A reader review blog { of genre fiction }
Graphic Novels
Comic books, manga, illustrated novel reviews
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit [vol.4], Motoro Mase
May 23rd
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit (2010), vol.4 is written and illustrated by Motoro Mase. It is rated M: Mature readers. List price is $12.99USA. Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit was originally serialized in Young Sunday manga magazine. After reading four volumes, this series is still captivating to me for several reasons 1)character driven stories and 2)
Comics: Irredeemable written by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (Illustrator)
Apr 17th
IRREDEEMABLE (BOOM! Studios 2009) written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Peter Krause with the afterword provided by Grant Morrison. I am posting about the digital edition of this comic book. If you have an iPhone or better yet, an iPad, you can download the first 9 issues via Comixology app (link is to iTunes). The cost
Manga Monday: ES (Eternal Sabbath), Fuyumi Soryo
Jan 25th
ES Eternal Sabbath (Del Rey 2006) written by Fuyumi Soryo (Mars), paperback, 240 pgs, list price $10.95. Rated OT for older teens +16. Story completed at 8 volumes and are currently available. This author also wrote Mars.
Wow, this is a fascinating story about human experimentation gone awry. Ryousuke Akiba, the main protagonist, is a hacker. He’s a genetically
Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Fumi Yoshinaga
Jan 18th
Ōoku: The Inner Chambers(Viz Signature 2009) is written & illustrated by Fumi Yoshinaga, 205 pages, paperback, rated M for mature audiences (18+ for explicit content). Fact: the author has been nominated for the Eisner award in 2008 for best writer and artist. This review covers volume 1 in a planned 10 volume series.
I first read about this
“Nemi Vol.3,” Written and Illustrated by Lise Myhre
Dec 30th
Nemi Vol.3 by Lise Myhre (Titan Books 2009) is a collection of comic strips featuring Nemi Montoya and her misadventures in dating and life in general.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this! Supposedly, Nemi’s very popular comic back in Norway and I can understand why. Her deadpan, often witty humor is very dry and
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, Motoro Mase (Author, Illustrator)
Dec 7th
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit (vol.3) (Viz Media Sig 2009) is written and illustrated by Motoro Mase. This series is taking off nicely, I must say. Are you interested in a story arc about government sponsored murder? Where random citizens are selected to die between the ages of 18 and 24 for the better good of humanity?
In “Ikigami:
Vampire Knight Story & Art by Matsuri Hino
Nov 23rd
Vampire Knight (vol.7,8) with story and artwork by Matsuri Hino (Viz Media 2009) is about aristocratic vampires secretly co-existing with humans in a private school created for the purpose of peace and understanding. Vampire Knight has beautiful vampires romanticized in a continuing story that is chock full of action, romance and drama. I love it.
Overview of the Vampire
Roman Dirge’s Lenore: Noogies
Nov 9th
Lenore: Noogies (2009) is written, drawn and colored by Roman Dirge. It is a hardcover graphic novel (also available in paperback), published by Titan, retails for $17.95 list price and has 128 pgs.
According to the author’s greeting page, the hardcover collects the first four “original” issues of “Lenore.” The stories have been given a updated, fresh
Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? by Neil Gaiman, Andy Kubert
Oct 12th
Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (2009) by writer Neil Gaiman and artist, Andy Kubert. Currently sells in hardcover (Deluxe Edition) for $24.99 US, 128 pgs and distributed by DC Comics. Batman creator was Bob Crane.
So Neil Gaiman gets to write the last Batman story, eh? Or at least it’s his last take on the
Underwhelmed with “Children of the Sea” by Daisuke Igarashi
Sep 21st
Children of the Sea (vol.1) by Daisuke Igarashi and published by Viz Media, US $14.99, 320 pgs. Rated T for older teens.
“There are demons in the sea.”
What can I say, the cover was arresting and the story sounded promising but after reading this graphic novel I was left.. underwhelmed. I would add on bafflement and utter boredom, too.
The story alludes that
REVIEW: Britten and Brülightly, Artwork and Story by Hannah Berry
Aug 25th
Britten and Brülightly is a graphic novel by Hannah Berry and published by Metropolitan books and priced at $20 U.S. edition. This is Ms. Berry’s first graphic novel about a private investigator who learns that a few secrets are sometimes best left buried.
Berry’s debut graphic novel has been generously praised by UK publications like The Guardian saying that “…Hannah
Reviews Of Two Noteworthy Graphic Novel(s)
Aug 17th
Might have to go back to posting graphic novel reviews on Mondays. I’ve collected a ton of them this year. And yes, I am still collecting them. When you delve into this genre, it can be a bit overwhelming. But there are good resources out there to help you cut through the crap and get to the good stuff.
And
REVIEW of ‘Alias: Come Home’ (Vol.2) by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos (Illustrator)
Jul 30th
I read the first volume of ALIAS and was blown away by the story, the characters and the artwork. The reading experience was unlike anything I’d ever read in the comic book world.
I mean the writer and artist seem so attuned to each other in their storytelling skills that the result of their efforts was
Manhunter (Street Justice Vol.1), Marc Andreyko and Jesus Saiz (Illustrator)
Jun 10th
I read the first few pages of this comic book at the store and had to buy it when I couldn’t put it down. Manhunter: Street Justice vol.1 written by Marc Andreyko and illustrated by Jesus Saiz and Jimmy Palmiotti features a strong female character in the role of a crime-fighting vigilante.
Kate Spencer is a star prosecutor residing
Mad Love and Other Stories, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm (Illustrator)
May 30th
I am a comic book geek (or recent convert) but am unfamiliar with the canon of popular comic book stories. I am unqualified to compare and contrast anything in this genre. Moving forward, I picked up MAD LOVE (2009) because for some odd reason I have a fascination with the Joker. The Joker is a rather interesting villain to me. He’s
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