Warp Zone #2

author: Ted Lange IV
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2016/10/04
date added: 2016/10/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Warp Zone #2' by Ted Lange IV doesn't seem as out there as the first issue. Which makes me worry that maybe I'm the one that's more out there.

The main character is Mungo, and he hangs out with Jack Elsewhere. He also has a crush on Penelope Rockmore. He outruns dragon squirrels using nimbus juice to create a portable cloud he can ride. He likes drinking coffee so strong that it makes people breathe fire.

Even though this time around there is an intro, I was still mostly lost, but the book is just so strangely infectious that I had a good time reading and scratching my head. There are odd little drawings in the panels, and at the end of the book, they are listed for the reader to try and find. The illustration style is bizarre, but colorful. It's all so odd, I can't help but like it.

I received a review copy of this issue from Rosarium Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this comic book.


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Shattered Prism #2

author: Carmelo Rafala
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2016/10/03
date added: 2016/10/03
shelves:
review:
'Shattered Prism #2' is a SF anthology edited by Amir Naaman and Carmelo Ratala. It features stories from around the world.

The 4 stories are a bit hit and miss. Some were more memorable. The Froglover by Cynthia Ward might be my favorite in the collection. Two girls talk and one has envy over the gifts her friend is getting from a group of aliens that have invaded. There is a story about a girl working to build a bridge who has an affinity for math. There is one about a man who is remade into something that makes him more and less human.

The Kindle price for this book is about $3, which makes it a pretty decent gamble. The downside is my review copy was weirdly formatted and hard to read, and I'm hoping the finished version won't have those errors.

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


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Nightwing #5 (Nightwing 2016, #5)

author: Steve Orlando
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/10/03
date added: 2016/10/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Nightwing #5' by Steve Orlando and Tim Seeley brings us part two of "Night of the Monsters."

It's still raining and the monsters are still rampaging all over Gotham. Poor Clayface is running crowd control by breaking himself up in to a crowd of cops. Nightwing gets to play detective, even though he hasn't been that comfortable with it. Even Gotham Girl looks like she's going to be part of this for better or worse. The origin of the monsters comes to light, but Hugo Strange has still not shown himself.

I liked this chapter better than the first one. There are a lot of people in the Batman family these days, and it's good to see them work mostly as a team. I liked the art by Roge Antonio. I look forward to reading part three.

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


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A Fire Upon the Deep (Zones of Thought, #1)

author: Vernor Vinge
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1992
rating: 4
read at: 2016/10/02
date added: 2016/10/02
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
I recently got to read 'A Fire Upon The Deep' by Vernor Vinge. It's a big doorstop of a book at 613 pages, but I'm glad I finally read it.

When a spaceship crash lands on a strange planet, the citizens attack it and take two of the survivors hostage. The planet is a kind of pre-medieval society made up of a race called Tines. Meanwhile, as the Blight which caused this crash continues to spread about the galaxy, a strange team forms to attempt a rescue of the hostages. It will be a dangerous trip as they are pursued and betrayed.

There is a lot going on in this book, but Vernor Vinge handles it all deftly. It's not a book that was particularly easy to get in to, and the answers to things stay strange and vague. But there are really interesting races and concepts. It took me a fair amount of time to read this. It was not an easy read, but it was ultimately a satisfying one and I'm glad I read it.


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Batman (2016-) #7

author: Steve Orlando
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.30
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2016/10/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Batman #7' in the DC Rebirth universe by Steve Orlando and Tom King begins a crossover story called Night of the Monster Men. The story includes BatWoman, NightWing and Clayface among others.

It begins on a rainy night in Gotham and a series of bodies lying in a morgue. What happens to those bodies is gruesome and strange. Meanwhile Batman and his team are trying to help evacuate Gotham from the impending flood. They are just getting a plan together when they are attacked by a horrific monster. Can they fight it off and save the poor citizens of Gotham?

It will probably be better as a complete story arc. I liked the weird monsters in this and Riley Rossino does a cool job on art. There is plenty going on. I look forward to seeing what comes next.

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


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Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope

author: Berkeley Breathed
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.64
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2016/10/02
date added: 2016/10/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope' by Berkeley Breathed brought me back something I remember loving, and it turns out I still do.

I was a Bloom County fan for a lot of years. Towards the end of its original run, I stopped reading. It seemed to be feeling a bit thin and forced. I still missed it when it was gone. Zoom ahead to 2015 and it is back. Not only is it back, it's as funny and touching as it ever was.

The book includes a foreword talking about why the creator quit and what brought him back. I read it more than once, and it made me tear up. The strips include the usual dailies and full color Sunday strips. On each of the Sunday strips, there is a comment from a reader who is happy this is back.

The comedy has a lot of political edge, and in this season of election, there is much to make fun of. The cartoon claims to be bi-partisan and it mostly is, but it's all pretty funny. All the favorite characters are back and some new ones, including a young cancer patient who provides some really touching and unusual moments for a comic strip to make.

It's really good to have this back, and anyone who was a fan 25 years ago can rest assured that it's just as good.

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


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Painting America's Portrait - How Illustrators Created America

author: James C. Thompson
name: Wayne
average rating: 1.80
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2016/10/02
date added: 2016/10/02
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Painting American's Portrait - How Illustrators Created America' by James C. Thompson attempts to show how illustration style developed in print and media. Unfortunately, the style used is a detriment.

The book has 6 parts. My review copy only included about half of the book, but it was enough to give a review. The book includes lots of illustrations showing examples of the text. There are sections including the Gilded Age, advertising, book illustration, and WWI propaganda.

The problem is the accompanying text and layout, which has the look and feel of a PowerPoint presentation. For a book about American's portraits (which seems like a misnamed title), it's strange for it to not start until the Gilded Age. Also, for a an overview on the subject, there seems to be an awful lot of weight given to Howard Pyle in the book illustration section. It may be warranted, but it feels lopsided next to the rest of the book. The subject was interesting enough for me to request the book, but I expected a lot more depth than this provided.

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


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