Grimm Volume 1

author: David Greenwalt

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.82

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2014/02/13

date added: 2014/02/13

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Grimm Volume 1 is a collection of comics based on the hit television series. When a tie-in is made, the questions that come to mind are, is it any good? Is it a money grab by a studio or is it written by someone who understands the characters and world of the show?



I have seen a few episodes of the show, so I have a faint knowledge of the show and it’s characters. The book seems to ring through fine, while also offering a larger scope story than you would find in a typical episode. I don’t know how often they travel internationally on the show, but most show budgets don’t allow such things very often.



There is a nice intro story, then the group ends up heading to Europe to find some coins. The coins are dangerous and need to be destroyed. The problem is there are factions that want to use the coin for evil or seemingly good. There are lots of face offs with monsters. There are loyalty shifts. It’s pretty violent at times.



It’s not a bad story. It seems to add some backstory that the show may not have told. Whether that fits in with the canon and universe of the show. The art is good. I’m not sure it looks like the main characters from the show, but that could be just me. I enjoyed the story.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





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100 Poems: Old and New

author: Rudyard Kipling

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.14

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/02/11

date added: 2014/02/11

shelves: classics

review:

100 Poems: Old and New curated by Thomas Pinney collects some well known and even unpublished poems by Rudyard Kipling. According to Pinney, 25 of these are well known while the other 75 are classified as less known, published only in India or never in print. Not being that well acquainted with Kipling, I was only familiar with about 8 or the 25 most well known. This didn’t diminish how much I enjoyed this collection, but perhaps someone more familiar could see subtle differences between published and unpublished works.



Kipling is just as accessible today as ever. Many of the poems are about war and death. There are poems about gambling and drinking. It’s a manly collection of poems and possibly a good way to introduce poetry to those who think they don’t like poetry. It’s certainly the kind of poetry that the Ron Swanson character on the television show Parks And Rec would read and quote.



The poems included here are by no means comprehensive. For that, you’d need something like the 3 volume work, The Cambridge Edition of the Poems of Rudyard Kipling, also edited by Thomas Pinney. 100 Poems is a nice introduction, but it’s nice to know there is something more comprehensive (the 3 volume work boasts 550 poems). Apparently Rudyard Kilpling was much more prolific than I ever realized. I quite enjoyed this book and I’m quite happy that I read it.



I was given a review copy of this book by Cambridge University Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.







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Bandette, Volume 1: Presto!

author: Paul Tobin

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.28

book published: 2012

rating: 5

read at: 2014/02/10

date added: 2014/02/10

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Bandette is a great comic. Light-hearted and full of fun it’s a breath of fresh air in a world of super serious post-modern comics. Bandette is a thief. She bounces around rooftops, fights with agility, all while staying one step ahead of her opponents and the law. She yells out her trademark ‘Presto!’ with a joy that seems to elude most modern comics.



She steals but isn’t above helping those in need, or assisting the law. She even helps her nemesis on the police force, Inspector Belgique, to stop a bank robbery with hostages. Her criminal opponent in Monsieur, and there is a sword-wielding criminal named Matadori. Whether these are all actually enemies or just good-natured friends who occasionally fight for fun is unclear (and really doesn’t matter). Bandette has a whole troupe of orphans that assist her in her capers. Even the shadow organization that wants to put a stop to Bandette can’t put a damper on this charming heroine.



Art by Colleen Coover has a cool retro 1960s vibe and is just fabulous. The story takes place in Paris, and has the feel of the New Wave film movement of that time. I really enjoyed this book and hope to see more of Bandette. Very recommended.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this very fun graphic novel.







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Last Man Standing: Killbook of a Bounty Hunter

author: Dan Luvisi

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.87

book published: 2011

rating: 4

read at: 2014/02/09

date added: 2014/02/09

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Last Man Standing: Killbook of a Bounty Hunter by Dan Luvisi is an interesting and hard to classify work. It’s a gorgeous graphic project, but not a graphic novel. It looks like the inner information for a video game, and yet, it’s an original work. It’s laid out like a scrapbook, but it does manage to tell a story of sorts.



It’s a weird future where the world has been changed into groups of mutants, samurai, underground rebels and others. Gabriel was once a hero in this land until he was framed and sent to deep level detention. When all seems helpless, he is aided in his escape and sent out to get revenge. The killbook is his scrapbook of information about the world he is going into. There are stats on enemies and possible friends, weapon descriptions, food, magazine covers, etc.



A fun part is at the end of the book where other artists do their renditions of the characters. I don’t know if this is supposed to be a pitch for a videogame, but I’d play it, for sure. Detailed and interesting.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





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Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters Volume 1

author: Mairghread Scott

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.13

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2014/02/05

date added: 2014/02/05

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Cybertron is a dying world, and the Dinobots are one of the few races around along with factions of Autobots and Insecticons. These factions don't seem to be getting along very well. After a series of strange incidents, Grimlock is sent to find out what happened. His investigation will lead him into areas of Cybertron where he is not welcome.



The whole thing plays a bit like a noir detective novel. The planet is dark and moody, the suspects are uncooperative, and Grimlock is more grouchy than likeable. When he discovers real dinosaurs on the planet, there are pretty great scenes of Grimlock fighting a real T-Rex.



It’s a different type of story for a Transformers book, but it’s got plenty of action. Art by Michael Gaydos and Beni Lobel is especially good. Apparently, the story takes place after season 2 of the animated series. I really liked the mood of the story and locations, and the fight scenes with real dinosaurs were pretty epic.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





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G.I. JOE: Special Missions Volume 1

author: Chuck Dixon

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.00

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2014/02/02

date added: 2014/02/02

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

The Baroness is on the outs with COBRA. She plans on funding her missions by salvaging a ship that went down with a fortune on board. The problem is Cobra wants to retrieve the cargo also, and there is a small, underfunded G. I. Joe team that is tracking her.



Complicating matters are a huge storm at sea, mutinous, greedy sailors and surprise enemies showing up at every turn. It’s a pretty good story with lots of things happening, but it’s all balanced and easy to follow along with. Cobra is evil no matter if it’s the Baroness who is on the outs, or the rest of Cobra trying to stop her. The Joe team is outgunned, but resourceful.



Story by Chuck Dixon is super. Art by Paul Gulacy is top notch. I really like the direction that IDW has taken the G. I. Joe comics that they publish. Serious, intense and satisfying.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.





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Mara

author: Brian Wood

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.45

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2014/02/01

date added: 2014/02/01

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

Mara is a huge sports star in a future obsessed with sports and war. Her picture adorns magazines, posters and memorabilia. Meanwhile her brother, Mark, is a soldier fighting in a foreign war. As children they were raised in state run schools and trained for their jobs. To serve their country. Mark as a soldier, Mara as a volleyball player.



Things take a turn when Mara starts exhibiting super powers. She is accused of cheating. Worse, the government wants to use her as a weapon of deterrence against it’s enemies. When her captors take things too far, Mara realizes her powers are developing at an alarming rate and she turns her back on humans.



It seems like the beginning of a series. Mara’s superpowers are kind of on par with Superman, but it’s nice to see a young girl as the hero. The art is good and it’s a fairly interesting story, but there is a turning point toward the end that makes Mara seem a bit shallow and I found it kind of took me out of the story. Also, she is all powers and no apparent vulnerabilities. That might get less interesting as things go along.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.







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