Manga Classics: Macbeth

author: Stacy King
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2019/06/08
date added: 2019/06/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Manga Classics: Macbeth' by Stacy King, Crystal Chan and William Shakespeare with art by Julien Choy takes the ambitious task of taking the whole text of Macbeth and illustrating it over 321 pages.

Macbeth is loyal to King Duncan of Scotland, but things have changed. Urged on by supernatural forces and his own wife, Macbeth sets out to win the throne. In the process, he loses his sanity, his friends, and his treacherous wife. It all culminates in a big battle, and since this is a tragedy, the outcome seems pretty certain.

I really liked this take on the play. The imagery really helps to flesh out Shakespeare's language. It does feel a bit stilted when speeches are covered over multiple panels, but I suppose that is the trade off. The art is really amazing, and I loved reading the art and translation notes at the end. This was one of my favorite Manga Classics.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2ZhPGqm

Fraternity

author: Juan Díaz Canales
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.81
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2019/06/03
date added: 2019/06/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Fraternity Vol. 1' by Juan Diaz Canales with art by Jose-Luis Munuera is a story about a boy and his relationship with a strange creature. At least that's what the cover would have you think.

It is 1863 in Fraternity, Indiana, and the community is trying to be a utopia. They want nothing to do with the war, and they really don't want their lives disrupted. When a young feral boy is found in the wild, the town takes him in, but food is scarce and the town seems to be on the brink of failure. The young boy seems to be connected to a large creature, but when the town stumble across him, they react with fear. That and the prejudice the townspeople have make this a less than idyllic utopia.

Let's start with the positive. I really liked the illustrations. They do a great job of setting the mood. The color is muted and some of the drawings are muted and mysterious.

The story may just be setting things up, so I'm going to cut it a bit of a break. All the elements are here for an interesting story, but I'm left with questions. Is the large creature an alien or some odd native creature? How did this group of people ever agree to live together? Why is this boy alone? None of these are answered, and the story feels a bit lacking in momentum because of 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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/315IL50

Perico (Perico, Volume 1)

author: Régis Hautière
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2019/06/03
date added: 2019/06/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Perico' by Regis Hautiere with art by Philippe Berthet is a story set in the Cuba of yesteryear.

Joaquin is a young casino worker in a Havana, Cuba right before Fidel Castro takes over. His boss is a gangster, but Joaquin likes the money. When Joaquin falls for the bosses girlfriend, he ends up in trouble. It's compounded by taking a briefcase full of cash that his brother stole from a mafia courier. Now Joaquin is fleeing the country with trouble close behind.

It's set in Cuba, but I've read this same story set in many locations with crime families. It's also part 1 of 2, so this is not a complete story. The art works well and I liked the look of the book.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2WmtcHn

Made to Kill (Ray Electromatic Mysteries, #1)

author: Adam Christopher
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2019/06/01
date added: 2019/06/01
shelves:
review:
'Made to Kill' by Adam Christopher seems to have all the things I like in a book: a noir detective story, a robot, and intriguing mystery.

Raymond Electromatic is a private eye, and a pretty good one. He's also the last robot, as all the rest were put out of commission. His office mate Ada is a supercomputer and has an inside voice in Ray's head. When a familiar looking woman arrives, Ray finds himself on the case in Hollywood. The plot becomes about something bigger than Ray anticipated, and now Ray may find himself in trouble.

I like the idea of this more than the execution. I'm not sure what exactly didn't work for me, but Ray feels like a cool gadget that never gets fully used. He spends a lot of time thinking about the emotions he should be having, but I just never felt any sympathy for him. Perhaps this changes in later books. I did enjoy the read and the flavor. I just wanted to like it more than I did.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2Kp7trr

The Martian Chronicles

author: Ray Bradbury
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1950
rating: 5
read at: 2019/06/01
date added: 2019/06/01
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'The Martian Chronicles' by Ray Bradbury was the May pick for my online book club. I'd read the whole book ages ago and I wondered how it might hold up.

I first read The Martian Chronicles in 4th grade for a book report. I've read it a couple times since then, but there has been a big gap. Even in 4th grade there was a quaintness to the language that didn't seem very futuristic. Instead, it felt nostalgic, and I think that tone holds for the book. From the first settlers, and the dying/fading of the Martians, to a man who wants to open the first hot dog stand, to a man who lives with his robotic family, to the lonely house making breakfast for a family that has died in a nuclear war there is a call to the past.

The story setups can feel a bit dated but the real magic here is Bradbury's prose. There is real beauty in a summer evening sitting with long dead relatives sipping lemonade. Or a man obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe.

So read this for Bradbury's gift of storytelling. Then move on and keep reading Bradbury. That's what I've done, and I've never been sorry.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2Kq1kLg

Black Badge Vol. 1

author: Matt Kindt
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.81
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2019/06/01
date added: 2019/06/01
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Black Badge Vol. 1' by Matt Kindt with art by Tyler Jenkins is a graphic novel about an elusive scout troop, but it's Matt Kindt, so you know there is more here than meets the eye.

A young scout has finally earned all the badges he can. Then he hears about the mythical black badge. He joins a troop in search of this badge only to find that it refers to the troop he's in. They are tasked with counterintelligence jobs like marking a building in North Korea and starting a prison riot in Siberia. They are kids, so no one suspects they are nothing more. Along the way, the new kid finds out about a former black badge named Jimmy, who has a whole other perspective on what it means to be a black badge.

Matt Kindt never fails to impress. His writing is all about subterfuge and misdirection. I loved the small nod to another Kindt series, Mind MGMT. The art is on par for other Matt Kindt type books. Tyler Jenkins art runs to the loose sketch type style, but it works fine for the story here.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2YZxzVN

RuinWorld: Eye for An Eye

author: Derek Laufman
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/05/31
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Ruinworld: Eye for An Eye' written and illustrated by Derek Laufman is a graphic novel about animals questing for treasure, and I loved it.

Adventurers Rex and Pogo are travelling across the Ruinlands seeking fortune. Only Pogo is only a farmboy and not as skilled as Rex. When they find a map, then get it stolen, they find themselves in lots of trouble. With the help of some new friends, like thieving squirrel, Kale, and a frog princess named Lula, they might just find the treasure and maybe even save the world.

I really loved this. The art is perfect and very action-oriented. The characters are fun and funny. The world-building is solid. As someone who likes fantasy adventure, this hit all the right notes for me.

It works great as a kids comic too. There is a lot to laugh at, and it doesn't feel like anything is shorted by aiming it at a younger audience. I look forward to reading more adventures with this group.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2QCjB9o