Book Review: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Avengers

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Prior to this, I had not read anything about the Guardians of the Galaxy. And I really, really liked this a lot. It made me a lot more excited about the upcoming movie, where previously I had no feelings about it. Well, actually I did. It's Marvel, and I love Marvel, so I would see it regardless.

I liked the characters, especially Rocket Raccoon, which was unexpected. I don't generally care for animal characters. Gamora was a tough female character, and I hope they do her justice in the movie, and not make her there just for the boobs.

I hope there's more in this comic book series, because I will definitely read it.

Review: Scott Pilgrim

I had a fun time reading this series, and felt like there were some really funny parts to it.  The grades I gave these books ranged from an A to a C.  So, while I didn't love them all, I was entertained all throughout.  They are very quick reads, and the story is definitely interesting. 

Basically, Scott meets his dream girl, but in order to keep dating her, he has to defeat her evil exes.  The fighting parts read much like a video game, with Scott winning coins or prizes when he defeats an ex.  It's a little weird, and nothing you can take too seriously, but obviously it's not meant to be completely realistic.  A lot of the characters thoughts and things they are dealing with are realistic, though, and that's what keeps it from being completely silly.

My biggest problem was probably with the artwork.  It's in black and white, and there were many times when I couldn't tell who was who.  The characters all started to look the same.  It's a pity, because I think the art had the potential to be good, and I think if done in color may have, at times, been awesome.  But it wasn't.

I would probably recommend this to graphic novel fans, but with reservations.  It's definitely not for everyone.

Graphic Novel mini reviews

Before I get to any reviews, I just wanted to mention that it's free comic book day.  If you haven't already, head over to your local comic book shop and pick up some free comics!

Ultimate X-Men Vol. 6: Return of The King

It has been awhile since I've read anything in this series, so I couldn't really remember all that had happened previously.  I really like the artwork in this series, which is probably my favorite part.  I really love Marvel, so it's hard for me to go wrong in the Marvel universe, so I'm a fan of the series (at least so far).




Fables Vol. 13: The Great Fables Crossover

I absolutely loved this volume of the Fables series.  For some reason it just really made me laugh, although I can see where it might be annoying or over the top for some people.  I think it's quite possibly my favorite graphic novel ever.




  Troublemaker: A Barnaby and Hooker Graphic Novel, Book 1

I read this and Book 2.  I wasn't overly impressed, but the artwork was cute.  It was a quick, fun read, but probably nothing I'd recommend.





  The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes (New Edition)

I almost gave up on this one at the beginning because I just did not get it. It was so all over the place and I thought maybe I wasn't cool enough for Neil Gaiman in comic book form. But then I checked out all the reviews on goodreads and saw so very many good reviews. I thought I must be missing something, so I kept on.

And it did get better. The writing is very compelling and there's something about it that keeps you reading. The artwork wasn't my favorite, although I know many people really like the style. I will say that this is quite graphic, and so gentler readers should proceed with caution. I'm glad I finally got to this one, and look forward to more in the series, as I've read this is the weakest, so if it gets better from here, onward for me!

 Y: The Last Man, Vol. 4: Safeword 

I think my enjoyment of this series has really varied so far. Sometimes I think it's brilliantly thought provoking, other times I wonder what the heck they're doing. This volume had both moments for me. I'm still very interested in the series, so I'm reading on. 





Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life


Pretty good! I've already seen the movie (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and I was surprised at how closely the movie followed the book. This is a fun one, although it's definitely weird. The artwork is not great at all, but it worked with the story. I'll be moving on to volume two.

Graphic Novel Mini Reviews

Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The First Death (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter (Marvel Paper))

I've read a few of the Anita Blake graphic novels, and I actually prefer them to the regular books, although I've only ever read Guilty Pleasures.  I think this story lends itself well to the graphic novel medium.




Grimm Fairy Tales Vol. 1

I didn't like this at all.  As you can tell from my blog title, I really love fairy tales.  But here I didn't care for the writing, and the artwork, while colorful, wasn't great. A lot of the people had tiny heads on big bodies or arms that were bigger than their heads. Could've been better.



 Y: The Last Man, Vol. 3: One Small Step 

I really loved the first book in this series, and thought the concept was extremely thought provoking.  The second one fell flat for me, but the story picks up again in this third volume.  I'm liking the characters and I'm very interested to see where things go from here.  This is one series I'll be sticking with.

The Buffyverse lives on

Today I picked up my comics from my supplier.  I'm sitting here reading the new Spike series, and it's literally laugh out loud funny.  Comic books aren't for everyone, and they can get kind of expensive if you read a lot, but if you are a Buffy or Angel fan, I have to recommend a few different series.

We'll start with the newest Spike series I was just talking about.  I've gotta say I was never really a Spike fan throughout either Buffy or Angel, but he's definitely won me over in comic book form.  #1 starts off with a little bit of Twilight mocking in the form of books and movies called "Twinkle".  It really doesn't get much better than this.  It helps when reading this one if you've already been following along with Buffy season 8 (which I'll talk about in a minute) and all the Angel storylines (which I'll also talk about in a minute).  You can purchase the start of the Spike series at IDW, but if you want to buy comics, if at all possible, try to get them from your local comic book store.        

Okay, so here's where things get a little bit tricky.  There are so many different Angel series, spinoffs, and one-shots (for non-comic readers, that just means it's not part of a series) that it can get a little confusing as to what order to read them in.  Well, I'm here to tell you that I can't help you.  Do start with Angel: After the Fall vol. 1, or even better, check out the first TPB from your library to see if you like it.  And then find someone who knows more than me and figure out where to go from there.  But After the Fall starts directly after the events at the end of season five of the TV show Angel. 

Next we have Buffy, which basically continues the TV series in comic book form.  This is season 8 (the show ended on season 7).  Once again, I'd recommend looking for the first trade paperback of this one: The Long Way Home (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 1).  Season 8 is just about wrapping up, and I'm not sure if there will be more after this.  I haven't loved the whole season--there have been some good parts and some bad, and right now, nearing the end of the season, I'm kind of in a "what the heck?" place with the whole thing.  But, if you're a big Buffy fan like me, this is a way to keep on with the story since there's no more show.









To some of you this is all old news, and you're either yawning through my post, or you haven't even read this far.  But I'm thinking maybe there's someone out there who was a fan who wasn't aware of these comics, or who was aware and just didn't know if they were any good.  I definitely have liked the Angel (and now Spike) series better than the Buffy, but they're both worth reading, for sure.

Rapunzel's Revenge

Title: Rapunzel's Revenge
Author: Shannon and Dean Hale
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Page Count: 144
Why I read it: browsing graphic novels at the library, and it caught my eye.
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Rapunzel is raised in a grand villa surrounded by towering walls. Rapunzel dreams of a different mother than Gothel, the woman she calls Mother. She climbs over the wall and finds out the truth. Her real mother, Kate, is a slave in Gothel's gold mine. In this Old West retelling, Rapunzel uses her hair as a lasso and to take on outlaws--including Gothel.

My review:
The idea for this story was interesting enough, but there just wasn't enough to really keep me engaged. I thought it was just okay in just about every aspect. The artwork, the plot, everything was good enough, but it was nothing exceptional.

The different take on Rapunzel was fun, and a good, empowering story for young girls. I think a lot of times with graphic novels, it really just depends on my mood. I've got to be in the right mood for them, and the current reading slump I'm going through is not it. I think this would definitely be a fun graphic novel for young girls, fans of fairy tales, and graphic novel lovers.

Fables: The Dark Ages

Title: Fables: The Dark Ages
Author: Bill Willingham
Genre: Graphic Novel
Page Count: 173
Why I read it: graphic novel challenge
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Tourists of the world unite! If you've ever craved a guided tour of Fabletown's secret Manhattan location, prepare to be voraciously satiated. Pinnochio has a field day taking a certain VIP around the city. And exactly which Fabletown denizens are no longer active (dead, alive or otherwise) just might shock you into a comic book coma. Also in this volume, you'll find the 4-part story featuring Freddy and Mouse, two local rogues who just want to get along and perhaps turn a bit of profit in the post-war, topsy-turvy world. Meanwhile, in Fabletown, a new political group forms called the Society of Seconds, and what they want doesn't seem very reasonable at all.

My review:
I've lost a bit of my love for this series as it has gone on.  The first one was just magical, but whether I'm just getting tired of the characters or the writing, I'm not sure.  I think if this were more about the fables themselves, and maybe their interactions with each other instead of about a war (and now a new big bad they have to deal with) I might like it better.

I really liked the first issue, "Around the Town" the best, and the rest was just okay.  I enjoyed both the story and the artwork.  Most of this volume was illustrated by Mark Buckingham, who is the regular illustrator, but I actually liked the work of Michael Allred, even if I didn't recognize Pinocchio at all at first.

I would still recommend the Fables series as a whole, especially if you like fairy tales.

The Plain Janes

Title: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Genre: Graphic Novel
Page Count: 176
Why I read it: graphic novel challenge
Grade: C

Synopsis:
When transfer student Jane is forced to move from the confines of Metro City to Suburbia, she thinks her life is over. But there in the lunch room at the reject table she finds her tribe: three other girls named Jane. Main Jane encourages them to form a secret art gang and paint the town P.L.A.I.N. -- People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. But can art attacks really save the hell that is high school?

My review:
I always find it hard to review graphic novels.  Especially shorter ones, because there's just not a whole lot to say.  There's not a lot of story there most of the time.  This one wasn't very exciting.  I wasn't really awed by the story, and at times I thought it was even a little silly.  The artwork was black and white, and it was also okay.

This probably isn't one I'd recommend, unless you really like graphic novels.

Pride and Prejudice Graphic Novel

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Nancy Butler
Genre: Graphic Novel
Page Count: 120
Why I read it: I love P&P
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Tailored from the adored Jane Austen classic, Marvel Comics is proud to present Pride & Prejudice! Two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petras faithfully adapt the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy's father manage to marry off her five daughters, despite his wife's incessant nagging? And will Lizzy's beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley, or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness?

My review:
I think I may be too big of a Jane Austen purist to like this graphic novel.  I thought it was okay, and it was fun seeing the book in graphic novel form, but it was too shortened.  Obviously that's necessary for a graphic novel, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  I didn't like the newest Pride and Prejudice movie for the same reason--it was too short, and just didn't seem right.  Plus, I don't like Kiera Knightley very much.

Anyway, the artwork wasn't great either.  At times, I thought the characters looked great, and I liked it, but then there were other pictures where they just looked scary and ugly.  It didn't work for me.

I guess I would recommend this if you love graphic novels, or if you want to try Pride and Prejudice in a different format.  Or if you're not as picky as me when it comes to your Jane Austen stuff.

Runaways Vol. 2

Title: Runaways Vol. 2
Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Genre: Graphic Novel
Page Count: 312
Why I read it: graphic novel challenge
Grade: B

Synopsis:
When a group of teenagers discovers that their parents are actually super-villains, they run away from home... but that's only step one! Now that the evil Pride is gone, nearly every bad guy in the Marvel Universe is trying to fill the power vacuum in Los Angeles, and the Runaways are the only heroes who can stop them! Plus: What does a mysterious new team of young heroes want with the Runaways, and which fan-favorite Marvel characters are part of this group? In Escape to New York, the Runaways embark on a coast-to-coast adventure, guest-starring Cloak and Dagger AND the New Avengers! When Cloak is accused of a crime he didn't commit by the heroes of New York City, the vigilante is forced to turn to the teenage Runaways for help. This story will take our teens to a place they've never been: NYC! And in Parental Guidance, the villainous Pride returns, but this all-new group isn't made up of the Runaways' evil parents. Who are these shadowy players, and what do they want with the Marvel Universe's next generation of heroes? Collects Runaways (Vol. 2) #1-18.

My review:
I haven't read any Runaways previous to this, so I know there is some storyline that I've missed, but I didn't really feel confused because of it.  I think this one did a good job of giving enough backstory while keeping the plot moving.  Of course, since I haven't read any that came before this, I have no idea what the story was, so I couldn't really say what I missed. 

I liked the artwork, although there were times when it was a little hard to tell who was who.  It was fun seeing some of my favorite Avengers make an appearance, like Captain America.   There were a lot of characters, though, and it was hard to keep track of all of them.  That makes it difficult to really care about any of the characters.  I'd like to try to track down the first part of the series, so I can maybe understand the motivations behind some of the characters.  

I will definitely be reading more from this series, and I would recommend it to fans of superhero graphic novels.

Amulet Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse

Title: The Stonekeeper's Curse
Author: Kazu Kibuishi
Genre: Graphic Novel
Page Count: 217
Why I read it: graphic novel challenge
Grade: B

Synopsis:
In this thrilling sequel to AMULET #1: THE STONEKEEPER, Emily and her brother Navin head for Kanalis, a beautiful and mysterious city of waterfalls, where they hope to find the antidote for the poison that felled their mother. That cure lies in the eggs of a giant serpent atop Demon's Head Mountain, but the kids' archenemy, Trellis, is headed for the peak, too. A battle that will engulf all of Kanalis is looming. It's up to Em to triumph over evil while controlling the amulet's power . . . without losing herself!


My review:
I think this one was a bit of an improvement over the first book.  It seems like the story is settling in a little bit, and things are getting more interesting.  It's still a fairly simple story, but the artwork is good, and there are fun things going on.

There really isn't a whole lot to say about this one.  Like the first book, it would be a fun one to read with your kids.