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David McK (3369 KP) rated Batman: Year One in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Not all that long ago, I watched the cartoon movie version of this graphic novel, and did quite enjoy it. I'd also heard, but couldn't verify, that it was actually pretty close to its source material: well, now I can co firm that that is indeed the case!
Written shortly after The Dark Knight Returns (which concerns an ageing Batman, and is set towards the end of his career), this takes the opposite approach and is instead set during his first year back in Gotham (after travelling abroad for 12(?) years in the wake of his parents murder), which is also coincidentally Jim Gordon's first year working for the corrupt Gotham P.D.
If anybody has also seen the recent(ish) live action movie Batman Begins, it's also pretty obvious where a large chunk of that movie gets it's influence from, with one sequence in particular almost a straight riff from the pages of this graphic novel.
All in all, and while it is true that I've only read a few of the Batman graphic novels so far, this is a strong contender for the best of those I've read.
Written shortly after The Dark Knight Returns (which concerns an ageing Batman, and is set towards the end of his career), this takes the opposite approach and is instead set during his first year back in Gotham (after travelling abroad for 12(?) years in the wake of his parents murder), which is also coincidentally Jim Gordon's first year working for the corrupt Gotham P.D.
If anybody has also seen the recent(ish) live action movie Batman Begins, it's also pretty obvious where a large chunk of that movie gets it's influence from, with one sequence in particular almost a straight riff from the pages of this graphic novel.
All in all, and while it is true that I've only read a few of the Batman graphic novels so far, this is a strong contender for the best of those I've read.
David McK (3369 KP) rated Masquerade (Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, #8) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
No-longer canon entry in the X-Wing series of graphic novels, released way back before Marvel took over (and wiped out the Extended Universe) the reins.
I remember reading the actual novels back in the late 90s/early 2000s, but I never actually realized until fairly recently that the graphic novels released alongside them DIDN'T actually tell the same story: rather, that they stood on their own 2 feet alongside those books.
This is #8 in those graphic novels, and is set after the events of 'Return of the Jedi' (before Episode VII was ever even thought about), but before the New Republic had (re)captured Coruscant - like those X-Wing novels, a large part of these stories is set around the plans to do just that.
In this, the interim Emperor Sate Pestage is beginning to lose his grip on the Empire, leading to him to seek contact with Princess Leia in order to negotiate his defection.
However, Ysanne Isard - the key villainess of the novels - suspects him of doing so, and will stop at nothing to wrest control of the Empire ...
I remember reading the actual novels back in the late 90s/early 2000s, but I never actually realized until fairly recently that the graphic novels released alongside them DIDN'T actually tell the same story: rather, that they stood on their own 2 feet alongside those books.
This is #8 in those graphic novels, and is set after the events of 'Return of the Jedi' (before Episode VII was ever even thought about), but before the New Republic had (re)captured Coruscant - like those X-Wing novels, a large part of these stories is set around the plans to do just that.
In this, the interim Emperor Sate Pestage is beginning to lose his grip on the Empire, leading to him to seek contact with Princess Leia in order to negotiate his defection.
However, Ysanne Isard - the key villainess of the novels - suspects him of doing so, and will stop at nothing to wrest control of the Empire ...
AT (1676 KP) rated Angel Catbird, Volume 1 in Books
Feb 12, 2020 (Updated Feb 12, 2020)
I had no idea what to expect when I started to read Angel Catbird. Before running across this graphic novel, I wasn't aware that Margaret Atwood had written a graphic novel. (I just ran across another one that I'll also have to check out.) Of course, I am familiar with Margaret Atwood's novels being about various, interesting things. A source of vivid imagination. So when I read Angel Catbird, I wasn't surprised by the imagination. However, it's also definitely not her best work by a long shot. Angel Catbird is full, and I mean, **FULL** of cat puns. Some were okay, some were too much, and some were downright terrible. There were also cat facts added at the bottom of some pages, in reference to actions that had taken place on that page. I think those were unnecessary. It was silly, but also violent in some parts. Overall, the story was okay. It passes. It does the job. This is exactly what you'd expect to read if a crazy cat lady decided to try her hand at writing an action-type graphic novel. Not terrible, but not phenomenal. Get ready for some cat puns.
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation in Books
Sep 8, 2020
Kindred is the story of a black woman who is repeatedly transported from her 1970s apartment to Antebellum Maryland - and it’s not a place where any black person would really want to be.
I haven’t read the original novel, so I can’t compare them - but this is really good in its own right. It’s rich in both dialogue and artistry - the pictures are at times graphic (when Dana, the lead character, is whipped and her ensuing injuries), and there is talk of the white plantation owner raping ‘his’ slaves. Dana learns that her purpose is to keep the plantation owners son, Rufus, alive - which isn’t easy when he seems set on doing things that put his life in danger. Dana learns that Rufus is in fact her great great (great?) grandfather, and he has yet to sire the child that will ensure Dana’s existence.
This isn’t a book for the faint-hearted, and I’m so glad I’ve read it - all thanks go to my local library, who have started providing graphic novel ebooks. A graphic novel habit is an expensive one, so it’s great that they’re able to do this!
I haven’t read the original novel, so I can’t compare them - but this is really good in its own right. It’s rich in both dialogue and artistry - the pictures are at times graphic (when Dana, the lead character, is whipped and her ensuing injuries), and there is talk of the white plantation owner raping ‘his’ slaves. Dana learns that her purpose is to keep the plantation owners son, Rufus, alive - which isn’t easy when he seems set on doing things that put his life in danger. Dana learns that Rufus is in fact her great great (great?) grandfather, and he has yet to sire the child that will ensure Dana’s existence.
This isn’t a book for the faint-hearted, and I’m so glad I’ve read it - all thanks go to my local library, who have started providing graphic novel ebooks. A graphic novel habit is an expensive one, so it’s great that they’re able to do this!
BookCritics (259 KP) rated The Almost Sisters in Books
Jun 13, 2017
I love all her complicated-Southern-family books, but the protagonist of this one is a woman who makes a living as a comic book artist/graphic novelist, and also has weekly board game nights
Critic- Alicia K.
Original Score: 4 out of 5
Read Review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32600726-the-almost-sisters
Original Score: 4 out of 5
Read Review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32600726-the-almost-sisters
Dean (6925 KP) rated A History of Violence (2005) in Movies
Aug 13, 2017
Kevin Phillipson (10017 KP) rated Justice League: The New Frontier (2008) in Movies
Jul 22, 2018
Darwyn cooke (1 more)
Origin of the justice league
As i never read the original graphic novel this movie is based apon i will in the future anyway i liked this animated origin of the justice league its set in the 1950s it gives a better origin than last years live action movie did. Thumbs up
Mike (8 KP) rated Small Gods in Books
Oct 10, 2018
I like the art work in this graphic novel, it is quirky and reminiscent of Sergio Aragones and other cartoonists from the late 70s and early 80s. The colours are vibrant, and this interpretation flows well, obviously it is shorter than the text novel, but I feel that they have done a good job.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Anya's Ghost in Books
Dec 31, 2019 (Updated Dec 31, 2019)
Ghost with the moast yo boast
Really good graphic novel about growing up as an outsider in America as well as having a ghost who at first seems great but not is all as it seems. Clean cute drawings, plenty of comedy and a relatable character makes this a perfect for all ages story.
AT (1676 KP) rated Cats of the Louvre in Books
Feb 3, 2020
I wasn't sure what to expect when I happened to run across Cats of the Louvre on the shelf at my library. I'm glad I read it. It's full of art appreciation, mystery, some heartbreak, and cats when the Louvre is closed at night. It's an odd, magical story told in graphic novel form.