tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68707787801515326032024-03-14T15:38:35.914-04:00Graphic Novel ResourcesA site for links and information about graphic novels for anyone interested in reading them.
I hope that you find my posts informative, useful, or entertaining.
Thanks for stopping by!Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.comBlogger1030125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-29672180675163257162023-11-05T12:00:00.004-05:002024-01-31T11:18:03.750-05:00Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Above the Trenches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzT8117-G8VZfeM1PMnDxxFdQ_L6XakTx8MG2RAiJMHb88NqRaHUrnVnbVac-1dK6wm_0eNdcjVxmnvBfB06QXlEHFO5bpJcujLXVr-q-b2vhlDl1PK1yZNTnUdr7sFOJmekMrpMW0MhGtj8BEYE85B5LQH_EDWUM9c4qX58w3X9ExIR4l7V4ny_7VmBli/s1241/NHHT_AbovetheTrenches.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzT8117-G8VZfeM1PMnDxxFdQ_L6XakTx8MG2RAiJMHb88NqRaHUrnVnbVac-1dK6wm_0eNdcjVxmnvBfB06QXlEHFO5bpJcujLXVr-q-b2vhlDl1PK1yZNTnUdr7sFOJmekMrpMW0MhGtj8BEYE85B5LQH_EDWUM9c4qX58w3X9ExIR4l7V4ny_7VmBli/s320/NHHT_AbovetheTrenches.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have read and reviewed every graphic novel in this series (<a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/search/label/Nathan%20Hale%27s%20Hazardous%20Tales" target="_blank">go see</a>), and this one is a sequel of sorts to <i><a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2014/11/treaties-trenches-mud-and-blood.html" target="_blank">Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood</a> </i>in that it also is about World War I. However, this one does not look at the broad scope of the war but at a specific area, namely the origins of aerial combat. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6aIpwAQvtgAe0J3p8yBKoUXsdRH-palQBiA6AhY25Xhq8v8XJ4LWpZNjsmnBQgQcnpDObPGAwOCFwa_YXp6xkDU-b6nRTV1-_T__lsKdSGFQugH4qrKW_-lwGB8OWb9uKepdlwsKqlWoikJULhrpT7x_c07Ywm5gfv36Sf4lksCtZK8o9eOCmZ8UVLh5/s1145/NHHT_AbovetheTrenches_4_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1145" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6aIpwAQvtgAe0J3p8yBKoUXsdRH-palQBiA6AhY25Xhq8v8XJ4LWpZNjsmnBQgQcnpDObPGAwOCFwa_YXp6xkDU-b6nRTV1-_T__lsKdSGFQugH4qrKW_-lwGB8OWb9uKepdlwsKqlWoikJULhrpT7x_c07Ywm5gfv36Sf4lksCtZK8o9eOCmZ8UVLh5/s320/NHHT_AbovetheTrenches_4_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>It is crazy to think that people took their lives into their own hands in early airplanes and even crazier than not even ten years after man-powered flight was invented that someone thought to use these vehicles for war. At first, they were used to scout troop movements and plan assaults, then they were used to drop bombs, and finally someone had the bright idea to strap guns onto them. </p><p>At the time, just flying an airplane was somewhat a daredevil enterprise, with lots of risk involved and little in the way of safety equipment. This book follows a small group of brave (or foolhardy, depending on your viewpoint) young Americans who enlisted in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Foreign_Legion" target="_blank">French Foreign Legion</a> in order to take part in a war that the USA had not yet entered. Their intention was to become pilots and help fight in the skies, and this book chronicles the long, bumpy road many of them took in order to become soldiers. Spoiler: As people who engage in highly dangerous situations they also frequently smoke and drink. Also, most of them die or get killed over the course of the war.<br /></p><p>What is excellent about this book is how it puts a human face on the war. There are many stark, pronounced personalities among the pilots, and it is very easy to get to know and root for them. Also, as with all the other volumes in this series, there are plenty of details that make the past come to life. Among the various topics also at hand are the intricacies of dog-fighting, string of technical innovations, military developments, and a code of honor among all pilots. </p><p>It is amazing to me that this book not only encompasses so much information but also communicates it clearly while also making for a compelling, human story. And I have not even mentioned how many visual references must have gone into depicting the intricate uniforms, planes, and people involved in the war. From the lack of reviews I have found online, not many people review the twelfth entry in a series, but I feel it bears repeating just how marvelous and exceptional this book and the entire series are. The art is phenomenal, the stories moving, and the facts fascinating. <i>NHHT </i>continues to be the gold standard for nonfiction graphic novels.<br /></p><p>Author <a href="https://www.shannonassociates.com/nathanhale" target="_blank">Nathan Hale</a>
(not related to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Hale" target="_blank">Revolutionary War spy</a>) is a highly
accomplished graphic novelist, so much so that I named one
of my annual favorites list categories after him. Aside from his great
success with this
<a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/search/label/Nathan%20Hale%27s%20Hazardous%20Tales" target="_blank">series</a>, he has also published the fictional graphic novels <i><a href="https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/the-mighty-bite" target="_blank">The Mighty Bite</a></i>, <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2017/06/one-trick-pony.html" target="_blank"><i>One Trick Pony</i></a> and <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2019/07/apocalypse-taco.html" target="_blank"><i>Apocalypse Taco</i></a>. He has also drawn a few others, including <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2013/05/rapunzels-revenge.html" target="_blank"><i>Rapunzel's Revenge</i></a> and <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2013/05/calamity-jack.html" target="_blank"><i>Calamity Jack</i></a>. </p><p><i>Above the Trenches </i>was published by <a href="https://www.abramsbooks.com/imprints/amuletbooks/" target="_blank">Amulet Books</a>, and they offer more information about it <a href="https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/above-the-trenches-nathan-hales-hazardous-tales-12_9781419749520/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-80745775394032929342023-10-30T12:00:00.114-04:002023-12-07T22:48:11.815-05:00Hell Phone: Book One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDRFltHEPV8zmNiqkc5NnsW7ouzSuJswZ64aUfca2QcugbvVfu1x8kKJ2mGOhACLSZG0_17SvazBG9RLRFEu0qObLqramsoymWTZ623UdAPuF31IVEAJYJDCUMLr6oLo4MktB1P8qM0OZkzuPVg5x7lP1bgQtwkYiBbzPBt19alHQw8LF6x_xDujmoIWp/s1280/HellPhone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="896" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDRFltHEPV8zmNiqkc5NnsW7ouzSuJswZ64aUfca2QcugbvVfu1x8kKJ2mGOhACLSZG0_17SvazBG9RLRFEu0qObLqramsoymWTZ623UdAPuF31IVEAJYJDCUMLr6oLo4MktB1P8qM0OZkzuPVg5x7lP1bgQtwkYiBbzPBt19alHQw8LF6x_xDujmoIWp/s320/HellPhone.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sometimes, I just have to read a good, creepy story, and <i>Hell Phone</i> fits the bill perfectly. It's the story of a couple of hip (my word, not theirs) best friends and next-door-neighbors, Sissy and Lola, who happen upon a stray flip phone. Strangely the outdated phone continues to ring until they answer it, and when they do they get cryptic directives that lead them all over town. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnONyslmSo3-Ka3_Dshwu3G7tVa9in8vwokBiArOzdX8uFmxVjyEFHY5FDNUhsEt8D9ZTa8GxdMRjlK999dO-YkIg7WXi3ogKQYnaCr6TqLY2WUI6FpxS4rPSXB9rUWLrWxyJrtVVtoQf43GCnjDjXoRPEDD40OQcetyibhdIxTYQs9iBccmSWXeZOVjO/s2747/Hell-Phone-Book-1-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2747" data-original-width="1945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnONyslmSo3-Ka3_Dshwu3G7tVa9in8vwokBiArOzdX8uFmxVjyEFHY5FDNUhsEt8D9ZTa8GxdMRjlK999dO-YkIg7WXi3ogKQYnaCr6TqLY2WUI6FpxS4rPSXB9rUWLrWxyJrtVVtoQf43GCnjDjXoRPEDD40OQcetyibhdIxTYQs9iBccmSWXeZOVjO/s320/Hell-Phone-Book-1-2.png" width="227" /></a></div><p>Spoiler: Whoever the guy is, he's not a hermit, and he was not in that house. I won't spoil what was, but it was gross and horrifying. Of course, no one in authority believes Lola or Sissy, so they are left to their own devices in order to get to the bottom of things. </p><p>As a fan of the teens-who-solves mysteries trope, I really like this well done and contemporary take, and a lot hangs on the two main characters. They are fashionable, savvy, sort of sensible, and darkly humorous. They are also graphically depicted in a wide-eyed, colorful manner that pops. They're cool. They know the kind of story that they are in, and they know how to game the rules. The problem is that the mystery starts taking more turns and involving more people they know, so things start to spiral out of control. </p><p></p><p><i>Hell Phone </i>was created by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/benjinate/?hl=en" target="_blank">Benji Nate</a>, a comics artist and comedian. She has created a number of other graphic novels and comics, including <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2020/05/catboy.html" target="_blank"><i>Catboy</i></a>, <a href="https://store.silversprocket.net/collections/benji-nate/products/benji-nate-lorna" target="_blank"><i>Lorna</i></a>, and <i><a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/girl-juice/" target="_blank">Girl Juice</a></i>.<br /></p><p>This book was named one of the <a href="https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2023-great-graphic-novels-teens" target="_blank">2023 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens</a>, and all of the reviews I have read have been positive. <a href="https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2022/05/hell-phone-benji-nate-review/" target="_blank">Alenka Figa</a> commented on the "cute, appealing visuals and humorous dialogue." <a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/review-hell-phone-benji-nate/" target="_blank">Arpad Okay</a> gushed that this "book is establishing new territory in comics and crime pulp fiction." <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781945509827" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> called it "a quirky and stylish supernatural mystery that still hits her sweet spot of slice-of-life friendship comics."</p><p><i>Hell Phone</i> was published by <a href="https://www.silversprocket.net/" target="_blank">Silver Sprocket</a>, and they offer a preview and more info <a href="https://www.silversprocket.net/hell-phone-book-one/" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also read the entire story (so far) online and free at <a href="https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/hell-phone/list?title_no=281570" target="_blank">Webtoons</a>. I have not seen Book Two solicited yet, and I hope to see it sometime soon.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-40665962622770676302023-10-25T12:00:00.107-04:002023-12-07T18:09:37.780-05:00Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIbrSdunKwpRO-iZCOncp6uIuWCTxN8fYGII4oyT9Dbl1TxgRaPNpOniYNC4FjeDaHZXMOrXfh64tcjbiZHwTXNx0weVxzL8BCxumu_OPlNyq3mODvw5FuBfNihTj6E17JCAImPiALzIlahsKeRNRVd9DlbbwCNsLxwtLetJUeT607BLM-SfE1a0em-s1/s1278/Pinball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIbrSdunKwpRO-iZCOncp6uIuWCTxN8fYGII4oyT9Dbl1TxgRaPNpOniYNC4FjeDaHZXMOrXfh64tcjbiZHwTXNx0weVxzL8BCxumu_OPlNyq3mODvw5FuBfNihTj6E17JCAImPiALzIlahsKeRNRVd9DlbbwCNsLxwtLetJUeT607BLM-SfE1a0em-s1/s320/Pinball.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have read a bunch of comics by <a href="http://www.jonchad.com/" target="_blank">Jon Chad</a> over the years, including his <i><a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2016/12/science-comics-volcanoes-fire-and-life.html" target="_blank">Science Comics</a></i> entry about volcanoes, his <i><a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2014/09/leo-geo.html" target="_blank">Leo Geo</a></i> books, and <i><a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-bad-ventures-of-bobo-backslack.html" target="_blank">The Bad-ventures of Bobo Backslack</a></i>. I have even checked out his multi-genre/multi-media collection <i><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bad-Mask/Jon-Chad/9781608867288" target="_blank">Bad Mask</a></i>, which is an inventive collection of texts. I have always been excited to experience his artwork and storytelling, both which usually press the boundaries of comics. Here, in <i>Pinball</i>, what he does is use comics to try to communicate the kinetic action and vibrancy of pinball machines while also telling their history.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5VbsUdZbexaSq51OEjCwrJt5Tjf5mh6KlNZ5iINuKlIuS3q-jVbAvITcSvzGHxsPwM_WBLkb_gAgFmRNgtUUZ7hyy_u9J0dsVAeyGgtJ-lIVuW_tmoOwxU-3focMM5yre2lOH2NSy5zWSPNGmqdAlSgN6A-SVeMCe28_fDmrMaiUh7JXQpSqwXs-bzfC/s1020/Pinball_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1020" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5VbsUdZbexaSq51OEjCwrJt5Tjf5mh6KlNZ5iINuKlIuS3q-jVbAvITcSvzGHxsPwM_WBLkb_gAgFmRNgtUUZ7hyy_u9J0dsVAeyGgtJ-lIVuW_tmoOwxU-3focMM5yre2lOH2NSy5zWSPNGmqdAlSgN6A-SVeMCe28_fDmrMaiUh7JXQpSqwXs-bzfC/s320/Pinball_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I came of age in the 1970s and 1980s, so pinball machines are something I am well acquainted with. I spent many a quarter trying to keep silver balls in play while ringing up bonuses and being distracted by flashing lights. They seemed a relatively harmless entertainment, and I had no idea about their origins and links to organized crime and <a href="https://www.history.com/news/that-time-america-outlawed-pinball" target="_blank">alleged juvenile delinquency</a>. They were sort of the video games of their time, a new type of entertainment technology that got unjustly blamed for social ills. </p><p>Pinball machines had a long ride as a popular amusement, and this book does a great job chronicling their rise and decline, with a good deal of information about their designers and technological advancements. It is a marvel just how much goes into making these machines, a complicated combination of engineering and computer programming. I learned so much about the technical and cultural aspects of pinball while reading this book, and it is a dense, rewarding account. I am not sure if the topic would appeal to everyone, especially the more technical aspects of pinball machinery, but I think that it has something important to say to any audience in terms of how popular technologies emerge and evolve.<br /></p><p>All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781250249210" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> summed up their starred review, "Cracking this one open evokes the delight of snapping back the launcher in the arcade." <a href="https://www.tcj.com/reviews/pinball-a-graphic-history-of-the-silver-ball/" target="_blank">Leonard Pierce</a> wrote, "<em>Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball</em> isn’t going to set the comics world on fire. It’s a niche guide to a niche game," but he also called it a "a surprisingly deft combination of social history and how-to manual" and "downright charming." <a href="http://www.multiversitycomics.com/reviews/pinball-a-graphic-history-of-the-silver-ball/" target="_blank">Brian Salvatore</a> opined that it is "a lovingly crafted, expertly presented exploration into something that has rarely been thought of this deeply before."</p><p><i>Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball</i> was published by <a href="https://firstsecondbooks.com/" target="_blank">First Second</a>, and they offer a preview and more <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250249210/pinball" target="_blank">here</a>. And if you want to learn more, Chad talks about his work on the book in <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-471-interview-with-jon-chad-1-5-22/id977221315?i=1000553747098" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-1260522738853206882023-10-20T12:00:00.137-04:002023-12-07T15:19:51.008-05:00The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, Volume 1: 1862<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmQSGVwlc6nShLSM_4I5hmWEEz2e_iTvZQa05XS25S_-c3JUep-yxIwPScQBrsdHs_50gN6ZBDleaqempCu0lmd1MQwUo7rBVjaR4EJ_bUkFLyaa19hSLEl4sRlFbS23d-_xQ7xUfOU8kG4JNBaw1OSKlHL9QCQ-7qlHysCJenRXqOSZy-VP9fbBNfFDY/s2256/CivilWarDiary_FreemanColby1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="1752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmQSGVwlc6nShLSM_4I5hmWEEz2e_iTvZQa05XS25S_-c3JUep-yxIwPScQBrsdHs_50gN6ZBDleaqempCu0lmd1MQwUo7rBVjaR4EJ_bUkFLyaa19hSLEl4sRlFbS23d-_xQ7xUfOU8kG4JNBaw1OSKlHL9QCQ-7qlHysCJenRXqOSZy-VP9fbBNfFDY/s320/CivilWarDiary_FreemanColby1.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p>What seems like a million years ago now, I supported a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marekbennett/the-civil-war-diary-of-freeman-colby-vol-3-1864" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> campaign for volume 3 of <i>The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby</i>, and I am so glad I did. I read the first book a long while ago, and so much of it stayed with me. It is a faithful, compelling, informative, moving, and often funny adaptation of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" target="_blank">Civil War</a> soldier's diary (just like the title says!). When the war broke out, this 21-year-old <a href="https://www.nh.gov/" target="_blank">New Hampshirite</a> was a teacher, but when his gung-ho little brother Newton enlisted in the Union Army, his parents entreated him also to join so he could look after the impetuous lad. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOI8auOOkVOwvLVgrdh2o808Os3LEyuiJ0AqondtN1rS_yysKONYF4kxj-IZqUJR3UnJC0L3HI-hSTEjtxMU7eXAiL3oQynnOnDoqnto_CPXGKZ-pO7y5wzkZhdkgopeDxMQyNnJ50Rgp9lCjvC7mEhI7hlx3seN7UVObjAL4j5s1EuZF2T9io7H3JUYv/s2175/CivilWarDiary_FreemanColby1_9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2175" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOI8auOOkVOwvLVgrdh2o808Os3LEyuiJ0AqondtN1rS_yysKONYF4kxj-IZqUJR3UnJC0L3HI-hSTEjtxMU7eXAiL3oQynnOnDoqnto_CPXGKZ-pO7y5wzkZhdkgopeDxMQyNnJ50Rgp9lCjvC7mEhI7hlx3seN7UVObjAL4j5s1EuZF2T9io7H3JUYv/s320/CivilWarDiary_FreemanColby1_9.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><p></p><p>What follows is a treasure trove of experiences, a primary account of what these soldiers did, where they stayed, what they endured, and what they ate. That last point especially looms large, as much of this book involves matters we mostly take for granted today, such as a regular diet, routine medical care, and a host of gastrointestinal plights that plagued these soldiers for various reasons. Things are not always so great for poor Freeman. Also, we get to see the not always brilliant machinations of military leadership as well as the events of the day as interpreted by a civilian.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6-4EwWFrFN9_UACc-iNA8BsRSZ0X5nfVqVD92t4DrumzVFoqqEnNdcfwLLbL01kWenZry4CSFEAbU2i24D_NMOyg3plaGbyYzyt3nV2sqmb_7QXyPr8CgXM0L8UU6UbL0yjN6x9T6Q1Otb5KEwIqshHEzaGbh6-lYsNPT3OcpNgymsjBaaEFpoofo8hj/s2175/CivilWarDiary_FreemanColby1_272.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2175" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6-4EwWFrFN9_UACc-iNA8BsRSZ0X5nfVqVD92t4DrumzVFoqqEnNdcfwLLbL01kWenZry4CSFEAbU2i24D_NMOyg3plaGbyYzyt3nV2sqmb_7QXyPr8CgXM0L8UU6UbL0yjN6x9T6Q1Otb5KEwIqshHEzaGbh6-lYsNPT3OcpNgymsjBaaEFpoofo8hj/s320/CivilWarDiary_FreemanColby1_272.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><p>This last point is one of the main features of this book that really makes it sing. I love how this book is all from the viewpoint of a person I had never heard of before, and mostly the soldiers in these pages are basically homesick kids. It really impresses a view of the war in a unique and memorable way, a truly invaluable view of history. </p><p>The other main feature that really makes an impression is the highly expressive artwork. Sure, it looks simple, with its spare lines and almost stick-figure rendering, but this simplicity belies the use of reference materials, much craft, and thoughtfulness. The accounts here are imbued with so much movement and feeling that they are almost palpable. It may be a cliche to say that this book makes history come to life, but I'll dare say it anyway. This series of books is an excellent resource for anyone interested in or learning about the US Civil War. And to boot, Volume 1 of the series was named one of <a href="https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2017-great-graphic-novels-teens" target="_blank">YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens in 2017</a>. </p><p>Artist/educator <a href="https://marekbennett.com/" target="_blank">Marek Bennett</a> created this book and also runs his Comic Workshop across New England. In addition to the <i>Freeman Colby</i> series, he has also collaborated with a host of creators on <i>The Most Costly Journey/El Viaje M</i><i>á</i><i>s Caro</i>, a graphic medicine/ethnographic look at migrant workers in Vermont. He speaks about his work on the <i>Civil War Diary</i> series in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Q26Lf_m8-vs" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p><i>The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby</i> was published by <a href="https://marekbennett.com/comicsworkshop/" target="_blank">Comics Workshop</a>, and they offer a preview and more info about it <a href="https://marekbennett.com/2016/03/10/freeman-colby/" target="_blank">here</a>. Thus far, there are three volumes in the series <br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-34426579861963255872023-10-15T12:00:00.137-04:002023-11-15T22:16:26.522-05:00Frizzy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPXRKsQXXsRBDsKxJWdJozstVLD5dpFAiJ4urRpTDh3VEqvIP1eiNYI6XdLW_BjzxKcIRExt-ZDdEb0gmhg4fa5Kh3cxmYIYgOXXJAWCirqlxNxfWqI0fNU9Hf0R23sLNJd93YIlPyHTwkGNDyzVclxdDoIkNsbDQmNpLTXqObHACBgBegza75yLJUxkm/s1309/Frizzy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPXRKsQXXsRBDsKxJWdJozstVLD5dpFAiJ4urRpTDh3VEqvIP1eiNYI6XdLW_BjzxKcIRExt-ZDdEb0gmhg4fa5Kh3cxmYIYgOXXJAWCirqlxNxfWqI0fNU9Hf0R23sLNJd93YIlPyHTwkGNDyzVclxdDoIkNsbDQmNpLTXqObHACBgBegza75yLJUxkm/s320/Frizzy.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sometimes seemingly simple things are super complicated. Take hair, for instance. I don't think much about hair. I have long, straight hair now, and all I know about it was that long ago when I tried to get it feathered and wavy, it never responded. So, I just went with a short, pretty standard haircut for most of my life. That is certainly a position of privilege and convenience I have learned. Claribel, the star of <i>Frizzy</i>, does not enjoy such privilege. This young, Dominican girl has long, curly hair. It has flair and presence, and she learns from her mom that what she needs to do with it is tame that hair through regular visits to the salon. It constantly needs to be straightened and treated so that it is more manageable and she can fit in. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-IUYfZjae3JqkJ6kTpHwUEN29qFCBLcPo6c9QLL2JMie4KxjSJ9C1VTpvArU6f13-FLynVuQTOPNP7_XuA8XS-ZyQ7y4moTVkslpFQxOkz59jOfw3p0o3FQlQmv_gbtBRgNG0enT_VwipphCHB9JrQSNUX0GIDXKLBQiHW6sSF39ifBljS_D9VXawSZ9/s1136/Frizzy_4_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1136" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-IUYfZjae3JqkJ6kTpHwUEN29qFCBLcPo6c9QLL2JMie4KxjSJ9C1VTpvArU6f13-FLynVuQTOPNP7_XuA8XS-ZyQ7y4moTVkslpFQxOkz59jOfw3p0o3FQlQmv_gbtBRgNG0enT_VwipphCHB9JrQSNUX0GIDXKLBQiHW6sSF39ifBljS_D9VXawSZ9/s320/Frizzy_4_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Bound up in all this thinking are all sorts of cultural assumptions of what people should look like, especially if they want to gain cultural capital and respect. Also, racial and ethnic identities come into play here, as some peoples' hair are seen as acceptable while others need work. Claribel and her mother clash over hair, and how it contributes to her being a "good girl," "presentable," and a maturing person. Claribel's Tia Ruby adds a different voice to this conversation, and over the course of the book all of the characters get the chance to interact, learn, emote, and engage in a debate over what people should look like and how it contributes to how they feel and what they can do in life. </p><p>What I love about this book is how it engages in all sorts of complex issues without being didactic or prescriptive. The characters all feel real and relatable to me, and none of them present "straw man" arguments. They have their stances and feel justified in them, and they each have their strong points. Also, none of them is perfect, so the debate about what it takes to grow up as a realized person is palpable. Unless you are made of stone, this book will provoke your thoughts and move you. <br /></p><p></p>This book is a collaboration between writer <a href="https://www.claribelortega.com/" target="_blank">Claribel A. Ortega</a> and artist <a href="https://rosemakesart.com/" target="_blank">Rose Bousamra</a>, and <i>Frizzy </i>was the debut graphic novel from both. Ortega is a best-selling YA novelist whose books <a href="https://www.claribelortega.com/ghostsquad" target="_blank"><i>Ghost Squad</i></a> and <a href="https://www.claribelortega.com/witchlings" target="_blank"><i>Witchlings</i></a> have been very popular. Bousamra is currently working on her follow-up graphic novel, the self-authored <i><a href="https://rosemakesart.com/books/" target="_blank">Gutless</a></i>. You can see both creators discuss this book in length in this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWFA5aFUUWc" target="_blank">video interview</a>.<br /><p>This book has won the 2023 <a href="https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpre" target="_blank">Pura Belpré Award for Children's Text </a>as well as the 2023 <a href="https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/" target="_blank">Eisner Award</a> for Best Publication for Kids, and it has received many extremely positive reviews. In their starred entry, <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/claribel-ortega/frizzy/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> summed it up, "An exquisite excavation of hair politics, family dynamics, and self-love." In another starred review, <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781250259639" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> wrote, "Ortega expertly examines themes of colorism, generational trauma, and
toxic beauty standards via authentic, heartstring-tugging dialogue and
Marlene’s pitch-perfect narration." <a href="https://goodcomicsforkids.slj.com/2023/04/25/frizzy-review/" target="_blank">Esther Keller</a> concluded, "This is a wonderful addition to the middle-grade repertoire of
coming-of-age graphic novels. It will give young girls a great sense of
self and help them be happy with the features they were born with." <br /></p><p><i>Frizzy </i>was published by <a href="https://firstsecondbooks.com/" target="_blank">First Second</a>, and they offer a preview and more <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250259639/frizzy" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-17353260643134987622023-10-10T12:00:00.001-04:002023-12-07T23:24:51.757-05:00Super Magic Boy 1: I Am a Dinosaur<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0D3zvRLPmUeCw9wrRPymwQPkTuuQEl79dnOWZ83AtIOgrAMdSuibrXQqEbNJjp1Lq2qwUzjJkF2_Kjijv6xgi2Ayn6cj69zKDWZcnXqBDD3AwPR31bXlIpSGoayPn2vRXUk2dVkU40jhcwe1fzlasUETkWsxAH98tQNH05q5dlFWoJcto8OBgvPxdUoCX/s450/SuperMagicBoy_IAmaDinosaur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="347" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0D3zvRLPmUeCw9wrRPymwQPkTuuQEl79dnOWZ83AtIOgrAMdSuibrXQqEbNJjp1Lq2qwUzjJkF2_Kjijv6xgi2Ayn6cj69zKDWZcnXqBDD3AwPR31bXlIpSGoayPn2vRXUk2dVkU40jhcwe1fzlasUETkWsxAH98tQNH05q5dlFWoJcto8OBgvPxdUoCX/s320/SuperMagicBoy_IAmaDinosaur.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><p></p><p>All of my kids and I LOVE graphic novels by <a href="https://jarodrosello.com/" target="_blank">Jarod Roselló</a>. We have all read both his <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2019/07/red-panda-moon-bear.html" rel="nofollow"><i>Red Panda and Moon Bear</i></a> books, and I have read a bunch of his mini- and web-comics, including the compiled <a href="https://www.jarodrosello.com/The-Well-Dressed-Bear-Will-Never-Be-Found" target="_blank"><i>The Well-Dressed Bear Will (Never) Be Found</i></a><i>. </i>His work is playful and energetic, and we all have found great joy in it. So, we were all sure to get this book, the first in a proposed series, <i>Super Magic Boy</i>.</p><p>In <i>I Am a Dinosaur</i> we met Hugo, a boy who has magic powers and
can do seemingly anything. In the first few pages, he animates one of
his dinosaur toys and makes it a real dinosaur and then transforms
himself into a dinosaur. Of course, they do what dinosaurs do best, go
on a rampage. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUDZIWh9afPdGf-B3WfXIQep5585GHTLo97J41TKCSobd8b6sX6Xgkh10OkB6cPgd7S9f5LPIDBnDwA3zf4VYGRuIux9oRYSpYnaCA0b6Ekkvt7a70X79Z_QS_S57iDmEqpudh4kfh2v74hW3p05ztQzSqWKhBS5FqIdelRNEhOWCwB8BLoUwQiIdukTp/s884/SuperMagicBoy_IAmaDinosaur_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="692" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUDZIWh9afPdGf-B3WfXIQep5585GHTLo97J41TKCSobd8b6sX6Xgkh10OkB6cPgd7S9f5LPIDBnDwA3zf4VYGRuIux9oRYSpYnaCA0b6Ekkvt7a70X79Z_QS_S57iDmEqpudh4kfh2v74hW3p05ztQzSqWKhBS5FqIdelRNEhOWCwB8BLoUwQiIdukTp/s320/SuperMagicBoy_IAmaDinosaur_11.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaZdj2qN1ERdlR553ByfNDJRbZHg2yH4L6Hg9jHhA6g4yi7dPrlPmYQFMXGk8tF5AMt0iO4RmjDtiepDXnpznLEz5SOnJCStbMysr0ZaqHVHy3alsuYDbMeAxKUlvaS3lISg_rg_iE7QEwJQ_50AOhfRno-DSGH8zewznXXgWqKfoITYRH_3QIGzvFioV/s912/SuperMagicBoy_IAmaDinosaur_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="724" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaZdj2qN1ERdlR553ByfNDJRbZHg2yH4L6Hg9jHhA6g4yi7dPrlPmYQFMXGk8tF5AMt0iO4RmjDtiepDXnpznLEz5SOnJCStbMysr0ZaqHVHy3alsuYDbMeAxKUlvaS3lISg_rg_iE7QEwJQ_50AOhfRno-DSGH8zewznXXgWqKfoITYRH_3QIGzvFioV/s320/SuperMagicBoy_IAmaDinosaur_12.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><p></p><p>After crashing and roaring about the house and punching a hole in the exterior wall, they end up outside. The duo then decides to dig a giant hole, where they unearth (among other things) the Cursed Skeleton King and his cursed treasure. After wreaking a path of destruction, Hugo eventually settles down enough to fix everything in his own unique way. <br /></p><p>My whole family liked many aspects of this book, and all of my kids loved reading this book both with me and by themselves. I liked that it is fun to read aloud, and the educator in me also liked how Hugo taught the dinosaur new words. I also admired the colorful artwork that looks like a blend of comics and collage. My kids liked its action, characters, and humor. And to be more exact: My four-year-old was thrilled by their rampaging. My six-year-old thinks the dinosaur is hilarious, because he loves how it does not know anything. My eight-year-old really enjoyed the shorter second story where Hugo and the Cursed Skeleton King search for treasure and encounter an imposing guardian. This book is full of wonderful and exciting things, and we are all looking forward to Book 2. If you have younger children who are into graphic novels or simply laughing, go get this book!</p><p><i>I Am a Dinosaur </i>was just published, and thus far I have not been able to locate many other reviews. In the one I did find <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jarod-rosello/i-am-dinosaur/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> summed up, "A high-energy celebration of a delightfully rambunctious childhood."</p><p><i>Super Magic Boy: I Am a Dinosaur</i> was published by <a href="https://sites.prh.com/rh-kids-graphic" target="_blank">RH Graphic</a>, and they have a preview and more available <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676445/super-magic-boy-i-am-a-dinosaur-by-jarod-rosello/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-68720657771673827582023-10-05T12:00:00.100-04:002023-10-05T12:00:00.160-04:00The He-Man Effect: How American Toymakers Sold You Your Childhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR20reRpH43DVWFzAyUf1fTiKva4iz2sHywamxkD4QiTEIqky5P_f0-pNxSKjPYCFdhyphenhyphenvjT69Xbns0z1zvuyk3yWWZFczt-5htsazd8_-XvVz2PLSxd8JCvksKcbvqu9gydf4zcT6uP3Acd2U-qlYSdTBDQ3spsRd2xudn6WGAP4AhfjfXXOEI6JL3h-T/s1275/TheHeManEffect.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCR20reRpH43DVWFzAyUf1fTiKva4iz2sHywamxkD4QiTEIqky5P_f0-pNxSKjPYCFdhyphenhyphenvjT69Xbns0z1zvuyk3yWWZFczt-5htsazd8_-XvVz2PLSxd8JCvksKcbvqu9gydf4zcT6uP3Acd2U-qlYSdTBDQ3spsRd2xudn6WGAP4AhfjfXXOEI6JL3h-T/s320/TheHeManEffect.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am a big fan of <a href="https://www.boxbrown.com/" target="_blank">Brian "Box" Brown</a>, a comics artist who uses a clean, minimalist art style to tell many a nonfiction tale. Here, I expected to get a story about toys and toy companies, but I got so much more. This book touches on many aspects of the social studies, including history, government, and psychology in explaining the arcane and calculated strategies that have shaped modern generations. This book begins with a look at propaganda from World War I and then traces how the strategies used to sell war to a population were turned to selling goods to people, notably toys, comics, and cartoons to children. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvtDXzkKEt83oClCfEg4KwfXoGjuym2a2yEz1A9fgNWc-Eby5QgrFHi5pfJPViv6GYX57uMI2rtYMMWiYMaxkZiTgkasuKB7sfsqzxx3TT7g6jbMPehiMQ8iWZOOd_4lvB4aSu7V1iMGEzHORr2y_Gd6IVMSglaw2sNzFcwxAE3g77oSg5qoGbbaSXtsx/s1020/TheHeManEffect_1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1020" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvtDXzkKEt83oClCfEg4KwfXoGjuym2a2yEz1A9fgNWc-Eby5QgrFHi5pfJPViv6GYX57uMI2rtYMMWiYMaxkZiTgkasuKB7sfsqzxx3TT7g6jbMPehiMQ8iWZOOd_4lvB4aSu7V1iMGEzHORr2y_Gd6IVMSglaw2sNzFcwxAE3g77oSg5qoGbbaSXtsx/s320/TheHeManEffect_1_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box Brown goes way-back to the roots of the propaganda.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Along the path of this explanation, Brown touches on many issues, including the work of psychologist (and Sigmund Freud's Nephew) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays" target="_blank">Edward Bernays</a>, a pioneer in the field of public relations; the evolution of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain" target="_blank">public domain</a>; the importance of children engaging in imaginative play; the great toy boom set off by the popularity of <i>Star Wars</i>, and Ronald Reagan-era policies that deregulated the connections between advertising and children's programming. As you can see, if you are interested in tracing a great many social issues about nostalgia, marketing, and public consciousness, this is the book for you. It critiques our modern culture, delving deeply into what shaped it and what we might do differently in terms of being a literate person in the 21st century. What could have been a trifling book about playthings turned out to have much more gravity.<br /></p><p>This book's author Box Brown has drawn a number of nonfiction graphic novels. including ones about <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2014/05/andre-giant-life-and-legend.html" target="_blank">Andre the Giant</a>, <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2018/02/is-this-guy-for-real-unbelievable-andy.html" target="_blank">Andy Kaufman</a>, <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2016/11/tetris-games-people-play.html" target="_blank">Tetris</a>, and <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-illegalization-of-weed-in.html" target="_blank">Cannabis</a>. He also published the fictional biography <i><a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2020/07/child-star.html" target="_blank">Child Star</a>. </i>Of late he is publishing a web-comic about the state of Cannabis in the USA, <a href="https://comicskingdom.com/legalization-nation/about" target="_blank"><i>Legalization Nation</i></a>, and is the midst of <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/legalizationnation/legalization-nation-hardcover-book/description" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> campaign to fund a print compilation of those strips. He speaks about his work on <i>The He-Man Effect </i>as well as a number of his other works in <a href="https://www.tcj.com/box-brown-and-the-he-man-effect/" target="_blank">this article</a>.<br /></p><p>All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/box-brown/the-he-man-effect/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> summed it up as "a boffo cartoon history of the deliberate manipulation of children's minds." <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/900335" target="_blank">April Spisak</a> called it "another clever, sharp, and well-researched graphic novel that explores a pop culture non-fiction topic in close detail." <a href="https://aiptcomics.com/2023/07/11/the-he-man-effect-review/#google_vignette" target="_blank">Timothy ONeil</a> wrote, "It can sound hyperbolic to call this book important, but it really is... The way nostalgia
and brands have been entrenched in our culture is only growing bigger,
and it’s important to understand how we got here."</p><p><i>The He-Man Effect</i> was published by <a href="https://firstsecondbooks.com/" target="_blank">First Second</a>, and they have a preview and much more information <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250261403/thehemaneffect" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-23118570776354432542023-05-20T12:00:00.001-04:002023-06-15T13:58:06.174-04:00Adventuregame Comics #1: Leviathan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sRryxgzlE-U6VJoRSSMJQfd0jb33kNNOGhuG6fMBesmlfuWA0xGx6_zQstH7YmGzoxDK84JG7DhC_Mppu_x2dGFYz2yFobztbvsS0G5Pon7eSOK3_ZnXyCEXqLDrTg0_exiHMoFKTHf5HoMfEH-U41o_hTNoGf_M1bFwbA0xZqkbrf10lGR8r-Bmeg/s1016/AdventureGames_Leviathan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sRryxgzlE-U6VJoRSSMJQfd0jb33kNNOGhuG6fMBesmlfuWA0xGx6_zQstH7YmGzoxDK84JG7DhC_Mppu_x2dGFYz2yFobztbvsS0G5Pon7eSOK3_ZnXyCEXqLDrTg0_exiHMoFKTHf5HoMfEH-U41o_hTNoGf_M1bFwbA0xZqkbrf10lGR8r-Bmeg/s320/AdventureGames_Leviathan.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/jasonshiga" target="_blank">Jason Shiga</a> is one of my favorite comics creators, and he has consistently pushed the boundaries of comics, puzzles, and visual deign. He frequently incorporates math and science aspects into his work as well, giving it a very unique dimension. He has created books on a variety of topics, from the choose-your-own-path adventure <a href="http://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2011/02/meanwhile.html" target="_blank"><i>Meanwhile</i></a>, to the action-librarian yarn <a href="http://www.shigabooks.com/bookhunter.php" target="_blank"><i>Bookhunter</i></a>, to the modern romance <a href="http://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2012/07/empire-state-love-story-or-not.html" target="_blank"><i>Empire State</i></a>, to the definitely adult supernatural escapade <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/search/label/Demon" target="_blank"><i>Demon</i></a>. In his most recent publication, <i>Leviathan</i>, he returns to the territory of choose-your-own-path books.<br /></p><p>Here, he follows the quest of a young, medieval villager in a quest to find and defeat a giant sea creature. This trail leads to various places, including home, a tavern, and a library, in order gather information and clues about the beast. Your choices dictate the story's path, as panels lead to various page numbers for you to trace the trajectory of the tale. Choose poorly, and you may end up kicked out on your ear, lost at sea, or worse. Pay attention, and you may be shocked by what is revealed. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXyNqwZZS9VKulSlyKH8SAW366EcIH9KDsE2KcrdvzGcPPdACG38X6a6ZUE4ofOQhmj29bWH-XWCkENF34eEVDx2CQCcdoTF5fXqYnxQDFEcTDeTgqGQfpZDyYGTg2aBSyWWFGBiX4lALVam9YzPO3ked9mWex4TnzS13i3joqUepwGjKe7VKoXwqag/s1068/AdventureGames_Leviathan_5_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1068" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXyNqwZZS9VKulSlyKH8SAW366EcIH9KDsE2KcrdvzGcPPdACG38X6a6ZUE4ofOQhmj29bWH-XWCkENF34eEVDx2CQCcdoTF5fXqYnxQDFEcTDeTgqGQfpZDyYGTg2aBSyWWFGBiX4lALVam9YzPO3ked9mWex4TnzS13i3joqUepwGjKe7VKoXwqag/s320/AdventureGames_Leviathan_5_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two early pages from the book give a flavor of how it works.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This book is aimed at a younger audience than Shiga's past works, middle school-aged readers, but I think it is enjoyable for older ones as well. It is intriguing and fun and invites lots of re-reading and engagement. With some time and effort, I managed to successfully navigate this narrative, a feat I never have managed to do with <i>Meanwhile</i>, which only has one "happy ending" out of about 4,000 possible ones. So, it's mildly difficult, not diabolical like <i>Meanwhile</i>, a happy challenge for fantasy or adventure-minded readers.<br /></p><p>All of the reviews I have read of this book have been glowing. In a starred review, <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781419757792" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> noted that its "clever dialogue and stout character design impart good humor." <a href="http://www.kleefeldoncomics.com/2022/11/leviathan-review.html" target="_blank">Sean Kleefeld</a> wrote, "It's an excellent use of the comic medium and far improves upon the
reading experience relative to any other CYOA-style books I've seen." <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jason-shiga-2/leviathan-shiga/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> called it "a clever story requiring investigation, diligence, and the ability to think outside the box." <br /></p><p><i>Leviathan</i> was published by <a href="https://www.abramsbooks.com/imprints/amuletbooks/" target="_blank">Amulet Books</a>, and they have more information about it <a href="https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/adventuregame-comics-leviathan-book-1_9781419757792/" target="_blank">here</a>. As you may have guessed from the #1 in the title, this book is the first in a series. Book #2, <i><a href="https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/adventuregame-comics-the-beyond-book-2_9781419757815/" target="_blank">The Beyond</a></i>, is due to be published in August. For more insight into Book #1, you can read <a href="https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/08/23/meanwhile-a-leviathan-sized-jason-shiga-interview/" target="_blank">this interview</a> with the author.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-25277937186120140222023-05-15T12:00:00.142-04:002023-06-15T11:04:32.409-04:00Asadora! Volume 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ViWHH5wJBs0U3fDqmDDyD8UJnH4PuZGYw8P0ghe4fQOUFlN_qkprF7-3Q-vvososzb8njGAtu_nJ_g4845jXUosokK44oXTVNGekOGiNz7d381bapzFlNkUQPfZy5v5B7ADLcWXhqd-Sq2B1DEjrrt4qES_jnMr7DlKZ8gxfnHPBtovyIKQnQEVz9w/s460/Asadora1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ViWHH5wJBs0U3fDqmDDyD8UJnH4PuZGYw8P0ghe4fQOUFlN_qkprF7-3Q-vvososzb8njGAtu_nJ_g4845jXUosokK44oXTVNGekOGiNz7d381bapzFlNkUQPfZy5v5B7ADLcWXhqd-Sq2B1DEjrrt4qES_jnMr7DlKZ8gxfnHPBtovyIKQnQEVz9w/s320/Asadora1.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p></p><p>My experiences with manga are pretty limited, I feel, but there are certain authors whose works I seek out and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naoki_Urasawa" target="_blank">Naoki Urasawa</a> is chief among them. <i>Asadora!</i> shares many features with his other works, including an exploration of how the past affects the present, a compelling mystery, expressive art, and a series of breathtaking cliffhangers. The titular star of this book comes from a large family, and is often overlooked in the shuffle of daily life. (SPOILERS ahead!) One eventful day, she gets kidnapped, a giant hurricane hits, and she and her kidnapper have to band together to survive. While trapped, she learns about his background as a fighter pilot in World War 2, and when they finally survey the damage they see what appears to be a giant footprint among the wreckage. (end/SPOILERS)</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjiIrMWMOEY5JsSTGUFfr7fH-2vM3cfcpUU2YYvQsIPghtJ5NPQJ6Q3RSGpIbqJDzDdout3BYL7ICHR5F69cwn4OU6i5OKi4iApOp048rjhs_NfKvwVCxeKKYE8AbZkHvErmYxOLyyKHtfIie_r75z463pJTeemBdhKJbJ3a_cX2xwBNEN2TPY1nrVQ/s1024/Asadora1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjiIrMWMOEY5JsSTGUFfr7fH-2vM3cfcpUU2YYvQsIPghtJ5NPQJ6Q3RSGpIbqJDzDdout3BYL7ICHR5F69cwn4OU6i5OKi4iApOp048rjhs_NfKvwVCxeKKYE8AbZkHvErmYxOLyyKHtfIie_r75z463pJTeemBdhKJbJ3a_cX2xwBNEN2TPY1nrVQ/s320/Asadora1_1.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What are they looking at? Buy the book and find out!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Three things recommend this book: 1. It is incredibly well crafted in terms of plot. Each chapter ends with a revelation/cliffhanger that compelled me to keep going. 2. The characters and their personalities are quickly introduced and communicated, both visually and narratively. They are drawn in an incredibly expressive style, and I found myself intrigued and enchanted by them in short order. 3. It sets up a captivating mystery, adding a touch of magical realism into an otherwise straight-forward action tale. There is so much going on that is unresolved and unanswered, and this book is a great introduction to a nuanced and detailed serial comics series. I have read the next four books already, and I cannot get enough of them.<br /></p><p><a href="http://lambiek.net/artists/u/urasawa_naoki.htm">Naoki Urasawa</a> is regarded as one of the premier manga creators, and he has won the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogakukan_Manga_Award" title="Shogakukan Manga Award">Shogakukan Manga Award</a> three times, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tezuka_Osamu_Cultural_Prize" title="Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize">Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize</a> twice, two <a href="https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info" target="_blank">Eisner Awards</a>, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodansha_Manga_Award" title="Kodansha Manga Award">Kodansha Manga Award</a> once. His works have been some of the most celebrated of recent times and include <i><a href="http://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2009/09/monster.html" target="_blank">Monster</a></i>, <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2011/03/20th-century-boys-01.html" target="_blank"><i>20th Century Boys</i></a>, and <a href="http://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2009/10/pluto-urasawa-x-tezuka-volume-1.html" target="_blank"><i>Pluto</i></a>. More recently, he has started a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@-urasawachannel-5463" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> where he demonstrates his artwork (in Japanese).<br /></p><p>All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. <a href="https://solrad.co/seeing-the-puppetmasters-strings-tom-shapira-reviews-asadora-vol-1-by-naoki-urasawa" target="_blank">Tom Shapira</a> contextualized it against others in his oeuvre, and although he has some issues with some tics, he concluded that "Urasawa can do it all." <a href="https://www.rightstufanime.com/post/asadora-manga-volume-1-review" target="_blank">Will</a> called it "another strong entry in Urasawa’s career." <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781974717460" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> wrote, "Urusawa excels in focusing on human drama and multifaceted characters,
and the storytelling is matched with dynamic, classic realist manga
artwork."</p><p><i>Asadora! </i>is published by <a href="https://www.viz.com/" target="_blank">Viz Books</a>, and they offer more information about it <a href="https://www.viz.com/read/manga/asadora-volume-1/product/6553" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-74015180207987787572023-05-10T12:00:00.001-04:002023-05-12T13:28:41.207-04:00Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuGb36qOp6Wgh9lEqn4g5ts_GlESYkGDHFGgzetUZjtGq49zATgDM_TQy_T79Gd__SY4l6YWqQQGSDwnBwLAC-Qn1yKI6jddBf5TucpZRG9Man3nS6HHr6_FIP9Vh3Q3XSWY7EjxL5AgOKONwLMn4C5PGDBMmEQ4a1IhsmVRIYp3nVF6sxLOntkgrog/s450/Tales7GradeLizardBoy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuGb36qOp6Wgh9lEqn4g5ts_GlESYkGDHFGgzetUZjtGq49zATgDM_TQy_T79Gd__SY4l6YWqQQGSDwnBwLAC-Qn1yKI6jddBf5TucpZRG9Man3nS6HHr6_FIP9Vh3Q3XSWY7EjxL5AgOKONwLMn4C5PGDBMmEQ4a1IhsmVRIYp3nVF6sxLOntkgrog/s320/Tales7GradeLizardBoy.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><p></p><p>I caught a lot of teasing about my name throughout my schooling, and I cannot imagine what it would have been if I had been called Booger Lizk’t. On top of that name, Booger is a lizard person from Elberon, an underground civilization that faced a natural disaster that drove his family to the surface. So he would stand out pretty starkly in a typical US middle school. Luckily for him, his people can shape their skin pretty much as they please, which makes it possible for them to pass as human. However, Booger also has to fit in socially, which is why he goes by the name of Tommy Tomkins while in Eagle Valley. But he is still having a very difficult time, especially when so many of his classmates watch a popular TV show about villainous alien lizard invaders who want to invade Earth (sort of like <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_(1983_miniseries)" target="_blank">V</a></i>).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPOIEJ1YPvwj9xxHVRNoiGxxNcvo9BtU3fiHRPSgpR9Vts--7_jXhI6B27gzn7A0IL7y_qcvc-RlxqXjPCxZqUVAqMBHjXCggvyAzy6Qyeu19q5UAq_DwFNou5W9T0kk5LiAGpkq0326dpBghXaOnKujnf5d8KtVwoLm1ZEJi3gRf_cHXZf-eRPs3EQ/s1798/Tales7GradeLizardBoy_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPOIEJ1YPvwj9xxHVRNoiGxxNcvo9BtU3fiHRPSgpR9Vts--7_jXhI6B27gzn7A0IL7y_qcvc-RlxqXjPCxZqUVAqMBHjXCggvyAzy6Qyeu19q5UAq_DwFNou5W9T0kk5LiAGpkq0326dpBghXaOnKujnf5d8KtVwoLm1ZEJi3gRf_cHXZf-eRPs3EQ/s320/Tales7GradeLizardBoy_1.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><p></p><p>From the informative back matter of the book, I learned that many of these feelings and situations are based on the author's Vietnamese heritage, and much of the book reflects commonplace immigrant experiences. This aspect gets highlighted by Tommy's friendship with Dung Tran, a Vietnamese immigrant and kindred spirit. The two gravitate toward each other and take solace in each other's company. Like Dung, Tommy has to figure out how to find friends, speak the language, eat strange food, deal with bullies, and navigate academics on top of passing as a human being, so they are both under a lot of pressure and stress. </p><p>What I liked about this book was how human and organic it was. The plot takes all sorts of twists and turns, and this is not a simple tale of a kid learning to fit in or find his people. Tommy is not perfect, and he makes mistakes, pulls some ill-advised pranks, and hurts some of the feelings of his few friends. I found a lot to relate to as well as laugh and marvel at.<br /></p><p>This book was created by <a href="https://www.oneofthejohns.com/" target="_blank">Jonathan Hill</a>, who also wrote and drew a fantastic apocalyptic graphic novel <i><a href="https://www.oneofthejohns.com/odessa" target="_blank">Odessa</a></i>. He also drew <i><a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2011/10/americus.html" target="_blank">Americus</a></i>, a book I reviewed some years ago. He speaks about his work on <i>Tales of the Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy </i>in <a href="https://www.comicbookherald.com/tales-of-a-seventh-grade-lizard-boy-with-jonathan-hill-cbh-interviews-106/" target="_blank">this interview</a><i>.</i><br /></p><p>The reviews I have read about this book have been positive. <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jonathan-hill/tales-of-a-seventh-grade-lizard-boy/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> summed it up as "engaging and thought-provoking." <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781536216462" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> wrote, "Employing a bright and energetic palette, uncomplicated paneling, and a
cast comprising varying skin tones and body types, Hill keenly portrays
the effects this othering has on Tommy and Dung, and how connection,
mutual support, and earnest understanding can bridge even significant
differences." <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/857380/pdf" target="_blank">April Spisak</a> opined, "<span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: calc(var(--scale-factor)*10.00px); left: 13.38%; top: 50.12%; transform: scaleX(0.932909);">Vivid </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: calc(var(--scale-factor)*10.00px); left: 13.38%; top: 51.83%; transform: scaleX(0.971955);">colors, wry humor, and playful ignoring of traditional panel structure lighten the </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: calc(var(--scale-factor)*10.00px); left: 13.38%; top: 53.54%; transform: scaleX(0.954329);">heaviest moments, firmly focusing this story on working toward better things."</span></p><p><i>Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy</i> was published by <a href="https://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=imprint&imprint=15&page=1&mode=list&pix=y" target="_blank">Walker Books US</a>, and they offer a preview and more info about it <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714742/tales-of-a-seventh-grade-lizard-boy-by-jonathan-hill-illustrated-by-jonathan-hill/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-39026162245207449312023-05-05T12:00:00.089-04:002023-05-12T11:05:56.566-04:00Swim Team<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTdSq8hTZq38skd5bw46DNQ5T_GMDZLmimNYxwcC0mPVS-Os7JHomAXdOZ1IC3O6kXlf_0ZtyvtJhnRRx77iU3Gc1V78Cs0sUr5s6x2L3hfaYDnZvJHCvh-aOnE8G3XN-qi7t3Ok_dMcUpu8beP0ZBEagzbcw0gLbl9bY3YK6u6TELpw3u_dma7dfGQ/s648/SwimTeam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="431" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTdSq8hTZq38skd5bw46DNQ5T_GMDZLmimNYxwcC0mPVS-Os7JHomAXdOZ1IC3O6kXlf_0ZtyvtJhnRRx77iU3Gc1V78Cs0sUr5s6x2L3hfaYDnZvJHCvh-aOnE8G3XN-qi7t3Ok_dMcUpu8beP0ZBEagzbcw0gLbl9bY3YK6u6TELpw3u_dma7dfGQ/s320/SwimTeam.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Swim Team</i> focuses on Bree, an African-American middle school student who recently moved to Florida from New York with her father. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmG8yFcXolcuV4u-ydNiM9rho4-VNGpaNVeh21GXjeXLfR7fWMYwTypYCpAEYHf2XcBBEGei5_fjPO1tUwH8MbSIXUmJfyGjBll7Ndz9mxibxp2DlwS2PkW8tR97J2xptb3y8eBHW3lAfJKzxgy2Np66ApYufb30CeMsJoAjUbIimdWGX3XojG94l3w/s1436/SwimTeam_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmG8yFcXolcuV4u-ydNiM9rho4-VNGpaNVeh21GXjeXLfR7fWMYwTypYCpAEYHf2XcBBEGei5_fjPO1tUwH8MbSIXUmJfyGjBll7Ndz9mxibxp2DlwS2PkW8tR97J2xptb3y8eBHW3lAfJKzxgy2Np66ApYufb30CeMsJoAjUbIimdWGX3XojG94l3w/s320/SwimTeam_7.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNmhhsC6vGXQP-Op344LCm2l5MeVKMg_4Nq7oIVU2kttF_xr0khnV8bjvxfPbOUr2ujvp2-ov5ko01Yw_zDYyzfuJMkHOOVCrsZClvHzwiNgt3vWdgJ5MPms_fJ_qneH_DKdLDqZmAiWPV1yCrN2ZQlNc64JLuhDHgAzbQ1dqWekQ-jzoD63jcW4mPw/s1436/SwimTeam_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNmhhsC6vGXQP-Op344LCm2l5MeVKMg_4Nq7oIVU2kttF_xr0khnV8bjvxfPbOUr2ujvp2-ov5ko01Yw_zDYyzfuJMkHOOVCrsZClvHzwiNgt3vWdgJ5MPms_fJ_qneH_DKdLDqZmAiWPV1yCrN2ZQlNc64JLuhDHgAzbQ1dqWekQ-jzoD63jcW4mPw/s320/SwimTeam_8.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p></p><p>She is anxious about starting life in a new place and in a new school, and she really does not want to do anything that involves swimming. However, she ends up having to face her fears and learn to swim because it is literally the only elective that fits her schedule. It turns out, she's got of lot of potential and even makes her swim team, the Mighty Manatees. <br /></p><p>The middle school she attends is under-funded and in danger of losing its swimming facilities, but the community values competitive swimming highly, which opens a year-long competition with the dominant private school in order to save their pool and program. Not just a typical underdog story, though it does have many of the positive components of the genre, this book also touches on friendship, family relationships, as well as the history of race and class relations in the community. It is a multi-faceted, complex story that I found both moving and touching. It also features a lot of heart and a good sense of humor. This is a superlative graphic novel for middle school students.<br /></p><p>This book is the creation of <a href="https://johnniechristmas.com/" target="_blank">Johnnie Christmas</a>, who has created a number of other graphic novels for both adults as well as younger readers, including <i><a href="https://johnniechristmas.com/firebug" target="_blank">Firebug</a></i> and the <i><a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2016/09/angel-catbird-volume-1.html" target="_blank">Angel Catbird</a></i> series. He spoke about his work on <i>Swim Team</i> in <a href="https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/05/16/coming-up-for-air-a-johnnie-christmas-interview-about-the-one-and-only-swim-team/" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p>A <a href="https://www.ala.org/rt/cskbart/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present" target="_blank">Coretta Scott King Honor Title</a> and a <a href="https://www.nationalbook.org/books/swim-team/" target="_blank">National Book Award Finalist</a>, <i>Swim Team </i>has received many glowing reviews. In their starred review <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/johnnie-christmas/swim-team/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> called it "deeply smart and inspiring story." In another starred review <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780063056763" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> wrote, "Challenging the idea that 'Black people aren’t good at swimming,' this
middle grade debut from Christmas (the Angel Catbird series, for adults)
details segregation’s generational impact through a warmhearted story
of community, Black diasporic identity, and learning, all portrayed in
kinetic contemporary art." <a href="https://goodcomicsforkids.slj.com/2023/03/30/review-swim-team/" target="_blank">Esther Keller</a> opined, "The bright artwork with vivid sunny colors and fine details in each panel, brings the story to life."</p><p><i>Swim Team</i> was published by <a href="https://www.harperalley.com/" target="_blank">Harper Alley</a>, and they offer a preview and more <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/swim-team-johnnie-christmas?variant=39669209497634" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-17733636686048920302022-10-20T12:00:00.164-04:002022-10-21T09:44:13.206-04:00Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts <p></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCL3lyFSDFXK96_NYq_SQOI3AecZ4M9T0NRu6g7GP_sm5x7_4c1rVhTxWd8xFbkdniqNOANseXERPh30_zI1Iy7pJN75pKtp_1Tpo2CHNBNPejB_wCUWQkb0ZMXA2iiexHZ6VD-tmlpupaIcEwrvsPkNNp1NsIbBYC33mQusqsU9WoOdIJxvig82w1Q/s2101/Wake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCL3lyFSDFXK96_NYq_SQOI3AecZ4M9T0NRu6g7GP_sm5x7_4c1rVhTxWd8xFbkdniqNOANseXERPh30_zI1Iy7pJN75pKtp_1Tpo2CHNBNPejB_wCUWQkb0ZMXA2iiexHZ6VD-tmlpupaIcEwrvsPkNNp1NsIbBYC33mQusqsU9WoOdIJxvig82w1Q/s320/Wake.jpg" width="213" /></a></i></div><i>Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts</i> is a graphic novel that works on a number of levels, and I was gobsmacked by how much it affected it. One, it is a memoir by academic <a href="https://rebhallphd.org/" target="_blank">Rebecca Hall</a> doing research for her dissertation projection. Two, it is an account of the facts of women's roles in slave revolts. Three, it contains a number of fictionalized accounts of the events concerning slave revolts, as very often there are no concrete records extent concerning women's involvement in them. Four, it is an exploration of how the institution of slavery still haunts and informs contemporary society. Five, it is enterprise that demonstrates how history gets defined and then redefined, and how this process has palpable effects on us all, whether acknowledged or not. It's a tour de force graphic novel that packs a wallop intellectually, aesthetically, and emotionally.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLSW-h9AY7D7vZx5e46z4Vq-s8rECRh49zea2CJWNqxxDrNk-4XS4pI0ldq2jGt6GyceN-ayUufQjmDFouyxkHPqFzI3OKqsnzEE4B82leTccU9qucZ4OLUGKhndO-gFMR0P0and5fzv08jtMtm_5mzc0ax6UWbfK-QHfa_XTFlWYuILhO3jreKIJUw/s1875/Wake_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1875" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLSW-h9AY7D7vZx5e46z4Vq-s8rECRh49zea2CJWNqxxDrNk-4XS4pI0ldq2jGt6GyceN-ayUufQjmDFouyxkHPqFzI3OKqsnzEE4B82leTccU9qucZ4OLUGKhndO-gFMR0P0and5fzv08jtMtm_5mzc0ax6UWbfK-QHfa_XTFlWYuILhO3jreKIJUw/s320/Wake_18.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>One especially affecting and effective trope in this book is a constant mirroring of the past and present in its imagery. A good part of the book takes place in New York City, and there are several panels and pages that show scenes from the 17th and 18th centuries and how they inform our present. Scenes of slave auctions push right up on images on contemporary Wall Street, juxtaposing the predominant business practices of both eras. The artwork by <a href="https://www.papermonuments.org/hugo-martinez" target="_blank">Hugo Martinez</a> aptly emanates a rawness that highlights the horrific and dehumanizing social conditions depicted throughout the book. It is a difficult read in many ways, as it does not let anyone off the hook for their various roles in either perpetuating or trying to ignore grave injustices carried out over centuries. And the images touch many a nerve along the way.<p>In the end, I was amazed by the scope of this book. As an academic, I can appreciate the great effort and distress involved in doing this research and creating this account. As a reader, I was moved by the historical accounts and sheer horror of the depraved acts of slavery and racism. I was also moved by the bravery and perseverance of people who were enslaved and how they contended against their captors. As a citizen, I was distressed by how public institutions, including records clerks and companies like Lloyd's of London work to obscure and even protect past misdeeds. Additionally, I was struck by how Hall's background as a lawyer also informed insights into how the institution of slavery stripped people of basic humanity through legal codes. As a researcher, I can also appreciate just how frustrating it could be to delve into a topic where little to no historical record exists. This absence should be galling to us all in the present day.</p><p><i>Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts </i>is an important, modern classic that belongs on library and classroom shelves as well as on syllabi. I am so glad that one of<i> </i>the students in the graphic novels class I am currently teaching selected it. I feel everyone should read it.<br /></p><p>All of the reviews I have read of this book have been glowing. In a starred entry, <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rebecca-hall/wake-hall/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> summed it up as "an urgent, brilliant work of historical excavation." <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/05/30/1001430516/a-stunning-graphic-novel-uncovers-the-history-of-enslaved-women-who-fought-back" target="_blank">Etelka Lehoczky</a> called it a "remarkable blend of passion and fact, action and reflection," and added that "<em>Wake</em> sets a new standard for illustrating history." In a detailed and riveting review <a href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-present-waver-on-wake-the-hidden-history-of-women-led-slave-revolts/" target="_blank">Jordan Alexander Stein</a> wrote, "It pushes past the limits of what’s possible, to tell us a story that wasn’t but now can be."</p><p><i>Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts</i> was published by <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/" target="_blank">Simon & Schuster</a>, and they offer more information about it <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Wake/Rebecca-Hall/9781982115197" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qSeM2f5GUwokGN-MketcztwwCVlgCkYLDDQYaFEldnGs5bZ63FX66OfFWJAG0YlocQd9IOm6FzpfPbuAVtV9ClxLQ1ANtGkQ3UqhtE5h6U3lHvQzvhU1mcf2au68eozj_cMNmJ-urdjkn1CzkU2ZQnXDLo1h7CobdgavjViPcJo7GBuFTmcgDYLHCA/s1200/Wake_195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qSeM2f5GUwokGN-MketcztwwCVlgCkYLDDQYaFEldnGs5bZ63FX66OfFWJAG0YlocQd9IOm6FzpfPbuAVtV9ClxLQ1ANtGkQ3UqhtE5h6U3lHvQzvhU1mcf2au68eozj_cMNmJ-urdjkn1CzkU2ZQnXDLo1h7CobdgavjViPcJo7GBuFTmcgDYLHCA/s320/Wake_195.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-41778362724945721172022-10-15T12:00:00.159-04:002022-10-19T15:11:33.318-04:00Good On Both Sides: A (Th)Ink Anthology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdTNhEraYnsdi-mpUwZvAx7yfum913RMbPfpWJz6PwH-AFjKTWCnPUd13o2-KsLRxX4FHmxW2Clrpm8ePVv4YPMyNl8hvLYGlKKO5pVEnecRUVoZq7e8PdifoNGHNW1F_Y72qIASb_Qb9knERXre7J07nSWIc33rb846NYAXkHnr3OcHGSIMdHDt3Ag/s353/GoodOnBothSides.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdTNhEraYnsdi-mpUwZvAx7yfum913RMbPfpWJz6PwH-AFjKTWCnPUd13o2-KsLRxX4FHmxW2Clrpm8ePVv4YPMyNl8hvLYGlKKO5pVEnecRUVoZq7e8PdifoNGHNW1F_Y72qIASb_Qb9knERXre7J07nSWIc33rb846NYAXkHnr3OcHGSIMdHDt3Ag/s320/GoodOnBothSides.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Good on Both Sides </i>is a collection of political and historical comics strips by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Knight_(cartoonist)" target="_blank">Keith Knight</a>, who has been publishing regular comic strips such as the <a href="http://kchronicles.com/" target="_blank"><i>K Chronicles</i></a> since the early 1990s. Knight's work here is contemporary, commenting not only on current events but
also the current state of our country. I love his point of view,
acerbic sense of humor, and his insights. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Vrq1zOLElQCeDFrFqrhL2m0xIbjDM83SLBhaKTXNuAvhYoVoH06jc2Vka8Gw6po0havJB0islbOY6dD45GF9iGvEQL_CB3QjSjKSdPoe9_e2f0E6LlkhNdawcWi1Y1IBKVcGZkNwuSYjBRGU3PjdqInJXUqODLMuOau7BrAa_QzPanj8uQuoVjOpAg/s774/GoodOnBothSides_2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Vrq1zOLElQCeDFrFqrhL2m0xIbjDM83SLBhaKTXNuAvhYoVoH06jc2Vka8Gw6po0havJB0islbOY6dD45GF9iGvEQL_CB3QjSjKSdPoe9_e2f0E6LlkhNdawcWi1Y1IBKVcGZkNwuSYjBRGU3PjdqInJXUqODLMuOau7BrAa_QzPanj8uQuoVjOpAg/s320/GoodOnBothSides_2.gif" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note: I got images from Knight's website. The book is in black and white.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p>The general issue with collections like this is that the humor often
gets lost as time goes by and people forget the contemporary references
that make the jokes work. I think Knight smartly protects against this by including many historical portraits that add their own context. By including several celebrations of and quotations from historic figures like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshall" target="_blank">Thurgood Marshall</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edna_Lewis" target="_blank">Edna Lewis</a> he provides a long view on how long certain struggles have been going on. Many of the issues we deal with today in terms of civil rights and race have been fomenting for a long time. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjuCaZ5OuNyMdodUdHwHsQqMsaRf9Rh8-op88mfMjEagPsD4FejeOe1ZsqrwAP2hjO_s9MplrLwYepm5CxW4yiSGBQeF-UejQ6WjEE6B14N_m1zEJdumNUwwRMaREb6SDPPQy36Hi4WUcRQVnXWWtB5aNOdm52EbgBRDKbwfBgfJeTkYMizBagPW1zw/s608/GoodOnBothSides_1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjuCaZ5OuNyMdodUdHwHsQqMsaRf9Rh8-op88mfMjEagPsD4FejeOe1ZsqrwAP2hjO_s9MplrLwYepm5CxW4yiSGBQeF-UejQ6WjEE6B14N_m1zEJdumNUwwRMaREb6SDPPQy36Hi4WUcRQVnXWWtB5aNOdm52EbgBRDKbwfBgfJeTkYMizBagPW1zw/s320/GoodOnBothSides_1.gif" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Reading over what I have written above, I am making this book of comic strips sound like a textbook, which is entirely not the case. Knight's artwork is a delight, offering lots of energy and character with seemingly simple and streamlined line-work. <i>Good On Both Sides</i> made me laugh several times. It is funny, insightful, and provocative, and I very much enjoyed catching up on strips that I had not seen. <br /></p><p>As I mentioned above, gentleman cartoonist Keith Knight has been a fixture in the alt-comics scene for decades now, and he has also received added exposure by having his life/works used to make the Hulu series <a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/woke-034909c6-8c46-4cad-8d0d-062574a9e5f1" target="_blank"><i>Woke</i></a>. He has won a number of accolades, including a <a href="https://sfist.com/2007/09/09/local_cartoonis/" target="_blank">Harvey Award</a> for his strip <i>K Chronicles</i>, multiple <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyph_Comics_Awards" target="_blank">Glyph Awards</a>, an <a href="https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot" target="_blank">Inkpot Award</a> for his career achievements, and an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/04/10/they-shoot-black-people-dont-they-keith-knights-tragically-timeless-comics-qa/" target="_blank">NAACP History Maker</a> Honor. He spoke about the current state of his life and work in <a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-keith-knight-on-the-second-season-of-woke-and-surviving-fame/" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p>I was not able to find many reviews of this book online, but the one I found was positive. <a href="https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2022/10/04/cartoonist-woke-tv-series-cocreator-keith-knight-explores-themes-race-identity/69540381007/?fbclid=IwAR3Gh0kUgIo14xlt7Ojz-q49NrI6FItFkU76SrIzx1JLN6NvNSHpfHD6WWg" target="_blank">Joel Oliphint</a> wrote that although "the subject matter in Knight’s cartoons...can be heavy, he uses humor to help the medicine go
down."</p><p><i>Good On Both Sides</i> was published by Keith Knight Publications, and you can find more info about it <a href="https://keithknight.bigcartel.com/product/pre-order-good-on-both-sides-the-new-th-ink-collection" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also support Knight on Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/keefknight" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p><p>Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me with a review copy!<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-73153310612428103952022-10-10T12:00:00.143-04:002022-11-17T23:00:14.021-05:00Shortcomings<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8GCbatu86lr8Zg69JXl7zypD2WoitsG_4SmHKfPkl7KozZ3GSWnHeuNHo6JAMXNmgCJPmgUQDErI_06WYpkWYK_C2bMwKSQAiyHjjWxdZLewWEUICjjBVvVKJlu4050InuMOgOABbXKL5wRhUDb6hXHCV7XfMpk6X56hUFMVxLNmwLEhmgj-QYk9IA/s2699/Shortcomings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2699" data-original-width="1872" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8GCbatu86lr8Zg69JXl7zypD2WoitsG_4SmHKfPkl7KozZ3GSWnHeuNHo6JAMXNmgCJPmgUQDErI_06WYpkWYK_C2bMwKSQAiyHjjWxdZLewWEUICjjBVvVKJlu4050InuMOgOABbXKL5wRhUDb6hXHCV7XfMpk6X56hUFMVxLNmwLEhmgj-QYk9IA/s320/Shortcomings.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am very late to the party in reading this book, and I am so glad that one of the students in my graphic novel course selected it to read with the class. <i>Shortcomings </i>is a modern class graphic novel, originally published as three issues in the late 1990s/early 2000s comics series <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_Nerve_(comics)" target="_blank"><i>Optic Nerve</i></a>. It follows the trials and tribulations of a trio of Asian-American 30-something young adults as they navigate romance, friendships, and the demands of adult life to varying degrees of success. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW50aIpNrtiAdoBlrmM7ZpXncxYPTiEbGLbzpWQCeYOPL_iG-5s3mwolDreKNuP6UvXKmztoNikWSGoO0geMAedbLIY2UzgnWhGdG2EiSy_yIemucP0VYicwid-C51eXrLwIRknpe45lC_8gJ6oZpEa0qgE1AltPSVdbqkWvN0y5rMGWTHZ7wJwktQQ/s2000/Shortcomings_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW50aIpNrtiAdoBlrmM7ZpXncxYPTiEbGLbzpWQCeYOPL_iG-5s3mwolDreKNuP6UvXKmztoNikWSGoO0geMAedbLIY2UzgnWhGdG2EiSy_yIemucP0VYicwid-C51eXrLwIRknpe45lC_8gJ6oZpEa0qgE1AltPSVdbqkWvN0y5rMGWTHZ7wJwktQQ/s320/Shortcomings_22.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p></p><p>Ben Tanaka is the main protagonist, a Japanese-American movie theater manager who is acerbic, hyper-critical, and somewhat obsessed with white women. At the start of the book he is living with his girlfriend Miko Hayashi, who organized an Asian-American film festival, which Ben finds "shitty." Alice Kim is from Korea, and she and Ben went to college together, and they share a love for hating on things. She is also single and ready to mingle with a good number of people. When Miko decides to take a four-month-long internship in New York City, she and Ben go "on a break," which leads to a series of misadventures. Ever stirring the pot, Alice learns something about what Miko is up to in NYC and sends for Ben to come see. </p><p></p><p>All this roiling drama is a huge draw for this graphic novel, and it also features strong characterizations that make you feel repelled by and also empathetic towards the protagonists. It is an engrossing and vexing reading experience, a book that lingers long after it is read. The artwork is crisp, expressive, yet also very open to interpretation. I love how it is paced, with lots of personal interactions punctuated by memorable and provocative images. I loved this book, and I will seek out more from its author, whose works I have been remiss about picking up.<br /></p><p>This book's creator <a href="http://www.adrian-tomine.com/" target="_blank">Adrian Tomine</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisner_Award_for_Best_Graphic_Memoir" target="_blank">2021 Eisner Award</a> winner for his memoir <a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/loneliness-long-distance-cartoonist/" target="_blank"><i>The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist</i></a>. He<i> </i>has been publishing comics for more than 20 years now, most notably his series <i>Optic Nerve </i>as well as the graphic novels<i> <a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/summer-blonde/" target="_blank">Summer Blonde</a></i>, <a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/killing-and-dying/" target="_blank"><i>Killing and Dying</i></a>, and<i> </i><a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/scenes/" target="_blank"><i>Scenes From an Impending Marriage</i></a>. He speaks about his early career and work on <i>Shortcomings </i>in <a href="https://culture.org/an-interview-with-adrian-tomine/" target="_blank">this interview</a> from 2007.<br /></p><p>This book is very well reviewed. In a starred review for <i>Publishers Weekly</i> <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-897299-16-6" target="_blank">Junot Díaz</a> called it both a "lacerating falling-out-of-love story" and "an irresistible gem of a graphic novel." <a href="https://www.popmatters.com/adrian-tomine-shortcomings-2496196911.html" target="_blank">PopMatters</a> wrote, "In place of a conclusive affirmation, <i>Shortcomings</i> weaves an
intricate portrait of the various responses to age and identity that set
in during the early years of post-twenties life." <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/books/review/Windolf-t.html" target="_blank">Jim Woldof</a> called it "a meticulously observed comic-book novella."</p><p><i>Shortcomings</i> was published by <a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/" target="_blank">Drawn & Quarterly</a>, and they offer an excerpt and more info <a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/shortcomings/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>This book has been <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/05/randall-park-and-adrian-tomine" target="_blank">optioned to be adapted into a motion picture.</a> I am very interested in seeing how it turns out.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-26100327669179491472022-10-05T12:00:00.092-04:002022-11-17T22:02:22.753-05:00History Comics: The National Parks: Preserving America's Wild Places<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLabChWJCc3A2OrRqtSfhGOa7XIGm7aehV13OQhIwiPuM1sfMFGK0p0G2JdMkBzk0Gi7tVJwJF3EEmA-Qd8O3sUCRgeRDYhk_piS7dO8qkUepKfhz7_NbBJgnTd8KGwPq04j7k6LJYGIHH1OVsxnhY66NpII_Zi49ixgj_-fUNd6DADM3OvJ353yssw/s1278/HistoryComics_NationalParks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLabChWJCc3A2OrRqtSfhGOa7XIGm7aehV13OQhIwiPuM1sfMFGK0p0G2JdMkBzk0Gi7tVJwJF3EEmA-Qd8O3sUCRgeRDYhk_piS7dO8qkUepKfhz7_NbBJgnTd8KGwPq04j7k6LJYGIHH1OVsxnhY66NpII_Zi49ixgj_-fUNd6DADM3OvJ353yssw/s320/HistoryComics_NationalParks.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p>As a person who has been to a good many of them, I feel that the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/index.htm" target="_blank">National Parks</a> are one of the best parts of the USA. They are full of stupendous views, fantastic landscapes, unique flora, and surprising fauna. All of these features are sumptuously captured in the artwork of this volume of <i>History Comics</i>, and what's more it also provides excellent historical context for their creation and the people behind the scenes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvhU7W23Q6uOXQ4Qw3XLbQsdkXcORM4kEvvJSiQQMhT_rJLIeaHk5lOYHYH0gLYy3DCrlAjsGPBhQXsl2V7V9pVh6yYo_I3qmbY1ogJ7x6_2GU7gKwHHr5F3aMCmHiIIW8nhHMUVxqBelXfBbxQr_21A6NmivaIZ0jBzKNGpSeA9J8HxJpbTgrGAK8Q/s1020/HistoryComics_NationalParks_2_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1020" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvhU7W23Q6uOXQ4Qw3XLbQsdkXcORM4kEvvJSiQQMhT_rJLIeaHk5lOYHYH0gLYy3DCrlAjsGPBhQXsl2V7V9pVh6yYo_I3qmbY1ogJ7x6_2GU7gKwHHr5F3aMCmHiIIW8nhHMUVxqBelXfBbxQr_21A6NmivaIZ0jBzKNGpSeA9J8HxJpbTgrGAK8Q/s320/HistoryComics_NationalParks_2_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have I mentioned that it is narrated by a Sasquatch and an eagle? It is!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>This book details the major figures behind the origins and continuation of the National Park Service, warts and all. It tells about how Native Americans were removed from many of these spaces and how their concerns were largely ignored. It chronicles the racism experienced by the <a href="https://www.history.com/news/buffalo-soldiers-national-parks-rangers" target="_blank">buffalo soldiers</a> who were among the first rangers protecting <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm" target="_blank">Yosemite National Park</a>. It portrays the many accomplishments of naturalist and <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/" target="_blank">The Sierra Club</a> co-founder <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir" target="_blank">John Muir</a> while also noting his racist and paternalistic tendencies. In all, I feel it is an excellent piece of scholarship that balances facts with entertainment, not shying away from the more negative aspects of history. <i>The National Parks </i>is one of the best of this fantastic series of graphic novels.<br /></p><p>That this book is so well crafted is no surprise, given that it was written and drawn by <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/author/falynnchristinekoch" target="_blank">Falynn Koch</a>. She is a veteran of the <i>History Comics </i>series, having drawn <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2021/06/history-comics-wild-mustang-horses-of.html" target="_blank"><i>The Wild Mustang</i></a>. She has also drawn a couple of entries in the <i>Science Comics </i>series, <i><a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2017/02/science-comics-bats-learning-to-fly.html" target="_blank">Bats</a> </i>and <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2018/01/science-comics-plagues-microscopic.html" target="_blank"><i>Plagues</i></a>, as well as a <i>Makers Comics </i>book about <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250150066" target="_blank">baking</a>. </p><p>All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/falynn-koch/national-parks/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> called it "a witty yet complicated history of the national parks." <a href="https://goodcomicsforkids.slj.com/2022/08/29/history-comics-the-national-parks-review/" target="_blank">Johanna Draper Carlson</a> wrote that it "can be read multiple times, with new facts standing out to the reader each time through."</p><p><i>The National Parks: Preserving America's Wild Places</i> was published by <a href="https://firstsecondbooks.com/" target="_blank">First Second</a>, and they offer a review and more information about it <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250265876/historycomicsthenationalparks" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-77281352736840029722022-06-30T12:00:00.095-04:002022-06-30T22:12:50.560-04:00Four-Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsqyJ8Jf2Nb4NEUuN2NzahYOz2hngx36BQtKpicSeKl1wJkTI8iZGJTuk-iYNWrF8cSIwrHSATzFu-nAu8PjaD4UYxEVZZmH0gPt9iLFznaLdaDOMNmewBUYYFX99xW7lbd40AazYYwtBcI8MwtLL3DiF-ZTJIrFDEpnaAJUZrbEOtS_hrOhVu9i9gA/s1425/FourFistedTales.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsqyJ8Jf2Nb4NEUuN2NzahYOz2hngx36BQtKpicSeKl1wJkTI8iZGJTuk-iYNWrF8cSIwrHSATzFu-nAu8PjaD4UYxEVZZmH0gPt9iLFznaLdaDOMNmewBUYYFX99xW7lbd40AazYYwtBcI8MwtLL3DiF-ZTJIrFDEpnaAJUZrbEOtS_hrOhVu9i9gA/s320/FourFistedTales.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Four-Fisted Tales </i>is a highly entertaining and informative book that taught me all sorts of things about animals in combat. Apparently, the US military has been using dolphins for all sorts of missions (allegedly, because lots of info about it is classified) for decades. Among the many things I also learned from this book are that World War I soldiers marshaled fireflies to help create natural light at night that did not give up their positions, rats can be trained to be highly effective at detecting land mines, and slugs were used to protect soldiers from mustard gas. Also, there are fascinating stories about animals like dogs and bears that not only served as mascots for specific units but also got involved as actual combatants. Truth is truly more fascinating than fiction. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_8K74cAlnXNQBKBACih0gEowNahovpPX2VLAL7_PblI8Ob4KPHw6yM-5wSenNMlAQm1a9SC6BRGJ8B08vtrQsquNs1KBBP_OLfdIHRzDKKtBWNR8-Ux1u0_BD8cm6U0ijcz4KfjTDnoaI2ya_f3kdewh-aG4CHh3-QtrukAVIbtQrbr523QzRZMcYg/s1700/FourFistedTales_37.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="1194" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_8K74cAlnXNQBKBACih0gEowNahovpPX2VLAL7_PblI8Ob4KPHw6yM-5wSenNMlAQm1a9SC6BRGJ8B08vtrQsquNs1KBBP_OLfdIHRzDKKtBWNR8-Ux1u0_BD8cm6U0ijcz4KfjTDnoaI2ya_f3kdewh-aG4CHh3-QtrukAVIbtQrbr523QzRZMcYg/s320/FourFistedTales_37.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From a heroic tale about a messenger dog named <a href="https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/a-loyal-messenger-dog-who-saved-countless-lives-b.html?firefox=1" target="_blank">Satan</a>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>What really makes these tales work is the masterful artwork that portrays various species not only with accuracy but also feeling, as well as detailed depictions of vehicles, buildings, landscapes, and other realistic features that make the environs of each panel live and breathe. Consequently, <i>Four-Fisted Tales </i>invites multiple re-readings, as it is easy to breeze through the whole book due to its fascinating subject matter and clear storytelling, but it also features intricate artwork that can be pored over again and again.<i> </i>Additionally, the war stories are compelling in and of themselves, without sugar-coating so even the more whimsical tales remind readers of the grim realities of battle.<br /></p><p>This book's creator Ben Towle is a professor of illustration at <a href="https://www.ccad.edu/people/ben-towle" target="_blank">The Columbus College of Art and Design</a>. He has been nominated for 4 Eisner Awards, and is known for comics that tell fantasy tales, like <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oyster-War/Ben-Towle/9781620102626" target="_blank"><i>Oyster War</i></a>, and others that are nonfiction graphic novels like <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2010/07/amelia-earhart-broad-ocean.html" target="_blank"><i>Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean</i></a>. He speaks about his work on <i>Four-Fisted Tales </i>in <a href="https://www.forewordreviews.com/articles/article/reviewer-peter-dabbene-interviews-ben-towle-author-of-four-fisted-tales/" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p>A 2022 <a href="https://www.comic-con.org/eisner-awards-current-info" target="_blank">Eisner Award</a> nominee for Best Publication for Kids, this book has been well-reviewed. <a href="https://solrad.co/an-entertaining-comic-ben-towles-four-fisted-tales" target="_blank">Rob Clough</a> wrote, "Towle tells stories that are cruel and absurd as well as frequently
funny and even inspiring, and it’s important to acknowledge that it’s
all part of the war experience." <a href="https://atomicjunkshop.com/review-time-with-four-fisted-tales-animals-in-combat/" target="_blank">Greg Burgas</a> opines that it illuminates "a neat aspect of a depressing part of history – war ." <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781682474167" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> called it an "undeniably captivating book."</p><p><i>Four-Fisted Tales</i> was published by <a href="https://www.deadreckoning.org/" target="_blank">Dead Reckoning</a>, and they offer more information about it <a href="https://www.deadreckoning.org/book/four-fisted-tales/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>I had the pleasure of getting a copy of the book from Towle at <a href="https://www.heroesonline.com/heroescon/" target="_blank">HeroesCon</a> this past weekend. He drew a lightning bug in my copy, and he is a swell fellow!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaLjtqaqfER4eRdHESurWxRjbN5ONodx2Bx2uADkhSuvXAkDluURWBAqrr-flJy5MkPzzdZoshTA8gmRwCVvuZNVA76_DW9-uUBvKfR0n5SATwT290cnAkHeNoNzKxSSCNbcA1dCfzUiawDQaDSgDJHYNbOkjnshUXQu1WBt7HQ8BNQwR6lj3J2n8ug/s4032/FourFistedTales_bug.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaLjtqaqfER4eRdHESurWxRjbN5ONodx2Bx2uADkhSuvXAkDluURWBAqrr-flJy5MkPzzdZoshTA8gmRwCVvuZNVA76_DW9-uUBvKfR0n5SATwT290cnAkHeNoNzKxSSCNbcA1dCfzUiawDQaDSgDJHYNbOkjnshUXQu1WBt7HQ8BNQwR6lj3J2n8ug/s320/FourFistedTales_bug.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-54187987235813400342022-06-25T12:00:00.110-04:002022-06-29T13:22:59.222-04:00Mr. Boop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-F01fUOH39l4SUvXr2GETZqGyHZrAiQ3teD5XNwlM_bKLAXumbrI2IS8x5UXY-4GvluxbuXIul12bw9A0Prs3MhcT7l3aiK9ZfyiPjTUDUalBrxfnGCe51AJOPxvfG5bQsEqsHGziUdv95MIIdVTtKKqxmrsEomM3PEd-H5Vjej1jEOD8wQqZG8u0w/s750/MrBoop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-F01fUOH39l4SUvXr2GETZqGyHZrAiQ3teD5XNwlM_bKLAXumbrI2IS8x5UXY-4GvluxbuXIul12bw9A0Prs3MhcT7l3aiK9ZfyiPjTUDUalBrxfnGCe51AJOPxvfG5bQsEqsHGziUdv95MIIdVTtKKqxmrsEomM3PEd-H5Vjej1jEOD8wQqZG8u0w/s320/MrBoop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><i>Mr. Boop</i> collects the four books of a webcomic about a man who is married to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Boop" target="_blank">Betty Boop</a>, works at <a href="https://order.subway.com/en-US" target="_blank">Subway</a> with <a href="https://looneytunes.fandom.com/wiki/Bugs_Bunny" target="_blank">Bugs Bunny</a>, and is roommates with <a href="https://familyguyfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Peter_Griffin" target="_blank">Peter Griffin</a>. Despite its inclusion of beloved cartoon characters, this book is definitely not for children. One of its prime targets is copyright laws and corporate ownership of characters, and the series loves to push boundaries by putting these characters in inappropriate and adult situations. However the series also has a heart, as it is a look at romantic relationships and how they play out. The set-up is a faux diary comic where Alec, the narrator, speaks about his love for his wife, Betty.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRnh6L51eVO7eAwyq4AfPwaqmSMhOdU76_n2gaPp07LoxS1xKZ5faViwjE7uuWpRinLC0aHpNpxHQUR8S8ztNOgs6x8Umw-ev2bXaV0u-SeDcXqPGn1i5rJRmOiNkap6ehrJsPLeM_-oR0GfgKoJdk3KtcL_D0UNZFfxxHOoMfSDS2Jue4bnHSyif8w/s600/MrBoop_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRnh6L51eVO7eAwyq4AfPwaqmSMhOdU76_n2gaPp07LoxS1xKZ5faViwjE7uuWpRinLC0aHpNpxHQUR8S8ztNOgs6x8Umw-ev2bXaV0u-SeDcXqPGn1i5rJRmOiNkap6ehrJsPLeM_-oR0GfgKoJdk3KtcL_D0UNZFfxxHOoMfSDS2Jue4bnHSyif8w/s320/MrBoop_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Things spiral out of control pretty quickly, as Alec's insecurities cause him all sort of grief and anxiety about his wife leaving him or him stupidly deciding to divorce her. Also, his co-worker Bugs Bunny starts explicitly telling him how jealous he is of Alec's relationship with Betty and how he is plotting to murder him. Once Alec realizes that Bugs is not joking, he and Betty decide to have a threesome with him to defuse the situation. And it works. And then they do the same thing with a variety of other cartoon characters. This all happens in the first quarter of the book, which ends tragically, and the rest takes many dramatic, silly, and surreal turns. <br /></p><p>Reading this book, things get raunchy and weird pretty quickly, but I found something utterly compelling and charming about it all. The episodic quality of the individual strips is addictive. I also think there is some sort of alchemy about the sorts of satire and parody that are going on here, coupled with the intentionally amateurish drawing style and some clever commentary on corporate machinations, that combine to make this a memorable, unique, and baffling reading experience. As I wrote earlier, this book is definitely not for kids, and I don't think it is necessarily for everyone's tastes, but it really appeals to a unique demographic (which includes me).<br /></p><p>The mastermind behind this grenade of a book is <a href="https://twitter.com/alecrobbins" target="_blank">Alec Robbins</a>. Robbins has worked in all sorts of media, and he also currently produces another webcomic <a href="http://crimehot.com/" target="_blank">CRIMEHOT</a>. He speaks about his work on <i>Mr. Boop</i> in <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/24/23132622/mr-boop-alec-robbins-interview-webcomic-betty-boop" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p>Almost all of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781945509803" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> called it "a Rube Goldbergian maze of multilevel, tongue-in-cheek internet ironizing, catnip for those who love such stuff." <a href="https://www.silversprocket.net/2021/01/06/recommended-mr-boop-by-alec-robbins/" target="_blank">Kalyleigh Hearn</a> called it "<span style="font-weight: 400;">a Tijuana Bible for the Twitter age,
racy and absurd and a jab in the eye of every intellectual property law
in existence. It’s also the most romantic comic strip of the year." In a contrary take, <a href="https://solrad.co/whats-not-to-like-mr-boop-and-me" target="_blank">Lane Yates</a> offers a long meditation on why he did not really enjoy this book.<br /></span></p><p><i>Mr. Boop</i> was published by <a href="https://store.silversprocket.net/" target="_blank">Silver Sprocket</a>, and they offer a preview and more info about it <a href="https://store.silversprocket.net/products/mr-boop-by-alec-robbins" target="_blank">here</a>. There is also much more material, including the strips, videos, and a video game, about <i>Mr. Boop</i> at its <a href="http://mrboop.net/" target="_blank">official webpage</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-56089164293907738022022-06-15T12:00:00.118-04:002022-06-24T00:19:34.294-04:00History Comics: The Stonewall Riots: Making a Stand for LGBTQ Rights<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCZ2PU70yCiUEvlXTRvRpCpBzbfC-Lr3nf_2KpGwcZiONK7PoqnSnufpdjKaHrmUWr3Tw-GShpftXohTRQSqB9scH2Iq45qDfSuLJYUeVxJIzTXXSHGM5x2vRPXjQV9q_67Lvg9aRW3cmyHuf0pEqVr517UWqOAG_3sTSOcO-KRUE-UzRAX8xHBA6Xg/s1275/HistoryComics_StonewallRiots.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCZ2PU70yCiUEvlXTRvRpCpBzbfC-Lr3nf_2KpGwcZiONK7PoqnSnufpdjKaHrmUWr3Tw-GShpftXohTRQSqB9scH2Iq45qDfSuLJYUeVxJIzTXXSHGM5x2vRPXjQV9q_67Lvg9aRW3cmyHuf0pEqVr517UWqOAG_3sTSOcO-KRUE-UzRAX8xHBA6Xg/s320/HistoryComics_StonewallRiots.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><p></p><p>History is a tough thing to conceive of for some learners, as it's difficult to remove oneself from one place in time and try to imagine themselves in another. This volume of <i>History Comics</i>, <i>The Stonewall Riots: Making a Stand for LGBTQ Rights</i>, tackles this issue by literally having its protagonists, a trio of adolescents named Natalia, Jax, and Rashad, who are diverse in terms of gender and sexuality, go back in time (without their cell phones, the horror!). Then and there, they are witness to the actual events leading up to the <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots" target="_blank">Stonewall Uprising</a>, and they get to know some of its major players. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-qOfQ_OkxsGBa0H9sR8gnzejMVb_VHh9do5qg52M5oMyUFaLcPRHLm-p-rYAIya_ewOiqOodcirsAWRiWBAdERXHkuxgvYhO2TPaBqpZqCvDwzobhDz-T_WuJEFogEfJgqgLFCVowGneShdni8u5BmVTcF7m83jz0LAkA4WNPJbfwRV1_xkdFde5-g/s1020/HistoryComics_StonewallRiots_10_11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1020" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-qOfQ_OkxsGBa0H9sR8gnzejMVb_VHh9do5qg52M5oMyUFaLcPRHLm-p-rYAIya_ewOiqOodcirsAWRiWBAdERXHkuxgvYhO2TPaBqpZqCvDwzobhDz-T_WuJEFogEfJgqgLFCVowGneShdni8u5BmVTcF7m83jz0LAkA4WNPJbfwRV1_xkdFde5-g/s320/HistoryComics_StonewallRiots_10_11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This graphic novel is more about getting to know a tone and people than it is about presenting specific facts and dates to memorize, and I think where it excels is in contextualizing what led to this series of protests that gave momentum to a significant push for LGBTQ rights. The artwork is full of personality and depicts characters in stark, energetic fashion, pairing well with the plot to make this book have a very human focus. The characters and readers both get well acquainted with the people who made history.<br /></p><p>Significantly, this book also does not sugar-coat the people or events, nor does it conclude that the struggle is over in the present day. In fact, it points out how much work still needs to be done and also provides a slew of resources for how young people can also get involved in various organizations today. It is a fantastic resource for learning about history as well as for encouraging contemporary activism, and I think it is a much-needed book for classroom and school libraries.<br /></p><p><i>The Stonewall Riots </i>was co-created by writer <a href="https://www.archiebongiovanni.com/homepage" target="_blank">Archie Bongiovanni</a> and artist <a href="http://heyandrews.com/" target="_blank">A. Andrews</a>. Bongiovanni has co-created comics in all sorts of formats, from graphic novels like <a href="https://onipress.com/products/a-quick-easy-guide-to-they-them-pronouns" target="_blank"><i>A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns</i></a> to webcomics like <a href="https://www.archiebongiovanni.com/greasebats" target="_blank"><i>Grease Bats</i></a> and other shorter ones published at <a href="https://thenib.com/author/archie-bongiovanni/" target="_blank"><i>The Nib</i></a>. Andrews also has created a number of different sorts of comics including <a href="http://heyandrews.com/sexanddisability" target="_blank"><i>A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex and Disability</i></a>. <br /></p><p>All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. <a href="https://graphicpolicy.com/2022/05/18/review-history-comics-the-stonewall-riots-making-a-stand-for-lgbtq-rights/?amp" target="_blank">Brett</a> at <i>Graphic Policy</i> stated that it is a great primer that "captures the moment," "the feel," and "the build-up of it all." <a href="https://www.leoweekly.com/2022/06/comic-reviews-stonewall-riots-and-naughty-list/" target="_blank">Krystal Moore and Felix Whetsel</a> called it "a timely introduction to the history of the LGBTQ community, and the people who fought to get us where we are now." <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/archie-bongiovanni/stonewall-riots/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> summed up, "Engaging account that invites young people to continue to advocate for equality now."</p><p><i>The Stonewall Riots: Making a Stand for LGBTQ Rights</i> was published by <a href="https://firstsecondbooks.com/" target="_blank">First Second</a>, and they offer a preview and much more <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250618351/history-comics-the-stonewall-riots" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-1789340006322139902022-06-10T12:00:00.102-04:002022-06-11T23:35:20.571-04:00Caravaggio: A Light Before The Darkness <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LlCPEZCGmL0/YQNOSI7sLvI/AAAAAAAAJSE/P0OFOZgKMv4gYtTW7nyfsS6BHPpBJcwSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1360/Caravaggio.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LlCPEZCGmL0/YQNOSI7sLvI/AAAAAAAAJSE/P0OFOZgKMv4gYtTW7nyfsS6BHPpBJcwSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Caravaggio.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p></p><p>To say that the pandemic has affected my life, work, and productivity is an understatement. This graphic novel I have been meaning to read and review for about a year, and I am happily and thankfully (and finally!) glad to post it today.</p><p><i><a href="https://www.caravaggio-foundation.org/" target="_blank">Caravaggio: A Light Before The Darkness</a></i> is set in the late 16th/early 17th century, and this book took me back (not to the 17th century, I am not THAT old) to my undergraduate days when I took an art history class and attended a lecture about the art of <span><a href="https://www.caravaggio-foundation.org/" target="_blank">Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio</a><i>. </i>He was an important figure of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque" target="_blank">Baroque</a> style, and he lived a tumultuous and eventful life, all of which are conveyed effectively in this book. He is known for his sense of drama and lighting in his work, with a masterful use of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro" title="Chiaroscuro">chiaroscuro</a> that influenced many painters afterward. In apt fashion, the artwork in this book employs his painterly style in its depictions.</p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMQ9e1lDJXHU3ASOQYR7kNkh7AemSBhwE51ZWwh3OL7a7ST-OGiNB5XVPpTc3bjrIqxxMFa49290MbRcqnBzwFgXNuPMEBS6uj6teFjJ0ayFyofmOeIXPcY9W9xhwqyRDSOsqt_WZQ1ee7dINomicN9NKwaL_dAhJrTKBvNHmEjW0-XdM9N-j9RzkWA/s1871/Caravaggio_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1871" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMQ9e1lDJXHU3ASOQYR7kNkh7AemSBhwE51ZWwh3OL7a7ST-OGiNB5XVPpTc3bjrIqxxMFa49290MbRcqnBzwFgXNuPMEBS6uj6teFjJ0ayFyofmOeIXPcY9W9xhwqyRDSOsqt_WZQ1ee7dINomicN9NKwaL_dAhJrTKBvNHmEjW0-XdM9N-j9RzkWA/s320/Caravaggio_1.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><i></i><p></p><p>Just as dramatic as his artwork was his personal life, which was characterized by sex scandals (with men and women), duels, and multiple brawls. Ultimately the fallout from this violence caused him to live in exile, and he died under controversial circumstances. This book delineates all these events in spirited and cinematic fashion, which is fitting as the script for this book came from an unproduced screenplay. I think it works well as a graphic novel, capturing the flare and intrigue of Caravaggio's life as well as the spirit of his artistic achievements. <br /></p><p>This book is a collaboration between author and screenwriter <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Mora" target="_blank">Ken Mora</a> and artist <a href="https://www.facebook.com/artofcyrusmesarcia/" target="_blank">Cyrus Mesarcia</a>. Mora is best known for a number of animation projects from his company <a href="https://bellafemedia.com/animated%20film" target="_blank">Bella Fe Media</a>. Mesarcia has drawn the comic book series <a href="https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/people/27785/cyrus-mesarcia" target="_blank"><i>Carson of Venus</i></a> and a number of <a href="https://freshcomics.us/creator/cyrus-mesarcia" target="_blank">horror comics</a>. Mora speaks about his work on this book in <a href="https://www.comiccrusaders.com/al-chats-with-ken-mora-all-about-caravaggio-comic-crusaders-podcast-80/" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p>All of the reviews I was able to locate of this book have been positive. <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-913359-56-0" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> called it "a spirited introduction to Caravaggio’s life and times that should appeal to readers of classic graphic illustrated style comics." <a href="https://www.thebookdelight.com/2020/08/caravaggio-light-before-darkness.html" target="_blank">Jean M. Roberts</a> wrote, "I enjoyed this graphic novel and highly recommend it to readers of
historical fiction who enjoy adult graphic novels and a unique reading
experience." As of this review, it has a 4.43 (out of 5) star rating on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53720409-caravaggio" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br /></p><p><i>Caravaggio: A Light Before The Darkness</i> was published by<span class="a-list-item"><span class="a-text-bold">
</span>
<span><a href="https://markosia.com/books/worlds-of-wonder/caravaggio-a-light-before-the-darkness/" target="_blank">Markosia Enterprises Ltd</a>. It was originally published as a six individual issues, partially funded by a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kenmora/caravaggio-a-light-before-the-darkness-in-print" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> campaign. It is also available as webcomic on <a href="https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/caravaggio-a-light-before-the-darkness/list?title_no=149232&page=1" target="_blank">WEBTOON</a>.</span></span> </p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-54099696167203097492022-06-05T12:00:00.172-04:002022-06-08T21:55:55.878-04:00Tunnels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q1fVTI2ycbIB3g7Ol_YlIPiiIBYN-Ui8OOiaMb0G7pvKN9f88vg4VwIS5aTXE1yMVM9W6AvdOjdfMQ0eL-2D6SsQfC2Veo9mgn6KhFaejEftn38IhMiTqyPAeJSMxc7m4P15l_WHtB3pEmUgI8znN3TMOTcPi_dAduLw10yYPSxKT-cSitxsS-eU-w/s1926/Tunnels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1926" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q1fVTI2ycbIB3g7Ol_YlIPiiIBYN-Ui8OOiaMb0G7pvKN9f88vg4VwIS5aTXE1yMVM9W6AvdOjdfMQ0eL-2D6SsQfC2Veo9mgn6KhFaejEftn38IhMiTqyPAeJSMxc7m4P15l_WHtB3pEmUgI8znN3TMOTcPi_dAduLw10yYPSxKT-cSitxsS-eU-w/s320/Tunnels.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Tunnels </i>is a splendid graphic novel, intricately plotted, expressively drawn, and colorfully executed. Its plot is complicated, and its characters bold, with each of them so focused on their desires that they do not see a bigger picture. The main character is Nili, an unemployed, single mother who strives to complete her archaeologist father's ultimate quest: to locate the Ark of the Covenant. Because of the onset of dementia, he had been removed from his academic position and is convalescing at home.</p><p> "Aiding her" on her journey is her brother Broshi, but he is secretly in kahoots with Prof. Rafi Sarid, their father's ex-collaborator who is conniving to take the glory that comes with discovery for himself. He has dangled Broshi the prospect of tenure for information leading to locating the Ark, but he has no intentions to honor his deal. Also on the journey is Doctor, Nili's young son who wants nothing but to be left alone with games on a cell phone. The entire enterprise is bankrolled by Emil Abuloff, an antiquities dealer with a penchant for buying artifacts pilfered by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State" target="_blank">ISIS</a>. He is looking for a legitimate score to offset the ill-gotten gains he has made off of terrorists. Doing the actual digging are two parties, first a team of sycophantic Jews led by Shmuel Gedanken and two Palestinian brothers, Mahdi and Zuzu who dig the tunnel but want it for smuggling purposes. Gedanken also has in tow Aviva, a red cow that is to be slaughtered upon discovering the Ark.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lGOGex8iWYF9IHD3e9999jGvwt9_-WuumEeGJrbM3D0FOSEmhDHfAMq2JJVf5IpWtrx8D6uXSiWgbw06iw2wIe-qbW7__RjQQxQT1XZApSZIxeYrSvhGCljAqW2xDyDVLJ3Grbd3cN-q9HVhv-1Q-ufml4Dn5r5G5nJP0qFkl23SPHAgHq63HA0LFg/s1292/Tunnels_127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="890" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lGOGex8iWYF9IHD3e9999jGvwt9_-WuumEeGJrbM3D0FOSEmhDHfAMq2JJVf5IpWtrx8D6uXSiWgbw06iw2wIe-qbW7__RjQQxQT1XZApSZIxeYrSvhGCljAqW2xDyDVLJ3Grbd3cN-q9HVhv-1Q-ufml4Dn5r5G5nJP0qFkl23SPHAgHq63HA0LFg/s320/Tunnels_127.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p></p><p>If you have stuck with me thus far, you can see that there is much going on in this book character-wise. However, just as important as the characters is the setting, the contested lands in Israel and Palestine where huge walls and armed soldiers loom. At stake here are not just the fame that comes with discovery but also the power afforded to political and religious supremacy. Not to mention the fact the some of these people believe that possessing the Ark means that their forces will be unstoppable. <br /></p><p>Despite all of these seriousness and intrigue of this quest, the book also features a sense of humor, full of <i><a href="https://www.tintin.com/en" target="_blank">Tintin</a></i>-esque, colorful characters whose eyes and mouths frequently explode in cartoonish manner. Aviva the cow is also a wild-card, getting into all sorts of mischief and mucking things up. So, this books is a strangely balanced concoction of political jostling, family and academic drama, archaeological adventure, and farce. It is a fascinating, compelling, and substantial book, masterfully crafted and brilliantly illustrated. It also features an essay to close the book, where the author explains her intentions and narrative choices in great detail.<br /></p><p><i>Tunnels </i>was created by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutu_Modan" target="_blank">Rutu Modan</a>, who has published two other graphic novels. <i><a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/exit-wounds/" target="_blank">Exit Wounds</a> </i>and <a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/property/" target="_blank"><i>The Property</i></a>, in the US, with both winning <a href="https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info" target="_blank">Eisner Awards</a>. She has also illustrated a number of picture books, created a variety of short comics, and edited the Hebrew edition of <i><a href="https://madtrash.com/israeli-mad/" target="_blank">MAD</a> </i>magazine. She speaks about her work on <i>Tunnels </i>in <a href="https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/digging-through-the-past-a-conversation-with-rutu-modan" target="_blank">this interview</a>. This book was translated into English by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishaimishory/" target="_blank">Ishai Mishory</a>.<br /></p><p>All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. <a href="https://www.tcj.com/reviews/tunnels/" target="_blank">Hillary Brown</a> wrote that "<span style="font-weight: 400;">all these characters are so flawed and
fascinating and prickly. They’re predictable and unpredictable in equal
parts, which makes them interesting to watch." </span><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/12/28/1067179495/graphic-novel-tunnels-about-archaeology-in-israel-excavates-human-motivations" target="_blank">Etelka Lehoczky</a> opined, "Contemplating the shallowness and entitlement of Modan's characters, readers may wind up reflecting on their own." <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/12/tunnels-by-rutu-modan-review-israel-palestine-raiders-of-the-lost-ark-meets-herge" target="_blank">Rachel Cooke</a> wrote, "Every page is gripping, every frame profoundly political."<span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><p><i>Tunnels</i> was published by <a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/" target="_blank">Drawn & Quarterly</a>, and they offer a preview and more <a href="https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/tunnels/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-86437858997131818372022-05-30T12:00:00.016-04:002022-05-31T23:47:26.482-04:00Piece By Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhWftAv89pP8-bLTDjIsNv29NvHVjX1wnchGe3kZw93GW4cSWBPU_LPEIb3B8V8fSxcWzd_fA7t2vAYffrrWWxBgDsRDoYcP3_4ZSENPC2FF7CgAM-YmyupN_6WrR1xbvGHfTyKKc7k8BAeKhK0vzabXyTRxCdkntKqIBmR42BE--RuI_d2r_ScgnnQ/s800/PieceByPiece.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="572" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhWftAv89pP8-bLTDjIsNv29NvHVjX1wnchGe3kZw93GW4cSWBPU_LPEIb3B8V8fSxcWzd_fA7t2vAYffrrWWxBgDsRDoYcP3_4ZSENPC2FF7CgAM-YmyupN_6WrR1xbvGHfTyKKc7k8BAeKhK0vzabXyTRxCdkntKqIBmR42BE--RuI_d2r_ScgnnQ/s320/PieceByPiece.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Piece By Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab</i> is a complex, harrowing, and compelling graphic novel that tackles some difficult subject matter, namely prejudice and violence directed toward Muslims in the United States. This book is set in 2002 in Portland, Oregon, and it stars Nisrin, a young woman who embraces Islam and traditional garb, despite her parents' views. They still recall the violence in Bangladesh becoming independent from Pakistan in 1971, and their scars color their views differently.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPkc_7EvAZTv76hdv2Zaj34YxQJAdVXfMAFAd311TwGJgsYaVSKxwyN9Z3KXEURhaftuVFJost4r9rRSlogf1V2OKNjy9Z0pApTBsQsrwshdqR4XIYMJl2X177cW1_-r3NPuaUhNWuZrSPuCWuvrNiz-bqXY0Nzc1-W0kJhBCaPQ87Q5_trJt0PgOxw/s800/PieceByPiece_137_138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="800" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPkc_7EvAZTv76hdv2Zaj34YxQJAdVXfMAFAd311TwGJgsYaVSKxwyN9Z3KXEURhaftuVFJost4r9rRSlogf1V2OKNjy9Z0pApTBsQsrwshdqR4XIYMJl2X177cW1_-r3NPuaUhNWuZrSPuCWuvrNiz-bqXY0Nzc1-W0kJhBCaPQ87Q5_trJt0PgOxw/s320/PieceByPiece_137_138.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Her wearing a head scarf marks Nisrin as an outsider in school and her community, and
one day she and an African-American friend find themselves targeted by a crazed individual
spewing anti-Muslim hate. Both girls are beaten badly, and face
long recoveries. Nisrin in particular suffers from instances of
PTSD, and she finds it difficult to deal with her new surroundings in
high school, where she finds herself bullied by some students and
shunned by some teachers. She finds it hard to make friends, though eventually she does hit it off with a girl named Veronica.<br /><p></p><p>Reading this book is bracing, because it depicts serious subject matter in a frank manner. However, I appreciated the experience of reading it, because it is engrossing, and I feel that I learned much more about Bangladeshi culture and history. Also, the vivid painted imagery is powerful and atmospheric, drawing the reader into this work in direct and impactful fashion. Its imagery and narrative are both haunting and enlightening, showing the horrors that victims of hate crimes suffer as well as how some immigrants experience life in the US. <br /></p><p>This book's creator <a href="http://www.batsabatsabatsa.com/" target="_blank">Priya Huq</a> is a Bangladeshi artist, and this is her debut graphic novel. She publishes work with <a href="https://www.radiatorcomics.com/creator/priya-huq/" target="_blank">Radiator Comics</a>, and she speaks more about her life and how it affected the making of this book in <a href="https://womensmediacenter.com/fbomb/a-bangladeshi-american-girl-discovers-her-sense-of-self-in-priya-huqs-piece-by-piece" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p>All the reviews I have read about this book have sung its praises. <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/priya-huq/story-nisrins-hijab/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> concluded, "Remarkable storytelling presents a multilayered struggle around identity and power in an anti-Muslim climate." <a href="https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2021/09/10/book-review-piece-by-piece-the-story-of-nisrins-hijab-by-priya-huq/" target="_blank">Amanda MacGregor</a> wrote, "This is a very emotional and powerful read, with the assault and resulting trauma coloring much of the story." <a href="https://hijabilibrarians.com/archives/2545" target="_blank">Mahasin A. Aleem</a> called it "A solid addition to collections of all types and a welcome exploration
of what it means to navigate the complexities of Muslim identity in the
United States."</p><p><i>Piece By Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab</i> was published by <a href="https://www.abramsbooks.com/imprints/amuletbooks/" target="_blank">Amulet Books</a>, and they offer more information about it <a href="https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/piece-by-piece-the-story-of-nisrins-hijab_9781419740169/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-56715181589734130312022-05-25T12:00:00.111-04:002022-06-11T18:41:51.480-04:00The Fifth Quarter: Hard Court<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-uKg1hXwrNrpYsh6-ezhzuS9mLsJ6Oz1s7OCvOIJJj0js9ezqjFlbONodQ2Zw3zwUqf_GhuVgSM7lvWVwjPYG8x4tZUGFuRErksHkWxPhz6GcCfYfMICpP1fFtdqSD4I1OU64Sn6ZxwIYEOgeXbUy78gewLl29PzCc3epxMmlgEpG_vh1K8jtfKgrA/s1309/FifthQuarter_HardCourt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-uKg1hXwrNrpYsh6-ezhzuS9mLsJ6Oz1s7OCvOIJJj0js9ezqjFlbONodQ2Zw3zwUqf_GhuVgSM7lvWVwjPYG8x4tZUGFuRErksHkWxPhz6GcCfYfMICpP1fFtdqSD4I1OU64Sn6ZxwIYEOgeXbUy78gewLl29PzCc3epxMmlgEpG_vh1K8jtfKgrA/s320/FifthQuarter_HardCourt.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p><i>The Fifth Quarter: Hard Court </i>is one of those sequels that I feel is better than its predecessor, which is saying something because I very much enjoyed <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-fifth-quarter.html" target="_blank">book 1</a>. In this book, Lori finds herself facing some new situations. Now in sixth grade, she and her friends are getting older and some are developing new interests and spending more time apart. Her dad is going to go back to work for the first time since she was born, and her mom is going to coach her rec league basketball team. Plus, she and her friend Elyse are growing their skills at basketball camp. There, their coach calls them the "Dream Team," with Lori being more offense-minded and Elyse more a defensive specialist. They still predominantly play during the fifth quarter for their middle school team, but Elyse gets more chances to get into actual games. This situation causes Lori to have some hurt feelings and jealousy. </p><p>What I think pushes this book beyond the first one is the way it shows the dynamics between various relationships in very detailed and realistic fashion, warts and all. Lori's parents have their arguments over money, work, and their parenting roles. Lori has issues with her friends, parents, and little siblings. Also, a good portion of the book involves flashbacks to Lori's mom's childhood, so we learn about her own highly competitive nature as well as her strained relationship with her father and step-sister. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBpuQEQRHONmSHU_3omHk-MDRd3qUc_Sa-_N3o1DhjKlsA_HTZLVqN64ftF216UoJTEg7JUEWabWwvC78Ee6X9nTJmIjLw1kHh5tA0fTl0qlBZ-tc_-DXy9MtJWR1j7qmFPwOqvHFouPkIPnwSylpwu8vNE3zSwxBs0om7WAND5jSq4JqtdMfTxMiuQ/s1207/FifthQuarter_HardCourt_8_9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="1207" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBpuQEQRHONmSHU_3omHk-MDRd3qUc_Sa-_N3o1DhjKlsA_HTZLVqN64ftF216UoJTEg7JUEWabWwvC78Ee6X9nTJmIjLw1kHh5tA0fTl0qlBZ-tc_-DXy9MtJWR1j7qmFPwOqvHFouPkIPnwSylpwu8vNE3zSwxBs0om7WAND5jSq4JqtdMfTxMiuQ/s320/FifthQuarter_HardCourt_8_9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Looking back, I gained insight into how she pushes Lori and herself to succeed. Getting to see a family reunion at the Passover Seder brings things full circle, as we get to see the aftermath of her childhood and how relationships turned out over the decades. <br /></p><p>And I have not even mentioned the game-play, which is also a major aspect of the book. The various scenes of basketball are well paced, exciting, and dramatic. I really appreciate that there is no magical transformation, that Lori still has her struggles , even with extra coaching and attention from her mother. Some of her struggles even come from that very same coaching and her mother, which is both ironic and apt. Her mother pushes her to succeed and have a killer instinct, but she also might be pushing a bit too hard and also rehashing trauma from her childhood. This seemingly simple tale is actually pretty complex and imbued with nuances.<br /></p><p>I love a good scrappy underdog tale, and this graphic novel is that as well. It shows that with effort and practice that there can be some success and growth, even if it's still not all sunshine and roses. Plus, as a parent, I really appreciate the vivid portraits of the adults as well as the children. There was so much I could relate to, and I desperately hope that this series will continue. It is simply superb.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk5TzbIAInHBi9lwmpYMUSs8ypBp4MQpA8lbRZWxsg_sNLf-lkdnbGm7hIUnvawjPMJfn-QS3i3kJXzugTolwGc8dWusRZ-wW5AtLlU20YeflyXw4nKjYiMjhQdCqHShsPD1UgnXG47FWrZbYkHxennAIj8n-_wSmOW6HrNp1hK1QEuhriibrBnUz4A/s535/FifthQuarter_HardCourt_detail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="535" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk5TzbIAInHBi9lwmpYMUSs8ypBp4MQpA8lbRZWxsg_sNLf-lkdnbGm7hIUnvawjPMJfn-QS3i3kJXzugTolwGc8dWusRZ-wW5AtLlU20YeflyXw4nKjYiMjhQdCqHShsPD1UgnXG47FWrZbYkHxennAIj8n-_wSmOW6HrNp1hK1QEuhriibrBnUz4A/s320/FifthQuarter_HardCourt_detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have this same exchange at least three times a day with my own kids.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><a href="http://www.mikedawsoncomics.com/">Mike Dawson</a> created this book. He has written and drawn more than a few graphic novels over the years, including <a href="http://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2010/01/freddie-me.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic;">Freddie & Me</span></a>, <a href="http://www.tcj.com/reviews/angie-bongiolatti/" target="_blank"><i>Angie Bongiolatti</i></a>, and <a href="http://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2017/01/troop-142.html" target="_blank"><i>Troop 142</i></a>.
He also has done a lot of graphic nonfiction and essay work, including the collection <a href="https://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2017/03/rules-for-dating-my-daughter-modern.html" target="_blank"><i>Rules for Dating My Daughter</i></a> and plenty of comics for <a href="https://thenib.com/author/mike-dawson/" target="_blank"><i>The Nib</i></a>. He speaks about his work on this book as well as other topics in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEoglnQOVx8" target="_blank">this interview</a>. <br /></p><p>The reviews I have seen about this book have been largely positive. <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mike-dawson/hard-court/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> summed it up as "Buoyant and breathless, scoring on several levels."It currently has a 4.4 (out of 5) star rating on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58484144-hard-court" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br /></p><p><i>The Fifth Quarter: Hard Court</i> was published by <a href="https://firstsecondbooks.com/" target="_blank">First Second</a>, and they offer a preview and more information <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250244352" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p>I read an advance digital copy of the book, and it will published in July.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-75939868464642030502022-05-20T12:00:00.000-04:002022-05-20T21:08:15.216-04:00Dionysos: The New God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hA6KyDYsEjkBvHtxaZ0wZ4u_4xUAN0nMtio0aFT4CU9GZnegbFOw_kN2vOVAuCyTGsO24e3PXiQCfRt5xN97kf1Fk31NcURjIAvqtWG6bp6A6xG3nxAesQIfyc19l4aP8LM938ehKV6KwSpzXUupme1vQoqulkgpKx3ZHYUUvGqRUMPCfVFqinCHmQ/s1191/Dionysos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hA6KyDYsEjkBvHtxaZ0wZ4u_4xUAN0nMtio0aFT4CU9GZnegbFOw_kN2vOVAuCyTGsO24e3PXiQCfRt5xN97kf1Fk31NcURjIAvqtWG6bp6A6xG3nxAesQIfyc19l4aP8LM938ehKV6KwSpzXUupme1vQoqulkgpKx3ZHYUUvGqRUMPCfVFqinCHmQ/s320/Dionysos.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><p><i>Dionysos: The New God</i> is the last book in the 12-volume <i>Olympians</i> series that chronicles the major gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. The whole enterprise is narrated by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hestia" target="_blank">Hestia</a>,
the first-born child of Rhea and Cronus who eventually gives up her
spot in the pantheon to Dionysos, and she gets her due as well. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zTRPNq1ZXMzX31EzniDXOn-zfMZZJ3XZKUV5TgtZHRCJdPyc56qt9kZjPYm4b3MvB_vNwYLFSalT4zM-Wiy5dTGXfPM2J0PQhDyVHASioeeCos2SIinbh-LpKV5dr_LlrA3BMHP1pwucqYKTHhzxgsibluoWseYSviC3FDjOPGO1YWJXmyPgaDz8OA/s1020/Dionysos_1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1020" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zTRPNq1ZXMzX31EzniDXOn-zfMZZJ3XZKUV5TgtZHRCJdPyc56qt9kZjPYm4b3MvB_vNwYLFSalT4zM-Wiy5dTGXfPM2J0PQhDyVHASioeeCos2SIinbh-LpKV5dr_LlrA3BMHP1pwucqYKTHhzxgsibluoWseYSviC3FDjOPGO1YWJXmyPgaDz8OA/s320/Dionysos_1_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>In many ways this book is the most straight-forward of them all, with the tales mostly following the main character with few tangents into related myths. Still, it is both highly engaging and informative, telling a tale about a god that shares many aspects with modern religions. <br /></p><p>This book is rewarding as a stand-alone volume but it is also a clever send-off to the entire series, full of subtle references to past tales and characters. Dionysos differs from the other gods because his mother is a mortal woman and he grows up on Earth rather than Olympus. His early life is full of chicanery, as he was initially female and lived as a daughter raised by his mother's family before he transformed into a male and moved in with a band of satyrs. Along the way, he invented wine and became a god of celebration, fertilty, and madness. </p><p>Dionysos is imbued with unique characterization, reflecting a complicated trajectory of life. He straddles multiple categories, such as immortal/mortal. female/male, and joy/madness, and his depictions, with two colored eyes, is appropriately beguiling. The flow and storytelling of this book are also superb, and I feel this book is a more than worthy coda to an excellent series. I am really looking forward to what O'Connor does next, which will be a four-book series entitled <i>Asgardians</i>, which will retell Norse mythology.<br /></p><p>In addition to the <i>Olympians</i> series, artist/writer <a href="https://www.georgeoconnorbooks.com/" target="_blank">George O'Connor</a> has created the American history journal account <i><a href="http://graphicnovelresources.blogspot.com/2011/11/journey-into-mohawk-country.html" target="_blank">Journey into Mohawk Country</a></i> and the dystopian future book <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/ballpeenhammer/AdamRapp" target="_blank"><i>Ball Peen Hammer</i></a>, written by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Rapp" target="_blank">Adam Rapp</a>. He also drew the political graphic novel <i><a href="https://read.macmillan.com/worldcitizencomics/unrig_newman/" target="_blank">Unrig: How to Fix Our Broken Democracy</a> </i>with author <a href="https://twitter.com/danielgnewman?lang=en" target="_blank">Daniel G. Newman</a>. He speaks about his work on this last <i>Olympians </i>book in <a href="https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022/03/08/its-over-isnt-it-george-oconnor-interview-and-the-final-olympians-release/" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p>All of the reviews I have read of this book have been glowing. In a starred entry, <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/george-oconnor/dionysos/" target="_blank">Kirkus Reviews</a> summed up, "A by turns epic, amusing, and tragic caper that’s even more toastworthy (for obvious reasons) than its 11 predecessors." <a class="author url fn" href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/dionysos/" rel="author" target="_blank" title="Posts by Bill Capossere">Bill Capossere</a> wrote about it and the whole series, "They’re a treasure for all, young or old, steeped in the stories or barely recalling them from high school."</p><p><i>Dionysos: The New God</i> was published by First Second, and they offer a preview and more here. <br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-34215932619151642132022-05-15T12:00:00.098-04:002022-05-16T21:45:26.276-04:00Radiant Black Volume 001: (Not So) Secret Origin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Kb_EjFHfhU7ygWi5_EtxpcUbndzuyVuIVj9OXoaf4l_oCDCdFXa3p7oWArwikfUqYPkhMETZ_rcCdj1ehZoNuWc9n9rnD9efRJ0Akk22Qc8tNsfXbvW8Yw_ijjjETRI_IeixE2lVWxWrk9TVVAG48A2QCvaBG1QKpLlY4uRPBIxQrxw7H3m4iXqM4g/s591/RadiantBlack_v1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="384" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Kb_EjFHfhU7ygWi5_EtxpcUbndzuyVuIVj9OXoaf4l_oCDCdFXa3p7oWArwikfUqYPkhMETZ_rcCdj1ehZoNuWc9n9rnD9efRJ0Akk22Qc8tNsfXbvW8Yw_ijjjETRI_IeixE2lVWxWrk9TVVAG48A2QCvaBG1QKpLlY4uRPBIxQrxw7H3m4iXqM4g/s320/RadiantBlack_v1.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have read a lot of superhero comics in my days, and <i>Radiant Black </i>is a very good one. I like how it plays with common tropes and makes them fresh and exciting. To start, it stars a man named Nathan Burnett, who is not the typical alter ego. To begin, he's relatively older, a 30-year-old white man who is a struggling author, has racked up substantial credit card debt, and is forced to move back in with his parents. While he feels humiliated to be back in his hometown just outside of Chicago, his childhood friend Marshall is thrilled to see him and also give him a healthy dose of grief. One day, while they are out catching up and drinking, Nathan encounters some strange mini-black hole/ball of energy and is transformed into a helmeted, super-powered being. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SPxoAF9hw3lNpRd-6Sjj9wu6wvtc2Osc9Pdr9VAdyXkMKXH_jl4SVoFT14-hgp7qio6u8Ru2DlCt1nMlP9hFDCw8-ilZSnRT0nYofhK4HjyUp09enSiAx8bdR88T2uOvNxgs3Rr7Xd7owhBcqCQcTc4HJOq_mZl6hhorREfk09tz1bTR4SWZKLFhpQ/s900/RadiantBlack_v1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="585" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SPxoAF9hw3lNpRd-6Sjj9wu6wvtc2Osc9Pdr9VAdyXkMKXH_jl4SVoFT14-hgp7qio6u8Ru2DlCt1nMlP9hFDCw8-ilZSnRT0nYofhK4HjyUp09enSiAx8bdR88T2uOvNxgs3Rr7Xd7owhBcqCQcTc4HJOq_mZl6hhorREfk09tz1bTR4SWZKLFhpQ/s320/RadiantBlack_v1_1.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyNdWbBDC0BK7otPULOVsZalVnYJJ5whXTyim8OOwNG9_5J94N0SDiBKCGza-TUKqDASDWwIrKgD6si4ssakJtCYg-1o9uVCgiD_jFRYj7m2eLxJxPa8ZDktD54hmMklzw2SOAucMiaJrwBOi2mAmivCYo9Fb3OXTVyPdzAz7slkNN3LRrvjH-LfPGA/s900/RadiantBlack_v1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="585" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyNdWbBDC0BK7otPULOVsZalVnYJJ5whXTyim8OOwNG9_5J94N0SDiBKCGza-TUKqDASDWwIrKgD6si4ssakJtCYg-1o9uVCgiD_jFRYj7m2eLxJxPa8ZDktD54hmMklzw2SOAucMiaJrwBOi2mAmivCYo9Fb3OXTVyPdzAz7slkNN3LRrvjH-LfPGA/s320/RadiantBlack_v1_2.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><p></p><p>Of course, he decides to use his powers for good, but things become complicated by the mystery of what gave him his powers and also the growing realization that he is not the only one in the world who has been so gifted. </p><p>What made this book work well for me was its character work, suspense, and plotting. Nathan makes for an intriguing hero and Marshall is much more than a comedic, smart-ass sidekick. Their relationship is makes for fun reading, as does how well the details of Radiant Black's origin are teased across the length of this book. Add some genuinely surprising plot twists, and the result is an engrossing, addictive, and fun series. I will definitely be checking out more of it.<br /></p><p><i>Radiant Black </i>was created by writer <a href="https://twitter.com/kyledhiggins?lang=en" target="_blank">Kyle Higgins</a> and artist <a href="https://twitter.com/costamarcelo77?lang=en" target="_blank">Marcelo Costa</a>. Higgins is best known for his comics work on <a href="https://www.dccomics.com/characters/batman" target="_blank">Batman</a> and <a href="https://www.boom-studios.com/series/mighty-morphin-power-rangers/" target="_blank">Mighty Morphin Power Rangers</a>. Costa also worked on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as a colorist. In the later chapters of this trade paperback, they are joined by guest artists <a href="https://twitter.com/eduardoferigato" target="_blank">Eduardo Ferigato</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Lafuente_RIP" target="_blank">David Lafuente</a>. Higgins and Costa speak about their work and inspirations for this book in <a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-team-behind-radiant-black-talk-bringing-power-range-1845691447" target="_blank">this interview</a>.<br /></p><p>The reviews I have read about this collection of the series' first six issues were mostly positive. <a href="https://www.cbr.com/image-comics-radiant-black-review/" target="_blank">Henry Varona</a> called it "already one of the most immersive and exciting superhero comics of the decade." <a href="https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/2021/12/02/radiant-black-vol-1-not-so-secret-origin/" target="_blank">Kris</a> wrote, "<span style="font-weight: 400;"> If you grew up reading comics or
watching the TV shows the creative team is riffing on here, then you’ll
likely enjoy the series." <a href="https://aiptcomics.com/2021/08/17/radiant-black-vol-1-review/" target="_blank">Colin Moon</a> was not thrilled with the first four chapters of the book, but opined, "</span>For all my griping — and all the spinning of the book’s wheels — the
final two issues of this collection reignited my excitement, making me
much more willing to join the adventure in progress."<br /><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p><p><i>Radiant Black </i>was published by <a href="https://imagecomics.com/" target="_blank">Image Comics</a>, and they offer a free preview and more about the entire series <a href="https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/radiant-black-vol-1-tp" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6870778780151532603.post-22284009528128844672022-05-10T12:00:00.092-04:002022-05-10T12:29:42.135-04:00The Mundane Adventures of Dishman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_MlwnYxMvsT3_ngpBxcDEtAIQT6VFivcKcsWemyErr1RyLva1L503gzwtHFPVmpAh0-VBojnT-C4ZrvRN4jDp2hvM5lScVWsARmBIhC6NqujtsRBF2vz8DBqjJjTRTWaLwXy5udruotAgzURXn505xEuqVeAw8BEKSHNeQ9vRMkXl5rzryupYwZjVA/s720/Dishman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_MlwnYxMvsT3_ngpBxcDEtAIQT6VFivcKcsWemyErr1RyLva1L503gzwtHFPVmpAh0-VBojnT-C4ZrvRN4jDp2hvM5lScVWsARmBIhC6NqujtsRBF2vz8DBqjJjTRTWaLwXy5udruotAgzURXn505xEuqVeAw8BEKSHNeQ9vRMkXl5rzryupYwZjVA/s320/Dishman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I recently received this book after contributing to its <a href="https://fundrazr.com/dishmanbook?ref=ab_0HLEBksxzQ60HLEBksxzQ6" target="_blank">fundrazr</a> campaign. <i>The Mundane Adventures of Dishman</i> is a beautiful hardcover collection of mini-comics mostly published in the 1980s. It is a fun take on superheroes, one that tries to imagine what "real life" superheroes would be like, but it also has a lot of heart and a good sense of humor. The story is: After being exposed to <a href="http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Nuclear/nucbuy.html" target="_blank">radioactive Fiestaware</a> (a real thing!) over time, schoolteacher Paul Mahler developed the ability to instantaneously clean and put away dirty dishes, which is a very specific though handy trick. Of course, he decides to use his powers for good and to help his community.<br /></p><p>After raiding his and his fiancee's wedding savings, Paul procured a pair of costumes (so he could have one ready when he did laundry) and starts roaming the neighborhood looking to assist others. Eventually, he figures out a novel way to fight crime but he also alienates his fiancee, who is A) angry he spent their savings without her consent and B) freaked out that he is being ludicrous about the whole superhero thing. So, (small spoiler) she leaves him. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOeMw0UJQVhy8AH_DOoNoDCYkR8uaxbLGqE1WFY001Xw6d7cZJnlPARW0ARm_ZxiF3evD1Vg169ykcBXDNn5F72-JqNk5EtvrzirCaKioqEEbQb6wruPXUYlQ1epYrRP2OLLPgLyWPX9ZrPrPg5e7ywNAEMzDrs7_a4xKwzQiaiZZiLEM7L0DhRXm9Q/s2197/Dishman_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="1513" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOeMw0UJQVhy8AH_DOoNoDCYkR8uaxbLGqE1WFY001Xw6d7cZJnlPARW0ARm_ZxiF3evD1Vg169ykcBXDNn5F72-JqNk5EtvrzirCaKioqEEbQb6wruPXUYlQ1epYrRP2OLLPgLyWPX9ZrPrPg5e7ywNAEMzDrs7_a4xKwzQiaiZZiLEM7L0DhRXm9Q/s320/Dishman_1.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p></p><p>After this turn of events, Paul starts hanging around his co-worker Helen, and they sort of kindle a relationship. So, in addition to the superhero tropes, there is also a good amount of drama in the mix.<br /></p><p>What makes this book exceptional is how it captures a sense of humanity in its characters. Paul feels like someone we get to know over time, and his supporting cast quickly becomes fleshed out. It also features plenty of funny scenes but none that are really mockery. Each chapter is brief but compelling, even though most of what happens is (like the title states) relatively mundane. I think this book may have been meant as a parody at first, but it grows into something much more sincere and relatable. It is a gem well worth seeking out.</p><p>This book is the creation of <a href="https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/macleod_john.htm" target="_blank">John MacLeod</a>, a painter and cartoonist who has also made the webcomic <a href="https://www.comicbookdaily.com/columns/webcomics-walkabout/space-kid/" target="_blank"><i>Space Kid</i></a> as well as a comic called <i>Not That Magic</i>. He shares his current work and drawings on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/johnmacleod1957/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.<br /></p><p>I was not able to locate many reviews of this book, but what I have read about it has been positive. <a href="https://tombrevoort.com/2019/11/24/5bc-five-best-comics-of-1988/" target="_blank">Tom Brevoort</a> called it "perhaps the most full-on realization of the trend towards more realistic depictions of super heroes in comics in the 1980s." As of this post, it has a 4.14 (out of 5) star rating on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17735294-the-mundane-adventures-of-dishman" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br /></p><p>This collection of <i>The Mundane Adventures of Dishman</i> was published by <a href="https://www.blackeye.ca/" target="_blank">Black Eye Books</a>, and they offer more info about it <a href="https://www.blackeye.ca/product-page/dishman-hardcover-preorder" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Stergios Botzakishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689046746980488665noreply@blogger.com2