Turntable (African Trilogy, #2)

author: Zidrou
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.84
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2019/05/29
date added: 2019/05/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Turntable' by Zidrou with art by Raphael Beuchot is a graphic novel about a Belgian violinist visiting the Congo. I found it a charming story.

When Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe is invited to the Congo to give a concert, he also sees it as a chance to visit his nephew. An ailment postpones the concert and leaves him wearing a neckbrace. At his nephew's house, he meets a man named Turntable who is in charge of winding the turntable and playing music. Eugene finds there is more to Turntable than meets the eye. Eugene finds depth and friendship in a man that many simply overlook.

I really enjoyed this moving story of a man out of his element who learns to see others with new eyes. The art is really nice. This story will stay with me for a while.

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/2MrwcxA

Spencer & Locke

author: David Pepose
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2019/05/29
date added: 2019/05/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Spencer & Locke' by David Pepose with art by Jorge Santiago Jr. is a mini-series about a man and his imaginary childhood friend, fighting crime.

Imagine a certain boy and his imaginary tiger grew up. Imagine it's a panther instead of a tiger, and that the boy didn't have that great of a childhood. That man is Spencer. He fights crime on some pretty mean streets. When his high school sweetheart is found dead, he investigates the crime and finds out she had a daughter named Hero. Spencer helps the little girl, who understands all about imaginary friends. The clues that Spencer finds lead him to his father's criminal empire. Things are just not as they seem.

I wasn't sure about this story at first, but the homage bits really got to me. I liked the idea and the execution. The art was ok.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Action Lab, 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/2QwyFpb

Grand Passion

author: James Robinson
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.43
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2019/05/27
date added: 2019/05/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Grand Passion' by James Robinson with art by Tom Feister is a graphic novel about how love can happen at the weirdest time.

James McNamara is a cop in a small town. He'll never move up in the department because the rest of the cops are related. Mabel is a bank robber about to rob a bank in James' town. When they face each other across the street, It's immediate instant love. Except, he kills her partner so he has to die. And he finds out a secret about his small town police department, so he has to die.

This was a really stupid idea, but I gave it a shot. It's got adult content, and really just deals with love on a very surface, physical level. The art is fine, but the story is just dumb.

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.


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

Great Divide

author: Ben Fisher
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2019/05/27
date added: 2019/05/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Great Divide' by Ben Fisher with art by Adam Markiewicz is a story of a weird apocalyptic disease that is affecting humans.

In the not too distant future, a weird thing happens. When people make skin contact with another person, one of them dies violently and the other lives with their memories inside. Kill too many people off and this makes a person a bit crazy.

A couple years after this happens, people are very distant and clothe themselves in gloves and masks. Porn has become a hot commodity since no one can touch. A young thief finds himself gathering a group of people, one of whom may be able to solve what happened.

This was a quirky enough idea that I ended up liking it. I wasn't sure at first, but it won me over. The art isn't bad. The characters are interesting. It pays to observe the things happening in the book with dialogue boxes and weird transcripts at the end of each issue. I liked this one.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2VTq2px

Flash Gordon: Kings Cross

author: Jeff Parker
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2019/05/27
date added: 2019/05/27
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Flash Gordon: King's Cross' by Jeff Parker with art and story by Jesse Hamm is a fun crossover title with lots of pulp characters.

When Ming the Merciless decides to claim Earth, he creates an entire continent and plans to turn humans in to animals unless he gets his way. Standing in his way are Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov. Along to help out are Mandrake the Magician, a couple versions of The Phantom and a few surprises. There are some nice twists and turns along the way.

I enjoyed the story and the art in this one. I had read a similar title a while back and it just didn't work, but these characters in this title work pretty well. The story feels like a pulp adventure and the art has a kind of nice retro feel as well.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/30W5Ebg

Army of Darkness/Xena, Warrior Princess: Forever and a Day

author: Scott Lobdell
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.16
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2019/05/26
date added: 2019/05/26
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Army of Darkness/Xena Warrior Princess: Forever....And A Day' by Scott Lobdell with illustrations by Elliot Fernandez is a fun crossover featuring Ash and Xena.

It's the end of the world for Xena and Gabrielle. Their only hope is to call on....Ash Williams?

Ash is minding his own business when he gets sucked in to a time warp and finds himself helping Xena, only she doesn't know who he is, and Ash knows they've met before. Thus begins a romp through time with the clues in plain sight and lots of deadites to get killed by Xena and Ash.

This was a fun story, although it mainly feels like it's about Ash. Xena plays a key plot point, but she feels like more a supporting character. I was okay with this. The art is really decent as well. Fun for fans of the two franchises.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2JGq02U

Battlestar Galactica: Gods & Monsters

author: Karl Kesel
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.24
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2019/05/26
date added: 2019/05/26
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Battlestar Galactica: Gods & Monsters' by Karl Kesel with contribution by Alec Morgan is a story of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series.

Gaius Baltar, with 6 talking in his ear, believes that he can construct a living Cylon Centurion. There is complete skepticism from everyone else because the Centurions are complete killing machines. When the Centurion comes to life and seems to prefer and only speak to other Cylons, it seems that the fears may be right. When a mining operation has a great need, then trust needs to be given to this strange creature.

I liked the story, but the art was not that great. I liked the decision to not try to make the characters look like the actors on the show, but the result was a loose cartoony style that made it hard at times to tell the characters apart.

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.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://bit.ly/2Wum6jm