June 28, 2020 Johanna First Second Leave a comment

Maker Comics: Grow a Garden!

The purpose of the Maker Comics line is admirable: to teach readers essential or entertaining skills in illustrated form. Unfortunately, while I was very interested in the topic, Maker Comics: Grow a Garden! by Alexis Frederick-Frost was the first series entry that disappointed me. It’s overwhelming. There’s too much background information provided too technically. Instead of feeling encouraged, as though I could try these processes myself (as I did after reading Maker Comics: Fix a Car!), I was frightened away. […]

June 28, 2020 Johanna Other Prose Leave a comment

Young Charlotte, Filmmaker

I was reminded how much I enjoyed Frank Viva’s work during a recent re-read of A Trip to the Bottom of the World With Mouse, so I thought I’d check out some of his other picture books. I should have done that earlier, since Young Charlotte, Filmmaker was perfect for me. Produced by The Museum of Modern Art in New York, it’s the story of a young woman who adores black and white and makes her own movies. Sometimes she’s […]

June 27, 2020 Johanna Comic Book Films Leave a comment

LEGO DC Shazam! Magic & Monsters

LEGO DC Shazam! Magic & Monsters is the latest original animated film blending two major brands, following in the path of Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash, Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis, and of course, Lego Batman. (And boy, I’m glad they’ve streamlined the titles.) This is great family viewing for a lazy afternoon (and aren’t most of them these days?), even if I did drift off a bit during the final big fight. It’s […]

June 24, 2020 Johanna Manga News Leave a comment

Another Cells at Work Spinoff Coming

Boy, Cells at Work is its own little franchise, isn’t it? Makes sense — we’re all curious about how bodies work, and anthropomorphizing the functions and processes gives it all a sense of adventure (and in many cases with these series, fan service). In addition to the original manga by Akane Shimizu, Kodansha Comics has released in English Cells at Work! Code Black (about a guy with more adult problems, by Shigemitsu Harada and Issei Hatsuyoshiya) and two even more […]

June 23, 2020 Johanna Comic News One comment

Clan Apis Returns in Color!

I have missed the wonderful true-science graphic novels of Jay Hosler. He’s put out, among others, The Sandwalk Adventures (about Charles Darwin and evolution, as told by eyebrow mites), Last of the Sandwalkers (the life of desert beetles), and Clan Apis (the biography of a honeybee). That last one came out 20 years ago, but in its direct yet caring approach to the subject matter, it’s timeless. Which is why I was thrilled to see his announcement that the book […]

June 23, 2020 Johanna Movie News 3 comments

More J. Jonah Jameson to Come from JK Simmons

In this brief clip provided by SiriusXM, JK Simmons answers the question as to whether we’ll see him again as J. Jonah Jameson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This comes from a call-in to The Jess Cagle Show. I have to say, one thing the Marvel movies get very right is their casting. Simmons is perfect as the grumpy, old-school newspaper editor, just as Robert Downey Jr. was perfect as Iron Man and Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange. I’m so […]

June 15, 2020 Johanna First Second Leave a comment

Science Comics: Crows: Genius Birds

Science Comics: Crows: Genius Birds by Kyla Vanderklugt offers amazing insight into just how intelligent these birds are. That’s why I love this series: I had no idea about any of these facts before reading, and now I am fascinated by corvids (crows, magpies, jays, and ravens). Vanderklugt beautifully navigates between drawing the bird as a bird and giving it the personality it needs to attract the reader and keep them interested. The crow gets a dog, Buddy, to help […]

June 14, 2020 Johanna Graphix / Scholastic Leave a comment

The Midwinter Witch

The Midwinter Witch completes the trilogy Molly Knox Ostertag began with The Witch Boy and continued with The Hidden Witch. Aster, the boy witch, and Ariel, his new friend (who’s a bit undisciplined in her abilities), are attempting to catch up on their magic training. The family is preparing for the Festival, a gathering of all the extended relatives that also features a magical competition to crown the Midwinter Witch. Aster wants to compete, for the first time, but there […]

1 2 3 »