Review: Super Late Bloomer by Julia Kaye

Goodreads Blurb

A highly personal collection documenting the early months of artist Julia Kaye’s gender transition.

Instead of a traditional written diary, Julia Kaye has always turned to art as a means of self-reflection. So when she began her gender transition in 2016, she decided to use her popular webcomic, Up and Out, to process her journey and help others with similar struggles realize they weren’t alone.

Julia’s poignant, relatable comics honestly depict her personal ups and downs while dealing with the various issues involved in transitioning—from struggling with self-acceptance and challenging societal expectations, to moments of self-love and joy. Super Late Bloomer both educates and inspires, as Julia faces her difficulties head-on and commits to being wholly, authentically who she was always meant to be

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

It is a powerful comic that lets us experience all Julia went through with her gender transition throughout a year. This comic collection gives you first-hand account of how a transgender view themselves, struggle, and worry, but through it all, they stand strong and help others see they can. You see the happy moments and the sad moments that can bring you down. Julia is a strong woman who stands tall and does what makes her happy. Thank you for sharing your story, and please continue to share it.

Goodreads Author Biography

Julia Kaye is an award winning artist and illustrator whose webcomic Up and Out has garnered hundreds of thousands of readers and wide critical praise. Her commitment to activism has led to collaborations with non-profit organizations such as The Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline. Her work has appeared on Webtoon, GoComics, Buzzfeed, and the Disney animated show Big City Greens. Julia lives in Los Angeles.

Review: The Legend of Grimm’s Woods by Manuro Gorobei

Goodreads Blurb

Introducing a new series of interactive graphic novels–first published in France, and translated/transported to English language readers by Quirk Books.

Enter a world inspired by all of your favorite fairy tales–complete with gingerbread houses, a girl dressed in red, and seven children lost in the woods. Hocus & Pocus offers a new kind of reading experience–part game book, part graphic novel, and part Choose Your Own Adventure story. Readers can play as Hocus (a girl) or Pocus (a boy), choose a magic animal companion, and enter a colorful fairy tale forest of riddles, magical objects, and unusual characters. Succeed or fail, it’s all up to you!

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I loved the idea that the book was written like a video game, but I was so confused with the numbers. I think young children will have issues with keeping scores. The illustrations were awesome. It was a great adventure filled with puzzles and different scenarios depending on character and animal used.

Review: Batman & the Justice League Vol. 1 by Shiori Teshirogi

Goodreads Blurb

A young boy from Japan travels to Gotham City on a mission. A year before, his two parents–both scientists–were presumably killed in an expolosion that destroyed an experimental power plant. But the boy believes they may still be alive. At the very least, he’s determined to find out what actually happened. But his quest soon leads to a run-in with some powerful forces–forces that require help from both Batman and the Justice League!

Mangaka Shiori Teshirogi (Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas) creates an exciting new story, combining an authentic Japanese comics approach with the World’s Greatest Superheroes. Translated into English and collected for the Western audience for the first time, collected in standard manga size trim, Batman & The Justice League Vol. 1 is phenomenal entry point for fans of the Justice League and manga alike!

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Justice League is done in the form of a manga book. First time I read a book in this format. It had a great plot, great illustrations, and interesting story. The Joker and Lex Luther are up to no good in Gotham City. Will the Justice League stop the villains’ plans?

Goodreads Author Biography

Shiori Teshirogi (手代木史織) is a japanese manga artist.

Review: Batman/Superman by Greg Pak

Goodreads Blurb

The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel meet for the very first time—but this adventure takes them to a place far beyond the world they know to places they never thought existed.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Won this book from GoodReads. I was entertained with Batman and Superman beating each other up. It was great having two Batman and Superman telling each other what to do. It was a fun book to read. The pictures were perfect for each scene. I loved that Cat Women and Wonder Women became part of the story.

Author Biography

Greg Pak is an award-winning Korean American comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing “Lawful” for BOOM and “Sam Wilson: Captain America” (with Evan Narcisse) for Marvel. Pak wrote the “Princess Who Saved Herself” children’s book and the “Code Monkey Save World” graphic novel based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) the acclaimed “Make Comics Like the Pros” how-to book. Pak’s other work includes “Planet Hulk,” “Darth Vader,” “Mech Cadet Yu,” “Ronin Island,” “Action Comics,” and “Magneto Testament.”

Review: Paper Girls, Volume I by Brian K. Vaughan

Goodreads Blurb

In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this smash-hit series about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood.

Collects PAPER GIRLS #1-5.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Won this book from GoodReads. This was such a great comic book with supernatural mystery. I loved that girls are the main characters of the book, and they were strong characters. Even though they were scared, they were able to defend each other. The illustrations made the story come to life. It was an interesting book that had me thinking who the bad guys were.

Author Biography

Brian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site http://www.PanelSyndicate.com

BKV’s work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.

Review: The Reaper of St. George Street by Andre R. Frattino

A graphic novel about ghosts and young ghost hunters in St. Augustine, Florida, America’s oldest city. A young man, resistant to any belief in ghosts, arrives in a town permeated with ghost legends and tours exploiting them. He is soon caught up in encounters with the town’s ghostly denizens, including the Reaper, the most hostile and dangerous of them all. The young man and a cohort of other ghost hunters set out to rid the town of the Reaper. First in a paranormal graphic novel series.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable book with ghost hunters. I loved that each character were different and fun in their own way, but they made a great team when fighting the paranormal. I enjoyed the illustrations. Andre did a great job in creating the story, illustration, and making the story interesting and mysterious.

Review: Three Kingdoms: Heroes and Chaos by Wei Dong Chen

Goodreads Blurb

At the end of the second century, the lands of ancient China are thrown into turmoil when the Han Dynasty collapses, and when a tyrant overthrows the weak emperor, a group of regional lords forms an army to restore the nation. But bravery and valor are soon stifled by ambition and cunning, and the coalition dissolves before the battle is even won. Now, a new group of heroes must emerge if China is to survive.

My Review: Rated 3 out 5 stars

This comic was good. It was a book about chaos, war, and power for land. It was great to know more about China and its history. It is a great book for young children. It has great illustrations. The names and characters were not easy for me to keep up with.

Review: Outlaws of the Marsh: Spirits and Bandits by Wei Dong Chen

Goodreads Blurb

In the days of the Song Dynasty, government corruption is rampant, and the enemies of a ruthless schemer named Qui Gao are driven out of power and into the untamed countryside of China. There they encounter 108 mischievous spirits who have taken root in the form of bandits and thieves who are about to make life very difficult for Qiu Gao.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Great adaptation of Chinese literature. I enjoy the story, which is the first time I have read about it, and the illustrations worked perfectly with the story. It is a great story for all to enjoy.

Review: Z-Men: All The President’s Men by Jeff McComsey and Bill Jemas

Goodreads Blurb

Dead and/or alive. LBJ orders the Secret Service to bring him back a zombie. This should be easy.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

It is a comic novel that brings the living dead to a new light. The secret service fights against the zombies in hopes of keeping everyone safe. The illustrations were perfect for the story. Perfect book to read for this spooky month of October.

Review: Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer

Goodreads Blurb

When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers’ leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the series.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Lunar Chronicles continue with this fun graphic novel. It is filled with action packs and girl power. All the wonderful characters from the Lunar Chronicles books show up in this series. It is great to see the characters in picture life. The illustrations are superb, and the plot is perfect. The idea of soldiers turned into beasts was great. Revenge for what the evil queen did to them.

Author Biography

Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as well as the graphic novel duology Wires and Nerve. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a MA in Publishing from Pace University. In addition to writing, Marissa hosts The Happy Writer podcast. She lives near Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and twin daughters.