because it shifted the focus off of the title character. Plus, I don't recall them making any appearances in later Valiant books, making them feel like throw away characters. To a new reader this might not be a problem.

The book does pick up steam later on and made me interested in seeing where things go. The art is sort of mixed. When it works it works well. At other points it can be confusing. This volume does a great job of giving a different perspective on the Eternal Warrior. Despite some missteps it is still a fun read.

Rai Volume 1 Review

 

Rai, Volume 1: Welcome to New Japan. Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain. 2014. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This book does a lot of setup for the 4001 timeline of the Valiant universe. I felt that this made the pacing on the first half of the story pretty slow. There was just too much to pick up on for the mystery portion to work. That being said, the second half of the book is great. It flips things around and drew me in enough to want to read the next volume.

The title character is a futuristic cop that is part human and part machine. His mission is to protect the people of New Japan, a giant space station orbiting Earth. When an unprecedented murder occurs, he is set on discovering who is behind it. There is a dystopian bent to this world. Rai's place in the story is a strange one because of the way the story unfolds.

The art is fantastic. It is much different from the other Valiant titles. The style is more like an anime, which is very fitting for the setting. Rai is checking out for the images alone.

Exit West Review

Exit West. Mohsin Hamid. 2017. Riverhead Books. 240 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I'm not sure where to begin with this one. The writing is great. It captures the insanity of a war torn country, how it rips families apart, and the lengths people will go to for survival. I felt like I knew and understood the characters in a short period of time. And yet I still feel like I will never be able to fully understand what it means to live through something like this.

There is a lot of detail in the early portion of the book that helps ratchet up the tension later. It goes into the mundane aspects of these characters' lives without getting boring. Instead it sets the scene for things to come.

One element that might throw readers off is related to the doors. At first I wasn't sure what to make of them. These doors are a means for escape and go a long way to mirror the situation of refugees in the real world. It becomes haunting in a way. Just don't allow yourself to get hung up on the fantastic nature of the doors. They allow the story to move in a way that it simply couldn't without them, which keeps things progressing.

The doors don't prevent the book from changing pace though. It does slow down in the latter part of the story. I am both pleased and disappointed with the way the story ends. It's worth taking the journey with these characters.

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend Review

Andrew the Giant: Life and Legend. Box Brown. 2014. First Second. 240 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I'll admit that I picked this up because I love The Princess Bride. Sure, I watched Andre wrestle when I was younger too. And the book came with some pretty high recommendations. Those were just bonus reasons for me to read this book though.

This is an excellent biography. Given the format, some information is going to have to be cut. Box Brown does a wonderful job of creating a narrative from Andre's life. It shows the hardships he had to deal with beginning at a very young age. This is reinforced throughout the book. I don't think it was overused. There was just enough to make sure the reader doesn't forget about it. The book gives a fair portrayal of Andre. Brown isn't trying to show him as anything other than a real person with good and bad moments mixed in.

I have some mixed feelings on the art. The style fits in with the other books I've read from First Second. It tends to be more cartoonish, which I don't always like. Brown uses the art to portray Andre as this larger than life person. This may not have been possible with a different drawing style. All in all, this is a great book. I learned a lot from it.

James Bond: Hammerhead Review

James Bond: Hammerhead. Andy Diggle and Luca Casalanguida. 2017. Dynamite. 120 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

You pretty much know what you are going to get when James Bond is involved. This book hits on all the classic elements of the series with at least one minor twist.

This book is surprisingly friendly to new readers. Not being too familiar with the franchise (I've only seen a couple Bond films myself), I was able to keep track of the different characters and what was happening in the plot. Speaking of plot, this one involves a weapons manufacturer that is being targeted by a terrorist organization, so there is violence. I think the creators do a nice job of keeping most of it off screen.

And the art is good. I particularly like the character details, but the landscapes are nice also. I can't say anything wowed me about the art. It is quality work though. Hammerhead provides an action packed story that is an excellent portrayal of James Bond.

Joyride, Vol. 1 Review

Joyride, Volume 1. Jackson Lanzig, Colling Kelly, Marcus To, and Irma Kniivila. 2016. BOOM! Studios. 112 pages.

Rating: 5/5

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

Well that was a blast. Joyride is a seriously fun, action packed space adventure. Earth made contact with alien races and is now ruled by a dictatorship that restricts anyone from leaving the planet. With this premise, the book could have gone really dark and turned into a dystopian story. Instead, everything about it is bright and energetic. There are conflicts to keep things interesting though.

I love the characters. From the rebellious Uma to the hitchhiker Kolstak. Every one of them adds personality to the book. There is enough variety to keep me engaged and prevent things from becoming flat. The development of the characters individually and as a whole over the course of the story is great too. Despite some differences, it sort of makes sense that they would keep travelling together.

But the stand out portion of this book is the art. I really like the style for the characters. Most of them are little more than kids and the art captures that. Their expressions are detailed and support the text. The colors do a lot to create the tone of the book. I think the panel work is awesome too. They do a lot to draw the eye down the page, so even if they are used in an unusual way I didn't feel confused as to where I should be looking or reading next. Then there are the scenes that juxtapose two characters. These go a long way to show how the characters are similar and different without spelling things out. I liked this one so much I went out and bought a physical copy. Can't wait to read volume 2!

The Stranger in the Woods Review

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit. Michael Finkel. 2017. Knopf. 224 pages.

Rating: 4/5

An interesting tale of a man that hid in the woods for 27 years. Finkel does a great job of walking the line on this story. He doesn't praise or condone Chris Knight's actions. Instead, he tries to give a fair representation of events with historical information peppered in. I feel like the additional information about historical hermits added to the story because it reveals some similarities and differences between Knight and others that have separated themselves from society in the past.

I think the pacing on the book is good. It grabbed my attention, so I kept wanting to come back to it even when I only had short periods of time to read. The only real problem I had with it is the abrupt ending. Considering Knight's right to privacy it makes sense that Finkel isn't able to reveal a lot about what happened to him after he is released from prison. It just left me wanting more, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Lady Mechanika Volume 2 Review

Lady Mechanika, Volume 2: The Tablet of Destinies. Joe Benitez, M. M. Chen, Martin Montiel, and Mike Garcia. 2017. Benitez Productions. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

I'm glad I took a chance on this book. I wasn't impressed with first volume because it felt like it dragged on and on. The story is set in an alternate Victorian England with science fiction elements mixed in. Volume two picks up on a thread from the end of the first volume, but goes off in another direction.

The story reminds me of The Mummy. Much of it is set in Egypt and it involves a search for an ancient artifact. Lady Mechanika's relationships with the various characters worked well. There are some tropes used throughout the volume, but the creators execute them wonderfully. It is a fun adventure story that roams across the heart of Africa. And the art is great again. It shows off a range of skill from the creators. This book made me interested in continuing the series.

Ivar, Timewalker Volume 2 Review

Ivar, Timewalker Volume Two: Breaking History. Fred Van Lente and Francis Portela. 2015. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Volume two didn't have quite the same impact as volume one, but it is still enjoyable. The first issue in this volume continues the time traveling shenanigans that I enjoyed from volume one and sets the scene for the rest of the issues. The Anni-Padda brothers are back together for this story. There is something about the sibling rivalry between them that is fun to read. Plus, Amelia Earhart makes an appearance.

The story didn't seem to flow quite as well as the previous volume. It seems to slow down a little to bring Ivar and Neela back together. The characters are fine on their own, but I feel like they work a lot better together. I didn't like Neela's story as much, but I think it is laying the groundwork for the third volume in the series.

I enjoyed the art. It's not anything super special, but it is solid work. Flipping through the book again I did notice a few things that I don't think I caught the first time through, so there are some nice details to find. I'll definitely pick up the third volume to see how this series wraps up.

Pachinko Review

Pachinko. Min Jin Lee. 2017. Grand Central Publishing. 496 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Pachinko is an epic tale about one Korean family living in Japan. I loved seeing the family grow and face challenges throughout the book. There are a lot of hardships, but that isn't the central focus  of their story. Selflessness, love and hope are intertwined with the difficulties.

I am  torn on the writing though. It is beautifully written to the point that it drew me into the lives of these characters. On the other hand, it seemed  to plod along, drawing things out. It would also take unexpected turns in the middle of a sequence. Surprises in a story are a good thing, but this involved shifting gears between events or points of view with little transition. These sorts of interruptions didn't happen a ton, which made them bearable.

The author does a fantastic job of portraying the harsh realities for Koreans living in Japan. Not knowing a lot of details on how they were treated, it was fascinating to read about the policies in place to keep Koreans separate. It influences the choices that many of the characters make, especially in the latter half of the book. I wholeheartedly recommend reading Pachinko in spite of my issues with the writing style.