The Old Geezers: Volume 1

author: Wilfrid Lupano
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.74
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/08/09
date added: 2020/08/09
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Old Geezers: Volume 1' by Wilfrid Lupano with art by Paul Cauuet is a graphic novel about growing old, but sometimes not necessarily growing up.

Antoine, Emile and Pierrot have been friends since boyhood. They grew up and grew apart ideologically. In the first story, a common friend has died and brings them all back together to reminisce about playing pirates as boys or protesting together.

In the second story, an act of kindness creates a crisis for one of the gentleman when he receives a mysterious package signed by someone he lost years ago. The plan to correct it involves striking back at an annoying bread chain.

The aged aren't typically depicted like this in American literature. Leave it to the French to show that just because we get older, doesn't mean we aren't up for some mischief with old friends. The art is fun and detailed. I really liked the story and the characters.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from 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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Kiss/Vampirella Collection

author: Christopher Sebela
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.29
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2020/08/08
date added: 2020/08/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Kiss/Vampirella Collection' by Christopher Sebela with illustrations by Annapaola Martello is a graphic novel about a famous band meeting up with an alien vampire.

The story takes place in L.A. in 1974. A young girl comes to the city to find fame and is taken in by an all female band with Vampirella as a bass player. Meanwhile, Kiss has arrived in town to record a new album. What both bands discover is an evil plot to get rid of rock and roll bands and replace them with soft rock and disco.

The plot is a bit silly, but it's a fun read and there is some fun humor along the way. I've read a few of these mashups with Vampirella and this makes about as much sense as the rest. The art isn't the best, but it's not terrible.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Dynamite 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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Gunland Volume 1

author: Captain Artiglio
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.12
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/08/08
date added: 2020/08/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Gunland Vol. 1' with story and art by Captain Artiglio is a fever dream graphic novel full of weird ideas and strange art.

The story lets you figure things out as you go. You find yourself in a weird West world where people ride dinosaurs and odd skulls can confer strange powers. There are a couple bandit brothers. There is an orphan girl with an unclear past and a dead shot aim with firearms.

Sometimes you just have roll with the ideas in graphic novel and hang on for the ride. I'm glad I did here. What I found was some trippy world-building, some ugly characters and something that made me want to read more. Maybe that something was also the pretty cool art throughout this book.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from 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 Kingdom of the Gods

author: In-Wan Youn
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/08/06
date added: 2020/08/06
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Kingdom of the Gods' by In-Wan Youn and Eun-Hee Kim with art by Yang Kyung-Il is a manga with two horror stories.

In the first story, a young prince who has lost his bodyguards, has to hire a rogue bandit named Jae-ha to get back to his kingdom. They are stalked by killers and zombies and Jae-ha suffers from blindness when the sun goes down.

In the second story, a criminal named Jun is stranded on an island with a psychotic doctor named Han. They come to a mutual trust when a ship shows up and could provide them a way off the island, but first they will have to defeat the strange crew onboard.

I had a really fun time reading these stories. The characters are fun and interesting. The art was cool. The carnage is over the top.

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


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Beauty and the Beast

author: Jessica Gunderson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.13
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/08/06
date added: 2020/08/06
shelves: graphic-novels, childrens
review:
'Beauty and the Beast' adapted by Jessica Gunderson with illustrations by Thais Damiao is a graphic novel for young readers, including an introduction to how to read a graphic novel.

In this version of the story, Beauty has two sisters named Gritty and Petty. While Beauty likes books, Gritty is in to fashion and jewels and Petty is vain. When Beauty's father tries to bring a flower for her from what he thinks is an abandoned castle, he has to strike a bargain to save his life. His faithful daughter steps in to save her father's life, but what is she getting herself in to?

I liked this adaptation of the story. At first, the addition of the sister's felt odd, but they only serve to give more information about Beauty's character. The art is a really nice style. I think young readers would enjoy this introductory graphic novel.

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


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James Bond: Casino Royale

author: Van Jensen
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.72
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/08/05
date added: 2020/08/05
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'James Bond: Casino Royale' by Ian Fleming with adaptation by Van Jensen and art by Dennis Calero is an adaptation of the first James Bond book.

We meet James Bond at the gambling tables in Royale-les-Eaux. In some backstory, we find out that he is out to bankrupt a shady man named Le Chiffre. Helping him out is a woman agent named Vesper Lynn and a CIA agent named Felix Leiter. Hiding in the shadoes is the spy group SMERSH.

If you are only familiar with Bond from the movies, this is a different character. It's also a book that was written in the middle of the last century, so there is lots of sexist behavior on behalf of our hero. The adaptation is pretty solid, and feels like lots of the dialogue is verbatim from the novel. The art is decent too. I enjoyed reading this.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Dynamite 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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Happiness Will Follow

author: Mike Hawthorne
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2020/07/31
date added: 2020/07/31
shelves: graphic-novels, non-fiction
review:
'Happiness Will Follow' by Mike Hawthorne is a graphic novel autobiography of Mike Hawthorne who was raised by his mother, Blanca.

Mike and his mother Blanca, fought to keep food on the table. They fought a family that didn't want them. Mike and his mother fought too, but that was mainly Mike getting abused by his mother. Blanca has a lot to make her angry, and the only one to take it out on is Mike. He shows how complicated people can be, so Blanca is never just a one dimensional person.

This kind of story can feel pretty one-sided, but Mike Hawthorne makes sure the angles are seen. This must have been a painful and cathartic story to write. Mike's art here is as good as his other work in the Marvel books I know him from. This kind of story takes a lot of courage to tell.

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.


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