Frankenstein: Annotated for Scientists, Engineers, and Creators of All Kinds

author: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1818
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2018/02/06
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:



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Random Illustrated Facts: A Collection of Curious, Weird, and Totally Not Boring Things to Know

author: Mike Lowery
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.16
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/04
date added: 2018/02/04
shelves:
review:
'Random Illustrated Facts: A Collection of Curious, Weird, and Totally Not Boring Things to Know' by Mike Lowery is a 208 page book stuffed with facts.

In a brief forward, the author talks about creating a journal with illustrations of different facts. He talks about how his art improved over time. The book is divided into facts about history, animals, food, science, and everyday things. I learned about the patch of velcro inside an astronaut's helmet so they can scratch their nose. I learned that there is a museum in Osaka dedicated to ramen. There are lots of wacky facts in this collection.

The art is fun, and the facts are interesting. It's a pretty fast read, so it might be better as a gift book for a friend. As a kid, I loved reading Ripley's Believe It Or Not paperbacks, and this probably falls into the kind of thing I would have liked as a young reader curious about the world around me.

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


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Theatrics

author: Neil Gibson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.85
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/03
date added: 2018/02/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Theatrics' by Neil Gibson with art by Leonardo Gonzalez was a different type of story than I've read before from Neil Gibson, but I liked it. Just to let you know this volume does not complete the story.

The story takes place in 1920s New York. Rudy Burns is a handsome leading man on Broadway, until the night he gets too drunk, and then robbed and beaten. His good looks are gone and he finds that even though he is a talented actor, the life he has is over. He deals with all the usual feelings of despair, then an unusual opportunity presents itself for him to have a different kind of acting career.

I've preferred the darker things that this studio has put out, and perhaps this story will have more of that. Rudy is certainly a bit monstrous in appearance. The art is on par with other books by TPub, which is to say workable, but not amazing.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from TPub, 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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Superman, Volume 4: Black Dawn

author: Peter J. Tomasi
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/03
date added: 2018/02/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
With 'Superman, Volume 4: Black Dawn,' Peter J. Tomasi continues a really great run on this title. It's one I always look forward to reading.

The Kents have had a pretty idyllic existence in the farm town of Hamilton, but that is about to end. It's been hinted at in other story lines. It comes to a head here. Something is not right with how Jon's powers are developing and Batman shows up with Robin to investigate. What they uncover unleashes a secret that the town holds. When one of Superman's old enemies shows up, he tries to turn Superboy toward the darkness. Will a dark Superboy find new powers or will he be able to fight it off?

It was only inevitable, I guess, that this perfect town would be hiding some secret. Part of me wishes that it hadn't been so, and there is a change to a couple characters that I wish hadn't been part of the conspiracy.

Overall, I did enjoy the story, and, especially, the back up story that Clark teaching Jon about decisions and responsibility while having a flashback to an episode with his own father Jonathan.

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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Clara (Clara, #1)

author: Christophe Lemoine
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/03
date added: 2018/02/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Clara' by Christophe Lemoine with art by Cécile is the story of a little girl and her mother and a doll. It's sad and moving.

Clara loves her mother and their routine. She is picked up from school, she gets candy and she and her mother play games. One day, that changes when Clara is forgotten. It's her birthday and her parents forget. They especially forget the special gift she was hoping for. They are preoccupied with some news about Clara's mother. Clara's mother gives her a doll she had when she was a little girl, but Clara doesn't really like the doll. In the days ahead when Clara's mother goes to the hospital, then doesn't come home, the doll takes on a different meaning for Clara.

The story is sweet and sad and mostly told from Clara's perspective. The stages of grief are experienced by the character in a natural way. This might not be appropriate for a child who hasn't gone through the loss of a parent, but it might be just what a grieving child might need to help process their feelings.

The art is perfect for the tone of the book. The subject is deep, but there are moments of beauty and a little magic along the way. I really liked this one.

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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La Casati: La musa egoista

author: Vanna Vinci
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/03
date added: 2018/02/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'La Casati: The Selfish Muse' with story and art by Vanna Vinci is a graphic novel based on the life of Luisa Casati Amman, otherwise known as "The Marchesa." I wasn't familiar with who she was, but her face was immediately familiar to me.

Luisa Casati spent her life and fortune trying to transform herself into art. She is known for her pale features and overly made up dark eyes. She was the subject of numerous paintings and photographs in the 20th century, many of which are recreated in these pages. Her obsession with the strange ended up bankrupting her and alienating her from friends and most of her family.

The story is told by a series of the real life people who show up in the book, including La Casati herself. I found this a good way to tell the story and keep the narrative balanced. I really liked the art in this book. The style matches the flamboyance of the subject.

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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Cosmonauts of the Future - Volume 1 (Cosmonautes du futur (Les))

author: Lewis Trondheim
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.60
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/02/03
date added: 2018/02/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Cosmonauts of the Future Vol. 1' by Lewis Trondheim with art by Manu Larcenet is a funny and strange graphic novel with art that reminded me of some of my favorite comic strips.

Gildas and Martina meet at school and they immediately dislike each other. One believes everyone is an alien. The other believes everyone is a robot. Soon their shared loved of wacky theories and their overactive imagination sends them on adventures to try and prove that all is not as it seems. Accompanied by Martina's dog and Gildas' little sister, they soon find that the world is even stranger than they believe.

This was a fun story. I loved the crankiness of the characters and their weird imaginations that kept them distant from those around them. I loved Gildas' little sister Gaelle, who just seemed to go along with the craziness. The art is fun and colorful. The charcters have oval shaped heads, and there is a lot going on in the background of the panels.

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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