Shadow Hero Review

The Shadow Hero (2014)
by Gene Luen Yang & Sonny Liew

The Shadow Hero is based on golden-age comic The Green Turtle, whose hero solved crimes and fought injustice. But this masked crusader was hiding more than your run-of-the-mill secret identity…The Green Turtle was the first Asian American superhero.

Seventy years later, Gene Luen Yang revives this nearly forgotten, pioneering character and creates an origin story for the golden-age Green Turtle.

My result: Recommended

Graphic Novel Review

Shadow Hero is a fun superhero story with great family dynamics and a lot of humor. Hank’s mom is a powerful force, and her prodding to make Hank a superhero keeps the story moving at a fast clip. Their interactions will make you laugh, as will the quiet reactions of Hank and his dad in the background.

Shadow Hero reclaims a little known figure from golden age comics and brings his story into the limelight. Yang and Liew bring us the origin story of the first Asian American superhero. The comic works in details from immigrant life at the time, and Hing’s artwork provides a vivid vintage feel. It’s a fascinating look into the history of comics, containing an excerpt from the original Green Turtle comics and research notes. We need more kinds of stories in the comic world, and Shadow Hero is a welcome addition.

Recommended for:
* Light, funny superhero story
* Charming family relationships
* Cultural reclaiming of golden age comics

Read for the 2015 Eisner challenge
2015 Eisner Nominee: Best Publication for Teens

Ten Horror Stories to Creep You Out

Here at Come Hither Books, I cover mostly science fiction and fantasy. But recently more horror has been sneaking onto my to read list. So here are Ten Horror Stories I’ve enjoyed in the last few years. Take a peek into the shadows with me.

Leviathan Wakes, James S.A. Corey
My review
Series: Expanse #1
Teaser: Leviathan Wakes starts out science fiction noir in a world of teeming spaceports and isolated outposts, then takes a turn into Lovecraftian horror as the plot races forward. Great cross-genre read.

Revival, by Tim Seeley
My review
Series: Ongoing graphic novel series
Teaser: The dead come back to life in rural Wisconsin. But they aren’t your standard zombies. The dead keep their memories and personalities. How do you make room for those you’ve already mourned? How do you move on if you’re stuck forever?

Wild Fell, Michael Rowe
My review
Series: Standalone
Teaser: For a hundred years, the townspeople of Alvina have prayed the darkness inside Wild Fell would stay locked away. Jameson Browning purchased Wild Fell to start a new life. But what lurks in the house is devoted to its darkness and guards it jealously. It’s been waiting for him.

Tokyo Ghoul, Sui Ishida
My review
Series: Ongoing Manga Series
Teaser: Ken Kaneki is thrilled to go on a date with Rize. But she’s only interested in his body—eating it, that is. When a morally questionable rescue transforms him into the first half-human half-Ghoul hybrid, Ken is drawn into the dark and violent world of Ghouls.

Bones and All, Camille DeAngelis
My review
Series: Standalone
Teaser: Coming of age with cannibals. Maren is on her own at sixteen, with a horrifying habit and nowhere to turn. She sets off to discover the truth about herself and finds a makeshift family of her own. Accepting who you are is hard enough, but it’s even harder when you’re a monster.

Through the Woods, Emily Carroll
My review
Series: Standalone, Graphic Novel Collection
Teaser: This collection of creepy illustrated stories for young readers shouldn’t be the scariest thing on this list. But it is. Through the Woods will remind you of the things that crept into your dreams after bedtime.

Dead Set, Richard Kadrey
My review
Series: Standalone
Teaser: After her father’s funeral, Zoe and her mother moved to the Big City to start over. But Zoe’s grief leads down a dark path. In an overlooked record shop, her father’s life is stored on a record and she can listen. For a price. First, a lock of hair. Then, a tooth…

The Madman’s Daughter, Megan Shepherd
My review
Series: Madman’s Daughter Trilogy #1
Teaser: A retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau, with all the building horror and monstrous experiments you would expect, and the addition of a new narrator – Moreau’s sixteen year old daughter, Juliet.

Bunnicula, James Howe
My review
Series: Bunnicula #1
Teaser: Okay, fine. This series is more funny than scary, especially when reread as an adult. But there will always be room on my horror list for this kid’s classic. How can you not love the story of a sarcastic cat and loyal dog trying to defend themselves against a vampire bunny?

Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake
No review, but it’s the book that started my current horror trend.
Series: Anna #1
Teaser: Cas is a hunter, trained to kill ghosts like his father before him. But he’s never faced a ghost like Anna. Anna Dressed in Blood has killed every person who steps foot in her house. Until Cas.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic is books outside your comfort zone.

A Silent Voice Manga Review

A Silent Voice, Volume 1
art & story by Yoshitoki Ooima (2015)

Shoya is a bully. When Shoko, a girl who can’t hear, enters his elementary school class, she becomes their favorite target, and Shoya and his friends goad each other into devising new tortures for her. But the children’s cruelty goes too far. Shoko is forced to leave the school, and Shoya ends up shouldering all the blame. Six years later, the two meet again. Can Shoya make up for his past mistakes, or is it too late?

My result: Highly Recommended

Manga Review

Shoko is an unlikeable protagonist, as teasing and side comments escalate to physical threats and destructive behavior. But where A Silent Voice shines is in showing how easily things can escalate out of control. The teacher’s casual insensitivity, adults’ lack of awareness, and all of the competition and acting out that takes place at that age combine to create a dangerous environment.

A Silent Voice shows the emotional toll of bullying on both victim and aggressor over time. It’s fascinating to see both sides presented so vividly, and I loved the evolution of the artwork as Shoya’s isolation grows. Facial features for classmates become more vague, then blank out into empty outlines, until eventually their faces are X-ed out altogether.

Recommended for:
* Thoughtful exploration of bullying
* Art style that perfectly matches story
* Unforgettable characters
* Complex emotions and relationships

 

Manga Classics Review

Manga Classics: Great Expectations (2015)
by Charles Dickens, adaptated by Crystal Chan & Stacy King, art by Nokman Poon

Great Expectations has it all: romance, mystery, comedy, and unforgettable characters woven through a gripping rags-to-riches tale. Naive Pip, creepy Miss Haversham, beautifully cold Estella, terrifying Abel Magwitch, and the rest of Dicken’s fantastic cast are perfectly envisioned in this new adaptation.

My result: Enjoyable

Manga Review
Manga Classics: Great Expectations captures all of the things that makes Dickens great. The characters are complex and full of contradictions, and the story both frightens, frustrates, and inspires. The artwork does a good job of capturing these complicated characters and taking me through their journey. It’s surprising just how much of the plot fits into a 300+ page manga. It captures the feel of Dickens’ prose and whets my appetite for more.

Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter (2015)
by Nathaniel Hawthorne, adaptated by Crystal Chan & Stacy King, art by SunNeko Lee

A powerful tale of forbidden love, shame, and revenge comes to life in The Scarlet Letter. Faithfully adapted by Crystal Chan from the original, this manga edition features stunning artwork which will give old and new readers alike a fresh insight into Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tragic saga of Puritan America.

My result: Recommended

Manga Review
This manga edition of The Scarlet Letter captures the feel of Hawthorne’s prose and the twisted but compelling story of guilt, redemption and revenge in Puritan Boston. Striking art design keeps the scarlet mark bright red in otherwise black and white panels. As a fan of the original, I enjoyed how well this adaptation translates prose metaphors to visual clues, without overstating what was originally presented as subtext. The ambiguity of the ending is preserved, and this Scarlet Letter fan is satisfied.

Manga Classis Series Review

The Manga Classics series is a set of five classics (so far) presented manga style. To try this series (and decide whether to order it for my library), I read two titles: Great Expectations and The Scarlet Letter.

Great Expectations, which I haven’t read, to see if they make sense when I don’t know the story. The Scarlet Letter, which I adore, to see if they’re satisfying when I’m already a fan. Both passed the test, and both include resources at the end to shed light on the adaptation process and unique traits of the original stories.

The Manga Classics series is recommended:
* To revisit or remember a favorite classic
* For manga fans looking for something different
* To enjoy classic stories in a short, fast format

The Manga Classics series also includes Les Miserables, Pride & Prejudice, and Emma, with more titles to come.

Pin it for later!

Rocket Raccoon Review

Rocket Raccoon, Vol. 1: A Chasing Tale
by Skottie Young, art by Filipe Andrade (2015)

Rocket Raccoon has been a hero to the weak, a champion of good, a heartthrob to many intergalactic females, but his high-flying life of adventure may be a thing of the past when he’s framed for murder. And the authorities aren’t the only one on his tail! (Get it? Tail?)

The real killer is an imposter who seems to be one step ahead of Rocket at every turn. It’s up to our hero and his best pal Groot to find the truth!

My result: Recommended

Graphic Novel Review

If you loved the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, you’ll love Rocket Raccoon too. It delivers everything: action-packed combat, epic space battles, snark galore, and an unrestrained sense of lighthearted fun that makes it a joy to read. You can’t take it too seriously, but it’s the perfect book to keep you going on a hot summer day.

Rocket Raccoon features cameos from Starlord, Drax, and Zamora, but for the most part it’s Rocket and Groot off on their own adventures. (And really, who doesn’t want that?) Groot fans will get a special treat – the last issue is from Groot’s point of view, with every dialogue bubble and visual text filled with I. Am. Groot. It works surprisingly well, and is the perfect bit of irreverent humor to finish off the volume.

Recommended for:
* Marvel fans
* Anyone seeking a light, fun read
* Comics newcomers looking for an entry point

Read for the 2015 Eisner challenge
2015 Eisner Nominee: Best New Series

They’re Not Like Us Review

They’re Not Like Us, Volume 1
by Eric Stephenson (July 2015)

We all have advantages over one another, but what if you were capable of things most of us can only imagine? What would you do – and who would you be? A doctor? An athlete? A soldier? A hero? Everyone has to make a choice about how to use the abilities they’re born with… but they’re not like us.

My result: Not Recommended

Fables: Animal Farm Discussion

Fables, Volume 2: Animal Farm
by Bill Willingham (2003)

Fables Buddy Read & Blog Tour

Volume 2: Animal Farm
This volume takes Snow and Red to the Farm, where non-human Fables live out their lives safe from Mundy eyes. But the Farm is on the verge of revolution, and violence is inevitable.

Discussion Questions

• How do the non-Human Fables compare to the human Fables? Is there a difference in how they are presented, or in your reactions?
• After the mystery setup of volume 1, volume 2 turns to social satire and violent revolution. How does the difference in style and format between volumes add to (or subtract from) your enjoyment of the series so far?
• Do you think that the plight of the non-human Fables is presented fairly? Are their punishments fair?

Join the Fables Buddy Read & Blog Tour
Learn more, or sign up to host a discussion!

Next up:
Volume 3: Storybook Love

It’s never too late to join, so pick up a copy and join us for volume 3 on July 27.

Rat Queens Review

Rat Queens, Volume 1: Sass & Sorcery
by Kurtis J. Wiebe, Art by Roc Upchurch (2014)

The Rat Queens are a pack of booze-guzzling, death-dealing battle maidens-for-hire, and they’re in the business of killing all god’s creatures for profit.

This darkly comedic sass-and-sorcery series stars Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric and Betty the Hippy Smidgen Thief. It’s a modern spin on an old school genre.

My result: Recommended

Fables Review

Fables, Volume 1: Legends in Exile
by Bill Willingham (2002)

When the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, the inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters have created their own secret society in an exclusive luxury apartment building called Fabletown.

When Snow White’s party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it’s up to Fabletown’s sheriff, a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf (Bigby Wolf), to find the killer.

My result: Recommended

Fables: Legends in Exile

Join in the very first discussion post of our Fables Buddy Read & Blog Tour! I’m so excited to get this under way, and I’d love for you to join us!

For more info about the Fables Buddy Read, you can also check our our Info & Signup Post. I hope to see you all!

thewritestuff123

Into the woods we go! The Fables Buddy Read and Blog Tour has begun. Check it out here and at Come Hither Books for more information. Up first is Bill Willingham’s Legends in Exile, the first installment in the Fables series. We are introduced to many fairy tale characters that we know and love whether it be from Grimm’s fairy tales or even Disney movies. There’s the big bad wolf, Bigby in the Fables realm, Snow White, and even Beauty and the Beast. However, these aren’t quite the characters that we all think we know. The fairy tale characters in Willingham’s universe are tinged with noir. The women are beautiful and deadly, the men a bit grizzled and jaded. These characters have lost it all and have had to rebuild their lives in Manhattan, away from their fairy tale happy ever afters.

This first installment centers on Snow White and…

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