Review: Wandering Star by Teri S. Wood

Title: Wandering Star
Author: Teri S. Wood
Publisher: Dover Publications
Release Date: June 15, 2016
ISBN: 0486801624


As someone who grew up loving indie comics mainstays like ElfQuest and Sandman, I'm honestly surprised that I didn't discover Wandering Star until now, so many years later. It's entirely the type of thing that I would've been into as a teenager, with its moody but strong main character Cassandra and its plethora of other interesting characters. Odds are I would've shipped some of the characters together, regardless of their expressed interest in one another. (Shipping is odd like that.)

This much-praised space drama follows the far-flung adventures of Casandra, daughter of the President of the United Nations and the first terran accepted into the Galactic Academy. Casandra discovers to her woe that Earth isn't the most popular of planets and joins the outcasts working on the Wandering Star, the Alliance's prototypical spaceship. When the Bono Kiro, the Alliance's longtime enemy, makes a sudden reappearance, Casandra and her misfit crew just might turn out to be the galaxy's last hope. 

This is an incredibly ambitious series and I'd be lying if I said that at times it was a little frustrating, given that the overall universe and its stories are so much larger than what we're shown here. To use a modern equivalent, it'd be like if Saga had only covered Hazel's birth rather than its current sweeping goals. It could very easily be expanded upon and Wood has expressed interest in creating a webcomic, which I think would work fairly well nowadays.

The artwork here is well done and has a fresh style that helps showcase the characters' feelings and drives. Characters are equally well designed and I'd have to say that one of my favorites had to have been Mek, who first appears in the comics as a fervently anti-Earth student of the Galactic Academy. To say that he undergoes a lot of changes and problems throughout the series would be an understatement. What's most interesting about this series, however, is how much it applies to today's societies. Prejudice and war are sadly still very much a part of today's world and I think that many will be able to sympathize with Cassandra's plight.

Ultimately this is a series that has gotten far less attention than what it deserves and hopefully Dover's release will help rectify that at least in part. It's one heck of a story and one that would work well as a feature film.

5/5 stars

(ARC provided by Netgalley)

Review: Paper Girls Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan

Title: Paper Girls Volume 1
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Image Comics
ISBN: 1632156741

I hadn't heard about Paper Girls until fairly recently and I have to say that it's one of those comics that isn't getting the attention it should, despite it being written by Brian K. Vaughan of Saga fame. It's one of those comics that has a great plot, interesting characters, and a central mystery that kept me reading throughout the entire first volume. 

The series's premise is set in 1980s America and centers around a group of 12-year-old girls, all of whom work as newspaper deliverers. We're introduced to the girls by Erin, who has just started her route and is invited to join the other three girls after they rescue her from being harassed by a group of older boys intent on causing mischief. From there they end up getting involved with some strange looking aliens and end up finding that their entire town has disappeared. 

We're given a little bit of explanation here and there as to what's going on and the nature of the aliens is explained by the end of the first volume, however we're left with far more questions than answers. Just enough information is imparted to keep it from getting too frustrating, which only makes things far more interesting. I have to say that even after zipping through the first volume I'm still not sure what's going on, although I keep wondering if it's a similar situation to Stephen King's Langoliers. 

Art-wise, this is great and throughout it I kept thinking that the character design reminded me very slightly of Frank Miller's art style in The Dark Knight Returns. In particular, the character design for Mac reminds me heavily of the character Carrie Kelly, Miller's Robin. It's not super strong, but it's enough to where I wonder if Miller's Carrie was a bit of an influence on Mac's character or design. 

Character-wise, Vaughan and all did a good job. There are a few moments where the characters are a bit jumpy in how they're established, where their emotions don't really come across as strong as they should. A key example of this would be a scene in Mac's home between herself and a family member, where an emotional moment just doesn't feel as solid as it should, given that they were somewhat antagonistic towards each other only a page or so earlier. It's not so bad that it stands in the way of the story, but we know that Vaughan is capable of so much more. 

Overall this was a fun read and Paper Girls is something I can easily see myself purchasing and re-reading in the future. It's just a little surprising that I hadn't heard of this until I saw it on Netgalley, especially given that it's being written by someone involved with one of the most popular indie series currently running. Hopefully this will be rectified at some point in the future. 

4/5 stars

(ARC provided by Netgalley)

Press Release: IDW Brings Chasing the Dead This November

New supernatural thriller based on novel by Joe Schreiber San Diego, CA (September 4, 2012) – IDW Publishing is pleased to announce an all-new horror mini-series,CHASING THE DEAD, written by Matthew Scott and Tim Westland, based on a novel by author Joe Schreiber(Red Harvest, Death Troopers). Coming in November,CHASING THE DEAD is a fast-paced, ferociously tense supernatural thriller. Artist Dietrich Smith will provide captivating interiors and cover art for the series. “I was immediately struck by Schreiber’s ability to create amazing suspenseful situations that contained subtle elements of horror lurking in the corners. This is a zombie road trip done in a whole new way with a unique supernatural mythology and a fun twist at the end,” saysScott. “As soon as I finished the book, I knew we had to bring this to graphic novel.” The debut issue tells the story of a stranger who has kidnapped Sue’s daughter, Lily. But he doesn’t want her money, only her suffering – and he will kill Lily if Sue doesn’t follow his every command. With detailed instructions, the faceless abductor leads Sue into a blinding snowstorm on the longest night of the year to a place she has not traveled to since childhood. The voice on the other end of her cell phone somehow knows Sue’s deepest, most chilling secret – an ominous incident from her past, buried long ago... From the twisted mind of Star Wars horror novelist Schreiber, with skillful adaptation by Scott andWestland, and compelling art by Smith, this eerie series will be sure to bring chills down your spine! CHASING THE DEAD #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) will be available in November 2012. Diamond order code SEP12 0364. Visit IDWPublishing.com to sign up for updates and learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

About IDW IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s DOCTOR WHO; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coasts Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, and Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, while Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.

Comic review: Infected #1 by Scott Sigler

Title: Infected (1 of 5)
Author: Scott Sigler
Artist: Chad Minshew
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: OUT NOW







If you haven't read Scott Sigler's book version of Infected, you're missing out. No worries, you don't have to have read the book before picking up the graphic novel but like any book to comic adaptation, you can only translate so much between mediums.

Let me just say that so far, issue one was fantastic. No, it was more than that. It's fucking fantastic.

The artwork here is really terrific and overall Sigler's story translates very well to graphic novel format. There's a wonderfully slow buildup of dread here that fans of the full length novel will really appreciate. Now if you're the type who loves a little of the old "ultra-violence" from the start, you'll love the direction that this series will eventually go towards. You'll also appreciate the short scene of carnage in this issue.

Parents, if you don't want your kids to read about blood, violence, and things along those lines, you'll want to skip this series if you or they are overly sensitive. Perry's big finale at the end of the book will have you wincing. That said, I feel that as long as you read this along with them (and you will/should want to read it because it's Scott Freaking Sigler) there won't be too much here for you to quibble at.


Five out of five stars

(Purchased this wif my own money. Gotta keep our FDO producing, after all.)

PR: IDW Publishing Launches Jinnrise in 2013

Jabal Entertainment’s virgin series rides international notoriety to 2013 release San Diego, CA (August 2, 2012) – After serving as the official branding of April’s first-ever Middle East Film and Comic-Con and premiering on comiXology (www.comixology.com), IDW Publishing is thrilled to announce the 2013 release of JINNRISE(www.jinnrise.com). Jabal Entertainment’s virgin comic series, JINNRISE has found a home with the industry’s fastest-growing publisher. Combining the best of summer blockbuster fare with the weightier underpinnings of “quest myths” like Lord of the Rings, international student Andrew Marcus’ world is torn asunder when interstellar forces, the Kibrani, invade earth. With all hope seemingly lost, what is humanity’s last chance? A long-feared and forgotten race: the Jinn (otherwise known as “Genies”). Thus begins a quest that may answer the question: What is the nature of true power? With sequential art/cover art, inks, and colors from three of 2011’s top Kubert School graduates (Tony Vassallo, Carli Ihde, and Timothy Yates, respectively) and incentive covers from Flag Studios founder Daxiong Guo(www.flagstudios.com), JINNRISE is further proof of IDW’s ongoing efforts to expand the creative landscape of the comic industry. JINNRISE also represents IDW’s commitment to homegrown and international comic book talent. “I've long known Sohaib to be a clever, insightful guy in regards to pop-culture on his Fictional Frontiers radio show, and he's definitely proving that he can extend that inventiveness into graphic fiction as well,” said Chris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer of IDW Publishing and co-host of the bi-weekly segment “Ryalltime" on Fictional Frontiers. “JINNRISE has a very unique blend of old-world myths and modern-day fantasy and science fiction, and it's something I'm very happy to bring to IDW.” “As evidenced by their catalog of titles and talents, IDW’s dominant trait is diversity in storytelling. For this reason, they were the ideal fit for our genre-blending story,” commented JINNRISE creator and founder of Jabal Entertainment, Sohaib Awan. “Rather than a modern retelling of ancient fables,JINNRISE is a completely fresh spin on a fantasy staple. Most importantly, our story demonstrates the inherent potential of humanity when myopic beliefs are abandoned by all sides.” Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books. IDW can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/#!/idwpublishing and http://tumblr.idwpublishing.com/ and on Twitter at @idwpublishing.

About IDW Publishing IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s DOCTOR WHO; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coasts Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, and Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, while Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film. About Jabal Entertainment Founded by Fictional Frontiers host Sohaib Awan, Jabal Entertainment plans to develop their stories and characters on a cross media platform. Through the mediums of comic books, animation, film, and literature, the hope/scope of their effort is “creative bridge building through genre fiction”.

Comic Review: Wild Children by Alex Kot and Riley Rossmo

Title: Wild Children (one-shot)
Author: Alex Kot
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: 07/24/2012
ISBN: 1607065819




I'm honestly not sure what I thought about this after I finished it, but I'll warn potential readers that this isn't exactly light reading. I have to say that while this wasn't what I was expecting exactly, I was just left a little underwhelmed at the end of it all.

Guns. Acid. Cameras. School. The themes behind the controversial Hellblazer: Shoot by Warren Ellis and Phil Jimenez merge with the attitude of the Grant Morrison and Philip Bond masterpiece of teenage revolt, Kill Your Boyfriend, deliver a story of magic, passion, and disinformation. Wild Children: A different type of education.

I started out really digging the feel of this comic. The artwork is pretty good. It suited the initial feel of the characters while not being overly polished. When the artists start bringing in the more flashy stuff later on, it's actually to a rather nice effect. I believe that this is because initially we're to believe that this is a simple little world where everything is exactly as it seems to be, with the stranger artwork coming in only after revelations about said world begin to start sinking in to the various unnamed characters in the story. Art-wise, this was great. Story-wise, this was just "OK". I'm going to try to keep from being too spoilerific, but I'll warn you that I might accidentally let some story line spill in my attempts to explain why I felt disappointed by this.

We're thrown rather abruptly into the story line, with little to no information about our youthful characters other than they're teenagers that are pretty disillusioned with the educational system. A few of them are dating, but that's pretty much all we're ever really given about them. We don't even get their names. This actually works in the comic's favor for the most part since the point of this comic is that it's not supposed to be a big epic where just as much time is spent on fleshing out back stories as it is telling the bigger story. I wouldn't be lying if I said that it also kept me from fully sinking into the characters as much as I wanted to.

I think what the ultimate problem with this is that it just feels like it's trying too hard to tell its message. We have themes of anarchy, reality, and disillusionment, but I felt like I was being clubbed over the head with the message. The revelations here are interesting, which is why I was so disappointed in how heavy handed and preachy everything felt. The "ah ha!" moment just didn't have the momentum to go through the entire issue. In the end I couldn't help but feel that the characters were essentially being just as obtuse as the people they were trying to uprise against. The book relies too heavily on the idea that the message here is so novel and interesting that we'll just keep going.

Ultimately this wasn't bad and I appreciate that the comic team was taking a risk in trying to make something of this nature. It's just that this sort of thing has been done before and done better.   People who are entirely new to these types of comics will likely embrace this comic, and I encourage them to do so. There's a good idea here. For the ones who are familiar with surreal comics that deal with reality like this, you'll just get a feeling of "been there, done that, already replaced the t-shirt a few times". It's worth reading for the nice artwork and for introducing someone to surreal "challenge what you know" comics, but you'll want to have backup stuff to show them that there are better things out there.


3 out of 5 stars

(ARC provided by Netgalley)

My Little Ponies: Friendship is Magic... the comics!!

I know I've posted a few press releases this morning, but you have to admit that they're pretty cool. But nothing is as cool as the announcement that there will be MLP:FIM comics! Yes!

Read on for the coolness. These ponies are going to love and tolerate the erm... apples out of you!

My Little Pony Gallops Into Comics IDW Publishing and Hasbro, Inc. to produce first ever My Little Pony comics   San Diego, CA (July 13, 2012) – At Comic-Con International, IDW Publishing and Hasbro, Inc. teamed up to announce the addition of yet another hugely successful brand to their portfolio. Based on the Hasbro characters from the popular My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic animated series, created by Hasbro Studios and currently airing on The HUB TV Network in the US, IDW’s MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC comics will offer all-new stories featuring the beloved ponies: TWILIGHT SPARKLE, PINKIE PIE, RARITY, FLUTTERSHY, RAINBOW DASH, and APPLEJACK. “My Little Pony is a highly successful brand and we’re incredibly excited to have the opportunity to extend the franchise through this collaboration with Hasbro,” said IDW CEO and Publisher, Ted Adams. “We look forward to providing new stories for the fans and launching their favorite ponies into comic book form.” Fans of the animated series will be excited to hear that the comics will stay true to its moral foundation, while providing themes and subject matter that older audiences can also appreciate. MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC will bring new adventures to the ponies as they help residents of Ponyville while learning memorable lessons about the meaning of friendship. Coming in November 2012, the series will be written by Katie Cook (Gronk), who has previously worked on DC and Marvel Comics. Taking on the artistic duties is Andy Price (DC Legacy, Batman Archives), with special covers throughout the series by artists including Jill Thompson (Sandman, Beasts of Burden), Stephanie Buscema (Womanthology), and many more.   Hasbro’s My Little Pony brand was re-launched in 2003 and has brought fun, friendship & joy to millions of kids of all ages around the globe. The My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic animated series premiered on October 10, 2010, on The Hub TV Network, gaining much acclaim due to its brilliantly written plot lines, high quality graphics as well as the overarching message of friendship! Visit IDWPublishing.com to sign up for updates and learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

PR: IDW Blasts Off to the WILD BLUE YONDER!

Mike Raicht, Zach Howard, and Austin Harrison take readers beyond the clouds!   San Diego, CA (July 15, 2012) – IDW Publishing is proud to announce a brand-new creator-owned miniseries from creators Mike Raicht, Zach Howard, and Austin Harrison featuring color by Nelson Daniel! When land and sea have become deadly and uninhabitable, the intrepid survivors of ecological disaster must take to the skies; to the WILD BLUE YONDER! “I couldn’t be happier to continue my long partnership with Zach Howard,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Officer. “He illustrated the first comic I ever wrote, and has been producing some stunning work for IDW ever since. Add to that Mike Raicht’s clever scripting and the amazing colors of Nelson Daniel and WILD BLUE YONDER becomes much more than just an innovative concept.” In a wildly imaginative take on the post-apocalyptic thriller, Raicht, Howard and Harrison have created an eye-popping world of flying machines, massive, makeshift fortresses and a desperate war among the dwindling population left to the scarce resources on land. As mankind has become accustomed to the reality of a prosperous life only existing in sky bound territory, a desperate war has broken out for control and survival on the ground and high above it. “We've been striving to put Wild Blue Yonder together for a long time,” said Raicht. “It is so amazing that it is finally coming together. To be able to publish it at IDW, the same place that has produced some of my favorite creator owned properties, like 30 Days of Night, The Cape, and Locke and Key, is cooler than I can ever truly express.” “I honestly couldn’t be happier. It’s very gratifying to be drawing my own books full-time while publishing them through my favorite company. Good times!” added Howard. Clashing factions fight tooth and nail with primitive weapons in a thrilling, high-stakes world of tightly-knit families and deeply realized characters, all cobbling together a life in a world beyond imagination. “We’re excited for people to see the story unfold in the series,” said Harrison. “Everyone at IDW has been great and supportive.  We’re thrilled to be working with such a great company.” Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books. IDW can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/#!/idwpublishing and http://tumblr.idwpublishing.com/ and on Twitter at @idwpublishing.

About IDW Publishing IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, Paramount’s Star Trek; HBO’s True Blood; the BBC’s DOCTOR WHO; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coasts Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, and Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, while Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.

Comic Review: Memorial by Rich Ellis

Title: Memorial Volume 1
Author: Rich Ellis
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: 08/28/2012
ISBN: 9781613773543






Rich Ellis has always been one of those artists and authors that I've heard of, but never been that overly familiar with. I'm rather glad to say that this has changed.

Memorial is the story of Em, a young woman who arrives at a hospital in Portland, Oregon, with no memory of her past. A year later, she has rebuilt her life, only to find her existence thrown into turmoil after she inherits a magical shop and is drawn into a supernatural conflict between beings that not only represent, but are, fundamental elements of the universe itself!

The premise of this comic is good. Amnesia is a plot point that always seems to loop me into a series, partially because we're given a main character that knows just as little as we the readers do. That means that our main character of Em is just as likely to feel the same things we will, which helps us empathize and connect with her more. It's a powerful literary tool and Ellis uses it well.

Parts of this reminded me of series such as Fables, which is a good thing since I love those comics. (No worries, it's not a copycat in the slightest.) Just like Fables, we're given glimpses of an expansive and richly developed world that I can't wait to dive into with further issues. I love the idea of the Everlands and while I don't fully understand it, I do like what I see so far.

I also love the character of Em. She's really an "everywoman" type of character and like I said above, easy to connect with. However, I also love that she's prone to curiosity and best of all- isn't some busty and impossibly beautiful female character. (Not that I don't like looking at the impossibly beautiful female characters, but it's nice to see someone who I could see stepping off the page and looking at home in real life.)

For fans of fantasy, this is absolutely a must read.

Four out of five stars

(ARC provided by Netgalley)

Book Review: Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

Title: Friends With Boys
Author: Faith Erin Hicks
Publisher: First Second
Release date: 02/28/2012
ISBN: 1596435569






I have to admit that I'm a big fan of indie comics in general. Hopeless-Savages, Koko be Good, and Blue Monday... I love them all. Friends With Boys can now be added to this list. I literally sat and devoured this in one night, flipping back to scenes and images that I particularly loved, especially Maggie's interactions with her family.

A coming-of-age tale with a spooky twist! Maggie McKay hardly knows what to do with herself. After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and rough-housing with her older brothers, it’s time for Maggie to face the outside world, all on her own. But that means facing high school first. And it also means solving the mystery of the melancholy ghost who has silently followed Maggie throughout her entire life. Maybe it even means making a new friend—one who isn’t one of her brothers. Funny, surprising, and tender, Friends with Boys is a pitch perfect YA graphic novel full of spooky supernatural fun.

One of the best things about this comic was that the main character isn't some picture-perfect character with flawless skin and great hair. (You know the ones I'm talking about- the characters who are supposed to be outcasts but look like models instead.) Maggie does have good skin, but most importantly she isn't perfect. She has hair that sticks straight up and a huge nose, which I found refreshing. It makes her that much easier to instantly relate to as an average person. I also loved Maggie's expressions throughout the book. She's a very expressive character and it shows through her facial features. Another thing that I loved about the artwork is that it reminds me of so many different artists without actually copying their style. Hicks might have potentially been inspired by them, but her artwork style is all her own. (Especially reminds me of Koko be Good and Blue Monday.)

The story line here is pretty interesting, although I'd like to warn people that the ghost part of the story is never fully explored. I'm not sure if that means there will be another volume, but if you're hoping for a big ghost story then you'll be disappointed. She (the ghost) does factor into the story, but not as the main grab. No, the biggest and most basic focus of the story is Maggie growing up and adapting to life outside of her comfort zone. Hicks does a good job of showing this off, from Maggie's awkward first day to her attempts to deal with some of the more major issues of her life.

This is only a brief glimpse into Maggie's world and I hope that this won't be the last I see of her, but this does work as a stand alone book for the most part. People wanting a definitive ending will undoubtedly get frustrated at it and I won't entirely blame them. This doesn't have the clear cut ending that I normally want my stories to have, but it's satisfying enough that I won't begrudge it. I loved this manga and I would love to see more like it, if not more of Maggie herself.

If you're curious, Friends With Boys is also available online as a webcomic at the author's website. (Click here to go to the site.)

5 out of 5 stars

(ARC provided by Amazon Vine)

Comic Preview: House of Night #1

Title: House of Night #1

Author: P.C. Cast

Artist: Joëlle Jones,Karl Kerschl

Publisher: Dark Horse

Release Date: 11/9/2011

(Note: This review only covers a 6 page preview of the comic.)

Until recently, Zoey Redbird was an average high-school student worrying about grades, boys, and breakouts. But priorities have a way of changing when you are marked as a

vampyre, enroll in the vampyre academy House of Night, and have to figure out a whole new social hierarchy, affinities for elementa

l magic, and physiological changes that make you crave blood.

I wish I could recommend this higher, but I have to say that this preview left me lukewarm. The entire comic just seemed to be a jumbled mess and I can't quite say if this is because I only got a brief preview of the book or if it's because the comic itself is just lacking the addictive quality that the series holds.

First off, I'm highly disappointed with the artwork. When I first looked this series up via Netgalley there was this absolutely gorgeous cover artwork that had me drooling over the prospect of reading this preview. It didn't hurt that the other covers I found were equally awesome. With covers like these, the artwork inside has got to be pretty cool, right? Unfortunately that assumption was sort of wrong. The artwork as a whole is nice but occasionally there's things that just looked really off putting, such as the bodily proportions of some of the characters. As an example I've included the picture of Zoey and Aphrodite. Zoey has this weird popsicle stick body and this huge head that looks like it's threatening to fall right off her shoulders. It really draws you out of the story, putting it mildly. This is just really jarring to see when the artwork is otherwise nicely done.

Story-wise it's ok. Not great, but not awful either. I'll admit that it's been a while since I've picked up the books but I remember most of what went on and this just sort of confused me since I thought it was supposed to be the start of the series. I got the impression (since none of this was in the books) that this is supposed to be a side-story, but it's going to be a little hard for newbies to pick up and read without having previous read the books.

If you're curious, Dark Horse has a 10 page preview up on their website (click here) to peruse. I'm not going to completely dismiss this comic since it has the starts of something good, but some fans will probably want to wait for the inevitable volume collection to hit their library or bookstore shelves.

2.5 out of 5 stars

(Preview provided by Netgalley)

I love Rich Koslowski!

(sighs) I'm currently in the process of moving to a new location, so that means that I've been having to pack up my huge bookshelf. It's bad since I'm going to have to decide which of my comics and books go into storage and I hate the idea of not having any of them within arm's reach, but good since I've been able to go through and re-discover some of my most favorite series and authors, one of which is The 3 Geeks series by Rich Koslowski. (Click on his smiling face to go to his website!)


While I've so far only read Koslowski's 3 Geeks series, I have to say that he's one of my favorite indie comic artists out there. Not only does he write one heck of an entertaining series, but Koslowski does a great job of depicting many of the comic book fans that are out there. I can easily see parts of myself in both Keith and Allen (some of my die-hard fangirl notions are more similar to Allen's nature than I'd like to admit sometimes). It's also pretty easy to look at some of my fellow comic fans and see how they compare to their inky counterparts. I've seen the general good natured "Keith" types of fans who love to share (and sometimes over-share) their love for comic books, the nerdy and socially inept "Allen" types that can occasionally blur the lines between fantasy and reality, as well as the Jim types who love to proclaim their love for all things drawn and violent. My point for mentioning this is that even if you only occasionally flirt with the comics world, odds are you've seen or experienced much of the actions that go on in this series.


Even if you haven't you would still enjoy this series. In between the biggest and most epic points of a comic book fan's life such as going to your first big comic convention or trying to draw your own comic book, there's tons of average adventures as well. I think that most of us can all remember the first time we realized that we had to get a job to afford whatever it was that we wanted (mine was washing dishes in order to afford my huge library fines). Many of us can also remember trying to figure out the opposite gender and trying to decide what it was that they wanted of us and how to attract their attention. All of that is here and hilariously captured for our amusement, so there's tons of appeal here for a wide audience.

The series is pretty easy to pick up regardless of which volume you decide to get, although I will say that the first volume is Going to the Con. You can still get all of the series at Koslowski's website as well as picking up the final volume of the series, The Geeksville Years. (Although there was a three part series put out a few years ago that takes place before the events in TGY.) Not only will you be able to get your comics directly from the man himself, but he'll also sign your stuff for you.

I think I can safely say that none of his stuff will be going into storage. 'Nuff said.

Comic Review: Orchid #1

Title: Orchid #1
Author: Tom Morello
Artist: Scott Hepburn
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: 10/12/2011






(Note: This review only covers the first 4 pages of the comic.)


From the mind of musician Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman) with art by Scott Hepburn (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic), Orchid is the tale of a teenage prostitute who learns that she is more than the role society has imposed upon her. When the seas rose, genetic codes were smashed. Human settlements are ringed by a dense wilderness from which ferocious new animal species prey on the helpless. The high ground belongs to the rich and powerful that overlook swampland shantytowns from their fortress-like cities. Iron-fisted rule ensures order and allows the wealthy to harvest the poor as slaves. Welcome to the world of Orchid.

I have to say that for only four pages of material where I didn't even get to meet our title character, I was pretty engrossed from the start. The artwork here is really nice and the writing/art team does a great job of setting the scene.



I love comics that are set in a post-apocalyptic world, so this comic is really up my alley. (It speaks to the girl in me who would read Battlefield Earth at least once a year during middle school.) The artwork is really cool and I liked the causes of some of the devastation. See that underwater city? It was swallowed up by a huge trash vortex, which definitely isn't something you've really seen in comics before. What makes it that much more interesting is that trash vortexes are a very real thing and can actually be pretty dangerous. (See this link for more information. If you're curious as to what a trash vortex looks like, click here.)

The only thing I'm a little leery of is that the underwater city in this picture is Japan, which might be a little too soon for some readers. Japan was hit earlier this year by a huge tsunami that crippled the nation, so some will be a little sensitive at seeing Japan underwater. If you're one of these people, you might want to hold off on Orchid for a little while. The preview is pretty cool and it's likely that this comic was in production long before the tsunami hit, but I know that for some of you this will just be too soon.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this preview and I'm fairly certain that anyone who loves a good apocalyptic comic will absolutely love this comic and want to pick it up.

Want to see this comic for yourself? Luckily for you Dark Horse has a preview set up on their website where you can get a glimpse of the action for yourself. (Click here for the link.)

(Preview provided through Netgalley)

Comic Review: Pariah #1 by Aron Warner

Title:Pariah #1
Author: Aron Warner, Philip Gelaff
Artist: Brett Weldele
Publisher: Sea Lion Books
ISBN: 9780983613

Brent Marks is not a freak. He is one of the Pariah, a group of teens who become extremely intelligent after being cured of a genetic disorder. Although in most ways a normal teen, Brent is considered dangerous and is tracked down by the government who see these kids as an enormous threat. Can he evade them? What do they have planned for Brent and the others?

Aron Warner is the Academy Award®-winning producer of the animated blockbuster “Shrek” series. Mr. Warner joined PDI/Dreamworks in 1997 working as the producer on the animated film, Antz. He is currently in partnership with director Andrew Adamson in Strange Weather where they and partner Jeff Fierson are developing a slate of live action and animated feature films and television shows. He, producing alongside James Cameron, just wrapped the Untitled Cirque Du Soleil 3-D project, which was written and directed by Adamson. Pariah is his first graphic novel series.

The first thing I noticed about this comic was the artwork. Weldele chose to eschew the traditional comic artwork for a more dreamy, lush style. It works well to help the comic stand out, much as the main character of Brent does. It's gorgeous to look at and to me, was one of the best parts of the issue. It's more true to life than the traditional styles are, yet still reminds you that you're reading a comic.

The story of this is so far rather simple in design, which works for and against it. People looking for a ton of action will be slightly disappointed by the first issue since so much of it surrounds Brent trying to fit in at his school and appeal to a female friend. There's an ever present hostility due to the widespread public dislike of the Pariah, but that doesn't really come into play at first. By the end of the first issue I was hooked, but I have a feeling that this isn't going to be as well-loved as your average mainstream comic. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. Some of the best comics have been ones that have taken the comics world by surprise.

Overall this is something that's going to appeal more to readers of comics like Sandman or Bone. As the series unwinds and shows more of its wares I'm sure that we'll see more action, but this looks to be a comic that will appeal more to our human sides than the Michael Bay part of our brain.

3.7 out of 5 stars

(Reader copy provided by Sea Lion Books)

Book Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (No Future For You) by Joss Whedon

Title: Buffy The Vampire Slayer: No Future For You (Season 8, V 2)
Author: Joss Whedon
Publisher:Dark Horse
Release Date: 06/11/2008
ISBN: 159307963X







I took a while to savor the first volume before fully jumping into this one, taking my time to enjoy the story & artwork. After all, this volume brought back Faith, one of my favorite characters in the show. (She isn't going to topple Willow as my favorite character, but she's up there.)

Eisner award-winning writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina) tackles Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight with "No Future for You." When a rogue debutant Slayer begins to use her power for evil, Giles is forced to recruit the rebellious Faith, who isn't exactly known for her good deeds. Giles offers Faith a clean slate if she can stop this snooty Slayer from wreaking total havoc - that is, if Buffy doesn't beat her to it. Georges Jeanty (The American Way) remains at the top of his game as series artist, and Whedon stays on as "Executive Producer" in this direct follow-up to Season Seven of the smash-hit TV series.

I'll be honest & say that this volume was really all about Faith & how she's dragged back into the action by Giles. The comic format really does help the story along since it allows us to see into Faith's head via the mental narration, something that'd be harder to do on TV. I really loved how the story reintroduced Faith as well as given Giles a little something to do that doesn't involve Buffy. The guy does deserve a life of his own, after all!

Unfortunately the artwork didn't seem to suit Faith as well as it did Willow & Buffy in the first volume. It's still well done but it just seemed like it wasn't as good as the first volume was. I also couldn't help but wish that Faith's interaction with the snobby blue-blooded Slayer had been a little more drawn out. There was just so much potential there & I felt it ended a little too soon.

Still, this was a good volume & one that I still heartily recommend to Buffy fans or just fans of comics in general.

(Reader Copy provided by NetGalley)

Book Review: Scary Godmother Comic Book Stories by Jill Thompson

Title: Scary Godmother: Comic Book Stories
Author: Jill Thompson
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: 07/26/2011
ISBN: 1595827234







While I've never read the Scary Godmother series before, I was pleased to discover that I'd seen Thompson's work before via the Fables & Sandman series. She's got an incredibly playful touch that worked well with both series & I was delighted to be able to review this book for Netgalley.

Jill Thompson's award-winning children's series, Scary Godmother - widely known from the Cartoon Network animated feature - is back with more entertainment for readers of all ages in this complete comic-book collection! Join Scary Godmother and all her decidedly dreadful friends on the Fright Side as they bring their special touch of Halloween to otherwise-terrorless times for little Hannah Marie - Christmas, Valentine's Day, summer vacation, and more! This extensive collection will have Hannah planning thoughtful schemes to give the perfect holiday gifts; Ruby the vampire getting guidance in romance; Hannah and her mischievous cousin Jimmy encountering monsters at summer camp; and Scary Godmother dealing with someone from her past! Plus, favorite character Harry the werewolf stars in a story all his own! Also included is the Scary Godmother Activity Book, filled with tons of spooky fun, and a full-color sketchbook section featuring more of Jill's Scary Godmother goodies!

There's a lot to love about this comic book. For starters, you don't have to have read the book series to understand what's going on so if (like me) you haven't seen the SG series before you won't have any problem figuring out what's what & who's who. The artwork is easily one of the best parts of this book, with Thompson doing a very good job of capturing the playful natures of her characters.

What I really loved about the book was how dark the stories would occasionally get. Parents, don't worry- it doesn't get that dark, although if you're truly worried you can always sit & read this with your kids. There's nothing here that the average child or teen won't already be seeing on Cartoon Network. This hopefully won't deter people from getting this & will hopefully bring in a few of the older readers since this really has an incredibly wide appeal.

I do recommend reading this in smaller gulps than I did. This was very fun to read but I'll admit that a little goes a long way. There's a lot of wackyness in here & as such can be a little much all at once. (But I couldn't stop reading, so that says something for the addictiveness of this read.)

4 out of 5 stars

(ARC provided by Netgalley)

Book Review: Metalocalypse: Dethklok by Brendon Small

Title: Metalocalypse: Dethklok
Author: Brendon Small, Jon Schnepp, Jeremy Barlow, Eric Powell, Lucas Marangon
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: 07/19/2011
ISBN: 9781595827388






Doctor Rockzo. That's why I liked this collection so much. Granted he's not in it as much as some of the other characters, but he's still pretty heavily featured here, to the delight of rock & roll clown fans everywhere. (I still LOL every time I hear him do his "I do cocaine" line.)

From the depths of Mordhaus comes Dethklok, the most brutal black metal band on the planet, cutting a ferocious swath through the world's economies and playing massive shows that leave their unwaveringly loyal fans literally in pieces - they are five men prophesied to bring about the Metalocalypse! Dethklok is based on the wildly popular Adult Swim series! With stories conjured by series creator Brendon Small and series director/designer Jon Schnepp, this most brutal of all mini-series is scripted by Jeremy Barlow (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Supersized) and illustrated by Lucas Marangon (Star Wars: Tag and Bink Are Dead). Includes the never-before-collected Dethklok Versus The Goon, by Eric Powell, Brendon Small, and Dave Stewart.

I'm going to rate this on story & art separately since well, the art is sort of one of the things I had a bit of an issue with. First off, the story. As Small was involved with the making of this comic, these stories easily fit in with the feel of the series. All of the stuff we love is in here: clueless antics by our anti-heroes, metal songs, & Doctor Rockzo. There's a few different stories in here, one of which is the Dethklok Versus The Goon storyline, which is actually pretty good despite my not knowing who The Goon is. I could easily see these being lifted from the pages into the cartoon, so if you're worried that the humor won't translate into the comic then rest easy- it works.

Unfortunately the part I sort of had an issue with was the artwork quality. Excluding the artwork for DVTG since that was obviously drawn by several different people, the artwork here sort of varies in quality. It's well done for the most part & the characters are instantly recognizable, but occasionally it just seemed like the artist got a little bored & as such, some of the panels felt a little sloppily done. I probably wouldn't have noticed if not for the higher quality artwork that was done earlier on in the volume, but the fact remains that I did notice it.

Overall this was still a fun read & for die-hard fans of the series it's a definite must have. For the people in the middle it's still not a bad investment for the most part. Despite the occasional artwork mishap this is still one of the stronger "tv show/movie into comic book" transitions out there. Metal.

Art: 3 out of 5 stars
Story: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

(ARC provided by Netgalley)

Book Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home

Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home (Season 8, Volume 1)
Authors: Joss Whedon, Andy Owens, Georges Jeanty
Publisher: Dark Horse Publishing
Release Date: 10/31/2007
ISBN: 1593078226







Reading this graphic novel took me back to when I used to religiously watch my taped seasons of Buffy, hanging onto each & every thing that happened. I mourned when Oz & Willow broke up, when Angel went evil, & when Tara was killed. I've followed the comic sporadically but due to empty-wallet-itis & the fact that my local library is unable to keep entire collections of graphic novels on the shelves (they either get stolen or shredded after a year of circulation), I've been unable to really read the comic compilations like I've wanted to.

This was worth the wait, in my opinion.

Since the destruction of the Hellmouth, the Slayers - newly legion - have gotten organized and are kicking some serious undead butt. But not everything's fun and firearms, as an old enemy reappears and Dawn experiences some serious growing pains. Meanwhile, one of the "Buffy" decoy slayers is going through major pain of her own.

I absolutely loved the artwork the first time I'd read this as it was getting released in individual issues, & that hasn't changed. I love how the artists interpreted the actors' looks into the comic without it being too obviously "this is Sarah Michelle Gellar" or "this is Allyson Hannigan". The characters individual personalities are very much brought into the artwork & it shows. (And Willow continues to be my favorite Buffy character ever.)

It'd been a while since I'd last watched Buffy or refreshed myself on the storyline so I'm glad to say that you can pretty much dive into this with little to no issues. People who are new to Buffy will be understandably lost, but the story here has enough to offer to where they can follow along & catch up via the internet & old episodes. I'll admit that I was a little afraid that this would be some cheap ploy to dive into the fandom's pockets, but this really is a well done comic adaptation. Luckily Netgalley has many more of the volumes up for perusal, so I'll let you guys know if any of this changes.

4.5 out of 5 stars

(Reader copy provided by Netgalley)

Book Review: Made for Each Other by Paul Storrie

Book Title: Made for Each Other (My Boyfriend is a Monster #1)
Author: Paul Storrie
Illustrator: Eldon Cowgur
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Release Date: 04/28/2011
ISBN: 0761356010






I'm going to have to break my review into two parts since this is a graphic novel done by two different people. The first part will be about the illustrator's work, the second will be about the author & the actual story.

Tom Stone stepped into Seward High and into Maria McBride's life like a bolt of lightning. He's the perfect guy for Maria--nice, smart, and well-built. There's just one problem: his family. Tom's father is the town's new funeral director, and business is booming. The bodies are piling up thick and fast in Persephone Falls, Alaska, so Dr. Stone keeps Tom up late at night working in the funeral home. And it's clear that Dr. Stone and his creepy assistant, Graves, don't want Maria around. Maria knows Tom was made for her. She's determined to find out what Dr. Stone has against her. When Tom refuses to stand up to his father, Maria begins to stitch together the clues...and finds out that the Stones are into recycling in ways she never could have imagined.

First off, the artwork in this was pretty well done. Cowgur did a decent job of catching emotions as well as making me feel as if I had been reading a pulp horror comic, which suits the story. His art really was the high point of the book.

Unfortunately where the book comes up short was in the story department. Storrie has an excellent story idea here, but I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by the experience. We don't get any real character development until we're about 40 pages into the book & we never quite get any huge developments as far as Maria goes. I really feel like this book could have used an extra chapter or two where we get to see more character development & especially more buildup to the ending. There are a few moments to the book that really shine, but this really needed more development in order to really reach its full potential.

In the end I can't really justify the bare bones story under the "it's aimed towards a younger audience" excuse because I've read both books & graphic novels that have been aimed towards teens & younger, yet they've been more fleshed out than this was.


Final Diagnosis: This is worth a read & will undoubtedly find an audience, but I can't help but think that this is a "C" grade project from someone I feel could have given me an "A" with a little more effort.

(ARC provided by NetGalley)

Book Review: The Little Prince, illustrated by Joann Sfar

Title: The Little Prince
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Illustrator: Joann Sfar
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: 10/18/2010
ISBN: 0547338023






Joann Sfar (creator of Vampire Loves & The Little Vampire, among others) has given The Little Prince the graphic novel treatment, the first (as far as I know) for this timeless story. Undoubtedly this will be met with mixed initial reactions. Fans of Sfar will love seeing him apply his hand to this story while some others might raise an eyebrow at the idea of this being done.

The story is unchanged from the original book. The tale follows a young boy (the titular Little Prince) as he travels from his home & beloved flower in search of other planets. He finds very little that interests him & it is only when he arrives on Earth that he discovers beings that he can truly interact with.

There's quite a bit to like about this retelling. I'm a fan of Sfar's style, which is instantly recognizable in this book. For the most part his art style works to give the story a dreamy quality, although occasionally it does tend to be a little on the creepy side.


While I'll admit that I haven't read the original story, this rather creepy Prince panel just seemed a little out of place in the script.

Overall though the book is an enjoyable read & apart from one or two panels, Sfar's artwork really does fit the story well. The style is dreamlike & really does carry the emotions of the story quite well, from the initial introduction of the Prince & the Pilot to the "choose what you want to believe" ending.

This might not be for all readers or age groups, but if you're a fan of Sfar or of the original book you'll definitely want to check this out.

(ARC provided by NetGalley)