February 14, 2020 Johanna Other Publishers Leave a comment

The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television

I’ve enjoyed the relatively recent boom in graphic memoir and biography, particularly those stories that cover the lives of artists and creative people. Unfortunately, too often we see that those who make long-lasting works struggle personally, and The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi is no different. What sets it apart, though, is its setting in the relatively modern era. The book has four major sections, tied together with a framing story that will […]

February 14, 2020 Johanna First Second Leave a comment

Maker Comics: Draw a Comic!

Continuing the excellent Maker Comics line, JP Coovert’s Draw a Comic! is a fun celebration of the love of comics, both as reader and creator, with a surprising amount of technical guidance. There’s a story, too. Maggie and her (talking) dog Rex (it’s a comic) are putting together a new comic library in honor of her grandfather, who used to read Tintin to her and wanted to share the love of comics with everyone. This open acceptance is a hallmark […]

January 3, 2020 Johanna IDW / Top Shelf One comment

An Enola Holmes Mystery: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady

An Enola Holmes Mystery: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Serena Blasco is the second graphic novel adaptation from the YA series by Nancy Springer, following The Case of the Missing Marquess. Unfortunately, the concept is not growing on me. The idea of a young, smart, adventuresome heroine is a great one, but using the Holmes name and characters without bothering to capture what made those stories so well-loved is frustrating. I’m reading this series because I’m a fan […]

January 2, 2020 Johanna Image Comics Leave a comment

Moonstruck: Some Enchanted Evening

Moonstruck: Some Enchanted Evening is the first direct-to-graphic-novel entry in the hipster fantasy series (although the first issue of this storyline, #6 in the series, was released on its own before plans changed), and the second volume in the series. I was looking forward to it. I liked the idea of the setup (since I read the single issue), in which a frat house used fairy magic to give their parties a better atmosphere, in spite of the magic trapping […]

December 26, 2019 Johanna Marvel One comment

Doctor Strange: Surgeon Supreme #1

Marvel has relaunched Doctor Strange with a new #1 subtitled Surgeon Supreme. After events of the previous series, and a deal with a demon, Dr. Strange has the use of his hands back, so that he can resume his previous life as “the world’s greatest neurosurgeon”. He clarifies, early on, that he won’t combine his magic and his medicine, as “spellcraft requires total concentration” and he can’t multitask while operating. (Although his unique vision does allow for some impressively gnarly […]

December 22, 2019 Johanna Other Publishers Leave a comment

The Wallace Mystery (Little Murder Library #2)

Rick Geary’s latest release is The Wallace Mystery, second in the new line Little Murder Library, following Chester & Grace. The subject is the 1931 death of Julia Wallace in Liverpool, England. Her head was bashed in, and her insurance agent husband William was arrested. The night of the murder, he was decoyed away from home to an address that didn’t exist. His case presented an interesting legal twist, and Geary has his own suggestion for the guilty party in […]

December 6, 2019 Johanna Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Leave a comment

Camp

Olive, the lead of Click, is off to summer camp with her friend Willow in Camp. As seen in the previous book by Kayla Miller, Olive has no problem making lots of friends, but Willow is less outgoing and jealous of the time Olive spends with others. As the two weeks of camp continue, Olive begins to resent Willow for her clinginess, and the two have to learn to understand those different from themselves in order to save their friendship. […]

December 5, 2019 Johanna Graphic Universe Leave a comment

Sincerely, Harriet

In Sincerely, Harriet by Sarah W. Searle, Harriet is spending the summer getting used to her family’s new apartment in Chicago. It’s hot and boring, with her parents working hard at new jobs and the girls from last year’s summer camp ignoring her postcards. The only person she interacts with is the older woman downstairs. Pearl owns the building and tells tales of her family. Pearl was also a librarian, and she recommends books to Harriet that interest her more […]

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