Too Fond of Books

Comics/Manga Report!

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 18:03:56 GMT

In Comics:

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Cloonan/Belanger/Loughridge: I bought the first two issues of this title and then dropped them. I love Becky Cloonan, but the story wasn’t gelling for me the way I hoped it would. I also suspected it was one of those titles that would be better in collected form; it’s frustrating to read a mystery that stops periodically and makes you wait for a few months to pick up again. I was right about reading it in trade being a better experience, but, well, by not getting the single issues, I missed the genre switch from noir-ish mystery set in space to psychedelic sci-fi horror. It was a bit of a surprise to come across that shift in tone. It’s still an amazing read, and the colors start making sense with the change; the palette is all sickly oranges and blues, with occasional splashes of red gore. That said, I don’t think I need to buy Volume 2; this isn’t something I’d normally pick up. But if you enjoy any Cthulu mythos stories, I think you’ll be happy with this title; if you enjoyed the movie Event Horizon, you’ll definitely get a kick out of this.

In Manga:

Noragami, Volume 1, Adachitoka: Before I really start singing this volume’s praises, can I just say how nice it is to have a shounen/seinen manga that doesn’t have gratuitous cheesecake or panty shots? It’s really, really nice, and it makes me want to read more solely to tell this author/illustrator: YES YOU ARE AWESOME. (Granted, there could be more cheesecake down the line, but volume 1 was mercifully free of that.) Happily, respectful treatment of the female characters isn’t the only good thing about this title. Volume 1 is a little more of an info-dump than I’d like, but it’s clear that the story has an ambitious scope that necessitates said info-dump. I like the way that Adachitoka makes his main character, Yato, a god who’s trying to crawl his way up in the pantheon, ever-so-slightly not-human with cat-like eyes in the frame of a young man. There’s great action in this story, as Yato does battle with creatures to occupy humanity’s blind spots, Shinto-like animistic monsters that follow depressed people around. There’s also a lot of information about how Yato’s powers work, and the things he needs to help him gain power and followers. I’m not sure where the female lead character, Hiyori, will end up in our story; so far her story is pretty vague, and it’s not clear what kind of a person she is, other than shounen manga spunky/nice female character. I have high hopes for the next few volumes, though, especially if we see more supernatural creatures and Hiyori’s personality develops further.

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Book & Comic Recs, 2/18/15

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 23:34:13 GMT

In Books:

The Sculptor, words and pictures by Scott McCloud: I read this book deliberately, one chunk at a time, until I reached the 2/3 point, and then I could not stop; the story became so urgent that I almost felt like stopping reading would mean leaving the main characters alone to die, and I couldn't bear the thought of that. I still wish I could have parceled it out a little more slowly, though, because now I will never have the chance to read it for the first time again. What a wonderful story, told by a master, and a meditation on art, love, and life. It's never maudlin and puts neither of its main characters onto pedestals; furthermore, it's nice to read a story where the hero's actions aren't universally treated as the correct Be-All and End-All to all the story's problems. (In fact, the main characters' actions contribute to some of his problems, in the messy, complicated way that often happens in real life, and I really appreciated that angle of the plot.) I'm also amazed that McCloud managed, in every instance, to show in two dimensions a story that I could feel in all three. Not literally, of course, but I could imagine all the textures that are part of the story beneath my fingers, and this is a rare thing for any work, graphic novel or not. The final twenty pages or so are some of the most beautiful pieces of art I've seen in years.

When I finished this book, I sat on the couch for a few minutes, wiped away the tears, and went to hug my son. It's that kind of book, the kind that makes you value what you have and remember how life, although tumultuous and sometimes troubling, is a gift. It's absolutely worth paying the hardcover price for. Run, don't walk!

The Bone Clocks, by David Mitchell: Like the The Sculptor, this is a work that deals in huge themes and it's hard to reduce it to a few sentences of plot and critique. In some ways, it's as good as Cloud Atlas, although I don't think anything will ever knock that book out of my favorites list. It's the most Buddhist work of science fiction I've ever read. It's filled with characters of all sizes and shapes, although it sticks with one character throughout in thought-provoking ways. Unlike Cloud Atlas, I ended up liking all of the characters, including one who I never thought I would come to tolerate, much less like. It's also one of the more depressing visions of the near future that I've read in some time, and I'm sorry to say that the final installment of the story is the one that sticks with me most of all, when I think it should be the work as a whole.

Both The Sculptor and The Bone Clocks are masterful at capturing in macro- and micro- the ways that life slides by, and they both feel epic in similar ways, even though their subject matter is completely different. While The Sculptor is more accessible than The Bone Clocks, they're both wonderful reads for story and character, and that amazing sense of grandeur that a lot of works lack.

In Comics:

Marceline Gone Adrift, Issues 1 & 2: The story is unfolding slowly so far, but the wonderful artwork is more than enough to make up for it, and I have faith Meredith Gran is going to spin a marvelous second half. There have been some great flashbacks to Marceline and Bubblegum's past so far, and I'm sure there are more to come.

Help Us! Great Warrior, Issue 1: I wasn't sure what to make of this comic until the last two panels of the final page, in which this amazing line of dialogue resides: "Ssshh! Do you hear that? It's the sound of me believing in myself." At that point, I was totally sold. The whole work is impossibly adorable and squishy, and there are a lot of fun asides like this one. I'm really excited to see where the story goes!

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COMIC BOOKS ARE THE BEST!

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 21:54:16 GMT

I know I'm a grown woman, and that I should be doing more responsible things at the moment, but there is something just so lovely about sitting down with a pile of comic books and reading them from cover to cover, regardless of time and chores, and the general mundanity that is life.

In comics:

Rat Queens, Issue 8: Violet's origin story gets told in a highly satisfactory fashion, with some very sweet moments between her and her mother, and some sour ones with her family as a whole. I especially like the first two pages, where Violet is getting dressed and it's made abundantly clear that a) the artist knows how armor works, and b) Violet is not your standard comic book lady with an unreal body. In any case, the story unfolds, and it's very, very bittersweet as it's contrasted with the final page of the issue. I love this comic!

Thor, Issue 1: The only disappointment in the whole haul, mainly because the new Thor is only in the whole issue for two pages. I'm eager to see Lady Thor in action, and while the two-page spread of her lifting Mjolnir was beautifully colored and dynamic, it was frustrating as a whole for a comic about her to only feature her for a moment. The art in this is very nice, though, and hopefully when the next issue shows up, new!Thor will have more to do. Also, some frost giants to battle, because there sure were a lot of them in this issue. (And their toenails are grotesque. GROTESQUE.)

One other, minor disappointment: still no word on how original!Thor will keep those abs now that he's not wielding the hammer anymore. Will he have to go to the gym like the rest of us?? Inquiring minds want to know!

Gotham Academy, Issue 1: This is a lot of fun, and it has a lot of promise. My only quibble with it is that it's too short! The first issue is setting up a lot of plot elements: our heroine's angsty past with her mother and other students at the school; conspiracies in and around the school itself; and whatever the monster in the walls is. I wished that there was more time to let the story unspool just a little bit more, instead of "here is this character! that one! look, it's Bruce wayne!" That said, I'm looking forward to the next issue, and hoping that the pacing will pay off in the long run.

In graphic novels:

This One Summer, words by Mariko Tamaki, art by Jillian Tamaki: The artwork in this is just gorgeous, and it captures perfectly the "summer at the seaside" that I was lucky enough to experience as a kid. The plot is very subtle but sweetly compelling, a coming-of-age story for the main character, Rose, mostly, but also the story of her friendship, her parents' relationship (which is not relegated to the sidelines, like a lot of YA literature might; I really appreciated the fact that the adults in this story were real people, too, not just paper tigers or imparters of Important Truths about Adulthood), and her awkward crush on the local convenience store guy. There's a sudden twist or two towards that the end that propels the action of the story into overdrive, but that's what summer is often like: a whole lot of leisure, and then the sudden realization that it's all about to be OVER and you need to do something, right away, before you lose the chance. I'd recommend this to a number of my friends, and to anyone who's spent any time at a summer resort as a kid. The sheer nostalgia alone is worth the price of admission.

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Movie/Comic Book Recs, as of 1/17/14

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 22:08:15 GMT

In Comics:

Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon & Hawkeye: Little Hits: I liked both of these slim trades. The artwork is nicely stylized and punchy, and it seems authentic to its many subjects. Hawkeye as a character becomes more and more well-rounded, although I will confess that some of the other characters (especially the multiple ladies vying for his attention) tended to blur together. But the stakes are high and righteous, and the villains appropriately scary/ruthless/cruel to make the stories have real teeth. My favorite installment of the both volumes shows up at the end of #2, where the story is told entirely from Hawkeye's dog's point of view. This might sound like a cutesy gimmick, but it defies all expectations and leaves almost all the other previous stories gasping in its innovative and touching dust.

At the Movies:

The Monuments Men: OK. So, the internet joke is that when you bring up the Nazi's to win an argument, you automatically lose (or so says Godwin's law.) In the case of this movie... well, I can think of no better way to say this: The Monuments Men Godwins itself. I blame this bizarre phenomenon on the fact that the script relied heavily on telling and not showing, the story often undercut its own suspense, and the characters, although sometimes engaging, were mostly a collection of cyphers and stereotypes. ( More, with spoilers... )

tl;dr version: It's not the worst movie ever, but I think you'd be better off saving your admission costs and buying the book instead.

The LEGO Movie: Everything is awesome! Ha ha, no, not exactly, but as kids' movies go, this was funny and clever, and you could really do a lot worse. Generic Lego Construction Guy Emmett lives his life according to every instruction manual possible, but, through a bizarre series of coincidences, comes to realize this way of living is shallow and meaningless, and it's up to him to be the hero of his own narrative. I liked this story for its overall message that sometimes the best thing you can do with toys is play with them, and that there's no right or wrong way to do this, as long as you're being creative and true to yourself. There's also a certain shade of "Generation Me" to this movie that grated, and I will say that I was disappointed that the female characters didn't have more to do. (Wonder Woman, in particular, was chumped out several times. I suppose that Superman got equal treatment in this respect as he was annoyed by Green Lantern, but it didn't seem comparable.) But I like any movie with a slightly anarchist take on childhood, and the Aristophanes shout-out sealed the deal. It's a lot of fun, and the opening sequence reminds me of the best Japanese music videos that I watched on Space Shower TV years ago, super kawaii and genki, and hard to resist.

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Books & Comic & Manga Recs, as of 1/25/14

Sun, 26 Jan 2014 01:12:36 GMT

In Books:

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb: This book is the definition of a vital read. It's not easy, not by any stretch of the imagination, to read Malala's account of being shot in the face by a Taliban soldier and her recovery, or to hear the story of how the Taliban temporarily forced her family (and many, many others) to relocate twice in a very short amount of time. But this work a testament to Malala's vision of what an education can bring her, and so many girls like her. It's also a testament to her family as a whole, who weathered this whole storm with amazing resilience. In particular, Malala's father stands out as a brave man who believes in his daughter's rights and intelligence, and never lets her down. I hope many people will read this book and have it renew their dedication to fighting for social justice and education for all, worldwide. Heartily recommended.

In Manga:

Sweet Rein, Volume 1, by Tsukuba Sakura: This is an adorable manga with perhaps the silliest premise I've ever read: high school student Kurumi discovers that she's a Santa Claus (yes, that Santa) and that a handsome boy named Kaito is her servant, a magical reindeer bound to do whatever she orders him to. (Now that I type it out, it does sound pretty ridiculous.) I bought this out of sheer disbelief more than anything else, and what sells this story is the sincerity that Tsukuba puts into almost every panel and line of dialogue. Like many shoujo manga heroines, Kurumi's a good-hearted girl who wants to do what's right, and this story gives her ample opportunity to do just that. The threadbare will-they-won't-they-fall-in-love romance subplot between her and Kaito gets played more for laughs than any serious conflict; it's pretty clear that they'll be a couple by the end of the series, if not sooner. The only remaining problem is how to construct any other obstacles for Kurumi to overcome, since there doesn't seem to be a Grinch-like character lurking on the horizon. Honestly? It's adorable and sweet, and I liked it despite myself. Definitely be looking for Volume 2.

Angelic Layer, Volume 1, by CLAMP: Somehow, I missed out on this classic CLAMP title a while back and am only now just getting to it. It's not my favorite work of theirs (at least, not yet, but I do have a full second volume to get around to) and in some ways, it highlights what's weakest about their work: characters who little to no clear motivation; ridiculously fast plot that comes, seemingly, out of nowhere; and the barest excuse for conflict (in this case, a televised game between psychic toys connected to their owners.) On the other hand, though, it's tremendously entertaining despite all these problems, and I'm looking forward to the next installment, even as some plot twists loom (in a highly untwisty manner) over the story as a whole. Our erstwhile heroine, Misaki, finds herself drawn to the game Angelic Layer after arriving in Tokyo and seeing it on TV for the first time. She's aided in this by an eccentric genius who counsels her on how to craft her own doll (or, Angel), who, of course, is not what he seems. For plot reasons, Misaki is an able controller/fighter and quickly finds herself in the midst of a high stakes tournament, making allies and enemies along the way. CLAMP brings their trademark gorgeous artwork to all of this, particularly in varied character design for humans and Angels alike. There's also a lot of amazing, dynamic artwork for the battle sequences, which are surprisingly exciting and very easy to follow. So, even with the poor points, this is still an entertaining, fast-paced read, and I did enjoy it rather more than I expected.

In Comics:

Octopus Pie: There are No Stars in Brooklyn, by Meredith Gran: As an antidote to the shoujo sweetness above, I read this delightfully subtle story about Brooklynite misanthrope Eve Ning, her roommate Hanna, and a handful of other characters who inhabit the newly-college-graduated, still-sorting-out-their-lives scene in NYC and its environs. I'm betting that a lot of the New York jokes sailed right over my head, but fortunately, there are plenty of other jokes that ring true. Gran's artwork is perfect--distinct and funny, and with an eye for just the right details to make the story ring true. A lot of fun.

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We Have Wonder Woman!

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 23:20:23 GMT

It looks like Gisele from the Fast and the Furious series is Wonder Woman, provided she doesn't have conflicts later on. I, for one, am pretty pleased about this. Gal Gadot did well in the movies in both acting and stunts, and although she's not as muscular as I imagine WW would actually be, I think she'll have the presence to handle the role, even if it's just a 30-second appearance at the end (which, given the title of the movie as Batman vs. Superman, seems more likely than her getting any meaningful screen time.) But, over on io9, Charlie Jane Anders makes some compelling points about the problems of bringing WW to the big screen at all, pointing out that because of WW's somewhat convoluted and mythologically-based origin story, you either make a movie solely set in a Greek mythology-aware world (a la Percy Jackson) or you strip that part of the story away and just make her into "Sexy Female Badass Warrior Woman." The problem is that doing either of these things is highly unlikely to happen in a satisfying way in a movie. Right now, I suspect the script's going to go something like this:

Batman: I have an ideological problem with you, Superman.
Superman: And I have one with you, Batman.
(Combat ensues.)
(Cut to Justice League satellite. WW and the Flash are watching the monitors of earthly activity.)
Flash: Aw, man, not this again.
WW: Boys and their contests. Your male ways are foolish in the extreme.

Which, although entertaining, doesn't really do justice to either character, and just makes me long for the day that the WW movie is a definite possibility and not a sticking point amongst fans.

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Jumping on the Bandwagon (Movie/Comic/Manga Recs!)

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 23:05:12 GMT

In Movies:

Gravity: Yes, the soundtrack is overbearing, but WOW this is a movie about a woman, and it is often tense and frightening, and I was impressed at how often the filmmakers made the audience sympathize with a female character--heavens! It's so simple that it's revolutionary! And the shots of space were just lovely. All in all, I'm really glad I saw this on the big screen, and in 3D... for the first time in, well, ever, the extra money seemed really worth it for a "you are there" experience that I don't feel like I've ever had before. I also think Ryan Stone is a character who needs to be up there next to Ripley in terms of putting up with so much crap from one story.

In Comics:

Saga, Volumes 1 & 2, Words by Brian K. Vaughan and pictures by Fiona Staples: I've been meaning to blog about this for a while now, but I'm loving this work, which is like Perdido Street Station twisted into the Star Wars universe. It's relentlessly imaginative and violent, and I'm a little surprised at myself for liking it so much. Staples' artwork has a lot to do with that--all the characters have unique and interesting faces, even when they're covered in blood or contorted in suspicion. So amazing.

Empowered Special: Nine Beers with Ninjette, Words by Adam Warren, with pictures by Adam Warren and Takeshi Miyazawa: To be fair, I was already on this bandwagon, but DAYUM this one-shot really ups the pathos! It's so persuasively sad throughout that I wondered if Warren made himself cry at any point during the process. It's also a really good counterpoint to the normal series, which is usually quite irreverent fun. Miyazawa's artwork is a nice plus, too.

In Manga:

Gate 7, Volume 4, with pretty pictures and random words by CLAMP: I'm a little amazed at myself for jumping on his bandwagon at all, because I thought I was pretty much done with this whole series, but then I picked up Volume 4 and it did not disappoint as much as I thought it would. My original quibbles are still there (Chikahito does not behave like ANY teenaged boy I have ever met, the meta-conflict is confusing, Hana is still weirdly sexualized, etc.) but for once, this volume's story works fairly well, and even though there are some familiar CLAMP tropes here (adorable child secretly planning to torture everyone, for example), they seem reasonably new and interesting in this story. As usual, the artwork is a thing of beauty, particularly the attention given to a spirit tiger that aligns itself with the main characters. Hana's magic is still gorgeously rendered, too. It's so hard to stay mad at CLAMP!

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EPIC SDCC 2013 Entry!

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 04:39:18 GMT

( Thursday!: Videos Games! Awesome Web Comics! A depressing panel that turned out OK! Talking with awesome people! )

( Friday!: Defiance! Literary How-To's! Weird Outside Stuff! )

( Saturday: We camped out in Room 8 for five hours! But the Adventure Time panel was worth it! Huzzah! )

( Sunday!: Loose Ends of all varieties! )

General Thoughts:

~ The fundamentalists were more vocal and more... uhm, personal, this year, for lack of a better word. Last year, they just yelled about Jesus, but this year, their attacks were more Comic Con-specific, like the guy with a megaphone who shouted at all and sundry, "Don't let your souls be enslaved by comics!" (It took some willpower not to shout back, "Too late!") There were counter-protests, of course, and those looked unpleasant to referee. I tried to thank as many of the law enforcement people as I could when they weren't working or concentrating on other things; one of the transit security police officers looked surprised when I did, and confessed that he really wished he could go to the Con himself. (He wanted to meet Stan Lee for real, not just pay for an autograph.) As usual, even in the hoards of people, I never felt unsafe or afraid for my physical well-being once, and I think the SDPD is responsible in a large part for that.

~ For some reason, the crash after this Con was especially hard this year. The real world, as much as I love it, doesn't seem quite as interesting for the first few days afterwards, and today was no exception, with mundane chores and problems looming large.

~ There was a lot of zombie stuff--costumes, toys, images, etc.. It was not fun for me. I wish this trend would run its damned course.

~ There were times when the Exhibit Hall didn't seem as crowded as usual, and I couldn't figure out if it was actually truly empty, or I had just gotten really, really good at making my way through the knots of people. It is a lot easier when it's just me, and I tend to stay out of the central scrum of the big companies and their lines, but I could have sworn there were times when there were swathes of empty space, and that's an oddity.

~ The overall theme of this year's Con ended up being something along the lines of, "Crazy Contradictions!" It was personified best in the juxtaposition of the Christian Comic Arts Association booth next to the Killer Zombie Bunnies booth in the Small Press area. Comic Con often leaves me with the aftertaste of sweet and sour. On one hand, there's a pure interest in comics and reading that makes my heart sing, but on the other, there's a crass commercialism that manifests itself in the crazy-long lines for the exclusive toys and vinyl collectibles that makes me alternately groan and grumble. Comic Con is the only place where I can wear my Kate Beaton t-shirt and people not only compliment me on it, but also want one themselves. Comic Con is also the place where my phobia is everywhere, all the time, and I have to make compromises with myself to get past it, but it's also the place where many, many people I admire (both real and fictional) are front and center, and I can draw on their words and examples to give me strength. There's beautiful art, and there's the cheesiest of cheesecake, side by side; in fact, there are Charles Dickens-esque contrasts every two feet or so. It's sublime and ridiculous, and I love almost all of it, even as I realize that what I love is what some other attendees hate. But that's the beauty of multiple fandoms, and when they're all present and not in conflict, it's just completely awesome.

Pictures are here, updated with Saturday stuff. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera on Sunday, so no extra photos. Still, lots of good ones, though. :)

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Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Dr. Who, the Enterprise Crew, and the cast of A Wrinkle in Time?

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 02:56:00 GMT

In Books:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), by Mindy Kaling: I enjoyed this volume of chatty, breezy essays, although I would love to just cut out the chapter about dieting completely. If you skip that (which is easy, since it's the first one), the rest of this book is a rewarding, effortless read that sounds as if Mindy Kaling is your best friend and just happened to run into you at Starbucks and sure, she can hang out for a few minutes. The best material concerns her improbable rise to semi-, writerly- fame (including a section about the terrible apartment she and her friends lived in together in NYC) and her thoughts about why comedy is important. In particular, I loved this line from her afterward, which is written in a question and answer format:

"Q: Why didn't you talk about whether women are funny or not?
A: I just felt that by commenting on that in any real way, it would be a tacit approval of it as a legitimate debate, which it isn't. It would be the same as addressing the issue of, "Should dogs and cats be able to take care of our children? They're in the home anyway." I try not to make it a habit to seriously discuss nonsensical hot-button issues."

I wish more people in media thought along these lines and resolved simply to line up more female comedic talent, not have pointless arguments about why can't ladies tell jokes. In any case, if you enjoy The Office (American version), celebrity gossip from a unique perspective, or just want a fun book to pass the time, this is the one.

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel, originally by Madeleine L'Engle, adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson: There are books that read like dreams you had in the past, that feel utterly new and comfortingly familiar at the same time. I am pleased to report that Larson's able and loving adaptation of L'Engle's work fits firmly into the deja vu, "oh I have read this before, how wonderful it is" category. The landscapes/dreamscapes/trans-dimensional spaces in this book are rendered in perfect detail, particularly the horrifying moment when Meg and her friends try to tesser away from Camaztoz, and the Black Shadow nearly takes control of her mind. Her body falls to pieces and the only thing holding her on the page is her father's hand, reaching around from the previous page. It's visceral and creepy, and it makes Meg's later actions all the more heroic: to do what she does, when she knows the exact price of failure, is a courageous and beautiful thing. Larson's illustrations of the characters are very faithful to the descriptions in the book, especially Calvin, who is not particularly handsome. Larson leaves him as an awkward 14-year-old, tall and lanky, with a weird-shaped nose, and this makes him very human, very relatable. I also loved the way Meg and her Mother looked, juxtaposed on the page, present and future in one space. I think fans of this book will be very pleased; in fact, I'm already planning to give it to several people for the holidays. But, please, stymie my gift-giving efforts if reading this will make you happy! (Which it will.)

In Comics:

IDW's Doctor Who/Star Trek: The Next Generation Crossover, Issue 5: I had hoped that the weird art style would grow on me, or at least cease to look odd, but I am sad to report this is not the case. Currently, the plot advances in incremental and painfully slow steps; this work reminds me of someone who writes fabulous fanfic, but rarely updates. I'm beginning to suspect this would be a much more fulfilling and compelling story if it were presented in trade paperback format, instead of parceled out in bits and pieces. This issue contains a lovely, well-observed dialogue between Amy Pond and Captain Picard, which reads like, well, for lack of a better term, the reason that fanfic was invented (sadly truncated: a conversation that Rory and Dr. Crusher have about the importance of needing real people in the medical field, even with the advancements in technology.) Unfortunately, the rest of the story is bogged down explaining why Captain Picard hates the Borg, and with the plot's insistence that he get over this problem. I want to enjoy this story and recommend it to others, but at present, it's stalled between "wait, what?" and "jebus, people, just get on with it!"

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Comic/Manga Recs, as of 7/27/12

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:00:20 GMT

In Comics:

Adventure Time Presents Marceline and the Scream Queens, Issue 1 (of 6): Although this first issue is largely in place to set up the rest of the story, Meredith Gran's writing and art work very well together, and the 4-page, wordless spread of the rock concert in progress is pretty fantastic. I'm looking forward to the rest of the story, and the side narrative that accompanies this story, with art and story by the always-amazing Jen Wang, is excellent, too--very imaginative, with just a hint of menace.

Locke & Key: Clockworks, Volume 5: At the risk of fangirling too much, I have to say that this is how you tell a serialized story. Volume 5 contains answers to questions raised volumes ago and raises new questions of its own, while never leaving the reader to wonder just who the hell everyone is and what's going on. It also neatly sets up the final showdown of volume six, the end of the series. Without going into too many spoiler-ific details, Volume 5 clearly explains the origin and nature of the keys, and shows how our current villain became who he was previously--and what he's capable of now. There are fairly horrific plot points in this one, too, ranging from atrocities in the past (institutionalized murder, told twice from two differing perspectives) to shock in the present. This volume also lives up to the Lovecraft name. When Volume 6 appears, I plan to sit down and read all of these through all the way from beginning to end to get a fuller sense of the plot and how it unfolded. In the meantime, I'll be worrying for my favorite characters and wondering just how they're going to fix all the problems that they've stumbled into and created.

In Manga:

Wandering Son, Volume 3: Shimura really ups the drama in this installment, and in some ways, it's a great improvement. For both of the protagonists, coming to terms with their gender identities isn't going to be easy, and seeing them both face the challenges associated with that makes them stronger characters. Takatsuki's bitter and angry words to her mother after a confrontation with a bullying classmate ring especially poignantly, "Why did you make me a girl?" (They're also followed by a very interesting statement about gender identity and its construction in Japan, as Takatsuki complains further, quoting the advice others have given her: "'Wear cute clothes.' 'Join the Takarazuka Revue.' I'm... I'm sick of it!") Meanwhile, Nitori is tricked by his sister into becoming a model (his sister's reasons for this are still murky to me after several readings) and faces discrimination there from one of the models, a sharp-faced girl who complains that he's just wasting his time. (I suspect this behavior is going to be stopped in short order in the next volume, when idol Maiko-chan stops by the modeling agency in mid-fight between Nitori's sister and the mean model.) So, a lot of conflict and action is excellent, but it does come at the expense of dialogue between Nitori and Takatsuki, which was my favorite part of the first two volumes. For any child, coming of age and growing fully into an identity is difficult, but for the two main characters in this series, it's much more complicated than a simple coming of age story. I liked the stretches in the first two volumes, though, where they would just talk about their lives, drawing strength from one another, and I hope that the drama and conflict don't supersede this aspect of the story. As usual, Shimura's spare and beautiful artwork provides a gorgeous background for the whole narrative.

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Books/Manga/Movie Recs: Lots of Ladies Edition!

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:15:59 GMT

In Books:

Are You My Mother?, By Alison Bechdel: I actually finished this book a while back, but I've been grappling with it ever since I read it. It's not an easy book, yet I read it fairly quickly, over about three or so days. I remember my initial gut reaction having to do with my resolution to NEVER ask any child of mine under the age of about 20, point blank, if they love me or not. (I have read about this twice now, once in a fictional situation, and once in this auto-ficto-biographical situation, and it never leads to anything good for anyone involved.) But, of course, there's more to this book than that moment, and that sad bit of meaningful narrative. ( More, with spoilers: )

I do highly recommend this work. I don't think it's just another half of a story; it's a complete piece of work that stands on its own. There is an awkward distance to parts of it (and I'll be the first to admit that the amount of theoretical writing in it made me pause), but it's a narrative that needs to be brought into the open carefully for both artist/writer and reader.

Dracula, words by Bram Stoker, pictures by Becky Cloonan: I've written before about how much I love Becky Cloonan's artstyle; she has a wonderful sense of composition and character and her pages are always dynamic, even when the characters aren't engaged in intense action. This illustrated version of Dracula allows her to imbue the characters with more personality and soul than Stoker's original version does. Mina and Jonathan's love story, in particular, becomes more touching with illustrations, and Mina's evolution from sweet, virginal lady into sadder but wiser girl also rings much more true. Cloonan's illustrations also highlight the sexual aspects of the story, but without over-sensationalizing the people and acts involved. The color palette of black, red, and midnight blue is lovely and fits the mood of the book. I'm a little less sure of the quotes superimposed behind the text, but it's not on every page, and I see what the designers were going for.

In Comics:

Skeleton Key, Color Special One Shot, by Andi Watson: I grabbed this way back on Free Comic Book Day, without knowing that it was part of a larger series. Thankfully, the adventures of perpetually lost schoolgirl Tamsin, kitsune Kitsune, and adorable unnamed sidekick Raccoon are immediately accessible and sweet. It's like Doctor Who meets Onmyouji, with a twist of Lost. I can't wait to pick up the others now!

In Manga:

Hidamari Sketch/Sunshine Sketch, Volume 6, by Ume Aoki: This story continues to be slowly paced and character-driven. However, given that Aoki is steering two of her main characters towards graduating and changing the entire structure of the plot with that development, I don't blame her for the slow pace. I was glad that these two characters, Hiro and Sae, got a lot of character development in this installment, because they certainly do need it in order to make their inevitable departure properly emotional. Yuno and Miyako continue to anchor the plot, and it's nice to see that Yuno is cutting down on the self-deprecating dialogue as her confidence in her artistic abilities grows. I'm looking forward to #7.

At the Movies:

Brave: It occurs to me now, having just written about Alison Bechdel, above, that in some ways, Brave is AYYM?-lite. Well, not exactly. It's definitely wrestling with similar facets of the same issue, but it's a Disney movie, and so a lot of the thornier problems are ignored. But that's no reason to skip it; it's still a strong piece of filmmaking and is notable, if for no other reason, for having a princess in it who doesn't want to be a princess. (And having a Queen who actually wields power!) It's also notable for gorgeous textures and landscapes. Every piece of cloth, every stone and tree in the forrest, every strand of hair in this movie, I could imagine what touching them would feel like, and it was beautiful. But overall, I really liked this movie because its message was so strong: you can't change people into something they're not, but you can change your expectations of them, and by extension, your relationships with them. It was quite lovely, really. And it made me wish I had a small girl who I could take to this film, so that we could talk about what it was all about. :)

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PSA Aggragation

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:56:48 GMT

* Tomorrow is May 5th, Free Comic Book Day! Head over to your local comic book store for some goodies!

* Happy Star Wars day! (May the 4th be with you!)

* New Legend of Korra episode tomorrow morning!

* If Leslie Knope doesn't win the election next week, I may throw some kind of a fit.

* And, for those who are into that sort of thing, IDW's Doctor Who/Star Trek crossover hits shelves this month! :D

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Comics Round Up, 3/23/12!

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:32:41 GMT

From the comic book haul of the past week:

Rachel Rising, Issue 6, Words/Pictures by Terry Moore: OK, Mr. Moore. I'm officially grossed out; I have no idea what's going on with your story; and it doesn't look like I'll get much in the way of explanation or closure anytime soon. I'm all for conquering my zombie phobia, but this series isn't going to be the way I do it. What drives me crazy about this is that Moore really is a great artist. All of his characters have distinct facial types, and their expressions of emotion are spot-on. I often feel like I'll walk down the street and pass Francine or Katchoo someday. But "Rachel Rising" is a muddled mess of "Psycho" meets "Night of the Living Dead" with a twist of "Supernatural" and a whole of "where the hell is all this going?!" spice. So, that's that.

Ultimate Spider-Man, Issues 7/8: I really like where this is going. Miles' internal monologue worrying about heights as he scales a building in the Spidey suit is witty and fun, and the new conflict between the Prowler/Miles' no-good uncle and Miles' own sense of responsibility should open up some interesting story avenues. Sara Pichelli's artwork continues to be fabulous.

The Unwritten, Issues 32-35: As usual, I covet Yuko Shimizu's cover artwork, especially the haunting image of #35, one of characters and the words she's made up of. However, I'm not keen on one of the big plot twists that the story's going for: ( Spoilers ahoy! ) Not stopping reading the series, of course, just saying that I don't appreciate all that.

Adventure Time, Issues 1 & 2: So much fun, and very true to the spirit of the show. I like the little gutter panel comics and comments on the bottom of the pages. For the record, though, I do think that Marceline could easily hold her own in a battle against the Lich King.

Zita the Spacegirl, by Ben Hatke: A recommendation from one of the comic book store guys who knows my taste and I was not disappointed. This is a wonderful, all-ages read, never condescending or childish, but with a strong child protagonist who faces tremendous odds. Zita is a girl who goes on an interstellar journey to rescue a friend of hers. She's resourceful and compassionate, but also gutsy. Hatke's artwork is sweet without resorting to cutesy, and he has a dramatic sense of layout and timing that really pays off as the events of the story become more fraught with peril for all involved. What a lovely book. I can't wait to share it with my child when he's old enough!

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