Graphic Novel – Page 20 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Queen of the Sea

Title: Queen of the Sea
Author: Dylan Meconis
Genre: Children’s, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cult graphic novelist Dylan Meconis offers a rich reimagining of history in this hybrid novel loosely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary.
When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself.

Review:

I love reading adaptations of true events. This graphic novel tells an alternative story about Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary I. Their names are changed to Eleanor and Catherine, but the premise of the story is the same: that the daughter of the King banished her half-sister from the kingdom so that she couldn’t steal her throne.

I’ve read other books about Queen Elizabeth I, so I know the story of what happened. This book follows Margaret, who is a fictional character. She lives on the convent island, which houses Eleanor (the Elizabeth character) while she hides from her sister. This story includes mysterious shipwrecks, spies, and a hidden cave, which were not part of the true history. These aspects make it an exciting story for a children’s graphic novel.

This is a fun story! I loved it!

Thank you Candlewick Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Stranger Things: The Other Side

Title: Stranger Things: The Other Side
Author: Jody Houser, Stefano Martino, Keith Champagne
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The hit Netflix series from the Duffer Brothers is now a spine-tingling comic that recounts Will Beyers’ harrowing survival in the treacherous Upside Down!
When Will Byers finds himself in the Upside Down, an impossible dark parody of his own world, he’s understandably frightened. But that’s nothing compared with the fear that takes hold when he realizes what’s in that world with him!
Follow Will’s struggle through the season one events of the hit Netflix show Stranger Things! Written by Jody Houser (Mother Panic, Faith) and illustrated by Stefano Martino (Doctor Who, Catwoman)

Review:

I love the show Stranger Things, so I’m excited about the new books about the show that are coming out.

This graphic novel is about Will’s time spent in the Upside Down. It wasn’t a very exciting story, especially if you’ve already watched the show. There were some flashbacks to him playing dungeons and dragons with his friends, but most of the story wasn’t new.

The illustrations could have been more detailed. The characters faces looked flat, without realistic details. I could tell who the characters were just based on their clothes from the show, but they didn’t really look like the real actors.

I was a little disappointed in this graphic novel. I hope the novels about Stranger Things are better.

Review: Just Jaime

Title: Just Jaime
Author: Terri Libenson
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Another spot-on story of middle school drama and friendship from Terri Libenson, national bestselling author of Invisible Emmie and Positively Izzy.
Friends. Frenemies. Middle school…
The last day of seventh grade has Jaime and Maya wondering who their real friends are.
Jaime knows something is off with her friend group. They’ve started to exclude her and make fun of the way she dresses and the things she likes. At least she can count on her BFF, Maya, to have her back . . . right?
Maya feels more and more annoyed with Jaime, who seems babyish compared to the other girls in their popular group. It’s like she has nothing in common with Jai anymore. Are their days as BFFs numbered . . . ?
Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jennifer L. Holm.

Review:

I really enjoyed this new graphic novel!

This story shows what can happen when kids grow up and grow apart. Jaime didn’t wear make up or want to do the same things as her other friends, so her friends wanted to cut her out of their group. It wasn’t fair to Jaime, but she ended up making new friends. It’s common for friends to drift apart, especially during preteen years, so this book is very relatable.

All of the books in this series have a twist at the end, where you discover something about a character that you never expected. The twist at the end of Invisible Emmie was kind of creepy, but the twist in this book was really clever. I didn’t see it coming.

This is a great story!

Review: Captain Ginger

Title: Captain Ginger
Author: Stuart Moore
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Publisher: Ahoy Comics
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: ebook
Release Date: June 18, 2019
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Now in one volume: the acclaimed tale of a starship run by cats! The intrepid Captain Ginger struggles to keep his fellow felines united against a hostile universe―and their own worst feline instincts, too. Featuring the entire original miniseries, plus two rare extra stories and a sketchbook of character designs.

Review:

This book started out great but it got quite strange by the end.

This story is an imagining of Star Trek cast with cats. There were tons of cat jokes throughout the story. There was a character called Sargent Mittens. Their enemy targeted them by sending laser lights to distract them. One cat even had a ton of kittens that overcrowded the ship!

The story took a strange turn by the end. One cat was transformed into an omniscient being that could create new parts of the ship. It was very weird and quite creepy.

This book could have been clever, but it was just too strange for me.

Thank you Diamond Book Distributors for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you read Captain Ginger? What did you think of it?

Review: Jasmine: Crown of Kings

Title: Jasmine: Crown of Kings
Author: Howard Mackie, Deivis Goetten
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Publisher: Zenescope
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: ebook
Release Date: June 11, 2019
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When a fiery explosion erupts in the ancient city of Petra, Jasmine races against the terrorist group THE FORTY THIEVES to prevent the shattered pieces of the Crown of Kings, an object that haunts her past from being reunited and unleashing an unearthly power on the world and all that she holds dear. Collects Jasmine Crown of Kings #1 – 5.

Review:

I was interested in reading this book, since there has been a renewal in interest in Aladdin with the new movie. However, this graphic novel didn’t work for me.

Jasmine is a tough character in this story. She used to have magic, but now she is trying to stop Aladdin from stealing pieces of a crown. She ends up helping him when he can’t figure out what to do. She was a more powerful character than in the original story, because she has her own magic and fighting skills.

I didn’t like the illustrations in this book. The colors were dark, but that may have been just the e-ARC I was reading. The costumes could have been better. Jasmine was wearing revealing outfits, which didn’t match with her new active role. The book could have been much better if the illustrations were better.

Thank you Diamond Book Distributors for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you read Jasmine: Crown of Kings? What did you think of it?

Review: Manga Classics: Macbeth

Title: Manga Classics: Macbeth
Author: Stacy King, Crystal S. Chan, William Shakespeare, Julien Choy
Genre: Manga, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: ebook
Release Date: September 1, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Macbeth, the Thane of Cawdor, is a loyal subject to Duncan, the King of Scotland. At least, he used to be. With tempting words and treacherous images, three witches and his own wife inspire Macbeth to a terrible act of treason and murder. As one murder follows another, Macbeth begins to lose his grip upon both his sanity and his hard-won kingdom – but what could possibly unseat him from his bloody throne?
Featuring lush visuals and the FULL, ORIGINAL TEXT
of Shakespeare’s brutal Scottish tragedy, Macbeth is the second title in Manga Classics ‘ Shakespeare line, an unflinching version of this classic tale!

Review:

I read Macbeth in high school many years ago. I don’t remember all the details of it, so I wanted to read this Manga Classic graphic novel as a refresher. It was a great adaptation.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s madness was illustrated very well in this graphic novel. Macbeth start out as a fairly good, ambitious character. As he grows in status and kills people, he developed shadows on his face and aged a lot. I liked the way his madness changed his appearance.

I also liked the way the metaphors were illustrated in the pictures. There were many animal metaphors, including snakes and bears. When they were mentioned in dialogue, they were accompanied by an image of the animal. This reinforced the written text.

I love these Manga Classics! They are great adaptations of classic plays and novels!

Thank you Udon Entertainment for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet by Stacy King, William Shakespeare

Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo by Stacy King, Alexandre Dumas

Have you read Manga Classics: Macbeth? What did you think of it?

Review: The Golden Lion (Cleopatra in Space #4)

Title: The Golden Lion (Cleopatra in Space #4)
Author: Mike Maihack
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Graphix
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cleo is back at Yasiro Academy, recovering from the tragic events that occurred on planet Hykosis. She feels responsible for the death of her friend Zaid, and trains nonstop. And when she learns that the Golden Lion — a star with immeasurable energy that could destroy them all if weaponized — has been located, she goes alone to the snowy, icy planet Cada’duun to find it. There, she faces off with a new enemy who has been instructed to destroy the Golden Lion… and her.

Review:

This is a fun series about Cleopatra in space.

Cleo is just a regular kid, even though she is the prophesied queen from ancient Egypt. She disobeys her teachers and doesn’t keep up with her algebra homework. However, she faces much bigger consequences than an ordinary kid would face by doing the same things. She travels to distant planets and almost becomes trapped when she can’t communicate with a group of people who speak only in equations.

There is tons of action in these graphic novels. I think they would be great for reluctant readers, because there are a lot of pages without a lot of dialogue. There are some fantastic battle scenes, which look like the characters are really moving. I love the art in these comics.

I highly recommend this fun series!

Review: Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, Vol. 2: The Weeping Angels of Mons

Title: Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, Vol. 2: The Weeping Angels of Mons
Author: Robbie Morrison, Daniel Indro, Elena Casagrande
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Publisher: Titan Comics
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: June 30, 2015
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The second collection of the sell-out smash new Tenth Doctor series, from award-winning writer Robbie Morrison (Spider-Man, Drowntown, Nikolai Dante) and Daniel Indro (Sherlock Holmes, Green Hornet), sends the Doctor and new companion Gabriella Gonzalez hurtling back into the past – and into the trenches of World War One!

Bombed by the German artillery, arrested as spies by the British, Gabby and the Doctor soon learn that there’s something even worse moving in the gas and wreathes of smoke out in No Man’s Land… stone statues who move only when you’re not looking at them! The Weeping Angels have come to feed on the futures of young soldiers — in their hundreds of thousands!

It’s an unmissable historical epic!

Cover by comics superstar Tommy Lee Edwards (TURF, 1985)!

Collects Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #6-10.

Review:

The Weeping Angels are one of my favourite creatures from Doctor Who. They are statues of angels, which “kill” their victims by sending them back in time so they lose all their loved ones and the life they know. The only way to stop them is to look at them, which means not blinking.

The Weeping Angels target the World War One battlefield in this story because they can “feed” on many people all at once. The story is plausible, since so many people went missing and were never seen again during the war. This graphic novel even shows the lives that some of the soldiers lived after being sent back to the previous century.

I loved this book! The Angels were so creepy. There was a lot of historical significance since it took place during World War One. Gabby, the Doctor’s companion, wasn’t on the TV show, but she’s a great character in the graphic novels. This could also be read as a standalone story, if you haven’t read the first graphic novel in the series.

I love the Doctor Who comics! I highly recommend them for fans of the show!

Review: The Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #2)

Title: The Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #2)
Author: Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Seventh grade has been surprisingly quiet for Percy Jackson. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get…well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of his friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.

In the follow-up to the wildly popular The Lightning Thief, The Graphic Novel, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family–one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon’s son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

Featuring a faithful adaptation by Robert Venditti, stunning artwork by Attila Futaki, and sumptuous colors by newcomer Tamas Gaspar, Rick Riordan’s blockbuster book comes to life in The Sea of Monsters, The Graphic Novel.

Review:

This was a fun graphic novel!

I loved the original novel, The Sea of Monsters. It mirrors the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer. In the Odyssey, Odysseus faces many challenges on his way home from the Trojan war, including surviving encounters with the sorceress Circe and the cyclops Polyphemus. In this story, Percy goes on a quest with his friends to save his friend Grover and retrieve the Golden Fleece to save his camp. He also encounters Circe and Polyphemus on his journey.

This graphic novel was true to the novel. It has been a while since I read the novel, but this story was exactly the way I remembered it. The graphics were detailed as well. I loved seeing these characters come to life on the page.

I loved this graphic novel! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Review: Kristy’s Big Day (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #6)

It wasn’t until I started reading this book that I realized I’ve never read the original story. I knew that Kristy’s mother got remarried, but I didn’t know the story behind the wedding.

Title: Kristy’s Big Day (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #6)
Author: Gale Galligan, Ann M. Martin
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Graphic
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kristy’s mom is getting married, and Kristy is going to be a bridesmaid! The only trouble is, fourteen kids are coming in town for the wedding. Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, Stacey, Dawn, and Mallory think they can handle it, but that’s before they spend a week changing diapers, stopping arguments, solving mix-ups, and planning activities. It’s the biggest job the BSC has ever had, but they’ll work together to make sure Kristy’s big day is a success!

Review:

It wasn’t until I started reading this book that I realized I’ve never read the original story. I knew that Kristy’s mother got remarried, but I didn’t know the story behind the wedding.

I was always fascinated with Watson’s house when I was a kid, so it was so cool to finally see it again in the images. His house has enough rooms for all 6 kids to have their own bedroom, even when they have to split their time between their other parents. There is also a ghost that lives in the attic, as well as multiple pets. This always seemed like a fun and huge house to live in!

One thing I love about this series is that it discusses real issues that kids have to deal with, while also maintaining their friend group. These include dealing with difficult siblings, medical issues, and moving to a new house. In this story, Kristy’s family is combining with her new stepfather’s family and she is moving to his new house which is across town.

I loved this graphic novel! I’m excited to see the series continue.

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What to read next:

Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

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What to read next:

Stranger Things:Runaway Max by Brenna Yovanoff

How to Survive in a Stranger Things World by Matthew J. Gilbert

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What to read next:

Invisible Emma by Terri Libenson

Positively Izzy by Terri Libenson

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What to read next:

Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet by Stacy King, William Shakespeare

Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo by Stacy King, Alexandre Dumas

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What to read next:

Fallen Empires (Cleopatra in Space #5) by Mike Maihack

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What to read next:

Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, Vol. 3: The Fountains of Forever by Nick Abadiz, Elena Casagrande, Arianna Florean

Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor, Vol. 1: After Life by Al Ewing, Rob Williams, Simon Frazer

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What to read next:

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan

The Titan’s Curse: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #3) by Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti

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What to read next:

Kristy’s Big Day (The Baby-Sitters Club #6) by Ann M. Martin

Best Babysitters Ever by Caroline Cala

Stranger Things:
Runaway Max by Brenna Yovanoff