Flash (2016-) Vol. 3: Rogues Reloaded (The Flash (2016-))

author: Joshua Williamson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/09/30
date added: 2017/09/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Flash Vol. 3: Rogues Reloaded' by Joshua Williamson collects The Flash issues 14-20. The first part is a Rogues character arc, then there are some other stories.

The Rogues on their own were never much of a threat to Central City and The Flash. When they teamed up, they were more of a problem. Now they have disappeared and Flash wonders where they've gone. What he finds out becomes a threat to the city.

In the backup stories, Wally West is looking for his father and that leads him and Barry to Belle Reve prison. Iris is investigating the aftermath of the Speed Force storm. In both stories, Barry's secret identity is on tenuous ground with the two people he is closest to.

The three stories are all pretty good, but the Rogues one was the best. There are 5 different artists over the span of these issues, and the quality feels pretty consistent.

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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Batman: The Master Race (The Dark Knight Saga, #3)

author: Frank Miller
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/09/30
date added: 2017/09/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Batman: The Dark Knight: Master Race'written by Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello with art by Klaus Janson, Andy Kubert and others includes all nine main issues as well as the nine tie-in issue. At 376 pages, it's a lot of comic, but is it any good?

Following up after The two previous Dark Knight series, this time around Carrie (the Robin from the first series) is all grown up and patrolling Gotham dressed as Batman, because apparently Batman is dead, but this feels like a feint. When a group of Kryptonians threatens the planet, it's going to take more than Carrie and an aging Bruce Wayne to stop them.

This is not strictly a Batman story. It includes members of the Justice League and others, but at it's core, it follows the Batman characters.

I own and love the original Dark Knight. I was less crazy about the odd second part. This one loses some of the darkness and hyperviolence and even feels like it ends on a note of hope. It's a different feeling for this series, but I liked it quite a bit.

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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Geronimo Stilton #19: "Lost in Translation"

author: Geronimo Stilton
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/09/30
date added: 2017/09/30
shelves: graphic-novels, children-s
review:
'Geronimo Stilton #19: Lost in Translation' finds the mice travelling in time to stop the pirate cats. These are fun adventures with a bit of history thrown in.

The history this time was the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in Egypt during Napoleon's campaign in 1798. The pirate cats have their own agenda for what to do with it. It may alter the world that Geronimo and his friends know. Will they be able to foil the scheme in time (pun intended)?

I've read a few of these. They fall into the category of things I would have liked to read when I was about 8. The history is interesting, but not to the point where it feels like school. The art is passable for what is needed, but I sometimes have trouble telling the mice from the cats.

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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Ink in Water: An Illustrated Memoir (Or, How I Kicked Anorexia’s Ass and Embraced Body Positivity)

author: Lacy J. Davis
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/09/30
date added: 2017/09/30
shelves: non-fiction, graphic-novels
review:
'Ink in Water: An Illustrated Memoir (Or, How I Kicked Anorexia's Ass and Embraced Body Positivity' by Lacy J. Davis with art by Jim Kettner is the true story of Lacy's eating disorder.
At the beginning of the story, Lacy lives in Portland. She has a relationship with a guy there. When it goes away, Lacy is left feeling like she was inadequate. This leads her to question her body size. She begins questioning all her food and exercising maniacally. Through the help of a friend, she ends up going to an Overeater's Anonymous group. What follows is her journey through the 12 steps and beyond.

It's funny and sad and told in the exact kind of honest way that could be really helpful to other people. Lacy doesn't brag about overcoming. She doesn't hide the shame and guilt. There is real tragedy in the story and real hope. Jim (Kett-Nerd) Kettner's art is a good mix for the story. I really, really liked this one.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from New Harbinger Publications, Inc. and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this wonderful graphic novel.


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Equinoxes

author: Cyril Pedrosa
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2017/02/23
date added: 2017/09/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Equinoxes' by Cyril Pedrosa is the graphic novel equivalent of an independent film. I liked it, but ultimately didn't love it.

The story is split up into the four seasons. The characters at first are independent and it's not known what connection they'll have throughout the story. There is even a wordless story that begins each season, and that even finds a way to tie in.

The characters range from a young girl with a camera who takes candid photos of people and writes stories about them, a divorced man, a retired politician. The events range from a field trip, to a hike up a mountain to a protest against the building of an airport.

I really liked the art style. The story is good too, but can feel a bit vague and disconnected. Things begin to make sense eventally, but at 336 pages, it takes a while.

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


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Under-The-Bed Fred

author: Linda Bailey
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.05
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/09/24
date added: 2017/09/24
shelves: children-s
review:
'Under-The-Bed Fred' by Linda Bailey with illustrations by Colin Jack is a chapter book for young readers about what to do about the monster under your bed.

Young Leo is convinced there is a monster under his bed. He knows because of the amount of noise it makes. When Leo finally finds the courage, he confronts the monster and finds that they both have fears. The monster gets named Fred, and while he is still occasionally still scary, he and Leo become friends.

The story is about being afraid of something whether it is real or not and facing it anyway. It's also about being willing to make friends with someone different. The illustrations are silly and not too scary.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Tundra Books, Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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When Planet Earth Was New

author: James Gladstone
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2017/09/24
date added: 2017/09/24
shelves: children-s, non-fiction
review:
'When Planet Earth Was New' by James Gladstone with illustrations by Katherine Diemert is a picture book about the evolution of our planet over millions of years.

Told with short sentences, this is a picture book for young children. The sentences are few and fairly simple. The book shows the formation of the Earth from days before volcanic formation through water covering the planet. Early life forms grow, then larger and larger ones until people arrive.

There is a look again section that gives a bit deeper text along with a glossary and a list of sources.

I don't know if children who are 4 or 5 can comprehend numbers like million or billion. The text seems simplistic and I didn't think it was very engaging. What is engaging are the gorgeous illustrations. The eye is drawn to them and they fill almost two pages to go along with corresponding text. There are swirling colors and exploding volcanos.

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


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