Comics Roundup #62: “DCeased”

I actually began a review for this several weeks ago, but I managed to misplace it. Now I can’t remember if I began the review on a notecard or on my laptop, so it’s lost forever until I don’t need it, which is when it will magically reappear as if it hadn’t vanished.

I’ve realized after running a book blog for several years now that sometimes I tend to judge a book a bit harder than I need to. I don’t know if it’s due to writing reviews over the years or from rating books or interacting with the bookish community, but sometimes I’m harder on the book, I think, because I didn’t get much else from it but pure enjoyment. But what’s wrong with loving a book simply because I enjoyed it and nothing more?

That was my experience with DCeased. I gave it a high rating after completing it because I rate books more on enjoyment than anything else, but it took a while for me to admit that it’s a favorite because all I got from it was enjoyment. I delayed adding DCeased there thinking I should have gotten more from the story. Now I think that was silly of me. There’s nothing wrong with adding a book to your favorites list simply because it was entertaining. Everyone has their own criteria for adding a book to their favorites list, but for me simply enjoying a book is reason enough. I guess I was put off because DCeased was an easy add for me. Afterall, zombies + superheroes = Zezee loves it! 😀

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Comics Roundup #61: Conspiracy of Ravens

It’s the cover that got me. I was tempted to purchase a copy at first, but instead I did the financially responsible thing and borrowed it from my library. So, yes, I’m quite proud of myself at the moment.


Conspiracy of Ravens by Leah Moore & John Reppion, illus. by Sally Jane Thompson

Genre

YA Fantasy

Series

n/a

Pubbed

2018

From Goodreads

Teen schoolgirl Anne unexpectedly inherits a mysterious locket and a crumbing English mansion estate from her long-lost aunt. She unearths the family secret that she’s part of a magical legacy that gives her fantastic abilities, and she isn’t the only girl whose family is involved. But not all the girls are so willing to use their new powers for good…

From the writers of Albion and Wild Girl and the artist of Atomic Sheep comes this original graphic novel perfect for tween, teen, and adult fans of fantasy and superheroes alike! (Goodreads)

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Comics Roundup #60: Fables, Vol. 1

This comic book has sat on my shelves unread for 4 years now, and I feel a fool for having done so. The sellers at the comic bookshop I frequent highly recommended it to me, and I bought it assuming it would be like the fairytale TV show, Once Upon a Time. But I was hesitant to start it thinking I wouldn’t like it since I wasn’t feeling the cover or the illustrations within, so imagine my surprise when I was blown away by this volume and had to immediately run to the store to grab the second one.

(And that’s why I shouldn’t judge books by their covers, lol!)


Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham, illus. by Lan Medina with inks by Steve Leialoha & Craig Hamilton and colors by Sherilyn van Valkenburgh

Genre

Fantasy

Series

Fables

Pubbed

2002

From Goodreads

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 “mundys,” their name for normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters created their own secret society that they call Fabletown. From their exclusive luxury apartment buildings on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, these creatures of legend must fight for their survival in the new world.

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Comics Roundup #59: The Wizard’s Tale

Ah ha! Another one I read way back in May for Wyrd & Wonder. (I’ll keep saying this for some time since I’m just now catching up on reviews and am quite proud of myself.) I borrowed it off my library’s Libby app thinking it was a children’s picture book. It’s a middle grade graphic novel.


The Wizard’s Tale by Kurt Busiek, illus. by David T. Wenzel

Genre

MG Fantasy

Series

n/a

Pubbed

1997

From Goodreads

A magical story of redemption, The Wizard’s Tale follows the aged Bafflerog Rumplewhisker and his young companion, Muddle, the woodcutter’s son, as they embark on a quest to retrieve the magical Book of Worse — a tome that will ensure the land of Ever-Night remains as it is, a dark and gloomy realm of evil. But old Rumplewhisker’s heart slowly warms on their journey, and a chance to restore a semblance of goodness to Ever-Night is possible — if he and his young charge can dare face the challenges ahead. (Goodreads)

My thoughts

The Wizard’s Tale was such a charming read. It’s about a wizard who’s failing at being an evil wizard. Old Bafflerog Rumplewhisker is descended from a long line of evil wizards but is the last of his line and lives in his family’s castle with his whimsical, fey-like companions and a toad called Gumpwort. Tasked with finding the Book of Worse, a tome to ensure the land of Ever-Night remains mired in darkness, Rumplewhisker sets off on a quest with the woodcutter’s son, Muddle, to travel through time and space to unexpected lands to locate the book and, possibly, love.

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Comics Roundup #58: Manor Black

Here’s another comic book I read for Wyrd & Wonder waaay back in May. I think it was on the recommendations shelf of the comic bookshop I frequent, and it was that and the synopsis that got me interested.


Manor Black, Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt, illus. by Tyler Crook

Genre

Supernatural; Horror

Series

Manor Black

Pubbed

2019

From Goodreads

From the creators of Harrow County and The Sixth Gun comes this gothic horror fantasy about a family of sorcerers in crisis.

Roman Black is the moribund patriarch of a family of powerful sorcerers. As his wicked and corrupt children fight over who will take the reins of Manor Black and representative of the black arts, Roman adopts a young mage who he gifts his powers to with the hope that someone good will take his place against the evil forces out to bring down his family and legacy. (Goodreads)

My thoughts

Because this is a story about magicians, I went in thinking it was solely fantasy-based, despite the horror vibe the cover gives off what with the black and red colors and the style of the typography for the title, which makes me think of slasher films.

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Comics Roundup #57: Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins

I read this for the Wyrd & Wonder event back in May. I bought it last year because I like the cover and kept seeing it everywhere, so I gave in to temptation and my curiosity and gave it a try. Luckily, I enjoyed it.


Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Vol. 1 by Matthew Mercer & Matthew Colville, illus. by Olivia Samson, with colors by Chris Northrop

Genre

Fantasy

Series

Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins

Pubbed

2019

From Goodreads

The band of adventurers known as Vox Machina will save the world. Eventually. But even they have to start somewhere.

Six would-be heroes on seemingly different jobs find their paths intertwined as they investigate shady business in the swamp town of Stilben. They’ll need to put their heads– and weapons–together to figure out what’s going on…and keep from being killed in the process. Even then, whether or not they can overcome what truly lurks at the bottom of the town’s travails remains to be seen!

Collects Critical Role Vox Machina: Origins comics issues #1-6, one of the best selling digital comics ever! (Goodreads)

My thoughts

I didn’t know what to expect going into this because I didn’t bother reading the summary on the back when I bought it last year, or prior to reading it this year. I knew nothing about Critical Role, so I didn’t associate this with the popular Dungeons & Dragons web series either. The only background I had when I started this is that I’d (at the time) played D&D a few times with friends to try out and be introduced to the game and its format. I was grateful for this experience as I read the story, but I think someone who has never heard of nor played D&D before would also enjoy this comic book as much as I did.

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Top 5 Tuesday #30: F – G – H – I – J

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Shanah, the Bionic Book Worm.

This week’s topic:

F – G – H – I – J

(authors whose name begins with the featured letters)

It wasn’t until I was done writing up this post that I realize I selected all comic books (I think this is a sign that I should catch up on all my comic book series). I’ll include some samples of the art below and link to my review of them in case y’all wanna know more.

F is for…

Jay Faerber

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Book Haul #56: Small Press Expo 2019

I’m so proud of myself… and a little disappointed too.

I attended the Small Press Expo (SPX) earlier in September. It’s a comic book expo for independent publishers and creators that I’ve been attending since 2016 (didn’t go in 2018 — I was probably sick). I’ve enjoyed myself every year that I’ve attended, but I’ve yet to make it to any of the seminars!

In past years, I missed the seminars because I got distracted by the showroom floor. I’d spend hours there buying books and prints. This year, however, I got to the event late because I had to work before attending, so I missed most of the seminars and was too exhausted to attend the remaining ones.

Unlike the previous two years I attended, I didn’t buy everything I saw and overspend this time. 🙂 That’s why I’m so proud of myself. I had a budget and only went over it by $50. I consider that a success. 😀

But I am a little disappointed because there were SOOOO many things I wanted but had to prevent myself from getting because I wanted to stick to my budget. So although I was excited to attend the event and enjoyed myself while there despite my exhaustion, I was a little sad because I didn’t get everything I wanted. I may have sulked a bit like a little kid. (Lol!)

But I consider this event a success because some of the comics I hauled are ones I really, REALLY wanted, AND I got them signed!! 😀 Of course, I picked up a few prints as well. You can see them on my IG here. I’ll only focus on the books in this post.

(Title links below are to the publisher/artist’s website where you can see samples of the illustrations.)

Small Press Expo

Books

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Comics Roundup #29: Zodiac Starforce | Elves | Monstress

Sadly, I’ve fallen so far behind on reviews that I’m still writing reviews of books I completed in April now. Today I have for you comic book reviews.

The first one, Zodiac Starforce, #1, I read for the O.W.L. Magical Readathon that was held in April. This review should have already been up, but no. I procrastinated, and now I’m posting it a month before the follow up readathon — N.E.W.T.s Magical Readathon — begins. The other two — Elves, Vol. 1 and Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood — were both read for the Wyrd & Wonder readathon, which is a month-long readathon in May of all things fantasy.

Anyway, my intention this week is to clear out my review queue; so fingers crossed that I’ll actually achieve this.


Zodiac Starforce, #1 by Kevin Panetta, illus. by Paulina Ganucheau with colors by Savanna Ganucheau

Genre:

YA Fantasy

Series:

Zodiac Starforce, issue 1

Pubbed:

August 2015

Quick summary:

The series is about a group of teenage girls who possess magical powers and use them to protect their planet from dark creatures. This issue opens with the group disbanded and one of the members, Kim, hoping to get everyone back together again. While doing so, she’s also investigating a student’s disappearance and later learns, along with her group of superpower friends, that one of the group members is infected with dark energy. (Goodreads)

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Comics Roundup #28: Baba Yaga & a Dam Keeper

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a review of a comic book. Actually, it’s been a while since I’ve read a comic book. I haven’t done so since October last year. Well, I’ll rectify that with this post.

Here I have two graphic novels. The first is a YA fantasy story about a girl seeking the witch from folklore, Baba Yaga, because she no longer feels welcome at home, and the second continues a middle-grade fantasy story about a pig who manages his town’s dam to keep back a deadly black fog.


Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola, illus. by Emily Carroll

Genre:

YA fantasy

Pubbed:

August 2015

Quick overview:

When Masha sees an advertisement for an assistant position with the fearful witch from folklore, Baba Yaga, she decides to apply. Masha had recently lost her beloved grandmother, her source of love and support, leaving her with just her dad, who has found a new family.

Masha grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories about Baba Yaga, so she doesn’t balk at answering the advertisement and seeking out the witch. Afterall, Masha reasons, Baba Yaga may be a witch, “but she’s a grandma too.”

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