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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