Category Archives: Graphic Novel

Sneak Peek Wednesday: Bonding by Matthew Erman, Emily Pearson (Giveaway)

Bonding
A Love Story About People and Their Parasites
Matthew Erman (Author), Emily Pearson (Illustrator)
Publisher: Vault Comics
Publication date: Jan 31. 2023
Genre: Sci-Fi Graphic Novel

WEAR YOUR LOVE ON YOUR CHEST

A man, a woman—and their parasites. Marcus has been alone since the loss of his closest friend and has just recently entered into the dating scene, while Laura has drifted in and out of relationships since high school. They meet, they have a great first date, and Marcus almost dies—because the slug-like parasite that everybody carries in this world nearly rejects him, its host. Bonding is a funny, quirky, and honest look at love, in a world where everyone wears their anxiety, not on their sleeves, but on their chest like big ol’ leeches.

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Sneak Peek Wednesday: Heather by Natasha Alterici, Ashley A. Woods (Giveaway)

Heathen
The Complete Series Omnibus Edition
By: Natasha Alterici, Ashley A. Woods (Illustrations)
Publisher: Vault Comics
Publication date: May 17 , 2022
Genre: Fantasy Graphic Novel

SMASHING THE PATRIARCHY – Viking Style!

WOMAN. WARRIOR. VIKING. HEATHEN. OUTCAST.

THE GODS MUST PAY…

Born into a time of warfare, suffering, and subjugation of women, and exiled from her village for kissing another woman, the lesbian Viking warrior, Aydis, sets out to destroy the god-king Odin and end his oppressive reign. She is a friend to many as she is joined by mermaids, immortals, Valkyries, and the talking horse, Saga. But she is also a fearsome enemy to the demons and fantastic monsters that populate the land.

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Review: Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Teen Titans: Raven
(Teen Titans #1)
By: Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo (Illustrator)
Publisher: DC Ink
Publication date: July 2, 2019
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Rating:

When a tragic accident takes the life of 17-year-old Raven Roth’s foster mom–and Raven’s memory–she moves to New Orleans to recover and finish her senior year of high school.

Starting over isn’t easy. Raven remembers everyday stuff like how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can’t remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. And when impossible things start happening, Raven begins to think it might even be better not to know who she was before.

But as she grows closer to her new friends, her foster sister, Max, and Tommy Torres, a guy who accepts her for who she is now, Raven has to decide if she’s ready to face what’s buried in the past…and the darkness building inside her.

 

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Review: The Jungle Book: Last of the Species by Mark L. Miller

JungleBookThe Jungle Book: Last of the Species
(Grimm Fairy Tales Presents, Vol 2)
By: Mark L. Miller, Jorge Mercado (Pencils), Liezl Buenaventura (Colors), Jim Campbell (Letters)
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Published: Aug. 27, 2013
Genre: Graphic Novel
Rating:
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Goodreads

Mowglii has recovered from her wounds after defeating the ferocious Shere Khan, but a quiet day by the river turns into a battle for survival as the unpredictable Dewan of the Apes returns and the Payari Elephants face an attack from Bomani and the remains of the Tigers of the Shere. Mowglii soon learns that on Kipling Isle, there is no down time!

 

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Review: The Jungle Book by Mark L. Miller

14654400The Jungle Book
(Grimm Fairy Tales Presents, Vol 1)
By: Mark L. Miller, Carlos Granda (Pencils), Liezl Buenaventura (Colors), Jim Campbell (Letters)
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Published: Oct. 16, 2012
Genre: Graphic novel
Rating:

Goodreads

A pirate ship carrying four children crashes on the shore of a mysterious and merciless jungle. Each child is taken by a separate tribe of animals as a means to keep the peace between the species. It is a peace that will not last. Fifteen years later, the children have now become young adults and each will have to face the destiny that awaits them. In an unforgiving jungle, four human children will be tested to the limits of survival.

 

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Review: Shadow Kiss (Graphic Novel) by Richelle Mead

ShadowkissedShadow Kiss
(Vampire Academy Graphic Novel, #3)
By: Richelle Mead, Leigh Dragoon (Adapter), Emma Vieceli (Illustrator)
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: Dec. 31, 2013
Genre: Paranormal/YA/Graphic Novel
Rating:
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Goodreads

It’s springtime at St. Vladimir’s Academy, and Rose is close to graduation, but since making her first Strigoi kills, things haven’t felt quite right. She’s having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all …might be seeing ghosts. Consumed by her forbidden love with her tutor Dimitri and protecting her best friend, the Moroi princess Lissa, Rose is in no state to see the deadly threat that will change her entire world – and make her choose between the two people she loves most.

 

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Review: Frostbite (Graphic Novel) by Richelle Mead

9723976Frostbite
(Vampire Academy Graphic Novel, #2)
By: Richelle Mead, Leigh Dragoon (Adapter), Emma Vieceli (Illustrator)
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: May 24, 2012
Genre: Paranormal/YA/Graphic Novel
Rating:
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Goodreads

A Strigoi attack puts St. Vladimir’s on high alert, and the Academy whisks its students away on a mandatory Holiday ski trip. But the glittering winter landscape and posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back at the Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose – and her heart – are in more danger than she could have imagined.

 

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Review: Alex +Ada by Jonathan Luna & Sarah Vaughn

18748058Alex + Ada
(Alex + Ada, #1)
By: Jonathan Luna & Sarah Vaughn
Publisher: Image Comics
Published: July 29, 2014
Genre: Sci-Fi Graphic Novel
Rating:
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Goodreads | Amazon

The last thing in the world Alex wanted was an X5, the latest in realistic androids. But when Ada is dropped into his life, will Alex keep her?

 

1thoughts This graphic novel take place in the future. Where literally everything is done by computers. To be more precise, all you have to do is say “lock” and your vehicle/car locks. Instead of just parallel parking itself, your car now drives for you. While you’re at it, you can watch a hologram t.v. show at any time by just saying the command. Robots make you food, do your chores, and you pretty much don’t have to lift a finger. Everything is computerized, right down to Ada, who is an android.

This is a story about a lonely guy who is pretty depressed with life. He goes through the motions of the day but he’s not living.  Now, it’s not like Alex asked for an android. In fact he was a little nervous of androids after they began to act on their own and went on a murder spree. So imagine his surprise when his grandmother sends him one for his birthday. At first he is set and ready to return Ada to the company but when the moment comes to return her, he finds himself unable. Even though Ada is an A.I. he can’t help but feel like there’s more to her than her programing. Which is when he starts looking into why/how other androids were able to become sentient. I get the sense that as this story progresses, Ada’s learning of the world will open Alex’s eyes to how beautiful life is as well.

I haven’t read any graphic novels like this before. I usually read the cutesy anime looking mangas. So it was nice to see one that is a little bit more mature. The storyline is a little depressing when you get a look at Alex’s life before Ada. However, you see how having Ada gives him something to look forward to. A purpose in life. So it was interesting to see the drive in him once he takes it upon himself to “unlock” Ada’s conscious. The illustrations in this story are really well done. They are really simplistic and not overly done up. I think the illustrations really helped let the story shine through. It was also nice that the illustrations were all done in color. I look forward to reading more about Alex and Ada.

 

1favepartmanga

There’s a part in the story where Alex finds someone willing to unlock Ada’s conscious. This is a highly dangerous and illegal thing to do. Alex could in turn, turn around and report the person which would pretty much be death for them. So I found it rather amusing that the person’s payment for taking on such a gamble was a cheesesteak with extra cheezy wheezy (whatever the heck that is).

 

 

 

 

 

 

kRISTIN

Review: Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz by Joe Brusha

18767261Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz
(Grimm Fairy Tales Oz, #1-6)
By: Joe Brusha
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Genre: Graphic Novel
Rating:
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Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

The world faces a gathering storm that threatens to drown it in darkness. The only hope to stop the coming evil rests on an unlikely hero: a Kansas farm girl named Dorothy Gale.

Unbeknownst to Dorothy, highborn blood flows through her veins and with it, the power to save Earth and the realms of power that surround it. But Dorothy must first learn to use her unharnessed abilities before the witches of Oz destroy her and everyone else that stands in their way.

Zenescope Entertainment presents another incredible tale of adventure and fantasy with this mesmerizing and epic re-imagining of a classic!

 

1thoughtsThis one just didn’t work for me. The cover art is beautiful but unfortunately that doesn’t carry into the story itself. Dorthy and the witches look like drag queens with horse teeth. The colors were bright and vibrant but the illustrations left little to be desired in some parts of the story. It seemed like it got worse when it came to the action scenes. I’m not sure if that was the look the illustrator was going for but it distracted me from the story.

The story itself was interesting. The author took Oz as we know it and turned it into this dark world that’s in a blood bath war. However, with that being said, the story jumped all over the place making it hard to keep track on what was happening. It would be carrying on just fine one minute and then the next we would go back in time for a page, then jump ahead while still remaining in the past, and then we’d be thrown into the present. I’m not sure if it was flashbacks or just little bursts of back story coming through but it left me a little disoriented.

I’ve read the Jungle Book from Grimm Fairy Tales and really enjoyed it. So I will definitely be looking out for more of their series but if another Oz pops up, I will be skipping it.

 

1favepartI don’t know if you could call it a favorite part but I really did like the authors take on the characters. Aside from their appearances, they were not the same characters from the story that we are all familiar with. For instance, the lion was this Alpha were-beast as opposed to being cowardly. I like that not only did the author take the story and make it their own, but he also altered the characters as well.

kRISTIN

Review: Vampire Academy (Graphic Novel) by Richelle Mead

8643220Vampire Academy
(Vampire Academy, Vol. #1)
By: Richelle Mead, Leigh Dragoon (Adapter), Emma Vieceli (Illustrator)
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: Aug. 23, 2011
Genre: Paranormal/YA/Graphic Novel
Rating:
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Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It’s filled with intrigue, danger—and even romance.

Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

 

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