A nice manga version of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." Boils down the lessons into easy-to-remember steps, and frames it all in the story ofA nice manga version of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." Boils down the lessons into easy-to-remember steps, and frames it all in the story of Marie Kondo helping a young woman named Chiaka get her apartment (and life) in order. I'm now curious to try this method myself, as I'm in the middle of a massive paper-decluttering project....more
I really enjoyed this entry in the Spider-Gwen series! The first section focuses on the developing storyline of Gwen dealing with Matt Murdoch, her unI really enjoyed this entry in the Spider-Gwen series! The first section focuses on the developing storyline of Gwen dealing with Matt Murdoch, her universe's Kingpin of Crime. And I love how they bounce off of each other: Matt is a delightful villain, intelligent and cruel and knowing exactly where and how to put pressure.
The rest of the volume is smaller one-shots and crossovers, which are mostly on the lighter/more humorous side of things. Particularly loved the Watcher's cameo/mini-story. ...more
Honestly I like this better than previous installments in the series. The pacing felt better controlled, the story easier to follow, and the art didn'Honestly I like this better than previous installments in the series. The pacing felt better controlled, the story easier to follow, and the art didn't seem quite so off-model as earlier collections. I feel like the artist was either not quite so rushed, or is finding their groove with this story. ...more
Okay, so...I know I've been griping about the art style in the previous two collections, and this...this was so much better. The visuals were clear, dOkay, so...I know I've been griping about the art style in the previous two collections, and this...this was so much better. The visuals were clear, dynamic, and fun; and despite the variety of styles, everyone felt on-model. There was only one two-page spread where I was a little lost re: panel order, but otherwise, this was a fun read.
And the story was great, too! It was clear and engaging, and the pacing was excellent. And I'm always a sucker for a good evil twin story. I really loved the dynamic between Jessica, Cindy, and Gwen; they were an excellent trio with how they bounced off each other, and I love Jessica being the sensible, experienced Team Mom, figuratively and literally.
I hope the rest of Spider-Gwen holds up this well, because I enjoyed this a ton :)...more
I really wanted to like this. I like the character of Gwen and I like the cracked-mirror universe she lives in.
But the art style, which started to frI really wanted to like this. I like the character of Gwen and I like the cracked-mirror universe she lives in.
But the art style, which started to frustrate me in Vol. 0, became an increasing hurdle in this volume. Characters' faces were smooshed into odd angles/perspectives in a way that felt less deliberate and more off-model. For all the dynamic poses and sketchy style, there was often no clear direction of where my eye was supposed to go, leading me to re-read pages multiple times, trying to parse the panel order.
And in sections where current action was interspliced with flashback panels, there was often no obvious visual cue to distinguish the two. The artist/colorist tried to do limited-color or color overlays, but they also used those strategies in other places, so the difference was often unclear. So, having not read the Spider-verse background of what went down with Lizard!Peter, I felt very lost in some places, because I couldn't distinguish between what was happening now and what had already happened. (This was mainly with the stuff involving the high school chemistry teacher, and Gwen breaking into the high school to track down info about him.)
(Also, am I going crazy, or did Harry switch races halfway through the book??)
So, yeah. I like the world, I like the characters (especially this version of Captain America), but the story felt clunky to me, and my frustration with the art was distracting....more
A solid story. The plot was a bit of a YA paint-by-numbers thing, but that was more than made up for by the unusual world that Wilde has built here: oA solid story. The plot was a bit of a YA paint-by-numbers thing, but that was more than made up for by the unusual world that Wilde has built here: one of bone towers rising above a cloud layer, beneath which we never see. It was an intriguing world, with much left on the table for future books....more
This book was an incredibly gripping tale. It reads like a novelization of a fairy tale, but rather than drawing from any one specific fairy tale, it This book was an incredibly gripping tale. It reads like a novelization of a fairy tale, but rather than drawing from any one specific fairy tale, it draws on the feelings and ideas and images of fairy tales into something that is both familiar and wholly original. The first chapter or so was a bit slow, but once the rubber hit the road, I couldn't put it down. ...more
A lovely paean to a wilderness many of us have become disconnected from. Told in gorgeous images and lyrical poetry, this book is both the sort of heiA lovely paean to a wilderness many of us have become disconnected from. Told in gorgeous images and lyrical poetry, this book is both the sort of heirloom book children can enjoy for ears, and also a book to be kept and perused by adults, as well. Best read outdoors....more
A very insightful, pull-no-punches look at a young George Takei and his experiences in a Japanese internment camp. The novel includes both the light aA very insightful, pull-no-punches look at a young George Takei and his experiences in a Japanese internment camp. The novel includes both the light and the dark, showing both these brief moments of childhood joy he managed to find, but also the physical conditions and the terrible political situation, which often shoved Japanese Americans into untenable catch-22s. A terribly relevant story, which should be read by anyone who wants to take an unvarnished look at America's history....more
All right. So. After picking at this book for almost a year, I decided to put it down after about 2/3 of the way through. I can't complain about the sAll right. So. After picking at this book for almost a year, I decided to put it down after about 2/3 of the way through. I can't complain about the story's quality; its characters were complex and interesting, and I enjoyed some of the vignettes early on, even some of the heavy personal tragedy. But I kept putting it down and reading other things, and it just didn't grab me enough to keep reading after a certain point. It's a heck of a doorstopper, and a really slow-moving character study. And I guess I'd been hoping, based on the cover copy, for a bit more of a mythic flavor, maybe a little more fantasy. Oh well...
In sum, it's a good book but not quite my jam. But my complaints are all based on personal taste, so don't let my review dissuade you from giving it a try if it sounds like something you'd be into!...more
Ursula Le Guin's canny insights, sharp perception, and wry humor come through in this collection of essays drawn from her blog.Ursula Le Guin's canny insights, sharp perception, and wry humor come through in this collection of essays drawn from her blog....more
With plenty of goofs, charm, soft moments, action, and drama, all brought to life by Carey Pietsch's deft artwork, this has everything for the discernWith plenty of goofs, charm, soft moments, action, and drama, all brought to life by Carey Pietsch's deft artwork, this has everything for the discerning reader of graphic-novel-adaptations-of-actual-play-D&D-podcasts. I bought this and finished reading it in one day because that is how hype I was for this. The McElroys took the opportunities presented by this adaptation to smooth out a lot of the early character and story beats, plant some fantasy Chekov's guns, and work in so many delightful visual gags. And Pietsch is doing an excellent job of building out this world that the McElroys created. I particularly love her elastic facial expressions and her luminous color handling, especially in the softer, quieter "breathing" panels that allow the reader to just take in the space.
As for the story, it's three lovable doofuses try to solve a murder mystery on a luxury train. One of the things I really enjoy about the Adventure Zone "Balance" arc was how each mini-arc was set in a different "genre", while still being at its heart a comic fantasy. The previous volume--Here They Be Gerblins--was a standard-issue dungeon crawl. But now Magnus, Merle, and Taako have to blend in on a fancy train while constantly debating who is going to play the role of the murder victim so they can reclaim his luggage, which contains a powerful magical weapon of mass destruction. Along the way, Magnus slaps a juicy wizard, Taako mourns a drink cart, and Merle tries to evangelize at a boy detective. It makes sense in context.
Anyway, do yourself a favor and read this. You won't be disappointed....more
This is a beautiful book, chronicling the growing romance between two time-traveling agents on opposite sides of a time war. The book drifts through fThis is a beautiful book, chronicling the growing romance between two time-traveling agents on opposite sides of a time war. The book drifts through fantastic alternate earths of potential futures and impossible pasts, told in a series of letters between rival agents Red and Blue. The science fiction elements are almost poetic in their soft abstractions and sensory images. And Red and Blue are fantastic characters, lovely in their complex inner lives. It's a clever, inventive book that tells an old story in a new and distinctive way. Definitely worth the read!...more
So, on first glance, this book seemed tailor-made for me. A beautiful book of fairy tales retold from a perspective of feminine power? That is one of So, on first glance, this book seemed tailor-made for me. A beautiful book of fairy tales retold from a perspective of feminine power? That is one of my many jams. However, the execution was rather so-so. While there are some moments of beauty and originality here, the author brings precious little that's new to this well-trod ground, even as the poems present themselves as shocking truth-bombs. Also, I was a little disappointed that some of the poems seemed to be responding to/deconstructing not so much the original fairy tales, but the Disney movie versions. So some of the poems and short prose pieces feel less like fairy tale retellings and more like dark Disney AU fanfic or headcanons trying too hard to be "edgy."
Writers have been pulling from this well for decades and many of them have done it more deftly. I don't know how old Gill is, but the impression I got was that this was a young writer who has not yet mastered the full alchemical power of her word-smithing; and who is not so much building on the works of her predecessors so much as unaware that she has predecessors. But I do think that Gill can improve her skill with time & practice. And I think many younger women and girls may find these poems insightful, resonant, and valuable to them.
As a side note, I don't often mention this in reviews, but this particular book is lovely as a physical artifact. The cover art is excellent, the interior art (drawn by Gill herself) shows a lot of skill, and it's just a nice thing to hold in my hands....more
A really fun, light-hearted read about women taking over a castle and redefining their lives and their society after all the men are killed by a wizarA really fun, light-hearted read about women taking over a castle and redefining their lives and their society after all the men are killed by a wizard. I really enjoyed the song parodies (The Ten Joust Pronouncements!! <3), the delightful and diverse characters, and the aspirational message. The writer and artists clearly know their intended audience and give us the women-led magical fantasy romp we all crave!
My only critique would be that sometimes the scene pacing felt rushed or clunky. I think the story might benefit if the artists experimented more with page and panel composition, in order to give action sequences greater impact and allow slower, more thoughtful scenes to breathe. ...more
A really good, dark subversion of the 'teens get sucked into an RPG' story. I could personally deal with a bit less Eye Scream, but that's a matter ofA really good, dark subversion of the 'teens get sucked into an RPG' story. I could personally deal with a bit less Eye Scream, but that's a matter of personal squeamishness. I'm intrigued by the characters and curious to see where it goes!...more
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