Clementine, Book One

Tillie Walden is one of my favorite comics artists, a multiple Eisner Award winning talent and current cartoonist laureate of Vermont. I loved her books Spinning and On a Sunbeam, and I also had the pleasure of interviewing her a few years back as part of The Comics Alternative podcast. I was very surprised to see that she was going to be working on a book based in The Walking Dead franchise, and I bought it a few years ago but only got to actually reading it now. Clementine is based on a character from the franchise's video game series. She is a young woman/teenager who is living in a world over-run by zombies. When this book begins, she is a loner, and she wears a prosthetic leg in place of the limb she lost.  And, as you can see in the except below, she is used to taking care of herself.

Her isolated demeanor gets seriously challenged when she happens up some Amish folk on a trail, and she ends up partnering up with a young man named Amos who is on his way to Vermont as part of his  rumspringa. It turns out it is easier to ride in a wagon than walk all that way, but when they get there, things are not what they expected. I don't want to spoil much, but they end up trying to make the best of things in the cold, harsh winter conditions, and there are many complications and obstacles.

What I think this book does best is use the backdrop of the zombie apocalypse to explore human beings, how they act, and what they are capable of. This is a book with lots of moral and ethical dilemmas that also explores people's relationships to each other and why they may or may not trust them. Clementine and the others are all complex, compelling characters, and watching how they relate, strive to survive, and potentially look out for each other is very engaging. All of this is further enhanced by the expert storytelling and character depictions. This book is a definite page-turner that is tough to put down. Good thing this is the first book of  a trilogy, so I will need to track down the rest of her story.

It can be tough to please the audience of an existing character, especially one that belongs to as large and passionate a fanbase as The Walking Dead. I have no experience with the video game version, and I very much enjoyed this book. Furthermore, all of the full reviews I have read about this book have been positive. In a starred review for Library Journal, Tom Batten summed up, "Walden’s knack for character development and unique perspective result in a tale perfect for diehard fans of The Walking Dead, as well as newcomers." David Harper wrote that the book "finds a singular talent threading a needle, making this graphic novel feel like a Walden original and a natural continuation of this character’s journey."

Clementine, Book One was published by Image Comics, and they offer a preview and more here.

Spectators

Spectators uses afterlife and science fiction future tropes to examine our contemporary lives and relationships with sex and violence. It is a wild book to read, one that will stick in my mind for a while to come. The story begins in 2022, when a woman named Val is stood up for a date at a movie theater, watches porn on her phone to pass some time, then gets gunned down by a maniac who is obsessed with a competition called #leaderboard. Her story does not end there however, as she becomes a spirit who haunts the Earth. She is unable to interact or affect any living beings, but there are plenty of other dead folk she can talk to. In an interesting stylistic choice, the living world is depicted in black and white while the ghosts are in full color.

Val spends the next few hundred years roaming around New York City, spying on people having sex (or using their personal masturbatory devices) and going to particularly violent happenings, some pretty popular pursuits among the other ghosts. Eventually, she runs into another ghost named Sam, and the two loners find an affinity with one another and begin to travel together. First they go looking for people engaged in a threesome but later getting drawn up in the increasing escalation of #leaderboard killers that kick off a series of international attacks that may just be the end of times for humanity. Clearly, this tale is an epic one with a grand scope, but it is also a commentary on people's obsessions with sex and violence, particularly in these times when both are digitally accessible within seconds. 

This book is about the end of humanity in the sense of extinction but also in terms of the desensitization that comes with our access to all sorts of experiences with the touch of a button. Sam's history especially brings this notion into focus, as he is old enough to have lived through Teddy Roosevelt's presidency and the early days of motion pictures. These ghosts are the ultimate lurkers, getting to experience people's most intimate and terrible moments, much like many of us can also via the internet and social media. 

None of this grand enterprise/social critique would work if not for the synergy of two superb comics creators, the writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Niko Henrichon. The plotting and characterization are as detailed and vivid as the artwork, which is well suited to grand vistas, dynamic action sequences, and private emotional moments. Both collaborated in the past of the graphic novel Pride of Baghdad, and they originally published Spectators over a two year period as part of their Substack newsletter.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Zack Quaintance wrote about the original newsletter publication (and I feel it still applies to this book version), "With Spectators, Vaughan and Henrichon really thought through what sort of story would be perfect for this format, and delivered a memorable story along with a rewarding reading experience." Rory Wilding wrote that it is "a multi-faceted epic that ranges from sci-fi to the afterlife and an examination of humanity at its most self-destructive and raunchiest." Justin Soderberg called it "a truly spectacular graphic novel."

Spectators was published in collected form by Image Comics, and they offer more information about it here. This book features sex and violence on an intense scale and is intended for mature readers.

Justice Warriors

Justice Warriors is a series set in a near future where citizens live in a "perfect," domed city called "The Bubble" and are surrounded by the "Uninhabited Zone," which is populated by mutants who live in squalor. The Justice Warriors are police who enforce the laws of The Bubble in the UZ, one officer a monster with a goldfish head named Swamp, the other a walking poop emoji named Cadet Schitt. Swamp is not a great officer, and in the course of the first few pages, his partner is killed in action while he waits for his breakfast burrito to be cooked. Those in charge are perhaps even worse: The mayor is a musician who is more interested in album sales than governing, the chief of police a robot obsessed with social media and not justice. And overall, the entire system promotes capitalism over any sense of morality.

Exhibit A.

This future comments on our present day in darkly funny ways, parodying our contemporary consumption as vapid and in service of maintaining a power structure of media and soft drink companies while shilling cheap goods at the general populace. It is a darkly funny book, full of extreme, slapstick violence and a Judge Dredd-level of social commentary where it is way too easy to find yourself rooting for the wrong side (if there is one). The adversary in this book is a band of Zodiac-driven terrorists, they are Libras, who are exacting justice by taking over social medial popularity and invading the Bubble. They wreak havoc and disturb album sales, but what is disturbing is how most folks are easily swayed to their side and a "new" social order where the new boss will be just like the old one. 

This book is biting and weirdly fun, pointing out many of the foibles of ourselves and our current times. And perhaps best of all, it features phenomenally good artwork. The wide variety of mutants are cartoonish, highly detailed, and quite distinct from each other. There are intricate backgrounds that belay a vast amount of world-building. And the action sequences and comedic timing are both on point. I found myself poring over this book, reading and rereading sections to drink in all the mayhem, hilarity, and detail.

Justice Warriors is a collaboration between writer Matt Bors and artist Ben Clarkson. Bors is a long time political cartoonist who also founded and edited The Nib. He has won multiple Eisner Awards, was twice nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and also writes the recent Toxic Avenger series. Clarkson works in animation, illustration, fine art, theater and comics, and his work has appeared internationally in many venues. Bors and Clarkson both speak more about their work on this book in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Zack Quaintance called it "a dense, surprising, and often-hilarious read." Ryan Zickgraf wrote, "Part of what makes Justice Warriors feel fresh is that it finds new ways to depict totalitarian regimes. Instead of the predictable censorship-focused Big Brother of the endless 1984 knockoffs, everyone in Bubble City is free to speak their mind online — but the algorithm is tweaked to favor the rich and powerful and ads promoting conspicuous consumption."

Justice Warriors was published by Ahoy Comics, and they offer more information about the series here. It features violence, gore, and profanity, and is advised for readers mature enough to handle those things. For those who enjoyed this book, a second volume, Vote Harder, has also been published.

Crowded, Volume 1

Crowd-sourcing is ubiquitous nowadays, but "10 minutes" in the future it will be even more pervasive. Crowded depicts this world in satirical, troubling, and exciting (because it's not happening to me) fashion. The narrative here follows Charlie Ellison, a gig-worker who wakes up one day to find that she is the target of a $1 million Reapr campaign. Reapr is an app where a person can legally order an assassination that has to happen within 30 days. For some reason, which she may or not be aware of, Charlie finds herself being attacked by all of the would-be assassins who come out of the woodwork to bump her off and cash in. 

Luckily for Charlie, there is also Dfend, an app for bodyguards. She is not super solvent, so she hires the lowest rated bodyguard, Vita. He is grouchy but surprisingly effective. He might actually be able to keep her safe for the 30-day term of the Reapr contract, but Charlie is kind of a wildcard who wants to make her own rules and complicates both their lives. The plot here is excellent, as the clash of personalities makes for great drama in and of itself, but there are also so many different plot twists that come from unshared secrets, wily would-be assassins, and disasters that make this book a real page-turner. The artwork equals the plotting, and it melds realism with a exaggerated, cartoonish style that conveys the action and emotion well. It also captures the flavor of a near-future world in a vibrant way. I loved this book, and it's a great hook for the rest of the series.

Crowded was written by Christopher Sebela and drawn by Ro Stein and Ted Brandt. Sebela has been nominated for four Eisner Awards, and Stein and Brandt have drawn a variety of comics for both DC and Marvel. All three creators speak about their work on Crowded in this interview.

The reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Nicole Drum called it "the comic book equivalent of a viral video," adding, "It sucks you in and leaves you wondering what’s next all the while asking what that says about us." Brandon Lawrence described it, "Well written, well drawn, sets up a world, sates your appetite for action, and leaves you wanting more." You can read more reviews of the series at Comic Book Roundup.

Crowded was published by Image Comics. They have more info about this book and the next volumes in the series here. You can read the first issue, which is the first chapter of this trade paperback, here. This book features violence and profanity, so it is recommended for readers mature enough to handle them.

Boys Weekend

The best kinds of satire usually skirt the lines between funny and horrible, and Boys Weekend certainly falls into this category. It's about Sammie, a newly out trans person who has been asked by her old friend Adam to be his "best man." 

As you might glean from this excerpt, Adam does not know about this change. Moreover, he certainly does not know how to deal with Sammie's new reality, nor do the even more clueless members of his groom's party. Still, all of them embark on a weekend trip to El Campo, an island resort where you can get away with way more than you can in Las Vegas, especially in the even more libertarian near-future when this book is set. For instance, they have an attraction where you can clone yourself and then go all "Most Dangerous Game," hunt it down and kill it.

Complicating matters even further from the incredibly cringe-worthy bachelor party is the rash of bloody murders happening in El Campo, and everything devolves into a disastrous survival situation more reminiscent of a horror movie than a weekend getaway. What makes this book work is that the horror stakes are real, the humor is sharp and topical, and the contemporary concerns about gender politics and discrimination are prominent. Boys Weekend is brutal, biting, and hilarious, a satiric parable for our times.

Mattie Lubchansky is a self-called "Award-Winning Transsexual Comics Idiot." She has a long history with making funny, political comics, from being an editor of the Eisner Award winning website The Nib to creating scores of comics for that venue to her own graphic novels, such as The Antifa Super-Soldier Cookbook. She speaks about her work on Boys Weekend in this interview.

The reviews I have read about this book have been mainly positive. Michael Kurt wrote, "It’s funny, deeply insightful, and even more wild than you’d expect for a story about a hedonistic future-tech-Vegas." Sylvie Rosokoff opined, "Lubchansky’s razor-sharp satire, eerie sci-fi sensibility, and distinctive illustration style make Boys Weekend the perfect mix of darkness and light." Kirkus Reviews found it a bit clunky in parts and summed up, "An uneven but undeniably original adventure."

Boys Weekend was published by Pantheon Graphic Library, and they offer a preview and more here. Because of adult humor and gore, I recommend this book for more mature readers.

Odessa

I have read tons of dystopian future stories from the YA graphic novel market, and Odessa is one of the best ones, because it is well realized and complex. It begins when Ginny, the main character, gets a package for her 18th birthday. This package, it turns out, came from her mother Odessa, who has not been home in years and was presumed dead. This gift sets off an entire series of events that put Ginny on a quest across the environmental disaster the western United States has become to either find her mother or some sort of resolution to this situation. Along the way she runs into a good number of interesting folks (both friends and adversaries), including two stowaways that really up the stakes for her (and their) safety.

I am being vague because I do not want to spoil too much, but suffice it to say that I feel that the plot of this book is excellent, with lots of moments of suspense and cliffhangers (both emotional and physical), superb character designs, grand vistas of devastation, and palpable character moments. The way the book ends very much begs for a sequel, and I really hope we eventually get one.

One big reason why we have not gotten a sequel yet is that this book's creator, Jonathan Hill has been working on another graphic novel series, Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy and its soon-to-be-published sequel Lizard Boy 2: The Most Perfect Summer Ever. He speaks about his work on Odessa in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have sung its praises. In a starred entry, Kirkus Reviews summed it up as "a gritty, raw page-turner."  Sara Smith wrote, "There are parts of this story that are hauntingly beautiful." Becky Proie opined, "Odessa is a seemingly simple and effortless graphic novel that manages to take the well-used dystopian setting and somehow bring a welcoming feel to it that makes readers not want to put it down."

Odessa was published by Oni Press, and they offer more info about it here. 

Last Pick: Rise Up

There is a burden on trilogy finales to tie up all the loose ends in satisfying, and increasingly novel, ways. In this sense I think that Rise Up is a successful capper to the Last Pick series. It is a gratifying conclusion to an action narrative but also goes beyond into more nuanced territory. I don't want to spoil too much about it, but I will say that it is thrilling and full of "heck yeah!" moments where the alien invaders get what's coming to them. There are also a number of family reunions, including twins Sam and Wyatt (which may be a spoiler, but it's on the COVER), though they are  tempered with sadness and loss. Along the way, there are also some quiet moments, bursts of humor, and great character work. One thing this book excels at is depicting characters in diverse, individualized ways that make them memorable. 

What really drew me to this series was the sheer amount of gruesome aliens throughout the book. They are drawn in a way that is very playful and filled with delight, as ugly as they are. But behind this monstrous facade is an important look at how assumptions can turn into prejudices. Many of these creatures have been manipulated, and as you can see from the preview, some even fall in with the rebellion. 

As an added bonus, in this book there are lots of mech-suits used to battle the aliens. Mech-suits are cool.  

I love how all the Last Pick books explore how being disabled is not the same thing as being useless. The ruling aliens have dismissed entire swaths of the human population for being too old or somehow otherwise defective for physical or mental conditions. However, Wyatt and his crew prove them wrong. They are scrappy, crafty, and quite effective at what they do, on a universal scale. It's rare to find a book that balances having a message with also being exciting, but this one pulls off that trick.

This book's creator Jason Walz is a comics creator and special educator. Beside the Last Pick series, he is also known for his Eisner Award-nominated Homesick as well as A Story for Desmond.

The reviews I have read of this book have been positive. T Drecker wrote, "There's a wonderful sense of family and friendship, which gives the tale heart. While this is sold as a novel for young adults, I can easily see older middle graders enjoying it quite a bit as well." Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review that summed up, "An affecting and unforgettable SF series with heart." As of this post, it currently has a 4.30 (out of 5) star rating on Goodreads.

Last Pick: Rise Up was published by First Second, and they offer a preview and much more here. 

A review copy was provided by the author.

Woman World

Imagining a world where all the men have ceased to exist and women are left to run everything has been done in comics form before, but this book Woman World does it with a singular voice and a great sense of humor. The comics in this book were originally published online, originally on Instagram. They follow the adventures of a small band of women living in a future where all the men have died due to some genetic disease. They choose their town name and create a flag to feature the most empowering symbol they could think of: Beyoncé's Thighs. That choice should indicate just how this book mingles a feminist viewpoint with humor and a pop culture sensibility.

As the book progresses through a series of 2-3 page episodes we meet a number of this world's denizens. Among them there's Mayor Gaia who walks around naked because she likes the feel of the cool breeze on her underboob.

Told ya!

There is Emiko, who has grown up in a world without men, and upon seeing a dated movie, comes to think of Paul Blart: Mall Cop as the embodiment of masculinity. There is also Grandma, who remembers things as they used to be and finds people incredulous at what she describes.

Each woman has a distinct personality and role, and through their stories and brief episodes a larger tapestry of this world appears. It is a somewhat tragic place, where people are striving to keep civilization going on their own terms, but always tinged a sense of (dark) humor.

The artwork, as you can see in the excerpts, is spare but very expressive. I love how people's personalities and emotions are conveyed in straight-forward fashion. I also think that it juxtaposes well with all the verbal interactions and cultural references. The beats work just as well in human moments as they do in delivering laugh-out-loud gags.

This book is the creation of Aminder Dhaliwal, an animator who has worked for a number of major studios. Woman World is her graphic novel debut, and it was nominated for a 2019 Ignatz Award. She speaks about her work on WW in this interview. She still regularly publishes new comics on Instagram.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Etelka Lehoczky called it "a remarkably sly and devastating critique of patriarchy. " Phillipe Leblanc wrote, "While the premise sounds depressing and bleak, the book is far from being a dark somber affair. Dhaliwal balances her dark premise with the precise amount of levity and wit to create wonderfully comedic situations." Publishers Weekly added, "Women’s creativity, sexuality, and fearlessness are unleashed by Dhaliwal’s end of days."

Woman World was published by Drawn & Quarterly, and they offer a preview and more here.

The Hard Tomorrow

Imagine it's 2022, and Mark Zuckerberg is president. That's the premise of The Hard Tomorrow, the latest book from Eleanor Davis, one of the best comics artists going right now. The book's main character is Hannah, a young woman who works as an in-home caretaker for an elderly woman and who lives in a truck with Johnny. Johnny is working on building them a house, but he spends a lot of his alone time smoking pot and hanging out with their dog Tinker. Also, the two of them are trying to get pregnant.

When she's not at work, Hannah is involved in Humans Against All Violence, a group working for positive social action. She also hangs spends much of her time with her friend Gabby. Johnny spends his free time with Tyler, a reclusive survivalist who has many guns. Hannah is not a big fan of Tyler's, obviously, but the near future makes for some interesting bedfellows.

As much as this book is a commentary on the present day, and how it might become even worse, it is also a book about humanity and hope. Although things are tough, and in the course of the book several heartbreaking things happen, it casts a wide light on the complex and nuanced characters contained in its pages. Some of them are disappointments, while others come through in the clutch. Some are utterly wrong, and some who are easy to doubt end up being right. No one in this book is completely a saint or a sinner (except for faceless, fascist police and the POTUS), and the exploration of humanity under duress is both fascinating and moving. Most impressively, this feat is achieved via the plot and the pictures, as Davis's artwork breathes life into the pages. The Hard Tomorrow is both provocative and poignant, containing moments both jarring and subtle. Not many books move me as much as this one did, and the ending had me covered in goosebumps.

This book's creator is Eleanor Davis. She has racked up quite a few accolades, including the Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award, and she has created a number of books that can appeal to adults (How to Be Happy and Why Art?), younger readers (Stinky), and adolescents (The Secret Science Alliance). You, a Bike, & A Road was one of my favorite books of 2017, and it won an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Anthology or Collection. She speaks about her work on The Hard Tomorrow in this interview. I'd be shocked if this book does not win at least a few major awards in the coming year, as it highlights just how spectacular a writer and artist she is.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been glowing. Publishers Weekly opined that "Davis seems to argue that any life is rich and complicated enough to merit its own book—and she convinces the reader she is right." Leonard Pierce wrote, "All told, this is a book that finds that razor’s edge between irrelevance (sic?) and datedness and balances there with the expertise of a gymnast." Oliver Sava called it a graphic novel that "looks at a bleak and very familiar near-future to tell a story about activism, empathy, and believing in a better world."

The Hard Tomorrow was published by Drawn & Quarterly, and they offer a preview and more here.

Last Pick, Book Two: Born to Run

I had the distinct pleasure of serving as moderator for a panel about graphic novels and illustrated books this weekend for Read Up! Greenville, and I got to meet Chuck Brown, one of the co-authors of Bitter Root. I also got to meet Jason Walz, a comics creator and special educator who wrote today's book, Last Pick: Born to Run. It is actually the second book a trilogy, and I must admit I had not read book one beforehand (I will remedy that soon). Still, I was immediately immersed in the narrative and hit the ground running. The plot here is a dystopian future tale where aliens have taken almost every human over the age of 16 and “able-bodied” off Earth to work as slave labor, leaving what they feel are the young and infirm behind. This arrangement has separated a pair of twins, Wyatt and Sam.

Sam is taken off-planet where she learns more about exactly who the alien invaders are, and also gets involved in a galactic civil war. Wyatt, who is neurodiverse and prone to moments where his mental focus shifts, is one of those left behind, but he and others band together to mount a resistance and disrupt the alien occupation force.

 

 

Apart from all of the exciting action elements, and some delightfully gruesome alien designs, there is also a strong message about how even those who get discounted can find the resources, strength, and resolve to succeed. Even with this topical message, it does not come off as preachy, as the plot is well crafted and quite compelling. I am eager to see how the whole thing concludes when the final book comes out next year.

Beside the Last Pick series, Jason Walz is also known for his Eisner Award-nominated Homesick as well as A Story for Desmond. He speaks more about his work on the Last Pick series in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read for this second entry have been positive. Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review that concluded, "An extraordinary sequel that is thrilling, inclusive, and unforgettable." Erin Partridge wrote, "The change in the trope of the hero who overcomes adversity to a team of people who triumph while living with their differences could be very empowering to people navigating the tricky world of human life."

Last Pick: Born to Run was published by First Second, and they offer a preview and much more here.

Topside

Topside is a fun piece of sci-fi action. It stars Jo, a young woman who is a technician in the Core, an area in the interior of her planet. She keeps various things running, until one day she makes a mistake and tries to rectify it by taking an unauthorized trip to the planet's surface. There she plans to get some resources that will help her fix her error. What she does not plan on is running into a couple of shifty people who con her into their own schemes. She also did not plan on being tracked by a couple of bounty hunters, Karina and Lumi. Somehow, these five end up banded together on a journey across the planet's surface that may just be a wild goose chase.

I liked this book's set-up, and I feel that there are some good moments of suspense. My issue with it is that I don't feel that the ending paid enough due to the stakes raised from the onset. Things ended a bit too tidy, and without as much drama as I expected. However, there are a few things that do recommend this book. The artwork is energetic, clean, and very communicative. Also, one of the great joys of this book is the character designs, especially the bounty hunters. Karina is a giant woman with a shark head and Lumi is basically a walking light bulb. I might not have been utterly enraptured by the ending, but it is rather open-ended and invites sequels that might do justice to these entertaining and engaging characters.

This book's creative team writer J. N. Monk and artist Harry Bogosian also collaborate on a sci-fi webcomic StarHammer. Bogosian has drawn a couple of other webcomics, Demon's Mirror and A Better Place.

I was not able to find many reviews of this book, but the one I do cite here is positive. Kirkus Reviews summed it up, "Immersive, mysterious, and just the right amount of trippy." You can find more reviews of it at Goodreads where it currently has a 3.47 (out of 5) rating.

Topside was published by Graphic Universe, and they offer a preview and more here.

The Giver

This month I'll be reviewing a bevy of graphic novel adaptations of literary works, and I decided to kick it off with this book I've both read and taught. The Giver is a classic sci-fi tale of a dystopian future by Lois Lowry, and here it is given the grand treatment in a graphic novel adaptation. I know that the knock on such works is that the adaptation will always pale in comparison, but I felt that this one is first rate in that it cleaves closely to the original in terms of its dialogue and language. Plus the artwork not only captures the spirit of the original work, it also extends its ambience with the clean, blue, black, and white lines that convey a cold, sterile purported utopia. Also, I know that there is a general assumption that  graphic novel would be a simpler, breezier read than the original, but I felt that this one was still substantive and weighty.

In case you are not familiar with the original book, the narrative takes place in a future where humans have engineered a perfect place. Everything is planned and organized in ways to optimize people's lives, from deciding who they marry to selecting their vocations at age 12. No one wants for anything, and they are content, safe, and docile. This book follows a boy named Jonas who turns 12 and is selected to be The Receiver, which means he will be the sole person to learn the history and experiences of his people. This role exposes him to many dark features from history but also contemporary practices that make this world possible. This knowledge radically changes his life as he begins to question much of he has learned as normal.

I very much enjoyed reading this book, and it was as compelling and moving as the original. I think what works best about it is that I feel it works well on its own merits and could be read and studied thus. Of course, it could also be read alongside or in conjunction with the original novel if one wanted to compare the two as well. As far as graphic novel adaptations of prose novels go, this one is one of the best.

This book's adapter P. Craig Russell has been making comics since the early 1970s. He has won multiple Eisner and Harvey Awards for his work over the years, particularly in the fantasy genres. He is known for his collaborations with Neil Gaiman and also for adapting operatic works into comics. He speaks about his work on this book in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review that concluded, "A first-rate visual reframing: sensitive, artistically brilliant, and as charged as its enigmatic predecessor with profound challenges to mind and heart." Anushka Girl wrote, "It’s a wonderful pick for young folk who are still not too keen on reading things comprised only of words, and it’s a great way for those who have already read the novel to revisit this particular dystopia." Publishers Weekly summed up, "An accessible version of the story for readers who have not yet encountered it."

The Giver was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and they offer more info about it here. There is a sizable preview of the book available here.

The publisher provided a preview copy.

One Trick Pony

One Trick Pony is a great scifi story about a planet Earth overrun by aliens called Pipers who have literally consumed all the technology they could and killed most of humanity. The people left have returned to a brutal, desperate way of life reminiscent of the Stone Age (not the happy kind like the Flintstones had). The survivors have to struggle to survive the elements, the Pipers, and each other. Many of them have turned into bands of folk called Ferals, so named for their ferocious treatment of any outsiders.

The main story here follows a young woman named Strata who has happened upon a robot horse named Kleidi in an abandoned cave. Somehow drawn to it, she refuses to leave it behind even though it is a magnet for alien attention. Still, it comes in handy when the Pipers do arrive, because not only is it fast enough to escape them, it also accepts commands that help it fight off the seemingly invincible aliens. Strata's harrowing journey drags in a couple of her compatriots as well as a fugitive from the Ferals as they try to stay ahead of the advancing Pipers. Together, they cross lots of terrain and also delve into the mysterious origins and actions of the Pipers themselves.

The aliens are called Pipers because of the sounds they make as they float about and blow toxic bubbles that swallow up technology and maim any living thing in their path. One of the survivors makes a link between their name and the legend of the Pied Piper, which gives the whole enterprise a mythic feel. Overall, I was very satisfied with this book. The artwork is exciting and gorgeous to behold. And the story features a mix of science fiction, action, character development, humor, and existentialism. The book ended in a pretty open-ended manner, too, and I would be very happy to see a sequel to find out what sorts out from the aftermath here.

This book's creator is the prolific Nathan Hale, one of my favorite comics creators, and I am not shocked that he was able to pull off combining as many elements in this book as he has. He is a masterful comics artist, best known (and celebrated) for his nonfiction series of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, which I practically consider required reading if you like graphic novels and/or US history. He also has drawn two other graphic novels, Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack. He has also worked on a variety of children's books, including Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody and The Dinosaurs' Night Before Christmas.

All the reviews of this book I have read sing its praises. Publishers Weekly concluded, "Hale gives his post-apocalyptic scenario special sauce, and readers will hope for more." Elizabeth Bird explained, "Even if you’ve never cared for science fiction, and even if aliens normally bore you to tears, you’ll find something to love about this book." Kirkus Reviews summed up, "Hale blends adventure, aliens, an apocalyptic future, and folklore into an easy-to-read stand-alone"

One Trick Pony was published by Amulet Books, and they have a preview and more available here.

Decelerate Blue

The mark of a great book may be just how long it sits with you after you have finished reading it. I read this book and was pretty dissatisfied with the ending, but it keeps cropping up in my thoughts. Decelerate Blue is a science fiction tale set in a not-too-distant future where speeding up to keep up with societal and technological change is not just necessary, it's the law. Angela, a teenage girl, does not quite fit in here, and she resists many of the required "hyper" requirements, such as reading special novels, watching special movies, and going to a special mall. People even speak in rapid style, ending each speaking turn with a marker "Go." (This last feature was pretty maddening for me to read at the start of this book, but I eventually got used to it.) In this future, trying to slow life down is an act of resistance.

Angela's actions lead to some attention, unwelcome from some (like her parents) and welcome from others (like the mysterious person who drops her a copy of Kick the Boot, a novel that becomes the manifesto for an underground movement). Soon, she literally drops out of society, joins the resistance, and finds a potential romance in an unlikely place. Still, the establishment is very well organized and relentless, and things do not go well for the resistors in the end. I am not going to spoil it, but the ending was pretty bleak and left me with small feelings of hope and large feelings of despair. Still, it is a very affecting book, and that it stirred such emotions up in me is the hallmark of something done right. I have to say that the combination of artwork and narrative is pitch perfect for this sort of tale, though I was largely dissatisfied with some of the character work.

This book is a collaboration between writer Adam Rapp and artist Mike Cavallaro. Rapp is a Renaissance man who has worked on movies, music, novels, and play writing, and he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2006. Cavallaro has worked in comics for a couple of decades now, with a number of graphic novels to his credit, including Foiled, Curses! Foiled Again, The Life and Times of Savior 28, and Parade (with fireworks).

All of the reviews I have read for this book have been glowing. Kirkus Reviews summed up, "This is a strikingly illustrated book set in a potentially massive world, and readers will hope this isn't the only story to come from it." In a starred review from the School Library Journal Jordeana Kruse gave this verdict, "Fans of George Orwell’s 1984 and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 will find much to ponder in this notable graphic novel." April Spisak wrote that even though it is not happy "the conclusion remains complex and poignant."

Decelerate Blue was published by First Second, and they have a preview and much more available here. There are some language and sexual situations that might not play well with younger readers, but I think that this book would be appropriate for older adolescents.

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Nod Away

Nod Away is a complicated book, a cerebral science fiction story with strong characters, a well-defined universe, and lots of intriguing plot threads. There are two parallel narratives. The first focuses on Dr. Melody McCabe, a scientist newly arrived to the International Space Station Integrity to work on a project where a wormhole will be opened up.

In this future time, many people are connected to a new type of social network, nicknamed Streaming, via a surgically implanted patch. It is interesting to see how the world here is an extrapolation of ours, where media and technology have a huge impact on how people interact and are socialized. Dr. McCabe is an outlier of sorts, as she is biologically incompatible with the Streaming technology and so is not connected. Much of this book sheds insight into how she becomes acclimated to life in space, and it is an awkward and bumpy experience, to say the least.

The second storyline seems related to the first, though I am not clear on how yet. It follows a solitary figure traversing a barren, rocky landscape on some seemingly uninhabited planet.

The book ends on a huge turn of events that left me bewildered but also eager for more. At first, I did not know that this was the first book in a series, and I went back and poured over it to try to make sense of everything. I found it exciting to explore the intricacies of this book, and I have formulated a bunch of theories about how things might relate. But I will just have to hang tight to see where things go, because this book is the first of a proposed seven, and Cotter is at work at a Nod Away Volume 2. I am excited to where everything is going and how it will connect in the future.

Nod Away is the creation of Joshua W. Cotter, author of the prior series/graphic novel Skyscrapers of the Midwest. He also created Driven By Lemons, a book containing an interesting mix of comics, sketches, and prose. He spoke about his work on Nod Away in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about the book comment on its strong character work and attention to detail in both story and art. The fine folks at Comics Alternative wrote, "Part of the beauty of Nod Away us that it paints a narrative picture best observed from a broader context, while at the same time the fine detail of Cotter’s art compels us to investigate its many intricacies." Zach Hollwedel summed it up as "A lingering, at times dense, page-turner of a science-fiction achievement." John Seven commented that "with each unexpected moment, the actions of the characters, because he has given such care to them, remain true and consistent, becoming the anchor in the wild ride."

Nod Away was published by Fantagraphics, and they have a preview and more available here.

Nod Away features some sexual scenes, violence, and occasional profanity, and it is suggested for readers mature enough to handle those things.

Trees, Volume 1

I just signed up for Comixology Unlimited, a service where multiple titles from certain publishers (not Marvel or DC, but some big name ones like Image and Fantagraphics) are available to read for a single monthly fee. One of the first things I read on my Samsung Galaxy tablet using this service was this book, Trees. I bought the first issue when it came out from my local comic shop, but I decided to wait for the trade. Apparently I lost track of when it came out, but I am glad I got to catch it here and now.

This book collects the first 8 issues of the series, but I have the say the whole thing reads more like a graphic novel. I seriously did not realize when I was reading it when one issue ended and another began, because the story just transitions so smoothly.

The narrative is a science fiction one, focusing on the mysterious appearance of giant alien trees in a number of urban areas worldwide. Their presence caused great destruction initially, but for the next ten years they seem dormant. Over the course of this book we get to see the effects of the trees on three specific, very different areas. In China a "special cultural center" has sprung up in the shade of the tree; in Italy a fascist gang runs the town, and in Norway a research team studies the alien life. Much to their surprise, they learn that the trees have not been dormant all along and that some sort of change is imminent.

 

What I enjoyed most about this book was how it followed three compelling scenarios that were populated with complex, interesting characters. The narrative bounces around a little, but in a short amount of space I felt I learned much about each context and its players, and what is more I came to care about what happened to them. Perhaps most impressively, even though those three locations are distant, still the events in each combine to portray the big picture of what is going on in the world. In the end, this book ended up being more human drama than sci-fi adventure, and I am very interested in seeing where this series goes.

Trees is a collaboration between writer Warren Ellis and artist Jason Howard. The multiple award winning Ellis writes both novels and graphic novels, and his comic credits include Red, Fell, The Authority, Planetary, Global Frequency, and a recent run on Moon Knight. Howard is a relative newcomer to comics compared to Ellis, but he is known for his co-creation SuperDinosaur as well as his work on The Astounding Wolf-Man. Both creators speak about their take on this series in these interviews: Ellis & Howard.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Publishers Weekly summed up that it was "A fine addition to the tradition of SF that exaggerates tomorrow’s problems to better paint a picture of today." John R. Parker called it "an intelligent, magnetic, and challenging debut." Michael is a big fan of Ellis's work, but also added that here he "has once again teamed up with the perfect artist for a project. Howard’s sketchy lines give the pages and what they depict a rough, lived in world with a vibrant kinesis."

Trees was published by Image Comics, and they have previews and much more available here. This book contains extreme violence, sexual situations, and some profanity, so it is recommended for readers mature enough to handle those things.

ApocalyptiGirl

ApocalyptiGirl has pretty much everything I want in a sci-fi adventure: an interesting and compelling protagonist who is intelligent and resourceful, mech-suits, wasteland mutants, and a friendly/feral cat sidekick to round things out. The tale itself is one that seems familiar, a survivor (named Aria, and she sings opera to keep sane, just so you know) stranded on a devastated and hostile planet, trying to find a way home, but how it is executed here makes this book special.

 

Reading this book is like riding your favorite roller coaster: There are lots of twists and turns, plotwise, and even though some of them are pretty familiar, the story is still quite enjoyable. As you can see from the excerpt, the narrative quickly transitions from mundane moments to ones of great suspense and intrigue. The action sequences are tautly choreographed and build much tension. The artwork is dynamic, fun, and full of surprises. And although the story is familiar, it is well told and expertly crafted. I think it would be a big hit with adolescent readers especially.

This book is the creation of Andrew MacLean. I knew him from his work on the indie book Head Lopper, a barbarian story of course, and I know that he has been published in a number of comics anthologies. This is his debut graphic novel, and it is a sensational one. I found it instantly engrossing, well paced, and beautifully rendered, and I am looking forward to seeing his future projects.

All of the reviews I have read about this book are good, and many are glowing. Daniel Coleman wrote, "It’s a simple enough story that younger readers will be able to understand it, while still having enough nuance that older readers will get a little more from it." Chris Sims gushed, "I already knew going into this book that MacLean was great, but every page of Apocalyptigirl confirms that in a fantastic new way." Sam Roche echoed, "Every work he produces is brilliant and this spectacular graphic novel may be the best yet."

ApocalyptiGirl was published by Dark Horse, and they have a preview and more about this book here.

The Oven

The Oven is a pretty short book, but it sure packs in a lot of interesting ideas. The plot focuses on Syd and Eric, a young couple who have left their totalitarian bubble city, where the government dictates who can and cannot have children, to live more deliberately in a utopian, desert community. There, they plan to settle down, farm, and have their own family, but the reality is way more complicated than planned.

In this future, the environment is treacherous, and the sun will literally fry you if you stay out unprotected. The couple has to learn to do things in pretty primitive fashion, from getting their food to making clothes. They meet their neighbors, a hippie Earth mama named Maggie, her husband Bear, and their slightly grating children. I think their relationship opens up a bunch of potentially interesting points about gender roles, parenting, and the socioeconomic politics of living an eco-friendly life versus being a sort of eco-tourist.

Of course there are complications, and Syd and Eric's resolve gets tested multiple ways. When I talked about this book with my graphic novel class, some of the feedback I heard was about how this book played out a bunch of expected gender situations, such as where the woman gets to deal with circumstances while the man gets to pick and choose when to be serious. I can see that point, but I still feel this book has a lot of interesting aspects that make it ripe for discussion, especially about what constitutes freedom and how it is exercised. Additionally, I was certainly impressed by the economy of the artwork and story. I felt the story just purred along, and much was established and happened in a short amount of space.

This is an impressive graphic novel from Sophie Goldstein, a recent graduate from the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont and Ignatz Award winner. She has published one graphic novel prior, Darwin Carmichael is Going to Hell, a webcomic compilation collaboration with writer Jenn Jordan. She speaks a lot more about The Oven and her career in this interview.

The Oven won two categories at the 2015 Ignatz Awards: Outstanding Graphic Novel and Outstanding Comic, so it should come as no surprise that it has received quite a bit of praise from reviewers. Laura Sneddon called it "perfectly paced" and added that "the subtleties within demand re-reading." Tom Murphy wrote, "Using an economy of narrative and graphic style, Goldstein creates a powerful story that forces readers to question their responses without offering any easy answers." Zainab Akhtar concluded that it was "another strong and complex entry into Goldstein’s oeuvre."

The Oven was published by Adhouse Books, and they offer a preview and more here. There are profanity, some nudity, and adult situations in this book, so it is recommended for readers mature enough to handle those things.