Cloudia & Rex Vol.1 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Cloudia & Rex Vol.1
Authors:  Ulises Farinas and Erick Freitas
Artist: Daniel Irizarri
Recent Release Date: November 28, 2017

Synopsis: A lushly rendered supernatural fantasy that follows two girls and their mother who find themselves in the middle of a vast, supernatural exodus. On their journey Cloudia is bestowed the powers of hundreds of different gods, but even those don't help her come to terms with the death of her father.

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Review: This comic is a story about a family that gets involved with world-ending gods. The gods in this story come from every religion. It is an interesting concept that each god exists as long as mortals have at least a cursory understanding of them. I liked that the story takes place on December 21, 2012. 

The vibe of this comic reminds me of Saga and Jupiter Ascending. It's the modern world, but there is crazy fantastical things happening. The family gets powers from gods fleeing from their own demise. One girl starts transforming into extinct animals. Another has a phone possessed by gods. I liked seeing these ancient gods interacting with modern technology. 

This is a fun, imaginative, and somewhat messy story. I enjoyed it and give this graphic novel a 4/5. I would definitely read a second volume.


--PAUL

The Scarecrow Princess (graphic novel) by Federico Rossi Edrig - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book from Diamond Book Distributors and Lion Forge via NetGalley as an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Scarecrow Princesss
Author/Artist: Federico Rossi Edrig
Editor: Andrea Colvin
Recent Release Date: October 31, 2017

Synopsis: Morrigan Moore has always been moody, but her new home is the worst. Her novelist mother has dragged her to the countryside, drawn by the lost myth of the King of Crows, a dark figure of theft and deceit, and the Scarecrow Prince, the only one who can stand against him. When Morrigan finds herself swept up in the legend, she'll have no choice but to take on the Scarecrow Prince's mantel, and to stand and fight. For her town, her family, and her own future. This lushly drawn graphic novel will pull you into its sinister secrets and not let go till the final page. For fans of Coraline and Over the Garden Wall.

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Review: This graphic novel is a perfect read for Halloween. It starts out like a Goosebumps story, a family moving to a small mysterious town with a loner child. It also reminded me of the Disney Channel show So Weird. Morrigan's brother and mother travel around the country researching local myths and then incorporating them into their books.

This is a chosen-one story with a few twists, meta jokes, and a bit of playfulness. It presents an interesting take on the dilemmas of being the chosen one. There is definitely moral grayness, which is always great in a spooky read. 

There are also parts of this story that remind me of Labyrinth. It has that similar coming-of-age meets chosen-one vibes. And there's a tall dark, mysterious villain with sex appeal.

I enjoyed this graphic novel. The art pairs perfectly with the story. I give this book a 4/5.  


--PAUL

The Tea Dragon Society (graphic novel) by Katie O'Neill

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors and Oni Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Tea Dragon Society
Author: Katie O'Neill
Upcoming Release Date: October 31, 2017

Synopsis: From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. 

After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives—and eventually her own.

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Review: I love absolutely everything about this book. There is so much packed into such a short story. The world building is full and has a luscious past. There is diversity of everything (race, species, sexual orientation, etc). The art is breathtaking. The story is heartwarming and adorable. I want more stories about these character or at least set in this world! I obviously give this book a 5/5 and will be looking for more from Katie O'Neill!


--PAUL

Taproot (graphic novel) by Keezy Young - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors and Lion Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Taproot
Author: Keezy Young
Recent Release Date: September 26, 2017


Synopsis: Blue is having a hard time moving on. He's in love with his best friend. He's also dead. Luckily, Hamal can see ghosts, leaving Blue free to haunt him to his heart's content. But something eerie is happening in town, leaving the local afterlife unsettled, and when Blue realizes Hamal's strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him, even if it means... leaving him.

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Review: This beautiful, sweet story is about a young gardener who can see ghosts. The pastel colors and the many flowers really add to the tone of this graphic novel. There is so much heart at the center of this story. I loved seeing queer characters of color in a graphic novel. I want more stories like this! I would love to see where their adventures go next. 

I give this graphic novel a 5/5. I highly recommend it, especially to readers looking for queer fantasy stories.


--PAUL

The Little Red Wolf (graphic novel) by Amélie Fléchais

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors and Lion Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Little Red Wolf
Author: Amélie Fléchais
Upcoming Release Date: October 3, 2017


Synopsis: Lose yourself in in the dark forests of Amelie Flechais' spectacular artwork. A young wolf, on a journey to bring his grandmother a rabbit, is charmed by the nice little girl who offers to help him... but nice is not the same as good. A haunting fairy tale for children and adults alike.

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Review: This is a beautifully illustrated twist on a classic tale. Instead of Little Red Riding Hood, a young wolf boy is taking rabbits to his grandmother. He is told to avoid the human hunter and his daughter. This is a story about blindly fearing the other. There are dark tones, but the feel is overall childish. I would love to see more children's stories turned on their head like this. I highly recommend this book and give it a 5/5.  


--PAUL

The Beauty, Volume 1 [Graphic Novel] by Jeremy Haun & Jason A. Hurley - Ashley's Review

*I received an eARC of this book from Diamond Book Distributors/Image Comics on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Beauty, Volume 1
Contributors: Jeremy Haun, Jason A. Hurley, and John Rauch
Publication Date: March 22nd, 2016

Synopsis: Modern society is obsessed with outward beauty. What if there was a way to guarantee you could become more and more beautiful every day? What if it was a sexually transmitted disease?

In the world of The Beauty, physical perfection is only one sexual encounter away. The vast majority of the population has taken advantage of it, but Detectives Vaughn and Foster will soon discover it comes at a terrible cost. Now, they'll have to find their way past corrupt poiticians, vengeful federal agents, and a terrifying mercenary out to collect the price on their heads.

Collects the first six issues of the critically acclaimed, Pilot Season winning series by writer/artist JEREMY HAUN (Constantine, Batwoman) and co-writer JASON A. HURLEY.

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Review: I love the idea behind this series - everybody wants to be beautiful, so now there's a way to guarantee your beauty. You just have to contract an STD, and you're good to go! Things can't be that easy though, and maybe being beautiful just isn't worth the cost. People are dying to be beautiful, and now the dying part has become literal. 

I enjoyed the beginning of this volume much more than I did the end. The set up and introduction to a world where beauty is easy to come by is really interesting and something I could see actually happening in the future. Throw in some corrupt politicians, some federal agents with a grudge, and a mercenary and you've got all the makings of a great sci-fi story! There are also parts that are hilarious, and I was definitely laughing out loud more than I expected to. By the end though, things are less unique and left me kind of bored, so much so that I'm not really sure I care to continue reading when the next volume comes out.

The art was probably my favorite part of this graphic novel. It's very easy to tell who the beautiful people are and who the normal people are, even without over-exaggerating too much. But even though this is a comic about a disease called The Beauty, the artwork is very dark and gritty. There are definitely some bright colors and pretty frames, but a lot of it is harsh and dark. I mean, The Beauty does kill the people it infects, so it seems very fitting that the artwork isn't all soft edges and pretty colors.

I wish the last third of this volume had kept up the momentum of the first part because I think I would have enjoyed it much more. I was pretty invested in the story and in Vaughn and Foster, but then I just lost interest as the story become dull and bland. I finished reading because I was still kind of curious as to what was going to happen, but it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat like I had hoped. Overall, I think this is still a decent sci-fi graphic novel, and maybe it will make a comeback in future volumes, but I'm not sure that I'll continue to read. 3/5.


--Ashley

Tokyo Ghost, Volume 1: The Atomic Garden by Rick Remender & Sean Murphy - Ashley's Review

*I received an eARC of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors/Image Comics on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Tokyo Ghost, Vol 1: The Atomic Garden
Author: Rick Remender & Sean Murphy (Illustrator)
Publication Date: March 9th, 2016

Synopsis: The Isles of Los Angeles 2089: humanity is addicted to technology. Getting a virtual buzz is the only thing left to live for, and gangsters run it all. Who do these gangsters turn to when they need their rule enforced? Constables Led Dent and Debbie Decay are about to be given a job that will force them out of the familiar squalor of LA and into the last tech-less country on Earth: The Garden Nation of Tokyo. 

Collects TOKYO GHOST #1-5.

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Review: I'm always looking for new comics to read, and this one sounded like it would be a real winner. Humanity addicted to technology (this sounds more like real life than I care to admit...), gangsters, and Tokyo being the last tech-less country on Earth? This sounds like a sci-fi comic right up my alley. Especially with that art on the cover - it looks dark and gritty, and pretty much everything I want in a good sci-fi comic! 

Unfortunately, the art was about the only thing I enjoyed in Tokyo Ghost. It was everything I hoped it would be. The lines and colors match with the tone of the story perfectly, and I found myself wanting to just look at all of the drawings more than I wanted to read the actual story. I had to force myself to slow down and figure out what was going on. Once Led and Debbie make it to the Garden Nation of Tokyo, the artwork becomes less harsh and much brighter, and I loved seeing all of the plant life and the people after seeing the tech-obsessed squalor of LA.

The story, on the other hand, did not grip me nearly as much as I hoped it would. At times, the story moves along pretty quickly and was easy to follow. Other times, there were paragraphs of text down the side of the pages, and I had no interest in reading it. I think most of it was background information or explaining what happened over the passage of time, but I just felt that it was clunky and unnecessary and took me out of the story. I think one or two of those types of sections would have been find, but there were just way too many for my tastes.

I'm not really sure who I would recommend this comic too, since I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. There is quite a bit of graphic nudity and violence, so this is not something I would give to a child; it's definitely for a more mature audience (maybe even 18+). I'll definitely be looking for more of Sean Murphy's work, since I loved the artwork so much, but I won't be continuing to read this series. 2/5.


--Ashley

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Enemies Old, Enemies New by Kevin B. Eastman - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from IDW Publishing/Diamond Book Distributors on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Enemies Old, Enemies New
Author: Kevin B. Eastman, Tom Waltz, Dan Duncan (Illustrations), & Mateus Santolouco (Illustrations)
Publication Date: May 24th, 2016

Synopsis: The Turtles learn the amazing story of their previous lives, and begin their journey as a true team of brothers! Meanwhile, Baxter Stockman unveils a deadly new strategy for capturing them, just as General Krang arrives in New York demanding results!

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Review: Backstories are my favorite types of stories, regardless of genre. They could be novellas in my favorite novel series, spin-offs of TV shows or movies, or comics based on my favorite characters. I love seeing old enemies and friends and old stories mixed with new characters and worlds. This comic had all of that, and it was about my favorite crime-fighting Turtles to boot! 

At the beginning of this volume, Leo, Mikey, & Donnie have finally found Raph (I guess they were still in the process of assembling everyone, because it doesn't really seem like he ran away). They all start out wearing the read headbands, which I thought was pretty neat - hello, throwback to the original comics! - but they do eventually end up with the colors that most fans know and love. Watching Raph become adjusted to the team was really cool, and I'm kind of surprised I hadn't ever read a story like this one before. 

We also get a peak into the lives of Splinter and the Turtles before they became a rate and four turtles. They were human at one time, and I really enjoyed how the family dynamic remained the same even after all the centuries and many lives they must have lived before they found each other again. It was actually a really sweet story, albeit violent at times. 

Some of my favorite enemies are also running around in this volume. There's Baxter Stockman, who is working for Krang and trying to develop mutants for him. There's Old Hob, who is working for Baxter trying to capture Splinter. There's the Foot Clan, as always, and even Alopex makes an appearance, although she isn't mentioned by name. On the Allies side, Casey Jones and April O'Neill are introduced to each other, and there's a pretty hilarious scene where Casey tries to tell April about the Turtles. 

I just really enjoyed this comic, and I think most fans of the TMNT universe will too. THe artwork is kind of dark and harsh, and there is a little bit more violence in these comics than in the Nickelodeon ones, so I probably wouldn't recommend this one for a younger audience. I'm really excited to read more comics like these (which I hope there are more!). They've also inspired me to look into the origins of more of these characters, so I'll probably dive into the backlist sooner rather than later! A solid 4/5 on this one.

--Ashley

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures, Vol 1. by Landry Walker & Matthew K. Manning - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from IDW Publishing/Diamond Book Distributors on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Amazing Adventures, Volume 1
Author: Landry Walker, Matthew K. Manning, Chad Thomas (Illustrations), James Kochalka (Illustrations), & Ben Costa (Illustrations)
Publication Date: March 1st, 2016

Synopsis: This new all-ages series of Amazing Adventures draws inspiration from the hit Nickelodean cartoon in exciting new ways, by a wide range of today's best writers and artists! Collects issues #1-4.

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Review: For as long as I can remember, I've loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although I like some incarnations better than others (hello, 1980s/90s Turtles!), I will never pass up the opportunity to read more comics, see more movies, and watch more episodes. So of course I had to read this collection as soon as I found it! 

These comics are based around the newest Nickelodeon version of the Turtles. The art matches pretty closely to the show, and it's colorful and fun. I think these comics are geared for more of a younger audience, and the artwork reflects that. If I was a young kid (7-12ish), I would love to read these comics and learn more about my favorite mutant ninjas. There's even a section where Mikey has drawn the cartoons, and I think that was probably my favorite part of this volume. It was just so much fun! 

There are 4 different issues in this volume, and they all tell different stories. You don't need to know too much going into this volume, and as long as you know the basics, it's easy enough to follow along. Since this is the Nickelodeon version, it's fairly clean and there's not too much that's scary or dark that would be inappropriate for a young audience. I was a little sad that this volume isn't very long, because it definitely left me wanting more. 

I would totally recommend this comic book to any fans of the Nickelodeon show, and even to fans of every version of the TMNT. I think a younger audience would enjoy these more than the adult crowd, but they could be a fun set of comics to read together. I'll be looking for more, and I can't wait to find out what adventures the Turtles will have next! 4/5.

--Ashley

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors and IDW Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
Authors: Ted Anderson, Katie Cook
Illustrators: Tony Fleecs, Andy Price
Upcoming Release Date: January 26, 2016


Synopsis: Based on the hit movie, join the girls as they get settled into Canterlot High. Plus, Sunset Shimmer tries to find the true meaning of the holidays as rumors circulate around the school. Collects the 2013 Annual and the 2014 Holiday Special.

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Review: This comic follows the alternate human version of the Ponies we're familiar with that were introduced in the Equestria Girls film. There isn't magic in this world, but they know of the ponies and Sunset Shimmer is still finding her place in this human world. 

The first story in the trade paperback shows how the girls originally met in this alternate world. It was during the Freshman Fair. AppleJack, or AJ as she is known here, is new to the school and doesn't quite fit in. I liked the way these girls' personalities mirror those of their pony counterparts. The art of them as humans instead of ponies is awkward at times, but overall I like the concept.

The second half shows the girls during the holidays, on a slumber party binge. We are introduced to MyStable, the social media of this world. I love the references like this to pop culture that make their way into these comic books. 

This is another good entry in the MLPFIM comic book series. Like the ones before it, it's a great introduction to comics for young fans of the tv series. I give this graphic novel a 3/5. It's a great story of friends and family.


--PAUL

Love Volume 2: The Fox (graphic novel) - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Love Volume 2: The Fox
Author: Frédéric Brrémaud
Illustrator: Federico Bertolucci
Upcoming Release Date: October 15, 2015

My Review of Volume 1: The Tiger

Synopsis: Frederic Brremaud and illustrator Federico Bertolucci turn their lens on a northeastern woodland setting to follow a single fox through its daily journey through the trees and along the seafront. Only this is not just another day -- a spectacular volcanic eruption throws the area into chaos, sending creatures of all kinds scurrying for safety. But the intrepid little fox surprising decides to run into the danger instead of away! What could send this tiny hunter towards the danger? This all-ages title will appeal to children and adults for its breathtaking illustration and gripping adventure drama.

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Review: The cool thing about this series of graphic novels is the lack of dialogue. The story in each volume is told with beautiful artwork. In this second volume, a fox is followed during a volcanic eruption. There are many other animals featured trying to escape from the aftermath. 

The elements are shown at odds in beautiful panels. The nature is exquisite throughout the graphic novel. 

I give this graphic novel a 4/5. It's a very interesting way to tell a story. You can read it as quick or as slow as you wish depending on how much time you want to look at the details and contemplate the situations on each page. 


--PAUL

Zaya by Jean-David Morvan & Huang-Jia Wei - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors/Magnetic Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Zaya
Contributors: Jean-David Morvan, Huang-Jia Wei (Illustrator), Mike Kennedy (Translator)
Publication Date: August 26, 2014

Paul's Review

Synopsis: Zaya tells the story of secret agent in the distant future who left her post to seek a normal
life as an artist and mother. 

When a biomechanical threat destroys an orbiting colony station and former fellow agents start dying, she is called back into the field to find and stop the danger. 

Her investigation leads to many questions about her own past, filled with explosive revelations.

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Review: I really enjoyed Naja, also by Jean-David Morvan, so I was really looking forward to reading Zaya. I was hoping for an exciting, multi-layered, sci-fi adventure, and that's pretty much what I got! There were a few things that didn't work for me, and a couple of times when things got really weird, but for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel.

I think the basis of this story is very interesting. An ex-spy has settled down and is now the mother to twins. But in order to save the world, she has to go back in the field and risk everything she's worked so hard to build. The plot progressed predictably at first, and I felt like it was dragging for at least the first half. But then things get real weird and there are twists that I did not see coming at all! They hooked me, and kept me wanting more as I read on.

I really loved the artwork in this graphic novel. The art speaks for itself, and there are several passages when there's no dialogue at all and we get to see glimpses of Zaya's past go by almost like a photo album. Since the dialogue often didn't help progress the story as much as I would have liked, I really enjoyed these moments and thought they added quite a bit to the comic as a whole.

Zaya is a strong, independent, and sexy woman. She has some revealing outfits, but her spy gear and working outfits are sensible and not as ridiculous as many of the outfits women in comic books wear. It was a nice change of pace! There's still enough mature content that I'd say a younger crowd should probably not read this one, even though it is toned down quite a bit from something like, say, Well. This is an interesting comic, and I'll be looking for more of Jean-David's works in the future. 3/5!


--Ashley

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters by Erik Burnham - Ashley's Review

*I received a copy of this comic from Diamond Book Distributors/IDW Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters 
Contributors: Erik Burnham, Tom Waltz, Dan Schoening (Artist)
Publication Date: May 6, 2015

Paul's Review

Synopsis: When a new invention goes haywire, the Turtles are sent to a whole new type of New York City. 

One with a whole lot more ghosts... and Ghostbusters! 

The two teams will have to learn to get along quickly, because a new foe from the Turtles past has followed them and aims to conquer NYC!

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Review: I've been a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching the 80's/90's cartoon, seeing all of the live-action movies, and more recently I've started reading all of the comics I can get my hands on. I'm also likely to watch Ghostbusters whenever it's on TV, and I usually pull out the DVD at least once a year. They're both classic symbols of 80's pop culture, and I was so excited when I learned that they'd finally been put together! 

I don't know a lot about the Ghostbusters mythology other than what's in the movies, but I'm super interested in the comics now that I know they exist. From just this glimpse at them, it seems like they'd be just as much fun as the original movie. I also liked all of the throwbacks and references to the movie. Some of them are subtle and others not so much, but any fan would be able to pick up on them easily. There are similar easter eggs for TMNT fans, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. 

Obviously if the Turtles are working with the Ghostbusters, the villain has to be something supernatural. But I really liked how they picked a villain from the Turtles' world - I think it made this crossover feel more like a TMNT episode featuring the Ghostbusters instead of the other way around (not that there'd be anything wrong with Ghostbusters featuring the Turtles either). I just think this way allowed for more excitement. The Turtles don't understand this world, and the Ghostbusters don't really understand this villain, but together the two groups are able to figure it out. 

I think my favorite part of the comics was watching Donnie interact with the Ghostbusters. He's totally in his element, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's another crossover later on just because Donnie wants to hang out with his new friends. I also loved how April was more involved in helping defeat the villain, even if it's from behind the scenes. She's not necessarily one to get out there and fight, but she has her own talents that definitely come in handy. And who doesn't love Casey Jones? 

Overall, I think this was a really fun comic that would be great for fans of TMNT, Ghostbusters, or both! It's also pretty kid-friendly, although there are a few scenes that might not be appropriate for really young kids. The artwork is fantastic, and I really enjoyed the two different styles for the Turtles and the Ghostbusters. I will definitely be on the lookout for more crossovers like this one! 4/5. 


--Ashley

Skylanders: The Kaos Trap by Ron Marz and Mike Bowden - Ashley's Review

*I received this comic as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors/IDW Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Skylanders: The Kaos Trap
Contributors: Ron Marz and Mike Bowden
Publication Date: September 1, 2014

Synopsis: The #1 kids videogame and hottest-selling toy, Skylanders, is coming to your bookshelf in all-new comic book adventures!

Join fan-favorite characters Spyro, Stealth Elf, Trigger Happy, and more in these original, never-before-seen stories that tie directly into the videogames.

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Review: So I know that the Skylanders video game was created with younger children in mind, but I'll confess that I loved the idea of the game and bought into it as soon as I could. We have most of the characters from the first game (Spyro's Adventures), and are always looking for the rest to complete our collection. Since then, there have been 3 new games, all complete with their own collection of characters and objects with their own special abilities and powers. As this can become an incredibly expensive game series, I haven't played any of the games since the first one. But I knew that I wanted to read the comic as soon as I saw that it existed!

This comic is pretty much what I expected it was going to be. It's cute and fun and exciting, and it brings all of the characters (or at least a good majority of them) into a different medium.I think Kaos is a hilarious villain, because he's just so bad at being bad. And he's just all around funny looking, so it was really fun to see him in this capacity.

I also enjoyed reading about the Skylanders and their new school and all of the little baby Skylanders - Weereuptor is so cute! I recognized most of the characters from the first game, but there were also new characters that made me interested in the newer games. Not enough to go buy them, of course, but I'm still interested in learning more about them! 

I would definitely recommend this comic to anyone who has played any of the Skylanders games, and especially to any kids who are as obsessed with this game as I am! I think it would make the most sense if you've played the Trap Team game, but any knowledge of the Skylanders is good enough to enjoy this fun little story. The artwork is cute, the story is feel-good and exciting, and I thought it fun to see the characters in a new setting. I'd give this a 3/5 because I think it's a little young for me, but still good for kids just getting into comics! 


--Ashley

Love Volume 1: The Tiger (graphic novel) - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors and Magnetic Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Love Volume 1: The Tiger
Author: Frederic Brremaud 
Illustrator: Federico Bertolucci

Release Date: February 10, 2015

Synopsis: A day in the life of the king of the jungle, this lavishly illustrated story follows a single majestic tiger through a wordless adventure of survival as it hunts prey and defends itself from other would-be killers defending their territory. This exciting tale is told without narration or dialogue, conveyed entirely through the beautiful illustrations of Federico Bertolucci. A beautiful, all-ages title that explores genuine natural behavior through the dramatic lens of Disney-esque storytelling. Like a nature documentary in illustration. 

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Review: This graphic novel has no words. It tells a story completely in art. The artwork is beautiful, showcasing many natural landscapes and animals. Some of the animals' expressions are somewhat cartoony just to get human emotions across, but for the most part the anatomy is done quite realistic. 

The story follows a tiger. This tiger comes across many different animals during its day. Many of the animals are in couples so there is some animal mating. 

Since there is no dialogue, this story does an excellent job of showing. The emotions really do show through. The action sequences are also done quite well. 

This is a nice short graphic novel. There isn't much to it, but the artwork is great. I give it a 3/5. It does a great job of showing a day in the life of a tiger in beautiful art. 


--PAUL

Age of Darkness: Volume 1 by Patrick Shand - Ashley's Review

*I received an eARC of this book from Diamond Book Distributors/Zenescope Entertainment in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Age of Darkness: Volume 1
Author: Patrick Shand
Publication Date: July 22, 2014

Synopsis: The Age of Darkness has descended upon the Grimm Universe! All hell is about to break loose as the Dark Horde prepares to wage war on Earth. The evil Dark Queen has risen again and now the table is set as she will set in motion a plan that will have terrifying and lasting ramifications on the Grimm Universe.

This Trade Paperback collects Grimm Fairy Tales Age of Darkness one-shot and Grimm Fairy Tales issues 94 through 98.

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Review: These Grimm Fairy Tale comics are interesting. They take classic fairy tale characters and totally change them, making them more bad-ass and crazy. They're also a lot sexier than you probably remember from your childhood (especially the females, who wear very little clothing). These comics are definitely written for an older audience, and I do like where some of the storylines go and how they're all interconnected.

But they really don't make all that much sense when you read them on their own or out of order. I've read the Oz comics, and some of the Wonderland ones, so I kind of had a basic idea of the world and what's going on when I started this set, but I got confused really quickly and found myself having to go back and read parts of it again. It was also really frustrating to see little side notes that "hey, you should go read these issues to get more background and understand wtf is going on." Like, no thanks. Just give me a little bit more information in THIS volume and I'll be good. I don't want to go all over creation trying to figure out what's going on. Make it more subtle.



I did enjoy the way all of the good guys band together to try to defeat the Evil Queen, and how the Evil Queen goes about collection minions and turning hearts dark. I liked that all of her words were red, because she's the Red Queen (and also very evil), so the connection was nice. The artwork is also really fantastic, and all of the colors and drawings make it easy to tell which character is which and if they're good or evil.

Overall, I wish I had more knowledge about the background before diving into this comic, and I wish that a little more background was provided in the collection itself. I'm not sure if I'll continue with this storyline, especially if I don't go back and read previous issues, but it's not terrible if you're all caught up. If you're looking for a gritty, sexy, fairy tale retelling, I think these comics would be right up your alley. I'd only give it a 3/5 though. 


--Ashley

Naja by Jean-David Morvan & Bengal - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors/Magnetic Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Naja
Authors: Jean-David Morvan & Bengal
Publication Date: June 3, 2014

Paul's Review

Synopsis: Naja is the perfect killer - because she feels nothing. Literally. Her body registers no pain, nor does her heart, coldly executing jobs given to her by her mysterious boss, known only as "Zero."

When another killer in Zero's organization targets Naja for elimination, she has no choice but to fall off the grid and seek answers, as bloody as they might be. 

Written by international creative powerhouse JD Morvan (Sillage, Zaya) and illustrated by French sensation Bengal (Meka, Luminae), this volume collects the entire five-book Naja series into a single, lavish album!

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Review: Naja is a really interesting character with a very troubled past that has led to her becoming the perfect assassin. She can literally feel no pain, physically or emotionally. She follows her orders and kills without regret, simply because her orders tell her to. But then, a mysterious stranger enters her life and warms her cold, unfeeling heart. 

And that's only the beginning of the tangled web that is Naja's life. I mean, I've read some pretty convoluted stories, but Naja definitely takes the cake. Nothing is as it seems, no one is who they say they are or who they appear to be, and Naja's life is way more ridiculous than anyone could ever have guessed. Throw in some assassins, assassins fighting assassins, assassins fighting armies, and even a Columbian prison, and this story is also pretty epic.

One of my favorite parts about this graphic novel was the way that it's told. Everything is seen through the eyes of an outside narrator. We don't find out his (or her) identity until near the end of the story, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Naja's life and her past and this story through the eyes of someone who may or may not be connected to it all. There are flashbacks throughout the story, and I thought they were well placed within the story happening in the present. 

I also really enjoyed the artwork in this graphic novel. It fit very well with the story - the colors match the mood and what's going on. Each character is distinct and it's easy to tell who is who and who might be related and all of that. I've never heard of Bengal before, but  I will definitely be looking more into his works just to see his art! 

Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. There is quite a bit of nudity, blood and gore, and some totally messed up familial connections (especially near the conclusion), so I would recommend this book for mature audiences. I don't think a younger audience would really understand a lot of what's going on anyway. If you love assassins and are looking for a different story featuring them that includes excellent story-telling and artwork, you should definitely pick up Naja! 4/5. 


--Ashley

Glory: The Complete Saga by Joe Keatinge & Ross Campbell - Ashley's Review

*I received an eARC of  this book from Diamond Book Distributors/Image Comics on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Glory: The Complete Saga
Authors: Joe Keatinge & Ross Campbell
Publication Date: July 1, 2014

Paul's Glory: The Complete Saga Review

Synopsis: THE ACCLAIMED APOCALYPTIC WAR SAGA COLLECTED IN ITS ENTIRETY!

Ross Campbell (Wet Moon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Joe Keatinge (Marvel
Knights: Hulk) collect their critically-acclaimed and brutally told saga of one warrior and
her family torn apart by a millennia-old intergalactic war. 

This is the complete story, collected in its entirety for the very first time in a deluxe, over-sized hardcover edition, packed with never-before-seen sketchbook material, scripts, commentary, and interviews.

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Review: Glory sounds like it would be a really epic story with lots of action and adventure and all of that jazz. And, while it was, something about it just fell short for me. I'm not sure if my expectations were too high, or if I just wanted something more, but Glory  was not everything I hoped it would be. 

The artwork fits very well with this story, and was probably the thing I enjoyed the most. It's dark and gritty and it shows much more emotion than most of the words. I enjoyed the colors and the harsh lines, and I really enjoyed seeing the different worlds and such. Ross Campbell does an excellent job, and I'm really interested in seeing more of his works. 

I think the problem with this comic, for me, was that there wasn't enough explanation of anything. We know that Glory is meant to bring peace between the worlds. But that doesn't really work. And her parents try to do the EXACT same thing, thinking it will work the second time around. I really disliked Glory's parents, and most of the other characters. They're all selfish and they don't change very much at all. There's no growth or anything that I could see and that really bothered me. 

It was also really hard to even care about what happened to Glory. She goes on these rampages and loses herself and then comes out of it and is all sad about what she did. Until the next time, of course. Then it just happens all over again. There was only so much of that I could take in one story before it became really tedious. I mean sure, Glory is a strong heroine capable of saving - or destroying - the world. But she has no motivation other than to make her father suffer for her mother's death, and she doesn't care who she hurts in the process of taking her revenge. I guess she's supposed to be morally ambiguous, but she just came off as annoying to me. 

Overall, I think this was just not the kind of comic that I normally enjoy. I definitely think there's an audience out there for it, and I think that many people will thoroughly enjoy this reissue. Especially with all of the interesting letters and sketches included in the back. I did actually enjoy those! Since I wasn't really a fan, I'm not really sure who to recommend it to, other than fans of the original series. A 2/5 from me. 


--Ashley