Mission to the bottom of the Sea

author: Jan Leyssens
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/30
date added: 2020/04/30
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Mission to the bottom of the Sea' by Jan Leyssens with illustrations by Joachim Sneyers is a picture book about a man who wanted to explore deeper in the ocean than anyone had before.

Almost 100 years ago the Bathysphere was invented by William Beebe and Otis Barton. William Beebe explored the ocean, but he wanted to see what was deeper. He put an ad in a paper a Otis Barton showed up to build a vehicle, but his one condition was that he go on the journey too.

I love how this story is told, but I especially loved the drawings. They have a quality to them that keeps the story interesting. I liked the addition of drawn plans and news articles.

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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Eleanor & The Egret Volume 1: Taking Flight

author: John Layman
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.38
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/30
date added: 2020/04/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Eleanor & The Egret Volume 1: Taking Flight' by John Layman with art by Sam Kieth is a charming and quirky graphic novel about an art thief and her talking bird.

A daring art theft in Paris takes place, and the police are baffled by motive. The painting in question is worth a lot of money. Instead, it is fed to a bird, who then grows large and fat with it. Thus begins the adventures of Eleanor and her friend the Egret.

I liked this odd story. I'm not sure I was completely happy with the plot when it was all said and done, but I really liked the characters. I also really liked the art which borrowed from some art periods I like and had odd asides in some of the panels.

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


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Bix

author: Scott Chantler
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.92
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2020/04/29
date added: 2020/04/29
shelves: non-fiction, favorites
review:
'Bix' by Scott Chantler is an amazing graphic novel biography of Bix Beiderbecke.

Bix Beiderbecke was a jazz trumpet player in the 1920's. He died at a young age, but left behind some landmark recordings.

This book is told mostly without words, but Scott Chantler's amazing art conveys so much emotion. The whole thing has a lyrical bittersweet quality. The end is foreshadowed as Bix feels the pain of his father's rejection. The last few pages of panels are heartrending. This is one of the most amazing things I've read recently.

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


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Ghosted in L.A., Vol. 1

author: Sina Grace
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/28
date added: 2020/04/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Ghosted in L.A. Vol. 1' by Sina Grace with art by Cathy Le Siobhan Keenan is a graphic novel about being ghosted, in more ways than one.

Daphne Walters moves to Los Angeles to go to school because that's where her boyfriend is going. Only, she is stuck in a dorm with a roommate nothing like her, and now her boyfriend has decided that they shouldn't be together. One night, on a walk, Daphne passes a beautiful home with a swimming pool. Along with the swimming pool are a collection of ghosts from different eras that live in the house. Now Daphne has a cool place to live and a new set of strange friends.

I really liked this story. It's definitely a good set up for a series, and I really like the atmosphere that the book takes. The art includes lots of nicely designed characters. I'm sure this won't be my last visit to Rycroft Manor.

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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Kim Reaper Vol. 1: Grim Beginnings

author: Sarah Graley
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/27
date added: 2020/04/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Kim Reaper Vol. 1: Grim Beginnings' with story and art by Sarah Graley is a graphic novel about having a crush on someone and finding out they have a really weird job.

Becka has a crush on Kim. She follows her to invite her to the pub, and gets caught in a portal where Kim has been sent to reap the life of a cat. When Kim messes the job up, she ends up getting a promotion, but where does that leave Becka.

It's a pretty cute story. The characters are fun. The art is also really cute. I had fun reading this.

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


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Clan - Clan (Hors Collection Le Lombard)

author: Amazing Améziane
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.67
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/27
date added: 2020/04/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Clan' with story and art by Amazing Ameziane is a stylish looking graphic novel about rival gangs in Tokyo.

Saburo is a young upstart who wants to start a war between gang factions. Kodama, sensing his power is in danger, orders the release of fighter Shi. Shi is blind and he's been in prison for 30 years, but that doesn't mean he's gotten soft. Shi wades into Saburo's men with a vengeance.

I had a hard time following or staying very interested in the story, but darn did it look really cool. The art really deserves a better story, but I'm not sorry 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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Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Graphic Novel

author: Ned Hartley
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.53
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/26
date added: 2020/04/26
shelves: classics
review:
'Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Graphic Novel' by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Ned Hartley with art by Dave Shephard is a classic story adapted to a graphic novel.

A man inherits property after a relative is brutally murdered, reportedly by a supernatural dog. Watson goes ahead of Holmes and enters the eerie area of Baskerville with it's foggy landscape and boggy land. The fog is not the only thing holding on to secrets and Watson does his best to find out the truth.

This is a pretty good adaptation of the classic story. I really liked this version because the art uses a simpler format versus overly complex art, and the story is adapted and moves along briskly.

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


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The Altered History of Willow Sparks

author: Tara O'Connor
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.17
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/26
date added: 2020/04/26
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Altered History of Willow Sparks' with story and art by Tara O' Connor is a graphic novel about a girl who finds a way to change her life, and the consequences of doing so.

Willow Sparks is a downtrodden teen who is bullied by the popular kids. When she closes the library she works at one night, she discovers a book with her name on it. By writing in it, she can change things. What will she become and how will that affect her friendship with her best friend Georgia who gets left behind?

It's a pretty typical teen story. It doesn't provide anything much new, and leaves a few questions when it's all done. The art is nice. I just wish the story had been something a bit more.

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


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Archival Quality

author: Ivy Noelle Weir
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/26
date added: 2020/04/26
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Archival Quality' by Ivy Noelle Weir with art by Steenz is a graphic novel about a woman who gets a job in a creepy library.

When Cel Walden loses her job, it affects her shaky mental health. She finds a replacement job as an archivist at a mainly deserted medical library on the grounds of an old sanitarium. Her new boss is standoffish and weird, and there is definitely something going on, as Cel's on site apartment is tossed and she keeps finding strange messages leading her to the mystery of a young woman who died years ago.

The story was engaging enough. I liked the characters well enough. The art wasn't totally my style, but it works ok. I'm glad I got to read this.

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


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Lies We Tell Our Kids

author: Brett Wagner
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.73
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2020/04/26
date added: 2020/04/26
shelves:
review:
'Lies We Tell Our Kids' by Brett Wagner is a book collecting the sort of lies that parents tell kids.

There are about 50 sayings in this book that are acompanied by drawings. I confess to not being familiar with a lot of these (like stinky feet breed dragons, or the monster under your bed just wishes she could read), but there were a few familiar ones. The book ends with some based on presidential figures.

I don't know who this book is designed for, but some of the sayings and drawings would be a bit scary for children. Overall, I liked the illustration style, but the book is a very quick read.

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


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Jimmy's Bastards, Volume 1

author: Garth Ennis
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.19
book published: 2018
rating: 1
read at: 2020/04/26
date added: 2020/04/26
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Jimmy's Bastard's, Volume 1' by Garth Ennis with art by Russ Braun is the kind of over the top thing that Garth Ennis puts out.

An MI6 super spy who is known as a womanizer gets a new partner and a new group of enemies. Apparently all his womanizing has left a group of his progeny around and they want revenge. One way they do this is by unleashing a weird chemical that forces just about everyone to change sexes.

It's gratuitous, which is fine if it's going somewhere, but this was just dumb. I found the whole thing a waste of time. The art was fine. I just didn't like this.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from 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 Promised Neverland, Vol. 1

author: Kaiu Shirai
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/25
date added: 2020/04/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Promised Neverland, Vol. 1' by Kaiu Shirai with art by Posuka Demizu is a manga about a group of children living in what seems to be an idyllic setting.

Emma and her fellow orphans live in Grace Field House which is run by a woman they call Mom. They are well fed, and tested. They can play in the forest, but they are forbidden from going near the gate. One night, Emma and her friends go near the gate and find out the horrible truth about their existence. Now they have to find a way to escape.

I really liked the set up and everything up to the kids finding things out. After that, the pacing just kind of got stuck for me. The planning to escape was endless and they hadn't even left by the end. The art is quite good and I liked the style.

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


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The Wrong Earth, Vol. 1

author: Tom Peyer
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2020/04/25
date added: 2020/04/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Wrong Earth, Vol. 1' by Tom Peyer and Paul Constant is a graphic novel that has two superheroes changing worlds and the consequences of that.

In a sort of Silver Age world known as Earth-Alpha, Dragonflyman and his young sidekick fight goofy heroes, but their main rival is known as Number one. On the gritty Earth-Omega, Dragonfly has lost his sidekick to the much crueler villain Number One, and Dragonfly resorts to violence in a darker more sinister world.

Now a strange mirror has brought each world's main hero and villain to it's counterpart. Can Earth-Omega deal with a moody, hyper-violent hero, and can an upbeat do-gooder survive in the gritty world of Earth-Omega?

I loved this look at how different comics have become over the ages. If you know comics a little, it's easy to know which hero they are mimicking, and they do a good job. The art changes for each world, and I loved the care that was taken, even extending to some fun backup stories from each world. This was just a lot of fun to read.

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


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Ghost Money: Death in Dubai

author: Thierry Smolderen
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.14
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/25
date added: 2020/04/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Ghost Money: Death in Dubai' by Thierry Smolderen with illustrations by Dominique Bertail is a near-fugure thriller involving tracking money down that funded the 9/11 attack.

A young woman named Lindsey is rescued from a protest by a mysterious woman named Chamza, and their fates are intertwined. Chamza seems to have lots and lots of money, and she is being tracked by the US government. The story moves around the world and features technology that we don't currently have, but may soon, like cornea replacements to spy on people, and futuristic travel.

At 296 pages, this was a long read. It took me a while to finally review it because it just seemed a bit daunting to me. I'm glad I finally read it, but it could have been a shorter story. The art is mediocre and feels a bit muddy at times. The art feels a little gratuitous at times too.

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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How Selfish

author: Clare Helen Welsh
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/25
date added: 2020/04/25
shelves: childrens
review:
'How Selfish!' by Clare Helen Welsh with illustrations by Olivier Tallec reunites the characters from 'How Rude!' for another funny lesson on manners.

When Dot and Duck find a stick, one sees it as a sword and the other a flag. Dot decides the stick is hers and does whatever she can to keep Duck from having it. Can these two friends find a compromise?

Just like in the previous book, these characters demonstrate a bad behavior type. The illustrations are funny, and I'd love to read this aloud to a group of toddlers. The illustrations are bright and fun.

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


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The Night Monster

author: Sushree Mishra
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/25
date added: 2020/04/25
shelves: childrens
review:
'The Night Monster' with story by Sushree Mishra and illustrations by Sanket Pethkar is about a little boy and the visitor he is afraid of.

Little Avi is brave enough during the day, but a monster he sees at night scares him. He confides in his sister Swati, and she gives him suggestions on how to make the monster go away. What follows is the story of a scared little boy and the older sibling who wants to help.

This was a really beautiful story, and I loved the illustrations. Told in soft colors of the earth and night, I loved the angles that some of the illustrations were given. The advice Avi gets is also good advice for little ones to defeat their own night monsters.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Bob Dylan

author: Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2020/04/25
date added: 2020/04/25
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Bob Dylan' by Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Conrad Roset is the story of singer/songwriter and music legend Bob Dylan.

Young Robert Zimmerman grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota. He liked the music he heard on the radio and taught himself to play guitar. He experimented with different styles of music and instruments. He became a brilliant songwriter.

I love this series, but it especially shines when the illustrations seem to rise above, and they do here. Conrad Roset's illustrations are really good and easily in my top 5 for this series.

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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Alan Turing

author: Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/23
date added: 2020/04/23
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Alan Turing' by Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Ashling Lindsay is the story of the man who helped break the Nazi code and win the war.

Alan Turing grew up in England with his friend Christopher. When Christopher died, Alan threw himself into his work of creating a computing machine. Alan Turing did great work for England, and in return was not recognized until many years after his life.

Alan Turing's story is a difficult one, so I wondered how they would approach it for children. It works, but there are odd gaps. It's obvious in the book that Alan loves Christopher and is gay, but details are a bit missing, as they probably should have been. The illustrations are lovely and befitting this man's life.

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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Observational Sketching: How to Draw Almost Any Object

author: Mariko Higaki
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.80
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/23
date added: 2020/04/23
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Observational Sketching: How to Draw Almost Any Object' by Mariko Higaki is a book about an art technique that draws everyday objects.

Industrial design drawing is something I've always liked, but never considered doing it for fun. Methods and techniques are discussed as well as focusing on how things are made and the materials they are made out of.

There are examples, but basically the same ones over and over. I would have liked a bit more technique and a little less of a showcase of the author's art. The author is quite good at observational sketching.

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


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Fun Fun Fun World

author: Yehudi Mercado
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.78
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/23
date added: 2020/04/23
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Fun Fun Fun World' with story and illustrations by Yehudi Mercado is a graphic novel about a group of fairly inept alien invaders.

A group of failing space explorers can't manage to conquer any planets. With an angry queen giving them a last chance, they decide to conquer Earth. A young boy named Javi, and his father, run a failing amusement park. Javi convinces the aliens to help him fix the amusement part. In return, they think they have captured Earth. What happens when the queen sends someone to check on them.

This was a pretty silly story, but I found it a lot of fun. It had a lot of references to a certain famous theme park, so that was fun too. The art is bright and kind of crazy. I think young readers would like it.

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


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Churchill: A Graphic Biography

author: Vincent Delmas
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.78
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/22
date added: 2020/04/22
shelves: graphic-novels, non-fiction
review:
'Churchill: A Graphic Biography' by Vincent Delmas with illustrations by Christophe Regnault & Alessio Cammardella is a look at a famous life.

Starting with Winston's early family life and the disappointments of his father, this looks at his military career and his military career up through the end of World War II. Winston had his disappointments and failures early on, but he was able to push through those and become one of the most influential people of the 20th Century.

Included is an introduction by Andrew Roberts with photos of Winston. The narrative is a bit dry, but the illustrations really shine here.

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


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The Whaler

author: Matthieu Bonhomme
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.40
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/21
date added: 2020/04/21
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Esteban 1. The Whaler' with words and art by Matthieu Bonhomme is the story of a young boy who joins a whaling crew.

The story begins with the death of Esteban's mother. He has to find a way in the world and that way leads the ship Leviathan. Apparently the captain knew his mother and takes Estaban onboard. Esteban really wants to be a harpooner, but he has a lot to learn. Life aboard ship is hard, but Esteban makes his way.

It's a good beginning to a coming of age story, and Esteban and other characters seem pretty well written. The art is good too, especially nice action scenes of men in boats against huge whales.

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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Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper

author: Ian Flynn
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/19
date added: 2020/04/19
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper' by Ian Flynn with art by Evan Stanley is about a series of characters I don't remember from the Sonic games I played, but that was a really long time ago.

While Sonic does make a few appearances as well as other characters, this book is mostly about Tangle, the energetic lemur, and Whisper, the quiet wolf who is against any kind of contact. Whisper is hunting down Sonic, but it turns out there is more to the story than that, and it ties in to a big past hurt that Whisper has. Can her friend Tangle help her out, or will Tangle just jeopardize things?

I was unfamiliar with these characters, but they are pretty interesting and I enjoyed the stories here. There are a few lighter story before the main one kicks in. The art is pretty good too. This would be a fun read for younger video game fans.

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


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Phoolan Devi, Rebel Queen

author: Claire Fauvel
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/19
date added: 2020/04/19
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Phoolan Devi, Rebel Queen' with words and art by Claire Fauvel is the sad but true story of a modern woman who was abused by those around her and how she reacted.

As a child, Phoolan Devi was aware of the injustices in her village. When a neighbor cut down a tree, she wanted justice. At the age of only 11, she was married off to a man much older than her and raped. This was only the beginning of the degrading things that happened to her. Her response was to become a rebel fighter and fight back against the systems and people that let her down.

I was less familiar with this story, but I found it grim and sad. This is not a story for the faint of heart, and this book manages to convey the horrors well without resorting to being overly graphic. The art is a bit of a let down, but the story still shines through.

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


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Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: Time Trout

author: Doug Savage
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/18
date added: 2020/04/18
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: Time Trout' by Doug Savage is another crazy adventure with woodland creatures, featuring a moose who shoots lasers out of his eyes.

When a time traveler from the future falls in to a creek, a trout swallow his time travel device and wreaks havoc with his tiny brain. Included in the zaniness is Aquabear, a foe that Laser Moose previously beat. Before the end, there are all kinds of knots tied in the timestream.

While I didn't find this volume quite as fun as previous volumes, it was still a fun read. The art is fun, and the weird things that happen are sure to keep young readers turning pages.

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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Petit (The Ogre Gods, #1)

author: Hubert Boulard
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/18
date added: 2020/04/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Petit: The Ogre Gods Book One' by Hubert Boulard with illustrations by Bertrand Gatignol is a story about grotesque giants who have court intrigue and feast on humans.

Petit is the son of the (current) Ogre King. He is quite small for his species, towering over humans and seemingly not fitting in to either world. He is protected by his aunt who is larger than other giants in his crumbling castle. To stay alive, he is told he must mate with a human to produce a royal offspring, even though this is certain death for the impregnated.

Threaded throughout the story are prose pieces which help flesh out the world and ancestors of Petit. This really helped make the story more interesting, and these pieces are pretty well written.

The art, like the giants behavior, is grotesque in nature. Told with black and white drawings, I was more fascinated by this story than I initially thought I would be. Maybe i was in the mood for a weird story like this.

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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The Light Brigade

author: Kameron Hurley
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/18
date added: 2020/04/18
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'The Light Brigade' by Kameron Hurley was the March 2020 pick by my book club. Due to current events, I am a bit late to finish this. I dedicate this review to my fellow book club members in Tacoma that couldn't meet this month to discuss this book.

In some near future, we are at war with Mars. To get soldiers to the battlefield quickly, they are turned in to light and sent directly to the front. Dietz is a young soldier eager to fight and avenge the destruction of her city of Sao Paolo, but when she is broken in to light, she sees different things than everyone else. She sees a war that goes on and on, and the death of people she knows in some future time.

I really liked this strange book, and I can see how it got nominated for a Hugo this year. Dietz is a good character and I like how the character is able to puzzle things out in such amazing confusion.


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Plantopedia

author: Adrienne Barman
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/18
date added: 2020/04/18
shelves: non-fiction, childrens
review:
'Plantopedia' by Adrienne Barman is a colorful collection of plant drawings that is fun to explore.

Arranged by different categories, this is a fun look at the different plants we find in our world. You can find plants by color or medicinal value. There are categories for poisonous or uniqueness to area. There are categories of prickly and plants that that are edible.

This book has pages of fun drawings. Along with the plants, there are various fauna mixed in, so there are humans and aardvarks and spiders and other surprises hidden in the pages. I had fun poring through this book and I think younger readers would find it fun and informative.

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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Babyteeth, Vol. 2: Razed

author: Donny Cates
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2020/04/17
date added: 2020/04/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Babyteeth, Vol 2: Razed' by Donny Cates with art by Garry Brown continues the saga of the teenage girl who has given birth to the antichrist.

Sadie, Heather and baby satan are on the run. They've got weird company and an demonic raccoon just showed up on the wing of their plane. They end up in a dilapidated castle in Maine that hides more than it seems. Things don't settle down though as extremists out to stop the baby somehow know where the super secret hideout is.

It's an over the top story, and the first volume wasn't bad, but this one just kind of lost me. Maybe the premise is wearing on me. Also the art is pretty vague and the coloring is just murky and bad.

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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Lifted: Of Gods & Thieves Vol. 1

author: Shawn Pryor
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.50
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2020/04/17
date added: 2020/04/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Lifted: Of Gods & Thieves' by Shawn Pryor, Keith Cunningham and Chris Murrin with art by John Rodriguez is a graphic novel about a series of heists and the group of people who pull them off.

Sara Jackson has limited teleportation abilities. Along with her brother Max and their friend Claudette, they steal things for money. A high value client has them steal and item, then they learn that there are a series of three of the items, and now the team has to plan 2 more heists. There is also a team of down on their luck federal agents interested and a strange Hollywood religious cult.

The story is ok, but we get no context. Why does Sara have these powers? How did they decide to start stealing? In over 100 pages, I wanted some backstory, and it's just not there. The art is also not the greatest. The characters all seem to have a lean stretched out quality, and I did lose track of characters at least once.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Action Lab 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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Super Sisters

author: Christophe Cazenove
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.70
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2020/04/16
date added: 2020/04/16
shelves: childrens, graphic-novels
review:
'Super Sisters' by Christophe Cazenove with illustration by William Maury is a graphic novel about sisters Wendy and Maureen from another graphic novel called The Sisters.

Wendy and Maureen in this book imagine they are superheroes. They get on each other's nerves even as superheroes, but also have unique strengths that each needs. They fight criminals in a science fiction world, but still go to school. They find their greatest threat in their own clones.

There isn't a lot of context to get in to this. For that, I assume you need to read the previous stories. The younger sibling has a habit of mangling every phrase and parroting it back. This gets annoying pretty quickly. The art is fine, but there is some pin up style art along the way that makes me wonder who this title is supposed to appeal to.

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


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Midnight Vista

author: Eliot Rahal
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.37
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2020/04/15
date added: 2020/04/15
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Midnight Vista' by Eliot Rahal with art by Clara Meath is a graphic novel about an alien abduction and the aftermath.

Oliver Flores and his stepfather, Nomar Perez, are out one night when they get abducted by aliens. The aliens do pretty horrific things to both of them. One day, Oliver just shows up. Now older and confused, he finds he is being pursued by people who want to harm him.

This story started out well, but just lagged and drooped in the execution, finally ending with Oliver in a weird, but familiar, Hollywood religion. It feels like the story arc just got tangled somewhere. The art was different in a way I kind of liked.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Aftershock, 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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Grimbeard: Tales of the Last Dwarf

author: Samwise Didier
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.40
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/15
date added: 2020/04/15
shelves:
review:
'Grimbeard: Tales of the Last Dwarf' written and illustrated by Samwise Didier is a series of tall tales told by a boasting dwarf who hates elves.

The six stories in this collection tell how Grimbeard got his fearsome crew together and made his ship out of dragon bones. It tells epic stories of his drinking with the gods, and the mishaps that his drinking can cause. He goes to a wedding and ends up on a reality tv show.

The stories are fun in a ludicrous way. In smaller doses, I might have enjoyed them more. Grimbeard is a boasting blowhard, but he is a gruff, likeable character.

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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Dewdrop

author: Katie O'Neill
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/15
date added: 2020/04/15
shelves: childrens
review:
'Dewdrop' with words and pictures by Katie O'Neill is a picture book for young readers about a party and a group of friends.

Dewdrop and her friends are getting ready for the annual sports fair. Some friends will cook, some will write songs, and some will compete in sports. The problem is that everyone is worried about the others will think. That is, until Dewdrop comes along.

The story is really cute. If it's possible, the illustrations are even more so. This would be a fun book to read aloud to little readers.

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


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Sid the Kid and the Dryer

author: Lesley Choyce
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/15
date added: 2020/04/15
shelves: childrens
review:
'Sid the Kid and the Dryer' by Lesley Choyce with illustrations by Brenda Jones is the story of a very famous hockey player and the poor dryer he practiced near.

The story is told from the perspective of a new dryer arriving at a home and being installed in a basement. The dryer soon meets young Sid who sets up a goal in the basement and practices endlessly. That kid grew up to be Sidney Crosby.

This was a really cute story with a really great lesson. I learned that if you want to see the actual dryer, it's in a museum in Nova Scotia. The illustrations are fun too. I love the dented face of the dryer with a missing button that looks like a missing tooth.

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


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Rork, The Ghosts

author: Andreas
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2018/04/13
date added: 2020/04/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Rork, The Ghosts' by Andreas seems to be part of a series. I don't know where this falls in the series, but it seems like previous information is missing. The art is pretty stunning for the most part, though.

The story takes place in the 1800s. A man who can talk to ghosts wants to help find missing people. He finds the ghosts under trees, but now the ghosts aren't helping. He talks to Rork, a white haired stranger, about his problem. From reading the book's description, Rork is a paranormal investigator. Their journey takes them to the American Southwest where there are no trees, but something unusual awaits in the shadows.

It's an odd book that seems to just float, but I can be okay with that. The art, at times, was really beautiful. At other times, it felt a bit rushed. This was a strange journey, but I'm glad I took 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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Slothilda: Living the Sloth Life

author: Dante Fabiero
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/13
date added: 2020/04/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Slothilda: Living the Sloth Life' by Dante is a series of cartoons about someone living their best sloth life now.

The book is divided in to sections like Fitness, Food, Money, Home, etc. Each section has a humorous joke about intentions and reality. The jokes are cute, and I could certainly relate to them, especially with regard to exercise.

The illustrations are cute and the jokes are fun. Slothilda is a pretty adorable character as is her pet, who is always getting in the way.

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


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Geronimo Stilton: Fangs And Feasts In Transratania

author: Geronimo Stilton
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/13
date added: 2020/04/13
shelves: childrens
review:
'Fangs and Feasts in Transratania' by Geronimo Stilton is a chapter book in a series I'd only ever read in graphic novel format previously.

This time around, Geronimo Stilton gets a mysterious phone call from his cousin Trap and set off for Ratoff. What he finds is a creepy castle full of cobwebs and spooky secrets. He finds his cousin Trap cooking dinner for the mysterious Count and his guests.

This was a fun, spooky read with funny, spooky content. The illustrations were fun as well.

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


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We Should Improve Society Somewhat: A Collection of Comics by Matt Bors

author: Matt Bors
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2020/04/12
date added: 2020/04/12
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'We Should Improve Society Somewhat: A Collection of Comics by Matt Bors' with comics by Matt Bors and an introduction by Tom Tomorrow is a collection of political cartoons capturing a recent moment in political time.

The problem with political cartoons, and books about recent events, is that they capture a moment. During that moment, they are fresh, but they sometimes don't age well. Matt Bors does not like Trump. There is no end of weird material from our current president, and there is much lampooning here about him and his followers.

Some of the comics are funny, but in a large batch like this, they feel repetive, and like a joke that has outworn its welcome. Perhaps in a weekly format, during the time of the events, they were funnier, but not so much here. It also could be that I've never really been much of a fan of political humor in most forms. Your mileage may completely vary.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Clover 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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Ed Leffingwell's Little Joe by Harold Gray

author: Harold Gray
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/12
date added: 2020/04/12
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Ed Leffingwell's Little Joe by Harold Gray' by Harold Gray is a collection of comic strips about a young cowboy from 1937-1942.

Harold Gray was the creator of Little Orphan Annie. His cousin Ed Leffingwell wrote a comic strip called Little Joe. When Ed died, Harold Gray took up the reins of his cousin's comic strip and signed each one with his cousin's name.

The comic strip is about a little cowboy who has lost his father. His surrogate father is a grizzled cowboy named Utah. They find and lose fortunes. They have run-ins with outlaws and native Americans. They even adopt a bear. And towards the end, Little Joe finally starts to look for revenge on the person who killed his father.

It's an odd, dated comic, and I really loved reading it. The style is very much in the style of Little Orphan Annie, but I preferred these stories with their darkness and humor. The art is really great with some wonderful clean drawings.

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


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Once & Future, Vol. 1

author: Kieron Gillen
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2020/04/11
date added: 2020/04/11
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Once & Future, Vol. 1' by Kieron Gillen with art by Dan Mora is a graphic novel exploring the Arthurian legend, and it was an awful lot of fun.

A group of Nationalists decide to resurrect a monster from Arthurian myth and its up to Bridgette McGuire and her clueless (to what's happening) grandson Duncan to try to stop it. From Duncan's first battle with the questing beast to the interesting twists brought on by the Fisher King, this story shows how messed up ancient and modern families can be.

I loved this story. There is action and bravado. There is great humor along the way (I love how Bridgette seems to have large caches of weapons everywhere). There is some pretty great art by Dan Mora. I got a review copy of this graphic novel, but I'm going to continue reading the series on my own. I loved it that much!

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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Poems to See by: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry

author: Julian Peters
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/11
date added: 2020/04/11
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Poems to See by: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry' with art by Julian Peters is a collection of 24 pretty famous poems interpreted visually by the artist.

Divided in to different categories of seeing, like yourself, art, death, etc., the book presents the graphic version of the poem followed by a text version only. There are some very famous poems in here by Emily Dickinson and William Wordsworth and Edgar Allan Poe, and some less familiar (to me anyway) works. All are presented in different ways as the artist interprets.

As a child, I remember there was a man who would come to our library on occasion and read us poems. We had our favorites, but this early exposure to poetry harbored a lifetime interest. I liked this collection of poems and it's approach. It shows how visually poems can be, and maybe it will help another young person to appreciate these poems and others.

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


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The Spirit: An 80th Anniversary Celebration

author: Will Eisner
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/11
date added: 2020/04/11
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Spirit: An 80th Anniversary Celebration' edited by Ted Adams and featuring comics by Will Eisner is a nice collection.

There are 9 stories, each introduced by different folks from the comic industry, including a great introduction by Denis Kitchen. Each introduction features a favorite 7-page story, including 4 which are now in color. Stories featured include the origin and stories where Will Eisner mocks himself about deadlines and the pervasive nature of advertising.

I had a great time reading this collection, including some I'd never read before. Will Eisner was a master of visual storytelling, and while the contents of some of these stories can feel a bit dated, there is much here that endures.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Clover 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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Twisted Fairy Tales: The Three Little Narwhals

author: Stewart Ross
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/08
date added: 2020/04/08
shelves: childrens
review:
'Twisted Fairy Tales: The Three Little Narwhals' by Stewart Ross with illustrations by Chris Jevons is a new take on a classic story.

Three narwhals swimming around find a shipwreck and decide to each build houses out of the different materials. As each is finished, they are visited by a shark who tests the houses. Each house is stronger, but will the narwhal's ever be safe?

It didn't feel like much of a twist except narwhal's and sharks instead of pigs and a wolf, but the illustrations were bright and lots of fun.

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


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Heroes Reborn (The Mythics, #1)

author: Philippe Ogaki
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.18
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/08
date added: 2020/04/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Mythics #1: Heroes Reborn' from Papercutz is about an epic battle and the 6 young people who have been chosen to fight it. We meet the first 3 in this volume.

Each new hero is from a different part of the earth and learns from an older god that they have been chosen. That god shows up in our world in a cute mini-manga style to train our hero. The hero also needs to find a weapon to help channel their energy, then finds out that someone close to them (usually a trusted adult), is actually their new rival.

The problem is the story structure is very repetitive. After three of these, I'd rather move on to what happens when all 6 kids get together. The art by different artists is pretty good consistently.

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


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Take It Away, Tommy!: A Breaking Cat News Adventure

author: Georgia Dunn
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/05
date added: 2020/04/05
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Take It Away, Tommy!: A Breaking Cat News Adventure' by Georgia Dunn finds the news team of cats having new adventures.

In hard-hitting news format, the cats of Breaking Cat News bring stories of how to avoid the vacuum, and the cat (and litter) shortages. A new audio tech has joined the team and set up in the basement. There is also the story of a mysterious ghost cat that is lingering around the house.

This is a fun series, but at the 3rd volume, some of the bits feel like ones I've read before. I still think it's fun though and I love the fun activities that are included with each volume.

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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Kino Vol 1: Escape from the Abyss

author: Joe Casey
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.59
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2020/04/03
date added: 2020/04/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Kino Vol. 1: Escape from the Abyss' by Joe Casey with art by Jefte Paolo is another title in the birth of superheros from an event called The Catalyst.

This title is about Major Alistair Meath who was involved in the accident in space. He has returned to Earth, but not the same as he was before. In fact, he's not even conscious when we meet him. He's hidden away and hooked up to a machine being fed simulations. He is starting to have control over the simulations though, and there is a group of people who are after his hidden location for their own reasons.

I've read a few titles in the Catalyst Prime universe, and, to be honest, none of them are all that great, but a few have been fun. What I did like in this one was the old style superhero comic style of Major Meath's subconscious world. The art was ok, but a bit too angular for my liking.

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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Roku

author: Cullen Bunn
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.74
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/03
date added: 2020/04/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Roku' by Cullen Bunn with art by Ramon F. Bachs is an action driven comic about a killer hairstyle.

Roku is MI-6 agent Angelina Alcott brought back to life as lethal assassin. She has the art of using her hair as a living weapon. She is sent to recover a young girl with an even stranger power, she is the living embodiment of the internet, specifically the dark web. Roku finds that she is not the only assassin sent to retrieve this particular package and finds her loyalties questioned.

That plot could have been the first book, but was stretched out over multiple issues. It's certainly action packed and moves along pretty quickly, but there's not a whole lot here I cared about when it was all said and done. The art is passable, but lacks background details, so it feels a bit flat at times.

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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The Yankee Comandante

author: Gani Jakupi
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.33
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2020/01/18
date added: 2020/04/03
shelves: graphic-novels, non-fiction
review:
'The Yankee Comandante' with story and art by Gani Jakupi is a very well researched graphic novel about Cuba, but I had a hard time staying focused and interested.

Centering around the true story of American William Alexander Morgan, aka The Yankee Comandante, this book takes place during the Cuban Revolution. William embeds with the rebels in the Escambray Mountains, and not speaking a word of Spanish, he helped overthrow the Batista government, paving the way for Fidel Castro to take over.

I had a hard time staying interested in the story told here, and it should have been really interesting to me. The art works well, and I loved the afterword with real photos and all the notes about the research.

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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