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Archive for 'Paper'

Rivers of London Vol. 10: Deadly Ever After

Rivers of London Vol. 10: Deadly Ever After (2022) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Celeste Bronfman, Joseph Maria Beroy Honestly, I dislike almost everything about this. I don’t like Chelsea and Olympia. I really REALLY don’t like the art. I mean, what the hell kind of wetsuit would do THAT? The thrown in bits with the […]

Bingo Love

Bingo Love (2018) Tee Franklin, Joy San & Jenn St-Onge Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray first met in 1963 at church bingo. They became best friends but then realized they felt more for each other than they were expecting. Separated by adults, they se each other again for 50 years. It’s a story of history […]

The Monster of the Ministry of Hell

Lady Mechanika Volume 7: The Monster of the Ministry of Hell (2022) Joe Benitez, Beth Sotelo, Michael Heisler That… was dark and depressing. The story opens with Lady Mechanika’s memories. They are not happy ones. Although after the opening, we shift to a fun faire with Lady Mechanika, Dr. Littleton, Allie, and Fred, it’s still […]

Rivers Of London Vol. 9: Monday, Monday

Rivers Of London Vol. 9: Monday, Monday (2022) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, José María Beroy The ninth comic jumps back and forth in time, both in the present day, as well as into Nightingale’s past. First think I really liked about this story: Stephanopoulus. We get a lot of her POV. Also, she is described […]

Rivers Of London Vol. 8: The Fey and the Furious

Rivers Of London Vol. 8: The Fey and the Furious (2020) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Lee Sullivan I read the first issue likely when it came out. I wasn’t especially interested, but now I’m relistening to the series, I decided to try and get caught up. First off, we get Guleed. Not enough Guleed, but […]

Death Wins a Goldfish: Reflections from a Grim Reaper’s Yearlong Sabbatical

Death Wins a Goldfish: Reflections from a Grim Reaper’s Yearlong Sabbatical (2019) Brian Rea “It has come to our attention that you have a substantial number of unused days off. Records indicate you’ve never taken a sick day, sabbatical, or leave of absence.” Thus, death has to take a year off work. Publisher: Chronicle Books […]

Witch Hat Atelier 1

Witch Hat Atelier 1 (2017/2019) Kamome Shirahama This is a gorgeous comic / manga. Sadly, it is not my jam. Publisher: Kodansha Comics Rating: NR

Moonstruck Volume 1: Magic to Brew

Moonstruck Volume 1: Magic to Brew (2018) Grace Ellis, Shae Beagle, Kate Leth I’d forgotten this was middle grade to YA, so it was way younger than I was in the mood for. Publisher: Image Comics

Valor: Wands

Valor: Wands (2018) Isabelle Melançon, Megan Lavey-Heaton Editors “The Prince’s New Clothes” by Isabelle Melançon and Megan Lavey-Heaton “Mom Knight and The Centipede” by Sara Goetter “The Magnificent Daji” by Alex Singer and Diana Huh “Maleen” by Nicole Chartland “Marie and The Nutcracker” by Emily Hann “The Laughing Queen” by Gisele Weaver “The Princess with […]

Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones

Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones (2020) Ngozi Ukazu Jack has graduated and gone to the NHL. Bitty remains at Samwell, still playing hockey, and unable to talk about his relationship–both for fear or jeopardizing Jack’s career and because he still hasn’t come out to his own family. OMG IT IS SO SWEET! This […]

Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey

Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey (2018) Ngozi Ukazu Eric Bittle may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It is nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! I love this comic […]

Lore Olympus: Volume One

Lore Olympus: Volume One (2021) Rachel Smythe Hades & Persephone, but today. Hades is lonely. But he does have some awesome dogs. Well, mostly awesome. I am very glad this is a web comic, but I need to know what happens and can’t wait until July to find out. Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault Publisher: Del […]

Digger

Digger (2011) Ursula Vernon Published by Sofawolf Press Rating: 8.5/10

Digger, Vol. 2

Digger, Vol. 2 (2006) Ursula Vernon Digger is still healing from wounds she incurred earlier, and is seemingly not trusted by both the Hag caring for her and the captain guarding the town / temple. But she still has friends. From the statue of Ganesh to Ed the hyena, Digger is determined to figure out […]

A Flight of Angels

A Flight of Angels (2011) Holly Black, Louise Hawes, Todd Mitchell, Bill Willingham, Alisa Kwitney, Rebecca Guay A group of faeries comes upon a fallen angel, and debates what to do, while telling stories of just who the angel could be. There are several stories woven together in and out of the surrounding story, each […]

Bloodlust & Bonnets

Bloodlust & Bonnets (2019) Emily McGovern Set in early nineteenth-century Britain, Bloodlust & Bonnets follows Lucy, an unworldly debutante who desires a life of passion and intrigue—qualities which earn her the attention of Lady Violet Travesty, the leader of a local vampire cult. But before Lucy can embark on her new life of vampiric debauchery, […]

The Tea Dragon Society

The Tea Dragon Society (2020) K. O’Neill This is an odd little story. It’s about a girl, who is learning how to be a blacksmith. She finds a lost dragon and returns it to its owner, and slowly learns about tea dragons. And also slowly becomes friends not just with the dragons owner, but with […]

Digger, Vol. 1

Digger, Vol. 1 (2005) Ursula Vernon Did you know you needed a story about a wombat? I’m sure you didn’t, however you definitely do. Publisher : Sofawolf Press, Inc Rating: 8/10

Lady Mechanika Volume 6: Sangre

Lady Mechanika Volume 6: Sangre (2020) by Joe Benitez, M.M. Chen, Brian Ching, Martin Montiel Lady Mechanika has taken a case in Spain. And she goes alone, because Mister Lewis is still not speaking to her, refusing to forgive her the actions she took in the previous book. The story opens 500 years previously, in […]

Heathen, Volume 3

Heathen Volume 3 (2020) Natasha Alterici, Ashley A. Woods Aydis has entered the lands of the gods, searching for Odin. But Odin, angered by Aydis’ brash demands and actions, wants revenge against her, and will take it out in her people. Some of those she has met along the way are also journeying–some towards her […]

Valor: Swords

Valor: Swords (2015) edited by Isabelle Melançon and Megan Lavey-Heaton Fairy tales do not inform children that there is such things as monsters. Children already know that there are monsters. What fairy tales really teach is that monsters can be transformed or destroyed. “Prunella” By Isabelle Melançon And Megan Lavey-Heaton “Little Fish” By Emily Hann […]

Lady Mechanika: La Dama de la Muerte

Lady Mechanika: La Dama de la Muerte (2017) Joe Benitez, M. M. Chen, Peter Steigerwald, Beth Sotelo, Beth Sotelo Set in Mexico in 1869 This is set outside of the regular series, and was published the same year as the third volume, The Lost Boys of West Abbey. I actually don’t know what year (in […]

Heathen: Volume 2

Heathen: Volume 2 (2019) Natasha Alterici, Rachel Deering The second volume picks up where the first volume left off. Brynhild and her lover have separated from Aydis who has been sent on a quest by Freyja. Aydis needs to reach Heimdall, but the sea is cursed, and filled with mermaids who see humans as delicious. […]

Lady Mechanika, Vol. 5: La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Lady Mechanika, Vol. 5: La Belle Dame Sans Merci (2019) Joe Benitez, M. M. Chen, Martin Montiel This… did not end particularly well. It wasn’t a cliff-hanger, but it also wasn’t clean. Also, the next volume doesn’t exist right now, which doesn’t help. So Mr. Archibald Lewis, Lady Mechanicka’s friend and Fred’s uncle, is a […]

Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones

Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones (2020) Ngozi Ukazu Y’all. I love this comic SO. MUCH. No, you just don’t even understand how much I love this comic. You need to read this RIGHT NOW. Publisher: First Second Rating: 9.5/10

Heathen Volume 1

Heathen Volume 1 (2017) Natasha Alterici Aydis was sentenced to death or marriage for kissing another girl, but her father secretly saved her life and sent her into exile. Aldis has decided to that as a warrior she will go on a quest, and free the Valkyrie Brynhild. But the goddess Freyja has other ideas, […]

Lady Mechanika Vol 4: Clockwork Assassin

Lady Mechanika Vol 03: The Lost Boys of West Abbey

Lady Mechanika Vol 03: The Lost Boys of West Abbey (2017) Marcia Chen, Joe Benitez, Peter Steigerwald, Marcia Chen When she learns of the murders of young orphan boys in a strange warehouse found mechanical toys, Lady Mechanika decides to investigate, in case this is related to her own (forgotten past). This volume was extremely […]

Trickster: Native American Tales

Trickster: Native American Tales (2010) edited by Matt Dembicki This is a collection of 21 stories, told by 24 Native American story tellers and drawn by 21 artists. Coyote and the pebbles / Dayton Edmonds and Micah Farritor Raven the trickster / John Active and Jason Copland Azban and the crayfish / James Bruchac, Joseph […]

Lady Mechanika Volume 2: Tablet of Destinies

Lady Mechanika Volume 2: Tablet of Destinies (2016) Joe Benitez, Marcia Chen, Martin Montiel I am very much enjoying these books. Lady Mechanika has mechanical appendages, but has no memories of how she got them, or of her life before that time. So she lives as best she can, often accompanying adventurers (because her limbs […]

Lady Mechanika Volume 1: Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse

Lady Mechanika Volume 1: Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse (2015) Joe Benitez, Peter Steigerwald Lady Mechanika has spent a great deal of time trying to discover where she came from–who replaced her arms and legs with mechanical appendages–and why? Every time she things she’s found a clue as to her past, the person (or creature) […]

Check, Please!: # Hockey

Check, Please!: # Hockey (2018) Ngozi Ukazu Eric Bittle was a junior figure skating champion, but now he’s a Freshman in college and on the Samwell University hockey team–but not quite sure he’s ready for checking. Also, he has a crush on one of his teammates–the star and captain, Jack Zimmerman. It’s a cute story, […]

Rivers of London Volume 7: Action at a Distance

Rivers of London Vol. 7: Action at a Distance (2018) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Brian Williamson Set in 2016. When these comics first started, I think that Ben Aaronovitch had a lot of extra material he couldn’t fit in the books. I think that he’s probably used up that material, because these last several comics […]

Rivers of London: Water Weed

Rivers of London Vol. 6: Water Weed (2018) Ben Aaranovitch Andrew Cartmel These are getting more and more frustrating, because they’re become less good with each comic story-line. The problem is that the stories aren’t forwarding the story or the characters at all–they’re just what the characters happen to be working on while he’s writing […]

Rivers of London: Cry Fox

Rivers of London:

Rising Stars: Visitations

Rising Stars: Visitations (2002) J. Michael Straczynski Visitations is four short stories, the first two of which are the background of what the Specials were. Interestingly, the recurring character throughout the entire run is Dr Wells, the man who was supposed to watch the kids, but also report on them to the government. The first […]

Rising Stars: Voices of the Dead / Bright

Rising Stars: Voices of the Dead / Bright (2006) by Fiona Avery, Dan Jurgens, Staz Johnson, Al Rio This is actually the last published of the Rising Stars comics, but it’s my least favorite, and since there was no need to read the latter comics in order, I read it before Visitations because I don’t […]

Rising Stars, Vol. 3: Fire And Ash

Rising Stars, Vol. 3: Fire And Ash (2005) J. Michael Straczynski, Keu Cha, Ken Lashley, Christian Zanier, Jason Gorder, John Livesay, Edwin Rosell, David Wohl, Dennis Heisler, Dreamer Design, Robin Spehar, Liquid!, Matt Nelson, John Starr, Tyson Wengler And the story ends. We see the culmination of the paranoia and fear that those in power […]

Rising Stars, Vol. 2: Power

Rising Stars, Vol. 2: Power (2002) by J. Michael Straczynski, Ken Lashley, Christian Zanier, Stuart Immonen, Brent Anderson, John Livesay, Brett Evans, Dan Kemp If, perhaps, you thought the first volume was a little confusing, this volume begins with a synopsis: “Mediaweek: Ten Years After” which gets you up to speed on what happened before, […]

Rising Stars, Vol. 1: Born In Fire

Rising Stars, Vol. 1: Born In Fire (2001) J. Michael Straczynski, Jason Gorder, Keu Cha, Christian Zanier I really really love this comic. Enough so that this is the first time I’ve actually stopped between volumes to review the first separately (usually I just plow right through without stopping). Here is the start: This is […]

Rivers of London: Detective Stories Vol. 4

Rivers of London: Vol. 4 Detective Stories (2017) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Luis Guerrero, Lee Sullivan The fourth Rivers of London comic finds Peter being interviewed to become a detective. The gentleman interviewing him is a bit unprepared for what he’s about to get. There is a lot to love about this comic. First off, […]

The Apple Lover’s Cookbook

The Apple Lover’s Cookbook (2011) Amy Traverso I’d just picked up a bunch of apples from the Farmers Market when I noticed this kindle book on sale. Generally, I prefer my cookbooks to be hardcover, but I did have a lot of apples, so I bought it. I’ve mentioned before that I tend to read […]

Rivers of London: Detective Stories #3: Cry Me a River

Rivers of London: Detective Stories #3: Cry Me a River (2017) by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Lee Sullivan, Luis Guerrero This one is actually a murder mystery–a ghost is trying to get his murder resolved, even though most of the principals died long ago. Because Peter can talk to the ghost, he looks into it. […]

Rivers of London: Detective Stories #2: Old Soldiers

Rivers of London: Detective Stories #2: Old Soldiers (2017) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Lee Sullivan, Luis Guerrero, Gary Erskine, Yel Zamor This story takes place before Leslie left the Folly to join the Faceless Man. They are called to an art gallery not because of a theft, but because a painting appeared–an authentic Goya. This […]

Mockingbird Vol. 2: My Feminist Agenda

Mockingbird Vol. 2: My Feminist Agenda (2017) Chelsea Cain, Kate Niemczyk, Sean Parsons, Rachelle Rosenberg Clarification: the last two chapters (issues) in this book are NOT written by Chelsea Cain et al. They from The New Avengers. I didn’t like them. The difference between the two was kind of amazing. In the Cain chapters, Bobbi […]

Mockingbird Vol. 1: I Can Explain

Mockingbird Vol. 1: I Can Explain (2016) Chelsea Cain, Kate Niemczyk, Ibrahim Moustafa, Joelle Jones I said after the first time I read this it was going to need a second reading. But I decided to wait until I had a paper version of the comic, since the ebook versions of comics don’t work well […]

Rivers of London Volume 3: Black Mould

Rivers of London Volume 3: Black Mould (2017) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Lee Sullivan I read these as ebooks, but being able to read on paper made a surprisingly huge difference. It’s possible I picked up on more things because it was the second read, but I think it’s because I could read it as […]

Princeless Vol. 1: Short Stories Collection

Princeless Vol. 1: Short Stories Collection This is what it says on the tin: a short story collection. It’s really backstory for the different characters filled in, including the king and Kira (the wolf) and Angoisse (Adrienne’s sister) and Bedelia. I can see why these stories didn’t necessarily belong in the main volume, however, considering […]

Princeless: Make Yourself

Princeless Vol 5 Part 1: Make Yourself I am very conflicted about this volume. First, it’s only Part 1 (although it doesn’t say that on the cover). Second, there are 26 pages of ads for other comics. That made it feel like it was padded out with ads to make up for being split in […]

Mockingbird Vol. 2: My Feminist Agenda

Mockingbird Vol. 2: My Feminist Agenda (2017) Chelsea Cain and Kate Niemczyk I’ll be honest, I didn’t understand most of what was going on here. But I really didn’t care, because I found the whole thing fascinating. Mocking bird receives a ticket to a cruise from an anonomous source. Since she’s trying to get out […]