comic

Graphic Novel Review: The Daughters of Ys

Posted by

0

The Daughters of Ys by M.T. Anderson
The Daughters of Ys
by M.T. Anderson, Jo Rioux 

1 out of 5 stars

When their mother dies, two princesses handle their grief differently. One sister finds solace in the beauties of nature, and the other learns everything she can about her mother’s magic in the palace. Ys is a city built with dark magic. As the sisters grow up, the evil of their kingdom can no longer be contained.

I did not enjoy this graphic novel. There are very graphic violent scenes with a lot of blood and gore. And there are sexual scenes, and that ruined it for me. I wish the story could have been told in a more classy way. Continue reading →

Manga Review: Silver Spoon, Vol. 3

Posted by

0

Gin No Saji, Vol. 3 by Hiromu Arakawa
Gin No Saji, Vol. 3 (Gin No Saji, #3)
by Hiromu Arakawa

4 out of 5 stars


Hachiken attends an agricultural high school even though he has no interest in pursuing an agricultural career. In this 3rd volume, Hachiken is conflicted about his favorite pig, Pork Bowl, being sent to the slaughterhouse. He has to work through his feelings about raising animals for slaughter, and it brings up a lot of debate among his classmates. He works hard to earn the respect of his teachers and classmates, and his thoughtfulness and kindness draws people to him.

This manga is hilarious! The characters are fun and some of them are really silly. After their summer break, they all come back to school with renewed energy and more of a sense of class unity. I really love the character dynamics and their friendships. Continue reading →

Manga Review: Silver Spoon, Vol. 2

Posted by

0

銀の匙 Silver Spoon 2 [Gin no Saji Silver Spoon 2] by Hiromu Arakawa
銀の匙 Silver Spoon 2 [Gin no Saji Silver Spoon 2]
by Hiromu Arakawa, 荒川 弘

4 out of 5 stars


Hachiken attends an agricultural high school even though he has no interest in pursuing an agricultural career. In this second volume, he discovers an old brick oven, and his classmates beg him to make homemade pizza for them. Hachiken has to find all the right ingredients, and even bribe the teachers to get cheese for a huge pizza party. If he can pull it off, he’ll be the most popular guy in school.

This manga is hilarious! The characters are fun and some of them are really silly.

Continue reading →

Comic Review: Virtual Unicorn Experience

Posted by

0

Virtual Unicorn Experience by Dana Simpson
Virtual Unicorn Experience (Phoebe and Her Unicorn, #12)
by Dana Simpson

4 out of 5 stars


Phoebe is best friends with a unicorn named Marigold, and this has some pros and cons. Unicorns have magic and can help you win a game of handball at recess or perform in a talent show, but their magic doesn’t always work as planned. Phoebe and Marigold have to navigate both the human and unicorn cultures to keep their friendship strong, and they are always learning something new and interesting about each other.

I loved the fun camaraderie between Phoebe and Marigold! They are such cute friends, and I loved how they banter back and forth. Their dialogue is really funny and silly! Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: The Knights of Mars

Posted by

0

Castle in the Stars by Alex Alice
Castle in the Stars: The Knights of Mars #3
by Alex Alice

5 out of 5 stars


Seraphin and his father are working to keep the secrets of aether out of the hands of the Prussians, and trying to track the whereabouts of the missing Bavarian king. Eventually, their search will lead them to the red planet, Mars.

I love this graphic novel from start to finish! The artwork is delicate yet bold, with beautiful colors, clear action, hilarious character expressions, gorgeous designs, and emotional scenes.

The story is full of suspense, adventure, and family! I loved the friendships, the family dynamics, and the history that made this a deep and emotional tale. Continue reading →

Manga Review: Silver Spoon

Posted by

0

銀の匙 Silver Spoon 1 [Gin no Saji Silver Spoon 1] by Hiromu Arakawa
銀の匙 Silver Spoon 1 [Gin no Saji Silver Spoon 1]
by Hiromu Arakawa, 荒川 弘

4 out of 5 stars

 

Hachiken attends an agricultural high school even though he has no interest in pursuing an agricultural career. All his classmates come from farming backgrounds, and are eager to learn so they can take over their family farm someday. Poor Hachiken has to wake up early every morning to take care of livestock, clean out the stables, and gather chicken eggs. His classmates are used to early morning hours, but Hachiken is exhausted.

This manga is hilarious! It was so fun learning about how to care for animals along with Hachiken.

Continue reading →

Comic Review: Super Hero Girls Powerless

Posted by

0

DC Super Hero Girls by Amy Wolfram
DC Super Hero Girls: Powerless
by Amy Wolfram,  Agnes Garbowska (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars


When the SuperHero Girls are faced with a city-wide power outage, all electronics are dead and Batgirl especially suffers since none of her gadgets work and she is cut off from all her data and messaging. Only by working together can the girls solve the mystery of who stole all of Metropolis’ power!

The best part about this story is the adorable friendships between all the super girls! Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, Batgirl, Green Lantern, and Bumblbee; they are all so different, with different powers, abilities, personalities, and interests, but they love and support each other through everything, and not just in their crime-fighting missions. They really come together to inspire and encourage one another, and I loved the caring dynamic they shared. Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: This Was Our Pact

Posted by

0

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews
This Was Our Pact
by Ryan Andrews (Goodreads Author)

5 out of 5 stars


Ben and his friends are determined to follow the river on the night of their Autumn Festival. Every year thousands of lanterns are floated down the river, and legend says that the lanterns float up to join the stars. Ben makes a pact with his friends to find out the truth about where the lanterns go, and they hop on their bikes to follow the lanterns. But the weird kid, Nathaniel, follows them, and when everyone else turns back, Nathaniel and Ben discover the true magic that surrounds the lanterns.

This book is so beautiful and whimsical! I was enchanted from the very beginning. The lovely artwork, the imaginative plot, the emotional characters, and the engaging dialogue kept me entranced through every page. Continue reading →

Comic Review: Green Lantern Legacy

Posted by

0

Green Lantern by Minh Lê
Green Lantern: Legacy
by Minh Lê, Andie Tong (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars 

Tai discovers the power of the Green Lantern when his grandmother passes on her jade ring to him. With very little training from the other Green Lanterns, Tai tries to stop vandalism in his neighborhood. But there is an even bigger threat hiding right under his nose, and Tai will need his friends support while he learns to harness his new powers.

I loved this comic from start to finish!
Tai is such a deep and complex character. His close relationship with his family is at the heart of everything he does, and there is a huge emotional aspect to his story that really drew me in. Tai is Vietnamese-American, and his family heritage is important to him. I loved seeing the rich Vietnamese culture, and the traditions of kindness and generosity in his family. Continue reading →

Comic Review: Zatanna and the House of Secrets

Posted by

0

Zatanna & the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody
Zatanna & the House of Secrets
by Matthew Cody, Yoshi Yoshitani (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars


Zatanna is just trying to survive middle school. She and her stage-magician Dad live in a mysterious house with an adorable pet rabbit, Pocus. Zatanna believes that her father’s magic tricks are just illusions, until one fateful day when she encounters real magic. She realizes that the house holds more secrets than she ever knew, and she must navigate trick stairs, cold dungeons, and enigmatic doors to escape the clutches of a wicked sorceress and save her father.

I loved this comic from start to finish! Zatanna is a wonderful character, and she has some good personal development and teen angst that packs an emotional punch. The plot is enchanting and mystic with lots of wonderful surprises and twists. I loved the magical elements in the House of Secrets, and especially the magical characters and creatures that Zatanna meets as she discovers a new world of wizardy and spells. Continue reading →