Home » Posts tagged "graphic novels" (Page 12)

Book Review: Robot God Akamatsu by James Biggie, illustrated by Frankie B. Washington

Robot God Akamatsu, Vol. 1  by James Biggie, illustrated by Frankie B. Washington, and lettered by Josh Van Reyk

Zetabella Publishing, 2013

ISBN-13:  9781927384152

Available: Graphic novel hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition

 

Robot God Akamatsu is the first volume of a YA graphic novel series. Back in the days of Atlantis, humanity was protected by the titular Robot God Akamatsu and the three pilots who operated the robot god from a space station orbiting the Earth. To engage the Robot God, they would invoke the term Deus Ex Machina, which translates literally to “god from the machine”.

In the present day, Akamatsu is recovered and brought back online in time to fight his brother, URU. URU is the lord of Kaiju (sea monsters) and is currently exiled to a place called the Abbation plane. Now that Akamatsu has been awoken, URU plots to use the Robot God’s power source to bring URU and his horde of monstrous warriors to Earth. For once, the action all occurs around the city of Boston, and New York City is spared destruction.

This is a very fun graphic novel. I would like to see Biggie and Washington create further installments in the epic battle of Akamatsu and URU. This is recommended for readers of comic books, and lovers of Kaiju and classic robot sci-fi. If you enjoyed Pacific Rim, this is the graphic novel for you. Recommended.

Contains: Comic book mayhem

Reviewed by Benjamin Franz

 

Posted on February 13, 2015 by , Reply

Book Review: 100 Bullets: Brother Lono by Brian Azzarello, illustrated by Eduardo Risso

100 Bullets: Brother Lono by Brian Azzarello, illustrated by Eduardo Risso

Publisher: DC/Vertigo, 2014

ISBN: 1401245064

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Harsh. Violent. Brutal. Unforgiving. Azzarello returns to 100 Bullets, revisiting Lono, a ruthless killer, whom we discover has found God in a Mexican orphanage. Lono’s still got some bite however, so whenever he feels the old violent urges coming on, he has himself locked up by the local authorities. Trouble comes by way of a drug cartel that sets its eyes on the church’s undeveloped land. Unfortunately, this gives Brother Lono the go-ahead to let his demons out to play.

Azzarello is a master of street-level dialogue and kinetic pacing, while Risso’s art invokes elements of crime noir and a Sergio Leone western. and colorist Patricia Mulvihill’s palette sets the mood wonderfully, a perfect compliment to Risso’s exotic line work. Recommended for adulst

Contains: sexual content, profanity, and extensive visual graphic violence.

Reviewed by Bob Freeman

Posted on November 14, 2014 by , Reply

Book Review: The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel, Volume One by Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell


 The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel, Volume 1, by Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell

Harper Collins, 2014

ISBN13: 9780062312556

Available: Hardback

 

So let’s say a beautiful story, the kind you never forget, isn’t good enough for you. So someone decides to translate it into a visual medium. but one artist isn’t enough. Here Russell decides to give artist teams each a chapter to create.

The Graveyard Book is awesome, and in Russell’s graphic novel adaptation of  Neil Gaiman’s Newbery Award-winning novel, other artists have distilled that exquisiteness into a new form. Sometimes the tale is exceedingly grim (it begins with a blood covered knife and a crime scene) but at its heart, it’s about choosing how to live. Not recommended for young children, but highly reommended for teens and adults.

 

Contains: Graphic violence, dark themes

Reviewed by Michele Lee

 

Editor’s Note: I think the illustrations in the original book are more shocking and leave more to the imagination than the graphic novel, which is, well, much more graphic. Either way, it’s a compelling story, with impressive artwork, and it’s pretty neat to see it adapted into another format– fans of Gaiman’s who love his comic books and graphic novels but have never encountered The Graveyard Book are being given an incredible opportunity. I do want to emphasize that, as Michele notes, because it is much more graphic and detailed, the graphic novel is not child-appropriate. Handle with care– and enjoy!

Posted on October 21, 2014 by , Reply
First « 1011121314 » Last