I like werewolves. I have to admit they're not as sexy as vampires. It's hard to make something appealing about turning into a blood thirsty killing machine under a full moon. Drinking blood and luring young virgins into depravity is practically heroic in comparison.
Ben Templesmith is the mind behind Wormwood. It is a twisted and dark place. Somewhat like 30 Days of Night (of which Templesmith was the artist), it puts werewolves in a confined space and lets them loose. It also pairs them with the worst that humanity has to offer. If Templesmith were a better writer it might have been a story of which monsters to call the heroes; but he's not so it's mostly about gore and violence. Lots of both.
I didn't really like the characterisation of the werewolves in Hoxford. In my opinion he chose to ignore what can lead to interest in werewolves: pack mentality, the curse and the dichotomy between the human and the animal. Instead they were a pack of mindless killers of the same caliber as the serial murders and the rapists that populated Hoxford. I was hoping for more.
Monday, December 21, 2009
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1910
When I read The Black Dossier I complained that there were (essentially) too many words and not enough action. 1910 corrects that. It even elaborates on some of what was only hinted at in The Black Dossier and was a much more enjoyable read. I'm still running into the problem that I may have not quite read enough Victorian literature to fully appreciate Moore's narrative but I didn't feel as far out of the loop with this one. I think there was simply more narrative context for me to be able to connect the dots.
Chibi Vampire Volume 14
It's done. This book completes the story that is Chibi Vampire and I have to say... I'm a little disappointed. Sure the idea behind what Karin means to the vampire community is neat but what her family decides to do with her made me shake my head. It's nice that it's something of a happy ending in that Karin and Kenta get to live happily ever after, but to never see her family again or to even not have any memory of them? I didn't like it.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Predators and Prey
There's not much in this arc that feels connected to the other stories in the volume. It kind of feels like mid-season Buffy where there are few episodes with a tenuous connection to the season's Big Bad but mostly there for fun. I guess the theme could be that appearances may be deceiving - from Harmony's story of a reality TV vampire to what's up with Dawn. Like the mid-season of the show Predators and Prey is mostly just OK. It's getting a 3.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier
The further Alan Moore gets from the first volume of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen the less I enjoy them.
The Black Dossier is an interesting idea. Moore has written a graphic novel that reads like a government document with a bit of action in the middle. I've read a lot of government documents. They're not exactly fascinating reading. I felt that a bit too much time had passed between Volume 2 of this title and this volume. Obviously, the team had had a variety of adventures (alluded to by documents in the Dossier) but I think I would have much preferred reading the adventure than reading about it. There was just something missing from this one. It's only getting a 2 from me.
The Black Dossier is an interesting idea. Moore has written a graphic novel that reads like a government document with a bit of action in the middle. I've read a lot of government documents. They're not exactly fascinating reading. I felt that a bit too much time had passed between Volume 2 of this title and this volume. Obviously, the team had had a variety of adventures (alluded to by documents in the Dossier) but I think I would have much preferred reading the adventure than reading about it. There was just something missing from this one. It's only getting a 2 from me.
Forces of Warmachine: Retribution of Scyrah
If all the Forces of Warmachine books are going to be like The Retribution of Scyrah the next year is going to be a long wait! The background in this book is incredible. There's so much detail, from the origin of the Iosans and their gods to why they are joining the war in Immoren. The faction really seems like it belongs, that it's been created out of whole cloth and not just thrown together.
The army itself shows the advantage of creating something all at the same time. It seems to have loads of symmetry and tricks to get it to work together. I can't wait to start fielding this on the tabletop.
The army itself shows the advantage of creating something all at the same time. It seems to have loads of symmetry and tricks to get it to work together. I can't wait to start fielding this on the tabletop.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Smoke and Mirrors
Smoke and Mirrors is an anthology from Neil Gaiman. I find I enjoy anthologies because they usually contain a wide variety of stories. Gaiman is one of my favourite authors so it's a treat to read him trying out various themes and genres.
The group starts out strong with "Chivalry". A story about the Holy Grail. It illustrates one of the things I really enjoy about Gaiman's work, taking the fantastical and making it ordinary. That the Holy Grail could be found in a thrift shop gives me the same feeling as when I looked for magical lands in closets when I was a child.
It also ends strong in "Snow, Glass, Apples" which is a story of Snow White. If only Mirror Mirror been half as good. I don't normally enjoy stories written in first perspective but I think it was very effective in this story.
That's not to say that I liked everything that was in this volume. Some of it was OK ("One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock") and some I just didn't like ("When We Went to See the End of the World by Dawnie Morningside, Age 11 1/4") but the good far outweighs the bad.
The group starts out strong with "Chivalry". A story about the Holy Grail. It illustrates one of the things I really enjoy about Gaiman's work, taking the fantastical and making it ordinary. That the Holy Grail could be found in a thrift shop gives me the same feeling as when I looked for magical lands in closets when I was a child.
It also ends strong in "Snow, Glass, Apples" which is a story of Snow White. If only Mirror Mirror been half as good. I don't normally enjoy stories written in first perspective but I think it was very effective in this story.
That's not to say that I liked everything that was in this volume. Some of it was OK ("One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock") and some I just didn't like ("When We Went to See the End of the World by Dawnie Morningside, Age 11 1/4") but the good far outweighs the bad.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Vampire Knight Volume 4
I don't trust Kaname. Nope, don't trust him at all. I'm firmly in "Camp Zero".
Vampire Knight Volume 3
So this one is more about the vampire society than about Cross Academy. (And Hino doesn't feel the need to remind you every few pages that the Day Class is human and the Night Class vampire). There's also a fair bit about vampire hunters in here too which was neat.
Naruto Volume 7: Orochimaru's Curse
So that's where it's going. I kind of figured it out part way through but I'm actually interested again. Sure, this volume is another long series of fights but that's pretty much what Naruto is. I'm curious about what's behind the door.
Naruto Volume 6: The Forest of Death
Yay! Sakura's not useless!
I'm not really sure where this is going. It sort of feels like it's going somewhere but then gets sidetracked by showcasing yet another fight scene. They're good fight scenes, but it would be nice to have a little character development.
I'm not really sure where this is going. It sort of feels like it's going somewhere but then gets sidetracked by showcasing yet another fight scene. They're good fight scenes, but it would be nice to have a little character development.
Bleach Volume 8: The Blade and Me
I think this may be my favourite volume so far. It's essentially one long training montage but it does so much to open both the character of Ichigo as well as the world of Bleach.
Bleach Volume 7: The Broken Coda
Ichigo runs into something that he can't handle. I liked this one a lot. I really think that for a hero to grow they have to go through failure first. That was missing up to this point but here Kubo sends Bleach in an interesting new direction.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Lost
I was intrigued when I first started reading Lost. For one, unlike the other books by Gregory Maguire that I've read, it's set in the contemporary world. Secondly, it began by making me ask questions: Who is Winnie Rudge? Why is she here? What is she trying to accomplish? Those questions drew me in and kept me reading.
Unfortunately, none of them were really answered. The novel is full of things started and not completed. Is it supposed to be somewhat of a moral tale like A Christmas Story? Or is it more of a ghost story? I don't really know. Maguire kept building up the story of the supposed "ghost" only to tear it down and say that it was all in Winnie's imagination.
The story is interrupted by plain text that's supposed to represent Winnie's novel that she's in the midst of writing. Except that she never writes anything down so why the different text? Maguire often uses quotes from classic children's literature to let Winnie describe her surroundings or what she's thinking. It comes off as pretension and the author comparing his own work to the classics. The prose is too melodramatic to compare favourably.
In the end I was disappointed by the book. Winnie was not a likable character and I didn't like the voice of the author. The story didn't so much end as peter out.
Unfortunately, none of them were really answered. The novel is full of things started and not completed. Is it supposed to be somewhat of a moral tale like A Christmas Story? Or is it more of a ghost story? I don't really know. Maguire kept building up the story of the supposed "ghost" only to tear it down and say that it was all in Winnie's imagination.
The story is interrupted by plain text that's supposed to represent Winnie's novel that she's in the midst of writing. Except that she never writes anything down so why the different text? Maguire often uses quotes from classic children's literature to let Winnie describe her surroundings or what she's thinking. It comes off as pretension and the author comparing his own work to the classics. The prose is too melodramatic to compare favourably.
In the end I was disappointed by the book. Winnie was not a likable character and I didn't like the voice of the author. The story didn't so much end as peter out.
The Indianna Jones Handbook
How can one resist a book that advertises how to avoid the wrath of God?
Sure, the book is written as a joke but there's actually some handy tips in it. Not tips that you could use everyday but the kind that impress at cocktail parties. I had a good laugh reading it and that's what I was looking for.
Sure, the book is written as a joke but there's actually some handy tips in it. Not tips that you could use everyday but the kind that impress at cocktail parties. I had a good laugh reading it and that's what I was looking for.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Lost Journal of Indiana Jones
OK, I'm a fan girl. I can admit it.
This was a cute book. It made me laugh with the inside jokes and I could appreciate how it was put together. It includes snippets from all four movies, the television show and even some of the novels, comics and video games. In short, if Indy did it, it's here. I like how it was put together as an actual journal, fake leather cover and elastic complete. The pages are all "hand written", sometimes with typed notes by the "Russians" and the pictures are clipped and "taped" in. It was a fun read.
This was a cute book. It made me laugh with the inside jokes and I could appreciate how it was put together. It includes snippets from all four movies, the television show and even some of the novels, comics and video games. In short, if Indy did it, it's here. I like how it was put together as an actual journal, fake leather cover and elastic complete. The pages are all "hand written", sometimes with typed notes by the "Russians" and the pictures are clipped and "taped" in. It was a fun read.
Mirror Mirror
I liked Wicked, I even liked Son of a Witch. Then I started moving into Gregory Maguire's fairy tales. I liked Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister but Mirror Mirror? Not so much.
First, I'm not a big fan of historical fiction. I like stories written as if they were historical fiction, I just don't like being expected to know any actual history. It's not one of my subjects. So when Mirror Mirror drapes itself around events of 16th century Italy I have no clue what's going on. I know something of the Borgias (in that I recognise the name) but I couldn't tell you what they meant to the politico-social environment of Italy. I would have had to do research to read this book. Maybe I'll pass it on to my husband. He's a history buff.
Second, the fantastical makes a much greater appearance here than it did in Maguire's other works. Mirror Mirror is the story of Snow White so we're expecting to see dwarves and poison apples and maybe a prince. The dwarves were much more mythological than I was expecting. It was sort of interesting but I think they fell flat in that they had no real personality. They were just something that happened and not a part of the story. They were Maguire's deux ex machina when he'd written himself into a corner.
The search for the Apple from the Tree of Knowledge was an unnecessary subplot. Why go to the trouble of setting up Lucrezia as a poisoner when she was going to poison a mystical Apple? Why set up the Apple as mystical if Lucrezia was just going to poison one?
This one was a disappointment. I'm giving it a 2.
First, I'm not a big fan of historical fiction. I like stories written as if they were historical fiction, I just don't like being expected to know any actual history. It's not one of my subjects. So when Mirror Mirror drapes itself around events of 16th century Italy I have no clue what's going on. I know something of the Borgias (in that I recognise the name) but I couldn't tell you what they meant to the politico-social environment of Italy. I would have had to do research to read this book. Maybe I'll pass it on to my husband. He's a history buff.
Second, the fantastical makes a much greater appearance here than it did in Maguire's other works. Mirror Mirror is the story of Snow White so we're expecting to see dwarves and poison apples and maybe a prince. The dwarves were much more mythological than I was expecting. It was sort of interesting but I think they fell flat in that they had no real personality. They were just something that happened and not a part of the story. They were Maguire's deux ex machina when he'd written himself into a corner.
The search for the Apple from the Tree of Knowledge was an unnecessary subplot. Why go to the trouble of setting up Lucrezia as a poisoner when she was going to poison a mystical Apple? Why set up the Apple as mystical if Lucrezia was just going to poison one?
This one was a disappointment. I'm giving it a 2.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Empowered Volume 5
This volume of Empowered was sort of all over the place. I would have thought that with the end of Volume 4 that Emp would have a little more confidence and a little more backbone. Nope. She's back to being very needy. This volume focuses more on the supporting cast than it does on Empowered herself but the only story I really liked was the last one.
The last story in the volume was very powerful and I'd like to see more of this in future volumes. It was touching and funny and cool. Sure, the Caged Demonwolf is always amusing but Emp overcoming is a better story.
I'll give it a 3.
The last story in the volume was very powerful and I'd like to see more of this in future volumes. It was touching and funny and cool. Sure, the Caged Demonwolf is always amusing but Emp overcoming is a better story.
I'll give it a 3.
Vampire Knight Volume 2
Yuki's supposed to be cool right? I mean, she's leaping off buildings and standing up to vampires on school grounds but then when she's actually confronted it's up to Kaname or Zero to save her. I hope that Hino decides where she'd like her heroine to fall before too long. It's hard to like a character that comes across so helpless when she's not supposed to be.
There's a couple of scenes in this one that were a little... well, creepy. Kaname's possession of Yuki when she and Zero visit the Moon Dormitory and the scene between Zero and Yuki where she offers to help him. Both illustrate the relationship that Yuki has with these two characters and both show what she is willing to give of herself.
This one gets a 3.
There's a couple of scenes in this one that were a little... well, creepy. Kaname's possession of Yuki when she and Zero visit the Moon Dormitory and the scene between Zero and Yuki where she offers to help him. Both illustrate the relationship that Yuki has with these two characters and both show what she is willing to give of herself.
This one gets a 3.
Vampire Knight Volume 1
So I've been reading Bleach and Naruto. My husband has been trying to get me to read Vampire Knight. It's not at all what I expected. It's a bit more... girly?
I did enjoy the first volume though. I'm not fond of the repetition of the set up. Yes, it's a private academy where the Day Class needs to be separated from the Night Class. Yes, the Night Class is made up of vampires and it's Yuki's job to keep their secret. After the first couple of times I got the concept.
The art is amazingly detailed, although I do find it hard to tell some of the characters apart. Some of the guys look all the same in their beauty. I like Zero, I hope he "wins" and I feel for Kain, no one should have to put up with Aido.
I'll give it a 5.
I did enjoy the first volume though. I'm not fond of the repetition of the set up. Yes, it's a private academy where the Day Class needs to be separated from the Night Class. Yes, the Night Class is made up of vampires and it's Yuki's job to keep their secret. After the first couple of times I got the concept.
The art is amazingly detailed, although I do find it hard to tell some of the characters apart. Some of the guys look all the same in their beauty. I like Zero, I hope he "wins" and I feel for Kain, no one should have to put up with Aido.
I'll give it a 5.
Naruto Volume 5: The Challengers
How do you follow the massive battle sequence that was Volume 4? With a test of ninja skills obviously! A written test of ninja skills is a little less expected. I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy this volume as much as I actually did but Kishimoto was able to build up the narrative into a satisfying pay off. Naruto's speech about question 10 had me laughing out loud. Now I can't wait to see how they'll fare in the second part of the exam.
I'm giving it a 4.
I'm giving it a 4.
Naruto Volume 4: The Next Level
Massive fight scence. Massive. The end move Kakashi attempts was just brutal.
Naruto's strength is not that he's the best ninja ever, and I'm not convinced he'll ever be a ninja master, his strength is in what he'll do for his friends. When he puts others before himself he can tap into some raw power. He was willing to do what was needed to avenge Sasuke, even though he doesn't really like him. I think if the three of them (Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura) can actually work together as a team they'd be quite the force.
I'll give it a 4.
Naruto's strength is not that he's the best ninja ever, and I'm not convinced he'll ever be a ninja master, his strength is in what he'll do for his friends. When he puts others before himself he can tap into some raw power. He was willing to do what was needed to avenge Sasuke, even though he doesn't really like him. I think if the three of them (Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura) can actually work together as a team they'd be quite the force.
I'll give it a 4.
Bleach Volume 6: The Death Triology Overature
This is what happens when teenage boys are given awesome cosmic powers. They have to have some kind of big contest to determine who is the better fighter and all that happens is that the fabric of the universe starts to unravel. Pretty typical really. I did like how Ichigo tried to settle future interactions.
I'm giving it a 4.
I'm giving it a 4.
Bleach Volume 5: Right Arm of the Giant
Apparently, there are a lot of people in the Bleach universe with paranormal abilities. Chad' is kind of interesting, Orihime's is kind of odd and Karin's is sort of expected. I like that the supporting characters are getting a chance to do something more than support Ichigo but I'm not sure if there should be this many characters running around with special abilities. I'm still enjoying the story though so I'll give it a 4.
Hordes: Metamorphosis
Hordes: Metamorphosis is the latest expansion of Privateer Press' Hordes line of miniature battle. The story progresses (although I wish Circle's role was a little more than the faction to get beat around) and I'm intrigued as to where it's headed. I understand what Kreuger was thinking when he went to see Blighterghast but I don't think he really thought out the consequences.
Skorne was the big winner in Metamorphosis. Pretty much everything they got was full of win. The other factions got nifty stuff too, but Skorne got the best.
The Minion warlocks are an interesting idea. I like the variety and that they can't command their own faction. I think it maintains the flavour of Hordes.
The only real complaint I have about Metamorphosis is that it came out too close to Mark II. Morraig, Circle's dragoon, will be out for all of a month before he undergoes rule changes with the field test. I'm excited for the changes that Mark II will bring. I just wish I had more time to play with him before he changes.
I'll give this one a 3.
Skorne was the big winner in Metamorphosis. Pretty much everything they got was full of win. The other factions got nifty stuff too, but Skorne got the best.
The Minion warlocks are an interesting idea. I like the variety and that they can't command their own faction. I think it maintains the flavour of Hordes.
The only real complaint I have about Metamorphosis is that it came out too close to Mark II. Morraig, Circle's dragoon, will be out for all of a month before he undergoes rule changes with the field test. I'm excited for the changes that Mark II will bring. I just wish I had more time to play with him before he changes.
I'll give this one a 3.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Nightwing: Love and War
I wanted to like this one, I really did. Marv Wolfman created Nightwing he should know how to write him, but he missed. While I liked the running commentary from the hero, I liked seeing into his mind, it's Nightwing's nature that his mouth and his brain are in motion as much as his body, I didn't like way the story was handled.
Nightwing is still a vigilante trained by Batman. I found that too much of the story took place in daylight, or that Nightwing spent time with the people he helped. I don't mind that he continued helping them. I mind that he did it in costume, in broad daylight.
It was an OK mystery story, with an OK ending, but there were big holes in the narrative where something was just missing. The second story in the volume had little connection to the first. The first hadn't really been concluded when Wolfman moved onto the second.
Bruce Wayne was only part of the story for a few panels but was done poorly while he was there. He would never had a Batman/Nightwing conversation as Bruce Wayne/Dick Grayson, and certainly not in the middle of a party. He had a Batman conversation as Bruce Wayne, saying things as he would when he's playing the billionaire playboy.
All in all, I was disappointed. I can only give it a 2.
Nightwing is still a vigilante trained by Batman. I found that too much of the story took place in daylight, or that Nightwing spent time with the people he helped. I don't mind that he continued helping them. I mind that he did it in costume, in broad daylight.
It was an OK mystery story, with an OK ending, but there were big holes in the narrative where something was just missing. The second story in the volume had little connection to the first. The first hadn't really been concluded when Wolfman moved onto the second.
Bruce Wayne was only part of the story for a few panels but was done poorly while he was there. He would never had a Batman/Nightwing conversation as Bruce Wayne/Dick Grayson, and certainly not in the middle of a party. He had a Batman conversation as Bruce Wayne, saying things as he would when he's playing the billionaire playboy.
All in all, I was disappointed. I can only give it a 2.
Manga Sutra Volume 3: Intercourse
There's a lot of humour in the Manga Sutra, really, it's a sex guide written as manga. Beyond that the relationship between the main characters just seems real. I think that's what makes it so much fun to read; these are people with whom the reader can identify. The supporting cast gets to be the caricatures that are so commonly seen in manga, but Makoto and Yura have a lot of reality in them.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Time of Your Life
I've read Fray, and I've wondered how Joss Whedon might rationalise going from a universe where all Slayer potentials were activated to one where there's not been a Slayer for centuries. I thought it was probably going to be one of those things that could be chalked up to inconsistent universe but it looks like he might actually thought of how he might reconcile the two.
I wasn't expecting time travel from Buffy. Time travel is always a tricky story. At least in Time of Your Life it's presented in a halfway believable fashion in that it happens because it's already happened.
The big reveal was supposed to be a big surprise, but I wasn't. I thought the story line was rushed along a little and I probably should have reread Fray before reading this one. It was good, but still just OK. It's a 3 for me.
I wasn't expecting time travel from Buffy. Time travel is always a tricky story. At least in Time of Your Life it's presented in a halfway believable fashion in that it happens because it's already happened.
The big reveal was supposed to be a big surprise, but I wasn't. I thought the story line was rushed along a little and I probably should have reread Fray before reading this one. It was good, but still just OK. It's a 3 for me.
Naruto Volume 3: Bridge of Courage
This has been my favourite so far. The training sequence, the strengths and weakness of the junior ninjas of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura and, of course, the battle and where it brings Naruto. I especially liked that Kishimoto actually gave something to Sakura. In the first two volumes she's simply the cute girl that has a crush on Sasuke and who Naruto has a crush on but in Bridge of Courage she gets to be better than the boys at something and is given a more active role.
My only complaint is that it ends on a cliff hanger.
I'm giving this one a 5.
My only complaint is that it ends on a cliff hanger.
I'm giving this one a 5.
Naruto Volume 2: The Worst Client
I enjoyed the first Naruto volume to pick up the second. I'm glad I did. The Worst Client is an improvement over the first volume. The background is becoming more fleshed out and it's beginning to feel like a "real" world. Kishimoto is slowly building a mythology and I'm interested to see where it's going.
I'll give this one a 4.
I'll give this one a 4.
Bleach Volume 4: Quincy Archer Hates You
There seem to be a lot of people in the Bleach universe that can see ghosts. I'm not sure if I like that. I did like the character of the medium, Don Kanonji, he made me laugh. And I enjoyed the discussion of what a hero is and what a hero does. Ichigo is growing into being a hero.
I'm giving this one a 4.
I'm giving this one a 4.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Bleach Volume 3: Memories in the Rain
And now Ichigo has a purpose. The first two volumes he was a Soul Reaper because he had to be, here he becomes one because he wants to be. There's a bit more background into his character and the classic tragedy that most heroes have to live through. I'm excited to keep reading to see how things progress.
I'll give it a 5.
I'll give it a 5.
Hordes: Evolution
Evolution is the first expansion of the Hordes system from Privateer Press. It's adds a couple of new warlocks for each faction, unit attachments, cavalry and weapon crews. It added things that I use for nearly every build. I still think Primal has the better 'locks but there are some things in this book that I hate to leave out due to lack of points.
I'll give it a 4.
I'll give it a 4.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire takes the story of Cinderella and tells it from one of the stepsister's point of view. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella so, in a sense, I already knew how the story would end but I found it entertaining to delve into the motivations of the characters. What made the evil stepmother evil? How ugly were the stepsisters? How did Cinderella end up in the ashes.
There's no fairy godmother in this story. No mice and birds to help the girl get to the ball. It's historical fiction, set in Holland, and trying to stay as close to the story as possible. I liked Iris, the ugly stepsister, and I wanted her to end up with her "happily ever after".
The only complaint I have is that it's written in present tense. Novels that do that always confuse me a little. It doesn't have the sense of immediacy that I expect it's supposed to have. In third person present form it doesn't flow very well for me.
I'm giving it a 4.
There's no fairy godmother in this story. No mice and birds to help the girl get to the ball. It's historical fiction, set in Holland, and trying to stay as close to the story as possible. I liked Iris, the ugly stepsister, and I wanted her to end up with her "happily ever after".
The only complaint I have is that it's written in present tense. Novels that do that always confuse me a little. It doesn't have the sense of immediacy that I expect it's supposed to have. In third person present form it doesn't flow very well for me.
I'm giving it a 4.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Naruto Volume 1
This is the second super-popular manga I decided to start. It's currently on volume 35 or something. I don't know if I'll stick with it that long but I enjoyed the first one.
Naruto is about a young, incompetent ninja who wants to be one of the greats. He's brash, a prankster and not that talented but I think that's mostly him holding himself back. He's much more sympathetic than I thought he would be.
Naruto is also the world of an evolving artist. It was never intended to be a long running manga, and there are indications of that in the writing. Sometimes it feels like Kishimoto is just making stuff up as he goes along. Still, I liked it enough that I want to keep reading. I'm giving it a 4.
Naruto is about a young, incompetent ninja who wants to be one of the greats. He's brash, a prankster and not that talented but I think that's mostly him holding himself back. He's much more sympathetic than I thought he would be.
Naruto is also the world of an evolving artist. It was never intended to be a long running manga, and there are indications of that in the writing. Sometimes it feels like Kishimoto is just making stuff up as he goes along. Still, I liked it enough that I want to keep reading. I'm giving it a 4.
Bleach Volume 2
In Bleach Volume 2 Kubo continues to expand his world. The Parakeet story was a little harder to follow but still kept me interested. The character list is growing and I worry that there might soon be too many to keep track of. I'm still giving it a 5.
Bleach Volume 1
I admit it. I've fallen to the dark side and started not one, but two, of the most popular and longest running manga series. The first step is admitting the problem...
Bleach is about a boy, who can see ghosts and is then conscripted as a Soul Reaper. The world is rich and Kubo is doing a good job so far about drawing the reader into the culture that he's created. I like both Ichigo and Rukia and I want to find out more about what happens to them.
I'll give it a 5.
Bleach is about a boy, who can see ghosts and is then conscripted as a Soul Reaper. The world is rich and Kubo is doing a good job so far about drawing the reader into the culture that he's created. I like both Ichigo and Rukia and I want to find out more about what happens to them.
I'll give it a 5.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Chibi Vampire Volume 13
So that's why Karen is the way she is. I have a couple of ideas of where the story could end up in the final volume. I didn't really see the events of volume so I could be completely wrong. I like that this can surprise me. I keep expecting certain things of this fluff and it keeps proving me wrong. I'm giving it a 4.
Hedge Knight II Sworn Sword
There's so much background in this story that it's almost like it's not about Dunk at all. Hedge Knight II Sworn Sword is as much about the world and it's history as it is about the main character and the primary story that is being told. It makes the story feel real.
There's something about Dunk that really makes me want to root for him. He's not the smartest man. Any decision he does come to is after a long an labourious process. He's not the most eloquent man. He often doesn't know what words to say. What he is is noble. Not in the sense of the man he's sworn his sword to, or in the sense of his rival Ser Lucas. Dunk has a sense of what it is to be loyal and how to do the right thing. Even when he doesn't have all the tools to follow his sense through.
I'm giving it a 4.
There's something about Dunk that really makes me want to root for him. He's not the smartest man. Any decision he does come to is after a long an labourious process. He's not the most eloquent man. He often doesn't know what words to say. What he is is noble. Not in the sense of the man he's sworn his sword to, or in the sense of his rival Ser Lucas. Dunk has a sense of what it is to be loyal and how to do the right thing. Even when he doesn't have all the tools to follow his sense through.
I'm giving it a 4.
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Guide to Owning a Red-Eared Slider
After I'd read Turtles and Tortoises I was pretty sure that I wanted to get him a Red-Eared Slider. They're fairly common, not extremely fussy and still a nice turtle.
The Guide to Owning a Red-eared Slider is exactly what it says it is. It's well-laid out, provides simple, yet good, information. I feel that I can not only make an informed choice of turtle but that we'll be able to take care of it. It gets a 4 from me. Only because I would have liked a little less information on breeding and a little more information on tank set-up.
The Guide to Owning a Red-eared Slider is exactly what it says it is. It's well-laid out, provides simple, yet good, information. I feel that I can not only make an informed choice of turtle but that we'll be able to take care of it. It gets a 4 from me. Only because I would have liked a little less information on breeding and a little more information on tank set-up.
Turtles and Tortoises
My 5 year old will soon be turning 6 and would like a pet of his own. He's fascinated with turtles and they seem like a pet that he'll be able to look after without too much help from his parents. However, it's still going to be a living creature and I think that if one is undertaking the responsibility of a pet that one should be as prepared as possible. I don't want to just throw a turtle in a tank and hope for the best.
Turtles and Tortoises is a great little book. It's easy to read and packed full of useful information for the beginner. It not only helps with setting up a turtle habitat, but helps in choosing the species and tips for down the road with turtle maintenance. It's a 5.
Turtles and Tortoises is a great little book. It's easy to read and packed full of useful information for the beginner. It not only helps with setting up a turtle habitat, but helps in choosing the species and tips for down the road with turtle maintenance. It's a 5.
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 21 War of the Symbiotes
Another Ultimate Spider-Man, another story about clones. Ho hum. I liked War of the Symbiotes but there seemed to be something missing. Or maybe there was just too much plot stuffed into too small a package. I absolutely loved the bits with Eddie talking to people on the park bench. You knew where it was going but the anticipation was built up fabulously. The inner monologue of Peter when he was swallowed by the Venom suit was also fantastic. It gave a great sense that he wasn't in control.
Unfortunately, I think the Gwen Stacy moments and the Ultimates and Carnage were just a bit too much to cram into the one volume. The story didn't really seem developed and felt like it was in a rush to get somewhere. I'm also not that fond of Silver Sable and her Syndicate. They were almost as unnecessary as the Beetle. This volume suffered from too many villains syndrome so I can only give it a 3.
Unfortunately, I think the Gwen Stacy moments and the Ultimates and Carnage were just a bit too much to cram into the one volume. The story didn't really seem developed and felt like it was in a rush to get somewhere. I'm also not that fond of Silver Sable and her Syndicate. They were almost as unnecessary as the Beetle. This volume suffered from too many villains syndrome so I can only give it a 3.
Hordes: Primal
My husband had been trying to get me into Privateer Press' Warmachine for a while. We play miniature war games together but mostly just those from Games Workshop. I have no interest in giant robots. I just don't like them, they're in the same category as power armour. Monsters on the other hand... As soon as I saw the Warpwolf I was hooked.
Hordes: Primal is the first book released for Hordes. There's been two more at this point but I think Primal still has some of the best stuff for the game. It details the four factions: Skorne, Trollbloods, Circle Orboros and Legion of Everblight. My faction is Circle. I just like the druid background and all the models.
It's a great game. Most of the time you can get a game finished in about an hour or two, sometimes even faster. The rules are fast and brutal and reward those willing to take a chance. The background is deep and interesting. I find myself reading the rule book and wondering what's going to happen next.
I'll give this one a 5.
Hordes: Primal is the first book released for Hordes. There's been two more at this point but I think Primal still has some of the best stuff for the game. It details the four factions: Skorne, Trollbloods, Circle Orboros and Legion of Everblight. My faction is Circle. I just like the druid background and all the models.
It's a great game. Most of the time you can get a game finished in about an hour or two, sometimes even faster. The rules are fast and brutal and reward those willing to take a chance. The background is deep and interesting. I find myself reading the rule book and wondering what's going to happen next.
I'll give this one a 5.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Ultra: Seven Days
If Sex and the City had been about superheroes, it would have looked like Ultra: Seven Days.
I like Johnathon Luna's art syle. I liked the fake magazine covers for each chapter and I liked the detail that went into some of the panals (the article about Pearl's one night stand is visible in the panel that she first reads it. It's easier to read in the full spread, but possible to read in the panel).
I liked Joshua Luna's writing style. He was able to write strong women characters without having them be bitches if he didn't want them to be. I liked that there were people in the world that were heroes because it was the right thing to do. I can see them being celebrities and I can see them having to belong to some kind of organisation but it was a pleasant change after reading Watchmen.
Some of it is horribly cliched, but that's almost to be expected in a superhero book that's mocking the heroes. Having to have thier plot happen in seven days ultimately turned into something of a handicap. I felt they could have used a few more chapters to really polish the story. I'm giving it a 3.
I like Johnathon Luna's art syle. I liked the fake magazine covers for each chapter and I liked the detail that went into some of the panals (the article about Pearl's one night stand is visible in the panel that she first reads it. It's easier to read in the full spread, but possible to read in the panel).
I liked Joshua Luna's writing style. He was able to write strong women characters without having them be bitches if he didn't want them to be. I liked that there were people in the world that were heroes because it was the right thing to do. I can see them being celebrities and I can see them having to belong to some kind of organisation but it was a pleasant change after reading Watchmen.
Some of it is horribly cliched, but that's almost to be expected in a superhero book that's mocking the heroes. Having to have thier plot happen in seven days ultimately turned into something of a handicap. I felt they could have used a few more chapters to really polish the story. I'm giving it a 3.
Witchblade Takeru Manga
A girl and a sword and a demon. Witchblade Takeru sounds like something I'd enjoy so my husband recommended that I read it. It wasn't bad.
The art by Kazasa Sumita really was stunning (if a little over-eroticised but that just might be a difference in culture) and the story was OK. I thought that Kobayashi needed more time to tell it though.
Some of the events seemed to be squashed into place. If a chapter ended with a cliffhanging revelation (which they often did) it was resolved quickly and usually by explaining that the character had either been lied to of they'd heard it wrong. Some of the characters didn't make sense: the librarian, Takeru's friend and the president especially. The relationship between Kou and Takeru was more more interesting and I felt that he could have dealt with that more before jumping into demon killing action. Just as we got to know the characters the whole thing was over. I was a little disappointed.
I'll give this one a 3. OK, but not great.
The art by Kazasa Sumita really was stunning (if a little over-eroticised but that just might be a difference in culture) and the story was OK. I thought that Kobayashi needed more time to tell it though.
Some of the events seemed to be squashed into place. If a chapter ended with a cliffhanging revelation (which they often did) it was resolved quickly and usually by explaining that the character had either been lied to of they'd heard it wrong. Some of the characters didn't make sense: the librarian, Takeru's friend and the president especially. The relationship between Kou and Takeru was more more interesting and I felt that he could have dealt with that more before jumping into demon killing action. Just as we got to know the characters the whole thing was over. I was a little disappointed.
I'll give this one a 3. OK, but not great.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Rage: Forsaken Player's Guide
I loved Werewolf the Apocalypse when White Wolf decided to change the World of Darkness and reboot things I hesitated. I still have trouble wrapping my mind around what's expected of characters as Forsaken rather than Garou but reading The Rage, I finally stopped trying to fit Forsaken into what I knew about the Apocalypse but actually read them as Forsaken.
The book is divided into three sections, Tribes, Rules and Setting. The setting was interesting, not sure if it's something I'd incorporate into a game but maybe taking portions of the ideas presented to add colour to NPCs would be fun. The rules sections suffers the problems of all attempts to add merits, flaws and gifts to the main rules. Some of them are too powerful and some try to take the place of something that already works. New Gifts I tend to just toss and new merits and flaws often need pretty good reasoning from my players to make their way into the campaign. The first section was the most useful.
The tribal section did a really good job of not only expanding the information on the tribes but of also filling out the roles of werewolves within the tribes. I could come up with ideas for every tribe and auspice available in the game. Before I was having trouble coming up with one character idea as none of the tribes were very appealing to me. If I were starting a new campaign I'd have my players read this section to just help them come up with ideas.
Unfortunately this book didn't answer some basic questions I had about the world. How does a werewolf choose a tribe? Are the tribes represented fairly equally in any given area? Do the tribes come together for grand conferences when a new werewolf is newly changed. Is a werewolf a Ghost Wolf automatically for a time before choosing a tribe or is there a "grace period" while he or she is initiated into the culture?
The book gave me better ideas on how the world worked, but it didn't give me quite what I expected so I'll give it a 3.
The book is divided into three sections, Tribes, Rules and Setting. The setting was interesting, not sure if it's something I'd incorporate into a game but maybe taking portions of the ideas presented to add colour to NPCs would be fun. The rules sections suffers the problems of all attempts to add merits, flaws and gifts to the main rules. Some of them are too powerful and some try to take the place of something that already works. New Gifts I tend to just toss and new merits and flaws often need pretty good reasoning from my players to make their way into the campaign. The first section was the most useful.
The tribal section did a really good job of not only expanding the information on the tribes but of also filling out the roles of werewolves within the tribes. I could come up with ideas for every tribe and auspice available in the game. Before I was having trouble coming up with one character idea as none of the tribes were very appealing to me. If I were starting a new campaign I'd have my players read this section to just help them come up with ideas.
Unfortunately this book didn't answer some basic questions I had about the world. How does a werewolf choose a tribe? Are the tribes represented fairly equally in any given area? Do the tribes come together for grand conferences when a new werewolf is newly changed. Is a werewolf a Ghost Wolf automatically for a time before choosing a tribe or is there a "grace period" while he or she is initiated into the culture?
The book gave me better ideas on how the world worked, but it didn't give me quite what I expected so I'll give it a 3.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Dark Knight Returns
When I read Watchmen I said there were certain graphic novels that really changed the way the comics industry looked at itself. Watchmen was one Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns is the other. This looks at some of the themes that Moore played with in Watchmen, like what if the world no longer needed superheroes and what would these superheroes do if they weren't needed but does it much better than Moore did. I didn't like Watchmen because I didn't like the heroes. Miller does a much better job of reminding his readers that we do like Batman, and even Commissioner Gordon whose story sort of parallels that of the superhero.
I had a couple of problems: Batman quitting and Robin.
I just can't imagine Batman quitting if he felt his city still needed him. If there was a government mandate, he'd ignore it. I didn't get the impression that he'd been forced into retirement, but that the other heroes had convinced him to retire after political events. His retirement only serves to make his return more memorable. When his city needs him he's there; older, slower and a little on the worse for wear side but he's there and he's still the best they've got.
Batman without Robin is always a little bit off for me. I really think he needs the sidekick to keep him human and to keep him from spiraling into obsession, however, I don't think Robin served in this story. I would have preferred maybe a return of the original over the creation of a new. The problem is with the creation. Dick had a great beginning. He had the whole parents killed connection with Bruce and he had the skills because he was a circus acrobat. When he left and they gave us the Jason Robin it was a disappointment. In the original origin he was a copy of Dick. That doesn't work. Then he was a street kid who tried to steel the Batmobile's wheels. Batman admired his moxy, pitied his circumstances and made him Robin. Remember how that turned out? Finally, there's the Tim Robin. He's original. He's more of a detective; tracking down Batman by figuring out that Nightwing was Robin and was Dick Grayson. He got that Batman needed a Robin to keep him level. That brings me to the new Robin. Carrie is more of a Jason Robin. She thinks it's cool that Batman has returned and gets a Robin costume on a whim. She reminds me of a Jason Robin. It just didn't work for me.
I did like how Miller introduced Superman. First with the American flag resolving into the Superman symbol on his chest and then from his POV from on high. The relationship between him and Batman was great. They've been friends for a long time, but their ideals do not mesh. A showdown between the two of them was inevitable.
Relationships actually play into The Dark Knight Returns more than I thought they would. The Bruce/Gordon relationship, where it's obvious that Bruce revealed himself as Batman somewhere in their history together. And Alfred. Alfred had some great moments in this book. They revolved around his relationship with Bruce, Batman and even the whole Wayne family. I thought he was written really well.
This one gets a 5 from me.
I had a couple of problems: Batman quitting and Robin.
I just can't imagine Batman quitting if he felt his city still needed him. If there was a government mandate, he'd ignore it. I didn't get the impression that he'd been forced into retirement, but that the other heroes had convinced him to retire after political events. His retirement only serves to make his return more memorable. When his city needs him he's there; older, slower and a little on the worse for wear side but he's there and he's still the best they've got.
Batman without Robin is always a little bit off for me. I really think he needs the sidekick to keep him human and to keep him from spiraling into obsession, however, I don't think Robin served in this story. I would have preferred maybe a return of the original over the creation of a new. The problem is with the creation. Dick had a great beginning. He had the whole parents killed connection with Bruce and he had the skills because he was a circus acrobat. When he left and they gave us the Jason Robin it was a disappointment. In the original origin he was a copy of Dick. That doesn't work. Then he was a street kid who tried to steel the Batmobile's wheels. Batman admired his moxy, pitied his circumstances and made him Robin. Remember how that turned out? Finally, there's the Tim Robin. He's original. He's more of a detective; tracking down Batman by figuring out that Nightwing was Robin and was Dick Grayson. He got that Batman needed a Robin to keep him level. That brings me to the new Robin. Carrie is more of a Jason Robin. She thinks it's cool that Batman has returned and gets a Robin costume on a whim. She reminds me of a Jason Robin. It just didn't work for me.
I did like how Miller introduced Superman. First with the American flag resolving into the Superman symbol on his chest and then from his POV from on high. The relationship between him and Batman was great. They've been friends for a long time, but their ideals do not mesh. A showdown between the two of them was inevitable.
Relationships actually play into The Dark Knight Returns more than I thought they would. The Bruce/Gordon relationship, where it's obvious that Bruce revealed himself as Batman somewhere in their history together. And Alfred. Alfred had some great moments in this book. They revolved around his relationship with Bruce, Batman and even the whole Wayne family. I thought he was written really well.
This one gets a 5 from me.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Chibi Vampire Volume 12
Wow! Stuff happens again. I have to admit I assumed Chibi Vampire was like Ranma where things are the way they are "just because" and they were unlikely to change. Instead, Kagesaki is hinting that there's something special about Karin's condition.
This one's getting a 4.
This one's getting a 4.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Watchmen
There are some comics that come along and challenge the genre. They make the jump from simple entertainment and become literature. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons is one of those comics. In fact, it's probably one of two that really made people believe that comics could be more than simple entertainment.
Watchmen takes place in a world where superheroes are reality. Not like the DC universe or the Marvel universe but like if I opened the paper this morning and was unsurprised to find that a masked vigilante had stopped a bank robbery yesterday. It's an interesting idea, it certainly is played out often enough, but it's not one that I like. Maybe I'm just naive but I like stories where people put on the costumes because it's the "right thing to do". I like when they're treated like heroes, not bought or sponsored or compared to deviants. It's part of the reason I like DC better than Marvel.
It took me a while to actually sit down and write something out for Watchmen. I sort of feel like it deserves a much better review than I want to give it. I liked the articles between chapters, I felt it added a lot to the world that Moore was trying to create. I liked the subplot pirate story that Moore included. It not only showed what people were reading for fun in a world that had superheroes, it was also a companion tale to the story. The two were exploring the same themes but in different genres. Although, I wanted a different artist for the pirate comic, or different colouring, to really set it apart from the main story.
As for the story itself, I almost hate to say it this way, but I think it made more of an impact in 1985 than it would in 2009. The "post 9/11" world isn't as focused on nuclear annihilation as we were back in the 80s and I can't see the world reacting to the disaster as Moore writes it. It just seemed to lack something.
So, here's my problem, I kind of just felt that it was OK. I'd like to give it a 3, but I also recognise that it really changed a lot of things about comics, who read them and why, and allowed for greater creativity in what a lot of people think of as a pretty narrow genre. So, for the strength of literature I'll give it a 4.
Watchmen takes place in a world where superheroes are reality. Not like the DC universe or the Marvel universe but like if I opened the paper this morning and was unsurprised to find that a masked vigilante had stopped a bank robbery yesterday. It's an interesting idea, it certainly is played out often enough, but it's not one that I like. Maybe I'm just naive but I like stories where people put on the costumes because it's the "right thing to do". I like when they're treated like heroes, not bought or sponsored or compared to deviants. It's part of the reason I like DC better than Marvel.
It took me a while to actually sit down and write something out for Watchmen. I sort of feel like it deserves a much better review than I want to give it. I liked the articles between chapters, I felt it added a lot to the world that Moore was trying to create. I liked the subplot pirate story that Moore included. It not only showed what people were reading for fun in a world that had superheroes, it was also a companion tale to the story. The two were exploring the same themes but in different genres. Although, I wanted a different artist for the pirate comic, or different colouring, to really set it apart from the main story.
As for the story itself, I almost hate to say it this way, but I think it made more of an impact in 1985 than it would in 2009. The "post 9/11" world isn't as focused on nuclear annihilation as we were back in the 80s and I can't see the world reacting to the disaster as Moore writes it. It just seemed to lack something.
So, here's my problem, I kind of just felt that it was OK. I'd like to give it a 3, but I also recognise that it really changed a lot of things about comics, who read them and why, and allowed for greater creativity in what a lot of people think of as a pretty narrow genre. So, for the strength of literature I'll give it a 4.
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