Young Terrorists, Volume 1: Pierce The Veil

author: Matt Pizzolo
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.41
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2015/08/31
date added: 2015/08/31
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Young Terrorists, Volume 1: Pierce The Veil' by Matt Pizzolo and art by Amancay Nahuelpan is a volume 1, but, if you're like me, you'll be confused at first. You may even be confused by the time it's done.

Sera is the daughter of a global bigwig, and she is accused of terrorism and interred in a detainment camp. Rather than just being some rich guy's daughter, Sera has some skills. She breaks out, and ends up being an internet star in Detroit. Along the way she collects some more people to her side, including a young man who is very down on his luck. What this group of people will do is up to future issues.

The entire 80 page volume represents the first volume and there is a lot of story thrown at the reader. There is also some confusing jabs at the megarich and corporations. There is an infographic showing Sera's family and two others, but we don't meet those two other families, so that graphic comes across as information we don't need yet. The whole thing is kind of thrown at the reader with the hope that things will make sense, and they kind of do, but I wasn't as much a fan of it. I did the like the artwork, and I am kind of interested to see where this goes.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Black Mask Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Chew, Vol. 10: Blood Puddin'

author: John Layman
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/31
date added: 2015/08/31
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Chew, Volume 10: Blood Puddin'" collects Chew issues 46-50. After so many issues, it may be that the humor is running a bit thin, but there it's still a bit madcap and crazy.

For those unfamiliar, you're probably better starting earlier in the series than this, but Chew is an agent of the FDA who solves crimes by getting psychic impressions from things that he eats. That should give you an idea of how crazy this book can be (and also kind of gross at times). This volume features the aftermath from a battle in previous issues. Some of the team are hospitalized, and one is dead. It takes a while before a story arc kind of kicks in, and we find new strange foodie powers, including a team that uses gelatin. Chew ends up fighting alone, or does he?

It's a weird mix of things: gross out food powers, strange new mashup words describing food powers, and vampires. I liked the art well enough, but it just takes too long for the story to kind of get going. I'd like to go back and re-read some of the early parts of the series.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Muirwood: The Lost Abbey (Kindle Serial) (Legends of Muirwood)

author: Jeff Wheeler
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.87
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/30
date added: 2015/08/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Muirwood: The Lost Abbey' is the first issue of a five issue Kindle serial. My review copy was only the first issue, so at 20+ pages, there isn't a lot to review without revealing spoilers.

Lady Marciana Soliven, aka Maia, is living in exile and locked inside a room when her father, the king, commands her to come see him. Apparently, he's learned something about his daughter and needs her to commit to a dangerous quest. The book then spends it's time with Maia debating the pros and cons of accepting the quest, but with 4 more issues due, we can already guess what her answer will be because 4 issues of Maia staring at the walls of her forced exile would be pretty unexciting.

The cover art is really good. The internal art is less so. Sometimes review copies have rough art or lower quality, so I'm hoping that's what happened here. There were definitely panels I liked better than others art-wise. The writing is not bad and the series is a tie-in with a series of novels.

I received a review copy of this single issue comic from Jet City Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this first issue.


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The Backwash of War. The Classic Account of a First World War Field-Hospital

author: Ellen N. La Motte
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 2014/06/23
date added: 2015/08/27
shelves: non-fiction
review:
War is hell, and certainly nobody knows this more than the doctors and nurses serving in the field hospitals near the battlefields. Especially those serving the wounded during World War I in Belgium and France. 'The Backwash of War' is a firsthand series of vignettes by Ellen N. La Motte who was an American nurse serving as an army nurse in Europe during the Great War. The release of this version of the book coincides with the 100th anniversary of World War I.

The first thing that struck me was how cynical the book is. I'm more familiar with that tone in books from later wars. Certainly the futility must have been felt, but it comes through clearly here. From a patient with a botched suicide that must be tended to just so he can die to the little Belgian boy who is wounded and his mother is too busy to come visit him because of her business making money off of soldiers. A patient getting a medal means a pension, but also means the patient will die. Patching and healing and returning soldiers to the front only to have them come back to repeat the cycle. Also, the soldiers got older as the war went on as the younger soldiers were all used up.

It's a quick, brutal read and I found it completely engaging. The title is completely perfect. There is apparently a BBC drama called the Crimson Field that is based on this book and I'll have to go looking for that next. If this sounds at all appealing, I can't recommend it enough.

I was given a review copy of this ebook by Pavilion Books, Conway and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read this great book.


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Twisted Dark, Volume 3

author: Neil Gibson
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/27
date added: 2015/08/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Twisted Dark, Volume 3' by Neil Gibson is back, and we are back to the darker tales like we got in the first volume. The stories don't always have a twist, but they are all a bit twisted.

The stories do have some similar characters. Some are easier to pick out than others. One recurring character is El Nudillo, a ruthless and malicious drug lord. Characters who cross his path don't have very good things happen to them. There's also a woman who samples some wine at a supermarket, then gets pulled over for drunk driving. A young boy who is scared of something in the night takes it to an interesting career choice. Probably the most poignant story is 'Perfection' about a young girl looking to lose weight, and never happy with the results until the final results are revealed.

There are other stories, but I'll leave them for the reader to discover. The art is all by different artists. Some is better than others, but the real reason to read this is for the twisted imagination of Neil Gibson. The stories read like the old EC Horror comics or the old CBS Radio Mystery Theater. Classic throwback horror stories with more modern characters. I liked this one as much as the first volume.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, TPub, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Cognac Conspiracies

author: Jean-Pierre Alaux
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2004
rating: 2
read at: 2015/08/26
date added: 2015/08/26
shelves:
review:
'Cognac Conspiracies' is the fifth book in the Winemaker Detective Mysteries, and probably the first one I didn't thoroughly enjoy. I felt like characters I'd come to know were not acting like they had in previous books.

This time around Benjamin Cooker is sent to audit the books of a famous distiller of cognac for sale to a foreign investor. Near the estate Benjamin runs into an old flame who is widowed with a son. Virgile is especially flirtatious and irresistible to the local population. A drowning changes things and Virgile and Benjamin find themselves in the midst of trying to find out if it was a murder, a suicide, or an accident. Of course, this is a mystery series, so it's the former, but who could it be?

This one was just strange to me. The mystery gets resolved seemingly by accident. Benjamin and Virgile seem less interested in those events that personal life things. Some of those storylines felt long. Let's not get me started on the weird family that owns the Cognac estate. Perhaps these events are based on fact, or this is just one that didn't translate as well culturally, but it just all felt a bit off to me. I'm certainly looking forward to the next one in the series, and I hope this one was just an oddity in an otherwise decent mystery series.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Le French Book and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Early Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald

author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/26
date added: 2015/08/26
shelves: classics
review:
'The Early Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald' is a great collection of work from the writer of 'The Great Gatsby.' The stories are from as early as 1917 up through 1922.

There is quite a range of emotion in these stories. From the humorous to the melancholy to the outright sad to the strange. There are spurned lovers, and a boy who ages backwards. There are men who can't escape their station in life, or their destiny in the war. There is a camel costume and a cursed cut glass bowl. There are outdoor activities like boating and skiing and golf. The characters seem quaint at times, but always familiar. The writing may be from earlier, but the stories are all worth reading. If you haven't read 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' but you've seen the movie, you should read it here to see how much got changed.

I enjoyed reading these stories. They act as a time capsule of a unique era, but they also reflect much of the yearning of people today. The stories are nearly 100 years old, but I can still see people I know in them. They may not wear flapper era clothing or camel costumes, but they feel familiar nonetheless.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Magnus: Robot Fighter Volume 2: Uncanny Valley

author: Fred Van Lente
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.20
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/24
date added: 2015/08/24
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Magnus Robot Fighter Volume 2' collects issues 5-8 of the rebooted series. It still has a look like the old comic, but that's not a bad thing.

This time around Magnus has found a group of humans dwelling underground called Gophs. He's convinced that one of their leaders is his long lost wife. She is not so certain. Which eventually leads to fighting, then an unsteady truce. The truce ends up leading to more fighting, but this time it's robots. Magnus and the woman he thinks is Moira end up in a weird club where humans are pitted against robots, and the humans' remains are sold to the highest bidder. Will Magnus end up finding 1A? Will his perky sidekick H.B.R. ever stop with the wisecracks and just shut up?

It was my introduction to the series, but I like it. It reminded me a bit of the edgy 2000 AD comics I read in the early 1980s like Judge Dredd, but I learn that it originated in the early 1960s. I like Magnus and his approach to fighting. Against impossible odds, he manages to pull through. The book has some pretty off-beat humor to it, and lots of robot killing violence. I thought the art was just ok, but I think the artists were going for a Gold Key homage to the original series, so I'll give it a pass.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Dynamite Entertainment, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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History & Me: A workbook of historic figures and family research

author: Education.com
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2015/08/23
date added: 2015/08/23
shelves: children-s
review:
'History & Me' by Education.com is another in a line of educational workbooks for kids. I've been impressed with some of the other workbooks, but less so this time around.

There were some interesting choices for historical figures. Some I was familiar with and others not so much. The first section was called 'She's So Cool' and focused on historical women. The second was called 'American Heroes' and along with the usual folks you might see, there were people like John Adams and Celia Cruz. The third section featured 'Presidential Potpourri' but only featured 3 presidents (Washington, Lincoln and Obama) which felt a bit sparse. The final section, called 'Tracing Our Roots' walks through how to look into your own ancestry a bit.

I am all for diversified education, but this book had me scratching my head on the additions and omissions. There should be some balance in who gets focus, but Asians and Latinos seemed to get really shortchanged here, especially Asian Americans. There would seem to be no historic white men after Thomas Edison. Surely we can pick more interesting people than John Adams and Alexander Hamilton for the intended age group. Maybe STEM should be represented a bit more since that is a current focus. Also, the worksheets in the second section seemed to be a lot of the same sort of activity this time around, where the activities were basically reading a paragraph or two then unscrambling a few words. The activities in the first section seem to mirror those in the writing workbook I recently reviewed, but they are stronger than the rest of the book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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EmiTown, Vol. 1

author: Emi Lenox
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/22
date added: 2015/08/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'EmiTown, Vol. 1' by Emi Lenox is a year in the life of a good cartoonist. It doesn't seem like the sort of thing I liked, but it kind of won me over.

Every page is a day in the life. From expenditures to doodles to adventures with friends. Emi lives in Portland and runs into other local artists from time to time, but most of her days are spent getting together with friends or trying not to buy so much coffee or breakfast burritos.
There isn't a lot of narrative flow, so it just goes on and on. There are personal details, but it's missing something, so it all has a sameness to it. At 400 pages, that can feel a bit tedious after a while, and it did wear on me, but I kept coming back for more of the adorable artwork.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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King (Kindle Serial)

author: Joshua Hale Fialkov
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/22
date added: 2015/08/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:



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The Fuse, Vol. 2: Gridlock

author: Antony Johnston
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/21
date added: 2015/08/21
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Fuse, Vol. 2: Gridlock' is more of the police procedural on a space station. It's not a bad story, but there isn't a whole lot of backstory on our main characters until pretty late in the book.

There is an illegal sport on the Fuse called Gridlocking. Competitors race across the solar arrays on the outside of the station. Things go badly when the main star ends up dead and floating on the outside of the station. The question is who did it and why. It could be part of a terrorist plot on the station by a political faction. It could be a jealous friend or family member. It could be a few different things. Klem gets to be cranky and Ralph gets to be not so much of a rookie this time around. We get to see more of the inner workings of the station.

It's a fairly standard mystery, but in space. The space stuff is fine and adds to the mystery elements, but it doesn't really elevate it above an average detective story. There is some further plot development about our main characters, but it's in the final pages of the book. I like the series, but I think I liked volume 1 more.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Criminal, Vol. 6: The Last of the Innocent

author: Ed Brubaker
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2015/08/17
date added: 2015/08/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Criminal Volume 6: The Last of the Innocent' by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips brings the series to an excellent conclusion, perhaps not in an expected way, but brilliantly nevertheless.

Riley Richards lives in the city now. He's married well and seems to have it all. When his father gets ill, he goes back to the small town he's from, Brookview. His flashbacks of the memories of those days is told in a style like the old Archie comics, but still decidedly in the Criminal fashion. We see how Riley met his wife, and his friends Lizzie Gordon and Vladmir "Freakshow" Frykowski. Along with the nostalgia, we see the things that are really bugging Riley, like his gambling debts, his prenuptial agreement, his job with his controlling father-in-law, and his cheating wife Felix. It wouldn't be a Criminal story if that were all there were, but to reveal more would be unfair to you.

The suspense is definitely there. There are a few cameos of other characters from the Criminal universe. The nostalgia is handled wonderfully, and the story is as good as any other in this series. I was introduced to this series earlier this year when Image reprinted it, and it's got to be the best thing I've read in comics in a long time, maybe of all time. I can't recommend this entire series highly enough, especially if the stories sound appealing to you. It has masterful plotting, and perfect art and color, and I wish there were more.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Zero, Vol. 4: Who By Fire

author: Ales Kot
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/08/17
date added: 2015/08/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Zero Volume 4: Who By Fire' by Ales Kot concludes the series in a sort of stream of consciousness way. Although it seems to have left behind it's earlier story, the themes are still evident here and I quite enjoyed it.

The reader is left to puzzle out events as this volume careens through time, and centers around mushroom experiments and a conversation by William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. The theme of violence travelling from one generation to the next is continued, as is the attempt to extricate it as if it were a blackened part of our own flesh. Grotesque imagery abounds as characters seem to be blooming with growths.

This volume collects issues 15-18 and, as in previous volumes, each issue has a different artist with a unique style. I loved all the art, I liked the stream of consciousness style of the narrative. While I didn't completely know what was going on, I didn't feel completely lost, and perhaps a re-read would set me on the right path. The writing by Ales Kot was strange and illusory. The whole thing is grotesquely beautiful, and while it may not be to everyone's liking, I liked it just fine. It's books like this that show what an art form the graphic novel can really be, and how this sort of story just couldn't be told in print any other way.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Punky Brewster #1 (Punky Brewster, #1)

author: Joelle Sellner
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/16
date added: 2015/08/16
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Punky Brewster #1' is a comic book reboot of the television series. It's bright and funny and I don't think you need to have watched the old series to get into this.

Young Punky Brewster and her dog Brandon are living on the streets. When Punky is caught by the police, she is sent to a foster home where hopefully she can find a relative. When she meets Henry, he is a distant relative, but Punky thinks he is perfect. The problem is Henry is an older man used to being on his own and not having a boisterous young girl and her dog around. Punky will not be deterred. Through foster homes, close calls with families that want to adopt her, George travelling out of town and adoption judges, Punky uses her Punky Power to convince all the grownups what would be best for her.

This seems like a redo of the pilot episode, if I'm remembering it correctly. The only part that seems to bog a bit is the big courtroom scene towards the end. Punky keeps delaying things and rather than build suspense, I just found myself wanting it to move along a bit faster. The art by Lesley Vamos is quite cute and the story by Joelle Sellner. This is a great story for those who remember and love the show, but it's just as good for anyone not old enough to remember it. It's a perfect jumping on point for new readers. It's also perfect for little kids, although parents may want to explain that running away and some of the other things Punky does are only for Punky to do.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Lion Forge Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Manga Classics: Emma

author: Stacy King
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/14
date added: 2015/08/14
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Manga Classics: Emma' is another stellar addition to the Manga Classics line. The illustrations are by Po Tse, who also illustrated Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice, and the story adaptation is a spot on adaptation of the Jane Austen classic.

Emma Woodhouse is intent on matching up her friends and avoiding getting married herself. Her newest project is poor Harriet. Harriet doesn't know her background, but Emma is sure she is better than the farmer that Harriet seems to like. Emma's friend Knightley watches from the sidelines and shakes his head as Emma makes one blunder after another. Along the way, will Emma find herself the victim of love or will she be able to dodge Cupid's arrows?

I didn't realize it, but this year is the 200th anniversary of the book 'Emma.' It's really no wonder that this story has endured, and it's seen a lot of incarnations over the years, from faithful movie productions to Hollywood teen movies to this manga. The story is told faithfully and lovingly here. The art is good, and it's easy to keep the characters separated since Po Tse has designed each to be unique. There are character model sheets scattered in between some of the chapters, and the book finishes with some good critical analyses of the book. Don't worry if you don't know how to read manga, this book gives you a perfect guideline (as do all the Manga Classics). You will find it easy within no time to comfortably adapt and read these great classics.

I received a review copy of this manga from Udon Entertainment, Manga Classics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this wonderful manga.


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Danger Club Volume 2: Life (Danger Club, #2)

author: Landry Q. Walker
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/14
date added: 2015/08/14
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Danger Club Volume 2: Rebirth' by Landry Walker with illustrations by Eric Jones and Rusty Drake is the sort of comic that isn't subtle. It's the sort that jumps off the page and slaps you. Sometimes, that's ok.

There is a cosmic threat that is heading to their universe, and it's up to a group of teenage sidekicks to save the day. Due to events in the first book, things are looking dire and bleak. Dire to the point of loss of limb and life. And bleak to getting help from unfeeling higher powers. In the face of that, what's a kid supposed to do?

Having not read the first volume, I was a bit lost at first, and the first few pages are pretty shocking to say the least. I would definitely recommend not starting here. I can also tell you it's not the kind of story that is necessarily easy to follow along with. Scenes shift in a nightmarish way.

Having said that, there is much to like here. I loved the splash page of every issue with it's throw back to different eras of comic books. My favorite might have been the early 1990s parody one of the Danger Club team. The art is good. The story is shocking and in-your-face. Now I need to track down volume 1 so I can figure out how the story got here.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Four Eyes, Volume 1: Forged in Flames

author: Joe Kelly
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/09
date added: 2015/08/09
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Four Eyes, Volume 1: Forged in Flames' by Joe Kelly with art by Max Fiumara is a story told in an alternate depression era New York where dragons exist. With that as a concept, I think you just have to go with the idea, or it starts to unravel.

Enrico is a young boy who adores his father. Imagine his horror when his father is brutally killed by a dragon. This sets Enrico on the path to the goal of destroying all dragons. What he finds along the way is a shadowy underworld of dragon fighting, and the dangerous job of capturing new dragons to fuel the sport. With a mom doing all she can to keep the family afloat, Enrico decides that he needs to step up and be the man of the house. This puts him in the grasp of a shadowy mob boss type, and walking in to meet the same dragons that did his father in.

It's a volume 1 that feels a bit like a prelude, but seems to be the start of an interesting story. I liked the art by Max Fiumara, especially the set of the jaw that he gives young Enrico. I also like background art like the job lines and bread lines. The dragons are okay, but they are mostly just claws and fangs. I'd like to see where this goes, because I like how this story has begun.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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I, Morgana

author: Felicity Pulman
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.10
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/08
date added: 2015/08/08
shelves:
review:
'I, Morgana' by Felicity Pulman is advertised as a new take on an old legend. As a fan of Arthuriana, I enjoyed it, but there are better stories out there about this character.

Morgana is promised a kingdom by her father. She learns all kinds of interesting magic from her teacher Merlin who sees her as more talented at it than her half-brother Arthur. When her father dies, and Arthur gets what was promised to her, Morgana wants to get it back and get even with her brother. She sets in motion a series of rash things that eventually she may come to regret. A son named Mordred by her brother. A daughter by Lancelot. A potion meant to cause a fatal blow to her brother's marriage. All these machinations take their toll, and the price Morgana pays may be more than she wants to. Along the way she has strange visions of the future, which may serve as a warning to our own times.

King Arthur, the knights and some of the quests are woven in, but I had a hard time feeling sympathetic for Morgana. Maybe that wasn't the point, but it left me feeling a bit flat when it was all done. There is a huge body of fiction on this topic, but maybe not as much on Morgana, so I was looking forward to something more interesting than what I read. That's unfortunate.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Momentum Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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G.I. JOE: The Fall of G.I. JOE Volume 2

author: Karen Traviss
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/08
date added: 2015/08/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'G.I. Joe: The Fall of G.I. Joe Volume 2' collects issues 5-8 of the series. You'll want to read the first volume unless you want to spend part of this volume lost.

The short synopsis is that Cobra has successfully replaced G.I. Joe and forced them into hiding. Duke is now an Ex-G.I. Joe leader. The current volume relates to a talented young man named Isaac Craft who is near Rashidov, a shadowy separatist leader. While Cobra leader Tomax Paoli is on the hunt for him, the Baroness decides to make a bold attack against wartime protestors in the hopes that the Joes will take the fall. When Paoli finally makes his move on Rashidov, it might be the thing that puts Cobra in charge forever or sets them on the run.

There were a lot of plates spinning on this one. I got a review copy of the second volume, but I haven't read the first one, so I was a bit lost. The story does weave into other recent G.I. Joe books, and the writing by Karen Traviss kept me interested. The art by Steve Kurth was good, but I did have trouble at times telling some characters apart. That could also be because there are a lot of characters here. I liked the intrigue of the story, and while it never felt like one side had the upper hand, it felt like either side was quickly able to exploit their advantages, probably not unlike real special ops. I would like to read volume 1 to see what I missed, but I liked this one quite a bit.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Robert Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy

author: Robert Lazaro
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.15
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2015/08/07
date added: 2015/08/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Robert Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy' by Robert Lazaro, Eric Gignac and Steve Erwin, is an adaptation of a classic book. The problem is that it's not a very good adaptation.

The story follows young Thorby, a slave on a distant planet. When no one will buy him, he is taken in by a crippled beggar. That this will change his life is probably no spoiler based on the title of the book. That this mysterious beggar is probably more than he pretends to be is also likely to be no surprise. Thorby finds himself on an upward path back to back where he belongs. Along the way he meets people who mean well by him and want to harm him. He learns much about the galaxy around him. How he reacts to these folks and circumstances is what should make the story.

Except in this case, Thorby is just sort of pushed around to serve the story, and never seems to become his own man. The adaptation feels like a sightseeing tour by someone who is not familiar with the territory. The big milestones are here, but the underlying elements, like Baslim's spying on the slave trade or the true matriarchal culture of the traders. Those things are there, but it all comes across as a bland retelling. The art is ok, and serves the narrative well enough. Maybe there are too many story elements and it should have been a longer adaptation, but this fell way short of my expectations.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Drifter Volume 1: Out of the Night

author: Ivan Brandon
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.19
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/07
date added: 2015/08/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Drifter, Volume 1: Out of the Night' by Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein is a graphic novel to read more for the art than the story. That's not a bad thing, if you like style over substance.

When a lone spaceman named Abram crash lands on the world of Ouros, he's in for a strange time. He encounters strange creatures, then is shot. When he comes to, he's in an interesting enough town, but the time since he crashed has elongated. Rather than a short time, he finds it's been quite a while. The town seems like a throwback to Westerns, with a saloon and grubby miners. Abram is still finding his footing as this volume ends.

There seem to be a lot of plot elements and many of them are thrown out without context. This left a kind of jarring reading experience as the reader is constantly shifting and trying to figure out what part of the story they are in. I like the space western setting. It's been done a lot, but I think it's not overstayed it's welcome yet. The art by Nic Klein is what really saves this. It's strange and clean and gorgeous to look at. It did keep me turning the pages to see what strange thing he'd paint next. A spaceship crashed in the water or goggled renegades or dangerous underground worms. It's all quite good. Maybe the story will settle down and begin to make some coherent sense, and maybe that's the point of the early volumes, to throw the reader off-kilter like Abram is. For now, I wish the story had lived up to the art.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Reality Boy

author: A.S. King
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/05
date added: 2015/08/05
shelves: young-adult
review:
'Reality Boy' by A.S. King takes on our obsession with reality tv and shows what possible victims could look like. It's a wild ride with a likeable protagonist.

Gerald Faust, aka "The Crapper." was a young star on a reality television series called Network Nanny. Due to problems in his house, he acted out his inability to cope, which got caught on camera. Now years later, he just wants a normal life. Instead, he finds himself living in a home with a psychotic sister, a mom who thinks the sister is not wrong, and a father so disinterested that he allows bad things to happen. This leaves Gerald in anger management class, in the special education class in high school, and afraid to have a relationship because of how afraid he is of himself. When he meets a new girl at work, and she seems to like him a lot, will he try a chance on a new life?

I couldn't imagine this kind of life, and at the same time, I could. Our messed up media works with soundbites and video clips making people famous and infamous based on camera angles and edits. I found the main character appealing, even with the intense anger he was going through. I loved his mentally drifting off into 'Ger's land' a place with Disney characters and ice cream. I loved when he learns that escaping like that doesn't really solve things. The solutions at the end seem a bit too simple, but it's an ok end to the story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Little Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Tea Party in the Woods

author: Akiko Miyakoshi
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/03
date added: 2015/08/03
shelves: children-s
review:
'The Tea Party in the Woods' by Akiko Miyakoshi is the kind of gorgeous picture book that begs to be shared and savored during a quiet storytime with a youngster.

On a snowy Winter day, Kikko's father sets out through the woods to help out Grandma. When he forgets the pie he was supposed to take, Kikko sets out after him. She follows him into the woods, but has a little accident. She follows him to a strange house and finds out that it's not her father after all, but a bear in clothing. He invites her in to a tea party held by the animals.

The drawings are very well done and worth poring over. The story seems familiar, but the animals are so whimsical that it keeps the story enchanting. The drawings are mainly black and white with some highlights of color, like the yellow of a cymbal or the red of Kikko's snow hat. The story is a gentle one, not a loud one. Perhaps a good transition for bedtime or other quiet times.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Kids Can Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Galaxy Quest - The Journey Continues

author: Erik Burnham
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.92
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/01
date added: 2015/08/01
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Galaxy Quest - The Journey Continues' is a 4-issue "sequel" to the movie Galaxy Quest. The story is by Erik Burnham with art by Nacho Arranz.

When the Omega 13 is activated at the end of the Galaxy Quest movie, it has consequences on the planet Dryth where a civil war is waging between the two factions of Drythans. Before long, one of the factions is heading toward Earth to find out who set events in motion and to have them fix it. Cut to years later where we learn that the Galaxy Quest series has been reborn, and that Brandon, ubernerd and hardcore Galaxy Quest fan, has been staying in touch with the Thermians, a plot point that could prove useful. The Drythans arrive on Earth and can look like anyone, so they invade a comic convention where the Galaxy Quest cast is appearing and coerce them into helping by replacing them with lookalikes. The cast is still in over their heads, but find ways to make wisecracks, and this time Brandon finds himself along for the ride. Still it was nice to see these characters together again, and I think Erik Burnham got them right.

With only four issues, the story feels really rushed, and when the final showdown happens, it was over so fast, I was actually thinking I was missing pages. The plot is very similar to the movie, but so is the humor. The artwork was good, except, I kept getting confused with a few of the male characters, specifically Jason Nesmith and Alexander Dane. There are some pretty funny setups, but I wanted more and for the story to not feel as rushed. It seems like it's a longer ongoing story, so maybe it will even out over time.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from IDW Publishing, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.



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The Stereotypical Freaks (Forever Friends, #1)

author: Howard Shapiro
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/01
date added: 2015/08/01
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Stereotypical Freaks' is a graphic novel by Howard Shapiro. It's part of the Forever Friends trilogy. I read the second book first, but I think each volume so far stands completely on it's own.

Four very different young men come together to form a band for their school's battle of the bands contest. They each represent a different segment of their school, so they end up calling their band The Stereotypical Freaks. They have their clashes as a band and as high school students. One is a jock and he gets pressured by his friends about hanging out with seemingly uncool kids. One is a quiet foreign exchange student with a sad secret. As the day of the contest gets closer the secret is revealed and it helps form closer friendships and gets the band to the competition.

I liked the art a bit better in this volume, but it's black and white and since this was a I'm not sure if it's the final or just a draft. The story feels a bit dated, based on some of the music they guys in the band like, but it's still a good story. There are no superheroes here. Just a well told story.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Animal Media Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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