Specter Inspectors

author: Bowen McCurdy
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/30
date added: 2022/01/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Specter Inspectors' by Kaitlyn Musto with illustrations by Bowen McCurdy is a graphic novel about a team of supernatural vloggers who might be in over their heads.

Noa, her little brother Gus and Ko and Astrid are trying to get their social media ghost hunting presence going, even if they have previously had a little help. This time around they head to a haunted town, but before they can get too far into the investigation, one of them gets possessed. Now they have many mysteries to solve.

This story had a great vibe about it. The character interactions and development were good and the mystery was interesting. The art ties it all together into a fun creepy read.

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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The Antidotes to Modern Living: The Sweet Dose of Poetic Justice to Restore Your 'Self'

author: Dr. X
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2022/01/30
date added: 2022/01/30
shelves:
review:
'The Antidotes to Modern Living: The Sweet Dose of Poetic Justice to Restore Your 'Self'' by Dr. X is a book of humor and poetry to battle back against life as it is.

This book is filled with silly poems, funny definitions, serious stats and gentle (and not so gentle) prodding to the reader about things like work without play and harm we do to the environment.

This was a fun, if not very deep, book. It made me smile a few times and I enjoyed reading it.

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


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The Lines That Define Me, Vol. 1

author: Hiromasa Togami
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.41
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/25
date added: 2022/01/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Lines that Define Me, Volume 1' by Hiromasa Togami and Atsunori Horiuchi is a manga about a chance encounter between a younger and older man.

Sosuke Aoyama is a young man on his own until he meets up Kozan Shinoda. Unbeknownst to Aoyama, Kozan Shinoda is a famous ink painter and he invites the young man to learn to paint. This sets up a rivalry with Shinoda's granddaughter, who is also a student.

I really enjoyed this story of an encounter with a stranger that could save a life. The art is quite lovely. I liked this quieter story and I really want to know what happens.

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


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It’s That Reincarnated-as-a-Virus Story, Volume 1

author: Kalaku Yuki
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/23
date added: 2022/01/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'It's That Reincarnated-as-a-Virus Story, Volume 1' by Kalaku Yuki and Pirota is a manga about life as a virus.

A virus researcher dies and gets reincarnated as a virus. When he infects a mouse, he discovers he gains the ability to control the mouse, plus other skills the mouse has like fear and evasion. As the virus moves to bigger and bigger creatures and learns more skills, he finds out he isn't on his planet anymore and can inhabit beings like goblins and trolls.

The timing of this manga is either really bad or not bad at all depending on how you feel about current events. The story was actually written in 2018, and is actually really clever.

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


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Sour Apple

author: Jerzy Szyłak
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/08/25
date added: 2022/01/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Sour Apple' by Jerzy Szylak with illustrations by Joanna Karpowicz tells the story of a marriage slowly unwinding.

The story is told through the prayers of a young woman. She has what, at first, seems to be a perfect marriage. Over the course of the story, she becomes more and more abused. She thinks it is her fault, at least that's what her prayers seem to say. As the abuse becomes more pervasive, finally she decides she must do something.

The story is fictional as far as I know, but the story elements have the feeling of truth. The illustrations are acrylic painted on canvas-textured paper, so they have a richness that is real and surreal. It's not a comfortable story to read, nor should it be, but I'm glad I got to read it.

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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Petrograd

author: Philip Gelatt
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2022/01/22
date added: 2022/01/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Petrograd' by Philip Gelatt with art by Tyler Crook is a reprint of the 2011 graphic novel based on the true story of the assassination of Rasputin.

Told with a mixture of real and fictional characters, we follow Cleary, a fictionalized British intelligence agent. He is tasked with finding a way to assassinate Rasputin. The thought is that if the country is imbalanced, then it will end WWI early. Cleary finds himself surrounded by some interesting characters (mostly based on real people), and an impossible task.

Professor David R. Stone Ph.D provides an introduction to the book and there are also afterword notes and a bibliography for further reading.

The story is compelling and strange and Cleary is a sympathetic character stuck in strange circumstances. The art is pretty good too.

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


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Charmed: Magic School

author: Katy Rex
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.98
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/01/22
date added: 2022/01/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Charmed: Magic School' by Katy Rex with art by Jonathan Lau is a manga based on a popular tv show.

The Halliwell Sisters find a young girl named Delia with some pretty strong powers and decide to help her out by enrolling her in a magic school where she can learn to use her powers safely. The only problem is that someone or something wants that power and Delia and her new friends may not be safe.

I am a little familiar with the tv show this is based on, so I can't speak as to how accurate they got things. I was a bit lost getting in to it, but got up to speed pretty quickly. I liked the story and the surprises and the art was decent enough.

I received a review copy of this manga from Diamond Book Distributors, Dynamite Entertainment, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.


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