2022 Update

It's been a while.

The last post I made on here was back in February and even before that my posts were becoming less and less frequent. I have a full time job that I'm really enjoying that just hasn't allowed for me the time to dedicate to reading and reviewing books. I still love reading, but I haven't been the best at keeping my Goodreads up to date. I won't have a list of my TOP BOOKS READ IN 2022 because, honestly, I haven't read a lot. I've listened to a few audiobooks and read a bunch of Power Rangers comics.

If you're someone who has followed me along the journey of reviewing books, thanks for listening. I started this blog with a friend as a way to keep in touch and to fill my time while out on a boat for long shifts. I've found that in my 30s, I need to prioritize my interests. There are so many different aspects of myself, that I can't do it all at once. That's what life is, though, figuring out who you are currently while planning who you want to be and unpacking who you once were. A book reviewer is an identity that I once had, but currently not so much. That's not to say I will never post on here again. 

If you would like to connect with me, here's a few places you may find me:

Instagram: @thepdecker

Twitter: @PWDecker

Goodreads: Paul Decker



--PAUL

Power Rangers, Vol. 3 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Power Rangers, Vol. 3
Author:  Ryan Parrott
Artists: Francesco Mortarino
Release Date: January 4, 2022


Synopsis: Reeling from a crippling defeat at the hands of their new enemy, the Omega Rangers retreat and must turn to their greatest enemy to stop the Empyreals.

CAN THE OMEGA RANGERS AND DRAKKON SAVE THE UNIVERSE? Reeling from a crippling defeat at the hands of their new enemy, the Omega Rangers retreat to Safehaven in search for a way to stop the Empyreals. Will Drakkon, previously their greatest enemy and now their tenuous ally, provide the answers they seek… or will he show his true colors and betray them in the most dire hour? Meanwhile, the Emissaries have their own plans, which may hold the key to saving the entire universe! Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and fan favorite artist Francesco Mortarino (Firefly: Bad Company) ramp up the stakes in this latest chapter of the UNLIMITED POWER era. Collects Power Rangers #9-12.

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Review: This volume continues building up the world-ending event with this volume having more connection to the other ongoing series, Power Rangers, towards the end. Yale's story was the highlight of this volume for me. I'm excited to see the Omega Rangers having four members again.

The Yellow Emissary plays a big part in this volume. The design done with the emissaries always impresses me. I get giddy with seeing the different combinations of ranger suits. 

I'm kind of over Drakkon so his story was my least favorite part of this volume. His characterization makes sense and I am looking forward to what it's building up to. 

Xi's personality shines through in this volume. They really are a big part of the Omega Rangers team. What they kept in their long-term memory storage was very telling. 

I give this volume a 5/5. This ongoing series continues to be a joy. I especially like the otherworldy aspect of this series.


--PAUL

Mighty Morphin, Vol. 3 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Mighty Morphin, Vol. 3
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artists: Marco Renna & Dan Mora
Release Date: December 14, 2021


Synopsis: A dark secret from their mentor’s past and the deadly origin of their deadliest enemy may spell the end of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

WILL A DARK SECRET FROM ZORDON’S PAST SPELL THE END OF THE POWER RANGERS? In the aftermath of Zedd’s assault on Angel Grove and the revelation of the true identity of the new Green Ranger, can the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers survive a betrayal by one of their own? Uncertain of his role as the Rangers’ mentor, Zordon will turn to an old friend for help… leading him to choose between ancient loyalties and Earth. And at the center of it all is a dark secret from Zordon’s past.. Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and rising star artist Marco Renna along with fan favorite artist Dan Mora (Once & Future) continue the UNLIMITED POWER era with the next shocking chapter of the story no one expected! Collects Mighty Morphin #9-12.

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Review: The backstory of Zordon and Zedd is getting unearthed. Ryan has done such a great job of really expanding the lore and world of the 90s show into a multiverse that makes sense and connects so many threads. Zordon isn't only a mage leader, but someone with a past and loyalties. Where does Zordon's allegiance truly lie?

Matt's ranger journey is so interesting to compare to our main heroes. He's publicly a ranger now and that definitely affects his school life. 

I loved seeing Billy being held accountable by Zordon. The relationships in these comics are so much more dynamic that they were in the source material. 

Another great interaction happened in this volume. Tommy and Matt discuss being the green ranger. These "passing of the torch" moments play out better in the comics that the show.

Zag!

The Eltarian War has begun!

I give this book a 5/5. I'm lukewarm about this story arc, but the world in which it's happening is so rich. I wanted more personal moments between the rangers in this volume, but their personalities still shone through in their dialogue and actions when working together. 

--PAUL

Paul's TOP BOOKS Read in 2021

I didn't achieve my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2021, but it was a pretty loose goal. There's still a global pandemic happening and I started a new fulltime job this year. I'm still trying to find the appropriate amount of time to read for leisure. All of that considered, I still did read 41 books. 41 out of 50. Most of those books were graphic novels. Instead of doing separate lists for graphic novels, children's books, and non-graphic prose I have just one list of my top ten books this year. Below you will find those books. Click on the titles or cover pictures for links to my reviews! 

 MY TOP BOOKS OF 2021

10. Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals

9. The Way of the Hive: A Honey Bee's Story

8. Secrets of the Sea : The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

7. Across the Tracks: Remembering Greenwood, Black Wall Street, and the Tulsa Race Massacre

6. Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me 

5. Be Dazzled

 

4. My Life in Transition: A Super Late Bloomer Collection

3. The Tea Dragon Tapestry

2. Money Shot Vol.1 & Vol.2

1. In: A Graphic Novel

What were your favorite books of 2021? What books are you looking forward to in 2022?

--PAUL

Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals by Alexis Pauline Gumbs - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals
Author: Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Release Date: November 27, 2020


Synopsis: Undrowned is a book-length meditation for social movements and our whole species based on the subversive and transformative guidance of marine mammals. Our aquatic cousins are queer, fierce, protective of each other, complex, shaped by conflict, and struggling to survive the extractive and militarized conditions our species has imposed on the ocean. Gumbs employs a brilliant mix of poetic sensibility and naturalist observation to show what they might teach us, producing not a specific agenda but an unfolding space for wondering and questioning. From the relationship between the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale and Gumbs’s Shinnecock and enslaved ancestors to the ways echolocation changes our understandings of “vision” and visionary action, this is a masterful use of metaphor and natural models in the service of social justice.

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Review: This book was not written for me. I am not the audience. I am a white cis gay man. So many books have been written for me, though. I recommend picking up a book focusing on a different perspective than your own. I learned so much from this book. It was recommended by a co-worker of mine who is using the framing of this book in their own program development.

I am a marine science nerd. I am also a feminist. Gumbs brings those two worlds together in such thought-provoking ways as well as the Black experience. I have a new lens to approach scientific facts about animals. They most often come from an old white man's view of the world. There are so many biases in these "scientific facts" found in guides. I hadn't taken that into consideration before. So many marine mammals have only been seen very few times by Western scientists. Western scientists often don't take into account how much their presence may create change in those they are observing. The empathy Gumbs uses in this book allows the reader to imagine the way these marine mammals move through this world that we cohabitate. 

There is inspiration and hope in this book, but Gumbs also acknowledges the very true reality of the world that we live in and the systemic oppression and toxicity present. There are activities for reflection at the end of the book, both for groups and for individuals. I did not complete them all, but this book will remain on my work desk (when it's safe to go back into the office that is) for me to peruse and reflect on. 

I give this book a 5/5. I now have a new way to think about marine mammals and how their lives can inspire us to live better for ourselves and those around us.


--PAUL

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - GUEST Kevin's REVIEW

*We received this book as an eARC from Random House via NetGalley. We voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are our own.*

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Title: Project Hail Mary
Author: Andy Weir
Release Date: May 4, 2021


Synopsis: Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian--while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

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Review: This review is a guest post from my husband, Kevin Shah. He really enjoyed The Martian and dived into this book and read it very quickly. I'm hoping to read it soon, but here's his review:

I had enjoyed reading Martian by Weir. Project Hail Mary is true to the format of Martian (even in the feel of the ending). Project Hail Mary was a book I could not stop reading once I started. It was visually vivid in my head, and I was engaged from the first sentence. My journey with the book enhanced my love for science by making complex scientific concepts that were hard to understand in school and college accessible. Understanding and learning chemistry, physics, biology around a story that is plausible and through the approach of problem solving was so incredible. I wish I was taught science through the lens of such stories. As we run into a problem in the story, we all could all come together to research solutions and recommend options, and the science behind each of those. Its simple – the why helps us understand better. I especially recommend all teachers read this book and see how we can approach education through problem solving.

I kept imaging this story as how Star Trek would have started. How Earth was able to go beyond our solar system and how our survival was the catalyst and not space tourism. The story reminded me of parts of the movie Arrival as well. My favorite aspect of the story was that empathy was ultimately fundamental in human survival. The only part that felt unbelievable to me was humans from all over the world coming together and making such a mission happen. But that is my pessimistic lens based on our current reality.

I highly recommend this book. It will be hard to stop. 5/5

--PAUL

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

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Title: Power Rangers, Vol. 2
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Francesco Mortarino
Release Date: August 24, 2021


Synopsis: In order to save the universe, the new Power Rangers team must once again turn to their greatest enemy - Lord Drakkon - but after their shocking discovery, they need him more than ever!

LORD DRAKKON - FRIEND OR FOE? In order to save the universe, the new Power Rangers team must once again turn to their greatest enemy - Lord Drakkon - but after their shocking discovery, they need him more than ever. But a new enemy is rising, one tied to the secret history of the Power Rangers, and it will take every member of this new team to defeat them. But is Lord Drakkon ready to betray the New Power Rangers or is he truly on a path to redemption? Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and fan favorite artist Francesco Mortarino (Firefly: Bad Company) continue the UNLIMITED POWER era, as the Power Rangers continue their new mission...and Drakkon takes the next step towards his secret goal. Collects Power Rangers #5-8.

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Review: I really like that the Omega rangers are staying in space. We get to see some of the Power Rangers characters that are more otherworldly. Astronema! SPD! Ecliptor! Jason and Zack have awesome disguise outfits on Onyx. The heist is fun. I'm kind of into Astronema and Jason together. Trini is the moral center of their group. There's some great moral dilemmas in this volume. Do you save a planet that has done bad as a whole, but is made up of individuals? Each character has their own perspective and opinion. The complexities are shown well.

I give this volume a 5/5. I love that these stories are not connected to the original tv show. Ryan has diverged us from the intended timeline and it's great. It's exciting that I don't know where this is going. The whole multiverse awaits. 


--PAUL

Mighty Morphin, Vol. 2 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Mighty Morphin, Vol. 2
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Marco Renna
Upcoming Release Date: August 17, 2021


Synopsis: After the New Green Ranger’s shocking decision, everything has changed for the Mighty Morphin team - and no one is safe!

WHO IS THE NEW GREEN RANGER?

After the New Green Ranger’s shocking decision, everything has changed for the Mighty Morphin team! Still reeling from this discovery of the Green Ranger’s true identity, the Mighty Morphin team must face a new threat with a secret connection to Zordon’s past...and the potential to destroy all their futures!

Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and rising star artist Marco Renna continue the UNLIMITED POWER era with the next shocking chapter of the story no one expected! Collects Mighty Morphin #5-8.

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Review: Matthew's perspective! I like seeing the original characters introduced so many volumes ago getting more character development. This volume dives more into Zordon's backstory. Grace and Matt being "with the villains" leads to some interesting moral dilemmas. 

The zeo crystal! Aisha is just such an awesome ranger. She's one of my favorites.

This is a great arc. It leaves the rangers in a really interesting place by the end of this volume. I'm excited to see more about the history of Eltar. I give this volume a 5/5. 


--PAUL

Power Rangers, Vol. 1 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Power Rangers, Vol. 1
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Francesco Mortarino
Upcoming Release Date: May 25, 2021


Synopsis: A new Power Rangers team comes together to battle a new cosmic threat - and only Lord Drakkon, their greatest enemy, can save them! It’s a new beginning perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike.

A NEW ERA BEGINS HERE WITH A NEW TEAM -AND ONLY LORD DRAKKON CAN SAVE THEM!

Only the original Power Rangers, now known as the Omega Rangers - Jason, Trini and Zack - can hope to defeat a new cosmic threat, but their secret weapon is... the villainous Lord Drakkon?! Zordon forbids the new Power Rangers team from contacting Drakkon, so if they want to save the universe then they’ll have to go rogue - and go up against their Mighty Morphin allies. But will Drakkon be their ally...or the one who dooms them all?

Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and fan favorite artist Francesco Mortarino (Firefly: Bad Company) introduce the UNLIMITED POWER era, perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike - and nothing will ever be the same! Collects Power Rangers #1-4. 

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Review: The ongoing series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers continues in two different versions now. One focuses on the Omega Rangers while the other sticks with the original gang. The first few issues of both of these ongoing series go hand-in-hand at the start. I would recommend going back and forth between the two Vol.1s so you're reading the individual issues in the order in which they were released. By the end of these volumes the two teams each have their own stories to follow. 

I loved seeing the Omega rangers interacting with the main Mighty Morphin team, especially the Stone Canyon trio. Zordon and Jason's relationship gets a nice focus. The role of the red ranger is also a focus for Rocky in this volume. 

Will Drakkon be good? I give this volume a 5/5. Ryan is taking us on a whole new adventure. I'm excited to see how the more non-Earth elements of the Power Rangers multiverse come into play with the adventures of the Omega rangers. 


--PAUL

Mighty Morphin, Vol. 1 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Mighty Morphin, Vol. 1
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Marco Renna 
Release Date: May 11, 2021


Synopsis: A new Mighty Morphin team has assembled to take on the deadliest threats to Earth - but who is the All New Green Ranger by their side? It’s a new beginning perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike.

A NEW ERA BEGINS HERE WITH A NEW TEAM - BUT WHO IS THE NEW GREEN RANGER?

The new Mighty Morphin team is on a collision course with an even deadlier Lord Zedd, who has a new mission and a new motivation - one that will change everything you thought you knew about our heroes! But even if the Mighty Morphin team can find a way to survive Zedd and their mysterious new enemies, they may discover the greatest threat to their future is the shocking secret of Zordon’s past!

Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and rising star artist Marco Renna introduce the UNLIMITED POWER era, perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike - and nothing will ever be the same! Collects Mighty Morphin #1-4.

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Review: The ongoing series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers continues in two different versions now. One focuses on the Omega Rangers while the other sticks with the original gang. The first few issues of both of these ongoing series go hand-in-hand at the start. I would recommend going back and forth between the two Vol.1s so you're reading the individual issues in the order in which they were released. By the end of these volumes the two teams each have their own stories to follow. 

This volume starts diving into Zordon's past. The Green Ranger mystery continues. The rangers aren't quite sure about the Omega rangers. Lord Zedd makes some new putties. 

The reveal is great! I give this volume a 5/5. Ryan is taking us on a whole new journey now. We've left the original tv show behind, diverging enough from the expected timeline. I'm really excited to see how these series continue.


--PAUL

Saban's Go Go Power Rangers, Vol. 9 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Saban's Go Go Power Rangers, Vol. 9
Author: Ryan Parrott 
Artist: Sina Grace
Upcoming Release Date: September 7, 2021


Synopsis: The origin of the Omega Rangers is revealed in this final volume of Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers as one era ends… and another begins!

THE ORIGIN OF THE OMEGA RANGERS!

Tommy must step into his new role as the WHITE RANGER, and the leader of the Power Rangers, even as not everyone is convinced he’ll be able to lead like Jason did. With Lord Zedd seeking his ultimate weapon, will the remaining Rangers of Tommy, Kimberly, and Billy be able to hold him off? Will Zordon and Alpha Five be able to find worthy successors for a complete Power Rangers team?

Meanwhile, Jason, Trini, and Zack must step into their own new roles as they embark on their first mission as the OMEGA RANGERS off world. Will they be able to fend off a new galactic threat, make new allies, and embrace their destiny? In the end, every Power Ranger will need to say goodbye to everything they once knew, each other, and step boldly into a new era!

The writing duo of New York Times bestseller Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and the GLAAD Award-nominated Sina Grace (Iceman) join artists Francesco Mortarino (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and Eduardo Francisco (Adventures of Superman) for the final volume of Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers!

Collects Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers #29-32.

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Review: These two ongoing comic series have been a joy to read and now Go Go has come to an end. I've really enjoyed the asynchronous storytelling. The reveals have happened in such interesting ways. This volume serves as the final in the origin of the Omega Rangers. Kiya is introduced. We know how that'll go. 

I love when the comic takes a moment from the original tv series and expands on it emotionally. Tommy has taken over as the leader and there's a discussion between Zordon and Jason about leadership that really hit me in the right way. Kim and Trini have a wonderful heart-to-heart and discuss their feelings. Another aspect of this series that I've loved is getting to learn more about the family life of the rangers. Jason continues to deal with his father's MS. 

The scuba trip with the trio. The Peace Conference. It's all happening! This was a great ending to the series. This series focused on the more personal life of the rangers and I really hope we still get that aspect in Ryan's continuing series. I give this volume a 5/5. 


--PAUL

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Vol. 14 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Vol. 14
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Moisés Hidalgo
Upcoming Release Date: February 16, 2021


Synopsis: Lord Drakkon returns with a new agenda, new secrets and a new mission that might tear apart the Power Rangers...well, that’s if they can first survive Lord Zedd’s all-new Dark Rangers!

LORD DRAKKON IS BACK. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the Omega Rangers thought they had overcome their greatest threat - but now Lord Drakkon has returned! This evil, alternate universe version of the heroic Tommy Oliver has mysteriously returned with a new agenda, new secrets and a new mission from the most unexpected of allies. Can the Rangers come together one more time to defeat the combined power Lord Zedd and his all new Dark Rangers? Or will the truth about Lord Drakkon tear apart all the Power Rangers first? New York Times best-selling writer Ryan Parrott and artist Moisés Hidalgo present the epic conclusion to the longest-running Power Rangers series of all time - and begin an all-new, all-different era like never before! Collects Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #51-55.

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Review: Drakkon is back. Lord Zedd is back. This volume has a lot of great stuff in it. The Dark Rangers appear in a very different incarnation than in the original show. I enjoyed how the leader was described as devoid of empathy. The Green Ranger reveal is still upcoming and it's exciting to think of who it might be.

There's some great banter in the Dark Rangers fight scenes. The Mega Terrorzord!!! 

This is very much a volume that's leading up to a lot of exciting things. I give this book a 5/5. 


--PAUL

Power Rangers: Drakkon New Dawn (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Power Rangers: Drakkon New Dawn
Authors: Ryan Parrott &Anthony Burch,
Artist: Dan Mora
Release Date: March 23, 2021


Synopsis: The Ranger Slayer, an alternate universe version of Kimberly Hart, has returned home and become the new ruler of her dimension - but can she fill the void left behind by Lord Drakkon or will she be destroyed by his legacy?

RISE OF THE RANGER SLAYER The Ranger Slayer, an alternate universe version of Kimberly Hart, has returned to her home dimension to pick up the pieces left behind in the wake of Lord Drakkon’s reign. But Kim’s only option to save the people she loves is to become the thing she hates most - the new ruler of her world who sits on Drakkon’s throne. Now Kim must uncover the darkest secrets that Lord Drakkon left behind, starting with the secrets of his prison called Deadlock...and the shocking identity of the inmate known only as the Unknown Ranger. When Lord Drakkon’s final failsafe is tripped, an even deadlier threat sets its sights on Earth - and the Ranger Slayer won’t be able to defeat it on her own! Writers Ryan Parrott & Anthony Burch, along with artists Dan Mora & Simone Ragazzoni, present a bold new beginning for two of the most popular Power Rangers of all time - and set Kimberly Hart on a path you never expected. Collects Power Rangers: Ranger Slayer #1 and Power Rangers: Drakkon New Dawn #1-3. 

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Review: This is such a fun volume. We get to return to the Ranger Slayer's world. The Coinless characters are back! And we also get to meet some new ones. There are a lot of cool reveals even in just the first issue (Ranger Slayer #1) alone. I really enjoyed seeing the Stone Canyon trio. Adam has a cool backstory. Scorpina! I love the way she's in this book. She is just so awesome. I love the way she thinks. Her humor is lovely. 

There's some great flashbacks in this book. I loved seeing Coinless Jason's backstory. The way Kim and Jason interact is just so great.

I loved reading this volume. I want to see more of this world! The last page makes a pretty big impact. I give this book a 5/5.


--PAUL

Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me (graphic novel) by Shelby Criswell - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Street Noise Books via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me
Author: Shelby Criswell 
Release Date: November 23, 2021


Synopsis: This graphic novel paints a picture of the lives of 10 specific LGBTQIA people from history, framed by the personal struggles of the author to find acceptance and to carve out a meaningful life as a genderqueer person. Each chapter focuses on a different relatively little-known historical character, presented within the context of the author’s own life. Shelby Criswell’s art is fun and engaging and brings a comic book feel to this enlightening and important subject matter.

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Review: This is the kind of book I wish I had read as a young queer person. This graphic novel begins in a memoir format and then the style leads nicely into ten life stories focusing on activism and change makers. These ten people should be more well known and I hope books like this get queer history into young people's brains earlier in their life. It's important to see people like you succeed and to learn their stories, the people who made the world a better place for all of us to inhabit.

Nancy Cardenas: An activist and writer from Mexico who came out in her 30s as a lesbian and later had breast cancer. 

Ifti Nasim: A gay poet from Pakistan who was an activist at a young age.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe: A queer Black woman who was an innovator of Rock n' Roll.

We'wha: A Zuni lhamana who was born in 1849 and met with the President at the time.

Mary Jones: Born in 1849 to formerly enslaved parents and worked at brothels before being found guilty of grand larceny. 

Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld: A doctor for queer and trans folks born in Germany in 1868 who campaigned for fair treatment of queer people and the decriminalization of gay sex.

Carlett Brown: A famous intersex person who was born in 1927.

Dr. Pauli Murray: A person born in 1910 Maryland who was hunger for justice and education, but they were denied hormone treatment.

Wilmer "Little Ax" Broadnax: A musician who started out in gospel and lived as a man.

Simon Nkoli: An anti-apartheid, gay rights, and AIDS activist from South Africa.

I love educational graphic novels, especially when I learn more about queer people from history. I give this book a 5/5 and recommend it to young people interested in queer history. It's great to see a book like this that isn't focused on white cis gay men. 

--PAUL