Category: Reviews

Graphic Novel Review: Skandalon by Julie Maroh

SkandalonSkandalon

by Julie Maroh

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This entire comic exists for the words on the last page. It’s a plot device that is often used to make a story seem important and deep — instead, it made me gag. This was neither important, nor deep. It was just “blah”… or actually, “bleh”. The redeeming feature: the art. It was okay. I initially didn’t care for it, but it did grow on me. It just didn’t aid the story in any way — it could have done so much more. The speech bubbles and font…a major fail which, on top of everything, added an amateurish/self-pub feel. Not recommended.

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Manga Review: Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun by Izumi Tsubaki

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, Vol. 1Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, Vol. 1

by Izumi Tsubaki

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I first opened the book, I didn’t realize I was reading a collection of 4-koma. It gave me some initial whip-lash. I did proceed to enjoy many of the gags, though I always find translations of comedy extremely awkward. There are some “explanations” as to what the jokes mean — but as Dilbert says, “It’s not funny if you have to explain it”. It was ok. I might enjoy it better on a re-read.

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Graphic Novel Review: Steve Jobs: Insanely Great by Jessie Hartland

Steve Jobs: Insanely GreatSteve Jobs: Insanely Great

by Jessie Hartland

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

From an art stand-point the illustration is charming. And the way the text completely fills most pages, is unusual — more like a children’s picture book than a standard graphic novel (which is delightful). That’s as far as my admiration goes. The writing… is unforgivably juvenile. The text placement… is infuriating. [why is he thinking aloud in speech bubbles??!!] The topic… is meh. I suspect that if you’re into “Steve Jobs” you’d probably be into this. But, there are significantly better biographies in the graphic novel format to read before bothering with this one.

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Graphic Novel Review: Girl in Dior / by Annie Goetzinger

Girl in DiorGirl in Dior

by Annie Goetzinger

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Mechanically well constructed. Beautiful binding, beautiful paper, beautiful colours that suit the 1940s glamour… but, other than mechanics… it was boring. There was no passion or feelings. It just fell flat. I would summarize the story as: “first my life was ok, then it was ok, and then it was ok again.” Disappointing.

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Comic Book Review: The Hypernaturals by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Brad Walker

The Hypernaturals Vol. 1The Hypernaturals Vol. 1

by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Brad Walker

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Yawn. I had to force myself to finish this volume. This took a critical hit in my estimation due to the poor writing choices.

Some of the art was quite good. If I had to judge it based solely on its art, and erased the text, I might have given it a better rating. But unfortunately, it did have text. The text destroys what could have been a decent story.

First, it is trying too hard to invent a new world through the use of dialogue. Every “science fiction” concept and all common exclamations are replaced with “new” words. It is done with the same heavy-hand of a child’s writings just after they’d discovered the “almighty” thesaurus. This overuse of foreign terms makes the dialogue ridiculous and meaningless. And, there were times when I feel that even the author(s) didn’t know what they meant.

Second, there were several moments in the comic where I couldn’t decide what was being said due to grammar missteps. This isn’t a text-heavy comic. There shouldn’t be so many obvious errors. I kept wondering if they were intended to give the characters a distinct accent. I realize now, that it was just a failure to edit.

So, not only is the comic thick with chunky over-complicated text, but the missing structure doesn’t support it.

Its saving grace are the drawings that tell the story when the text fails to.

I probably won’t be picking up the second volume.

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Comic Book Review: Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarksy

Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird TrickSex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick

by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What is this time-stopping phenomena called? Postcoital euphoria? Afterglow? It’s not a story for kids, and I certainly wouldn’t share it with my mother, but I do think there is something here worth reading. I’m looking forward to the next volume, and I hope that the three white-clad super heroes at the end don’t come off as unbelievable and as corny as when they were introduced. That’s the only thing that could ruin this for me at this point. The artwork is beautiful. And, can I tell you how much I like to see “librarians” with crazy “secret identities”. That’s a scenario that I always find fun to read.

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Novel Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time by Yasutaka Tsutsui

The Girl Who Leapt Through TimeThe Girl Who Leapt Through Time

by Yasutaka Tsutsui

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The stories are perfectly fine, if not a bit short. But the translation is so exacting in its use of language that it becomes a difficult read. It’s not a bad translation, but you can feel the Japanese-ness of it. And because the structure of Japanese is so opposite to the English language what you get are less flourishes of creativity, less mystery, more awkward stops between actions… Once I realized I was essentially reading Japanese in English I could sit back and enjoy the stories.

The Girl who leapt through time was to me the stronger of the two. There was a bit more action and mystery. A bit more tension. It also left me thinking about the idea of education in a world where technology is so advanced.

I didn’t care for the other story much. There was mystery but, the plotting was so linear which curbed all of the tension. I felt that the conflict was rather void. And, the solutions to the problems were extremely juvenile.

Overall I’d say due to the low level of conflict, and the directness of the translation that this story would most suitable for the preteen age group.

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Novel Review: Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

Dear Mr. KnightleyDear Mr. Knightley

by Katherine Reay

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It was well enough. I was definitely entertained throughout the thing. Certainly too heavy on the Jane Austen references. And, she struggled to make the other fiction references interconnected. Might have done better to lighten up on Austen.

And, can I say how annoyed I was that the author didn’t go for the obvious joke at the end? She spent the entire book quoting Jane Austen like a fiend… went so far as to compare her protagonist to Emma, the benefactor to Mr. Knightley, to have their “shared parents” waiting outside the door during the romantic declaration… and then not say, “we are not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper”. Argh! Was that intentional? – Was she just trying to share an inside joke with this Austen fan, or did she really just want to tick me off. I mean, the end needed some levity and, I was waiting for it. And then… there were no more pages, and no more words to read. And, now… I’m not sure what to do with myself.

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Manga Review: Honey Blood by Miko Mitsuki

Honey Blood, Vol. 1Honey Blood, Vol. 1

by Miko Mitsuki

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Pretty generic art and story that I just don’t care why – he could possibly like this girl??? So much fantasy, without substance. Because their relationship has an abrupt change at the end of the volume, there is potential the story could become intriguing… but, I don’t have much hope for it.

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Non-Fiction Review: A Brief History of Manga by Helen McCarthy

A Brief History of MangaA Brief History of Manga

by Helen McCarthy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just picked up a copy of Helen McCarthy’s “A Brief History of Manga” from the library. My impression is that it is 1. totally adorable, 2. visually engaging, and 3. fun fact filled. I also let my sister paruse through it, and she agrees with me. We’re both excited about this mini history.

Because like it’s title, it is exactly what it delivers:

1. It’s Brief. Very Brief!

Each page contains several colour images, an interesting fact, a couple paragraphs on historical trends, and a timeline — and all in less than 100 pages, in a book about the size of an actual manga. Really, you couldn’t have printed a history any smaller.

Actually I love the small package and think it would look adorable on my shelves next to my manga. [now, if only I could find some room…]

2. It’s about manga history.

It is concise, pointed, interesting. The history provides breadth, spanning from the 700s to present day (and the future). And, she really focuses her discussion to manga. Not anime. Which I of course, appreciate.

Did she leave stuff out? Umm… That’s kind of an understatement! But, I learned a few things about manga that I’d never known before (namely some of the early Western influences) and am now very interested in exploring further.

My only problem is that the only action I can take is heading off into “lala land” (aka the library stacks) when I should be studying for exams.

I will be adding a copy to my personal collection. You’d be quite remiss if you didn’t do the same!

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