Beowulf

Beowulf by Santiago Garcia and David Rubin, 189 pages

This graphic adaptation of the epic poem generally avoids the banal postmodern revisionism of other adaptations, reducing the story down to the essential confrontations between four monsters - Grendel, his mother, a dragon, and the great Geat himself.  The art is stylized, the colors muddy, the overall effect undeniably ugly - which, however, both suits the brutal directness of the narrative and emphasizes the fleshy substance of the monsters, which are here portrayed not as elusive magic fairies but as viscerally real beasts, perhaps more real than some men.

Grass

Grass by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim   471 pages

This adult graphic novel tells the true story of a Korean "comfort woman" and documents how the atrocity of war devastated women's lives.  Telling the life story of a girl names Lee Ok-sun who was forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, this book unflinchingly gives the compelling and horrifying details of what she went through, as well as other "comfort women."  Using an art style that is detailed, and heavy on black ink brushwork, the author/artist brings her interviews with Ok-sun into compelling detail. 

I had read a review of this book and was interested in the topic, and was curious about the treatment that a graphic novel would give to this first-person narrative. It's a very good book, although the topic is quite serious and at times, I had to close the book and just think and reflect a bit -- because it was sometimes tough to get through.  Definitely an interesting book for students of World War II history who are not familiar with this particular bit of history, or what these women went through.

Passing for Human: A Graphic Memoir

Passing for Human: A Graphic Memoir by Liana Finck   240 pages

Funny and melancholy, this very personal story is an exploration of identity. Liana Finck goes searching for the thing she has lost: her shadow (or the "strangeness" that has defined her since birth).  Part of her has always made her feel apart from the rest of the world, and in this memoir, Finck explores her past, as well as her parents' past.  In her journey to find her true self, she discovers some truths about self-acceptance and what it is that makes her whole.

I had read a review of this book and had been curious, and I found this to be an interesting read. Finck's art is mostly pretty spare, but it's able to convey a lot of emotion in just a few well-placed lines. I found Finck's story to be compelling, and this was an interesting way to approach a memoir.

Joe Quinn's Poltergeist

Joe Quinn's Poltergeist by David Almond   80 pages

That Joe Quinn will tell anyone about the poltergeist in his house, but no one believes him. No one, except for Davie, who has felt the strange presence in the Quinns' house.  Random objects are flying through the air and maybe there's a ghost, too.

This is a dreamy, haunting story with art by Dave McKean, one of my favorite artists and a frequent collaborator with Neil Gaiman. McKean's mixed-media art can be dreamy and/or disturbing, so it's a perfect match for this story that focuses on God, and grief, and possible hauntings.  Told from the point of a view of a young person, it's difficult to know what is truth and what is observation mixed with misunderstanding.

Rapunzel’s Revenge

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale, 144 pages

This graphic retelling of Rapunzel is pretty awesome.  In this one, Rapunzel isn’t locked in the tower until she realizes how evil her “mother” is.  She finally manages to escape on her own, meets up with Jack, of beanstalk fame, and enlists his help in fixing the witch and helping her real mother and all of the people in the area that the witch has terrorized for so long.  It’s a marvelous adventure and teens who like graphic fairy tales will love it.

Happy

Happy by Grant Morrison and Illustrated by Darick Robertson        Paperback Book:  96 pages         

A friend had told me about the cable t.v. show, “Happy,” and that it was originally a graphic novel, so, I decided to check out the graphic novel.     Good story line although the F Bomb is dropped in nearly every sentence at least once, so, I think the use of the word loses its significance after about the third time and I am not kidding it is literally so over used it is cause to pause and say, “Really?”   however, as I said other than the over use of the F word when there are so many other words easily as potent the story is interesting and I love the character, “Happy,” who is the imaginary friend created by the main character’s daughter.   The daughter gets in dire straits and sends, “Happy,” to find help.    Happy is this really cute conglomeration of a unicorn, a donkey, a horse and Pegasus that the little girl dreamed up one day and brought him into this world.    There is a horrific serial molester/killer that snatches up children and young adults who has her tied up and taped up along with a bunch of other kids he is going to brutalize.   The girl’s father is obviously down on his luck and looks really scruffy like he has been living in a trash can (sorry Oscar no offense – trust me, this guy is a looooonnnngggggg way from Sesame Street).   There is a law enforcement connection and a near death experience maybe all the way dead because this fellow looks like a Zombie and when he was flatlining – Happy comes through as this invisible little cutie that no one but Scruffy Guy can see and hear except that he doesn’t heed Happy’s trying to get him to go help his daughter.   A good story and I am guessing there are more graphic novels to this story.    Reading the novel now I do want to see the treatment done on t.v., too.    Not for anyone who is anti-violence and anti-profanity there is lots of both here, but, gamers, sci-fiers, Walking Dead fans and the eclectic will love it.    Big points for storyline and amazing illustrations by Darik Robertson.  Big kiss for that cutie pie, “Happy,” and hugs for all the guff he has to put up with and his courage in perservering to save his little friend,    Well done, if a little excessive on the F bombs.    I would recommend this to anyone who likes graphic novels, comic books, and has an open-mind to topics and vernacular.

 - Shirley J.

All Summer Long

All Summer Long by Hope Larsen, 170 pages

“Thirteen-year-old Bina faces her first summer without her best friend, Austin, who has left for soccer camp.” So, I clearly like realistic graphic novels.  This is a great story about friendship and growing up.  Kids who like graphic novels and realistic fiction will enjoy this a lot.

Chi’s Sweet Home Volume 5

Chi’s Sweet Home  Volume 5 by Konami Kanata                Paperback Book:  160 pages                              

Chi’s Sweet Home Volume 5 was a surprise.     The previous 4 books in the series were a lot thicker but his one was only 160 pages which felt like am I missing something?   Are there more than one book of Volume 5?    And didn’t Volume 4 end with Chi moving to France?     No mention of France in this book.    It also is like Chi has amnesia because she doesn’t recognize her old neighborhood stomping grounds nor her old friends from her neighborhood and around the park.    They know Chi.    I of course love all the stories about Chi’s adventures but I feel like Alice down the rabbit hole reading this one, did somebody slip me something to make me grow small so small that I am missing something here?     Did Chi come back home to Japan and in the time she was away forgot her old buddies?    What happened?     And why is this volume so much smaller?    It is not explained why Chi doesn’t recognize Auntie and only toward the end does she recognize her dear friend, Blackie.   I’m hoping I find the answers to these questions along the way but it is really confusing and unclear as to what has happened.    Is this the dream sequence while she is flying to France or what?   Did they decide not to go?   I love Chi, so, I would really like to know the answers to the questions this Volume poses.    I did thoroughly enjoy the book however, and I love Chi more and more but if I could ask the author, I would seriously like to know what happened.    The search is on.   I will let you know what I come up with when I get the next Volume and complete it.     Highly recommend the story for all ages.   Highly curious as to what the author is about in this one.    Maybe the clue is that Chi is laying down and the reader is seeing her from above but it also gives the impression of her being upside down, which is how I feel coming away from this one.    Good stories just trying to figure out where the story picks up from the end of Volume 4.   Having a, “huh?” moment here.

 - Shirley J.

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home Part 4

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home Part 4 by Konami Kanata          Paperback Book:  480 pages                          

I love Chi so much I cannot get enough of her and apparently I am not the only person in the world who feels that way.    Chi has a following on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram, too.   What a sweetie pie she is.    I am already looking forward to following her next adventure.    In this book, Chi remembers her Momma and her siblings, she learns how to control her claws when playing with or jumping on other cats during play times, and she has to decide whether to stay with the Yamadas who are moving to France or to stay with her Momma and siblings.   So many things happening.   Does she go and leave her friends Blackie and Cocchi and having just reunited with her cat family, should she stay with them or leave them for her human Yamada family?   So many decisions for a little kitten to make.    Gut wrenching stuff here.   It may be a juvenile graphic novel but Konami Kanata has a great ability to move the reader so much emotionally that Chi’s world draws you in so deep, Chi’s hurts and joys become the reader’s.     Chi endears herself more to me with each book.   The books in this series really twist the reader’s heart and the situations Chi gets into are very real and makes one pause to think what might I do if I were her?    The stories make you very protective over this little kitten.    There is one scene with Chi and her mother that will make you holler, “Oh no!!!   No!!!! NO!!!!!  NO!!!!! I won’t tell you what it is, so I don’t spoil it for you, but this is such a good book, I can’t praise it enough.    I love you, Chi.    See you again in Chi’s Sweet Home Part 5.  Yes,  I highly recommend this book and the whole series.

The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Part 2

The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Part 2 by Konami Kanata      Paperback Book: 480 pages   

The continued story of the little female kitten, Chi, who got lost from her mother and while searching for was found and taken in by a family.    Her story continues from Part 1, the Yomata family moves to a pet friendly apartment complex and CHI and her mother are reunited though at first they don't recognize each other.   So heartwarming.   I love Chi so much!   She has so many adventures and now lives in close proximity to a city park.    So many adventures so wonderful.   I am on to the next book on Chi's life.   Can't get enough of this dear little kitten.   LOVED IT!   I highly recommend this book.   So funny and so heartwarming!

Noah

Noah by Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and Niko Henrichon, 256 pages

The graphic novel Noah was developed in parallel with Darren Aronofsky's film, apparently beginning with an early draft of the screenplay and originally published serially in French, with the complete English version published as the movie reached theaters.  As such, neither the film nor the graphic novel is really an adaptation of the other, rather, they are related but divergent visions.

Unfortunately, the graphic novel is inferior in almost every respect.  While there is no doubting Niko Henrichon's talent as an artist, in this case his human characters are often difficult to tell apart, while he is also unable to match the epic visuals of the film.  Worse, the graphic novel does not equal the film's visual creativity - the animal Noah rescues near the beginning is an unremarkable tapir rather than a strange lizard dog, the Watchers are magniloquent four-armed giants rather than taciturn misshapen rock monsters.  When combined with bluntly "relevant" environmental themes, the result is that the graphic novel lacks the apocalyptic weirdness that was the film's greatest virtue.

Wires And Nerve Volume 1

Wires And Nerve Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer, 238 pages

“In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder, Cress, Scarlet, Winter, and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.” Iko might be my favorite character in the series.  Although graphic isn’t usually my preferred format, I really liked this, maybe better than the original books in the series.  Anyone who liked the Lunar Chronicles or likes action filled graphic novels will want to read this.

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home Part 1

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home Part 1 by  Konami Kanata          Paperback Book: 480 pages           

I love, love, love, love, love Chi the adorable kitten who got lost from his mother and was found by Yohei Yamada.    Yohei Yamada’s parents feel sorry for Chi, who is mourning for her mother.  They try and find someone who will take the kitten in as the apartment building they live ins strictly forbids pets and the superintendent lives on  site and is meticulous about enforcing the NO PETS rule.   The book describes cat behavior to a tee and Chi’s antics are so funny, so sweet and so endearing.    Life has its ups and downs and Chi is so precious in how she finds fun in so many things and tries so hard to tell the Yamadas about everything she experiences because all things are so new to her being a baby cat.   She never does find her mother and the Yamadas never find anyone to take Chi until Mrs. Yamada’s sister and niece come to visit.    The little girl is pretty rough in her handling of Chi but she wants Chi.   Yohei is like NOOOOOOOO!  Because Chi is “fweaking  out!” over the in your face rough housing attitude of the little girl.    She roughs Chi up pretty good telling everyone that Chi likes it.   I  think not.    Yohei is adamant that he doesn’t want her to have Chi even though things get pretty dicey with Chi in the apartment and the Super stopping by every so often.    All heck breaks out when an adult cat is spotted on the premises.    The Super is determined to track it down and put whoever owns it out of the apartment complex.   Someone leaves the sliding door ajar and while Chi is enjoying her bowl of food this huge monstrous looking cat, later dubbed, “bear cat,” stands menacingly in the door.   Chi’s mouth drops open so far in stunned fear that her food rolls out of her mouth and onto the floor.     She is paralyzed with fear as the bear cat shuffles in fearlessly, goes over to Chi’s bowl and eats her food up!  All of it!   Chi comes back to herself and starts hissing and hollering at the bear cat that is Chi’s food!   The bear cat hardly acknowledges Chi, continues to eat then takes its time to mozey out the door and through the hedge.   Chi doesn’t know which to be more of, angry or amazed.     She goes with angry and tries to tell the Yamadas about it.   All they keep talking about is how fast Chi ate up all of her food while she desperately is telling them she is starving because the bear cat came in and ate up all of her food.   Chi goes and lays down with tears in her eyes because she is so hungry and the Yamadas are enjoying great smelling food for dinner and she doesn’t get any because they think she is full because her bowl was empty.   Poor Chi.   I just want to hold her and love her – life is so unfair sometimes, then losing her Mommy and siblings because her curiousity lured her away from them.   So heartwrenching, Poor Baby.   The good news is Chi and the Bear Cat eventually become Buds through a lot of adventures but there is bad news, too.    Don’t want to blow the story for you so I will let you find out on your own, but, the climax will leave you dying to know more!    How does Chi’s life go from here?  Omgosh!!!!   I love this story and highly recommend it and the series.

Chi’s Sweet Home

Chi’s Sweet Home by Konami Konata              Paperback: 168 pages             

I love this poor little lost kitten.    Konami Konata really captures the true identity of kittens.    Such soulful expressions – it is all in the eyes and she must have had a lot of cats in her life, because she has their body language and behaviors down to an art form – thus her Chi’s Sweet Home series and other graphic novels about cats and pets.    The poor kitten is so happy walking along with its Mommie and Siblings when Chi got distracted and ends up getting lost from her family.    It is heart wrenching when she cries for her Mommie and she has tears in her eyes that run down her face because she is so scared and sad.   Poor Baby!   I just want to scoop her up and help her find her family which is exactly what a little boy name Yoshei Yamada does.   He, too, feels sorry for her so he comforts her and takes her to his house.   His parents feel sorry for the lost kitten but pets aren’t allowed in the apartment building and the landlady lives on the premises.   Yoshei’s Dad goes out to pick up some food and treats for the poor little lost kitten, while Yoshei’s Mother tries calling around to their friends and family to see if anyone is willing to take in the kitten.   No luck, no one will take her, so Yoshei’s parents decide to keep her for now until they can find someone to give her a home.   Yoshie’s Dad buys cat toys and a litter box, food, treats, milk and comes home to try to entice Chi with it all.    At first Chi isn’t having any of it – what is going on?   She wants out the door to try and find her mother and she starts crying for her mother.  It is so sad to think of how lonely and stressed this poor baby is and all she wants is her Mommie.    It shows Chi thinking about her Mommie loving her, cuddling her, washing her and Chi lays down face first on the floor and cries.   God bless her, I love this little cat already.   Lots happens some funny as Chi learns she is not supposed to deposit urine nor poop in unacceptable places – that part is pretty funny and so true of newbie baby cats.   So it does have its hilarious moments but not when Yoshei’s Dad decides to take her to the vet to be sure she is healthy – gads!  Anal thermometer!    After that Chi decides, “she hates Daddy.”    I have to side with Chi on that one.    No warning, no lubricant just WHAMMO!   The look on her face says it all as she screams in fear and pain.    After that – forget about it – “Daddy” is not her friend.    She runs from him and when he tries to butter her up by treating her to yummy milk, she scratches him when he tries to pet her and she refuses to let him touch her.    It is sweet, endearing, very sad sometimes, empathy overflowing here, seriously, wickedly funny many times.    I loved this book.    I was so hoping she would bolt out the door, holler real loud and her mother would hear her and come for her.    And yes, when your read the bubble over Chi’s head stating her thoughts, it is too adorable.   I loved, loved, loved this book.    Cat lovers unite!   I may just have to get a Chi t-shirt before this is all over.     I found out there is a whole series of Chi’s Sweet Home books and this is only the first one in the series.   I’m invested in this dear little cartoon cat, now.   Hugs for Chi and for Konami Konato for coming up with such a delightful idea for a book series.   I recommend this to all ages and especially to cat people and animal lovers.   Great stories to be found here of Chi’s adventures.  Loved it.

Scarlett Hart Monster Hunter

Scarlett Hart Monster Hunter by Marcus Sedgewick, 192 pages

“Finding herself at odds with her parent's old nemesis Count Stankovic, Scarlett Hart sets out to disocver why more monsters are manifesting than ever before.” As graphic novels go this one wasn’t bad.  I  have liked others better.  I think that the subject matter really wasn’t my thing, but I liked the characters, especially Scarlett herself, and I think that kids who like graphic novels would enjoy it.

Illegal

Illegal by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin, 122 pages

“Ebo is alone. His brother, Kwame, has disappeared, and Ebo knows it can only be to attempt the hazardous journey to Europe, and a better life--the same journey their sister set out on months ago. But Ebo refuses to be left behind in Ghana. He sets out after Kwame and joins him on the quest to reach Europe. Ebo's epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his family.” This book is captivating and powerful.  I’m not sure that I liked it, exactly, because it was really hard to read, but it’s a great book.  I would highly recommend it for older kids.

BELATED JULY POST: FukuFuku: Kitten Tales 1

Please note: Shirley emailed me this post and I failed to get it posted before the end of July. So, it's posted in August but goes towards our JULY totals. - Jen

FukuFuku: Kitten Tales 1 by Konami Kanata              Paperback Book: 154 pages                           

I loved this book about an elderly Japanese lady who adopts a sweet if rascally little kitten she names FukuFuku.   So cute, such a fun bunch of stories about this little kitten.   I have lived every one of these stories at one time or another and some several times over the years with the cats I love and share a  home with.    The stories are funny, laugh out loud funny at times, and anyone who has ever had the pleasure of sharing their life with a cat with find themselves nodding at all the antics and how so like Puss in Boots in the Shrek films can do something to frustrate you but give you such an adorable big eyed look or roll over wanting a belly rub in that endearing innocent way cats have, as FukuFuku’s lady says, she cannot stay mad at him, even when he does exasperating things at times, she just has to smile and shake her head.   FukuFuku is who FukuFuku is.    And that is loveable.     Sweet book.   I must now read more of FukuFuku’s adventures.    Yes, I do recommend this book.

Bitch Planet : Triple Feature Bitch Planet : Triple Feature Vol. 1

Bitch Planet: Triple Feature, Vol. 1 (Bitch Planet (Collected Editions)) 144 pages

This volume of 15 stories has a nice variety of artists, although I didn't feel like I was connecting to the stories as much as I did to the first Bitch Planet book.  I don't mind completely independent stories, but because they're so short, I just wasn't hooked in the same way.  There isn't any advancement of the main story from the first book, although you get a sense of how different people have been affected by their society.

They all carry the same kind of satirical social commentary, which is the consistent thread here. The one thing I thought was fun was showing photos of women cosplaying in red overalls (you'll get this if you've read these stories).  It was a nice way to break up the stories.

Bitch Planet, Vol. 2: President Bitch

Bitch Planet, Vol. 2: President Bitch (Bitch Planet (Collected Editions) #2)   by Kelly Sue DeConnick (writer),  Taki Soma (artist), Valentine De Landro (artist)   144 pages

Since I enjoyed Volume 1 of Bitch Planet, I picked up this second volume.  It's not a direct sequel, as this batch of stories goes back to the past to explain what happened on Earth to create what happens on Bitch Planet.  I like that the characters are believable (flaws and all), so you get drawn in to their stories. The art helps the story flow and at times, can be a little jarring --- but then again, the story is jarring. 

Bitch Planet, Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine

Bitch Planet, Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine (Bitch Planet (Collected Editions) #1)
by Kelly Sue DeConnick (Author) (Writer),  Taki Soma (Illustrator), Valentine De Landro (Artist), Robert Wilson IV (Artist) -- 156 pages

In a future society, a woman's failure to comply with patriarchal overlords will result in her being exiled to the worst penal planet in the galaxy.  When the newest group of prisoners arrive, can they work together to stay alive or will they fight each other and the internal politics of Bitch Planet?

I thought this was a pretty good story.  I liked the strong feminist take, where a woman can be incarcerated for being overweight, or outspoken (or probably someone that a guy in power finds annoying).  It's a scary idea, especially when you consider that this kind of thing happened here, in our own country, although not to this extent.  It wasn't too long ago in our history that women could be sent to mental asylums because the men in their lives found them too outspoken, or too depressed, or too problematic.

What I also liked about the story is that even though it's pointing all kinds of double-standards and issues, there's humor here.  I liked that in every issue, there's a page with fake ads like you'd find in a regular comic book (or in the back of some women's magazines).  It's humor, but with a nice sharp edge.