Review – Afar by Leila del Duca

Afar
By: Leila del Duca
Release Date: March 29, 2017
Publisher: Image Comics
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


I’ve been on a quest this year to read more graphic novels. I was initially attracted to Afar by Leila del Duca by the cover art, then equally intrigued by the synopsis. When I had the opportunity to receive a copy from the publisher, I jumped on it.

Review -Seven to Eternity, Vol. 1: The God of Whispers by Rick Remender

Seven to Eternity, Vol. 1: The God of Whispers
By: Rick Remender (Writer); Jerome Opeña (Artist); Matt Hollingsworth (Colourist); Rus Wooton (Letterer)
Release Date: February 15, 2017
Publisher: Image Comics
Series: Seven to Eternity #1
Rating:


I picked up a couple of graphic novels while at Book Con earlier this month. While I’m a huge fan of manga, american graphic novels aren’t something I read or own a lot of.  One of these was Seven to Eternity, Vol 1: The God of Whispers. This, unlike Saga, was one I’d not heard of prior to picking it up. The art caught my eye as I was flipping through, the creator’s names were vaguely familiar, and it seemed like it was set in some sort of fantasy world. So I purchased the first volume, brought it home, and finally got around to picking it up.

Review – Saga, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughn

Saga, Vol 1
By: Brian K. Vaughn (writer); Fiona Staples (artist)
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Image Comics
Series: Saga #1
Award: Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story (2013); Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series (2013); Harvey Award for Best New Series (2013); Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (2013); Harvey Award for Best Writer (2013); Harvey Award for Best Artist (2013); Harvey Award for Best Colorist (2013); Harvey Award Nominee for Best Cover Artist (2013); Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best New Series (2013); Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best Continuing Series (2013); Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best Writer (2013)
Rating:


If you read blogs, follow booktube, or are a fan of graphic novels, chances are pretty good that you’ve heard of Saga, Vol 1 by Brian K. Vaughn. I first heard of the series quite a long time ago, probably near the first volume’s original release date way back in 2012. I debated and debated, and eventually bought something else. But the cover stuck with me even if the plot didn’t. Recently it seems that everyone’s been talking about Saga and, when I saw a copy for sale at Book Con, I finally picked it up.

Review – Letter 44, Vol. 1: Escape Velocity by Charles Soule

Letter 44, Vol. 1
By: Charles Soule
Release Date: July 30, 2014
Publisher: Oni Press
Series: Letter 44 #1
Rating:


I often find myself reading manga. It’s a genre I love. Truth be told, I should read more graphic novels and comics than I currently do. I’ve had Letter 44, Vol. 1: Escape Velocity by Charles Soule on my radar for quite some time and, finally, I picked it up. This is a graphic novel promising political intrigue and alien encounters deep in the asteroid belt. With action both on and off planet this is graphic novel sure to please fans of both thriller-esque political intrigue and fans of standard sci-fi.

Review – Revolutionary Girl Utena Vol. 1 by Chiho Saito

Revolutionary Girl Utena Vol. 1
By: Chiho Saito
Release Date: March 23, 2017
Publisher: VIZ Media; Shojo Beat
Series: Revolutionary Girl Utena #1
Rating:


Sometimes there’s a book I just need. The gorgeous boxed set of Revolutionary Girl Utena was exactly that. I’ll be honest. I’m low-key obsessed with the anime of the same name. I watch it from start to finish a few times a year. Despite this, I never read the manga. Well, now’s my chance! This is the first volume in a two volume boxed set by Be-Papas, the creative collective behind Revolutionary Girl Utena, and Chiho Saito, the mangaka.

And who can resist a beautiful hardcover edition of a manga?

Review – Lady Mechanika Vol 3: The Lost Boys of West Abbey

Lady Mechanika Vol. 3: The Lost Boys of West Abbey
By: M. M. Chen; Joe Benitez
Release Date: May 16, 2017
Publisher: Benitez Productions
Series: Lady Mechanika #3
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


It wasn’t too long ago that I discovered the Lady Mechanika graphic novel series, and its one I’ve come to look forward to reading each time I find a new volume. When I had the opportunity to read an early copy of Lady Mechanika Vol. 3: The Lost Boys of West Abbey by M.M. Chen and Joe Benitez, I jumped on it.

#ThrowbackThursday Review – Wanted by Matsuri Hino

Wanted
By: Matsuri Hino
Translator: Low Sin Lu
Release Date: (Original Japanese) 2005; (English) September 2, 2008
Publisher: VIZ Media
Rating:


I have been on a manga buying/reading spree lately. I’m a little late to the manga scene, at least compared to my husband, and have been trying to make up for it by picking up more or less every old manga I find at used book sales. Wanted by Matsuri Hino was one such purchase. That’s right. This is a standalone manga from the creator of Vampire Knight.

#MangaMonday Review – Ocean of Secrets Vol. 1 by Sophie-chan

Ocean of Secrets Volume 1
By: Sophie-chan
Release Date: May 16, 2017
Publisher: TokyoPop
Series: Ocean of Secrets #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


It’s no secret that I love manga. So when I had the opportunity to review a copy of a new manga I’d never heard of before, of course I jumped on it. Ocean of Secrets, Volume 1 is a brand new series by the mangaka Sophie-chan. The cover was full of pretty purples, and drew my eye to it immediately. This volume will be released on May 16, 2017, just a little over a week from now.

#ThrowbackThursday Review – The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturns by Neil Gaiman

The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturns
By: Neil Gaiman
Website: http://www.neilgaiman.com/
Release Date: (Original) 1988; (this edition) December 1, 1988
Publisher: Vertigo
Series: The Sandman #1
Rating:


I was in the used book store attached to my library recently, seeing what new things they’d put on the shelves since the last time I wiped out their stock. Out of curiosity I wandered over to a shelf labeled ‘humor’. There, tucked between copies of newspaper comic strip compilations and stand up comic’s autobiographies was a misplaced copy of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman: Preludes and Nocturns.

A ‘humor’ book this is not. But if you’re looking for some graphic novel horror in your life, you’ve come to the right place.

Review – No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular, Vol. 3 by Nico Tanigawa

Review: No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular, Vol. 3
By: Nico Tanigawa
Release Date: (Original Japanese) December 22, 2012; (English) April 22, 2014
Publisher: Yen Press
Series: No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular #3
Rating:


Here we are again, another volume of No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular!, Vol. 3 down. This series by Nico Tanigawa, pen name for the two creators of the series, is about Tomoko, high school student determined turn things around from her middle school days, make friends, and talk to boys. Unfortunately, this is harder than it originally sounded. Already at the start of second term, none of Tomoko’s plans have come to fruition.