Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 4: The Catastrophe Con (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 4: The Catastrophe Con
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artists: Kev Walker, Marc Deering, & Java Tartaglia
Recent Release Date: January 8, 2019

Vol.1: Aphra
Screaming Citadel
Vol.2: The Enormous Profit
Vol.3: Remastered

Synopsis: Doctor Aphra is behind bars. Again. But this time she's in Imperial custody, strapped to an explosive transmitter synced to a single hubdroid. Take one step too far? Kablooey! Normally, sitting still wouldn't be an issue - but what happens when Aphra's captors send her hubdroid right into the middle of a war zone? And what's this rumor about the prison being haunted? Meanwhile, Aphra's got information - and it's information that the Rebellion wants. But how far are they willing to go - and who are they willing to recruit - in order to get it? Surely even our lovable rogue archaeologist can't fi nd a way to make things even worse, right? Wrong. Because her current fl ame, Inspector Tolvan, and her ex, Sana Starros, are just about to meet. Awkward. COLLECTING: STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA 20-25

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Review: This ongoing series is definitely the best of the current Marvel ongoing Star Wars comics. The ones featuring the main characters from the film series have stagnated, especially since they have a limited time frame to take place during and an already established character arc. In Doctor Aphra, the reader gets to see this complex character experience life changing events. Things can actually happen!

This book is so queer, I love it! I wish more Star Wars media had representation like this. Many of the books also feature queer characters, but the films have yet to catch up. Here's hoping for Episode IX and the upcoming live-action tv shows. Aphra's current flame comes back into play. And another great comics-created character is Aphra's ex!

There are some great cameos in this volume. I always love seeing Hera as a Rebel during the events of the original trilogy. The infamous Doctor Cornelius Evazen is also featured. 

The morality (or lack there of) of not only Aphra, but pretty much every character in this ongoing series is one of the best parts of these books. Darth Vader is still there as the big bad cliche villain, but the murder droids, Tolvan, and even Sana Starros show different perspectives from a galaxy far, far away. There's even a bit about jedi ideals in this volume. 

I give this volume a 5/5. I'm reconsidering continuing some of the other ongoing Marvel comics, but I will keep with Doctor Aphra!  


--PAUL

Bloodwitch (The Witchlands #3) SNEAK PEAK EXCERPT by Susan Dennard - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Bloodwitch (The Witchlands #3)
Author: Susan Dennard
Upcoming Release Date: February 12, 2019

My REVIEW of Truthwitch
My REVIEW of Windwitch
My REVIEW of Sightwitch

Synopsis: Fans of Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling Witchlands series have fallen in love with the Bloodwitch Aeduan. And now, finally, comes his story.

High in a snowy mountain range, a monastery that holds more than just faith clings to the side of a cliff. Below, thwarted by a lake, a bloodthirsty horde of raiders await the coming of winter and the frozen path to destroy the sanctuary and its secrets.

The Bloodwitch Aeduan has teamed up with the Threadwitch Iseult and the magical girl Owl to stop the destruction. But to do so, he must confront his own father, and his past.

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Review: Thanks to Bookish First, I was able to read the first few chapters of Susan Dennard's upcoming Bloodwitch. This series is fantastic. This is the fourth book in the series, but the third full length novel. The writing in all of these books is amazing. 

The first chapter opens with a prologue featuring Aeduan. It shows the young boy before he was fully aware of what it meant to be a bloodwitch, while he still was full of childish glee. This made me so excited for this book, to really delve into Aeduan's perspective. 

The next few chapters catch the reader up with the other main characters. Iseult is with Aeduan and Owl. Safi is with Vaness in a gorgeously described throne room. Merik, Cam, and Ryber are being chased by the Fury towards the Sightwitch Sisters Convent! This chapter got me so excited since Sightwitch is the most fresh in my mind. And lastly, Vivia and Stix are learning more about the underground city. Really excited to get more Stix in this book! 

These chapters got me super excited for this book, which I have already pre-ordered. You should do the same! There's even a PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN!!! And if you haven't read any in the series, go get Truthwitch immediately! Keep a look out for my full review closer to the release date. I was lucky enough to get a hold of an ARC!


--PAUL

Paul's TOP COMIC BOOKS/GRAPHIC NOVELS Read in 2018

2018 was full of reading for me. I read SO MANY comics and graphic novels. I read 75 of my 47 books for my 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge and most of them were full of colorful pictures in addition to words. Below you will find the TOP comic books and graphic novels that I read in 2018. Click on the titles or cover pictures for links to my reviews!  

 MY TOP COMIC BOOKS/GRAPHIC NOVELS OF 2018

13.Isola

12. Songs for the Dead

11. Lydie

10. Petit

  

9. The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part One, Part Two, & Part Three

8. Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles

7. Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings

6. Aquicorn Cove

5. Moonstruck

 

4. Go Go Power Rangers Volume 1 & Volume 2 

3. Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon

2. The Prince and the Dressmaker

1. Bingo Love


BONUS: Educational Nonfiction

A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns

Drawn to Sex: The Basics

What were your favorite books of 2017? What books are you looking forward to in 2018?

--PAUL

Paul's TOP FIVE Books Read in 2018

2018 was full of reading for me, but oddly enough I didn't read many non-graphic books. I read 75 of my 47 books for my 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge, but only a handful of them qualified for this list. After 2 years of not succeeding I overshot my goal! Therefore, I'm setting my 2019 Challenge at 50 books. I'm hoping to get back to reading more novels so I'm not going to set my challenge too high. Since I read so many comics and graphic novels this year, I've made a separate post featuring my favorite reads: TOP COMICS OF 2018. There were a lot of great YA books released in 2018 and I'm hoping to get to some of them this year that I missed.  Below you will find the TOP FIVE books that I read in 2018. Click on the titles or cover pictures for links to my reviews!  

 MY TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2017

5.These Rebel Waves

4. The Belles

3.What If It's Us

2.Sightwitch

1.Black Wings Beating

What were your favorite books of 2018? What books are you looking forward to in 2019?

--PAUL

Saban's Go Go Power Rangers, Vol. 2 (comic)- Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Saban's Go Go Power Rangers, Vol. 2
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artists: Dan Mora & Raul Angulo
Recent Release Date: December 18, 2018

Go Go Power Rangers, Vol.1

Synopsis: No one said being a Power Ranger would be easy, but the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers didn’t expect Rita Repulsa to kidnap one of their own before the Homecoming Dance!

Jason, Kimberly, Zack, Trini, and Billy are well on their way to finding their place as the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Juggling school, superhero extracurriculars, and budding romance--our favorite teen heroes have it all under control. But when one of them has the opportunity of a lifetime that might lead to leaving the team, the dastardly Rita Repulsa kidnaps a Ranger to use the deadliest weapon known to teens: high school drama. 

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Review: Another great volume from Boom! Studios. This series is so good. It keeps the "learning a message" arc feel of the original tv series, but extends the arc to a whole volume instead of 30 minutes of children's action tv. This gives more depth to the characters and really lets them shine. The personality traits merely hinted at in the show are given room to grow. 

This volume features a prom. Seeing the rangers and other Angel Grove teens pair up is fun. I am all about this potential Trini and Jason future pairing. Matthew is a big focus of this volume. He's not the only original character for the comic that I want to see more of. Violet is introduced as a shy, nerdy love interest for Zack. 

The continuity in these new comics is so great. Especially for a series known for very loose continuity and canon. Billy's interaction with Promethea!!!

The rangers training with their zords is so cinematic. I love the art in this book. The rangers discovering the hidden powers of each of their individual zords is awesome.

In each issue, we get a little glimpse of Rita assembling her squad over the years. I like how even Rita's character is getting fleshed out. Her obsession with loyalty. Baboo and Squatt each get their moments.

There is in-universe Power Rangers merchandise!

At the end of this volume, there's a Shattered Grid tease. I am so ready for this epic event to start! I usually wait to read the compiled volumes, but I may have got a few single Shattered Grid issues.

I give this second volume in Go Go Power Rangers a 5/5! Parrott is doing a wonderful job with this series. If you haven't started these comics, you need to!     


--PAUL

Saban's Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon (comic) by Kyle Higgins - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Saban's Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Artists: Giuseppe Cafaro & Marcelo Costa
Recent Release Date: December 11, 2018

Synopsis: When Tommy Oliver’s son goes missing, he comes out of retirement to find him. 

It’s been a long time since Tommy Oliver has served as a Power Ranger. He’s defeated space witches, brought down evil armies, protected the galaxy, but now Tommy leaves protecting the world to the Power Rangers at Space Patrol Delta. But when his son goes missing, it’s up to Tommy to discover a secret in his past, in order to save his future. Now Tommy will call on all his training, his friends, and maybe even some of his enemies as he sets out on his most important mission: find his son and bring him home.

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Review: I was anxiously awaiting the release of this graphic novel. Not only is it an "old man Tommy" story, but it's also Kyle Higgins's final story from his run with the Power Rangers comics. Higgins really made Boom! Studios's comics excellent, taking a modern and more in depth look at the classic teenagers with attitude. I read the comics as they are released in graphic novel format so I still have more of Higgins's Shattered Grid to read.

This comic takes place in a near future where Tommy and Katherine are married with an adult son. He works with SPD and goes missing at the beginning of the comic. The future portrayed shows aliens on Earth as well as common space travel. It connects the world from the original Mighty Morphin series to SPD. It's futuristic, but grounded. 

There are some excellent action sequences in this book featuring all of Tommy Oliver's ranger suits from over the years. There are some great cameos from characters from the original series. My favorite was Finster. The Witch is also a great reveal.

I really enjoyed this story. There was so much set up in this graphic novel that I hope Higgins gets a chance to follow up in some way. I wish Kat would have been utilized better. JJ ends the book in such an awesome space that I hope we get to see more of him. The story felt a little stunted. Higgins could have made many issues from this concept.

I give this graphic novel a 5/5. Kyle Higgins has a knack for story and style. I really hope he returns to Power Rangers storytelling in some way in the future.     


--PAUL

Star Wars: Poe Dameron, Vol. 5: The Spark and the Fire (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Star Wars: Poe Dameron, Vol. 5: The Spark and the Fire
Writers: Charles Soule & Jody Houser
Artists: Angel Unzueta, Arif Prianto, & Andrea Broccardo
Recent Release Date: December 4, 2018

Poe Dameron Vol.1
Poe Dameron Vol.2
Poe Dameron Vol.3
Poe Dameron Vol.4

Synopsis: Lor San Tekka has been found! Now Poe Dameron is off to recover the missing link to legendary Jedi master Luke Skywalker's whereabouts. But his plan goes astray when the First Order intervenes on Jakku... Meanwhile, the rest of Black Squadron takes off on their most daring mission yet! Follow everyone's favorite Resistance crew as Poe Dameron tells Rey and Finn all about his unseen adventures during the events of Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens!

COLLECTING: STAR WARS: POE DAMERON 26-31 and ANNUAL #2.

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Review: This is the conclusion of the ongoing Poe Dameron comic series. Over the first four volumes, Black Squadron went on missions for the Resistance gathering intel on the rising First Order. This volume begins at the conclusion of The Last Jedi with Poe, Rey, and Finn aboard the Falcon. Through different characters interacting, the story of The Force Awakens and The Lats Jedi is retold from new perspectives. We get to see what the Black Squadron was up to the whole time. I really enjoyed the format of this volume.

My favorite part of this comic is the interactions between primary characters. Nien Nunb makes an appearance! In the third issue, there's an epic reveal about who's interacting.  

After reading this, I'm really hoping that Episode IX has a time jump. The Annual #2 that is also included in this volume was unimpressive to me. It takes place prior to The Force Awakens and features some strange cameos that I didn't think fit well with the story. 

I give this volume a 4/5. I look forward to seeing Poe and the Black Squadron making appearances again in comics closer to Episode IX.


--PAUL