Everyone wants to be a hero, or even a superhero, in Beastars Vol 1, a new high school manga for grades 4 through 7. At Cherryton Academy, carnivores and herbivores live in separate dorms. But when an alpaca is killed, the carnivores are the prime suspects especially a large wolfContinue Reading
In 1950 at age six, Marvin Hamlisch was the youngest student to be accepted to Juilliard, the famous New York City music school. He auditioned with a then-modern pop song, Goodnight Irene, instead of the usual classical music selection. Marvin was the American son of Jewish Austrian immigrants forced outContinue Reading
In Parham Itan: Tales from Beyond Volume 1, high school student boxer Yamagishi and smart nerd Sendo literally run into each other on the way back to their dorm. While walking together, they encounter a half-human half-man-eating-flower monster. But the next day, everything seems normal. “What if nobody’s seen themContinue Reading
Franck and Anjeline are The Strange Ones in any crowd. They are misfits, who seem fated to be together. After all, didn’t they keep meeting accidentally on the busy streets of Manhattan? This book tells their story from Anjeline’s point of view. However, during the introduction, the author states thatContinue Reading
Toyo Harada was nine when his world in Hiroshima Japan was blown apart by an atom bomb. His father died during the war and his mother died in the bombing. Harada was somehow saved. But he came back changed in the Life and Death of Toyo Harada. Harada has newContinue Reading
“There was no greater violence than affection.” If you like that quote, I believe you will enjoy Commute, a graphic novel for the #metoo movement. Unfortunately, I just thought the book was sad. Erin had some difficulties early in life. To “overcome them”, she drinks. Heavily. Every night. Before findingContinue Reading
What is hiding shallowly beneath the surface of Boston’s school system? Nascent reporter, Madison, investigates government corruption in the twisty crime comic, Bury the Lede. Madison is an intern at the Boston Lede, the New York Times of Boston. She is fetching coffee and dreaming of her first byline whenContinue Reading
Rod Serling, famous host of the fifties sci-fi anthology series The Twilight Zone, is The Twilight Man. Beginning his biography with his service in the Pacific theater of World War II, this graphic novel uses pictures to show us Rod’s life. He was diagnosed with shellshock after the war (nowContinue Reading
Batman is my favorite superhero so I had to read Batman: 100 Greatest Moments! What a great review or catch up on the entire Batman story. From Batman’s origin to tales from the dark multiverse, all the important stories are here. Each has a short summary of the event andContinue Reading
Once Upon a Time in France tells the, so unbelievably it must be true, story of Romanian Jew Joseph Joanovici. After immigrating to France in the 1920s, scrap metal makes him rich. When World War II begins, he slowly starts supplying the Nazis with metal after they occupy France. HeContinue Reading
Who doesn’t enjoy getting Texts from Mittens? Mittens is a typical cat. He has a healthy obsession with boxes and shampoo caps. His girlfriend, Fiona, thinks he is romantic when he suggests her coming up to his cat condo to rub their faces on an old sock together. He suspectsContinue Reading
Aquaman Vol 1: Unspoken Water is Aquaman and his universe’s origin story. Like traditional mythology, Aquaman’s universe is full of angry, vengeful gods. First, there was Father Sea and Mother Salt. They had a perfect marriage in the world’s seas. Unfortunately, their children, though fully grown, solved their problems inContinue Reading
Narasumas, Applelonia, and some giant colorful rabbits traipse around a snowy fantasy land in Divine Intervention. I wanted to like this female led graphic novel fantasy. However, the lettering was so distracting and the story so confusing that unfortunately I did not. Who notices lettering? I never did until readingContinue Reading
Enzo and Pascal had an easy night planned. Protecting a witness in a secret hotel room is the safest job for a cop, right? True, until both cops are killed and the witness is taken in Stiletto Vol 1. Who knew where the witness was hidden? Only other cops. DetectivesContinue Reading
David is having a bad day. First, he confesses his love to a co-worker. Her response is that she is engaged to the very co-worker that encouraged him to express his love. Second, he is crushed by a falling piano. High Heaven is the story of how even heaven disappointsContinue Reading
Absolutely beautiful artwork and an intriguing plot enliven Lady Mechanika Vol 5. Lady Mechanika is again trying to discover who mechanized her when she is interrupted by a new issue. Mr. Lewis, her sidekick, is pulled out of his depression by a new lady love. But is her love forContinue Reading