***I was provided an ecopy of this graphic novel via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review***
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Title: A Boy & A Girl
Author: Jamie S. Rich
Illustrations: Natalie Nourigat
Year Published: 2013
Release Date: November 27, 2013
Synopsis: Travis and Charley have just met. It's Charley's last night in town, and Travis can't let her leave without getting her to go on a date. In a future where real people are rapidly being supplanted by lifelike androids, sometimes one shot is all you get! Intelligence may be artificial, but the emotion is real in this futuristic romance from the writer of 12 Reasons Why I Love Her and the cartoonist behind Between Gears.
Review: A believable near future with humanlike robots. One boy meets one girl. And there our adventure begins. The artwork is very simple. It fits the story perfectly.
If this graphic novel was a movie it would be an indie love story that someone like Zooey Deschenel would be featured in, although if I was casting this story I would definitely give the female lead to America Ferrera. The story takes place in a world with robots, but it feels just like ours. I like the way there was a unique fashion for the time period, but it didn't feel like over the top futuristic.
Another movie that came to mind while I was reading this is Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist(which was a book first). That random romantic meeting that leads to a night of adventure. And on that adventure many existential and ethical questions are addressed.
I really like how this story played out. It dealt with some really interesting questions involving artificial intelligence and ethics. I recommend this to anyone who likes indie love stories and robots. I give this graphic novel a 4/5.
-PAUL
***I received an ecopy of this comic book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Web series: Youtube
Title: Husbands
Authors: Jane Espenson, Brad Bell, Ben Dewey, and Tania del Rio
Illustrators: Ron Chan and Natalie Nourigat
Year Published: 2013
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Synopsis: Written by Husbands creators Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Brad Bell, this is the comic-book continuation of the sitcom phenom. Husbands tells the story of famous gay newlyweds Brady and Cheeks, who sparked a media firestorm when they woke up legally wed after a drunken Vegas weekend. Now, a mystical wedding gift launches the couple on a series of adventures-a tongue-in-cheek journey through iconic genre realms-filled with obstacles that threaten to tear them apart. Follow Brady and Cheeks into a superhero showdown, a fairytale fantasy, a Holmesian mystery, an epic galactic battle, a madcap high school romp, and a saucy secret-spy thrill ride. Includes bonus "making of" material and a special introduction.
Review: First, if you have not seen this web series go to the link above and watch it! The second season is even better than the first and features so many amazingly geektastic cameos. Jane Espensen and Brad Bell do an excellent job playing with stereotypes and the audience's expectations. They continue doing that in this graphic novel.
Each section of this graphic novel takes place in a well known genre of comics. These include superhero, detective, sci-fi, Archie, and secret agent. The same humor as the web series is present, paired with excellent artwork.
I recommend this graphic novel to any fans of the web series and if you aren't familiar with it, you should check it out! It's a funny, smart series. I give this book a 4/5.
-PAUL
