The Spirit: An 80th Anniversary Celebration

author: Will Eisner
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/11
date added: 2020/04/11
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Spirit: An 80th Anniversary Celebration' edited by Ted Adams and featuring comics by Will Eisner is a nice collection.

There are 9 stories, each introduced by different folks from the comic industry, including a great introduction by Denis Kitchen. Each introduction features a favorite 7-page story, including 4 which are now in color. Stories featured include the origin and stories where Will Eisner mocks himself about deadlines and the pervasive nature of advertising.

I had a great time reading this collection, including some I'd never read before. Will Eisner was a master of visual storytelling, and while the contents of some of these stories can feel a bit dated, there is much here that endures.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Clover Press, 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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Twisted Fairy Tales: The Three Little Narwhals

author: Stewart Ross
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/08
date added: 2020/04/08
shelves: childrens
review:
'Twisted Fairy Tales: The Three Little Narwhals' by Stewart Ross with illustrations by Chris Jevons is a new take on a classic story.

Three narwhals swimming around find a shipwreck and decide to each build houses out of the different materials. As each is finished, they are visited by a shark who tests the houses. Each house is stronger, but will the narwhal's ever be safe?

It didn't feel like much of a twist except narwhal's and sharks instead of pigs and a wolf, but the illustrations were bright and lots of fun.

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


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Heroes Reborn (The Mythics, #1)

author: Philippe Ogaki
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.18
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/08
date added: 2020/04/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Mythics #1: Heroes Reborn' from Papercutz is about an epic battle and the 6 young people who have been chosen to fight it. We meet the first 3 in this volume.

Each new hero is from a different part of the earth and learns from an older god that they have been chosen. That god shows up in our world in a cute mini-manga style to train our hero. The hero also needs to find a weapon to help channel their energy, then finds out that someone close to them (usually a trusted adult), is actually their new rival.

The problem is the story structure is very repetitive. After three of these, I'd rather move on to what happens when all 6 kids get together. The art by different artists is pretty good consistently.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Papercutz and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Take It Away, Tommy!: A Breaking Cat News Adventure

author: Georgia Dunn
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/05
date added: 2020/04/05
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Take It Away, Tommy!: A Breaking Cat News Adventure' by Georgia Dunn finds the news team of cats having new adventures.

In hard-hitting news format, the cats of Breaking Cat News bring stories of how to avoid the vacuum, and the cat (and litter) shortages. A new audio tech has joined the team and set up in the basement. There is also the story of a mysterious ghost cat that is lingering around the house.

This is a fun series, but at the 3rd volume, some of the bits feel like ones I've read before. I still think it's fun though and I love the fun activities that are included with each volume.

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


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Kino Vol 1: Escape from the Abyss

author: Joe Casey
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.59
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2020/04/03
date added: 2020/04/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Kino Vol. 1: Escape from the Abyss' by Joe Casey with art by Jefte Paolo is another title in the birth of superheros from an event called The Catalyst.

This title is about Major Alistair Meath who was involved in the accident in space. He has returned to Earth, but not the same as he was before. In fact, he's not even conscious when we meet him. He's hidden away and hooked up to a machine being fed simulations. He is starting to have control over the simulations though, and there is a group of people who are after his hidden location for their own reasons.

I've read a few titles in the Catalyst Prime universe, and, to be honest, none of them are all that great, but a few have been fun. What I did like in this one was the old style superhero comic style of Major Meath's subconscious world. The art was ok, but a bit too angular for my liking.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press, 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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Roku

author: Cullen Bunn
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.74
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2020/04/03
date added: 2020/04/03
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Roku' by Cullen Bunn with art by Ramon F. Bachs is an action driven comic about a killer hairstyle.

Roku is MI-6 agent Angelina Alcott brought back to life as lethal assassin. She has the art of using her hair as a living weapon. She is sent to recover a young girl with an even stranger power, she is the living embodiment of the internet, specifically the dark web. Roku finds that she is not the only assassin sent to retrieve this particular package and finds her loyalties questioned.

That plot could have been the first book, but was stretched out over multiple issues. It's certainly action packed and moves along pretty quickly, but there's not a whole lot here I cared about when it was all said and done. The art is passable, but lacks background details, so it feels a bit flat at times.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Valiant Entertainment, 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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The Yankee Comandante

author: Gani Jakupi
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.33
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2020/01/18
date added: 2020/04/03
shelves: graphic-novels, non-fiction
review:
'The Yankee Comandante' with story and art by Gani Jakupi is a very well researched graphic novel about Cuba, but I had a hard time staying focused and interested.

Centering around the true story of American William Alexander Morgan, aka The Yankee Comandante, this book takes place during the Cuban Revolution. William embeds with the rebels in the Escambray Mountains, and not speaking a word of Spanish, he helped overthrow the Batista government, paving the way for Fidel Castro to take over.

I had a hard time staying interested in the story told here, and it should have been really interesting to me. The art works well, and I loved the afterword with real photos and all the notes about the research.

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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