I have the sinking feeling that this is another graphic novel, like Asterios Polyp, where the visual hijinks will distract enough people that no one will want to talk about how stereotypical and pointless the story is. The Joyners in 3D is actually printed in 3D, requiring red/blue glasses to read it. It comes with two pair and a cute note about sharing. (The gimmick made review copies particularly difficult for the publisher, who had to send out paper glasses […]

I first looked at this graphic novel because I have a fondness for the mid-90s indy comic of the same name. This Strange Attractors is no relation. Then I was interested by writer Charles Soule’s clear affection for New York City, one of the book’s characters. The premise is that, with enough math and deep understanding, one person can keep the city going by using a variant of chaos theory and the Butterfly Effect. A lot of little actions manage […]

I’m pleased to see that Marjane Satrapi, best known for her autobiographical Persepolis, continues to write and draw stories beyond her own experience. (Too many cartoonists who put out comics from their own lives are expected to continue in that vein instead of branching out.) From telling us about her female relatives to an unbalanced uncle, now she’s moved completely into fable and folktale with The Sigh. With a beginning that will remind the reader of Beauty and the Beast, […]

The “Family Reunion” storyline that began in issue #4 with the appearance of Scooter’s sister and continued bringing in Muppet relatives with Randy and Andy Pig in issue #5 concludes in these two issues. It’s written by Roger Langridge with art by Amy Mebberson. I admit, I wasn’t quite as thrilled with the back half of the storyline as I was with the first two comics. But please keep my criticisms in balance; a bad Muppet Show issue is still […]

The Family Reunion storyline continues from issue #4. In this issue, it’s Miss Piggy’s turn, with the visit of her nephews Randy and Andy, who are incredibly stupid pigs. I never cared for them much when they appeared on Muppets Tonight!, but in print, they’re funny to me. Perhaps because I can enjoy how they waste everyone else’s time without feeling that mine is wasted, since they take up relatively less screen time. And since their appearance is framed as […]

Fraggle Rock #1 The Fraggles return in a new licensed three-issue miniseries from Archaia, the first publication stemming from their deal with the Jim Henson Company announced last year. The comic is in the square format also used by Mouse Guard, and this first issue contains three color stories for $3.95 US. The main story, by Heather White and Jeff Stokely, features faithful likenesses, but there’s a stiffness to them, a sense that we’re watching still photos of puppets instead […]

Seekers Into the Mystery reprints the first third of the 1996 comic series written by J.M. DeMatteis. That may sound like a while ago, but since “The Pilgrimage of Lucas Hart” is set in 1987, it’s almost become timeless. The content, revolving around the search for meaning in the face of death and self-abuse, is certainly applicable in any year. The majority of this tale of a washed-up screenwriter finding spiritual recovery is illustrated by Glenn Barr. The last chapter […]