Wonder Woman, Volume 5: Heart of the Amazon

author: Shea Fontana
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.38
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/27
date added: 2018/07/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Wonder Woman, Volume 5: Heart of the Amazon' brings in Shea Fontana. Anyone following Greg Rucka is going to have big shoes to fill.

Bad things happen at a wedding for Etta Candy's big brother. Wonder Woman finds out she was the target. When she finds out why, she agrees to what they are ultimately looking for: her DNA. She realizes that what she has could help countless multitudes. Unfortunately, the ends are not as altruistic as Diana thinks. This leads to Wonder Woman being hunted by a whole pack of people who want her for her genetics.

All this, and a Tim Seeley story about Steve Trevor and the Oddfellows, Charlie, Sameer, and "Chief" who I last saw in the Wonder Woman movie. It's good to see these characters in action again.

The stories are about average. Not great, but not terrible. The art varies, but the quality is good overall. It will be interesting to see where this character goes 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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Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live? 1

author: マキヒロチ
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/27
date added: 2018/07/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live? Book 1' by MAKIHIROCHI is a manga about a couple really odd real estate agents, and a guide to some of the cool neighborhoods around Tokyo.

The Shigeta Twins run a real estate agency in Kichijoji. They are in to food and heavy metal. They don't like how their neighborhood is changing. When a series of young women come in to their office looking for a place to live in Kichijoji, these odd twins take them to the hidden neighborhoods around Tokyo and seem to understand exactly what these young women need.

Each chapter includes a short travel guide of the neighborhood showing the shops and food that were visited in the story.

This was an odd manga, but I liked it. The stories had a sameness that got a bit old, but I liked seeing the different neighborhoods and getting a peak into a culture that is different. The art was decent. I wouldn't mind reading more of these stories.

I received a review copy of this manga from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.


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Our Cats Are More Famous Than Us: A Johnny Wander Collection

author: Ananth Hirsh
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/24
date added: 2018/07/24
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Our Cats Are More Famous That Us: A Johnny Wander Collection' by Ananth Hirsh and Yuko Ota is a huge omnibus of a comic collection, but I never felt bogged down with reading it.

The comics are about young roommates living together, and the cats they share their space and neighborhood with. Some of the comics feel like they just trail off, but that is part of the charm of this collection. There are strips about moving furniture, and hour by hour art jams. There are jokes about vegetarians from the unfeeling carnivore. There are trips to meet parents and more as the couple grows closer.

I've read other young person themed works, but I think I liked this one best of all because the characters aren't really commenting on how hard it is to be a grown up. They just do it. Whether or not they succeed, I was on these character's sides. The art is fun and I really like the occasional section dividers with some nice prose and poetry.
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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Revolutions: Parabola

author: Mateusz Skutnik
name: Wayne
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2004
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/22
date added: 2018/07/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
Sometimes I read graphic novels that leave me scratching my head. 'Revolutions: Parabola' with art and story by Mateusz Skutnik was definitely one of those stories.

In a bizarre world filled with ugly characters, a man sits dying in a tower. He is writing furiously. From here, there is a chain of loosely connected stories that definitely run in a kind of parabola. There are scientists and explorers. A poor woman who has lost her child. Construction workers who fall ill.

I liked this very bizarre comic, but I might have enjoyed it more with a bit more definition on the art. It was difficult to discern the backgrounds, and many of the characters kind of looked the same. I like what the author did, though, and I'm glad I got to read it.

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


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Batman, Volume 5: Rules of Engagement

author: Tom King
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/22
date added: 2018/07/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Batman, Vol. 5' by Tom King with art by Joëlle Jones, Clay Mann, and Lee Weeks continues in the Tom King era of providing top notch Batman stories.

Batman is engaged to Catwoman. This news is dropped by Albert to a stunned group of protoges hanging out at Wayne Manor. More stunning is that Batman and Catwoman are on their way to confront Damian's mother and Batman's ex-wife, Talia Al Ghul. We aren't ever told why, but it's a fun confrontation between the ex-wife and the new one. Joëlle Jones' art in this story is outstanding and my favorite in this volume.

The second story involves Batman telling Superman about his new fiance. There is a lot of back and forth and a really funny sequence where everyone kind of switches places. It shows what great friends these two are. The art by Clay Mann is also good in this story.

The 3rd story goes back to the early meetings of Catwoman and Batman and their game of cat and mouse. It includes what I thought was a very poignant epilogue. The art by Lee Weeks works well for this.

Overall, I loved this story. I loved the nicknames and the humor. I love how you really care about these characters, and how the ending really got to me. I love the double meaning of the title.

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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Bad Girls

author: Alex de Campi
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.34
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/22
date added: 2018/07/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Bad Girls' by Alex de Campi and Victor Santos is a stylish graphic novel with a pretty good story to tell.

The story takes place on New Year's Eve 1958 in a nightclub in Cuba. The main characters are a group of women who work in the club. One is the girlfriend of the club owner, another is a dancer, and there is a singer. There is a visit by a mainland mobster, and a large sum of money being funneled off to the Cuban military. Through events in the story, the women decide to take the money and start a new life elsewhere. Things don't go as planned for anyone involved.

These women barely know each other at the beginning of the story, so their motivations for helping each other are tenuous at best. These are pretty flawed characters, but it's a pretty good noir story.

Driving it all is some fabulous art that reminded me of some of the great work of the late Darwyn Cooke. I loved the colors and some of the full pages. I also really liked how the music of the era intertwines with the art to provide a soundtrack to the narrative.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Gallery 13, Threshold, Pocket Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Grimms Manga Tales (English)

author: Kei Ishiyama
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.53
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/21
date added: 2018/07/21
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Grimms Manga Tales' by Kei Ishiyama is a series of famous stories, but told with a bit of a twist on the familiar.

The collection includes retellings of Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, The Frog Prince and others. The twists presented are either gender changes to the main characters or other manga type twists. Rapunzel is a prince, and he is saved by a woman (there are also funny references to the rapunzel salad). Little Red Riding Hood features a boy who looks like a wolf. There were a couple stories I was less familiar with, but I think I can figure out what the twists were.

These were fun to read. The art was decent enough. I liked that these weren't just straightforward retellings.

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


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Herakles Book 1

author: Édouard Cour
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/21
date added: 2018/07/21
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Herakles Book 1' with story and art by Edouard Cour gives us a different look at the famous Greek hero.

When we first meet Herakles, he is beginning his tasks. The first one is slaying the lion that lives in the hills of Nemea. He starts the task by getting stung by a scorpion. This is a Herakles who seems to be not so bright sometimes. Herakles is a big lumbering brute of a man who seems to mostly be saying "Fine. Whatever." He lumbers along through his tasks. Sometimes being given hints, mostly just by brute force.

He is more complex than this, of course. He is racked by guilt over the ghosts of his childhood, like Linos, son of Calliope, who was his music teacher, who hangs out and makes sarcastic comments at him.

I liked this version of the myth. The art is chunky and crude, just like the character it portrays. This volume isn't all of the tasks, so there are further adventures to look forward to.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, 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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All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries, #1)

author: Martha Wells
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/21
date added: 2018/07/21
shelves:
review:
'All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1)' by Martha Wells is about a security robot that is self-aware and what that might mean.

A group of scientists on a distant planet are sponsored by a corporation. That sponsorship means they have a company supplied security robot with them. What they initially don't know is that this robot has hacked it's governor module and is now autonomous. She is also part human, and would prefer to be left alone with her collection of media to watch.

When a neighboring science team sends out a distress call, they come to an uneasy truce with their security bot to help uncover the danger that is heading there way.

The story is told from the robot's perspective and is told with some humor and charm. I read this one because I got a review copy of the 2nd novella. I'm looking forward to more entries in this series with this pretty likeable character.


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Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance

author: Scott Snyder
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/21
date added: 2018/07/21
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Dark Knights: Metal: The Resistance' from DC Comics is a supplemental volume to the main Dark Knights: Metal. The main story is collected in the Dark Nights: Metal: Deluxe Edition. This volume serves to fill in the gaps with 12 additional comics that were in the crossover.

Gotham is under siege from an odd collection of altered Batmen. He has enlisted The Riddler and Mr. Frost in the battle. Facing off against him are the the Teen Titans, the Justice League, and members of the Suicide Squad. Some of the altered Batmen show up, but the primary one is the Joker infused Batman Who Smiles with his horrific smile and minions on chains.

My favorite volume of the series is still Dark Nights: Metal: Dark Knights Rising. I liked parts of this volume more than others. The stories are meant to be read along with the main story, so reading this straight through feels a bit disjointed at times. Also, once you've read the main story, this feels a bit anticlimactic to read.

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 Power of Visual Storytelling: How to Use Visuals, Videos, and Social Media to Market Your Brand

author: Ekaterina Walter
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2018/07/21
shelves: non-fiction-business
review:
'The Power of Visual Storytelling: How to Use Visuals, Videos and Social Media to Market Your Brand' by Ekaterina Walter and Jessica Gioglio is not a typical book that I might review, but the 'Visual' in the title appealed to me.

The advent of more internet and more social media has accelerated a lot of things. It has also, in some ways, brought consumers and brands a bit closer together. This book explores how to use visual storytelling on a variety of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and others. Every platform has unique approaches, and finding your companies voice and focus takes effort to succeed. There can be missteps, but there can be big successes, like the Oreo Daily Twist campaign, where they posted an image every day for 100 days. The approaches and advice here seem pretty solid.

I am not in marketing, but I know how hard the folks at my company work at keeping things relevant on Instagram and Pinterest. This is an interesting book with what seems like some good advice.

I received a review copy of this ebook from McGraw-Hill Professional and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Joy

author: Corrinne Averiss
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.75
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/19
date added: 2018/07/19
shelves: childrens
review:
'Joy' by Corrinne Averiss with illustrations by Isabelle Follath is a story about a little girl who wants to help, but finds some things are elusive.

Fern loves her Nanna. She loves Nanna's butterfly cakes and her cat, Snowball, but lately Nanna hasn't been herself. Fern talks with her mum and learns that Nanna has lost her joy, so Fern sets out to find it for her. She takes things to the park to try to collect some joy for Nanna. She sees it all around, but she is unable to catch and keep any of it. Can Fern find a way to help her Nanna?

This story is very heartfelt, and I loved the illustrations that accompany. There are some fun lessons here about how even the littlest can help. I really liked this story about finding and sharing joy.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Top Ten Lies We Tell Ourselves: And How to Stop Living Them

author: Dana Marrocco
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/07/19
shelves:
review:



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The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy: The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Letterers and Calligraphers

author: Abbey Sy
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/19
date added: 2018/07/19
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy: The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Letterers and Calligraphers' by Abbey Sy is not exhaustively complete, but it is thorough enough to launch anyone interested in lettering.

Starting with an overview of tools, the book has tons of photos of completed works, and works in progress. There are lettering primers and chapters on the major styles. The book talks about digital lettering and decorative lettering. There are step by step projects at the end of chapters and the book ends with a bunch of practice sheets.

Understanding the basics and seeing how letters are formed is essential to learning lettering. The book builds nicely and the help is encouraging and friendly. There is also some really gorgeous lettering and calligraphy to look at along the way. This is a book I would gladly add to my library of books on calligraphy because of its approach to letterform.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Creative Publishing International, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Walter Crane Storybook Collection

author: Walter Crane
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/15
date added: 2018/07/15
shelves: childrens
review:
'The Walter Crane Storybook Collection' by Walter Crane shows why he was a genius book illustrator.

Many of these were originally published as Toy Books which included small toys along with the book, but I think the real treasure is all the great illustrations these stories have. The original publication dates are from 1865-1876. Included are familiar mother goose stories like Puss in Boots, Mother Hubbard and Jack in the Beanstalk. Also included is the story of Bluebeard, and ones I'd never heard of like King Luckie Boy's Party and Valentine and Orson. All are fully illustrated with ornate wood block prints in full color.

The illustrations are rich and sumptuous. I feel like they add some distinction to the stories I grew up on. Some of the language is a bit different, but I think modern children might find the stories and pictures interesting.

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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Stars and Planets. Mack's World of Wonder.

author: Mack van Gageldonk
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/15
date added: 2018/07/15
shelves: childrens, classics, non-fiction
review:
'Stars and Planets: Mack's World of Wonder' by Mack van Gageldonk is a fun exploration of the universe for younger readers that are about 5 or 6 years old.

This book covers a lot of ground in it's 80 pages. Sections include The Earth, Our Solar System, The Universe, and Space Travel. Each two page spread has a topic, a couple paragraphs, and a small activity to keep kids interested. The book uses photos and photorealistic drawings along with more cartoon-like drawings. The variety of art and art styles, along with the fairly short paragraphs should keep kids interested in the topics.

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


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The Furnace: A Graphic Novel

author: Prentis Rollins
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.20
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/15
date added: 2018/07/15
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Furnace' by Prentis Rollins is a furturistic story told in flashback. My review copy was only 16 pages of the 208 page story, so this isn't going to be much of a review.

Based on what I got from the preview and the description, this is the story of a man who uses technology to hopefully further society. Along the way, there is loss. He creates a sort of hovering ball. While it is over your head, you are invisible. If you try to escape fom it, it is painful. In my excerpt he is testing it with a friend.

What I got of the story was interesting, and I wouldn't mind reading more. The art was quite good. It's hard to recommend based on 16 pages, but I'm intrigued enough to read more, if that's any help.

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


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Outside: Discovering Animals

author: Maria Ana Peixe Dias
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.70
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/15
date added: 2018/07/15
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Outside: Discovering Animals' by Maria Ana Peixe Dias and Inês Teixeira do Rosário with illustrations by Bernardo P. Carvalho is a book for young naturalists looking at their world.

My review copy included about half of the book, but it was a pretty good sense of what the book offered. My copy started with the kinds of clues that animals leave behind, like partially chewed food, or feathers, tracks or pathways. It moved on to discovering about bugs and critters. There were encouragements to examine and document things like ant behavior or catching worms. My section ended on frogs and toads and how to tell anura and urodela apart (hint: it's the tail, or lack thereof).

The illustrations are good. The book itself is pretty good, but the layout and font was a bit on the small side. This would make a good book for curious children wondering about the critters in their garden and yard.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Golam - Volume 1 - The Son of the Moon

author: Josselin Azorin-Lara
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.33
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/14
date added: 2018/07/14
shelves: childrens, graphic-novels
review:
'Golam Vol. 1: The Son of the Moon' by Josselin Azorin-Lara and Sylvain Dos Santos with art by Nicolas Sauge is a fun fantasy graphic novel for younger readers.

When we start the story, we are shown an arena battle in the city of Aassima, complete with color commentary by two onlookers. Two wizards battle each other using conjured golams. This tells us we are in a place where magic is powerful. We next meet a young pickpocket named Mehdi. Through a series of circumstances, he finds himself out in the desert and about to start an initiation to join the Hikmadrassa magic school. He is confused why he is there, and hopefully he can pass the entrance exam.

The book ends with a couple short Golam gags in a manga sort of style. These give us some background into the world.

I liked it, but the art at times was a bit too busy to follow what was going on. I think younger readers would like this, and it reads like some animated series about young apprentices learning magic. The setting felt a bit unique. It was just odd to call the creatures golam when to me they seemed more like djinn, but this is a small matter.

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


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Quantum and Woody! Vol. 1: Kiss Kiss, Klang Klang

author: Daniel Kibblesmith
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.68
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/14
date added: 2018/07/14
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Quantum and Woody! Vol. 1: Kiss Kiss, Klang Klang' by Daniel Kibblesmith with illustrations by Kano is about two brothers who form possibly the most dysfunctional super team ever.

Eric and his adopted brother Woody have superheroes because of an accident, but that same accident set up a consequence and they must touch wristbands with each other every 24 hours. That's going to be hard this time around because they aren't speaking to each other. Eric has taken on a job guarding a secret warehouse full of weapons, and Woody is just being Woody. Eric also knows where Woody's birth father is, and that's why they aren't speaking. Plus, what is really up with that goat they are always hanging around with?

This was a fun read. I've read a couple stories before, and i liked this one a lot. It helped me understand some of the things I was confused about (like that goat). The art works well. There are a lot of laughs in this one.

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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Officer Pete

author: Ruth Wielockx
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.47
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/14
date added: 2018/07/14
shelves: childrens
review:
'Officer Pete' by Ruth Wielockx is a fun picture book about a young policeman who is searching for something.

Poor Officer Pete. One day he was out training his tracker dog Sniffer when he was given an important letter to deliver by the chief of police. Before he can deliver it though, his hat is stolen. Since it's part of his uniform, he needs to go find it, so he jumps on a motorcycle and goes looking. Along the way, he visits a baker and a hat shop. Will he find his hat, and will he remember to deliver the letter?

I loved the fun illustrations in this book. Officer Pete and the other police look like children, but they get to do fun things like dress up and ride motorcycles and helicopters. The story is cute, and there are clues hidden in the pictures for the discerning reader. This would be a fun read with a young one.

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


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10 Reasons to Love a Lion

author: Catherine Barr
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/13
date added: 2018/07/13
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'10 Reasons to Love....A Lion' by Catherine Barr with illustrations by Hanako Clulow is a book filled with all the reasons that lions are great.

There is only one species of Lion and while thye once roamed in Asia, Africa and Europe, they are now only in central and southern Africa and a small part of India. Besides their great mane and terrific roar, they are also loved because they live and hunt in families. There are also other reasons too.

The book is filled with gorgeous illustrations and different animals and plants are named. Along with the reasons to love a lion are practical ways that the reader can help: buying special greeting cards that contribute to conservation, or adopting a remote lion and being sent facts.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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SOTA'S KNIFE Vol. 1

author: Kei Honjo
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/13
date added: 2018/07/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Sota's Knife Vol 1' by Kei Honjo and Yuichiro Sueda is about a young man who wants to someday be a great chef. I loved this manga filled with heart and passion about food.

Sota works as a dishwasher at a famous restaurant called Tomikyu. He is starting at the bottom and working his way up, but his boss, the head chef, has seen something in him.

One day, a friend he knew in school shows up with fancy clothing and belittles Sota, but Sota doesn't mind, and soon his friend is humiliated for trying to create a shortcut to success. Another time, he helps a single mother create a special lunch for her daughter. There are trips to learn about mushrooms and miso, and late nights trying to perfect his dashi. All under the eye of a boss and coworkers who are mentoring him along the way.

I loved this book about a special young man and the passion for food that he and his coworkers have. The characters and stories were very interesting. I would recommend it to anyone who is a foodie, even if they don't read manga. I think it would make an interesting movie or television show. I definitely would love to read more of Sota's adventures.

I received a review copy of this manga from Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, Ltd., and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.


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10 Reasons to Love a Penguin

author: Catherine Barr
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/12
date added: 2018/07/12
shelves: non-fiction, childrens
review:
'10 Reasons to Lovea Penguin' by Catherine Barr with ill...ustrations by Hanako Clulow is a picture book that gives 10 reasons to love penguins, as if anyone needed them.

The reader will learn that there are 18 species of penguin, and see many of them in action through the course of the book. The reasons to love penguins include some of the things they can do like leaping out of the water or seeing underwater. They march for their babies and have lots of friends. Along the way, the reader will learn how they can love a penguin too, with suggestions like buying food or power that doesn't harm penguins, or even paying to sponsor one.

The art is good with lots of the different animals and plants labelled for readers to learn along with. The facts are not overwhelming for young readers. I liked this book about penguins and the fun things they can do.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group-Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Pip's Big Hide and Seek Book

author: Thaïs Vanderheyden
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/12
date added: 2018/07/12
shelves: childrens
review:
'Pip's Big Hide-and-Seek-Book' by Thais Vanderheyden is a fun picture book for the reader to find some mice that are hiding.

Little mouse Pip decides to play hide and seek with his mouse friends. All 100 of them! The following pages show different places where the mice hid (10 per location), and give clues on where to look. They hide in a circus train, a tree house, and underground, among other places. The mice are pretty clever at hiding, but that's part of the fun.

There are some fun details hidden in the pages and the drawings are colorful. It would make a good quiet time game for little ones to look at the pictures and try to find all the mice.

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


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Animosity: Evolution Vol. 1

author: Marguerite Bennett
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.25
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2018/07/12
date added: 2018/07/12
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Animosity: Evolution Vol. 1' by Marguerite Bennett with art by Eric Gapstur is about a time in the near future when animals have found their voice, and with it, they also gain power.

At some point before this graphic novel, an event called The Wake happened. Now that animals can speak, they are, for some reason, in charge. A wolf named Wintermute runs a town with her human companion Adam. Resources are lean, and food is a bit scarce. Because of this, there is a thriving black market. There is also enough dissatisfaction to make Wintermute an assassination target. It's a good thing that Adam is an animal doctor.

It's a volume 1 that follows previous events, so I felt a bit lost reading this. I was able to pick up on things, but I missed having emotional connections to the characters that seemed to be called for. It's an ok story, but I had a hard time keeping my interest. It's talking animals, but it's definitely not a kids story based on the language and violence.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Aftershock 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 Weather Detective: Rediscovering Nature’s Secret Signs

author: Peter Wohlleben
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/11
date added: 2018/07/11
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'The Weather Detective' by Peter Wohlleben with English translation by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp is the third book by the author. It's also continuing in the vein of his other works.

In this work, the author seems to want us to slow down a bit and look and listen around us. The weather can be seen in the signs in our gardens, and how the critters who inhabit our yards are acting. How plants can survive in global warming, how much water is enough for plants, and what creatures we should allow in our yards are also discussed. The cycle of seasons, and the moon, and a typical day are opined on.

It's a short work, and only the first third is about the weather. I was hoping there might be a bit more content on the subject, but I still found myself liking the work. It's a book to read and relax with. A book to read outside as you listen to the wind and the birds.

I received a review copy of this book from Dutton-Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this book.


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Unicorn Crossing (Heavenly Nostrils, #5)

author: Dana Simpson
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/09
date added: 2018/07/09
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Unicorn Crossing' by Dana Simpson is the 5th collection of comics in the Heavenly Nostrils series. Even 5 volumes in, this is still a consistently fun series to read.

This time around there are snow days and camping trips. There is dreaded summer reading homework. A big section of the book is about Halloween and the choosing of pretty funny costumes. Phoebe's nemesis Dakota is around, like a perpetual thorn in her side. Included this time around is a glossary for some of the words used.

Phoebe and her unicorn are fast friends still, even though it seems so unlikely that they would be. And Phoebe still feels very much like a real girl. I like the addition of the glossary and not dumbing down the language. It encourages some language development in younger readers, and this is a really fun series for younger readers.

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


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The Sentient Machine: The Coming Age of Artificial Intelligence

author: Amir Husain
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/09
date added: 2018/07/09
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'The Sentient Machine: The Coming Age of Artificial Intelligence' by Amir Husain is a thoughtful and reasoned look at the continuing advent of intelligent machines and what it might mean for us humans.

The book is divided in to 3 sections: What is AI; Today and Tomorrow; and The Future. The author makes a case for his love of technology and his lifelong study of computing. A discussion of what is artificial intelligence (AI) and what is not is given. Fears are brought to light, including those of some famous opponents. The author discusses how these anti-AI sentiments may hamper the development of technology that we may really need. Discussion is made about the internet of things, healthcare, warfare, financial markets among other things.

I like books about a hopeful future, and this book is one. It's also not blindly optimistic. It is reasoned and logical in it's approach, and does point out ways that AI could fail us. I appreciated this approach to this subject.

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


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From Far Away

author: Robert Munsch
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1995
rating: 3
read at: 2017/08/12
date added: 2018/07/08
shelves: childrens
review:
'From Far Away' by Robert Munsch and Saoussan Askar with art by Rebecca Green is a picture book about a young immigrant girl in a new country.

The book is based on the experiences of the author Saoussan Askar. When her home country (which is not named) became less safe to live in, her parents made the choice to move to Canada. There were things she didn't like at first, like the long plane ride, or the fact that she couldn't understand the teacher in her new school. The other kids try to help her, but the language barrier makes it difficult. She wants to quit school. Will she ever fit in?

This is a good book to read younger children who may have immigrant classmates. It talks about how strange and sometimes scary a new place can be. The illustrations are very nice and fit well with the story.

Saoussan originally published the book in 1995 when she was still young. A note from the author today tells what she has done in the time since the book was published.

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


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So Long, Silver Screen

author: Blutch
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/07
date added: 2018/07/07
shelves: graphic-novels, non-fiction
review:
'So Long, Silver Screen' with script and art by Blutch is more of an essay in graphic novel form, but that seems to suit it just fine.

At times, this felt a bit stream of consciousness in nature, with odd bits flying in from nowhere, but it's an essay about our love of film. How we sometimes fetishize it, and really, it's just another industry at it's heart. With references to Tarzan, Burt Lancaster, Luchino Visconti, and more, the author shows how film has informed his life, sometimes to an obsessive level.

It's pretty original in nature, but I felt like it meandered a bit at times. The artwork is good, and there is definite shock value of sorts along the way. I like the page of gleaming teeth of Burt Lancaster at various stages of his life. I liked it.

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


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The Danes

author: Clarke
name: Wayne
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/07
date added: 2018/07/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Danes' with art and story by Clarke tells an interesting story about race and genetics and does it in a somewhat thriller based way.

When a very blonde baby is born to a Muslim immigrant family living in Copenhagen, it creates a stir amongst the married couple, but it's proven that she is faithful to her husband. When it starts happening on a wider and wider basis, it creates a crisis. The immunologists and geneticists label the weird outbreak 'the Danes.' A reporter tries to uncover the larger plot which ties in a young unemployed man and a pharmaceutical company. Could this be a racist plot?

I liked this story of race and the lengths that some will go to remove race. The story takes place now, and I liked the ending. The art is also good. This was a thought-provoking read.

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


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R.I.P., Ric ! (Les Nouvelles Enquêtes de Ric Hochet, #1)

author: Zidrou
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/07
date added: 2018/07/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Mighty Return of Ric Hochet: R.I.P. Ric!' by Zidrou with art by Simon Van Liemt is based on a Franco Belgian comic first published in the 1950s. It's not a comic I was familiar with, but I had no trouble getting in to spirit of things.

Ric Hochet is a crack news reporter who is good at uncovering crime. Because of that, he's made enemies along the way. One has a plan to impersonate him and frame him for a murder. The criminal has gone to great lengths and time to learn all there is to know. Along the way, past adventures are referenced. The culmination is an ending that shows the lengths to which the revenged will go.

I liked this action comic throwback to another era. The original comic was featured in the Belgian Magazine Tintin, and there are a few clever references along the way. I've never read the original, so I don't know how close this one is, but it's a fun romp.

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


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Les Frustrés - intégrale - Volume 1 - Selected Pages from Claire Bretécher's groundbreaking work

author: Claire Bretécher
name: Wayne
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/07
date added: 2018/07/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Les Frustrés: Selected Pages from Claire Bretécher's Groundbreaking Work' is from a collection of comics that ran from 1973 to 1980 in Nouvel Obs, a weekly French news magazine. It's look at the frustrations of intellectuals, snobs, feminists and the elite. The comics are still pretty funny and relevant today.

The subjects never go political, but they do touch on sex, feminism, motherhood, careers. Women compare conquests or troubles with men, and couples complain about each other. A couple on vacation talks about their serious book list and one man talks about reading Agatha Christie and Tin Tin.

I really liked this collection. The comics fall into more of the ironic and cynical type of humor, but that suited me fine. The art is a decent cartoonist style. I'm glad I was introduced to this French humorist and artist.

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


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Circe

author: Madeline Miller
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/06
date added: 2018/07/06
shelves: favorites, sword-and-laser
review:
'Circe' by Madeline Miller is about a character in Greek mythology who is a witch. If that sounds dull and familiar, I can tell you that this book changed my mind on those thoughts as well.

Circe is the daughter of Helios, god of the sun. She is not powerful, but she has a way with herbs and words. She uses these powers, perhaps foolishly, and ends up creating the monster Scylla. Because she is feared, she is banished by Zeus to a remote island. There she lives in solitude, tending her herbs, The various men who show up on her shore are turned in to pigs when they show their true nature at her table. One day a different man arrives. His name is Odysseus.

I was somewhat familiar with this character, but the author has a way of breathing life into the old and known. When you can come to care about a character that you thought you knew, that is the mark of a truly gifted writer. Her prose is also extremely quotable. There are some truly lovely passages in this book, like the opening line: "When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist." This was a literary journey that I loved to have been on.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so very much for allowing me to read this very fine ebook.


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Black Comix Returns

author: John Jennings
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2018/07/06
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Black Comix Returns' edited by John Jennings and Damian Duffy is a not so much a sequel to their 2010 book Black Comix as it is an update.

This A to Z volume focuses on the amazing African American artists working in the field of comics. From Leisl Adams to Ashley A. Woods there is a wide variety of styles. There are short bios of each artist and samples of their art. In some cases, the artist has a creator owned series, and these also get a paragraph or two within the artist's entry. In some cases, the entry is an essay by the artist. The end of the book has a list of black comics conventions in the US.

I liked the book. The layout is good, the art is great. While it all wasn't my favorite, I found some artists I was pretty familiar with, and it was nice to learn a bit more. If you are looking for more representation in the comics you buy, this is a good resource of people that you can support.

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


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Failsafe

author: F.J. DeSanto
name: Wayne
average rating: 1.50
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2018/07/06
date added: 2018/07/06
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Failsafe' by F.J. DeSanto, Todd Farmer, and Federico Dallocchio is about a scary future not far from now where the government has gone overboard to protect it's citizens. And speaking of overboard....

Fearing terrorist attacks, the government has secretly created sleeper agents. When they are triggered, they become super strong, have fast healing, seem to be immune to radiation, but not immune to EMP devices. And there are thousands of them!

I read a lot of things that stretch my willingness to believe, but this premise was so ludicrous that I kept reading just to find out more about this bonkers story. A lone U.S. agent is able to match wits and overpower these super soldiers. The citizens are completely unaware of this having happened to them, and their leader looks like someone out of a Mad Max movie. There are hostages, gun battles, karate kicks, and silly plot devices. The premise of this is just ridiculous.

The art felt weird too. Characters felt lifeless and flat on the page, and didn't seem to even be on the same plane with each other at times. The digital art was just lacking.

This might fall in to a "so bad it's good" category, but I'm not recommending it.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Vault 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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National Parks of the USA

author: Kate Siber
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.58
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/04
date added: 2018/07/04
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'National Parks of the USA' by Kate Siber with illustrations by Chris Turnham is a tour and field guide to some of the natural wonders of the United States.

The book tells the history of how National Parks were first established, then shows the parks by region starting in the East and heading West. Each region shows all the parks, then some of the parks are highlighted. The highlighted parks talk about animals and plants that can be seen as well as types of land formations. Each has a location as well as the founding date of the National Park.

At 112 pages, there are parks that get left out, but it's a good overview, and should leave plenty for the curious to explore. The illustrations drew me to request this for review, and they don't disappoint. I love the full two page illustrations for each featured park and all the thumbnails for animals and plants. This would be a great gift for a young naturalist or for a big car trip to visit one of these great parks.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Infinity 8 Vol 1: Love and Mummies

author: Lewis Trondheim
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.62
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/04
date added: 2018/07/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Infinity 8 Vol. 1: Love and Mummies' by Lewis Trondheim with art by Zep and Dominique Bertail is a kind of silly space story, but I kind of liked it.

The Infinity 8 is a deep space cruiser with lots of different species on board. Yoko Keren is a security officer. When the ship finds an odd debris field, she is sent to investigate. What she finds is a large collection of corpses from spaceship and planets and even old buildings floating in space. An alien race on board the Infinity 8 goes into a feeding frenzy because they like to feast on the dead. The only problem is that they kind of take on the personality of what they ingest. So some become love hungry, and some become power mad. Now the only person able to help the ship is Keren, with the help of her over-infatuated alien partner.

It was a kind of goofy story, but I liked how it played out. It reminded me a little of some of the funny space stories from Heavy Metal magazine. The art is ok too. I like how the aliens seemed to morph a bit based on what they were eating.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, 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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Superb Vol. 2

author: Sheena Howard
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.60
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/04
date added: 2018/07/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Superb Vol 2: Generation Wars' from David F. Walker and Sheena C. Howard was a pretty good improvement over the first volume.

Cosmosis, Amina and Abbie have avoided detection, but not before Foresight Corporation has captured Cosmosis and Amina's parents. Now it's time for a bold rescue mission. We also find out that Foresight has their own super-powered kids and wants to use them to capture our heroes. Of course, things don't go well, and there are some surprises along the way, like Cosmosis wanting to quit being a hero.

The story made a bit more sense this time around, maybe because I'm learning the universe, or maybe because there was less jumping around from past to present. That still happens here, but in the earlier issues it makes more sense. The art by Alitha Martinez and Ray-Anthony Height isn't bad. Overall, I'm curious enough to know what happens next.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, 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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I Am a Tyrannosaurus

author: Tatsuya Miyanishi
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.63
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/03
date added: 2018/07/03
shelves: childrens
review:
In 'I Am a Tyrannosaurus' by Tatsuya Miyanishi, we meet a cast of dinosaurs with real feelings.

A young Pteranodon is born (a long time ago), and his two parents raise him with great care. They teach him to eat well to be strong, to grow up to be kind, and to avoid the terrible tyrannosaurus. One day, the parents leave the young pteranodon. While he is exploring around his home, he finds a tyrannosaurus who has been trapped. He is scared, but remembers to be kind. The tyrannosaurus can't see him, so he pretends to be a tyrannosaurus to stay safe. Can these two creatures be friends?

I love the art and color scheme of this book. The textures in everything are great and the contrasting colors really jump out. The story is sweet and sad. I've read one other book by this author, and I have thoroughly enjoyed both.

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


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Karate Heat Vol. 1

author: Eiichi Kitano
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/03
date added: 2018/07/03
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Karate Heat Vol. 1' by Eiichi Kitano is about a young boy's journey into the world of karate.

Shinya is going in to middle school, and he's never been in to sports. He meets another boy named Takumi and they become friends. What Shinya doesn't know is that Takumi is a 6-time school national champion. Takumi is supposed to only be training himself, but he sees natural style in Shinya, and Shinya brings the fun of karate back to Takumi. They find themselves in a karate school and Shinya is determined to learn and become better.

I really liked this sports story with a nice friendship at it's heart. The art is fun. There are notes throughout to introduce concepts to western readers. This was a fun read, and I think young readers who like sports stories would enjoy this quite a bit.

I received a review copy of this manga from Kondansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.


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Sir Tim Wants a Dragon

author: Judith Koppens
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.72
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/03
date added: 2018/07/03
shelves: childrens
review:
'Sir Tim Wants a Dragon' by Judith Koppens and Eline van Lindenhuizen is a picture book about a young boy who wants a very specific pet.

Young Tim likes dressing like a knight. When his mom tells him he can have a pet, he is emphatic about what kind of pet. Sir Tim wants to get a dragon. The local pet store offers Tim all kinds of options, but they are too small or slow or fuzzy. Will young Tim find the dragon he is looking for at the local pet store?

This is a really cute picture book about wanting what you want. I loved the cute story and the cute illustrations that went along with it. The final outcome is completely adorable and should be a fun read for the young ones.

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


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SETO UTSUMI #1

author: Kadzuya Konomoto
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.33
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/03
date added: 2018/07/03
shelves:
review:
'Seto Utsumi #1' by Kadzuya Konomoto is a manga about two friends who sit on some stairs by a river and talk. That didn't draw me in, but that it got made into a movie and a tv series did.

In 8 plus stories, over 164 pages, nothing much happens besides dialogue. These two friends meet and talk about, well, not much. There is some competition over badminton, or whose sparkler will last the longest. There is a recurring bully that doesn't seem very threatening, and there is the girl that one of the boys awkwardly likes but can't ever seem to get the nerve up to approach. There is a bonus story at the end of this volume that explains how they met. And that's about it.

I suspect you'd have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy this. It does remind me of other conversation driven media I've seen, but with more of the cynicism of youth thrown in. The art is really quite good. The characters don't do a whole lot, but the perspective is fluid and doesn't make the lack of plot feel static and boring. It's probably not for everyone, but I kind of liked it.

I received a review copy of this manga from Akita Publishing Co., Ltd. and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.


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Dark Nights: Metal: Dark Knights Rising

author: Peter J. Tomasi
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/03
date added: 2018/07/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Dark Knights: Metal: The Nightmare Batmen' is part of the DC Comics mega event. This is the third volume I've read and I feel like it's the strongest of the titles.

All the Earths have all the heroes. With the coming of Barbatos, Batman has been corrupted. This volume shows all the ways he is corrupted by conquering and using other heroes and villains. First, he becomes the Red Death by taking the Speed Force from Flash. Then he (or rather she) becomes The Drowned by conquering Atlantis. There are others, but my favorite might be The Dawnbreaker, which is what happens when an evil Batman takes on a Green Lantern Ring. The ringleader is the Batman/Joker amalgam The Man Who Laughs.

These stories are really dark, and I really liked them. I like the idea of a Batman who has been pushed over the edge and uses his mind to become a killer. The origin of Batman is in most of these stories, and it has driven him to revenge, not justice. I liked the various artists. The last story with the Detective Chimp feels like a weird aside after the preceding darkness, but it was ok.

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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SHOCK Anthology

author: Joe Pruett
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/03
date added: 2018/07/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'SHOCK Anthology' edited by Joe Pruett is a series of 21 stories, most with a SF, horror or fantasy slant. As with most anthologies, some stories work better than others.

The first story is written by Neil Gaiman, and feels like one of his poems illustrated by Michael Zulli. From there, we stories about deadly butterflies, alien invasions, revenge, witches, a message from beyond the grave, and others.

The art is all consistently good. The stories vary, and some feel like they aren't complete. I kept thinking some might be continued further on, but that wasn't the case. The first few stories had some surprise endings, and I thought they all might go that direction, but that wasn't the case either.

Overall, the art is quite good, and the stories were fine. Like any anthology, you take the good with the bad. The stories are all pretty short.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Aftershock 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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Astromouse

author: Steve Smallman
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/02
date added: 2018/07/02
shelves: childrens
review:
'Storytime: Astromouse' by Steve Smallman is about a little mouse with big dreams.

When Pip sees the moon, he wonders if there are other mice living there. If it's made of cheese, then they must, so he sets out to go there. With a colander for a hat, and a homemade rocket, it seems his dreams may be bigger than his reality. Pip is a dreamer though, and dreamers have lots of imagination.

It's a cute enough story for young readers. I really liked the illustrations in the book. The little mouse and his big dreams make for a fun story.

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


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Hunters

author: Paul Maybury
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.33
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/07/02
date added: 2018/07/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Hunters' with main story and art by Josh Tierney and Miguel Valderrama is a unique idea for an anthology story. Some of the art quality just doesn't hold up with the rest.

A dying king sends a group of adventurers to a mysterious island to look for a cure. They find clues for how to proceed and split up in to groups to search. As each group goes their way, a different art team tells their story. The styles vary quite a bit, and characters perish along the way. The group comes back together a couple times, and the mystery of the island has a final resolution, but not before showing us some pretty weird traps and monsters that the island has in store.

I like the idea, and I liked most of the artwork. I wish there had been a brief foreword to explain the concept. The radical change in styles was initially confusing, but I ultimately liked this odd tale.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, 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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