Rick and Morty: Lil' Poopy Superstar Vol. 1

author: Sarah Graley
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2017/02/28
date added: 2017/02/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Rick and Morty" Lil' Poopy Superstar Vol. 1' by Marc Ellerby with art by Sarah Graley and Mildred Louis is my second graphic novel based on a series I'm not familiar with. I didn't mind the first one, but didn't care much for this one.

Summer Smith is jealous of her brother Morty and his relationship with his grandfather Rick. They have all the fun (or so Summer thinks). When she gets a chance to help out a strange alien named Mr. Poopybutthole, she takes it. What follows is a series of adventures where the reader doesn't know if the character wants to be found because he's famous, or found because he is the object of murderous rage. Summer gets to be a hero, but will that be enough to make her grandfather notice her?

The character's name is pretty dumb and the reader knows it because it is used over and over again, as some sort of blunt trauma joke. There are some things to be said about the nature of celebrity here, but they get buried in tasteless moronic humor. I was not impressed.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press, 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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Batman, Volume 1: I Am Gotham

author: Tom King
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/26
date added: 2017/02/26
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Batman, Volume 1: I Am Gotham' by Tom King, David Finch, and a host of other people has Batman facing an unusual challenge: a hero who thinks Gotham should be saved from Batman.

Batman thinks about his secession. He can't be Batman forever, but where does that leave the city? He takes on Duke Thomas, but now there are two new heroes in Gotham: Gotham and Gotham Girl. Their story seems familiar, but they seem to see Batman as an obstacle to saving the city. Batman sees them as potential allies to his fight, but they may be too powerful and too set in their own agenda.

It's a big sweeping story and I liked it quite a bit. The introduction of these two characters is done well, and there are a few villains that serve their purpose. I like how Alfred even has a role to play. There are some nice surprises in this story.

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


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Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior: An Unofficial Minecraft Adventure

author: Cube Kid
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/24
date added: 2017/02/24
shelves: children-s
review:
'Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior: An Unofficial Minecraft Adventure' by Cube Kid is a kind of mashup of the video game Minecraft and the book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

The diary in the title is being kept by a villager named Runt in Minecraftia. He leads a decent life except for the zombies trying to get over the walls and the other perils. He heads off to school to learn things, but what he really wants to be is a warrior like Steve. What he doesn't know is that Steve thinks all of this is a game. As Runt learns, we follow his progress in the different skills like building, crafting, fighting, etc. He has a rival at school, but also friends.

I think it will be a fun series for a certain age kid. There are some pretty funny things that happen and plenty of drawings along the way. Runt is a likable young character and I found myself rooting for him. I enjoyed this.

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


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Hell's Marshal (Hell's Butcher #1)

author: Chris Barili
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/02/24
date added: 2017/02/24
shelves:
review:
'Hell's Marsal' by Chris Barili is a tale out of the Weird West combining gun fighting action and a bit of horror.

Frank Butcher is in Hell. The real one. His days are spent being tormented. Based on what he did to get there, he is okay with this. When the soul of Jesse James gets loose, Frank is sent to bring him back. Bringing Jesse back won't be easy, but with a small team of other tormented souls. They want redemption, but Frank just wants to go back to suffering. Jesse has other plans as well. Can Frank and his crew do the job?

It's an over the top story that's got a pulp feel to it, but that works. The characters are pretty interesting. It's weird that one of them comes back as a coyote, and the others as human, but the coyote also serves it's purpose. It looks like this is the beginning of a series, and it's not a bad premise. A fun quick story.

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


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The Light Ages (The Aether Universe, #1)

author: Ian R. MacLeod
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.40
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/24
date added: 2017/02/24
shelves:
review:
'The Light Ages' by Ian R. MacLeod doesn't feel much like light reading, but it's an enjoyable story for the right reader. Think of Charles Dickens meeting up with an alternate England powered by a kind of magic crystal.

The book follows Robert Borrows who was born on sixthshiftday in the grimy factory town of Bracebridge. His early days are accompanied by the sounds of the factory as it churns outpower for the wealthy. Shoom, boom. Shoom, boom. What's being manufactured is a byproduct of a magical crystal known as Aether. Robbie sees his father's hard life of working and his mother's odd ties to this aether. He also meets a strange young girl that he will run in to as he gets older.

As he gets older, he rails against a system that uses men up and supplies the wealthy with strange and useless toys. He tries to fight the corruption he sees, and finds that his life is tied to the life he once knew and the strange girl named Anna.

It's a large novel that feels somewhat like something from the 19th century. That's a complete compliment to the author. I don't know that I ever felt any connection to the main characters beyond a sense of pity. That might be where the book failed me, but I did enjoy the journey and this strange alternate take on the Industrial Age.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Equinoxes

author: Cyril Pedrosa
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.30
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/23
date added: 2017/02/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Equinoxes' by Cyril Pedrosa is the graphic novel equivalent of an independent film. I liked it, but ultimately didn't love it.

The story is split up into the four seasons. The characters at first are independent and it's not known what connection they'll have throughout the story. There is even a wordless story that begins each season, and that even finds a way to tie in.

The characters range from a young girl with a camera who takes candid photos of people and writes stories about them, a divorced man, a retired politician. The events range from a field trip, to a hike up a mountain to a protest against the building of an airport.

I really liked the art style. The story is good too, but can feel a bit vague and disconnected. Things begin to make sense evenutally, but at 336 pages, it takes a while.

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


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Superman, Volume 2: Return to Glory

author: Gene Luen Yang
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.61
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/20
date added: 2017/02/20
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Superman, Volume 2: Return to Glory' collects Superman issues 45-52 and Annual 3 and it tells quite the tale.

Events leading up to this collection have Superman's identity outed by something called Hordr_root. His Clark Kent identity as well as his job are gone. So are most of his powers. He finds himself adrift and alone. This leads him to an underground fight club in Oakland called Mythbrawl where he makes ends meet by fighting little known gods from other countries.

He is on the trail to Hordr_root, and this leads him to who is behind Hordr_root, Vandal Savage. Vandal got his powers in the comet that was supposed to wipe out Krypton. Instead the comet was diverted and headed to Earth instead, and Vandal Savage found it. Now he wants to create an army of super beings out of his descendants.

In a last ditch effort, Superman tries to get his powers back in the most extreme way possible, using kryptonite. Will that fix things or be the end of Superman?

The only problem with a major story-line like this is that it tends to spill out into other books. This means that there are times when things happen in other DC titles that are not included here. Sometimes there is a recap to catch the reader up. Sometimes there isn't. This leads to gaps in the story.

But the art is consistent good across the artists here, as is the writing. It turns into a moving story and I can't wait to see what's next.

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


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The Baker Street Peculiars

author: Roger Langridge
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.55
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/02/20
date added: 2017/02/20
shelves: graphic-novels, children-s
review:
'The Baker Street Peculiars' by Roger Langridge with illustrations by Andy Hirsch is a fun romp through the streets of London with a new group of young detectives.

It's the 1930s and many of the large statues around London are going missing. Sherlock Holmes can't take on the case, but asks three kids in the streets (plus one dog) to help out. Humphrey is going to a private school, Molly is living with her grandfather, and Rajani is a homeless girl living on the streets. They don't know each other before Sherlock hires them. The mystery involves a Cockney golem and the kids find themselves in all kinds of trouble. They also find out that there may be more to Sherlock than they've been led to believe.

It's a cute enough story. Although the setting and story involve Sherlock, the timeframe and the type of story don't feel much like an actual Sherlock Holmes adventure. This won't be for the purists, but it's fine for younger readers who like stories with diverse characters. I like the message that females can solve crime and have adventures just like the males can.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Boom! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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The Blue Hour

author: Isabelle Simler
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/02/20
date added: 2017/02/20
shelves: children-s
review:
'The Blue Hour' by Isabelle Simler is a picture book for bedtime with soothing text and beautiful illustrations.

The book is all told in varying shades of blue. As the day fades and the night comes in, the blue gets darker. Against this blue backdrop are the different animals and plants that are also blue. Like blue herons and blue whales. Bluebells and cornflowers shine off the pages. The book ends with the animals waiting silently for the night. The final page shows where are the different animals can be found in the world.

The book begins with a color chart of all the shades of blue, and I think most or all of them are used in the book. I love the progression of color from lighter to darker blue. I like the peacefulness and beauty of these pictures showing not a scary dark world, but one full of wonder. If you are looking for a beautiful picture book to share with your little one during quiet time, this is a good choice.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Love: The Dinosaur, Volume 4

author: Frédéric Brrémaud
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/19
date added: 2017/02/19
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Love: The Dinosaur, Volume 4'
by Frédéric Brrémaud and Federico Bertolucci is the 4th in this series of wordless animal tales. I enjoyed it as much as the previous entries in the series.

This time the story is a bit of a departure from previous volumes that dealt with animals that are still alive. It's also much the same in the action, violence and survival that the creatures go through. Even though the T-Rex is on the cover, the story seems to be told through the eyes of a much smaller dinosaur.

The inevitable demise of the dinosaurs is shown, but there is plenty of dinosaur fighting action before that shows. The art can be a bit graphic, so really young or somewhat squeamish readers should be a bit warned off.

This series is really great, and I've enjoyed every entry. There is a sketchbook included at the end showing designs in process.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Magnetic Press, 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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Batgirl, Volume 3: Mindfields

author: Cameron Stewart
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2017/02/18
date added: 2017/02/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Batgirl, Volume 3: Mindfields' has someone messing with Batgirl's mind. Can she figure it out before she loses it altogether?

The main story is about Batgirl losing her mind. She enlists friends to help her, including Black Canary, Bluebird, and Spoiler. She senses something is wrong when she can't remember recent events. It comes to a head when she finds herself betrayed by someone that is close to her. Can she stop the memory loss and get her life back>

The second story starts as Barbara Gordon's new energy company is starting up and she's decided to hang up the cape for a bit. The problem with that is when Gladius shows up and Batgirl is afraid her friends are in over their heads. She dons the cape again, but ends up making some big decisions about her life and business before it's all over.

I'm familiar with Batgirl, but I found these stories just ok. The art is pretty amazing, and I like the look of Batgirl and company. The second story just came across as a bit confusing to me. The fights happened and Batgirl made her choice and the whole thing just kind of lost me. There is a back up story that is mostly art with no dialogue and I actually liked this the best.

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


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Generation Zero Vol. 1

author: Fred Van Lente
name: Wayne
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/18
date added: 2017/02/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Generation Zero Vol. 1'by Fred Van Lente with art by Francis Portela was a good start to a series, but I feel like there is something that happened before this issue that I wasn't aware of.

Keisha Sherman lives in the town of Rook, which seems just a little too perfect, with her law enforcement father. When her boyfriend dies in a really suspicious car crash, she starts to learn that her town may be hiding some really strange secrets. The only people she can turn to are a strange group of heroes called Generation Zero. They are a strange group of kids with odd powers, and they start looking in to what is happening. She finds out that someone else seemed to have a crush on her boyfriend, and this turns into a strange trip into that person's psyche.

It feels familiar and yet a little different. The Generation Zero team seems a bit menacing and dangerous, but not to Keisha. I like that edge. I also liked the strange trip into Adele's mind and how it looked like an Archie comic. The art is really good in this book, and I like this start. My review copy didn't have all 5 issues that are in this volume, but I had enough to see that this wasn't too bad.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Valiant Entertainment, 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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Slow Bullets

author: Alastair Reynolds
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2017/02/18
date added: 2017/02/18
shelves:
review:
'Slow Bullets' by Alastair Reynolds was a short read, but I've read way better things by this author.

A huge conflict is raging across worlds and solar systems. Scur is a combatant who gets captured. She finds herself waking up aboard a prison transport ship, but there are also other allies and enemies in long-term sleep aboard this ship. Things have gone wrong and as soldiers from both sides wake up, they have to decide if they will form alliances or fight for survival. The title refers to an injection with a projectile that slowly heads towards the victims heart. Along the way it erases memories.

A huge ship filled with lots and lots of other people, but the book only has a few main characters, and they don't feel very fleshed out. I had a hard time caring for any of the characters. Perhaps it would have worked better as a longer book, but this just kind of felt like a miss all around for me.

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


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Salt & Silver: Travel, Surf, Cook

author: Johannes Riffelmacher
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2017/02/18
date added: 2017/02/18
shelves: non-fiction
review:
When I saw 'Salt & Silver: Travel, Surf, Cook' by Johannes Riffelmacher and Thomas Kowalski, it seemed like something familiar and yet completely new: a travel book, a cook book, and a book about surfing. I requested it and I'm glad I did.

The cover says "Travel. Surf. Cook" and that's exactly what you get in this book. The two authors are from Germany and know a thing or two about surfing and cooking. They spent a good chunk of time traveling in Cuba and Central and South America and this book is about the journey. They got to know the locals and seemed to avoid the tourist places if possible. They did the trip fairly cheaply and ate and lived adventurously. They were chased by cops in Mexico as they got caught doing graffiti with a local team of artists, jumped off a dangerous cliff into a pool of water, and learned the wrong way to buy a car. They got tattoos along the way to remember the journey, but the people are experiences are what I'm sure they will always remember.

Included in the book are recipes as well as gps coordinates and short write ups for surf spots in the places they visit. The photography is gorgeous and I thoroughly enjoyed this mashup of food, travel and surfing. I'm so glad I took the time to read it.

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


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Rick and Morty Vol. 4

author: Kyle Starks
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/02/17
date added: 2017/02/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Rick and Morty Vol. 4' was something I read because I know little to nothing about this animated series. I've seen the characters, but I don't have cable and I haven't tried to look them up online. It's funny if a bit weird and crude.

In this volume, Morty convinces his grandfather Rick to use his powers for good and create medicine that will benefit the world. This means killing a flying creature that is the last of its kind. This also turns Rick into a very wanted drug lord. How he gets out of this is pretty funny. Also, Morty wants to be muscular and Rick does it, but warns about the side effects, which turn out to be pretty gross.

I don't know how true these feel to the series, but since the creators are linked to the book, I have to imagine that they are. Over the issues included in this volume, the art style varies a bit, but it's passable. There are bonus short stories included. I have another one of these to read, but I don't know if I'm a fan yet.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press, 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 Thing at the Foot of the Bed and Other Scary Tales

author: Maria Leach
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.45
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2017/02/16
shelves:
review:
'The Thing at the Foot of the Bed and Other Scary Tales' by Maria Leach with illustrations by Kurt Werth reminded me of camping and telling ghost stories around the fire. Do people still do that?

Here is a book from the middle of the last century. There are quite a few ghost stories organized by type. There are funny ones, scary ones, "real" ones, ghost games, witch stories, and do's and don't's about ghosts. None of the stories is particularly scary, and most are quaint and somewhat funny. There are lone hitchhikers who disappear and talking cats and people who mistakenly shoot their foot thinking it's a ghost. All of the stories are quite short.

I don't know if kids today would even care about a collection like this. I read lots of Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock collections and loved the Universal monsters. I remember being scared of the hook-handed man and the girl with the ribbon tied around her neck. These are more like folklore. The footnotes tell where the stories are told, and this was of more interest to me. The illustrations break up the stories and are a bit on the rough side, but I liked them. There is a bibliography for further reading. I enjoyed this not so scary collection of ghost stories.

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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Lady Mechanika Volume 1: Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse

author: Joe Benítez
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2017/02/14
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Lady Mechanika Volume 1: Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse' by Joe Benitez is the type of rip-roaring adventure I like. I'm not much of a fan of the good girl type art, but I can set that aside and recommend this for fans of steampunk.

Lady Mechanika is a sort of construct. You can tell when she takes her goggles off and you see her red glowing eyes. She is fairly smart and an adventurer in this version of a steampunk London in the age of Victoria.

When a similar mechanical lady is found dead, it sets Lady Mechanika in motion. Perhaps if she learns about this young lady, it will lead her to the person who made her. Where it does lead her is to a gypsy circus with some odd characters and to a fancy party aboard an airship.

There are lots of pin up style shots of Lady Mechanika, and she seems to be a bit underdressed for the Victorian era, but maybe not for this alternate machine type one. Regardless of this, the art is quite good in this series, and the story kept me turning pages. I've got volume 2 up to read soon.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Benitez Productions, 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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Welcome to the Universe: An Astrophysical Tour

author: Neil deGrasse Tyson
name: Wayne
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/02/14
date added: 2017/02/14
shelves: non-fiction
review:



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Green Arrow (2016-) Vol. 1: The Death and Life of Oliver Queen

author: Benjamin Percy
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.80
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/02/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Death and Life of Oliver Queen' by Benjamin Percy with art by Otto Schmidt delivers what the title states, so hopefully that's not a spoiler.

Oliver Queen returns to Seattle. In his role helping the people of Seattle, he finds that the homeless are being preyed on by ghastly looking beings that seem to be burned. It ties in to his very fortune and family. Before he knows it, he is betrayed by those closest to him, and murdered.

But that's not the whole story. He now finds himself without his fortune, but he still has friends and he wants to solve the mystery of the organization that has taken his wealth to use for evil purposes.

I've always liked that Green Arrow is set in Seattle, and I appreciate that they get so many of the details right. It's good to see Black Canary back in the picture, and I look forward to seeing what Green Arrow's sister Emi will do in future issues.

The writing is good and the art is pretty good as well. The book includes some character, and cover sketches. Also included is a cover gallery with art by Green Arrow legend Neal Adams.

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


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Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four, Vol. 2

author: Brian Buccellato
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2017/02/11
date added: 2017/02/11
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Four, Vol. 2' by Brian Buccellato concludes the Year of the Gods story-line. Superheroes against Greek gods? I'm in.

This series is a prequel to the video game. I've read and earlier volume, but not anything too recent, but I was able to pick up what was happening. In the world of the game, Superman has become a tyrant and Batman is out to stop him. The game is also a fighting video game, so there are lots of characters squaring off against each other.

Everyone is cranky with Superman. Zeus is also on Earth now and he's not happy either. Lex Luthor, Batman, and Wonder Woman are trying to stop Zeus, so they enlist his brother Poseidon. That turns out badly and Wonder Woman's home of Themyscira is endangered.

In a backup story, Plastic Man shows up to break in to a high security prison. I liked this story quite a bit, but I've always liked Plastic Man.

There aren't a lot of extras included. The story is ok, but since it's a tie in to a fighting game, it seems like characters in this series sometimes don't seem to act true to their nature. This series seems to be more for fans of the game than fans of these characters.

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


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Pride and Prejudice

author: Jane Austen
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2017/02/11
shelves: classics
review:



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Labyrinth: One classic film, fifty-five sonnets

author: Anne Corrigan
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.62
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/02/10
shelves:
review:
'Labyrinth: One classic film, fifty-five sonnets' by Anne Corrigan was something I almost passed on. The idea has cheesiness all over it, but it is actually quite good and seemingly a true labor of love.

The film and dedication are told in 55 sonnets. I'm no expert on sonnets, so I don't know if these held true to a form of juxtaposing, but the basic form, rhyme and meter felt right.

I wish more of the story of how this came to be were in a preface to this book. The author is a huge fan of the film and felt like the adaptation novel lacked the more poetic feel of the movie. It was written for the film's thirtieth anniversary, but also became a tribute to David Bowie. There are references to Bowie songs woven in and the book is dedicated to him.

If you have a Labyrinth fan in your life, this was a loving tribute and I thought it was executed very well. Bravo!

I received a review copy of this ebook from Troubador Publishing, Matador, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Teen Titans: Earth One, Volume 2

author: Jeff Lemire
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2017/02/09
date added: 2017/02/09
shelves:
review:
'Teen Titans: Earth One, Volume 2' by Jeff Lemire with art by Andy MacDonald imagines an alternate origin for the famous DC team. I actually don't know what the official origin is for this team, but this isn't a bad one.

I haven't read Volume 1 of this series, but this one starts off at a quick clip. Cyborg, Terra, Beast Boy and Aqualad are in hiding. They are being hunted down by scary grownups who want to use their newfound powers. The kids don't even really understand what has happened to them. We learn that the arrival of Starfire has caused this. Starfire and Raven are also in hiding, but they are going to need to join the fight as a new group of kids called the Titans is sent to find them. This new group includes Wally, Cassie and a character named Kole that I'd never heard of. Can the confusion of new powers be overcome so that a team can form to fight back?

I liked it, but reading the first volume would be recommended. I really like this alternate version of things. The confusion and fear that Cyborg especially has is really good. The art fell right into the medium range. It didn't wow me, but I didn't hate it. A nice read.

I received a review copy of thie graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Harry and Clare's Amazing Staycation

author: Ted Staunton
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/02/09
shelves: children-s
review:
'Harry and Clare's Amazing Staycation' by Ted Staunton with illustrations by Mika Song is about the power of imagination, and also about the power of kindness.

Harry and Clare are on spring break. They are stuck at home. It is raining. What are two kids to do? On Monday, they go exploring the volcanoes of Mars in the living room. Harry carries the luggage, Clare carries the snacks. This happens through the week. Harry has an idea. Will his idea work and will he get to finally eat a snack?

I love books about kids imaginations and this one had lots of that. The kids make the best of being stuck at home and the rain by using their minds to have fun. I love how Harry solves the problem of Clare not sharing snacks. It's not a perfect solution, but it is kind. The illustrations are cute and I think young readers will like this book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Sloppy Wants a Hug

author: Sean Julian
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.76
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2017/02/09
shelves: children-s
review:
'Sloppy Wants a Hug' by Sean Julian is the cutest picture book I've read in a while. It made me smile and laugh out loud.

Sloppy, the tree dragon, wants a hug, but Dewdrop, the sprite, isn't about to give him one for good reason. Sloppy tries to get Dewdrop to hug him by acting sad, or bringing her gifts like sticks, rocks, and small woodland creatures. Dewdrop won't relent, but she will hug the woodland creatures. Will Sloppy find a way to get a hug and will Dewdrop forget the reason why she doesn't want to hug Sloppy?

This story is just adorable. The punchline is hilarious and the illustrations are just so cute. I think little readers will love this story of friendship and laugh like I did.

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


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Mrs. White Rabbit

author: Gilles Bachelet
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/02/09
shelves: children-s
review:
'Mrs. White Rabbit' by Giles Bachelet is a wonderful kids book about the wife of the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. While he is out running around, what does she do all day?

For one thing, she keeps a diary. She talks about her children. One wants to be a fashion model, the twins seem well behaved, one of the younger ones has brought home a cat that can become invisible, and so on. There really is a lot to do to keep such a large household running, and Mrs. Rabbit feels underappreciated by a husband that is always running away because he is late. Will he even remember her birthday?

The story is cute, but the real winner here are the illustrations. For fans of Alice in Wonderland, there are all kinds of details, like a window for a sporting goods store featuring flamingos and hedgehogs. The classroom illustration is my favorite. There are some weird moments in the illustrations like the twins playing with chamber pots and holding what looks like rabbit scat, but little readers probably don't know what these things are, so call it odd humor.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdman's Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Pop Gun War: Gift

author: Farel Dalrymple
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.63
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/02/08
date added: 2017/02/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Pop Gun War: Gift' by Farel Dalrymple was one of the more unusual graphic novels I've read lately. That means I liked it quite a lot.

In a very unusual city (called The City), there are a very different group of people. A young boy named Sinclair finds a pair of discarded wings and uses them to fly. His sister Emily is in a rock band. There's a down on his luck guy named Addison, and a floating goldfish with glasses named Percy. There are others and they come and go in the series of stories here.

It's hard to describe this comic. The stories take place in a city like we know, but there are fantastical elements also which remind me about things like Little Nemo and Oz. There is wonder and sadness, compassion and anger. There is a story about Emily's band being pursued by someone who wants to make them famous, and one about the children of the city being taken and mesmerized. The stories are strange and wonderful as is the art. There are characters in bow ties and top hats. The city is grimy and dirty and somehow magical.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Image Comics, 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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City of Wolves

author: Willow Palecek
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.22
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2017/02/08
date added: 2017/02/08
shelves:
review:
'City of Wolves' by Willow Palecek is a pretty decent fantasy novella. The lead is a decent detective, and one I wouldn't mind reading more of.

Alexander Drake is an investigator for hire in a pre-industrial world. He doesn't like to work for the rich, but this is exactly what he is called to do. When the head of a family dies suddenly and violently, he is called in to find out what happened, and, more importantly, to find the missing will. That the man was found naked and wounded outside his bedroom window is a very curious thing. There are werewolves about and Alexander finds himself threatened, but werewolves aren't the only things he has to fear.

At a little under 100 pages, it's a quick enough read. There are plenty of the usual tropes along with a likable enough lead character. I don't know if it's planned for this to be an ongoing series, but this wasn't a bad first outing.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Alien: The Weyland-Yutani Report

author: S.D. Perry
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/08
date added: 2017/02/08
shelves:
review:
'Alien: The Weyland-Yutani Report' by S. D. Perry with illustrations by Markus Pansegrau and John R. Mullaney is a fictional corporate report which also pays tribute to the Alien films.

Starting with the various forms of the alien species known as XX121, from egg to chestburster to full grown acid breathing terror, the book sets out to show how the Weyland-Yutani corporation found the species and their attempts at capturing one to be used for immense profit. There is a company timeline with notes about the inventions created by the company: Weapons, artificially intelligent beings like David and Bishop, and space craft. The sense you get about the corporation is that they are very determined, and yet, not the most competent at acquiring their dream, even after such a long time.

The movies are covered in chronological order. Stills from the film and closeups of vehicles and weapons are shown.

For fans of the films, there isn't a lot of new information here, but it's still fun to look through. There isn't really a full synopsis of each film, but there was enough personal narrative and such to remind me of the plot of some of the films I hadn't seen for a long time.

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


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Codename Baboushka, Volume 1: The Conclave of Death

author: Antony Johnston
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2016
rating: 2
read at: 2017/02/06
date added: 2017/02/06
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Codename Baboushka, Volume 1: The Conclave of Death' by Antony Johnston with art by Shari Chankhamma is a spy comic about a very capable female Russian spy who now lives in the US. The similarities to another more famous female Russian spy in the comics can't be helped.

Contessa Annika Malikova lives in Manhattan and runs in a rich crowd, but she hides a secret. She used to be a gang leader in Moscow known as Baboushka. She's been in retirement, but there's really only one way that old spies can retire. She is coerced into joining a group of spies on board a cruise ship, but that ship is about to be taken over by pirates.

I like the character, but the comparisons to Black Widow have to be made. I like her ops guy Gyorgy. His scarred face tells me there is more to his story. Baboushka herself is capable, running about in elegant clothes and tossing around exploding matryoshka dolls. I just wish the art were better. It's cartoony at times and this story should have more realistic art. The figures can sometimes change dimensions and when a group of people get beat up, they all appear to have gotten a black eye on the same side of their face.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Image Comics, 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 Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past, #1)

author: Liu Cixin
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/06
date added: 2017/02/06
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'The Three-Body Problem' by Liu Cixin with an English translation by Ken Liu was a Hugo winner and the January pick for my book club. Hard science fiction from another culture? I'm in.

The book begins during the Cultural Revolution, which is certainly a dark part of China's recent past. During that time, a secret group of scientists are sending signals in to space. In a more modern part of the story, a scientist finds a strange countdown is happening, first on the film from his camera, then he can visibly see it. What does it mean?

There is also an interesting walking simulator game, involving the Tri-Solarans, a race of people living in chaotic times amongst three suns. In spite of all these odd things, the story does end up making sense.

I enjoyed it a lot, and even though the writer is from China, there were familiar story elements, and I was reminded of Clarke, Reynolds and Asimov. The science is good and aligned nicely with a book I'm also reading by Neil DeGrasse Tyson.


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The Goblin Emperor

author: Katherine Addison
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2015/04/02
date added: 2017/02/05
shelves:
review:
Sometimes you read a book that you probably normally might not have, and you find yourself absolutely loving it. That was my experience with 'The Goblin Emperor' by Katherine Addison.

So the premise is court intrigue, and the hero is a half goblin, half elf. That and the almost 400 pages (inluding glossary of hard to pronounce names) kind of had me adding it to the 'read in the distant future' pile. It was the March pick for my book club, so I decided to give it a shot, and I'm so very glad I did.

Maia is a largely forgotten half goblin living a life far from court, when he gets the news that his father and brothers have died in a steamship accident. This leaves Maia the new emperor. With no training, and no real love for his father or family, Maia is bound to make mistakes along the way according to court traditions. It is through these blunders that we see Maia's tru character come through. Whether it's showing compassion for the other victims that died in his father's airship, or dealing with his new staff, Maia is full of grace and warmth. He won me over.

The airship accident was no accident, and the throne Maia finds himself on is apparently a very large target. Can he find his way? Can he trust his staff? Can he find a friend?

It's not the fastest moving story. The names are a bit tricky to get through, but they never feel gimicky, and eventually they made a bit of sense to me. The main character is so likeable, that I ended up loving the book. The last paragraphs felt entirely satisfying to this story.


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Klaw: The First Cycle

author: Antoine Ozanam
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.10
book published: 2011
rating: 2
read at: 2017/02/04
date added: 2017/02/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Klaw: The First Cycle' by Antoine Ozanam with art by Joël Jurion and translation by Mike Kennedy is about people who are linked to symbols of the Chinese zodiac, which seems to be a popular story idea these days.

Angel Tomassini seems like a normal kid and when we meet him, he's being beat up by bullies. When he suddenly transforms into a tiger and gets away, things get weird. Angel is not an ordinary kid, though. He has a chauffeur/bodyguard pick him up from school and his father's fish business may not be what it seems on the surface. Especially because all of his uncles don't look much like him or his father. He's got a best friend and a crush on a girl.

When the boyfriend of his crush dies as the result of what seems to be injuries caused by a tiger, Angel thinks it might have been himself. This leads him into a strange secret world where were-beasts of the Chinese zodiac can manifest in pairs of humans, but not at the same time.

There are three parts included in this volume and the first two were pretty good, but the third one went a little over the top and kind of lost me. There are a lot of story elements, and some just don't work because they are very stereotypical or too contrived. The art by Joël Jurion is why you should read this. It's very good, and he's got this interesting style that exaggerates the perspective of his figures. I liked the art better than the story when it was all done.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Magnetic Press, 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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Kennel Block Blues

author: Ryan Ferrier
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/02/04
date added: 2017/02/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Kennel Block Blues' by Ryan Ferrier with art by Daniel Bayliss is the kind of graphic novel I had to think about before reviewing. It's that strange and unusual.

Oliver is a dog sent up to Jackson State Kennel. He sometimes bends reality, so when things around him get stressful, he sees everything as a cartoon musical. He's certain he's not supposed to be in this grim world where the cats seem to run the place and the guards are nothing but shadowy arms.

He makes some friends, like Cosmo, a bulldog, who tries to show Oliver around, or his hardened cellmate Sugar, a chihuahua, who just wants to escape. An escape attempt is made and that's when the reality of what happens to these unwanted animals is revealed.

There is so much being said in this comic. It deals with abused and unwanted animals, mental illness, incarceration, race relations and probably a bunch of other things I missed. Yet it does it in such an unusual way. It's still ultimately a depressing comic, but it's just so darn strange that I couldn't help but really like it. The art by Daniel Bayliss was good. Grim when it needed to be and overly colorful and sappy when Oliver goes around the bend. I'm really glad I had the chance to read this graphic novel.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Boom! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Art Deco Interiors

author: Henry Delacroix
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/02
date added: 2017/02/02
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Art Deco Interiors' by Henry Delacroix was first published in Paris in 1935.

The full watercolor and ink color plates are architectural and interior design renderings of living spaces. They are drawn by Henry Delacroix, Jacques Meistermann, Francis Jourdain and others. The spaces shown are bedrooms, offices, living rooms. They are shown as furnished, but the stark lines and edges of the furnishings gives things an austere look.
It's the style of art deco, and there are some gorgeous rooms, but they just don't seem to be that comfortable or inviting. The things I liked best were the wall length cabinets in bedrooms and offices. I love the style, and it's great to see the designs in this book. I enjoyed spending time looking through this 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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The Lighthouse

author: Paco Roca
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at: 2017/02/02
date added: 2017/02/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Lighthouse' by Paco Roca was such a good graphic novel. This is the kind of book to recommend to people who think comics are for kids.

Francisco is young man fighting for the Republican guard during the Spanish Civil War. He has decided he has had enough and he deserts. He is helped by a lonely lighthouse keeper. The older man lives off of the flotsam that the sea brings him. The old man is joyful, but the young is cynical. The old man sings songs and quotes Moby Dick. He tends to the lighthouse, even though there is no bulb in the light. Someday soon, he may get a replacement and he wants the lighthouse to be ready.

I really loved this story. It's a quieter story and the relationship between the young man and the old man evolves over the story. There are some interesting twists and turns along the way. The art is very good. I'm glad I got a chance to read this.

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


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Montmartre Mysteries

author: Jean-Pierre Alaux
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/02
date added: 2017/02/02
shelves:
review:



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