All the Hulk Feels

I recently borrowed All the Hulk Feels, because it had been nominated for (and won!) an Eisner Award. Libraries RULE!

This picture book is a short tale about the Hulk and Bruce Banner, as they deal with the latest scheme from their arch-foe the Leader. His evil intention is to divide the scientist and green goliath so that he can free a crew of supervillains and rule the world. So he purposefully annoys Banner with things he hates, like playing certain songs on the radio and putting pickles on his hamburgers (Banner apparently abhors pickles).

Fortunately, a little kid gets the duo a crayon and they begin writing notes back and forth to each other, which leads to a surprisingly poignant moment. The plot of this book is pretty predictable, but how it executes the plotting and hits its emotional beats is what makes it successful. The highly expressive artwork carries the entire enterprise into being an exceptional book. I love how it balances silly situations and serious concepts.

This last point should be no surprise as this book was drawn by Caldecott Award winner Dan Santat. He has many picture books to his credit, most notably The Adventures of Beekle. He also has drawn a few graphic novels, including A First Time for Everything and the new Sashimi series. He speaks about his work on All the Hulk Feels in this interview.

This book has been well reviewed. Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Author/illustrator Santat breathes new life into the nature of comic-book conflict, exploring the emotional stakes of a consciousness divided." Eric Smith called it "a fantastic picture book with an important story." Susan Harari wrote, "The emphasis on when it’s OK to feel upset and how to strategize about ways to calm down are cleverly worked into what many kids will already know about the Hulk, making this a win for both young readers and adults."

All the Hulk Feels was published by Abrams Fanfare, and they offer more info about it here.

Absolute Wonder Woman, Volume 1: The Last Amazon

DC Comics made a big splash last year with the launch of their Absolute series, which feature re-imaginings of some of their most prominent characters. I recently read this first volume of Absolute Wonder Woman, published this year and collecting the first seven issues, and it is fantastic. Here, the Amazon princess's origin is transformed so that she is the last Amazon, brought as a child to Hell by Apollo and left in the care of the witch Circe. From this unlikely start, Diana grows up to become strong and well-versed in magical arts and eventually goes to the surface world. Arriving in Gateway City, she takes on the vanguard of a series of monsters determined to destroy humanity. Armed with her magic lasso and a giant sword, riding a resurrected, skeletal Pegasus, she cuts an impressive figure.

This book depicts her heroism in many different ways, and I love how it comes from a very different place than the original character but still captures the spirit of her strength, valor, and compassion in a fresh and powerful way. The intricate storytelling is perfectly matched by incredible artwork, which depicts the infernal realms, gruesome monsters, and emotional moments with equal finesse and impact. The action and the stakes here are epic, and the artwork amplifies this aspect of the story with its pacing and grad storytelling. Also, I very much enjoyed these versions of WW's supporting cast, such as Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, and Barbara Minerva. I am very excited to see where this series goes from here.

The main creators in this volume are writer Kelly Thompson, artist Hayden Sherman, and colorist Jordie Bellaire, with the last two chapters drawn by guest artist Mattia De Iulis. Thompson has become a comics veteran with impressive runs on Jem, Marvel Comics' Captain Marvel and Hawkeye, and DC Comics' Birds of Prey. Sherman has drawn a wide range of titles from a variety of publishers. Bellaire has won Eisner and Ringo Awards for her coloring work on a number of books. De Iulis has drawn a few books for Marvel Comics and also collaborated with Thompson on the series The Cull from Image Comics. Thompson and Sherman speak about their work on Absolute Wonder Woman in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Tegan O'Neil called it "a miracle of a book." The reviewer at Short Boxes and Slabs wrote, "What works, I believe, is this: the creative team didn’t just pick up the familiar character and tweak a detail — they re-imagined the foundation, then built a story on that new foundation." You can also read a range of reviews of this book at the League of Comic Geeks.

Absolute Wonder Woman, Volume 1 was published by DC Comics, and they offer more information about it here.

DC's Misfits of Magic

Continuing my look at spooky themed books this month, today I look at DC's Misfits of Magic, which is from the latest series of their graphic novels for YA readers. This one is focused on a summer camp for adolescent magic users and stars teen-aged versions of quirky characters like Deadman, Blue Devil, and the Enchantress that I enjoy. Their ringleader is Rikki, an orphan with no last name, who is a riff on Dr. Occult the Ghost Detective. Together this motley bunch does arts and crafts and the like until mysterious things start happening in the library. Behind the back of their counselor Zatanna, they do the Scooby gang thing and investigate, uncovering quite a few surprises.

What I liked about this book was its whimsical artwork, snappy dialogue, and use of interesting, fun characters. The book is very colorful and uses it to great impact in its sound effects and depictions of magic use, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. I have long been a fan of the "Justice League Dark" characters (long before they got called that), and how they are portrayed here is rewarding to a long-time fan like me or to new readers, because they are introduced in quick and informative ways. There are also references to other DC characters, and I feel these would also be quite accessible to even casual fans. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would like to see more stories set here.

DC's Misfits of Magic was written and drawn by Matthew Dow Smith, a comics artist who has done work for most major US comics publishers. He also has worked on a number of webcomics and series published by small publishers over the years, and a couple of them, October Girl and Amelia Shadows and the New Head Ghost, will be published as graphic novels soon. He serializes his works in progress on his Patreon page.

I was not able to find many reviews online, but the ones I read have been positive. In the most substantive one I saw Too Dangerous for a Girl concluded, "So if you know a small person who enjoys colourful, imagination-expanding comics, buy them a copy of DC’s Misfits of Magic. They’ll love it, and chances are you will too."

DC's Misfits of Magic was published by DC Comics, and they offer more info about it here.

Santos Sisters, Volume 1

This collection gathers the first five issues of the 2025 Eisner Award winner for Best Continuing Series. Santos Sisters is a tough book to categorize, but I think it characterizes some of the best aspects of comics in general. It looks like an Archie comic, features adventures and characters straight out of superhero stories, and is mostly full of clever repartee and relationship talk. This strange amalgamation makes for some very funny and engaging stories, and I have really enjoyed reading this series and revisiting the comics in this version was very rewarding.  

Ambar and Alana are the titular sisters, and one day they discovered a pair of medallions on a beach and were transformed by the mysterious and mystical Madame Sosostris into masked super-beings to defend the fictional town of Las Brisas. That is, when they are not laying about the house, watching silent bee cartoons, and bickering, especially about Ambar's self-absorption or boyfriend Dirk. 

Together they deal with a motley crew of threats such as the saboteur 8Ball, Scope the assassin, Weird A.I. Ankhovic, Kreg the Handsome Barbarian, and Bridgette Spinner (say it out loud). These characters are a vivid and distinctive bunch, and a lot of the fun of this book is seeing just how ridiculous they and their villainous motivations are. The sisters often defeat them more out of personal reasons or irritation than altruism, and as they battle they are often engaged in side conversations about food, relationships, or sex acts. 

And there are lots of comics Easter eggs. Check out those teeth!

They also talk to lots of anthropomorphic animals, including a bunch of jerky forest animals and a know-it-all dolphin. These are some surreal, fun, and smart comics that have a lot going on but also trust the reader to catch onto what's happening without needing much context or backstory. I love the episodic way the tales are structured like classic Archie comics: each one is a celebration of comics, a burst of inventiveness and joy. And much like stones in a mosaic, cumulatively these stories depict a wonderfully realized fictional world.

This book's creators Greg & Fake collaborate between Chicago and Manzanillo, Mexico, respectively. Fake Petre is the writer and Greg the artist, and they also incorporate ideas and input from Graham Smith, Dave Landsberger, and Marc Koprinarov. G&F speak more about their origins and work in this interview. You can learn more about the series at its official website.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been full of praise. D. Morris opined, "It is a book that knows great comedy comes from putting well defined characters into absurd situations." Timothy Callahan wrote, "None of these three- to eight-pagers would feature in a Best American Comics anthology. But as a whole, the accumulation of details and comedic elements and relentlessness work to make this a highly entertaining comic." 

Santos Sisters was published by Fantagraphics, and they offer a preview and more about it here. This book is not for kids. 

Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia

When I was a kid, I could buy comic books at lots of places, including supermarkets, pharmacies, flea markets, department stores, and convenient stores. One memorable acquisition for me was Ambush Bug #3 that I got at the Cumberland Farms by my house. I was 12, and it contained a comedic mini-history of the DC Comics universe, including lots of Silver Age madness and strange things like Glop, Egg Fu, Itty, Mopee, and Julius Schwartz. A lot of what I read was unfamiliar but it fired me up to learn more about these fantastical and arcane cast of characters. 

This slice of history is a prologue to why I think Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia might also be a sort of gateway book. My first impression after reading it was to question its audience. I loved the book, but it's full of references that I get because I've read comic books for a very long time. I am all in for a dance battle between the Legion of Superheroes and the Legion of Substitute Heroes. I grin at appearances of Space Cabbie, Blue Devil, Mr. Mind, and Ultra the Ultra-Alien. I know the rules about engaging with Mister Mxyzptlk. And I think it's clever that Toyboy's robot minions have heads shaped like the Hall of Doom. And I feel these things might be lost on younger readers in ordinary circumstances, but the structure of this book has a layer of informational assistance in the form of mini-encyclopedia entries like this one:

Many of the obscure references get explained in quick fashion in a way that does not detract from the story. This book is as much an updated version of Who's Who for a new generation as it is its own adventure. The result is a fun romp through the DC Universe with a wonderful mix of the familiar and new. 

The main narrative is a sort of version of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, with Jimmy Olsen playing the Ford Prefect role. His presence is in a different appearance, as a black teen and not the original freckled faced, red-headed white boy, but the bones of his existence are still based on his many Silver Age shenanigans. When he is tasked with creating and propagating the Supercyclopedia by the New Gods, he gets some unwanted attention from the villainous Toyboy, who steals it and corrupts it into evil. And Jimmy is well suited to solving the problem by relying on his teen pals Rip Hunter and Linda Park and not simply calling in the Big Blue Boy Scout. 

The artwork conveys action as well as many fun moments, and it is jam-packed with Easter eggs for attentive readers. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I hope that it might attract some newer, younger attention to this vibrant cast of characters. From its cover paying homage to Flash #163 to its conclusion, this book is a love letter to the weird and wonderful DC Multiverse.

The Supercyclopedia is a collaboration between writer Gabe Soria and artist Sandy Jarrell. Soria writes all sorts of things, including books, comics, role-playing games, and album liner notes. He is the creator of the Sword & Backpack RPG, the Midnight Arcade series, and has also co-written the graphic novel Life Sucks. Jarrell has drawn lots of comics, including Meteor Men, Batman 66, and The Legendary Lynx.

I was not able to find many reviews of it online, but the one I did read was a rave: J. Caleb Mozzocco liked the book so much, he actually bought a physical copy (He works in a library so that is a big deal!). He also wrote, "If you're a DC Comics fan, or are just curious about the publisher, it's a real love letter to the company, its creators and its universe, filled with appearances of many less-seen characters (Warlord, Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew, Angel and The Ape) and intriguing reinventions of a handful of characters (Cain and Abel as TV horror hosts, Doc Magnus as a kid with action figure-sized Metal Men)."

Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia was published by DC Comics, and they offer more info about it here.

Radiant Black Volume 001: (Not So) Secret Origin

I have read a lot of superhero comics in my days, and Radiant Black 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. 

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. 

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.

Radiant Black was created by writer Kyle Higgins and artist Marcelo Costa. Higgins is best known for his comics work on Batman and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. 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 Eduardo Ferigato and David Lafuente. Higgins and Costa speak about their work and inspirations for this book in this interview.

The reviews I have read about this collection of the series' first six issues were mostly positive. Henry Varona called it "already one of the most immersive and exciting superhero comics of the decade." Kris wrote, " 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." Colin Moon was not thrilled with the first four chapters of the book, but opined, "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."

Radiant Black was published by Image Comics, and they offer a free preview and more about the entire series here.

The Mundane Adventures of Dishman

I recently received this book after contributing to its fundrazr campaign. The Mundane Adventures of Dishman 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 radioactive Fiestaware (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.

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.

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.

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.

This book is the creation of John MacLeod, a painter and cartoonist who has also made the webcomic Space Kid as well as a comic called Not That Magic. He shares his current work and drawings on  Instagram.

I was not able to locate many reviews of this book, but what I have read about it has been positive. Tom Brevoort 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 Goodreads.

This collection of The Mundane Adventures of Dishman was published by Black Eye Books, and they offer more info about it here.

I Am Not Starfire

I Am Not Starfire is another graphic novel in DC Comics's YA line, and I'd say that this book is 2/3 YA book, 1/3 superhero adventure. It involves the relationship between Teen Titan Starfire and her daughter Mandy. Mandy looks nothing like her mom. She is stocky, pale, freckles, and prefers to wear goth style makeup and clothing. She resents the attention that she gets from others just because she is the child of a superhero, and she really only tolerates Lincoln, who is "the most annoying person in the world" and also her best friend.

Mandy has lots of things on her mind. There are plenty of rumors about who her father is (Starfire won't tell). She is stressed about taking her SATs and does not want to take them or go to college. And she feels overall inadequacies because she has no powers of her own. Things take an upturn when she gets paired with the super-popular, athletic Claire on a school project and the two begin a friendship that turns into a fledgling romance. Sparks also start to fly when Starfire realizes what Mandy plans (or does not plan for her future), and matters kick into a third gear when Starfire's estranged sister Blackfire comes to Earth to kill off any threats to her reign.

This book is terrific, and there are two things that really recommend it. One, the artwork is eye-popping and incredible. Each page conveys a great deal of emotion and dynamism. It is truly splendid to behold. Two, this book has a lot of heart. In one way it is about a strained mother-daughter relationship, but it is also an immigrant tale about a parent who wants a better way of life for her child. The characters are fully developed and interesting, and this version of Starfire is an adult one that combines aspects of superheroism, celebrity, and the personality made popular in the Teen Titans cartoons. Although the plot went pretty much as I expected, this was a fun book to read. It is an excellently rendered, beautifully drawn piece of genre fiction.

This book was a collaboration between writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Yoshi Yoshitani.  Tamaki has won a ton of awards in comics, including multiple Eisners, being a finalist for the Printz Award (twice!), and a Caldecott Honor. She is known for the graphic novels This One Summer, Skim, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, and a few prior entries in DC Comics' YA graphic novel line, including Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass. Yoshitani is an illustrator with a long list of prestigious clients and has also drawn the graphic novel Zatanna and the House of Secrets.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Emily Lauer called Mandy "pretty damn relatable" and also noted that she appreciated how "unlike many parents in YA, Starfire feels like a fully realized character." Ray Goldfield called it "a fun story that I imagine a lot of girls will see themselves in." Kirkus Reviews summed up, "Equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking."

I Am Not Starfire was published by DC Comics, and they have more information about it here.

Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin

This second volume in Marvel Comics' new young adult line of graphic novels focuses on Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American girl who gains "embiggening" powers and fights for justice from Jersey City. I have been reading Kamala Khan's adventures since the character was created and have read pretty much all of her solo comic books, and this book nails her characterization. She is tough, smart, and driven, perhaps too much at times. She is also a kind friend, dutiful daughter, and high achiever who always strives to be the best.

As the title relates, Kamala is tackling a bit much. She is trying to balance her home life, school work, friendships, fan-fic writing, and Quran school with her superheroics, and she is starting to burn out. She has the great responsibility of caring for her small cousin Malik while his parents are away, and everything is getting to her. She starts to cut corners. One day, a mysterious package arrives, containing a toy robot. Malik loves it and it soothes him, so she does not think twice about charging it using her computer's USB port. That is where some major trouble begins.

She's even superheroic out of costume!

What I liked about this book most was how well it captures the original Marvel Comics feel of "real world" superheroes. Kamala, her family, friends, and superhero associates Miles Morales and Squirrel Girl are all shown to be unique characters with distinct personalities and drives. Also, her life is authentically complicated. Kamala is caught between fulfilling her family and community obligations, and I think that she comes off as heroic but also grounded in reality. There are so many tensions in her life, which I think reflects the reality of most people, especially today, and it is great rooting for her to get things together.

The artwork is colorful and dynamic, and so attractive that my two-year-old daughter snatched the book up as soon as I got it and flipped through its pages without letting me even look at it. She would not give it back either. After she went to bed I got to finally read it, and I found that the characters' emotions and actions are depicted in clear, bold fashion, and I loved the visual storytelling. I think that it acts as a great lead-in to her adventures and world to those who might not know who she is, but it is also a satisfying read for an old codger like me, who has read a gazillion superhero comics. It's a fun read for fans new and old.

The main creators of this book were writer Nadia Shammas and artist Nabi H. Ali. Shammas has been working on a graphic novel called SQUIRE that is due to be published soon. Ali is an illustrator who has worked on a number of prominent projects in comics, art, and video media. Shammas speaks about her life and work in this Q & A. Both creators comment on Stretched Thin in this article.

I was not able to find many reviews of it online, which I thought was curious, but the ones I have read have been positive. M.L Kejera called it "a moving work for younger readers that feels tailored to their worldview without condescension." It currently has a 4 (out of 5) star rating on Goodreads.

Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin was published by Scholastic Graphix, and they have an excerpt and more information about it here.

Miles Morales: Shock Waves

My boys both loved Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and it's a movie I have seen a bunch of times. I think it works on a number of levels, and I bring it up because I think it is the direct spiritual influence of this book and probably the text that most younger readers who are its intended audience would have seen. I think the only real difference in his characterization is that this book keys more on his Puerto Rican side, which especially comes to the fore when an earthquake strikes the island and his family spearheads a fundraising event to send aid. Although it is not a sequel or related to the movie in any direct way, this book treads similar ground in terms of characterization and tone. It works as an introduction to the character but also as a continuation of his exploits for his fans. Miles is a young African-American/Latinx New Yorker endowed with great power, which he uses to protect others and thwart villains. 

Like most good Spider-Man stories, this book focuses on a mixture of Miles' identities. There is plenty of crossover between his work/school/home personas, and his problems are grounded in reality and very relatable. Of course, his superheroics often conflict with his personal/family life.

Miles also meets a new classmate at school, Kyle, and she's got a dilemma of her own when her tech genius father goes missing. In the course of this investigation, it seems that one of the largest contributors to the Puerto Rico fundraiser may be involved, and Miles has to tread lightly in his guise as Spider-Man. Rounding out all this personal drama, this book also has its share of action.

I think it works well as a compelling superhero narrative, full of action sequences, and intriguing mystery, and deeds of derring-do. In many ways, the six chapters read like individual comic books, with cliffhangers and a good amount of self-contained story, potentially making this an entry point into serial comics.

One thing I wondered as I read this book was how it would play with readers who were new to superheroes. I feel it relies on the reader knowing who the main players are already, as well as a passing knowledge of who the Avengers, Peter Parker (Spider-Man), and Tony Stark (Iron Man) are. It follows the lead of the Marvel cinematic universe, introducing a number of different concepts, like Terrigen mist and Inhumans, and new characters like Ms. Marvel (star of the next Marvel book from Scholastic Graphix) and Squirrel Girl, in hopes of constructing an interlocking series of books.

This strategy of building continuity contrasts pretty sharply with DC Comics' line of YA graphic novels, which seem more creator-driven, stand-alone volumes. A bunch of those books center on the same sets of characters, but there is no apparent attempt at continuity between the books, except when there are sequels. Personally, I thought this book was a fun and breezy read, and I am curious to see how well it and the entire line sells going forward.

The two main creators on this book are writer Justin A. Reynolds and artist Pablo Leon. Reynolds is a novelist known for his best-selling debut Opposite of Always, a School Library Journal Best Book of 2019., and his more recent Early Departures. Leon has drawn a number of works but is perhaps best known for the Eisner Award-nominated digital comic The Journey. Both creators speak about their collaboration on Shock Waves in this interview.

The reviews I have read of this book have been mostly positive. In a starred entry, Kirkus Reviews concluded, "Big heart and enduring life lessons make this a cherished addition to a viral character’s legacy." Eric Kallenborn wrote, "It’s a great entry into the character with a great story to boot." In a more reserved review, Tiffany Babb called it "an enjoyable but weightless read for younger Spider-Man fans."

Miles Morales: Shock Waves was published by Scholastic Graphix, and they offer more info about it here.

Anti/Hero

I think this is the first book in what began as the DC Ink imprint I've read that features totally original characters. The two protagonists of this book are a study of opposites, both in their civilian and super-powered guises.

Piper Parajo, aka the Hummingbird, is a newbie superhero with super-strength. She is learning how to use her powers and her exploits bring her into conflict with the local police who are unsure of her motivations. Sloan MacBrute, aka The Grey, is more calculating, and she uses her talents to steal items around Gotham City (yes, that one). Eventually, these two come into contact, and a la Freaky Friday, their minds are transferred into each other's body, so they have to learn to cooperate in order to not blow each other's cover.

This series of events leads each to consider their own lots in life and also to appreciate the perspective of the other. Piper is upbeat and popular at school, but she misses her absent parents. Sloan is a loner, straight-A student by day and thief by night. Over the course of the book though (slight spoiler), it is revealed that she is not nefarious but beholden to a dark force in order to provide medical care for her single mother. 

I know that much of this plot may sound a bit "afterschool special," but I think that the drama is pulled off very well here. All the characters seem very real, and their plights are moving. What is more, I really liked the action and suspense woven throughout the narrative. Although the ending came a bit too quickly for me, this book is compelling because of its strong characterizations. I would love to see more adventures with these characters by these creators.

This book was written by Kate Karyus Quinn and Demitria Lunetta and drawn by Maca Gil. Quinn and Lunetta have written all sorts of works, in young adult as well as other categories. I think they have written a very good plot that was imbued with dynamism and life by Gil, who is a storyboard artist and illustrator. Her artwork is one of the highlights of the book, adding much energy and emotion to the story. All three creators speak about their work on this book in this interview. This other interview with them all is also quite good.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Ray Goldfield called it "one of the most charming and original superhero stories to come out of DC in a long time." Krysta wrote, "It deals with important issues without ever getting too dark and, perhaps more importantly, never feels too childish." Publishers Weekly stated, "Gil’s expressive characterization and thoughtful use of color create a distinctly cinematic feel, akin to that of an animated series."

Anti/Hero was published by DC Comics, and they offer more info about it here.

Impossible Jones: Grin & Gritty!

 

Impossible Jones: Grin and Gritty! is a comic I supported via Kickstarter, and I am happy to have just read the book. It is a fun superhero tale about a thief named Isabelle who gets caught in some weird teleportation gizmo on a job, and days later she reappears altered, now with superpowers. She is a sort of combination of Plastic Man and Harley Quinn, and over the course of this book she learns more about her abilities and how to use them. She also has a pretty quick sense of humor, so although she experiences lots of danger she is pretty snarky about it all.

Impossible Jones can change her shape and appearance, which comes in handy for lots of the scrapes she finds herself in. Her first inclination is to go after her crew to get revenge for what happened to her, and as a result, she inadvertently gets affiliated with the local superheros of New Hope City. They are a motley bunch that include figures such as the Polecat, Even Steven, and Captain Lightning. Still not altogether altruistic, she thinks that the hero angle will provide her the perfect cover for occasional thefts, but she keeps getting thwarted by the schemes of villains like Mr. (Gila) Monster, Homewrecker, The Saint of Knives, and holiday-themed thief Holly Daze. 

As you can probably tell from this description, these comics are relatively light-hearted, action-dramas reminiscent of classic superhero tales. I would not call this book all ages, though my 5-year-old was very curious about it and kept sneaking over my shoulder to read it along with me. I think that the stories are well told, the world-building solid, and the characters appropriately colorful and interesting. I am particularly intrigued to see what will come of Even Steven, an enigmatic character who seems to be incredibly powerful and visually inspired by Steve Ditko-created characters like The Question. 

There were many moving parts in this book, and I found each of the four chapters to be exciting, engaging, and suspenseful. The ending is entirely open-ended, begging for more tales to be told in this universe. Impossible Jones is good, mostly clean, superheroic fun.

The main creators involved with this book are writer Karl Kesel and artist David Hahn. Kesel is a veteran of the comics industry since the 1980s as a writer and inker, having done the majority of his work at DC Comics on characters like Superman and Harley Quinn. Hahn is another comics veteran, best known for his work on the Bite Club series as well as Batman '66. Both creators speak about their collaboration on Impossible Jones in this interview.

I was not able to find many reviews for this book, but what I did find has been very positive. Edo Bosner wrote in the most direct way, “It’s really fun, you should read it.” It currently has a 4.6 (of of 5) star rating on Goodreads.

Impossible Jones: Grin & Gritty! was published by Panic Button Press, and they offer more info about it here. There is a Kickstarter for a follow-up comic book in this series happening right now.

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass

 

I have read a few of the YA graphic novels that DC Comics has published the past couple of years (you can check out my two reviews here and here), but this one really took me by surprise by how much I liked it. I don't mean that I underestimated the talent who collaborated on this book, as writer Mariko Tamaki is one of the best writers working in comics today, and I have enjoyed artist Steve Pugh's work for decades now. 

Dear readers, I suffer from what I call "Batman fatigue." I used to love the character, and there was a time when I felt it was the greatest superhero creation ever. But after decades of reading some great stories, I have gotten to the point where there is just too much Batman out there for me. Sure, I admire writer Tom King's meta-commentary comics when I have read them, and works like The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight, Batman: Year One, Batman: The Animated Series, and the 1966 Batman TV show are some of my favorite things ever. But I am over the umpteenth "final battle" between Batman and the Joker, and I am sick to death of the latest "most ultimate, extreme version ever" that has driven the comic books over the past two decades. Plus, I have some issues with Harley Quinn, who has come a long way, but whose origins truck in some pretty toxic masculinity and decades of abuse in her relationship with the Joker.

What impressed me most about this book was how well it imagined this whole universe that I found not only fresh and riveting, but that also left me gasping for more when the book ended. That is no mean feat.

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass re-imagines Harley Quinn (or Harleen Quinzel, as she starts out) as a troubled youth who was sent to live with her grandmother in Gotham City, only to end up living with a large Asian drag queen named Mama and her coterie of drag performers. 16-year-old Harley goes to school, gets into trouble, but also befriends a girl named Ivy, here conceived as a mixed race, activist teenager with a Black father and Asian mother. Ivy is an environmentalist who finds solace in the community garden, but the entire neighborhood is threatened by aggressive gentrification perpetrated by the Kane Corporation (who are a sort of evil version of Starbucks). She and Harley also also have a major beef with Gotham High's Film Club, which is run by their classmate, elitist jerk John Kane.

Ivy presents one option of using social activism to combat this injustice, but Harley also meets a masked stranger who calls himself the Joker who offers an alternative course of action, to use terror and bomb and burn the city. None of these changes comes off as ham-handed, but they are rather nuanced, logical, and thematically apt. Also, this books turns the convention version of these characters on their heads, confronting issues of toxic masculinity, classism, racism, incarceration, and misogyny head-on. 

The story and themes are augmented by the artwork, which is incredibly detailed, so that the entire city and its motley cast of characters comes alive. There are a few key players who are important throughout the book, but the backgrounds, crowd scenes, layouts, and setting also loom large and add so much personality and ambience. This book is fantastic, an incredibly smart, moving, and suspenseful reworking of overdone characters. If this is the future of mainstream comics, sign me up please.

Like I wrote above, both of the main creators involved with this book are accomplished comics veterans. Tamaki has won a ton of awards, including multiple Eisners, being a finalist for the Printz Award (twice!), and a Caldecott Honor. She is known for the graphic novels This One Summer, Skim, and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. Pugh's most notable works in the US have been multiple runs on Animal Man, drawing the Saint of Killers mini-series, and a recent run on the utterly great The Flintstones mini-series (For real. Go read my review.). Both creators speak about their collaboration on Breaking Glass in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been very positive. Ray Goldfield wrote that he felt "it’s the most essential read for anyone who hasn’t seen themselves represented in DC Comics yet." Kirkus Reviews summed it up as "a riotous read." Publisher Weekly observed, "Harley is a relatively breezy character whose questionable ethics often mirror those closest to her, and pairing her with a found family of drag queens and community organizers directs her chaotic whimsy toward a social justice bent."

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass was published by DC Comics, and they offer more info about it here.

Cankor

As you might can tell from the wordless cover, Cankor is an atypical book. It starts out in an auto-biographical mode, with the tale of a man (or mannish creature) going to a rock show, but then it goes into a very psychedelic direction. He has made some fan art to show the band but left it home, only to see it actually appear in the band's posters and merch.

Things only get stranger as the muscular fella on the cover, an android/cyborg named Cankor makes a ghostly appearance on the scene. Most of the rest of the book follows Cankor as he traverses worlds and dimensions, encountering beings large, small, and superheroic on his way. However, there are interspersed spaces where the autobiographical stories crop up. In all, this is a ethereal reading experience. Sort of like a contemporary version of 1970s Jim Starlin Marvel Comics like Adam Warlock. I won't say that they get so philosophical, but they do meld fantasy, fiction, and reality in interesting and compelling ways.

The artwork is a huge draw or this book. The minute details of circuitry and rock features are just part of what drew me into it. Too often I think I review books here and talk about their plots and characters, and I have been trying to focus more on the artwork and what it brings to the table. As you might can tell from my meandering description of the book's content in the first paragraph, this book is not so much plot driven as it is about sensory-perception and visuals. It is full of long sequences with no words, but the visual storytelling is utterly compelling and beguiling. The imagery is convoluted, complex, and as full of emotional energy as it is of enigmas.

I had not encountered artist Matthew Allison's work before now, but I will definitely be checking out some more of it after reading this book. As far as I can tell, he has largely been doing comics covers and self-publishing Cankor and a horror book called Sweet Sepulchre! I have really enjoyed checking out his Instagram feed for some of his commissions and other art. He speaks about his work on Cankor in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive and mention its idiosyncrasies. Alisha Weinberger wrote, "The art of Cankor is deeply disturbing and nauseating. And I say this with love and admiration." David Charles Bitterbaum called it a "fantastically bizarre work." There are more reviews at Goodreads, where the book currently has a 4 (out of 5) star rating.

Cankor was published by Adhouse Books, and they offer a preview and more here. This book features some profanity and violence, so I suggest it for mature readers.

Cryptoid

Cryptoid features some wonderfully weird comics presented in a stream-of-consciousness style. The stories begin with a looming figure that resembles a Celestial from Jack Kirby's The Eternals. As it surveys the Earth its gaze leads to the misadventures of the half-man, half-ankylosaurus Mankylosaurus (seen on the book cover) grazing at a salad bar, and later turn to a tangent on unknown species of bats that live among us.

Next comes a brief tale of a tortured man who is transformed into a gnome, followed by the adventures of The Resister, a woman/eagle creature who superheroicly fights for freedom, impaling Steve Bannon on a fence and vomiting fish guts at President Trump.

The enigmatic Nightsword's exploits then appear, with the heroic knightly figure slashing and dancing in reality-altering ways. Box, a robot, then comes on the scene to go shopping in a supermarket in his unique manner.

A giant monster then rises from the sea and begins crushing the Earth, when the Mankylosaurus and Celestial-looking being return and the story comes full-circle.

There is a surrealism I dig about these comics. None of the tales are very long, and some are played so seriously that they come off as silly, but they are all potent doses of comics goodness. I am not saying that this book is for everyone, but it boasts a great combination of artwork inspired by classic comics artists like Kirby and Wally Wood, a dash of contemporary social commentary, some good old fashioned ennui, monsters, strange juxtapositions, and frivolity. It's a memorable bit of inspired madness.

I am a big fan of this book's creator Eric Haven. His comics are memorable, leaving definite impressions with their powerful artwork and brevity. His stories do not wear out their welcomes. His narrative sensibilities and style remind me of Michael Kupperman's, though Haven is more action and genre oriented. He has a slew of comics under his belt, including Tales to Demolish and The Aviatrix (collected in Compulsive Comics) and his books Ur (nominated for an Eisner Award) and Vague Tales.

The reviews I have located about this book have been positive. Chris Gavaler called it "a hybrid graphic novella that belongs to no genre but his own." Ryan Carey wrote that "there’s no mistaking an Eric Haven comic for a comic made by anyone else, and even if his work largely amounts to variations on a theme, it’s a theme that stands up to constant and further exploration, definition, and expansion."

Cryptoid was published by Fantagraphics, and they provide a preview and more about it here.

Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics

Captain America. The X-Men. Hulk. Iron Man. The Avengers. The New Gods. Black Panther. These are only a few of the hundreds of characters that Jack Kirby either created or co-created. They are household names and properties that have generated billions (trillions?) of dollars for the corporations that control them. But he received close to none of such profits. In terms of industry folks, most artists and creators revere Kirby as one of the all-time greats, but non-comics people tend to not know who he was and attribute all of his creations to his frequent collaborator Stan Lee. Finally here, he is given a full biography, in graphic novel form.

Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics tells his whole life story, from his early days as a hard-scrabble New Yorker to his becoming an artist and taking part in the formative years of the comic book industry. He was friends/associates with many of the people who shaped American comics, like Bob Kane, Will Eisner, and Joe Simon. He bounced around several companies, enlisted and served in the Army during World War II, co-invented the genre of Romance Comics, co-created the Marvel Universe as we know it, and went on later in life to work in animation. His was an eventful life, and this book captures it in a mostly realistic, painterly style that evokes the spirit of Golden Age comics as well as documentaries. Also, the paper itself is colored to resemble yellowed newsprint, the material used to display Kirby's works.

I have to say that this book moves at breakneck speed, and it is packed full of his accomplishments. There is a part of me that wanted there to be more breaks, perhaps in the form of chapters or parts, but I also feel that the sort of compressed storytelling at play here is more emblematic of Kirby's work. So the medium very well matches its subject, though I also made myself pause at times to catch my breath and take in the story.

I also appreciated the way the book used Kirby as the primary narrator (using various interviews and articles as reference points) with occasional shifts of POV to his wife Roz and collaborator Stan Lee. I'd say it does a good job at capturing the spirit and voice of the man, and I liked how it treated him in very practical terms, with his speaking to the need to be productive and work not only in terms of expressing himself but also to put food on the table and support his growing family. Certainly Kirby was an impressive creator, but this books demystifies some of the origins of his most famous works, showing how he cobbled together his experiences, learning, and media consumption in spinning his fantastic stories and amazing characters. Kirby is impressively human.

This book also touches on the more controversial aspects of Kirby's life, namely how he was cheated out of his due as a creator and spent much of his life battling in vain to retain control of his stories, characters, and artwork. Surely there is lots of blame to assign for his treatment, and I felt this book captured well the conditions that led to it. It also has lots of source material behind it to help flesh out the proceedings well.

In seeing people's responses to this book online, the most glaring aspect people have latched onto is the depiction of Kirby himself, which you can see from the cover image. While everyone else is realistically drawn, Kirby is rendered in a cartoonish way, with a huge head and big eyes. I think this choice does two things: it draws attention to him in every way as an otherworldly presence, and it makes it clear who he is in every instance, making for smoother storytelling. Others have noted how this choice is related to how another comics titan Osamu Tezuka (the "God of Manga") drew himself in his own works, and I feel that there is a similar semiotic move made here, a marker of a similarly legendary figure. In reading the book, I have to say that I did not find the choice jarring in the least, and I was quickly drawn into the narrative flow of the story. Even though I was very familiar with many aspects of his life, I still found this book fresh and vibrant. And I feel it is extremely important now, especially as an introduction to those who are unaware of just how impactful Kirby's life was.

This book was created by long-time Jack Kirby fan Tom Scioli. His own works clearly owe debts to Kirby in terms of style, particularly his series Gødland and American Barbarian, not to mention his recent Fantastic Four: Grand Design limited series. He has also drawn a number of licensed properties, including Transformers Vs. G.I. Joe. Scioli speaks about his work on this book in this interview. For more about his entire career, check out this interview with TCJ.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have sung its praises. In a starred review Publishers Weekly called it "a must-read for Kirby fans, and beyond—it captures the mythos of the of the 20th century comic industry’s golden age."  Kirkus Reviews summed it up as "a fast-paced celebration of an underheralded legend within the comic-book industry." Steven Thompson wrote, "The public deserves to know Kirby’s story and Tom Scioli, the obsessive Kirby fan/writer/artist, tells it here in a way I can’t help but think the King himself would’ve liked, and in the medium Jack Kirby loved."

Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics was published by Ten Speed Press, and they offer a preview and more here.

Kirby's influence extends way beyond comics.