Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior Graphic Novel: An OP Alliance

author: Pirate Sourcil
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2021/09/08
date added: 2022/09/27
shelves: childrens, graphic-novels
review:
'Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior Graphic Novel' by Pirate Sourcil with art by Odone and Jez is a graphic novel based on the hit series for younger readers.

Runt lives in a Minecraft village, but he aspires to be a warrior, like Steve, the mythical Minecraft warrior. One day, he decides to leave the walls of his village with his wooden sword and chase his dream. Along the way, he makes some odd allies and ends up chasing after the ultimate game prize.

I had a great time reading this graphic novel. I've read a couple of the books and the same humor is evident here. I loved Runt and his zombie bff trying to live large and not kill each other. The art is bright and colorful and young readers should get a big kick out of this.

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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To Drink and to Eat Vol. 3: Treats and Tribulations from a French Kitchen

author: Guillaume Long
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.71
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/14
date added: 2022/09/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'To Drink and to Eat Vol 3' with story and art by Guillaume Long is another outing in the world of a Parisian food columnist.

This time around the author has some fame, so there is quite a lot of self-referential humor, some things work better than others. The usual elements from the first two volumes are here like recipes and trips with friends and food.

I like this series, but I liked the first two volumes quite a bit more. Once the book settles in and stops making fun of itself, it got better, in my opinion.

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


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To Drink and to Eat Vol. 2: More Meals and Mischief from a French Kitchen

author: Guillaume Long
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.28
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2021/01/11
date added: 2022/09/25
shelves: graphic-novels, non-fiction
review:
'To Drink and to Eat Vol. 2: More Meals and Mischief from a French Kitchen' by Guillaume Long with translation by Sylvia Grove is the second graphic novel in the series of food blog comics.

Like the first volume, this one is divided by season. A running bit includes a vegetable subscription that the author subscribes to and the recipe inspirations. The other is about how to make spaghetti carbonara the right way (and not get the carbonara police after you). There are longer pieces like a radio interview the author did. The book ends with a list of gift ideas for foodies and an index of the recipes.

I loved the first volume, but didn't love this one quite as much. It is still a really interesting idea and pretty funny.

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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Library Girl: How Nancy Pearl Became America's Most Celebrated Librarian

author: Karen Henry Clark
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.52
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/22
date added: 2022/09/22
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Library Girl
How Nancy Pearl Became America's Most Celebrated Librarian' by Karen Henry Clark with illustrations by Sheryl Murray is a picture book for young readers.

Nancy Pearl loved to read when she was young, but she got teased for it. Still she loved her school library and the school librarian also told her about the public library in town. Her love of books and libraries made her career choice easy at a young age.

This is a charming book about a young bibliophile. I loved the story and the illustrations that show young Nancy's imagination and love of books.


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Big Nate: Destined for Awesomeness

author: Lincoln Peirce
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.41
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2022/09/21
date added: 2022/09/21
shelves: childrens
review:
'Big Nate: Destined for Awesomeness' by Lincoln Peirce is a graphic novel adaptation of three episodes of the new Big Nate animated series.

In the first story, Big Nate is on the verge of too many detentions in one week, triggering a school urban legend. In another, Nate has a terrible birthday until his dad mistakenly lets him use his credit card, which ends in a dog sled race. In the final episode, Nate's fears of cats jeopardizes his school project and his crush on Gina. Each chapter ends with the Big Nate original cartoon that likely inspired it.

I haven't seen the series, but I am a Big Nate fan. This didn't ring true to me as a fan. I much prefer my Big Nate in the normal shorter comics. The art is from the show, and it's actually not too bad.


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Spirou in Berlin Spirou in Berlin

author: Flix
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2022/09/21
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Spirou in Berlin' with story and art by Flix is a graphic novel caper that takes place before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Spirou and his friend Fantasio go to East Berlin to rescue their friend, the Count of Champignac, when he is kidnapped by the evil Zantafio. In order to save them they will have to go undercover, get involved in the underground, and avoid getting arrested by the East Berlin police.

You won't learn a lot about East Berlin, but it's a fun adventure. The art is fun too.


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Worlds Fantastic, Worlds Familiar: A Guided Tour of the Solar System

author: Bonnie J. Buratti
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/18
date added: 2022/09/18
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Worlds Fantastic, Worlds Familiar: A Guided Tour of the Solar System' is an ebook by planetary astronomer Bonnie J. Buratti.

The ten chapters of this book start from Mercury near the Sun to Pluto and beyond to the search for Exoplanets and life outside our Solar System. Along the way, there is a wealth of information about each stop with information about initial discoveries, speculations about atmosphere, and what various probes have discovered.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The author makes the subject accessible and infuses the book with infectious enthusiasm for the subject.


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Hendrix: Electric Requiem

author: Mattia Colombara
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/18
date added: 2022/09/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Hendrix: Electric Requiem' by Mattia Colombara with art by Gianluca Maconi is a graphic novel biography of the life of Jimi Hendrix.

Jimi Hendrix was a musical genius, the likes of which we may never see again. This graphic novel is a look at his life, from his childhood in the South with a mother addicted to alcohol, to his rise to fame playing with his unique flamboyant style to his untimely death.

It's a flyover approach to a life, and some of it feels more fictionalized than other parts, but it flows nice and it's got cool art.


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The Stretcher Bearers

author: Reid Beaman
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.69
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/18
date added: 2022/09/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Stretcher Bearers' with art and story by brothers Reid and Ryan Beaman is a graphic novel about a young medic in World War I.

When we meet Maxwell Fox, he is a raw recruit in the trenches in France. He learns his way from an older experienced veteran named Graham. Through the course of the book, the horrors of war are made real through Maxwell's eyes.

I really enjoyed this engaging story of a young soldier. The story has heart and horror. The illustration style was a hit too.


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Gang of Fools

author: James Otis Smith
name: Wayne
average rating: 1.83
book published: 2012
rating: 1
read at: 2022/09/17
date added: 2022/09/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Gang of Fools' with story and art by James Otis Smith is a dystopian graphic novel with a very apt title.

The story is told through a varied series of lowlifes and hustlers. One is just trying to make rent, one is making a porn movie that the Russian mob are interested in, and so on.

I liked the idea of this better than the execution. The art is rough angular lines. The interlinked stories make it hard to find a likeable protagonist. The hardest thing for me was just following the various storylines and wanted to even care.


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John - Life is Worth Fighting For

author: Mario Boon
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/17
date added: 2022/09/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'John: Life is Worth Fighting For by Mario Boon and Luc Colemont with art by Mario Boon is a graphic novel about a man who gets what seems to be a fatal diagnosis and what he does next.

On John's 50th birthday, his daughters give him a trip to Italy to celebrate and to get himover his fear of flying. He gets to Italy fine and this divorced dad even finds romance, but the trouble starts on his trip home and he ends up fighting for his life.

The art is good, the story is a bit mediocre, but the message of the book elevates it in my mind. If the book causes people (especially older men) to get their health checked, then it's worthwhile.


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Bastien Vives' The Blouse

author: Bastien Vivès
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.15
book published: 2018
rating: 1
read at: 2022/09/17
date added: 2022/09/17
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Bastien Vives' The Blouse' with story and art by Bastien Vives with translation by Fabrice Sapolsky is a graphic novel about a forgettable young woman who is transformed by an unforgettable piece of clothing.

They say that clothes make the man, and that is true in The Blouse. A mostly invisible young woman is loaned a silk blouse after an accident while babysitting, and the garment makes her suddenly noticeable. She like the attention so much that it leads her to make poor choices.

I didn't like this story much because I could never care for the main character Severine. She has no depth and is used by the men in her life once she dons the blouse. Perhaps the story is meant to be a lesson of some sort, and the art is decent enough, but I found it as forgettable as the main character.


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Bylines In Blood

author: Erica Schultz
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/14
date added: 2022/09/14
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Bylines In Blood' by Erica Schultz with art by Aneke is a graphic novel noir mystery set in the future.

In the future, truth is suspect, as it sometimes is during our times. Satya, a former journalist turned detective for hire, seeks out the truth that others want to hide. When her old editor is murdered, Satya will stop at nothing to find out who is behind it.

This has pretty good art and a decent story. The main character is interesting enough that I'd like to read more stories with her.


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Animal Castle Vol 1

author: Xavier Dorison
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.09
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/10
date added: 2022/09/10
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Animal Castle Vol. 1' by Xavier Dorison with art by Felix Delep is a graphic novel about a group of oppressed animals figuring out how to fight back.

On a farm run by a bull named Silvio and his heartless dogs, the other animals are forced to work to meet quotas and earn their meager keep. Any variance is met with violence and the animals lead a bleak existence. That is until a new animal arrives and shows them the ways of civil disobedience.

I really liked this parable of oppressive regimes and those powerless to fight back in conventional ways. The story doesn't conclude here, and I'm curious what the animals will do next to peacefully protest.

The art is fabulous and I felt the motion in the art.


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Midnight Riot (Rivers of London #1)

author: Ben Aaronovitch
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/07
date added: 2022/09/07
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'Midnight Riot (aka Rivers of London #1)' by Ben Aaronovitch was the August pick for my book club. I was excited to finally read this as it's been on my TBR list for a while now.

It did not disappoint. The mix of urban fantasy, humor and a compelling mystery made for a good read. It is the first book in the series and I'm looking forward to my next visit to this world.


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Snitches Anonymous - Mission 1

author: Carbone
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.62
book published: 2019
rating: 2
read at: 2022/09/07
date added: 2022/09/07
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Snitches Anonymous: Mission 1' by Carbone with art by James Christ is a graphic novel about a group of young amateur detectives looking to solve a crime.

Tom's dad is a police captain and Tom is left on his own a lot. When his dad leaves a burglary case file behind, Tom sneaks a peak. When he recognizes the suspect as a school bully, he decides to do his own investigation, and finds some help along the way.

I liked this story about a group of young crimefighters well enough, and the art is decent. I'm not sure chasing after criminals that are a bit dangerous is the right message for a grade school read, so guardians beware.


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Maniac Of New York #2: The Bronx is Burning

author: Elliott Kalan
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/01
date added: 2022/09/01
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Maniac of New York, Vol. 2: The Bronx Is Burning' by Elliott Kalan with art by Andrea Mutti is a graphic novel about a killer terrorizing New York.

After surviving the tragic events of the Death Train, Maniac Harry is still on the loose. Chasing him down are Detective Zelda Pettibone and mayoral aide Gina Greene. The trail leads to a school and Yankee Stadium. There is also a child who may have information on how to stop Maniac Harry for good.

This was a very visceral read and not for the feint of heart. There is gore aplenty and I really had a great time reading it. That was added to by the very above average art.


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