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This star means that the title or site is recommended especially for younger teens
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Whether you are just getting started or looking to explore the Batman universe even deeper, there are dozens of Batman titles to entertain you. Here's what we have to say about some of them: Batman Titles Reviewed: Batman: War Drums While Batman is one of its cental figures, Gotham City holds many other stories. Looking for titles about Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and the others? Check out their reviews elsewhere on the Superhero Soup page! |
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Azumanga Daioh: The Manga came first. Then there was Azumanga Daioh: The Animation. Please note the helpful explanatory titles.This is not your typical manga and the anime is not your typical animation. Azumanga Daioh was published in short bursts. Think of it as a comic strip and the manga is the compilation of these strips. The manga is the story (or many many many stories) of six high school students and two of their teachers. Because they're so short, there's no particular depth to the series and no overall story arc, just quick, light snapshots of the characters and moments in their daily lives. Some are funny, some are cute, and some make no sense at all-- I assume some of this is a translation issue. I have mixed feelings about the series. I genuinely like and enjoy these characters and there are moments of real humor. Azumanga Daioh is refreshing, light, and different from anything else out there. It's also incredibly popular among anime and manga fans. But ultimately it all moves so quickly and the lack of an overall story arc kind of bothers me. Personally, I'm not sure this is a fair criticism, because it was never meant to have an overall structure, it's a comic strip, but having said that, the manga just doesn't quite hold my attention. I'm just not sure how much of my time I'm willing to give it. Then again, it's sweet, it's fun, and the girls are really lovable. I say give it a quick look to decide for yourself. review by katie |
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Power, politics, wealth and family legacy have always been an explosive mix. 15th century Italy is a time famous for an especially brutal and devious set of players, including the infamous Borgia family free with poison for their enemies and living to decadent excess. Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia are figures of legend -- Lucrezia a slim girl with a devious, lethal sweetness and Cesare her cunning, loving (perhaps too loving) older brother shadowed everywhere by a swordsman and a poisoner. This is the same period when Da Vinci himself (who did a stint as Cesare's military engineer) bred poison peaches so that the Medicis could wipe out entire families in one go and the papal see was passed on via heirs in the ruling families. History, though, is always written by the conquerors -- what if the Borgias were not what they were reputed to be? Cantarella, titled after the potent poison the Borgias used against their enemies, creatively embellishes history and brings to life this complicated and treacherous world through the eyes of a young man determined to redirect his own fate. Cesare, illegitimate son of the clergyman destined to be Pope Alexander VI, starts out as a conflicted boy. Reviled as an unnatural reminder of his father's deal with the devil and hated by his own brother, Cesare retreats into memories of his departed mother and his sister's unwavering devotion to him. Starved for affection, he reacts to anyone who shows him kindness even when he expects insult. Even as a young man, though, his life is plagued by conspirators, assassins, and threatening spirits that invisibly accompany him everywhere. Taught to be cold-hearted by every new betrayal of trust, Cesare proves to be a keen observer and an intelligent schemer as he begins to wrench his life away from those who would use him as a pawn. This first volume sets the stage for Cesare's wavering morality and bitter destiny while at the same time showing the human frailty in everyone from the future Pope to Cesare's would-be assassin, Chiaro. It's not a flattering portrait, but it is a vivid and dramatic one. The art is fluid and rich with period detail but never distracts from the emotional core of the tale. Creator You Higuri obviously has a great love of the period and roots everything in research while at the same time letting fiction take center stage when the story calls for it. Cantarella is perfect for fans of historical fiction, like Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord or Ann Rinaldi's many novels. This is one series I'm already making room for on my bookshelves, and is a fine example of a genre rare in U.S. comics. review by robin |
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For Young Ho Han, junior year at Suh Kang University looks to be a nice vacation after a year of military service, especially since for the first time ever he'll be living in his very own apartment! Yes, a bachelor's life is great - plenty of space, no need to clean up after yourself, plenty of dried ramen noodles, and no worries or responsibilities. That's until a cute freshman girl collapses on Young Ho's doorstep with a high fever, no money, and no place to go. Yu Mi Yu is a poor farmer's daughter who came to Seoul for school and managed to lose a year's worth of rent money and all her belongings on the first day. Young Ho takes her in for a night, and soon finds himself caught on the horns of a dilemma - send Yu Mi back home is disgrace, or let her move into his apartment as an unofficial housemate? You Mi will do almost anything to stay in the city, but Young Ho's not so sure it's a good idea for a girl to live in close proximity to teenage boys who have very little self-control... himself included! This Korean story is as cute as its characters, illustrating the pitfalls of college social life and apartment hunting, which are apparently common to all students no matter what country they're living in. Some gentle sexual tension and toilet humor actually add to the story's believability - this story is best read by highschoolers and up, who can sympathize with Young Ho's predicament, and who are looking forward to college life themselves. review by alison |
In a world of step-families, honorary siblings and friends who become family, the definition of the requisite components for a family unit is breaking down. With more and more families straining, shattering and then recombining, the children of these rotating unions undoubtedly have the worst time. Just when you think life has settled down, someone leaves, someone new arrives, and no one feels like home. In family life love, loyalty, affection, charity, and support all mix together with obligation, guilt, loneliness, and rivalry. It can be difficult to remember why everyone stays in the same boat until an act of solidarity reminds everyone it's better than being in the ocean, treading water alone. Crossroad is all about family. When a last guardian grandmother dies, three once-siblings (none blood related and now almost strangers) discover the only way they can escape more foster care is to live together. Their flighty "mother" Rumiko, who is also related to none of them by blood, takes off for Venezuala after the funeral and leaves behind yet another daughter of unknown origin, six year old Satsuki. Loner Kajitsu convinces her estranged "brothers" Natsu and Taro to try to stick together, insisting they need to create their own family to make up for their various parents' sins. None of the three are accustomed to "normal" family life and have grown thick-skinned after years of disappointment, slights, and betrayal. Kajitsu, Taro, and Natsu muddle through as idealized memories of their past together collide with their grown-up reality filled with awkward hormones, rent to pay, and the burden of taking care of their young charge. Taro is the eldest, but when he slaps Kajitsu in a moment of anger, it's clear that he won't be the one to hold everyone together. Kajitsu, stubborn and prone to angry outbursts, struggles to keep the family functioning. Natsu, academically brilliant and emotionally withdrawn, maintains a calculated distance far from his childhood optimism. Crossroad, in style and willingness to address teens' harsher personality traits, is the closest manga I've seen to what's known as "issue" novels in teen fiction. Gone are the iconic bishonen and perky schoolgirls of so many high school melodramas. While Natsu is dishy enough, Kajitsu is a refreshingly prickly heroine with little glamor but the best of intentions. The art is less glossy, making everything feel accessible while focusing attention on the characters' plight rather than their outfits. All the honesty in this flawed family portrait makes you wince but also care so that by the time Natsu finally cracks a genuine smile, you want to hug him along with Kajitsu. The minefield of teen hormones (remember, none of them are actually related and haven't seen each other in seven years) coming into play is a bit surprising. Trying to be a family and romancing housemates at the same time would certainly confuse matters -- but the subject is handled with humor and a light touch that makes it less creepy and more simply realistic. Crossroad is full of questions and a search for identity, just like most fifteen year olds. The continuing volumes promise more sharp observations, giggles, and emotional misunderstandings -- the heart of every family. review by robin |
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Ever wonder if there is a way to escape government regulation and red tape? Don't waste your time – even after you're dead the Ministry of Hades will see to it that your soul is sorted, catalogued, and properly assigned in the afterworld ...Read More Volumes in Series Currently Reviewed: Descendants of Darkness Volume 1 |
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There's a terrifying alternate universe sharing space with our own. It's populated by a race of vicious, buglike creatures reminiscent of The Borg who roam their barren world in strange ships made of an unholy mixture of organic and mechanical parts. All it takes to see the creatures who walk next to us in an alternate dimension is a pair of terra-whale goggles and the guidance of someone who has passed through another world and survived. Retired police chief Edwards is treated to this terrifying truth by Jacobus, a scrawny, terrified boy who falls out of the sky and lands in the Chief's apartment desperately seeking refuge from the alien creatures hunting him. Edwards takes Jacobus under his wing in true ex-marine fashion, vowing to fight their strange enemies as long as possible to keep Jacobus safe. And so begins a frenetic odyssey across the country and eventually through the skies, jungles, and deserts of a world very different from our own. Jacobus and Edwards are separated and reunited, estranged and eventually reconciled over years of running, hiding, and learning to survive in desperately hostile circumstances. Jacobus reaches adulthood while on the run from his pursuers, moving farther and farther away from the world and adopted father that sheltered him. Meanwhile Edwards waits out the years trapped in the belly of a giant creature, having lost family, friends, home, and nearly all sanity. When the two are finally reunited, their tenuous bond is all that ties them to the human world. In many ways this is as much a story about trust, family, and growing up as it is about supernatural hijinks and insectoid life forms. TenNapel's stark black-and-white drawings suggest woodblock prints, full of chaos and shadows that take on density and substance, a perfect compliment to the mayhem and twists of his story. The story's early chapters are deceptively simple, paving the way for a very adult story about faith, identity, and family that will lead readers to some very unexpected places before all TenNapel's characters are reunited. review by alison |
Mitchell Hundred, when he began his mayoral career, weathered a schoolkid blowing up snow plows, a politically correct art scandal, and questioning the loyalty of old friends. Of course, his life is not going to get any easier, but at least he can pick some of his battles. After officiating over the umpteenth marriage as one of the apparently fun but often tiresome duties required as Mayor of New York, he decides to shake things up a bit by marrying a hero of 9/11, a firefighter, to his boyfriend. As his staff scrambles to deal with the potential fallout of such a ceremony, Hundred shows that there’s a reason he’s a politician and that the apparent spur of the moment decision does not mean he’s not prepared to manipulate the publicity and poise the political challenge very carefully. As he’s single and, as one staffer puts it, dresses suspiciously well, he’s not above manipulating a friend into a date in order to preempt rumors that he himself is gay (never mind whether those rumors might be true.) Of course, since this is Ex Machina we’re talking about, the gay marriage debacle is just one part of the story. More fragments of Hundred’s superhero past come back to haunt him as whatever that technology that gifted him with his powers now seems to be activating in an old CIA friend, and not for the side of the angels. Gruesome discoveries in subway tunnels show this no longer human foe to be no idle threat, but with no rhyme or reason to the incidents, no one can quite figure out what to expect next. This volume ends with more questions than answers, but the progression in both the characters and the complexity of issues tackled show this series is only getting better as it goes. Tony Harris’s art remains vivid with excellent expressions marking each character's face, a fine match for Vaughan’s quick banter. review by robin |
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Long Hot Summer is the story of Steve, sort of. Here's what I know about Steve: He's 22 and he's a mod. That's about all I can tell you. The description on the back cover tells me it's 1988, but reading the story, the setting and time could easily be today, the sixties, or the eighties. Steve could be a college student, a banker, or a fish wrangler. My personal guess is that, with all the emphasis on it being summer, and given Steve's age, that the characters are in college or just graduated. The lack of contextual details on the setting and the characters is a little disconcerting. Everything feels very flat. The art is the same: black and white, with very solid lines and outlines. It looks more like a coloring book at times, but McKelvie is clearly working a particular style, and it does have its moments. Adrian Tomine and Dan Clowes however, both mange a similar style with a bit more depth and personality to it. The story of Long Hot Summer is simple. Steve's friend Ken has met a girl. She decides that she likes Steve better, which leads to some heartbreak and some yelling. Unfortunately the story doesn't particularly do much beyond that and ultimately, while the reader's sympathies are aligned somewhat with Steve, most of the characters-- particularly Ken-- come across as fairly unlikable by the end.The moral to the story is probably that love is imperfect and that looking for it involves hits, misses, and mistakes. It's a good point, a rather universal truth, but I can't help feeling that McKelvie could have put a little more work in into delivering it. review by katie |
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Loyola uses food to control her dreams. Potato chips and cottage cheese take her to Antarctica, tapioca over mangos leads her to jungle swamps, but cornbread takes her to Saint Danger. This is where the story begins. Saint Danger has lost his faith in god, but he does believe in Loyola. He introduces her to his dream world, his group the San Peligran Order, and his vision for saving humanity. Loyola loves him, but after seeing his plans, she isn't sure his vision matches hers. Loyola Chin and the San Peligran Order is a small comic, but it packs a punch. Loyola is an engaging and clever character that's easy to love, as are her friends. The questions this comic raises about faith and love are the kind that seem simple on the surface, but run very deep. Not looking for that much depth? Check this one out anyway, it won't make you work unless you want to. This is a fun, engaging, and refreshing story that's suitable for all ages. review by katie |
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I’m someone who loves conspiracies, especially when it involves secret organizations with mysterious, perhaps benevolent, perhaps self-serving, motives and one obscure, lethal, and stoic operative at the center of everything. When the world’s usual powerhouses behind governmental interests, the FBI, MI-5, the CIA (and other acronyms as well!) all find themselves hanging by a thread, about to go down in a hale of bullets or up in an explosion, there is one shadow organization, known as Ultimate Blue, that will arrive to restore balance. No one can ever know precisely when that will happen, or whether this restoration of balance will work in their favor or not. The rumors are at once precise and not enough information: everyone knows the organization exists, but no one knows who pulls the strings, and everyone knows there are nine agents of increasing ability, with number nine being the top of the super-agent heap. I’m sure you can see where this is going. Musashi #9, as the agent is known, is stone cold, ruthless, cunning, and absolutely without fear. Every time he arrives, everyone knows the sh*t has just royally hit that fan and they’re lucky to have someone pull their butt out of the fire. Oh, and the real kicker? Though Musashi #9 first appears to be the ultimate emotionally distant bishonen hottie, she is, in fact, a 19-year-old girl. This series is a whole lot of fun for both the way it speculates on the life of such an elite (and lonely) agent and how it shows how her presence in people’s lives, no matter how fleeting, changes their outlook forever. As the story is told within the framework of Musashi’s assignments, the everyday mixes with piles of suspense and action and gives the reader an easy way into such an alien character. Musashi arrives and leaves with surprising suddenness, keeping her reputation alive and well. In the first volume, the repeated chapters get a bit tiresome with the “…and, it’s a girl!” punchline, and the distance the story keeps from Musashi means that though she keeps her cool factor very much intact, in the end it’s also hard to care about her. In the second volume, however, we start to see tiny cracks in the veneer, mainly in how others care about Musashi and in discovering more about her past – her childhood was just as brutal as her teenhood, and that really makes the reader wonder what kind of person remains underneath all the bravado and skill. One of the first titles released via DC Comics foray in manga, CMX, it remains to be seen whether the series will move beyond the tired gender revelation to a true story arc, but so far, so fun. review by robin |
| Nightwing Introduction Nightwing, a.k.a. Dick Grayson, once Robin to Bruce Wayne's Batman, struggles to define himself as an independent superhero. Can you imagine trying to distinguish yourself compared to Gotham's hero, let alone trying to step out of his shadow and become a superhero of your own? He's determined to make it his own no matter the opposition (remind you of anyone?) Despite his skill, however, he may have reached a little too far. Chuck Dixon, a legend at work, writes great storylines and dialogue, with his black humor and talent for true-to-life dialogue in prime form. read more... Other Series Titles Nightwing: Year One -- NEW! The Bludhaven Years |
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Nodame Cantabile is about music and the joy that comes when you play from your heart. Shinichi and Nodame are music students with two very different approaches to life and music, but who always seem to play their best when performing together.Shinichi wants to become a conductor, he's been training since he was a little boy. His ego, however, leads to some rather bossy behavior. Nodame is a slob, a scatterbrain, and seems more interested in food than her music, but she's an incredibly talented pianist which is something Shinichi respects. I give you three guesses where their relationship is going.Actually, since this is just the first of many volumes, I'm not quite sure where the story will go, but I think it's safe to suspect romance is on the horizon. At least, if Nodame starts bathing regularly. In any case, the characters are fun, the setting feels unique, and the artwork is wonderful. Instead of the traditional wide-eyed, long legged manga characters, these characters look like real kids. Every character looks unique and emotion shows itself clearly in their facial expressions. I'm definitely interested in seeing and reading more.In addition to this, I have to add that Del Rey is rapidly becoming my favorite manga publisher. Each volume comes with explanations about translation choice, cultural information at the beginning of the manga, and little explanations throughout. They're staying as close to the original as possible and taking the time to make sure the reader can understand and enjoy it. review by katie |
Robin/Batgirl: Fresh Blood This trade follows directly after the events in War Games. I wasn't the biggest fan of that series, and I think that Willingham took his characters in some dubious directions. I am, however, appreciating how he is playing out the consequences of what happened in that story arc. Following the deaths of his father, Darla Aquista and Spoiler, Tim may still believe in the mission of Batman and Robin, but he doesn't have much faith left in Batman himself. In Nightwing's absence he takes over the patrol of Bludhaven, and is soon joined by Batgirl. Willingham demonstrates an excellent sense of how dysfunctional the Batfamily is, but also how endearing and how committed they can be. I really appreciated the artwork in this volume. The artists have captured the essence of the characters of Robin and Batgirl. You can see the difference in Batgirl's intuitive, fluid fighting and Robin's more studied, calculated moves. He understands that these are characters who communicate as much through body language as they do through words, and he uses that to good effect. review by petra |
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For a lot of manga readers, the attempts at creating manga-style comics here in the U.S. have only very occasionally been successful (Chynna Clugston being one woman who’s pulled it off.) All too often, creators adopt the style without understanding it, almost as if they say to themselves, “Ok, big eyes, simplified heads, and the occasional blush, and boom! Manga.” Of course, that misses an enormous amount of what makes manga appealing and unique. So, when Tokyopop launched its new line of manga from U.S. creators, many manga readers were and are dubious. Happily, I can report that the folks they’ve got creating these titles know what they’re doing – they’re obviously fans and take their time both paying homage to the original Japanese traditions as well as really making them their own. Off*beat is a great example. While the presentation has all of the trademarks of a shojo manga with BL tendencies, it also feels very American. Most notable is the setting – the background is pure U.S. city, specifically Brooklyn, and all of the incidents of traveling really drive the point home that we’re not in Tokyo. At the same time, the story really does mirror some classic shojo set ups. Tory, a smart but relatively lonely teenager, becomes more than a little intrigued by his silent, private new neighbor Colin. In the way that curiosity can become a minor obsession, Tory notices that no one ever seems to be home next door, that Colin is frequently ill but never seems to suffer consequences for it. In place of a family he is watched by a mysterious, middle-aged guardian. Colin himself is silent to the point of being a ghost and seems very resistant to forming any friendships with anyone, let alone Tory. At first Tory’s behavior borders on stalking, but as he keeps researching he starts to realize that it’s really not all in his head. There is definitely something going on next door, and maybe he shouldn’t poke his nose in where it doesn’t belong. Then again, like any good researcher, he can’t let it go until he finds the truth. It’s unclear just what Tory feels for Colin, and in fine Japanese tradition, he doesn’t yet know how to articulate it himself nor is it likely to be resolved any time soon. That kind of tension has been fodder for many a successful shojo title, and I for one am very curious to see how the series will play out. Jen Lee Quick’s art certainly borrows from manga’s conventions but is also very much her own, and the combination works. review by robin |
The title Ronin Hood of the Samurai tells you most of what you need to know about this comic. He's a ronin, he's Robin Hood, he's a samurai. The ronin were masterless samurai who lost their status by through the death or disgrace of their master or through their own actions. Some ronin we're respected, other's considered outlaws. There's a particularly famous group of 47 ronin that, in a massive demonstration of loyalty and honor, fought to avenge their dead leader and then committed mass suicide. This comic recreates that legend, only with a Robin Hood theme. The story moves fast and loose without much character or plot development. The art is fairly fast and loose as well. (And reminds me more than a little of the art from Disney's Mulan All in all, while the idea of retelling the Robin Hood legend in this context is an intriguing one, the execution isn't particularly grabbing. Everything feels a little too rushed an sloppy. The most interesting part of this comic were the two illustrations by David Mack at the end. Honestly, I wish Mack had written and drawn the comic too. It couldn't have hurt. review by katie |
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It’s tough living in the shadow of a perfect older sister. As any younger sibling can tell you, it’s not so much that one is better than the other, but that an older sister or brother simply got there first. Everything you do after is in comparison, which can be both a blessing and a curse depending on which way parental approval is leaning. Leah has always suffered in comparison to her older sister Sarai. Sarai is the golden girl – pretty, athletic, independent, smart, popular, and her mother’s favorite. Leah feels like she can never catch up. Then she intercepts a love letter intended for her sister. At first this is no big shock, until she realizes that the note is from another girl. With a mother who’s a conservative Republican Senator and expectations for a perfect life mounting, it’s no surprise that Sarai’s kept this a secret. At first Leah is simply shocked, but then she wonders – what must her sister be feeling? All flustered because of this new discovery, Leah’s not ready for events to get even more complicated when a stranger threatens that they saw the letter and wants to meet her to discuss it. Fearing all kinds of problems, from unruly gossip to outright blackmail, Leah sets out to protect her sister. Along the way she will miss meeting her blackmailer, fall into the care of a handsome stranger, and wrestle with her momentary, admittedly cruel desire to expose her sister so that everyone would see she's not so perfect after all. In another new title from Tokyopop’s original manga department, the conventions of manga are well used to tell an American story. While the style keeps many of the visual conventions, the story could only happen here and the characters are definitely products of our social and political culture. review by robin |
Batman
Descendants of Darkness 
In the Lair
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Arsenal lured Nightwing into his new merry band of superheroes by saying that it wouldn't be like the Titans. He promised that they wouldn't be a family, that it would be just a job. Unfortunately, Nightwing took him literally and while he's a good team leader, without the bonds of affection he's neither inspired nor inspiring. The end of the previous volume saw the team in shambles, and some members in the hospital in critical condition. Now they're all questioning Nightwing's leadership. That, however, isn't the biggest problem. It turns out Optitron isn't quite the anonymous benefactor the Outsiders thought. In fact it's a wholly owned subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises. And, because Nightwing doesn't have enough Bat-Daddy issues to be getting on with, Arsenal's been getting mission information from Deathstroke dressed up as Batman. Along the way shape-shifting sex is had, Arsenal's daughter is kidnapped, infiltrators are rooted out, and Nightwing is once again reminded that when push comes to shove he picks up the pieces better than most. I loved the character development in this volume. Arsenal's terror at the threat to his daughter, and his cool calculation when chastising Nightwing and figuring out who's the mole in the organization. The Outsiders seems like a team story, but at its core it's about Arsenal and his relationships with the people around him. I wasn't fond of the art in this volume. The colors seemed murky and the characters tended to look like they had either escaped from a '70s billboard ad, or from a punk rock concert poster. One of the things that makes superhero comics work is a sense of dynamic movement in the art. These are characters who express themselves much more fluently through action and movement than though words. And, while Judd Winick provides them with both witty banter and eloquent silences, the art has a curiously static quality and does not quite complement the story as much as it should. review by petra |
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Thessaly is one of my favorite characters from Sandman. She looks like sweetness and light, until she opens her mouth. Lurking beneath the big eyes and curvy figure is the last of the Thessalian witches. She's smart and ruthless and most of all wants to be left alone. This is problematic because unbeknownst to her she's acquired a business partner, Fetch, and he's signed them up as contract killers for mythological eestie beasties. Thessaly's acerbic tongue is matched nicely with Fetch's jovial con-artistry. They're the Nick and Nora Charles of the spirit world, if Nick was the spiritual frame for the souls of all the thousands of people Nora killed during her long and varied career. Oh, and there's no Asta. All things considered, possibly that's for the best. Things take a turn for the worse when Fetch inadvertently signs them up to kill a Tharmic Null, a beast made of chaos that by definition can't be killed. The story is a fun mythological romp. There is a sense that everyone got hit by the Exposition Fairy at some point, which I can understand given the somewhat esoteric nature of a lot of the plot. Neil Gaiman threw you into the world of Sandman and let you sink or swim, or occasionally run for the nearest reference book. Bill Willingham doesn't have 10 volumes to do that in, and in reaction possibly over explains himself, but overall the story is a good read and I definitely want more volumes. review by petra |
"He's no match from my chinchilla of doom!" Oh yes, dear reader, chinchillas of doom and much much more await you in Slop: Analecta. It's funny, sometimes crass, sometimes dark, but always interesting. Slop: Analecta is a small collection of the mini-comic Slop, created by Dave Crossland and Debbie (who's real name is Debenski). The internet isn't telling me a lot about the history of Slop, but apparently it was a small comic produced independently by these two for about five years. (The internet doesn't tell me, however, which five years these actually were. I'm assuming something close to 2000 - 2005, but that's a guess.) Most of collection is creative, beautifully drawn, and genuinely funny. The drawing style varies from neat precise pencil drawings to thick ink and graffiti styled art. Each comic included is just a few pages long and they include modern "ballads" reminiscent of Ted Naifiah, a series of mad, panel defying comic strips called "The Adventures of Kung Fu Bus Boy", and a little something named "Chernobyl Christmas." I hadn't heard of Slop, Dave Crossland, or Debbie until I read this, but I'll be keeping a look out from now on. If you're looking for a taste of what's going on in the "indie" end of the comic world this is a great taste, but with a few moments of language and nudity, I'd recommend this for older readers. review by katie |
Outsiders: Wanted (vol. 3)
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Will, Irma, Taranee, Cordelia and Hay Lin all look like ordinary Junior High students. But suddenly Cordelia discovers that she can clean her room just by thinking about it, and Irma can make sure that her teacher only asks her questions she knows the answer to. In between starting to think about boys, preparing for a school dance and dealing with teachers and parents these five girls are also exploring their new magical powers. Armed with a magical map, and the powers of fire, water, air, earth and spirit Will, Irma, Taranee, Cordelia and Hay Lin start to learn what it means to be the guardians of the Veil that separates good from evil. The series has a nicely multicultural cast of characters, and while the story isn't wildly original, it is solid, well written fantasy. And, frankly, there's less of that out there than there should be. The art is manga inspired and is bright and lively. The graphic novel series ties in with a animated series and a book series. review by petra |
Will, Irma, Taranee, Cordial and Hay Lin crossed over into the magical city of Meridian in pursuit of their friend Elyon, unaware that she was no longer on their side. While there Taranee is kidnapped and the others are forced to return to earth before they can attempt another rescue. As with the previous volume this is solid, well written fantasy. The girls are cute but never insipid, and their characters are growing more distinct both visually and textually as the story progresses. The series also ties in with an animated cartoon and roughly parallels the progress of the already published novels. review by petra |
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