Paper Girls, Volume 2 Review

Paper Girls, Volume Two. Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang. 2016. Image Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Wherein the girls travel to the future...or the present, depending on how you look at it. Either way, the 80s are gone and KJ is missing. Yes there is time travel in this book. It can be a bit convoluted, but it never really comes off as cliché. There are definitely aspects of the story that left me wanting to know more, mostly because the creators haven't revealed certain things yet.

I felt like this volume did more for establishing some rules of the setting than it did for expanding the relationship with the girls. There are some major things that happen involving them, but they still take a back seat to learning about what is going on around them and how that is going to play out down the line. This should really be read immediately after volume one. I waited a few months and I recognized a few times where it referenced the first book and I just didn't remember what exactly happened. I don't think I lost too much, but it might help to make sense of what happens in this volume.

Despite a couple of weird moments, the art is really good. There are some interesting color choices. I think they work because they aren't what the reader would be expecting all the time. Volume two is a fun continuation to the series.

Black Hammer, Volume 1 Review

Black Hammer, Volume One: Secret Origins. Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, and Dave Stewart. 2017. Dark Horse Books. 152 pages.

Rating: 4/5

What happens when superheroes are forced into retirement? In this case, they move to a small town and live out their lives on a farm. Of course, things aren't quite that simple for these former heroes.

Lemire's writing is solid. I've read quite a few of his books, and they are consistently fantastic. Here, he explores the some classic superhero concepts with a twist. Their origins and powers are revealed over the course of the volume, and I found my interest in them shifting as each one got an opportunity in the spotlight. Things get pretty strange at times, some of which makes sense at the end of this arc. It certainly piqued my interest in the next part of the tale.

At first, I had mixed feelings on the art. It seemed somewhat simple and tended to be dark. That actually helps set the tone of the book. And when things start to get crazy, it's a nice change from the art at the beginning without sacrificing the style at all.

Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 6 Review

Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume Six: Venom. Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. 2006. Marvel. 168 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I'm not sure why, but I've always enjoyed Venom stories. The Spider-Man cartoon series from the 90s certainly helps. But this book continues in the Ultimate series trend by taking a familiar element and putting a twist on it.

One thing I've enjoyed about this series is that there is a clear story developing throughout the volumes, while each one can more or less stand on its own. This book introduces us to Peter's father and Venom. It provides a twist on the symbiote's origin that I thought worked really well with the world that has been constructed in the series. This also gives Peter an opportunity to rebound from the problem he had with MJ in volume five.

I know Eddie Brock is supposed to be a jerk, but the creators pushed that aspect too early. He is incapable of shutting up and the first chance he gets he is trying to hook up with a teenage girl. They could have handled that better to make his transformation more meaningful. The other aspects of the story more than make up for it though. It focuses more on Peter and builds up a few supporting characters (Gwen and Doc Connors specifically). The art is more of what I've come to expect from the series.

X-Men: Messiah CompleX Review

X-Men: Messiah CompleX. Ed Brubaker, Mike Carey, Chris Yost, Peter David, Marc Silvestri, Billy Tan, Chris Bachalo, Humberto Ramos, and Scot Eaton. 2008. Marvel. 254 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I haven't kept up with X-Men comics over the year, but I had a basic idea of what was going on leading up to this event. No more mutants until one is born in the Alaskan wilderness. This leads to a scramble as various groups try to track down this new mutant to kill it, control it, or protect it.

This book collects all thirteen issues of the event in one place. There is a one shot and issues from four separate series. This leads to a mixed bag on writing and art because there are different teams for each of the series collected here. I shifted between enjoying the more realistic art style that dominates these stories and the cartoony style that is used to break it up. The shift is welcome, but could throw some people off because it doesn't remain consistent throughout the event.

The story went on way too long though. By the end it felt like things were being rehashed just to keep the story going. Plus, it seemed a bit odd that all these different groups discover the birth of this new mutant immediately and almost simultaneously. There are a few other moments that didn't work for me in a similar way.

That being said, there are some great moments in this book. I came to appreciate some characters much more than I had in the past, particularly Cable and Bishop. This is contrasted by the sheer number of characters involved, most of whom I was at best mildly familiar with because I haven't been keeping up with X-Men stories. Ultimately, I walked away from this feeling like a bunch of it could have been cut to create a much stronger story. I like what it does for mutants in the Marvel universe, especially having seen a little of what results from the birth of Hope.

Old City Blues Vol. 1 Review

Old City Blues, Volume One. Giannis Milonogiannis. 2011. Archaia Entertainment. 120 pages.

Rating: 2/5

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I like the noir-ish tone to the book and having the story set in Athens. It is set in the future and contains some sci-fi elements. The CEO of a robotics company is found dead and this police group investigates.

The detective subgenre can be a lot of fun to read. This one felt boring to me though. The main character didn't grab my attention and I never felt like it mattered what he was doing or what was happening in his world. There is a push to paint this corporation as evil and then nothing really comes of it.

I didn't care for the art much either. The lack of color wasn't a problem, but the illustrations themselves weren't terribly exciting. The story really could have been set anywhere in this future world. It reminded me more of an anime than something set on the European continent.

The Royals: Masters of War Review

The Royals: Masters of War. Rob Williams, Simon Coleby, Gary Erskine, and J.D. Mettler. 2014. Vertigo. 144 pages.

Rating: 3/5

The year is 1940 and all the super powered people in the world are members of the royal bloodlines. These are the families that have ruled nations for centuries. They've managed to hide their secrets until one young man can't take the destruction being rained down on his home.

I dig the concept behind this book. It's cool that the superheroes are restricted to this specific group of people, which gives a sort of legitimacy to their rule. The characters felt bland though. There is the well meaning prince that uses his powers to help the common people, his selfish brother that is more interested in drinking and sex than helping anyone, their sister who is mostly forgettable, and their father who will do anything to protect their family.

Some aspects of this book were great, particularly the attempt by the United States to form a group of superheroes to represent themselves along the real powers of the world. This is contrasted by some things that didn't make sense, like why these English princes would abandon the war in Europe to fight in the Pacific. The thing that really kept me from enjoying this book more is that I felt no connection to any of the main characters and had little interest in their role of historic events.

For the most part, I liked the art. I think it captured the feel of the era and went well with the events portrayed. There is a grittiness that plays well with some of the darker aspects of the book.

Generations

Generations. Flavia Biondi. 2017. Lion Forge. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

Generations is a beautiful story about family and a young man finding his place in the world. There is also an undercurrent surrounding Matteo's sexuality as he tries to settle back into life in a small town.

Matteo begins the book listless, without purpose or motivation after his first major relationship blows up. He's defined himself by his sexuality up to this point and feels like he can't reveal that aspect of himself to the family he is relying on.

I found it amusing that his aunts are referred to as A, B, and C instead of by name. They are important to his life and his growth over the course of the book, but it didn't feel flippant or degrading toward them that they aren't known by their names. The women in Matteo's family act as a counterpoint to his sadness. Despite some harsh circumstances, they are able to find the joys of life. There is excellent growth for the characters over the course of the book and they felt very realistic.

This is a very moving book that features a homosexual protagonist without being preachy. Instead it captures the struggles that everyone faces and leaves the reader with hope that things can get better. The art was fine. It doesn't need to be anything extravagant to go with this story, but I felt a little underwhelmed at times. It doesn't detract from the point of the book though.

Unity, Volume 1 Review

Unity, Volume One: To Kill a King. Matt Kindt, Lee Garbett, Doug Braithwaite, and Brian Reber. 2014. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

One thing about this story is that it helps to have an idea of  what was happening in the Valiant universe previously. I feel like there is a good recap of the most important pieces, but it is brief. It is possible to appreciate the story for what it is without being familiar with the events/characters involved.

Aric of Dacia, aka X-O Manowar, is public enemy number one in this book. From the beginning he has been a troublemaker, even if  that wasn't his intention. To put a stop to him, a U.S. government agency brings in one of the most powerful men in the world, who puts together a team to challenge Aric.

There are some pretty cool events in this book. A lot of it is action oriented, so it moves along at a good pace. The highlights for me are the character oriented moments that expand on the world, particularly in regards to Livewire. My reading sequence for the Valiant books is all over the place, so I had a chance to see some of what she's done leading up to this story as well as what takes place afterward. This ties things together nicely.

With all the Valiant books I've picked up, I really enjoy the art. The company does a great job of picking artists that create a style for their comics without tying them down too much. Braithwaite's art highlights the best parts of the story without being intrusive.

The Fade Out, Act One Review

The Fade Out, Act One. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. 2015. Image. 120 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I love the movie backdrop to this story. It begins with the setup of the book itself (this first part is labeled act one after all). From there it goes into Hollywood in the late 1940s or early 1950s. The starlet of the film that's always sort of in the background has been found dead. Brubaker and Phillips sure know how to set a hook on a story.

The characters are all interesting. There is definitely something shady going on and everyone seems to be involved in some way. Unpacking where each character fits in is quite a bit of fun. This book is more of a setup for things to come than anything else, but it does it so well.

And the art is superb. It captures the essence of the period perfectly. Anyone with a passing interest in noir type stories should check this out.

Taproot Review

Taproot. Keezy Young. 2017. Lion Forge. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

This is a nice little story. Hamal is a gardener who happens to have the ability to see ghosts. Among those is Blue and the two become fast friends.

I like the paranormal elements of the book. The relationship between the two boys is developed really well. Even though there is a gap between their worlds, they have the ability to breech it and overcome one of the biggest obstacles facing them. Their relationship is really the defining part of the book, rather than the supernatural parts or the character sexuality.

I enjoyed the art style, particularly the use of colors throughout the book. It made the story stand out.

Monstress, Volume 2 Review

Monstress, Volume Two: The Blood. Marjorie Lie and Sana Takeda. 2017. Image Comics. 152 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I enjoyed volume two quite a bit more than volume one. It delved more into the story of Maika Halfwolf, and I felt like I got to understand her more as a character. The world building from the first arc is still there, but it is used more to support the story than to drive it forward.

Maika wants to find out more about this monster that is inhabiting her and gets to learn more about her mother along the way. In addition to Maika being more interesting this time around, I thought the supporting cast was presented better. It seemed like their motivations were shown better and they had more personality. This is particularly true in the latter half of the book when the monster inside Maika gets some more page time.

The art is fantastic. There is a lot of effort put into making this story beautiful. The variety of locations and characters depicted really add to the sense of the world being created. Nice stuff all around and it's worth checking out for the art alone.

Final Girls Review

Final Girls. Riley Sager. 2017. Dutton. 352 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I was on the fence about this book. I really liked the concept; it is about a girl, Quincy Carpenter, that survives a horror movie style killing in the woods. She is amongst a small group of women known as Final Girls because each one is the sole survivor of such an event. Shortly after the book begins, one of the other Final Girls is found dead and everyone looks to Quincy for her reaction.

I thought the sensationalism that surrounds the murders, these women, and the aforementioned death was fantastic. Sager captured the reactions of the general public to these events in a realistic way. Quincy's grasping for control throughout the book makes perfect sense for the tragic situation she survived. I particularly enjoyed the shifts between the present and the night of the massacre and how the glimpses into the past coincided with the events in the present.

On the other hand, Quincy is generally not very likable. I can't think of anything that made me want to root for her during this book. It is the appearance of the other Final Girl that keeps the story moving along. Her motives and objectives are hard to decipher and she acts pretty awful, but she gets Quincy to act.

Once this book hits its stride, it moves at a great pace. Despite some misgivings over the main character, it caught my attention and held on right up to the end.

Bloodshot Volume 2 Review

Bloodshot, Volume Two: The Rise and the Fall. Duane Swierczynski, Manuel Garcia, Arturo Lozzi, and Matthew Clark. 2013. Valiant Entertainment. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I've really been enjoying Bloodshot between this series and the more recent Bloodshot Reborn. There is something really fun about the super powered soldier with amnesia kicking the butts of the people that changed him. This arc takes Bloodshot and his two companions from volume one and brings the fight directly to Project Rising Spirit.

What they find is a bit more than they bargained for though. The two highlights from this book are Gamma, whose power seems to be drawing strength from the fears of others, and the twist that leads Bloodshot into the Harbinger Wars storyline. This book is full of action with a good story to back it up.

I liked the art a lot. The use of a separate artist/style for the flashback issue is great. It is a little jarring to have that shift, but it felt like the right move to differentiate that part of the story.

Joker Review

Joker. Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo. 2008. DC Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This is a well done, grown up version of the Joker. He drinks, does drugs, and is excessively violent. A lot of the DC comics that I've picked up have been pretty dark, and this one is no exception. However, I was much more impressed by this book than many of the others.

First off, I enjoyed the way it is told. It starts off with a low level thug named Jonny Frost that is looking to make it big. When the Joker gets released from Arkham, it gives him the opportunity he's been looking for. Of course, things don't go quite how he was expecting. Frost's treatment actually made the book more impactful than it would have been otherwise. It speaks to the power that the Joker has over people that Frost is willing to put up with the craziness for a chance to do something great.

The second thing that struck me about the book is the Joker himself. I've read other reviews that compare it to The Dark Knight film. They aren't wrong. I feel like a lot of what is shown in this volume has been addressed in other books though. The creators took those different elements of the Joker and brought them together nicely.

And then there is the art. It is very fitting for this story. It's dark and gritty like the characters and themes. The coloring helps create a more realistic visual narrative, which works hand in hand with the approach to the title character. There are a few bumps along the way, but it is worth checking out.

Valiant Review

Valiant (The Lost Fleet, Book Four). Jack Campbell. 2008. Ace. 304 pages.

Rating: 4/5

The fourth book in the Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell is a nice addition to the series. The Alliance fleet is still trapped deep in Syndic space and continues to fight its way through various star systems. I took enough of a break between volumes that it didn't feel too redundant.

I liked that things start to progress a bit more in this book. Although it starts with the fleet backtracking, they are able to move on. Captain Geary takes some major steps by including his major allies on discussions regarding the origins of the Hypernet gates. The interaction between the Alliance and the Syndics at the end of the book is pretty good too.

The Wicked + The Divine Volume 5 Review

The Wicked + The Divine, Volume Five: Imperial Phase, Part 1. Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles. 2017. Image Comics. 200 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Fallout. That is what this volume is all about. The characters have to deal with their actions at the end of volume four in a big way. Everyone is out for themselves here as various gods try to bring order back to the pantheon.

This book starts to open things up for the reader. It delves a bit into Ananke's plots and how the gods are involved with it. I felt that there was a nice mix of perspective between the two factions that developed out of volume four. I certainly enjoyed some of the characters more, even if they are still creepy and weird.

The visuals are still great. McKelvie does a wonderful job illustrating everything, but Wilson's colors really make the book shine. They make the scenes pop. Of note, there is a magazine type issue to kick off this volume. I skipped it until the end though. It expands on the personality and goals of a few of the characters through fictional interviews. Nothing earth shattering, but it is a nice change of pace and an excellent way to fill out the universe.

Wolverine: Old Man Logan Review

Wolverine: Old Man Logan. Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. 2009. Marvel. 224 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Old Man Logan is a spectacular foray into the future. It's based on the premise that the plethora of villains in the Marvel universe decide to work together to take over the world and are able to succeed based on sheer numbers. This story follows Wolverine as he makes his way through this dystopian future.

One thing that is driven home is that Logan has given up on violence. The reason for this is revealed about half way through the book. Even without knowing the exact reason, I think this shift works well for the character. He's made a good life for himself and is trying to keep out of trouble as best he can. This can throw off some of the other characters that knew him 50 years ago, before the villains took over.

He ends up going on a road trip across the country with Hawkeye, who is portrayed as a dirty old man, in the Spider Buggy. That sounds ridiculous and it provides most of the fun of the book. Hawkeye gets to shine in this new world, especially with a travelling companion that refuses to fight. The creators did a lot of great work in making this future believable. There are references to lots of other Marvel characters. It's not necessary to know who most of them are, but it can add some enjoyment to the book to be able to identify them.

I liked the art. It is gritty, much like the story. The colors do a lot to add to that feeling, even when there are brighter shades used for certain characters or sequences. This is a really well done story.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 5 Review

Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume Five: Public Scrutiny. Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. 2007. Marvel. 120 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I was a bit torn on the rating for this volume. It didn't feel quite as strong as some of the previous volumes, but there are some great elements.

I loved the first issue in this collection. It can feel slow because not much happens, but it pokes fun at a recurring event in the Spider-Man books. Namely, no matter where Peter is or what he is doing, if he finds out there is a villain up to no good, he drops everything and gets there to stop it. Here, everything that could go wrong and prevent Peter from getting to the villain pops up. It's got a playfulness that feels necessary between the end of volume four and what happen in the rest of this volume.

There isn't a major villain in this book. Instead, Peter has to contend with someone who is dressing up as Spider-Man and committing crimes. That portion of the story takes a backseat to his personal life though. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that the creators beef up the storyline with Gwen Stacy yet again. Long time fans of the Web Head won't be surprised by the events of this book. Despite that I felt like it was handled excellently.

Aside from a less interesting workload for Spider-Man, the biggest weakness in this book felt like Mary Jane. Given how she has progressed over the last couple volumes, I'm not shocked by that. I was hoping that things would turn around concerning her. Hopefully, she gets a chance to shine somewhere down the line. As for the art, it is exactly what I've come to expect from this series. I've enjoyed it a lot and was not disappointed this time around.

Superman: Red Son Review

Superman: Red Son. Mark Millar, Dave Johnson, Killian Plunkett, Andrew Robinson, and Walden Wong. 2014. DC Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I haven't read many Superman comics, so my expectations for the character might have been low. This book examines what the world would have been like if Superman had landed in the Soviet Union rather than the United States.

The creativity behind this story is amazing. I like how Superman develops as a son of the Soviet empire over the story, but many of his defining characteristics are still there. This makes the story stronger because it doesn't try to warp who he is into something wholly unbelievable. That creativity goes beyond Superman to the litany of DC characters that show up in the book. Most of them are well used, such as Wonder Woman and Batman, but some of the appearances are forgettable.

I'm not sure if it's this book or Lex Luthor in general, but he seemed to be more of a jerk than I was anticipating. Lex is the biggest detractor for my enjoyment of this book. Beyond his attitude, his role toward the end of the story didn't work for me. But the rest of the story and the art more than make up for him. This book is extremely well illustrated. The costume changes for Superman over the three parts are particularly nice. My favorite drawing element has to be Batman's hat. It is so ridiculous and appropriate. As an alternate take on a major DC Superhero, this book does a superb job. It isn't necessary to know all the DC titles and characters to enjoy this book, but it doesn't hurt.

The Wicked and the Divine Volume 4 Review

The Wicked + The Divine, Volume Four: Rising Action. Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson, and Clayton Cowles. 2016. Image Comics. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

After a slump with volume three, Wic/Div is back on its game here. A bunch of questions that were raised in earlier parts of the story are addressed, or at least start to get addressed, in this arc. On top of that, there is a collision between the old guard, led by Ananke, and the rebellious gods.

One thing to note is that the issues collected in this volume have a lot more action than before. There is still a nice amount of subtlety and character building. As these two groups come to a head, it makes sense that there would be more fighting involved. What made this volume work so well for me is the division amongst the gods. Rather than being everyone for themselves, they start to work together along the lines of these two major factions. There is some maneuvering back and forth that should be expected from the characters at this point.

The art is superb. One thing that I love from the creators is their willingness to play with the comics format. The art facilitates telling the story visually with the characters, etc. It also keeps the reader engaged because it could do something unexpected by long term comics readers. The art is very polished, which may not work for everyone. It fits into the world the creators have developed perfectly though.

The New Teen Titans, Volume 1 Review

The New Teen Titans, Volume One. Marv Wolfman, George Perez, and Romeo Tanghal. 2014. DC Comics. 240 pages.

Rating: 2/5

Someday I will read an older comics series that I really enjoy. This, alas, was not the one. The New Teen Titans served to revive the teen superhero group in the DC universe, and it did so in a pretty good way. There is a nice mix of characters, especially for the time it was originally published. Each one has a unique set of powers that they can contribute to the different situations that they face.

The mystery around Raven and why she wanted to bring the group back together was written in a way that made the story drag. I was more interested in reading it to be done than to find out what happens next. The plot isn't bad and I like how it served to bring these characters together. But how it is written made it hard for me to get into it. Plus, the art is dated, which can make it more difficult to get through because of how much that applies to the comics medium.

There are definitely some good points though. I learned a lot about the characters that I hadn't known before. It sets the stage for things to come in future Teen Titan series', especially by giving the characters robust relationships. Cyborg in particular has some touching scenes with his dad. This was worth the read to see these characters come together. It sparked my interest in seeing an updated version of them.

The Little Red Wolf Review

The Little Red Wolf. Amelie Flechais. 2017. Lion Forge. 80 pages.

Rating: 4/5

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

This book is a nice alternate take on Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf and the girl switch places, which works wonderfully in this telling. It is dark at times. Some people might be put off by that, but it harkens back to old school fairytales.

At the same time, this goes beyond what I would expect from a retelling. About halfway through the creator shows how the history of the characters intertwine. That made the story much deeper for me. I am really pleased with how the book ends because it works so well with the rest of the story.

The art is fantastic. It's worth picking up for the art alone. I feel like it is a great complement to the story.

X-O Manowar (2017) Volume 2 Review

X-O Manowar, Volume Two: General. Matt Kindt and Doug Braithwaite. 2017. Valiant Entertainment. 104 pages.

Rating: 5/5

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

Volume two of this new series picks up right where volume one left off. Aric, aka X-O Manowar, is caught up in the middle of a war between three different races on an alien planet. There is a bit of political maneuvering as each side tries to use him for their own purposes.

I loved the art in this book. The very first image sets the scene of this other world and is just gorgeous. Every time the "camera" pulls back to show a wider view of the planet it is stunning. I wasn't always a huge fan of the character faces as they are drawn here, but those did not detract one bit from my enjoyment.

The other thing that struck me most about this story is Aric. It delves a little into his background to give newer readers a glimpse of who he is and where he came from. But it is his relationship with the armor, Shanhara, that elevated this book for me. There is a battle of wills between them that is almost as treacherous as the war Aric is involved in and the tribes that are manipulating him.

This book gives the bombastic scenes and attitudes that I would expect from an X-O title and layers it with some good character development. The volumes in this series are an issue short of what readers might expect from a trade paperback. That I balanced by a tightly written story that felt neither rushed nor dragged out.