Newest Graphic Novels Reviews
From TheBookbag
Graphic novels
Superman: Redemption by Kurt Busiek
Right from the get-go there was some criticism that the creators of Superman had simply invented a messiah figure for their own amusement. Whether that kind of talk was anti-Semitic comment against Siegel and Shuster, it has to be said that there are similarities – an only son, landing on earth to help the human race he is not exactly a part of, all the while being highly unlikely to truly die. Perhaps people were reading too much into a character that only wanted to outrun a speeding bullet, and to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Full review...
Alice on Deadlines v.2 by Shiro Ihara
Ah, this book brought back memories. The way the reaver from the spirit world had crash-landed on Earth into the form of a teenage schoolgirl, and began instantly lusting after more of the same, alongside the sheerest, frilliest, sexiest undies, and the way the girl's soul ended up in a skeleton, walking around and sometimes helping out destroy other nasties… Full review...
Dark Wraith of Shannara by Terry Brooks
I should probably start this review by confessing that I've never read any of Terry Brooks' work before. As a completely new reader, I was both excited and intimidated to read and review Dark Wraith of Shannara. The blurb declares it as an ideal opportunity to venture into the world of Shannara for the first time, however, I think whoever wrote it was being a bit optimistic. Full review...
Y Square by Judith Park
At his local high school, our hero Yoshi just cannot work out why the girls are not attracted to him. It might have something to do with his brash, foot-in-mouth approach, or just bad luck, but whatever, he turns to the stereotypical local babe-magnet. Except the hunk is not exactly what he seems. The main girl, the prettiest, bitchiest object of desire, is not what she seems either. And further girls on the horizon can only bring out jealousies, problems, and everything else you might expect. Full review...
Black God: v. 2 (Black God) by Dall-Young Lim
A lot has happened in the world of comics and manga since I reviewed the first volume of Black God. Heck, even Captain America managed to die ('not too great a loss', I hear you knowledgably mutter). So coming to this second book after turning many a page of many other conflicting and diverse comic worlds since reading the first is a little like coming to the series anew. Full review...
Zombie-Loan: v. 2 (Zombie-Loan) by Peach-Pit
I deliberately did not re-read the first volume in this series, or even my review of it, before planning this review – wishing instead to see how obvious, how immediate, and how penetrable the second part could be as a stand-alone read. You can thank me for being so brave later. Full review...
Heroes Volume One by Chuck Kim and others
Heroes Volume One contains the first 34 instalments of the continuing online graphic novel that features on the official NBC Heroes website. Despite the apparent mismatch of numbers (34 instalments to 23 episodes) this Volume is intended as a companion to the first series of Heroes, recently aired on BBC2. Anyone who was not a fan of the series, or did not watch it, should turn away now, as this book is completely meaningless without some background knowledge of the show and its characters. Full review...
Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley
The Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series has slowly but surely been building up their own little cult over the last few years and it's not hard to see why. Drawn in a crude but effective black and white anime style, these pop culture and video game literate books have a geeky appeal, being a delirious mix of a sci-fi love story and coming of age tale, featuring a great ensemble of characters and having a tendency for breaking into anime style OTT battles. ANd with an adaptation to film soon by the very cool Hot Fuzz and Shawn of the Dead director Edgar Wright, this series seems set to burst out of its niche bubble. Full review...
Angel Fire by Chris Blythe and Steven Parkhouse
John Dury and his partner Zee are businessmen you would find it hard to like. Hard-hitting, go-getting types, they spend their leisure hours taking drugs, and their company time making smash-and-grab raids on family firms, carving them up and selling the relics off piecemeal. Their boss, Mr Belial, rewards their more amoral business successes with escorts in their scanties, and yet more narcotics – the trendiest street drug of which is Angel Fire, a new chemical that can easily take you to heaven. Full review...
Tamara Drewe by Posy Simmonds
Tamara Drewe is not the woman she used to be. Plastic surgery has altered the shape of her nose and with a trendy wardrobe she has all the confidence she needs. She quickly captivates the local men when she returns to Ewedown to clear her mother's house after her recent death. Everyone, male and female, seems to be drawn to Tamara. Well, everyone except Beth Hardiman. Full review...
