By Golly, Ollie!

💾 a blog about books, tea, & geekery

Tag: comics & graphic novels

Posts featuring graphic novels, book-length forms of visual and sequential art

Lately in Books, Tea, & Geekery

I love the brevity of a month-in-review kind of post– the ones where bloggers share the podcasts/albums/books/events/video games they consumed recently but without an accompanying thousand-word analysis of the experience. I used to compose posts like this (read: Five March Favorites), but I am so, so terrible at sticking to structured content calendars. So, here is my latest attempt at a (probably, almost definitely, unregular) feature. Here are the books, tea, and geekery I have enjoyed lately:

Books

Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen

Can’t Even critiques the the systems many Millennials were born into like the college-at-all-costs pipeline, social media-driven lifestyle curation, and the burden of invisible labor nearly all mothers carry even in (especially in?) the year of our Lord, 2024. Petersen’s strongest chapters discussed the “enshittification” of the workplace by examining labor theory and history since the 1970s.

I would be enraged after reading this book, but I’ve read it all before. If you’re a Millennial, who exists at all online, you’ve probably read the arguments before, too. Nevertheless, Can’t Even is relatable, and the book satisfies the craving for confirmation bias.

My biggest critique of this book is the author’s declaration that Millenials are the “burnout generation”. She then dispels that notion in the first chapter by arguing burnout is a state of existence we inherited from our Boomer parents. Which I agree with, by the way! I don’t think Millenials have a monopoly on burnout, and I think trying to imply that only invites the generational infighting I’m so tired of reading about.

The Best American Essays 2023 edited by Vivian Gornick

I love essays. I think I secretly want to be an essayist. It’s probably why I’ve always been drawn to blogs and blogging, which seem like informal essays [this post is not an essay]. Essays take my favorite approach to storytelling (nonfiction) and turn it bite-sized, conveying complex ideas concisely. (How appropriate that The Best American Essays 2023 includes a meditation on concision by George Estreich).

I’m only halfway through, but I’ve already read a few memorable essays. Any Kind of Leaving by Jillian Barnet shatters the usual savior-like portrayal of adoption, and this essay almost made me cry. We Were Hungry by Chris Dennis is a brutal, sort-of-love-letter to McDonald’s from an ex-addict. Ms. Daylily by Xujun Eberlein is an achingly intimate story about a daughter trying to piece together her mother’s relationship with another woman during Mao’s reign and the Cultural Revolution in China.

This anthology also feels like it will be a time capsule for future generations with essays about gender identity, the prison system, and the immigrant experience in the United States. It makes me curious to read earlier books from this series (started in 1986) to see if earlier editors managed to curate a collection of work that embodies the year it was published, too.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Some of the best graphic novels I’ve read in recent years have come from the Middle-Grade section of the local library, and New Kid by Jerry Craft now gets added to this growing list. New Kid follows Jordan, a Black middle schooler who wants to attend art school but is enrolled in a rigorously academic private school instead. At his new school, Jordan confronts bullying, classism, code-switching, and microaggressions as he struggles to find his place among peers who do not look like him.

The characters and the friendships that develop between them are delightful. The book was laugh-out-loud funny. And, I loved the playfulness of the chapter title illustrations, which were inspired by popular films like the Lord of the Rings, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Star Wars.

Tea

A few Sunday’s ago, a surprise from the good folks at Plum Deluxe arrived on my doorstep– this World of Tea care package inspired by France, which includes five curated blends from their shop and five blends exclusive to this sampler. I’m looking forward to sipping through this collection, but I think I need to acquire some croissants first. Especially for the Cafe Breakfast Blend, which is infused with coffee beans.

The tea featured in my favorite Pragon teacup above is the Huckleberry Happiness blend, a random sample included with the care package. It’s a fruity black tea blend that pairs well with sunny mornings filled with birdsong.

Geekery

Citizen Sleeper

Citizen Sleeper is the cozy, slice-of-life cyberpunk video game I didn’t know I needed in my life. I am obsessed with the artwork, the soundtrack, the story, the wholesome characters like Lem & Mina, the gameplay– everything!

This game follows a “sleeper”, a digitized human mind encapsulated in an artificial body, who escaped their old life of indentured servitude to Essen-Arp Corp. As the story opens, the sleeper has sought refuge on a lawless space station called the Eye. There, the sleeper meets a colorful cast of characters, builds friendships, navigates factions, and ultimately tries to survive and rebuild their life among a hyper-capitalist, interstellar society.

Citizen Sleeper is a text-based game that functions like a Tabletop RPG, where payers “spend” dice to drive the story forward, complete actions, and determine outcomes of choices. It’s sort of like a virtual choose-your-own-adventure story with several different endings, so I’m already looking forward to replaying this game.

Open Roads

In Open Roads, gamers play the role of sixteen-year-old Tess, who has just discovered a secret stash of love letters tucked away in the attic of her grandmother’s house after her grandmother passed away. Tess convinces her mother to go on a road trip to discover how deep these family secrets are buried.

Wikipedia tells me this is a “walking simulator”. Players can navigate a scene and interact with the environment to reveal more of the story. It’s a low-stakes (no-stakes?) video game that had me hooked because 1. it’s set in the early 2000s, so it’s satisfying the craving for nostalgia, and 2. it takes place in Michigan, my home state!

It’s a very short video game; players can probably complete it in an evening. But, after solving the mystery surrounding the grandmother’s secret love letters, I kept hoping Tess would try to discover the secret stash of bootleggers gold, which was a topic that surfaced throughout the story. Open Roads left me wanting more, but in a good way, I think. The story was compelling enough, the characters were charming, and the gameplay was calming, so I just wanted to keep playing.

Skyrim

I am a creature of habit, so I’m usually just replaying a handful of games (Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Stardew Valley), and lately, I’ve been devoting my time to Skyrim. In this open world, action roleplaying game, players explore Skyrim, the northernmost region of the continent of Tamriel, by navigating the politics of a region divided by civil war, joining factions, slaying dragons and draugr, and delving into dungeons to discover valuable loot. (It seems strange to summarize this game since it’s so iconic).

I’ve had this game since it was released in 2011, and I’ve never completed the main storyline(s). I’ll sink 40 hours into a character then take a break for a few months. When I return, I forget what I’m doing and just start a new character with a new play style. Lately, I’ve been playing as a mage. I recently finished the College of Winterhold questline, and I’m now working on the Dawnguard questline, but I don’t love this playstyle, and I already want to start a new character. I started a new sneak thief character. Why am I the way that I am?

Have you enjoyed some books, tea, or geekery recently, too? Let me know in the comments!

April 26, 2024
7 Graphic Novels I Can’t Stop Thinking About

A few years ago, I plucked an unsuspecting graphic novel from a shelf at the library–The Sacrifice of Darkness by Roxanne Gay, Tracy Lynne Oliver, Rebecca Kirby, and James Fenner. I remember this graphic novel being solidly okay, but it encouraged me to actively seek out graphic novels going forward. Now I bring one home after every library visit. They are mostly middle-grade or young adult books since that’s what is immediately available to me at my local library, but they are nevertheless incredible. Some have even made me weep! Here are 7 graphic novels I’ve read in the last year (and a half?) that I cannot stop thinking about:

This was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

On the night of the Autumn Equinox Festival, a town gathers to float paper lanterns down the river. Legend has it, the lanterns will float away and right out to the Milky Way. This year, Ben and his classmates make a pact to follow the lanterns to find out if the legend is true. However, it’s not long before the pact is broken, and all who remain are Ben and the one kid who doesn’t quite fit in, Nathaniel. Together, they travel farther than anyone has gone before, and along the way, they discover a world full of magic and unexpected friendship.

This Was Our Pact was delightful. It was magical. It was whimsical. It had a talking bear! And the whole time I thought, this world could come to life in a Hayao Miyazaki film. The artwork was stunning, too. Like, you could open up the book to the illustration of the Milky Way, and the page could just swallow you up like the sky.

Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas

Aiza has always dreamed of being a knight; it’s the highest military honor of the Bayt-Sajji Empire, and it’s her only path to full citizenship as a member of the marginalized Ornu people. When Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war, Aiza enlists. She navigates new friendships and rigorous training all while hiding her Ornu background from her friends and superiors. She also learns that the Bayt-Sajji military might not be fighting for the greater good after all, forcing her to choose between her heritage and her loyalty to the empire.

Lately, I feel as though I’ve abandoned YA books because the authors I’ve picked up struggle to address social issues well. The stories often feel stilted or like the author is just reiterating a talking point they read on social media. It feels cringey and vaguely Afterschool Special-esque. But, I think the thing that impressed me most about Squire was its ability to address complex themes like propaganda, imperialism, colonialism, and minority identity under a conquering empire without sacrificing rich storytelling. Also, the story features badass girls with swords, which is always awesome.

Incredible Doom: Volume 1 by Matthew Bogart and Jesse Holden

Simply, Incredible Doom is about outcast teens finding refuge from abusive parents and acceptance from peers after being bullied at a new school through the bulletin board system of the early ’90s (sort of a precursor to the modern internet). Plus, it has a punk house, 90’s DIY aesthetic, and some wonderful Star Trek geekery!

Even though I didn’t have internet access at home until the late 1990s and didn’t experience BBS, this graphic novel made me feel so nostalgic for the internet of yesteryear. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book and the early days of personal websites since.

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton

Kate Beaton narrates her experience working in the oil sands of Alberta, where she is one of a few women among thousands of men, in this graphic novel memoir.

This is probably the only book on this list that doesn’t target a YA or middle-grade audience and pheeew! This book was heavy. I went into reading this book thinking it was going to be about the environmental impact of the oil sands, and the author does touch on it. But, it was more about the cultural and human impact of living in an insular and isolated community.

As a woman, Beaton dealt with sexual harassment and sexual assault. She doesn’t excuse these actions but still manages to hold compassion for many of her male co-workers, who are complicit in perpetuating a toxic and dangerous environment for women. Ultimately, the men were victims of the oil sands too. Without access to mental health resources, pervasive loneliness and depression permeated their lives as they spent years away from families and communities outside of work camps or watched corporate bosses sweep the accidental deaths of oil sand workers under the rug because they were viewed as expendable. Ducks is a devastating, empathetic, and nuanced portrayal of just how badly the environment and human lives were exploited to churn out a corporate profit.

P.S. Don’t skip the afterword. Beaton addresses her assault more directly here, and it provides much more context on how it was treated in the graphic novel. It helped me process some of the emotions that surfaced as I read this story.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

Freddy Riley’s world revolves around her girlfriend, Laura Dean. Laura is cool and popular and exciting, but she’s also a jerk who only seems to use Freddy when she’s bored. Freddy’s self-esteem and friendships are suffering because of it, so Freddy is trying to figure out how to ditch Laura once and for all.

I found this coming-of-age story absorbing, but the thing that sticks with me after all this time is the artwork. The illustrations are inked simply in black and white with the occasional use of pink. It was beautiful, absolutely striking.

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

On the surface, This One Summer is about Rose and her annual summer vacation at Awago Beach. This summer is different though because Rose’s parents keep fighting. Luckily, Rose’s friend Windy is at the beach too, and together they find ways to distract themselves from family drama.

Below the surface, This One Summer is a quiet novel about a girl teetering on the cusp of adolescence. It’s about leaving the freedom and naivety of childhood behind and learning to navigate the tumultuous world of pre-teen/teenage girlhood. It’s changing bodies and pushing boundaries and noticing boys. It’s also about all the ways we learn to form opinions of ourselves as girls based on how the world around us (men and boys in particular, but also the media we consume and other women harboring internalized misogyny), reacts to our existence. Girlhood (and womanhood) is such a powerful experience, but sometimes it is a profoundly devastating experience, and it was captured here within the pages of This One Summer. And by God, this book made me weep.

There are two stories I think of that capture the essence of being a preteen girl so perfectly: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume (which I read as an actual preteen) and now This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki (which I read as an adult and through the lens of being a mother). It was absolutely brilliant.

On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

Throughout the deepest reaches of space, a crew rebuilds broken-down structures to reassemble the past. As the newest crew member, Mia gets to know her team, the story flashes back to her time in boarding school, where she first fell in love. Soon, Mia reveals her purpose for joining the crew was to track down her long-lost love.

On a Sunbeam is a warm blanket. There is so much love between these pages it soothes my soul. First, it is in the form of Sapphic relationships, especially between Mia and her first love, Grace. When Grace is suddenly ripped from Mia’s life, Mia attempts to defy the vastness of the entire. friggin. universe. just to find her again. Second, it is in the form of a found family– the crew Mia connects with to rebuild abandoned buildings in space.

Beyond the storytelling, Tillie Walden’s illustrations are stunning, and her artwork is among my favorites. Her artwork in Are You Listening? is pretty incredible too.

P.S. You can read On a Sunbeam online for free here.

April 5, 2024
Visiting Maine with my Main Squeeze

I miss Portland, Maine.

I miss flying in to the city and thinking, I don’t think I’ve seen this many pine trees in my life. I miss meandering the streets, exploring the shops, and being overwhelmed by all of restaurant choices. I miss hearing the sound of the ferry horns honking as they entered and exited the harbor. I miss tasting as many of the IPAs on the menu at Salvage BBQ and Slab Sicilian Street Food that our livers could handle and determining that Substance IPA from Bissell Brothers was the best (but still not quite as good as Michigan’s own Two Hearted). I miss how the temperature dropped what felt like 20 degrees the moment we rode the ferry out into Fore River/Casco Bay. I miss having Great Diamond Cove all to myself, or so it seemed, and I miss riding bikes all over the island. I miss the pickles– the weird, mustardy pickles. And the lobster rolls. I miss the lobster rolls too.

We spent most of our days roaming around the city streets in search of pinball machines, comic books, craft beer, and the best restaurants, and we hit the jackpot in Portland:

Featured Donuts from the Holy Donut: Triple Berry, Salted Chocolate, Maine Apple, Allen’s Coffee Brandy, Orange Creamsicle, and Maple Bacon

The Holy Donut | 194 Park Ave. Portland, ME 04102 or 7 Exchange St. Portland, ME 04101

The Holy Donut offers a sweet treat like no other. The key ingredient in their delicious, fried treats…is the potato. Yes, the Holy Donut puts potatoes in their donut dough, which creates this incredible yeast donut/cake donut hybrid. It’s cakey and moist but also fluffy and chewy, and the outside has just the right amount of crispness. Jon and I intended to just buy four donuts, but there were so many enticing choices that we walked out with a six-pack. If you visit the Holy Donut, you must taste the Salted Chocolate donut (which Jon and I fought over), Allen’s Coffee Brandy, and the Orange Creamsicle.

Salvage BBQ | 919 Congress St. Portland, ME 04102

When you visit Maine, you probably wouldn’t think to eat at a BBQ restaurant. Honestly, neither did Jon and I. The only reason Salvage BBQ ended up on our radar is because it was located right next to one of the hotels we stayed at. Thankfully. Their chopped pork sandwich topped with coleslaw and side of mac and cheese was dreamy. Salvage BBQ also offers 17 taps, most of which were Maine microbrews, which is how we discovered Substance IPA from Bissell Brothers. Or, if bourbon is more your taste, they have an extensive selection of bourbon as well.

Slab Sicilian Street Food | 25 Preble St. Portland, ME 04101

I knew I was going to love Slab the moment I saw the restaurant host; he was wearing a pair of lime green hot pants and singing along to Just a Girl by No Doubt. Also, the slices of pizza were as big as my head. Sorry, I shouldn’t say “slice”; they are referred to as “slabs” and serving sizes are measured in pounds. POUNDS. Be sure to order the Crisps and Dip starter with the White Bean dip and the original slab pizza. And if it’s Sunday…try the Hangover Wedge; who knew potatoes on pizza could be so amazing?

Slab also has an extensive drink list of micro brews and ciders. Jon and I both ordered one hard cider and one IPA. Yes…that dark brown liquid in Jon’s glass is not a stout or a porter or a brown ale. It is an IPA. I want to say it was Doom IPA from Founders (a Michigan brewing company); whatever it was, it was over 12% apv, and it tasted like regret.

Coast City Comics | 634 Congress St. Portland, ME 04103

Okay, so we didn’t come to Portland for the nerd culture, but when we found it we were delighted. Coast City Comics had shelves upon shelves of graphic novels, and in the back of the shop, there were several pinball machines waiting for us to spend our quarters. We spent an afternoon here playing games, browsing through graphic novels to add to our collection, and picking out t-shirts featuring artwork from local artists.

It’s been over a year since Jon and I took the much-needed, week-long vacation to Portland, Maine, and not a month goes by where I don’t think about it. It was probably the best vacation I’ve ever taken, and the only reason we ended up there is because airfare to Maine was the cheapest, ha! It is the vacation I measure all future vacations against (which actually kind of sucks because I didn’t anticipate booking THE BEST VACATION EVER on my first try). I think that had less to do with me though and more to do with how incredible the city is.

Our vacation to Portland also encouraged us to set the life goal of visiting every state in the U.S. for vacation. Pre-baby, we had set our sights on visiting Montana or Massachusetts or Alaska next, but now I think we will stay a little closer to home (Ohio? Wisconsin? Indiana?) until Oliver is a little older and won’t wail on airplanes.

What is your favorite vacation experience? Have you ever visited Maine? What are some places you would love to visit for vacation?

October 23, 2018
Five Reasons Why You Should Read Ms Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why

A few years ago, I was invited to volunteer at Trunk or Treat with an old high school buddy of mine. The theme was “Superheroes”, so the gymnasium of her church was crawling with DC and Marvel characters. She was Batgirl, I was Ms Marvel, and there was even a special appearance by Superbaby. But, I have to admit, I felt like a fraud because I hadn’t actually read a Ms Marvel comic. Ever.

I ended up purchasing and reading a copy of Ms Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson, and I was in total awe. She was this nerdy, Pakistani-American teenager grappling not only with her identity as an American and a person of color but also with her newly discovered super power. It was a more powerful story than I could have expected, and I so terribly wanted to read on in this comic series.

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May 24, 2016
This graphic novel failed a saving throw | Welcome to Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl
I’m wouldn’t call myself a passionate fan of Batman, but ever since Jon introduced me to some of his favorite graphic novels of the Caped Crusader, I’ve been hooked. I’ve only read five Batman graphic novels so far, but that number is ever-growing, so when, I discovered my library had the first volume of Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl, I couldn’t resist it.

There were two really great things about Gotham Academy:
1. The artwork. Yet again I’ve discovered a graphic novel with beautiful art, scenery rich with detail, and characters that were incredibly stylish.
2. Maps Mizoguchi. She’s the Dungeons and Dragons-loving, kid sister of Olive’s (our main character) ex-boyfriend. She’s chipper and vibrant and she has all the best nerdy lines referencing her favorite table top game.
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October 15, 2015
A Spooktacular Coffee Table Book | Dead Inside: Do Not Enter: Notes from the Zombie Apocalypse

Dead Inside: Do Not Enter: Notes from the Zombie Apocalypse from The Lost Zombies Community

Released: September 2011
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Add to Goodreads
★★★★
Synopsis: Post Secret meets World War Z in this chilling vision of the fallout following a global zombie pandemic. A gradual mutation of a virulent strain of super flu gives rise to millions of the undead, who quickly overwhelm treatment facilities and swarm cities around the world, leaving survivors on their own against a legion of the infected. This chilling story is told through the scraps of paper, scrawled signs, and cryptic markers left by survivors as they struggle to stay alive and find those they ve lost in a world overrun by zombies. Through these found notes and messages letters to loved ones, journal fragments, confessions, and warnings readers can uncover the story of what went wrong, and come to know the individual voices of those affected by the zombie crisis.

My Thoughts

When I was a pre-teen, I was a horror novel fanatic. Each trip to the library, I would bring home a stack of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books or Give Yourself Goosebumps (a choose your own adventure series) and devour them in one sitting. I’m not sure if I burned myself out or what, but I drifted away from this beloved genre shortly after puberty, and I haven’t looked back since (with the exception of Rot & Ruin and Dearly, Departed). This season though, I felt particularly festive and brought home stacks of spooky novels and two bags of candy corn (mostly untouched at this point and no, I don’t know why I thought two bags of candy corn was necessary). Not all the books I read gave me the heebie-jeebies, but they all succeeded in making me feel excited to celebrate October. Of course, all the 31 days/13 days of Halloween specials on teevee help, too (ABC Family has Hocus-Pocus and Casper on heavy rotation at the end of October, in case you’re a fan).

I was actually a little weary when I started this project. I’m such a moody reader, so I wasn’t sure how well I would be able to stick to my plan. Fortunately, my library book choices are usually a win. Plus, I had a diverse mix of novels/graphic novels/genres to keep me entertained. The first book I cracked open was Dead Inside: Do Not Enter. In my post title, I’ve called it a coffee table book, although I’m uncertain of the type of person that would feature this on their coffee table. I would say myself, but I don’t have a coffee table, so it just sort of sat on the floor until my next library visit. Goodreads calls it a graphic novel. It’s both? Anyone could be entertained as they flipped to random pages to find photographs of notes scrawled on napkins or cardboard scraps. Yet, the artwork in this book is sequential, and it does tell a grim and heartbreaking story about humanity falling apart one zombie bite at a time. This book contains artwork and inspiration from the Lost Zombies website– a social media site that encouraged users to set up a profile and upload audio, video, and photographs to contribute to the Lost Zombie timeline. Unfortunately, the Lost Zombies community is more dead than the antagonists in this book (ie. the website is defunct). Dead Inside: Do Not Enter was a fun read though, and although it is brief to the point where I almost felt guilty adding it to my Goodreads Challenge, it would be a spooktacular gift for the zombie lover in your life (even if they don’t have coffee tables).

What are your favorite zombified books, games or movies?

October 1, 2015
Earl Grey Lavender Tea is a Fickle Fellow

During college, I had a waxing interest in the Steampunk subculture– not to the point where I wore Steampunk-inspired garb– but I did have a handful of Steampunk bands loaded onto my iPod. Abney Park was my favorite. I also frequented Steampunk blogs, and it was through them that I discovered a webcomic called Wondermark by David Malki !. The comic wasn’t really Steampunk, although it did make the occasional reference:

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September 21, 2015
Halt You Villains! Unhand That Review! Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Released: October 2014
Publisher: Marvel
Age Group: Young Adult
Add to Goodreads
★★★★
Synopsis: Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t the heroes everyone thinks they are.But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona’s powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

My Thoughts

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson is one of those books that makes me questions my rating scale. I’ve been thinking all week about how fun this book was, how I wish I could trick Jon into reading it, how the artwork was fun and quirky, and how the characters in this book turn our hero/villain archetypes on their heads. It almost appears to be a book that has the qualities of a five-star read, yet…it’s not? What then is it lacking that prevents it from five-star status on this blog? Is it something that I cannot quantify in words? I mean, I can hardly think of a flaw! In fact, here is a list of why you should read Nimona:
1. Nimona’s got zest, she’s got spunk, she’s fearless, and I loved reading about a female protagonist (or is she an antagonist?) that embodied those characteristics. Nimona is such a force that she drove the plot forward instead of circumstance.
2. Noelle Stevenson plays with the hero/villain archetype in her graphic novel, which was fun although it was a little predictable. This of course doesn’t diminish my hatred of the Institution for what they did to Nimona and Blackheart and Goldenloin.
3. Nimona is a shapeshifter AND SOMETIMES SHE TURNS INTO AN ADORABLE CAT. I mean, isn’t that enough?
4. Something about the artwork and the banter between the characters combined makes this book laugh out loud funny. I lost track of how many times this book made me gigglesnort.
5. This graphic novel is a blend of fantasy and science fiction, which fascinates me. Weapons of choice are either big plasma guns or trusty swords. I don’t know how this works, it just does.
The only downfall of Nimona is despite the origin stories and despite the scientific research about Nimona, I still don’t understand how she gained her shape-shifting powers or how they really work. Of course reasons 1-5 make up for this, but I still wanted to be able to close the book and be able to say, “Ooooh, so that’s how it happened”.

In the end, Nimona was an excellent read– fast-paced, funny, and a rip-roaring adventure. It also convinced me I need more Noelle Stevenson in my life; during my next library visit, I’ll be searching for the Lumberjane graphic novels, another series Noelle Stevenson wrote/co-wrote.

Have you read anything written by Noelle Stevenson? What did you think of it? Did you know that she illustrated the cover of Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl? Awesooooome!
September 5, 2015
This is Another Five Star Review: Ms Marvel, Vol 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona

Ms Marvel, Vol 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona

Released: October 2014
Publisher: Marvel
Age Group: Young Adult
Add to Goodreads
★★★★★
Synopsis: Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she’s suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she’s comin’ for you, Jersey!

My Thoughts

Ms Marvel is the first graphic novel I’ve ever purchased, and the reason I pulled it from the shelf is entirely superficial– the cover. I mean, look at it! It’s intense and powerful. If that was any indication of the story inside, how could I resist? And I definitely wasn’t disappointed. First, the artwork was stunning and the colors were bold; I’ve only read a handful of graphic novels, but the artwork of Adrian Alphona is my favorite yet. Second, Kamala Khan is a powerhouse. I mean, obviously– she is Ms Marvel. But even when she’s not a super hero, she’s still strong. She’s insistent on experiencing teenage-hood despite over-protective parents and the fact that teenage-hood is an absolutely terrifying time. Also, while she seems shy and awkward, she is also unapologetically her own person (and unapologetically geeky!) even though sometimes she’s still trying figure out who that is. Finally, Ms Marvel: No Normal is a thought-provoking story because it challenges a lot of our social norms– what is considered beautiful, who can be considered a hero, what it means to be American. Kamala Khan may start out transforming into a Carol Danvers look-a-like, but soon she realizes Ms Marvel doesn’t have to be a blonde-haired, white woman as she becomes more confident in herself and her identity.

If you pick up one graphic novel to read this year, it definitely needs to be this one. I’m still trying to get my hands on Vol 2: Generation Why but my local bookstores never seem to have it in stock!

Have you read any of the Ms Marvel comics featuring Kamala Khan? What did you think of them?

September 3, 2015
Fairy Tales and Girl Powa!

Fables Vol. 1 & 2 by Bill Willingham

Released: October 2009 (Fables originally released 2002)
Publisher: Vertigo | DC Comics
Add to Goodreads
★★★★☆

Synopsis: When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters created their own secret society-within an exclusive luxury apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side-called Fabletown. But when Snow White’s party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Bigby, Fabletown’s sheriff, and a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to determine if the culprit is Bluebeard, Rose’s ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.

My Thoughts

Aside from the occasional manga I read back in middle school and the handful of Batman comics I’ve read since I’ve been dating Jon, I haven’t read too many graphic novels. But, that doesn’t mean they’ve never been on my radar throughout the years– granted, my wish list has grown significantly longer over the past couple of months as more and more bloggers seem to be featuring graphic novels. The series that has been on my wish list the longest though is Fables by Bill Willingham. I stumbled upon it about ten years ago, and it took me that long before I finally purchased myself the first two books. I was a little reluctant to start reading Fables. First, it’s such a popular series, and how disappointed would I be if I didn’t like it? Second, I had been building it up for nearly ten years, so even if I just thought it was mediocre, Fables would still have a long way to fall. I am happy to report though that what I’ve read of Fables has met my expectations. Whatta relief!

Fables takes all of our favorite fairy tales and turns them in to reality. Kind of like the Sisters Grimm or the TV show, Once Upon a Time, but seedy because it takes place in New York City, and it’s meant for mature readers. Beware, there is violence, foul language, and sexual situations amongst the pages. Vol. 1, Legends in Exile, is a twisting, turning whodunnit story complete with a parlor room scene that took me by surprise, and Vol. 2, Animal Farm, is a suspenseful tale of revolution. The cover artwork is stunning, but the artwork frame-to-frame is just good (and that’s absolutely just a personal aesthetic taste). And sure, the banter between characters is a little silly at times, but that doesn’t detract from how fun and magical the story is. Perhaps most satisfying of all is (so far) women take charge in this series. Snow White is a Director of Operations of Fabletown. Goldilocks is a radical revolutionary leader. Cinderella goes toe-to-toe with Bluebeard in a fencing match. Girl power!

As a graphic novel newbie, there was a lot to take in while reading Fables. The artwork is rich with detail, the world is wonderfully complex, and a diverse cast of characters have their own unique story arcs. It was a rewarding read, and I look forward to picking up Vol. 3, Storybook Love.

June 6, 2015