Reading "Book of Evil" I kept thinking about David Almond’s "The True Tales of the Monster Billy Dean Telt By Hisself ." A book about a boy living in Reading "Book of Evil" I kept thinking about David Almond’s "The True Tales of the Monster Billy Dean Telt By Hisself ." A book about a boy living in a post apocalyptic world just like Homer, the protagonist of Scott Synder's "Book of Evil."
The title of his comic refers to a comic strip that Homer and his friends pour over at night. It tells the story of the Goode Brothers who go back in time and "correct" moments in history that were seen to be progress at the time but are known to be wrong in the present. They teach "historical figures that they're wrong and should be more like humans today." (though "today" doesn't sound like a world I'd like to live in).
Homer and his friends don't feel "today" is all that good either. They read the comic looking for clues that will help them escape. It's a world of psychopaths who have lost the ability to empathize. People are divided by age and aptitude into "Embies," animals, and humans (Homo Verus). The latter being the most evolved. Animals are the least evolved and "Embies" still "unformed."
It's written like a picture book, so does not follow the familiar comic book format of pictures in frames and text. Issue 1 does what it is supposed to do: establish the setting, provide the rules of the story's world, and tell a story enticing enough to want to read issue 2. ...more
Maybe it's because I am at a point in my life where the AARP markets its membership benefits to me, but I have developed a penchant for stories about Maybe it's because I am at a point in my life where the AARP markets its membership benefits to me, but I have developed a penchant for stories about favorite superheros from my teenage and college years grown up and old.
My favorite book so far is Spider-Man:Regin. I haven't read the books but I've seen the movie adaptations for Old Man Logan and The Dark Knight Returns. I enjoyed those stories too but haven't read the books, so unsure whether I should include them.
"Catwoman: Lonely City" is the story of a Gotham City that knows Batman's secret identity. They found out when he was killed in an explosion. Catwoman, who was working wtih Batman when he was killed, was arrested. The story picks up on her release 10 years later. She is on a mission to make sense of a cryptic message Batman whispered to her.
In addition to being a book about the challenges aging has presented Catwoman, the book is also a good detective novel. Selina Kyle needs to solve for "Orpheus." Near the end, it presents a surprising reveal that I felt should have lasted a little longer when I read it....more
Whenever I read comics created from stories published as as full text I wonder what was left out? It's the same for TV shows and movies based on booksWhenever I read comics created from stories published as as full text I wonder what was left out? It's the same for TV shows and movies based on books. If it is a good adaption, I buy the book or put it on a "To Read" list along with the others (the books I am curious to read). I put the short story that the "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" comic was adapted from on the list.
It is an interesting story with an ending that you can make sensible assumptions about in the 2020's but may have been beyond imagination in the 60s or 90s. The surreal conversation is how I remember conversations being at parties in college with girls (or women) I was attracted to. It didn't matter what they said. It mattered more that they were talking to me (though in a removed way).
"How to Talk to Girls at Parties" is a thin book, brightly illustrated, that I wish there were more of. It starts well and ends well. It's the middle that I wish there were more flesh to. This is why I want to read the original short story. Maybe the editors and artists chose to not to emphasize or illustrate parts that would have made the book fulfilling to me....more
It's a well told story but short. A sort of "monster from the Id" with a sensible and clever origin. You're kind of hit over the head that Thom is selIt's a well told story but short. A sort of "monster from the Id" with a sensible and clever origin. You're kind of hit over the head that Thom is self-absorbed, if not narcissistic, and readers are shown he is the catalyst for the story being told in the first place. But then it just sort of ends. If there's a book 2, I'd definitely pick it up. I need something more like a resolution. . ...more
Clever and imaginative. You can sort of guess why there are so many dogs gathered together but the way the story confirms your suspicions is done wellClever and imaginative. You can sort of guess why there are so many dogs gathered together but the way the story confirms your suspicions is done well. I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were more scenes of the dogs trying to "speak human." It might have added to the sense of frustration and urgency of their predicament. There are a both of scenarios that might give the story a little more oomph without distracting the reader from its main plot. It would have made it a longer book though (which might not be a bad thing)....more
It was a little hard to get into. It took several tries before I acclimated to the absence of color. However, the plot that was revealed was intriguinIt was a little hard to get into. It took several tries before I acclimated to the absence of color. However, the plot that was revealed was intriguing enough that I wanted to finish. I'm glad I did. After a few sittings I grew to appreciate the pen and ink drawings especially the detail. I read the dialogue and went back to admire the artwork.
The plot itself is nothing new. The main antagonist really reminded me of Syler from the TV show Heroes and the story could have been one of its seasons. It's the artwork, the clever comments on pop culture, and the interesting character designs and powers that make the book worth starting. ...more
I only know Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda from "Monstress," one of my favorite comic series. "Night Eaters" is planted in a recognizable present with fI only know Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda from "Monstress," one of my favorite comic series. "Night Eaters" is planted in a recognizable present with familiar themes of asian parental expectations and the friction it causes between worried parents and their children's self doubt. The supernatural elements of the story are the icing on the cake, a story about the balance between giving your children opportunities you never had and hands-on lessons in their fending for themselves for the inevitability of your not being there. ...more
Despair deserved better in Volume 11 of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series, Endless Nights. She deserved the narrative thread that Delirium got to conneDespair deserved better in Volume 11 of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series, Endless Nights. She deserved the narrative thread that Delirium got to connect the varied and convoluted thoughts of its characters. Compared to the stories of their Endless siblings, Delirium and Despair have the most unconventional and abstract structures.
The first portrait is a great example of this. The 16 “canvases” that were used to form it looked like they had more to offer to readers with sharper eyes. Unfortunately, that’s never been me (and it’s worsened with time), so I could have benefited from each of these canvases being given the own page. The first portrait introduces Despair with the portraits that follow after relating situations where she is present.
01/14/2023. I finished "Interview with the Vampire" the week before or maybe longer. I immediately started "The Vampire Lestat." I had forgotten so mu01/14/2023. I finished "Interview with the Vampire" the week before or maybe longer. I immediately started "The Vampire Lestat." I had forgotten so much about the book since the last time I read it - 30 years ago (give or take a month or two)! I had forgotten or maybe I didn't notice at the time how "uncomfortably" Louis speaks about Claudia - and how much younger Claudia is than Kirsten Dunst when she portrayed her in the 1994 movie (which is probably why I read the book the first time). I had also forgotten how sad Louis' story ends. And wonder if he shows up in "Lestat"?...more
**spoiler alert** I really liked the ending of the book as the series finale. The angels never change their minds and Heaven never comes. The final me**spoiler alert** I really liked the ending of the book as the series finale. The angels never change their minds and Heaven never comes. The final message (at least the way I read it) is hopeful. The fight is not one of fists but one of perserverance. Sure, Clark grows up to kill the Devil but the earth does not immediately snap back to what it was before he (the anti-Christ) was used to open the Gates of Hell to Earth.
It was a fitting though messy end - both in terms of blood and plot. It struggled between being creative and convenient. Creative in that "I didn't seIt was a fitting though messy end - both in terms of blood and plot. It struggled between being creative and convenient. Creative in that "I didn't see that coming." Convenient in "OK. Didn't see that coming but why?"
It's a grand ending with flourishes of both failure and success and of course death.
**spoiler alert** We meet the leader of the Black Veil business, The Widow. I thought it was funny that she wears a long red veil that would be cumber**spoiler alert** We meet the leader of the Black Veil business, The Widow. I thought it was funny that she wears a long red veil that would be cumbersome in real life. We also learn that being "clear" is itself a veil and that Kendra's program, Baxter (named after the son she and Dunes lost in an accident - #issue 2) is meant to destroy both veil and clear technologies to real the decaying, unkempt real, real world. ...more
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