Category: Graphic Novel

Title: Super Sons, Volume 1: When I Grow Up
Author: Peter J. Tomasi
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: October 17, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Superboy (aka Jonathan Kent) and Robin (aka Damian Wayne) make their super hero duo debut in this all-new series SUPER SONS, part of DC Rebirth.

This debut series looks at the lives of Robin and Superboy and their destiny to follow in their fathers’ footsteps, while we meet a new villain whose ascension parallels the boys’ own understanding of their powers-except that he believes it’s his right to rule over every being on the planet!

Review:

This is a funny graphic novel.

I like that it’s aimed at a young adult audience, though it could be entertaining for adults too. Many DC comics are for adults, and some are for kids, but this one fits nicely in the middle.

Robin and Superboy make an unlikely team. They don’t always succeed in defeating the villain. Actually, they often end up trapped. But that makes for comical situations.

Their families make small appearances in the story, but it mostly focuses on the sons. I like this, since I find that many spin off series can focus too much on background information. Damian and Jon are the sons of Batman and Superman, but their fathers aren’t featured in the story. They boys get to go off and have their own adventures.

I liked this graphic novel and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!

Title: The Comic Book Story of Video Games
Author: Jonathan Hennessey, Jack McGowan
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: October 3, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A complete, illustrated history of video games–highlighting the machines, games, and people who have made gaming a worldwide, billion dollar industry/artform–told in a graphic novel format.

Author Jonathan Hennessey and illustrator Jack McGowan present the first full-color, chronological origin story for this hugely successful, omnipresent artform and business. Hennessey provides readers with everything they need to know about video games–from their early beginnings during World War II to the emergence of arcade games in the 1970s to the rise of Nintendo to today’s app-based games like Angry Birds and Pokemon Go. Hennessey and McGowan also analyze the evolution of gaming as an artform and its impact on society. Each chapter features spotlights on major players in the development of games and gaming that contains everything that gamers and non-gamers alike need to understand and appreciate this incredible phenomenon.

Review:

I liked this comic book history of video games.

It gives a thorough history of video games, right from the invention of TVs. It’s fascinating to see how far back the idea of video games goes.

I liked the way that classic video game characters, such as Mario and Sonic, appear throughout the history. It reinforces the video game theme.

Some points in the book were a little dry. There were a lot of details about the World Wars that were boring at times. But the story was always brought back to video games, even if it took a while.

I recommend this book for video game players, especially children, because it teaches about history from a video game perspective.

Title: Wonder Woman, Volume 1: The Lies
Author: Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp, Laura Martin
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: Purchased
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

New York Times best-selling writer Greg Rucka returns to Wonder Woman! After suffering an unimaginable loss, Diana must rebuild her mission as Earth’s ultimate protector and champion. However, in the midst of her grief, her Lasso of Truth stopped working! Start down the rabbit hole as dark secrets from Wonder Woman’s past unravel her present!

Review:

This is my first Wonder Woman comic, and I really liked it. 

The graphics are amazing in this graphic novel. They are very realistic and detailed. There wasn’t as much dialogue as I expected, so the illustrations are important to the story. Everything from the scenery to the costumes are spectacular. 

I liked this introduction to the character and her story. I liked Wonder Woman right away. She’s a beautiful character. 

I didn’t watch the recent Wonder Woman movie, but I really want to now that I’ve read this story. 

Title: Suicide Squad, Vol. 1: The Black Vault
Author: Rob Williams, Jim Lee
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: Purchased
Release Date: March 7, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Harley Quinn. Deadshot. Killer Croc. Enchantress. Captain Boomerang. Katana. They’re dangerous. They’re deadly. They’re deeply unstable. And they’re our only hope. They’re the characters from the smash-hit film and they’re here in this great new starting-point graphic novel, SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 1: THE BLACK VAULT, as part of DC Rebirth!

Assembled by the tough-as-nails intelligence expert Amanda Waller and overseen by disgraced military genius Captain Rick Flag, the men, women and monsters of the Suicide Squad—a.k.a. Task Force X—do the jobs that are too dirty for any superheroes to soil their capes over.

Their latest mission should be easy enough: recover a powerful cosmic weapon called the Black Vault from enemy hands. But what happens when the Black Vault begins turning them into their own worst enemies?

As the object’s dark influence spreads and the team is driven to madness and mayhem (more than usual, that is), there’s only one person sane enough to save the Squad from certain destruction…the Clown Princess of Crazy herself, Harley Quinn!

Review:

After reading Harley Quinn graphic novels, I decided to try out the Suicide Squad, to see her in her glory. This is a great introduction to this group.

This graphic novel was never boring! It was exciting to see the group fighting together. I always had to laugh when Harley messed something up (can you tell she’s my favourite?).

The main story was fairly short. The last half introduced each of the characters individually. Since I wasn’t familiar with most of these characters, I liked reading these mini stories.

I also liked how Waller was the clear leader of the group. She brings them all together, out of their prison cells, and tries to direct their destructive tendencies toward fighting evil.

I enjoyed this graphic novel. It’s a great start to this series.

Title: Rust: Boy Soldier
Author: Royden Lepp
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The story of the Boy Soldier begins!

Made to look like a boy but built for battle, Jet Jones is a robot caught in the middle of an ongoing war. While trying to save as many people as he can, Jet discovers there is more to who he is and what he was made for than he could have ever imagined. His experiences in the war set him off on a journey to learn what it means to both hero and human. It is the first adventure of many for the rocket boy.

Review:

This is a beautiful graphic novel.

I loved the images in this story. It has a sepia colour scheme, which gives it a flashback quality to it. The artist was able to convey perspective very well. Some parts would be in focus while the rest of the panel was out of focus, making it look three dimensional.

I also like the way this story shows the consequences of using artificial intelligence in war. Jet has a conscience so he feels bad about what he does, leading him to wonder if he should continue fighting in the war.

After I read this book, I discovered it is the prequel to a series. It was a quick read but I understood it without that background information. I will have to look for the rest of the series!

Title: Harley Quinn, Volume 3: Red Meat
Author: Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

NetGalley Synopsis:

The Suicide Squad’s deadliest member continues to wreak havoc all across the DC Universe in the latest installment of her best-selling graphic novel series in HARLEY QUINN VOL. 3!

Harley’s managed to carve out a kind of peace with New York’s corrupt mayor…but once she gets wind of his plans for the city’s homeless population, the deal is most definitely off! She’ll have to take the fight to City Hall–but who will be her ally in her most desperate hour?

Review:

There were many different subplots in this new volume. Personally, there wasn’t enough Harley in it for me. But I still loved the graphic novel.

One subplot has the cannibals that the mayor’s assistant brought to town to kill all the homeless people. Harley’s sadness at the disappearance of the homeless show how caring she is.

Another subplot is a former Arkham Asylum inmate who has been sent on a quest. This story wasn’t really connected to Harley yet, but I think in the next volume it will become clearer.

The third subplot is a Batman fan from the future who is sent back in time to kill Harley. The ending of this one was so amazing! I loved the twist.

Once again, this was another thrilling Volume in the Harley Quinn rebirth series. I can’t wait for the next one!

Title: Harley Quinn, Volume 2: Joker Loves Harley
Author: Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: Purchased
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Harley Quinn’s punk-rock epic concludes with a BANG. Too deep and not covered enough, their undercover mission comes to an end as the gang takes on thieves and murderers. All the laughs and some of the quacks are all here.

Taking a break comes with unexpected woes when Harley and Ivy head to the Bahamas for sun-kissed beaches and ice-cold drinks.

Review:

Harley is back for more adventures! 

I love this girl! She’s so hilarious. All her catch phrases are awesome. I really laughed at each of the comics in this volumes. 

These stories were unpredictable. I liked the addition of the Joker and seeing his interactions with Harley. 

Harley’s fighter side and her innocent girlie side are both shown in these comics. She shows what a fighter she is when she confronts the Joker. But when she gets to see Santa, she becomes a little girl again, lining up with all the kids to tell him what she wants for Christmas. These dual sides of Harley work very well together and make her the funny and entertaining character that she is. 

I’m excited for Volume 3 to come out in a couple of weeks. I’ll be reviewing it when it’s released! 

My review for Harley Quinn, Volume 1: Die Laughing can be found here. 

Title: Allen, Son of Hellcock
Author: Will Tracy, Gabe Koplowitz
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Z2 Comics
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: August 29, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The son of the greatest barbarian who ever lived is thrust into a quest that, frankly, he’d rather sit out.

Long before darkness descended upon the realm, Mungletown was protected by noble heroes led by the great loin-clothed warrior Hellcock. So fearsome was his might that . . . well, actually, a dragon eats him on page nine. But never mind that! Years later he’s still hanging around as a ghost to cajole his disappointment of a son, Allen, into taking up the mantle and becoming a proper heir to the Hellcock legacy. But Allen prefers a simpler life of eating sandwiches, drawing his own pretty terrible comic books, and being afraid to talk to girls. When Kaarl, the son of Hellcock’s retired nemesis Lord Krong, attacks the town to break up the monotony of peacetime, only local rabble-rouser Madeleine stands up to him. In a desperate bid to impress her, Allen decides to get Hellcock’s old band of adventurers back together and take the fight to Kaarl. Without much of a plan or any useful skills, what happens next is quite painful to witness.

From the comedic minds of Will Tracy (The Onion, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver) and Gabe Koplowitz (VICELAND), ALLEN, SON OF HELLCOCK has it all: washed-up sorcerers and swordsmen, terrifying horse-donkeys, sensitive ogres, fashionable elves, ornery minotaur landlords, an exceedingly polite retired despot, a black-hearted but oddly lovable villain, an idealistic young woman who’s the only one with any brains, and a would-be warrior who can’t seem to escape his own hackneyed destiny . . .

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I laughed out loud many times.

Allen is not the typical son of a hero. He’s nerdy and weak. He’s not like Thor, who is just as strong as his father, and able to complete his father’s tasks. This story takes that typical father-son heroic story and flips it.

There were many strange creatures along the way, that were just so weird and funny. They met horse-donkeys, animals with the head of a horse and body of a donkey. Everyone was freaked out by these creatures, even though they look pretty ordinary. There were also owls wearing hats and three foot tall “giants.”

There was a point when the creators of the book appeared in the story. I love when this meta technique is used, drawing attention to the fact that this is a graphic novel.

There were some graphic parts of the story (i.e. A head being ripped off a body) and lots of sexual innuendo, so this book is for a mature audience.

This was a really funny story. You should read it if you want to read something a little different from the typical heroic graphic novel.

Title: Harley Quinn, Volume 1: Die Laughing
Author: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: Purchased
Release Date: March 21, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Harley Quinn’s crazy world on has gotten even more crazier when an unexpected, contagious enemy comes to town! Protecting her neighborhood just got a little harder, good thing they have chainsaws!

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti continue their mammoth run on this New York Times best-selling title in Harley Quinn, Volume 1: Die Laughing!

Review:

I loved this graphic novel! This is the first Harley Quinn comic I’ve read. My only experience with her is from the movie Suicide Squad. I loved her in that movie. 

Harley is hilarious. I laughed out loud so many times. She’s constantly making mistakes and just throwing herself into the middle of fights without thinking about it first. 

The premise for the first couple of comics was so crazy. An alien came to earth and disguised himself as a cow. Then he ended up being processed and turned into hot dogs. Everyone who ate the hot dogs turned into zombies. Of course, they couldn’t find the source of their illness because how would they figure out that they ate an alien in their hot dogs? 

There were some graphic images, but they were so extreme that they just seemed ridiculous. It took away from the seriousness of the scene. 

I recommend this book if you like graphic novels. This is the first in the series.