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Hmm...how to start? The first graphic novel featuring Mercy Thompson is a mixed bag; the story as a whole is perfectly fine, it may not be great but it's serviceable. The illustrations are very good and attractive, however Mercy herself is not. Well, okay, the girl(s) is actually drawn well, but she's not Mercy. My first thought was, "When did Mercy go from being Native American/white to Hispanic?" Even though there are different artists and styles of Mercy used in this book, like many graphic novels employ, none of them come close to matching her description. Save the cover illustration which is done by the same artist who does the full-length novel covers, Dan Dos Santos. Since she is the main character, I really think that is vital and hope the artists work on that for the next book. As for the dialogue, it's rather mediocre, sometimes choppy, and a few times didn't follow a logical sequence. I'd be reading along, then a sentence or statement would pop up that made me think I missed something somehow, so I'd proceed to go back, then find out I didn't miss anything after-all, and it just didn't make sense with everything around it. My last complaint has to do with how the book reads and the panel progression. The way the panels and speech balloons were set led to much confusion, I'd read one panel, move on to the next just to find out I should have read that one first. I have read graphic novels before and never had as many problems with them as I did with this one. I felt that more panels would have helped tell the story and there wouldn't be so much confusion as to what had actually happened. Still, the book isn't totally bad, it's a good starting place, but hopefully everyone involved will learn from this first graphic novel so the next will be better executed. I'd say that if you're not into graphic novels, that you should give it a pass unless you absolutely must read everything Mercy Thompson related.
  
The Vegetarian: A Novel
The Vegetarian: A Novel
Deborah Smith, Han Kang | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Incredibly creative and disturbing look at transformation
Han Kang is an absolute gem in terms of creative writing and The Vegetarian does not disappoint. It's difficult to explain without completely spoiling the plot but it consists of a woman becoming vegetarian and her subsequent 'transformation'.

The beautiful imagery and the graphic details about mental health is unique, and at times the insanity of the novel resembles Kafka's Metamorphosis. It is definitely in that league of magical realism.
  
HV
Hellboy, Vol. 1: Seed of Destruction
6
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
The inspiration for the Ron-Perlman led movie(s) of the same name, Hellboy - like the lead character - is sort of a strange mix: in this case, of the occult with the medium of the graphic novel with a very Cthulu-like monster at the end of the tale.

I also have to say that this is proof that Marvel and DC aren't the only two publishers in the world able to produce compelling and enjoyable reads!
  
Star Wars: Vader - Dark Visions
Star Wars: Vader - Dark Visions
Dennis Hopeless | 2019 | Comics & Graphic Novels
5
5.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another graphic novel I picked up on sale as part of 2020s Comixology 'May the Fourth' sale, and I'm glad I didn't pay full price.

A collection of short stories (or vignettes) all centring on Vader, some of these are - admittedly - better than others, with some nice ideas in there (e.g. Vader being seen as a saviour rather than as a villain).

It's just a pity that there's not really enough meat on the bones (so to speak!)
  
The Crow
The Crow
James O'Barr | 1998 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Emotionally written (2 more)
Poetic
Brilliantly drawn
My All Time Favourite
This graphic novel is my all time favourite. I have read it countless times, sometimes in a row. This is where it all began, and the author's tragic backstory, really helps bring forth the emotion from the pages.

This is a story of love and loss, but mostly of vengeance and a sense of mental torment that no one, dead or alive, should suffer.

There's a belief that when someone dies, their soul is carried to heaven, hell or some form of afterlife, and then there's this graphic novel that suggests that if the soul was wronged in their life, they may return as an avenging angel, to seek vengeance on those who wronged them.

Eric and his Fiancé where murdered for no good reason, and so his soul is brought back from the dead, with some additional abilities, such as a healing factor, meaning that he cannot be killed (again) by mortals.

This book also contains poetry among its pages. Beautiful poems that really add to the emotion of the book and the story. I love comics, graphic novels etc. Anything Marvel or DC, and of course indie comics, but The Crow will forever remain my favourite one among them all, because it is poetic justice written beautifully and emotionally, unlike anything I have ever read before or after it.
  
Open Earth
Open Earth
Sarah Mirk, Eva Cabrera, Claudia Aguirre | 2018 | Comics & Graphic Novels
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
R-Rated and Pretty Good
When I was browsing Netgalley, I came across this graphic novel and the description caught my eye. I loved the idea of the graphic novel tand I'm glad that I was able to read it.

Obviously, this book isn't going to be for pruder individuals. The reason I say this is because at times the graphics were definitely R-rated. This isn't something that you could handsell to a teen or recommend for someone that is younger. With that said, the graphics were very well done and I loved the cutesy artistic style that they portrayed.

Something else that I liked was the integration of spanish in the book. It was done sporadically and it added to the story. I enjoyed the book though I wish it was longer and would have delved into deeper depths of the characters. I felt like I was thrown into a story and didn't feel like I knew anything about any of the characters.

All in all it was a quick good steamy read.