Review: Vampirella (2011-2014) Vol. 1: Crown of Worms (Vampirella

Vampirella (2011-2014) Vol. 1: Crown of Worms (Vampirella by Eric Trautmann
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I haven't read a whole lot of Vampirella, but I've read enough to know the basics. The thing about this book is that the introduction does a whole lot more to clue readers into what is going on with the character than the actual story. It hits those basic elements and doesn't really dig any deeper. Maybe long time fans that know everything that has been going on with Vampirella before this book kicks off will get more out of it.

Vampirella is back after a tragedy and ready to kick vampire butt. She comes across a strange cult that might be better served in an H.P. Lovecraft story. The cult, and their god, become the driving force for the rest of the story. It even pushes Vampirella to team up with her nemesis Dracula. But it also brings in a human companion for Vampirella that gives some life to the book. We get some small glimpses of her backstory as she helps fight the vampire cult. And the book has plenty of action, which is actually something I would expect from this character. That actually helps keep things moving along at times.

I wouldn't recommend this as a place to start out with the character. It's a decent enough book, but might leave too many gaps to be friendly for new readers. It didn't wow me enough to want to continue with the series either.

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Review: Kill or be Killed, Vol. 2

Kill or be Killed, Vol. 2 by Ed Brubaker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not quite as good as the first book, but still darn good. Brubaker's strange anti-hero kicks off this volume murdering someone in front of the police and things just go downhill for him from there. I like that Dylan's murder spree wasn't dragged out more before he has a run-in with the cops. It is sort of abrupt how it happens though. I think it made for a more compelling story when he is being actively hunted down. The story doesn't flow quite as well as the first volume did because there are more elements being pulled into it. It works pretty well though.

The way the story is told is very similar to the first book to start off. It can be a little disorienting being dropped into the middle of something and not knowing how we got there. Brubaker is good and bringing things back around so it all makes sense. Dylan's romantic relationship, and the insights into his background that come with it, are a nice addition. It helped me get the sense that the story is opening up more and that some seemingly unrelated aspects will be coming together down the line. Once again, the art is top notch. Phillips does a great job with detail. There are perspective changes between panels that remain consistent and the backgrounds are fleshed out. The coloring is also fantastic.

I jumped into this volume right after finishing the first book, and I really wish I had the third one available to me to keep the momentum going. This series has turned into a nice surprise and I want to see what happens next.

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Review: Birthright, Vol. 2: Call to Adventure

Birthright, Vol. 2: Call to Adventure by Joshua Williamson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm continuing to enjoy this series. It blends the real world with a fantasy world in a fresh way. I'm reminded of the way that fairies and their homes are portrayed in certain stories, rather than simply infusing our world with magic. The distinction is important for the story and the way that events unfold.

The huge draw in this book is the development of the brothers' relationship. There is a lot of time spent showing how it has changed due to intervening events and, maybe more importantly, how it has stayed the same. This becomes important toward the end of this volume. I suspect it will play a bigger role as the series continues. It's great to see more of Mikey's adventures and how the elements from the fantasy world have followed him home.

There are a lot of cool things that happen in this volume. Yet, it feels like the characters haven't progressed much by the end. I think this is because it takes place in a fairly confined amount of space and time. But there are some very important moments. And the art is stellar, especially in those moments when the two world interact. I'm excited to continue this series.

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Review: Invincible, Compendium One

Invincible, Compendium One by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I don't know if it's Kirkman's writing or the superhero themes, but this book didn't do it for me. It felt like it just dragged on forever. Part of that is because there is so much packed into this compendium. However, the actual story beats felt like they were dragged out. On top of that, most of the characters didn't interest me. That might have been the hardest part of reading this book. I didn't much care what happened to these characters.

It wasn't all bad though. There were certainly moments, mostly in the latter half of the collected issues, that were really good. And there is obviously a lot of thought that went into the characters and the organizations involved in the book. The art style isn't my favorite. Yet it did grow on me as I read further into the book. And there are moments visually that both amused me and felt over used (the outside of the government facility that is featured in almost every issue is one of them).

This collection is really meant for diehard fans. Or someone who finds it at a huge discount that wants to dip their toes into the universe. I fell in the second category and probably won't find myself continuing with these characters. The good moments just didn't outweigh the negatives for me.

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Review: Sing, Unburied, Sing

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautifully written book. I enjoyed the family centric focus, even though it's not what you might think of as a traditional family. And it doesn't always work. It feels a lot more real that way. Throwing the story on a backdrop of rural Mississippi works wonderfully. The setting helps to bring depth to these characters and almost takes on a personality of its own.

For a story seemingly focused on a small family, it was a little surprising to have the supernatural elements brought in. Personally, I thought this was done really well. There are hints of it early on. It builds into the overall narrative slowly though. I think by easing the reader into that portion of the story, it has some more impact. Ward did a fantastic job of making this run-down family worth visiting for a time.

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Review: Fantomah, Volume 1: Up From The Deep

Fantomah, Volume 1: Up From The Deep by Ray Fawkes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

So this was not at all what I was expecting. Paz is a young woman that has been helping to raise her younger sisters after their mother died. The father is a detective and is always busy, so she is basically doing this by herself. The story kicks off after some young children start to go missing. While her dad is trying to figure out what is going on, Paz becomes possessed by a spirit that uses her to go after the people involved in the disappearances.

The story has slow build, which worked pretty well. Especially because early on it isn't clear what is going on with Paz. She is just as confused as what is happening as the reader. I liked seeing her growth over the course of the book. A lot of the characters aren't extremely well developed though. Normally that would bother me more, but I liked Paz so much that I think she lifted up the book in areas where it would otherwise fall short. The art is the real winner of this book though. Some of the images are just amazing. It has just the right amount of creepiness to it.

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Review: Star Wars, Vol. 4: Last Flight of the Harbinger

Star Wars, Vol. 4: Last Flight of the Harbinger by Jason Aaron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let's steal a star destroyer. What could go wrong? I liked this story. It combines the impetuousness of the Rebels with a good old fashioned heist story. Aaron does a good job capturing the spirit of these characters, which goes a long way to making an enjoyable book. Throw some souped-up Stormtroopers into the mix and things get a bit wacky. That aspect of the book was pretty good actually. And given some of the stuff that happened in the Darth Vader series, it really isn't out of line for the types of stories that Marvel is creating.

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Review: X-O Manowar Volume 4: Visigoth

X-O Manowar Volume 4: Visigoth by Matt Kindt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Volume 4 took a bit of a turn for me. I want to start with the art. I wasn't a huge fan of the art team this time around. The first few volumes tended more toward a realistic style and were just gorgeous. This time the art steps back a little. It's brighter and less defined (if that makes any sense). Perhaps it is meant to follow Aric's mental state as the series progresses. It got darker and darker until this volume. So maybe I just convinced myself that it was really well done, but the line work didn't do much for me anyway.

Then there is the story. Man, I felt like this was a huge payoff for this arc of Aric's story on planet Gorin. We finally get to see what caused Aric to leave Earth. Others might find it cliché or some such. It fits Aric's personality perfectly though. I'm a little disappointed that we won't get to see more of Gorin (for now at least, who knows what Valiant will decide to do in the future). The other big takeaway from this book is the development of the relationship between Aric and Shanhara. They are so connected that it is cool to see them coming back together.

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Review: Scars

Scars by Warren Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A disturbing book. Ellis has a tendency to write stories that are weird or push the reader out of their comfort zone. That might be part of his popularity. Anyway, this book focuses on a detective that is investigating the murder of a little girl. In some ways it is a very typical cop drama type of story, but Ellis varies up those tropes enough to make it interesting.

The protagonist is not a very likable guy. He's stressed out and takes the murder personally, which adds to his negative image. Ellis is good at writing characters though. So what if the good guy is a jerk? He has depth and still manages to garner some sympathy as he breaks down. The line between the professional upholder of the law and the damaged father figure seeking justice at all cost blurs. It may not be Ellis' best work, but man is it engaging.

I'm not usually one to read this type of story, so I doubt I will ever return to it in the future. I did find it worthwhile to join Ellis for this little thought experiment though. Oh, and the short pieces that Ellis writes for the end of each issue explaining his process and inspiration for this story just adds to the overall creepiness of it.

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Review: Britannia Volume 3: Lost Eagles of Rome

Britannia Volume 3: Lost Eagles of Rome by Peter Milligan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I have to admit that I was excited when I heard this book was coming out, even though elements of the first two volumes left me feeling lukewarm on the series. So what's the deal? I think Antonius Axia and Achillia make a good team. A Roman soldier and a former slave gladiator sounds like a good combo to me.

Nero is just as crazy as ever in this volume. The Eagles of Rome are a symbol of Rome's might, and the emperor's ability to rule, that are taken into every battle. When three go missing in a campaign against the Germans to the north, Axia is tapped to find them and restore Nero's standing with the Roman citizens. Pretty much all the elements that I've enjoyed about this book are back. In addition to the characters already mentioned there are the Vestal Virgins, Axia's son, and his steward/friend. Axia and Achillia explore a new area of this Roman centric world. I think the thing that makes this book work so well is the interactions between these two characters. They complement each other nicely.

I liked the art a lot. There are times where it felt a little rushed (both art-wise and story-wise). Everything moves along at a nice pace though, so it was hard to get hung up on some of the little things that might have otherwise bothered me about the book. This book still doesn't tie the series into the overall Valiant universe. That's okay with me because it has become it's own thing. I think somewhere down the line it will get tied in with the other books. There's no rush. I just want to see more of these characters.

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Review: The Amulet of Samarkand

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Despite an interesting premise, I found this book rather dry and boring. I never got invested in Nathaniel's story, which makes a huge portion of this book irrelevant. Part of it is that his attitude and actions make him unlikeable. Maybe that is supposed to be balanced out by the personalities of those around him. It didn't work for me in any case. The boy wizard trope is fine. Maybe there just needed to be more of a child in Nathaniel's character.

Bartimaeus, the demon that Nathaniel summons early in the book, is very interesting. He had the most personality in the book and kept it from being a total snooze fest. I particularly like the asides that he gives, which show up in the book as footnotes. The kindle version did a great job presenting these and making it seamless to switch between the main story and these asides. They aren't necessary, but go a long way toward defining the character of Bartimaeus.

I might have rated this a little higher. However, the digital version was riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes. I'm not sure how this compares to the physical version of the book though. Every time I notice something like that it pulls me out of the story. Usually, I try to be pretty forgiving when it comes to those types of mistakes. There were just too many for me to give this book a pass in that regard. As much as I liked Bartimaeus, I don't think I would pick up the next book in this series.

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Review: Venom: Carnage Unleashed

Venom: Carnage Unleashed by Larry Hama
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Whew! This book is so 90s it hurts. It's not all bad, but the writing style and art are definitely different from what I am used to from more recent comics. Carnage Unleashed has a bunch of different Venom stories in it, many of which also feature Carnage. I remember watching the Spider-Man cartoon that came out around the same time as these stories were being published. It was one of my favorites and introduced me to the symbiotes. There is a bit of nostalgia for me reading this book even though it was the first time I picked up this particular set of stories.

One thing that these tales do very well is explore the relationship between Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote. It's clear that they have goals that are odds with each other and it is interesting to see how well they work together when their goals align. Despite some relationship issues, Brock/Venom seem to have things pretty well together compared to Carnage! Most of this book actually seems like it would be pretty friendly to readers that don't know much or anything about these characters. There are a couple stories, particularly near the end of the collection, that had characters that I knew nothing about. I was still able to enjoy reading them though.

I touched a little on the art. It is very much a product of its time. It doesn't really compare to the look of comics from the 80s or more recently. The coloring is well done. This is such a large collection that it's worth checking out. There are some nice high points (even those had a few moments that made me cringe by how rooted in the times they are) that outweighed the lower ones for me.

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Review: Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules

Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules by Tony Cliff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A nice addition to the series. I don't think Pillars of Hercules was quite as action packed as the previous volumes, but it is still quite good. Something that we haven't seen before is someone playing on Delilah's ego. That part of the story worked because of the character that was doing it and the fact that it hasn't been shown before. Sure, there have been characters that take notice of her abilities, but no one praises her and tries to manipulate her the way that is done here.

The art is just as good as the previous books. The new characters and locales add some nice variety as well. The parts of the story that are filled with action are done well to denote what is happening. The story grew a little stagnant around the middle. I think Cliff turns that around rather well and ends it on a high note. I love reading about these characters and want to see more of Delilah Dirk's world and adventures. This story expanded on what we had before and left me wanting more.

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Review: Gose: Brewing a Classic German Beer for the Modern Era

Gose: Brewing a Classic German Beer for the Modern Era by Fal Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

An exhaustive text on a style of beer that you didn't know that you wanted to drink or brew. I haven't seen Gose in any of the brewers near me (yet), but it certainly sounds like an interesting variation if you are into sour beers. Allen clearly did his homework when it came to writing this book. There is quite a bit of history and information on the beer style in general. He breaks these into three general categories to account for the way he beer has changed over time.

With so much information, and later on brewing recipes, it can be a bit dry and hard to get through. I read the book in fairly small chunks though, so it didn't drag for me as much as it might have otherwise. Allen also tries to include anecdotes to break up some of the more academic aspects of the book. Casual beer drinkers or brewers might not get a lot out of the book. Someone hooked on Gose or looking to try something new should definitely check it out. The images, especially of the distinctive bottles that were used in the past, are a nice addition.

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Review: Kill or be Killed, Vol. 1

Kill or be Killed, Vol. 1 by Ed Brubaker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hoo boy. I've read two or three other Brubaker/Phillips books before this one, but Kill or be Killed blows them away. I was unsure how I'd feel about it because their books tend to be good except the first volumes I've read have dragged a bit. This one picks up with some action pretty early on and goes at a fast pace through most of the story. It shares some common features with other books by these creators like a gritty story and minor supernatural elements.

I feel like one of the things that really sets this book apart is the protagonist. Dylan is a bit of a loser (that might not be so different from other Brubaker books) and everything gets weird after he tries to commit suicide. That is where the supernatural element comes in for this book and leads to the big hook for this book: Dylan has to kill people to stay alive. How can it be possible to like a character who is driven by a need to murder other people? Dylan may not be particular likeable, but his story is definitely interesting. His best friend/long time crush starts to take an interest in him and he starts having some crazy dreams.

The art does a great job of supporting all this too. There is a darkness to it that lends itself to the story. I think the character art is great. Each one is distinct. The coloring is very fitting as well. While a bunch of it tends toward the dark, there are times when it is full of very rich color that is a nice contrast. I am excited to read the next volume.

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Review: Port of Shadows

Port of Shadows by Glen Cook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm a huge fan of the Black Company series. Croaker is an awesome character, and this book is basically all about him, so I thought it was pretty fantastic. This takes place between a couple of the earlier books in the series. It touches on some events from the first book, but not enough that you'd have to read that book. This book can be confusing as hell despite that. I found that just sitting back, enjoying the story, and not worrying about where it was going helped a whole lot.

There are appearances by some favorite characters (mostly the Company wizards), some old enemies (the Taken), and some new faces. The mix of characters worked well for this story. The creepy necromancer's part of the tale works out great in the end. It seems out of place at the beginning, but the different perspective is nice. This is not a perfect book by any means, but I so enjoy Cook's writing style and, even though the Company takes a bit of a break in this book, it was great to get an opportunity to return to this setting and the characters. I'm ready for more stories about the Black Company.

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Review: Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such an amazing book. It really captures the horror of the Holocaust. Not just the brutality of the mass murders either. Despite the use of anthropomorphic mice to portray the story, it drives home the uncertainty that a group of people had to live with every day for years. I can't imagine what it would be like to live through that, but I think this book comes close to showing what it might be like.

The second part of this book that I think receives a little less focus is the story of a father and a son. This might have increased the impact of the parts set in Poland during the second World War. We get to see the aftereffects of those events. How they impact a man's life, drives a family apart, and can bring it back together. Very powerful stuff. A highly recommended read.

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Review: The Books of Magic

The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I tend to like Gaiman's writing, so it isn't a surprise that I enjoyed this book. It fits neatly between the greater DC Universe and Gaiman's Sandman series, drawing in characters from both to tell the story of a young man that might be able to learn magic. Four magicians come together to act as guides for Hunter to introduce him to the world of magic. I was familiar with two of the four guides prior to reading this book and didn't bother looking up anything about the other two.

The characters that I knew before picking this up were presented well. Their personalities definitely come through. I loved the different landscapes that Hunter is taken through. Each one is distinct and the art is fantastic in showing that. Is there much of a point to this story? Not really. Maybe something comes of Hunter's journey in another book, I'm not sure. But it is the journey itself that makes this book worth reading. It gives more substance to the worlds and characters that are presented and made me want to read more about them.

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Review: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Decent book on communication. My wife read it, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I wasn't overwhelmed by it. Chapman's writing style didn't really hook me, but it is easy to read and fairly short so it still didn't take long to finish it. Ultimately I don't think I got a whole lot out of it, but others might find it useful.

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Review: Southbound!

Southbound! by Zidrou
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

Slice of life books can be very hit or miss. This one follows a Belgian family as they go on their annual holiday, which this year involves a car ride through rural France. The family as a whole seems to work. The dynamics between them are interesting. None of the characters on their own really jumped out at me though. There are some rough patches during their trip, which helps keep the story going. I felt like it was forgettable though. In the end it wrapped up nicely. I like how things come around for the family.

The art style didn't do much for me. It's sort of cartoony, which doesn't always appeal to me. I think going that way fits well with some of the more fanciful elements. It really just comes down to personal preference on that aspect. This is a nice alternative to some of the superhero comics out there, but I don't think I would continue the series.

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Review: The Flash, Volume 1: Lightning Strikes Twice

The Flash, Volume 1: Lightning Strikes Twice by Joshua Williamson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

For my first Flash comic, this one was alright. I had an easy enough time figuring out who everyone was and what they could do. Clearly they have some history, but it didn't matter enough to this story that I felt lost or needed to go look anything up.

The highlight for me was the coloring. It seemed very fitting for what I know about the character. I mostly liked the art. The only thing that bugged me is some of the running poses. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but for a character who is known for running it sure comes up a lot. The legs looked particularly elongated and just sort of awkward.

Anyway, onto some of the highlights. Something good happens to Barry! This book breaks some of the loneliness in his life by given quite a few people powers similar to Flash and he needs to look into what caused it. He gets a new partner and even a girlfriend. So something bad has to happen right? Well, someone is going around killing these new superpowered individuals...

There are some really nice moments in this book that take a different tack than I've come to expect from superhero comics. Nothing really inspired me to want to read more about this character. People that know more about his previous adventures might get more out of it. It was decent but there wasn't enough to make me want to pick up the next volume.

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Review: Star Wars: Han Solo

Star Wars: Han Solo by Marjorie M. Liu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Han Solo in a space race, what's not to like?

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Review: Dream Thief Volume 1

Dream Thief Volume 1 by Jai Nitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I rather enjoyed this book. John Lincoln steals a mask from a museum and after putting it on begins to channel the dead in their quest for vengeance. This comes with blackouts and intense experiences of the final moments of the dead. Then there are all the regular parts of his life that he has to juggle in between murdering bad guys. I thought it all came together rather well.

The book starts out fairly disorienting as John and the reader come in on the aftermath of his first victims (targets?). There is a cinematic feel to the book, especially when the it goes back to show scenes in which John has blacked out. The art is a little stiff at times (forgive me), and that is really the only drag on this book. I liked this more and more as I read further into the book. For those looking for a non-superhero comic, this is a pretty good choice. I would definitely read the next volume.

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Review: Unity, Volume 3: Armor Hunters

Unity, Volume 3: Armor Hunters by Matt Kindt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So what was the Unity team doing during the Armor Hunters event? Aside from saving the world? This book is tangential to the whole Armor Hunters story. It fills in some of the parts that aren't shown in the main book (i.e. the mini-series #1-4). I think it does a great job filling that niche. It answers some questions, like how did they get Bloodshot to come back from his self-imposed exile?

This volume feels more like four separate short pieces that are loosely connected to each other and Armor Hunters. For me, that's not a bad thing by any means. I enjoyed each of the issues in this volume. I would recommend reading this alongside the Armor Hunters event (especially after searching for a reading order online). It's a bang up action book that doesn't shy away from that fact. There isn't a ton of depth to the characters and in this case it doesn't matter. Jumping into this on its own will leave you confused though.

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Review: Harbinger Wars II

Harbinger Wars II by Matt Kindt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

Harbinger Wars II is not a sequel to Valiant's first event back in 2013. It does share some characters and concepts though. Central to this story is Livewire, a psiot with the ability to control technology. After a government affiliated assault team goes after the group of kids that she has taken under her wing (see Secret Weapons for more information on them), she goes off the rails a little bit.

I can understand where she is coming from and that portion of the story is pretty good. The struggle between Livewire and the government worked. But this is labelled as a war and it just didn't feel like their was much of a war going on. It pulls in a lot of the mainstay Valiant characters and forces them to choose sides. The struggle feels minimal and could have been fleshed out a lot more (maybe more in line with the Armor Hunter series that Valiant put out).

There are some cool moments though. I like some of the stuff involving Pete. And the way Livewire manipulates Bloodshot. The art was pretty good. I recall a few moments, maybe all involving Faith, where the drawing felt weak. I think people that have read more of the current Valiant stuff will get something out of this book. It might end up being more of a transition story for Livewire than anything else. As on the fence as I feel about this book, I want to see what happens with her next.

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Review: We Stand On Guard

We Stand On Guard by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just imagine a war between America and Canada. Go ahead.

This book is not how that just played out in your head. Sure, the brutality is probably there. This book is much more than that though. Brian K. Vaughan does a nice job crafting the characters and placing them in this future setting. I think he creates interesting backstories for the characters and gives them a reason to fight beyond fighting for fighting's sake. Something I always like about Vaughan's characters is that they act like real people even in the face of fantastic events, which holds true for this book as well. Are they particularly likeable? No and that's okay.

To top it off, the art is amazing. There were multiple moments where I had to stop and just take in what was being shown. Whether it comes from the beauty of the Canadian wilderness, death and destruction, or the implacable American war machine. All of this comes together to create a world that is at once familiar and horrifyingly violent. Don't take this book lightly.

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Review: Pumpkinhead

Pumpkinhead by Cullen Bunn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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

Pumpkinhead seemed like the perfect book to read going into Halloween. It's a horror tale featuring a demon of vengeance. It started out okay with a nice intro about a group of witches. The most prominent is Haggis, who ends up controlling Pumpkinhead. I'll start by saying I wanted to see more about these characters. This intro shows them as young women just coming into their power and then the story jumps ahead roughly 60 years and there is nothing about the interim period.

The switch from the witches brings us to a Hillbilly revenge story. It actually picks up after the event that causes the whole mess that goes on in this book. So there are the two families that have a feud going on, and then there is the sheriff investigating everything. Amongst all these characters, I didn't find any that were particularly interesting. The story does pick up again once the witches reappear to cause havoc.

So the best part of this book for me is the mythology. The structure behind the relationship between the witches and the demons seems pretty strong, although we only really get to see glimpses of it. It goes on to incorporate the seven deadly sins, which I thought was a nice touch. The bonus story at the end does a better job showing why only Pumpkinhead has been brought to our world over the years. The art is okay. I can't say anything bad about it, but it didn't stand out or excite me in any way.

I found this book to be underdeveloped despite an interesting idea.

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Review: Watersnakes

Watersnakes by Antonio Sandoval
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

I got a real fairy tale vibe from this book. It is a story about two young girls that meet at the beach. The parents are around but not really present for the story. Things start out innocently enough, but it moves into some pretty strange territory that sets the girls on a quest to save their lives. The story between the two girls brings in elements of a first crush, along with all the awkwardness that might entail. What happens after that is something else entirely.

The art is what attracted me to this book. The image on the cover was so great. And the interior art is just as good. It does a great job of capturing that sense of the weird that pervades the book. I'm not sure how old the girls are supposed to be (probably early adolescence) and the art can blur the line on that at times. Anyway, be prepared for some brutal scenes later in the book. It almost feels like a different story by that point. The progression works though.

Something that stuck out to me about Watersnakes is that at the end I wasn't really sure if the whole thing actually happened or if it is just some sort of childish imagining. That's part of what I liked about it. This uncertainty gives the book a depth that I wasn't expecting based on the first few pages. I'd recommend picking it up for the art alone, but the girls pull their weight in making this book fun and interesting.

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Review: New Super-Man, Vol. 1: Made in China

New Super-Man, Vol. 1: Made in China by Gene Luen Yang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Admittedly, I only picked this up because Gene Luen Yang wrote it. While I've only read a few of his works, I think all of them have been great. The idea of China creating its own Super-Man (and a sort of Justice League) turned out to be more interesting than I would have expected. With the rise of "American style super-villains", the Ministry of Self Reliance looks for candidates that will exemplify the qualities of a hero needed to defeat them.

Insert Kong Kenan. He's a bit of a punk, picking on some of the other kids from his school. The attitude that compels him to do this stays with him through most of the book, but he starts to show better qualities. I think if he did a 180 as soon as he was picked to get the Super-Man powers the book would not have worked as nicely as it does. Of the supporting characters, Batman might be the best. The attitude is right. Some of the best moments come from the interactions between Kong and this new Batman. Another good dynamic is between Kong and his father.

I liked the art. It is pretty high quality and there weren't any real confusing moments and it wasn't highly stylized either. The colors are great too. Together they capture the feel of the Chinese culture without beating you over the head. This book is friendly for new readers because you don't really need to know anything about Superman to be able to read this volume. If I get an opportunity to pick up the next part of the story, I'll certainly do so.

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Review: Bloodshot, Volume 5: Get Some and Other Stories

Bloodshot, Volume 5: Get Some and Other Stories by Christos Gage
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Volume five is really three separate stories. First up is Get Some. Kozol is being held captive in Africa and it is up to Bloodshot and the H.A.R.D. Corps to get him back. The Specialists that the group goes up against are a nice contrast to the H.A.R.D. Corps and allows the story to dig into the history of Project Rising Spirit. There are some good character moments. The one that comes to mind first involves Vagabond and Chernobyl. We also get to see Bloodshot taking control of his future.

Next up is Bloodshot and the H.A.R.D. Corps #0, which provides some history on the group. It starts with the origins in the 70s and shows the evolution of the program over the decades. A highlight from this one is that it fills in what happened with Palmer when the program was shut down in the 90s. The last story is Bloodshot vs. the H.A.R.D. Corps. I think this is a nice way to cap off this part of the Bloodshot story. It provides a nice breaking point between Bloodshot and PRS/the H.A.R.D. Corps.

This is an action book, and it's good to remember that going in. There are some gruesome moments and it can be a bit over the top at times. But that is part of what makes this series fun. The over the top nature does make for some ridiculous moments that just wouldn't work in other books and skirts the edges of what I think this book is able to do. I enjoyed the art in this volume. There are a couple of moments where it didn't work though. Ultimately, I liked what this volume did for the characters and I feel like it is in line with the previous parts of the series.

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Review: Mighty Jack and the Goblin King

Mighty Jack and the Goblin King by Ben Hatke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing follow-up! I enjoyed the first volume quite a bit, but the end left me feeling a little blasé. This book exceeded my expectations by a long shot. It follows Jack and Lilly as they head up the beanstalk to rescue Jack's sister from a giant. There are some side adventures that occur along their path; the best of which involves the goblin king. The story is clearly inspired by fairytales without being bound to them. There are some pretty clever moments that really make it stand out. I thought the art was great once again. It has a style that fits both the content of the story and should appeal to the target audience perfectly. I finished this volume satisfied with the story and excited for more. Well done Mr. Hatke.

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Review: Skin & Earth TP

Skin & Earth TP by Lights
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

I rather enjoyed the weird dystopian future depicted in this book. The way it is laid out can leave you feeling disconnected from what is going on at times. This happens mostly because not everything is spelled out from the beginning. It takes a while to get a feel for the world, such as how the cities are laid out and what caused things to be the way they are now. The payoff at the end is pretty good though. I liked the strange path it takes to get there too.

Enaia Jin is a good guide to this world. She is a bit of an outsider, but she is able to pass between the different stratums of society. During the early parts of the book, the reader is able to learn about her and begin to identify with her before any of the big shifts in the story occur. A lot of the other characters are pretty forgettable though. They all serve to tell Jin's story and don't contribute much beyond that.

Art-wise there is a ton going on. The images range from mundane events to fantastical and I thought they were all done equally well. One thing that sets the book apart is the soundtrack that was put together to coincide with the different chapters. There are codes you can scan with a smartphone to queue up the music for each section. It gives a more interactive experience and plays with the senses more than other comics. Between the story, the protagonist, and the artistic elements, this book hit the points for me. I could see others being put off by it, but I think it's worth checking out for something beyond the norm.

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Review: Animosity, Vol. 1: The Wake

Animosity, Vol. 1: The Wake by Marguerite Bennett
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

All the animals in the world suddenly becoming sentient sounds like a cool idea for a story, right? Well, this take on the concept did not speak to me. There are some good moments, particularly involving Jesse and Sandor. Plus the art as a whole is pretty good. I didn't care for the way the story plays out though. It felt like as soon as this event, known as The Wake, occurs, every creature on Earth decides they have to kill each other.

Not that there isn't justification for the hatred that all the animals show toward humans, and some reasons for it are shown. I think it rushed into things. I would have liked to have seen a couple more moments from before The Wake to give some more impact to what is shown afterward. Because it went into the conflict so quickly, I got turned off of the book early on and found it hard to enjoy some of the character moments that come out later on. I will not be continuing this series.

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Review: The Travelling Cat Chronicles

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You don't have to be a cat lover to enjoy this book, but it certainly doesn't hurt. It's a lovely little story that was a lot more emotional than I was expecting. The story details how Satoru and his cat, Nana, meet and the journey they take across Japan. We get to meet all of the people that meant the most to Satoru and how each of them have been impacted by cats, and other animals, in their lives. These stories meander in much the same way that Satoru and Nana do on their journey.

One element of this book that I liked a lot is the use of Nana's perspective to tell the story. Since the book is essentially about Satoru (it shifts between telling parts about the present day and his past), having the cat put in its two cents about Satoru is a good choice. It helps to build the camaraderie between the two of them as the story progresses, which adds to its impact. Some of the small moments along their travels end up being the most important.

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Review: My Hero Academia, Vol. 1

My Hero Academia, Vol. 1 by Kohei Horikoshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to say this is probably the most enjoyable manga I've read to date. The plot isn't all that different from some of the other books, but I found that I liked the characters a lot more. This alone kept me interested and actually has me considering picking up the next volume. The art was different than I'm used to seeing in manga as well. It has some of the same highly stylistic expressions and such. I felt like the pages were never quite as busy and that the images in this book were easier to decipher. That is another plus in my book.

This was pitched to me as a manga version of the X-Men, which isn't entirely wrong but I wouldn't say it is exactly accurate either. There is a school for people with gifts (actually there are a lot of both) and there is a certain amount of hero training that goes on. But most of the character development happens outside the school environment, which becomes more prominent toward the end of this volume. The story of this young man who is born without powers in a world where almost everyone has them becomes interesting because so much of the story is based around his strength of character. He has a never give up attitude.

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Review: Spinning Silver

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot. It can be slow going at times, and I feel like that adds to how the story is built. It begins simply with a young woman that helps to reestablish her father's moneylending business. Her success catches the eye of a king that kicks off the reimagining of the Rumpelstiltskin story. The emergence of this fairy creature is both fascinating and frightening. This story is buoyed by other elements including a princess who shares a similar destiny and the children of a family that become intertwined with both women.

There is a lot of depth to the individual stories. Each one adds to the fantastical nature of the book. And each perspective, of which there are a few, lends something new to the story. Sure there is some overlap at times because the same scene might be played out from more than one point of view. I liked this though. It shows how certain story elements are affecting the different character, especially later in the book, rather than just telling or expecting the reader to infer what is happening. The juxtaposition of the fairy king associated with unending winter and the demon of fire is a nice touch as well. It melds two mythical tales into something new and enjoyable.

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Review: Cyborg, Volume 1: The Imitation Of Life

Cyborg, Volume 1: The Imitation Of Life by John Semper Jr.
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I thought this book started out okay, but went downhill pretty quickly. It's not all bad. The writing in particular did not appeal to me though. I felt like it fell back on some really bad tropes from superhero books, specifically bringing back villains thought dead and nonsense dream sequences. These elements could have been integrated so much better into the story. Instead it takes hold and goes over the top.

Having thought about this book compared to the very first volume of Teen Titans, it is interesting to see how some things have remained with the character. The relationship with his dad is fleshed out a bit more here. It manages to carry some of the struggle that existed between them from the beginning. I would have liked to have seen more of that emphasized, especially with numerous references to Cyborg's mother and the way her death created tension for him and his father.

There is certainly more of his background mentioned in this book, which should make it easier for new readers to get into it. It just falls short in a lot of the dialogue and the plot that it could easily turn someone off of the book. Mostly I enjoyed the art. There are instances where it is difficult to make out exactly what is going on. The times where it gets things right art wise far outweigh the moments that left me scratching my head. I like where this book was going. I'm not sure its enough for me to take a chance on the next volume though.

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Review: Harbinger Vol. 6: Omegas (Harbinger: Omegas

Harbinger Vol. 6: Omegas (Harbinger: Omegas by Joshua Dysart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This volume caps off the Harbinger series. It directly follows up on the previous volume by showing what is going on with Harada and the Renegades. It also serves as a bridge between the Harbinger series and Dysart's Imperium series. So, we see more fallout for the characters and elements that set the stage for things to come. On its own it doesn't mean much, but knowing what came before and some of what is coming afterward improves the experience.

A few things really stood out to me in this volume. First, Toyo Harada. I like that he takes the opportunity to step out from behind his previous organizations to do what he really wants. He is a lot less diplomatic here and it works well for the character. Second, the dichotomy between Pete and Toyo. These characters have been at odds since the beginning. It is neat to see how their reactions to the events of the last book are similar and how they differ. It also serves as a reminder that Pete is really just a kid who is out of his depth. Last, the Renegades. They are all struggling with the death of a friend. I like that this book shows that, and how their lives are impacted overall by recent events.

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Review: Gideon Falls, Vol. 1: The Black Barn

Gideon Falls, Vol. 1: The Black Barn by Jeff Lemire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

Let me start out by saying that I am a big fan of Jeff Lemire. So it's no surprise that I loved the first volume of this series. There are two storylines. The first follows disgraced priest that is an alcoholic and is assigned to the church in Gideon Falls against his will. It's clear that there is something in his past that has gotten him into trouble, but it doesn't really come out in this part of the story. The second storyline features a young man that seems to have psychological problems. He has an obsession driving him that he can't really explain. These two stories don't cross paths in this volume, but there are hints of how they could.

The art is fantastic. I like how it plays with the format. It does a nice job forcing different perspectives or drawing the eye to certain elements of a scene. And the coloring helps to enhance things as well. There are times when the colors can be pretty drab, but I think that works for the story, particularly with the locations involved. I am really looking forward to the next volume.

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Review: Oblivion Song, Vol. 1

Oblivion Song, Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

Robert Kirkman's books have been somewhat hit-or-miss for me, so I was a little skeptical about how this one would turn out. A section of a city in Pennsylvania gets overrun by monsters and a large portion of the population from that area disappears. We join the story ten years on, when everyone has given up on the missing people except for one man: the protagonist Nathan. And this really becomes his story more than anything else.

What I enjoyed most about this book is that even though there is a bit of a mystery about what happened, it is easy to see and understand the motivations of the characters. Kirkman does a really nice job developing the setting while keeping the story moving. There are some odd bits of technology that make it a little difficult to understand what is going on at first, but they are explained quickly enough that it doesn't hurt the story.

The art is the only part of this book that I was divided on. For the most part it is really well done, especially the set pieces and the various creatures. I thought most of the characters were portrayed well. However, there are some moments where Nathan's appearance changes dramatically between panels that threw me off. I'm glad I took a chance on this book though because I liked it a lot. I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume.

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Review: Zojaqan

Zojaqan by Collin Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

I feel like this book is one that might benefit from a reread. It takes some time for the story to really unfold, and after seeing how more of the story elements play out near the end of the book I think the beginning might make more sense.

The main thing to know here is that Shannon Kind, known as The Shan throughout this book, winds up in a strange world where she acts as a sort of god. There are jumps through time that disorient Shannon and the reader, but allow us to watch the evolution of the beings known as Zoja. There is a bit of violence, which builds as we learn more about Shannon's background. I like how the last couple chapters incorporate more of her life before she encounters the Zoja.

I mostly enjoyed the art. There are images with awkward postures, which threw me off at times. The book can also be confusing because of the way it jumps around in time. I think this mimics some of the confusion that Shannon is feeling and doesn't know how to express. It is worth checking out for some interesting ideas and artwork.

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Review: The Stone Heart

The Stone Heart by Faith Erin Hicks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Almost as good as the first. The top things from this book for me are the art and the expansion of the history of the nameless city. I like the art style a lot. It can be both simple and very expressive. There is definitely a tone set for the story through the art. Even when things get pretty serious, the coloring and the drawing help to keep things a little on the lighter side without being frivolous. The city gets some more history, including some information on the founders of the city. There is a big to-do about them in this volume and spark some nasty events.

The characterization wasn't quite as good this time around. It wasn't bad by any means. I felt like there was an unnecessary tension between the protagonists. After the events of the first book they should be less suspicious of each other than they are presented in this story. The dynamics between the protagonists and the other characters in the story seemed much more natural.

I recommend the book to anyone that enjoyed the first part of the story. I am looking forward to the third chapter.

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Review: Dead and Gone

Dead and Gone by Andy Diggle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

Diggle's work on the first volume of this series didn't really impress me. So I wasn't expecting a lot going into this book. The concept sounded cool though because it was going to dive into the history of the Shadowman. This meant opening up the magical side of the Valiant universe a little more and showing the possibilities of the character without radically changing Jack Boniface.

There are three different time periods visited in this book: the 1940s, the late 1700s, and ancient Africa. Each of these adds to the series and foreshadows things to come. I like that the art changes based on the time period that is taking focus. There are a few moments that the art doesn't work for me. Specifically these occur during the few scenes that take place during the present, and the perspective felt off in those moments. Generally, the art is very well done though.

This is the Shadowman book that I've been waiting for. I feel like Valiant is making a concerted effort to bring this character back around and so far it has been working out pretty well. This book is one that I think a new reader could pick up and get excited about the character.

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Review: Moon Knight, Volume 3: God & Country

Moon Knight, Volume 3: God & Country by Mike Benson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Where do I begin? God & Country really felt like a middle of the road book for me. I tend to enjoy Moon Knight books a lot. I wasn't super impressed with this one though. It does a nice job following up on the previous volume, in which Marc Spector is issued a superhuman registration card following the events of Civil War. There is some backlash for his actions given his status. Throw in the fact that someone is committing murders and framing Moon Knight and the tension gets raised.

In the end, this book felt disjointed though. Once it pushes past the registration thing, it loses steam. Marc isn't handling his situation very well and all the people he has relied on to keep him sane start shutting him out. His situation sort of mirrors this volumes place in the series. They are both sort of drifting. I liked the art though. It carries over the tone of this run from the first two volumes very well. Even if I didn't like this character so much, I would still give the next volume of the series a chance.

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Review: Giant Days, Vol. 2

Giant Days, Vol. 2 by John Allison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Giant Days Vol. 2 gives readers more of what worked so well in the first volume. The characters are funny and on point. They can be a bit extreme at times, but that is part of what makes them so fun. This volume as a whole feels a little more disjointed than the first volume. Sure, there are subplots that run through the whole book. I just never felt like there was an overarching story this time around. Which is okay because the subplots do a nice job keeping things going.

This book has more of the same from volume one, but it didn't feel stagnant at all to me. The characters are able to develop within their niches. I like that this book digs into their pasts a little more. Fans of the first volume should have a lot of fun with this one. I know I am looking forward to picking up the next one.

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Review: The Mighty Thor Vol. 1: Thunder In Her Veins

The Mighty Thor Vol. 1: Thunder In Her Veins by Jason Aaron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really like what Jason Aaron has been doing with the Thor titles. Come to think of it I just like Jason Aaron's writing in general. This book feels familiar in that it is focused around a war in Asgard. There is scheming from Loki, Thor and Odin are butting heads, and the dark elves and frost giants are up to no good. Somehow, Aaron is able to give that all a fresh take, partially by pulling on the history of these characters within the Marvel universe. The art is top notch, but I don't really expect anything less from Marvel at this point. A word of warning though, new readers should probably start with Thor, Volume 1: The Goddess of Thunder.

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Review: The Infinity Gauntlet

The Infinity Gauntlet by Jim Starlin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. Mostly, that is because it is an older comic. It came out in the early 90s so it has a lot of the same trappings that I tend to dislike about comics from the 80s: it is particularly wordy when it doesn't need to be, the art hasn't aged well, it has some very comic book stereotype situations, and it takes itself way too seriously.

That said, I actually liked this story in which Thanos sets out to destroy the heroes of Earth in hopes of wooing Death. It can be a little convoluted and there are some characters that I am not familiar with, but it starts out strong and it keeps on going. There are a few points where it gets dull, mostly toward the end of the book where it seems to get repetitive. But the main thing here is that it makes Thanos really feel like a threat. I understand very early in this book what was going on and why Thanos mattered. The characters that I didn't know I was mostly able to figure out without having to go look anything up. And in spite of the over-the-top comic book nature of the story, it comes to a pretty satisfying conclusion.

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Review: Harbinger, Volume 5: Death of a Renegade

Harbinger, Volume 5: Death of a Renegade by Joshua Dysart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Volume 5 feels like the perfect follow up to volume 4. After all the bad stuff that the Renegades have been going through, they take some time to lay low until a potential ally leaks a bunch of data on Project Rising Spirit and sets his sights on Harada. The introduction of Ax, a computer hacker, into the story felt well placed. He adds some perspective that these kids have been lacking. I like the interplay between the Renegades and the Harbinger Foundation.

The story steps back from the big events at times to showcase the characters as people. Characterization is something that Dysart has been great at with this series so far. When the titular event happens, it feels right for the character. And the others react to it in normal ways. The visual aspect of the book plays that up wonderfully as well. The art might just be my favorite part of this book. The events that happen allow for some nice visual moments that add to the strong characterization.

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Review: Priest of Bones

Priest of Bones by Peter McLean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via Penguin Books First to Read in exchange for an honest review.

I tend to enjoy dark fantasy books, so I'm a little surprised that I didn't like this one more. The characters in this book, particularly the narrator Tomas Piety, return from war to find their home stolen from them and the city of Ellinburg on the verge of disaster.

There is a lot to like in this book: the characters are interesting, the setting is well developed, the narration has a strong voice, and it gives a good portrayal of the aftereffects of war. Piety's struggle with his place in the city after the war progresses over the course of the book. Bits of his past, and those around him, come out as the story goes on as well.

While I like what McLean did with the character of Piety, I didn't find the character himself especially likeable. It's not just the harshness that seems to have come from his experiences at war. There are moments presented that are meant to soften that to a degree. He seemed to be lacking some of the charisma and compassion that characters in similar book seem to possess. This might just be a personal preference. It is nice to have a change of pace with this character, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

I would definitely read the second book to see how the story continues and give Piety a second chance.

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Review: Lady Mechanika, Vol. 4: Clockwork Assassin

Lady Mechanika, Vol. 4: Clockwork Assassin by Joe Benítez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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

Anyone who has read this far into the series is probably enjoying it and I'm glad to say that volume four delivers more of the same. This time around, there is someone out killing inventors and all signs point to Lady Mechanika as the killer.

This book strongly follows up on the previous volumes. While Lady Mechanika's past still remains a bit of a mystery, this book plunges into the past of one of her associates. This helps round out the setting a bit and fills in some gaps of how certain characters and organizations are connected.

Someone reading this book as the first in the series really shouldn't be lost. There are a few references to events of the past few books, but nothing that should leave a reader out in the cold. The art is still good. I've had some issues with the way that Lady Mechanika and some of the other women have been drawn, but this volume seems to be moving away from a lot of those elements. The steampunk Victorian age setting is fun and the art goes a long way to bringing the books to life.

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