Wonder Woman (2016-) Vol. 2: Year One

author: Greg Rucka
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/07/30
date added: 2017/07/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Year One' by Greg Rucka with illustrations by Nicola Scott and Bilquis Everly collects even numbered issues 2-14 of the DC Rebirth series.

This story tells about the first year of Wonder Woman as Earth's protector, but before that, there is some backstory to take care of. We see Diana's early childhood on Themyscira and in alternating panels how her life and Steve Trevor's seemed to have some parallels. When Steve Trevor crashes on the island and is the only survivor of his plane, a decision has to be made to send someone. Diana is a bit of a fish out of water at first, but is a fast study. With Steve, Etta Candy and Dr. Minerva helping her out, she has found a solid team.

The book also includes a back up story about Dr. Minerva. There is a flashback to her childhood, then a search in the present for something involving the Amazons.

It's another origin type story, and it fits in a bit with the recent movie and other origins I've read. Did we need another origin for this character? There have been so many over the years, so why not. The art is good, and there is a cover gallery showing alternate covers for these issues.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2vkcU44

Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary

author: Susan Rennie
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/07/30
date added: 2017/07/30
shelves: children-s, non-fiction
review:
'Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary' compiled by Susan Rennie, illustrated by Quentin Blake, with original text by Roald Dahl is a Roald Dahl approved, actual Oxford Dictionary for children (and fans of Roald Dahl).

The dictionary starts with a nice illustrated guide to how to use this dictionary. The words that were made up by Roald Dahl are in blue. Just about all of the entries include a sentence showing how the word is used in a Roald Dahl book. The reader is encouraged to find rhymes or ways to use the words in sentences. There is a handy alphabet down the side of the page for easy flipping to the right page. There are also fun illustrations throughout.

The book starts with an entry for aardvark. Not because Roald Dahl used the word, but because that's the word that all dictionaries should start with. I found that hilarious and completely appropriate.

This is such a fun dictionary. I really enjoyed getting a chance to look through it. Roald Dahl was really good at making up funny words. I didn't realize how many he had until I saw them in this volume.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2tQ6B3I

Gotham Academy: Second Semester #1

author: Brenden Fletcher
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.66
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2016/09/18
date added: 2017/07/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Gotham Academy: Second Semester #1' by Becky Cloonan with art by Adam Archer feels more like a winter break filler, but has potential to bring new storylines.

Olive Silverlock is left alone at school during the winter holidays. A teacher befriends her, but then stands her up. She also gets a new roommate named Amy who seems like she's going to be trouble. Add in a trip to creepy Wedgwood Museum and a couple interesting secrets and you have the start of a sort of gothic mystery.

I've read a few issues here and there and I really want to like this concept, but it just hasn't done it for me so far. This issue feels like a prelude, and there is nothing wrong with that, but for a school that seems to be so empty, there sure seem to be a few people around. I don't know Olive or Eric's backstories, but they seem interesting enough. I don't know what I want in this title, but it just hasn't happened for me yet.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2d4LTd5

Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters: Inside His Films, Notebooks, and Collections

author: Guillermo del Toro
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2017/07/28
date added: 2017/07/28
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters: Inside His Films, Notebooks, and Collections' by Guillermo del Toro was written as a companion piece to a museum exhibit by three museums. I think even without the exhibit, it's a completely fascinating read.

Guillermo del Toro is known best as a film director, but he is also an avid collector of all kinds of things. His home, Bleak House, is stuffed with items, but his house is also meticulously curated like a museum. He uses the rooms and objects as inspirations for his film ideas. They include life-size statues of famous horror creators and actors, like characters from Tod Browning's Freaks, and H.P. Lovecraft. The Frankenstein monster holds a special place for him and it is a feature in his house.

The book includes a series of essays and interviews separated into two parts. Part one is about collecting monsters and talks about Guillermo del Toro's collecting passion and an interview. The second part is called Inspiration and Obsession and talks about the things that influence the director, like Victoriana, magic, freaks and monsters, and death and the afterlife.

Throughout the book are pictures of the items in the director's house. There are also pictures of his notebooks.

I almost got to see this exhibit last year at LACMA, but the museum was closed on the only day I could make the trip. I really wish I'd been able to view this in person. Guillermo del Toro is a film buff, a culture collector, and appreciates both high and low forms of art with no distinction between the two. He is also creative and passionate about his art, as you can tell from this book.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2eVX2xH

Practical Letter Book

author: J. H. Kaemmerer
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.57
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/07/28
date added: 2017/07/28
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Practical Letter Book' by J. H. Kaemmerer is a historic collection of 140 different lettering plates first published in 1911. The book was for sign painters and show card writers.

There is a pretty good introduction written and the different plates are introduced. Topics like spacing and centering are brought up. Having done some hand lettering myself, these notes are very useful. Then follows 140 plates showing different styles from English to Gothic to Dutch block letters. There are Hebrew, German, and Roman as well. Many of the plates are full alphabet, and many include sample logos written using the lettering.

I'm a font and hand lettering fan, so getting a chance to look through this collection was fun and a bit inspiring. There are some great looking classic alphabets here, and this would make a good resource for hand letterers today.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2hb1Ekq

MAD About Trump: A Brilliant Look at Our Brainless President

author: Various
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.04
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2017/07/27
date added: 2017/07/27
shelves:
review:
'MAD About Trump: A Brilliant Look at Our Brainless President' by MAD Magazine falls pretty short of brilliant, but it has some laughs liberally sprinkled throughout (pun intended).

The gags stretch back quite a few years to Trump's Apprentice show, but for the most part are from the last couple years. There are fake movie ads and comparisons between Trump and the preceding 43 U.S. Presidents. There are famous hilarious things Trump has misspoken about other American heroes.

I read MAD years ago, and it was funny at the time. This doesn't feel that funny. Maybe because the subject already has the feeling of a parody. Some of the humor feels like it just lays there. There are gags that feel like they are from a late night tv show. This isn't the MAD that I remember, but it is mildly funny.

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


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2vOka56

Motro Vol. 1

author: Ulises Farinas
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/07/27
date added: 2017/07/27
shelves:
review:
'Motro Vol. 1' by Ulises Farinas, Erick Freitas and Ryan Hill is the kind of book I finish and wonder what I just read. In this case, I enjoyed the strange journey.

This volume has three stories in the life of a strange man with superhuman strength named Motro. In the first, he is a young boy looking for his father. He is mocked and bullied to the point where he uses his strength to gruesome effect. Then he fights a prince and becomes a favorite son of a ruler.

It's a world of strange inventions. A mirror that shows the future, ice dragons, and tanks that seem to speak with emojis. The art is worth the journey. This is a world filled with strange characters that have a roundness to them. The lettering is even different. I liked what I read.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2tOa86X