Lois Lane Friday: Book News and My Favorite Live-Action Version

There just isn't enough of Lois Lane in the world so I thought why not have Lois Lane Friday. A column where I can post interesting things about Lois Lane from the funny to the thought provoking.

First, for the book news, there will be a sequel to the popular Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond. The next book which according to the author's website is currently in the editing process and will be titled Lois Lane: Double Down. It's scheduled to be released Spring 2016. Now that's something to look forward to especially with the way DC Comics is currently dragging the character threw the mud.

Now for the second part of my post, I wanted to focus on my favorite live-action versions of the character which were played by: Phyllis Coates, Noel Neill, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher and Erica Durance. They each brought something different to the role and seemed to make it their own.

I didn't include either Lois from Superman Returns (Kate Bosworth) and Man of Steel (Amy Adams) because they were Lois in name only. They were empty shells and rather forgettable.

There's more to Lois than being a great reporter and being feisty, she's smart, highly opinionated, courageous and willing to take risk and she's always looking out for others. She's loyal, driven, hardworking, passionate not only about her career but also her love life (i.e. Clark Kent) and most importantly she's not afraid to be herself.

Although, Lois has undergone many changes over her long history, however the key things never really change.



Phyllis Coates, Adventures of Superman (season one) 1952-1953

Noel Neill, Adventures of Superman (seasons #2-6) 1953-1958

Margot Kidder, Superman movies 1978-1987

Teri Hatcher, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (seasons #1-4) 1993-1997

Erica Durance, Smallville (seasons #4-10) 2004-2010

Illustration of the Day: Thor, Sif and The Warriors Three

Illustration: Journey Into Mystery issue #651

Book Review: Rocco's Wings

Book: Rocco's Wings (Tales of Terrakesh book #1) by Rebecca Merry Murdock with illustrations by Kalen Chock

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: Bark and Howl Press Ltd.

Description:

Rocco is the only villager with wings. His wings are blue, and at night also bioluminescent (glowing). Rocco is captured by urvogels (winged human-like creatures) living on the cliffs of Upper Terrakesh. He witnesses the horrid punishment of urvogels getting their wings cut off - punishment for so-called vanity crimes.

Private reading, music making and other solitary enjoyments are strictly forbidden as contrary to flock principles. Rocco’s new friends, Basalt, Vesta, Magna and Iggy are about to stand trial. If convicted, they will lose their wings. Rocco must decide if he should help them, or escape on his own. A fast moving tale of survival and adventure, this middle-grade novel follows Rocco’s struggle with grief and loss.

Rocco’s Wings is the debut novel of Canadian lawyer, Rebecca Murdock.


Rating: 1 star (Did Not Finish)

Review:

Rocco's Wings wasn't for me, I really couldn't connect with the story or the characters. The writing was confusing and unclear and the story seemed a little too dark and violent for a middle grade book.

The story began with Rocco who is half human and half urvogel (which are humanoid winged creatures) being ambushed by three boys who are the village bullies, but he was able to escape and took to the sky.  After flying around for awhile, he went to the one place his mother warned him not to go, the forbidden palace of the urvogels. The Queen was evil and her Air Marshals ruthlessly doled out her commands. Rocco's curiosity had him infiltrating the palace where he spotted several urvogel children playing they didn't seem as mean and threating as he thought they would be. As he was going back home he was unaware that he had been followed.

Some of the Air Marshals followed him back to his village where they attacked a family friend by shooting an arrow in his back then proceeded to brutally murder Rocco's mother so that they could capture him. That was as far as I got because I found that this was too much. It really put me off with the story.

The best thing about this book to me was the beautiful artwork by Kalen Chock. I really wish this had been a better read.

Currently Reading: Itty Bitty Hellboy

Going through my bookcase I found this Itty Bitty Hellboy miniseries, I've had it for a while (yeah for two years). I usually wait until I have every issue of a miniseries before I start reading it but I somehow must have forgotten I had this.


Book: Itty Bitty Hellboy (issues #1-5) by Art Baltazar and Franco with illustrations by Art Baltazar

Edition: Single print issues

Description:

Witness the awesomeness that is Hellboy! The characters that sprung from Mike Mignola’s imagination, with an AW YEAH Art Baltazar and Franco twist! This book has ALL the FUN, adventure, and AW YEAHNESS in one itty bitty package! That’s a true story right there.

Fashion Meets Comics: Laurel Lance's Red Print Shirt, Jeans and Handbag (Arrow)

I really like this outfit Laurel is wearing, it's so put together. It has a tailored feel to it even though it's only jeans and a button down.

Button down shirts are a wardrobe staple but sometime I find them a little boring which is why I like to find some in prints or bold colors. I like the print in this shirt because it's fun yet polished. And paired with dark wash jeans this outfit can even be worn to work (depending on where you work) all you would need to do is add a blazer and a great pair of pumps or flats. The brown hobo style bag is casual and still chic.

Book Review: March Grand Prix: The Fast and the Furriest

Book: March Grand Prix: The Fast and the Furriest by Kean Soo

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: August 1, 2015

Publisher: Capstone

Description:

A new, turbo-charged graphic novel by Kean Soo, author of the acclaimed, award-winning series Jellaby. March Hare wants to be the fastest and furriest racecar driver around. But first, this rabbit racers will have to prove his skill at the speedway, on the streets, and in the desert. With pedal-to-the-metal illustrations and full-throttle action, March is sure to be a winner!

Art of the Day: Green Lantern (John Stewart)

Artwork: John Stewart by jasric

Book Review: Women in Clothes

Book: Women in Clothes by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, Leanne Shapton and others

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: PEGUIN GROUP Blue Rider Press

Description:

Women in Clothes is a book unlike any other. It is essentially a conversation among hundreds of women of all nationalities—famous, anonymous, religious, secular, married, single, young, old—on the subject of clothing, and how the garments we put on every day define and shape our lives.

It began with a survey. The editors composed a list of more than fifty questions designed to prompt women to think more deeply about their personal style. Writers, activists, and artists including Cindy Sherman, Kim Gordon, Kalpona Akter, Sarah Nicole Prickett, Tavi Gevinson, Miranda July, Roxane Gay, Lena Dunham, and Molly Ringwald answered these questions with photographs, interviews, personal testimonies, and illustrations.

Even our most basic clothing choices can give us confidence, show the connection between our appearance and our habits of mind, express our values and our politics, bond us with our friends, or function as armor or disguise. They are the tools we use to reinvent ourselves and to transform how others see us. Women in Clothes embraces the complexity of women’s style decisions, revealing the sometimes funny, sometimes strange, always thoughtful impulses that influence our daily ritual of getting dressed.


Rating: 1 star

Review:

Women in Clothes would have made a good documentary with the interviews, essays, comments and pictures about how women (and some men) see fashion but in book form it's very long winded (it's over 500 pages) and boring. This is a book that details how women feel not only about fashion (beauty or their image) but about how they feel about what they wear and how they look.

The authors spoke with everyday women (and a few celebrities) about how fashion and style influenced their lives and experiences.

There is a lot in this book from survey research to pictures of people's collections but with so much stuff it never quite seemed to jell. The book just felt so random. Although this didn't quite work, I can see what the authors were trying to do, they didn't want the typical glossy fashion book that instructs women what to buy and how to wear it. They wanted to take a different approach to how women look at fashion, hear how everyday women deal with fashion. But this just seemed like some weird-indie-I'm-trying-not-be-cool-fashion-book instead of being something interesting to read.

Although, I did find the discussions on ethical shopping, worker exploitation, sweatshops and whether it matters to you where and how your clothes are made. Reading the interviews with some of the people who work in the factories did give me something think about in regards to the fashion industry. That was probably the most worthwhile thing I got out of this book.

Ultimately, this book for better or worse gives the reader insight into how some women see fashion. Unfortunately, there was also a lot of things in this that had absolutely nothing to do with fashion and along with the randomness makes this a disappointing read.

Comic Book Wednesday: July 29th Picks

Happy Comic Book Wednesday, what's everyone picking up this week?

A majority of my list are my regulars and the only new thing is the JL: Gods and Monsters: Superman one-shot. I do have a few second issues for Ghostbusters Get Real (miniseries), Thors and X-Men '92.


Dark Horse Comics

Book: Tomb Raider #18

Description:

After the events in the Mexican jungle, Lara finds herself back in London. However, the downtime doesn't sit well with Lara and it's even worse for Sam-much worse! Will they be able to overcome what haunts them?

Illustration of the Day: Hawkeye (Kate Bishop and Clint Barton)

Illustration: Your Life by queensarwa

Book of Interest: The Peddler's Road

There are so many interesting new books that I see and it really makes me wish I could read them all but that's just wishful thinking. The cover and the description for this totally caught attention and I will be adding this to my wishlist.


Book: The Peddler's Road (The Secrets of the Pied Piper book #1) by Matthew Cody

Publication: October 27, 2015

Description:

It is said that in the thirteenth century, in a village called Hamelin, a piper lured all of the children away with his magical flute, and none of them were ever seen again.

Today tough, pink-haired Max and her little brother, Carter, are stuck in modern-day Hamelin with their father . . . until they are also led away by the Piper to a place called the Summer Isle. There they meet the original stolen children, who haven’t aged a day and who have formed their own village, vigilantly guarded from the many nightmarish beings that roam the land.

No one knows why the Piper stole them, but Max and Carter’s appearance may be the key to returning the lost children of Hamelin—and to going home themselves. But to discover the secrets of the Piper, Max and Carter will have to set out on a mysterious quest down the dangerous Peddler’s Road.

Fitness Fashion: Nikki Bella Fearless Tank Top

Fearless Nikki Women's Tri-Blend Tank Top   $29.99   WWE Shop (shop.wwe.com)

I was watching E! News the other day and there was a short segment about John Cena being in the movie Trainwreck and how his girlfriend Nikki Bella felt about his role in the movie. Anyway the point of this post is that following that segment was another with Nikki demonstrating a few exercises to one of the entertainment reporters. While Nikki was being interviewed and exercising, she was wearing this really cute tank top.

I did a quick search online and found it. Yeah, this is cute.

But something that I also noticed while I was searching the WWE site was I didn't see a lot of merchandise for the other Divas. There is a category for women apparel and some of the more popular Divas like the Bellas and Paige have merchandise (with the Bellas having the most). However, what I don't understand is why they didn't capitalize on the popularity of the Total Divas reality series and create a whole line of merchandise for it, as well as produce more merchandise for the women who are on the show.

I also e-mailed WWE Shop similar questions and here is the e-mail address wweshop@wwe.com (which is on their website) if you have any questions.

Book Review for A-Z Title Challenge: Zatanna issue #15

Book: Zatanna issue #15: Witch Hunt by Derek Fridolfs with illustration by Jamal Igle, ink by John Dell and color by John Kalisz with cover art by Adam Hughes

Edition: Single print issue

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I have officially completed the A-Z Title Challenge! Now, on to the review. This is my second time reading this, although it's been quite a while ago, but it's still a good read.

This was fun but not so much fun for Zatanna who had to deal with modern day monster hunters. The story begins with Zatanna enjoying a few minutes of rest in her dressing room following the end of her magic show but her peaceful moment didn't last long. Someone shot an arrow at her which left a wound across her neck. The wound may not be lethal but it's going to make it very difficult for Zatanna to speak which she needs to do to conjure her spells. And that's not the only problem, the arrow was laced with some kind of tranquilizer making it easier for the hunters to catch her.

Zatanna only had mere seconds to escape her dressing room before her captures arrive. She also needed try to treat her wound and stop the bleeding. It's a non-stop chase as she tries to evade the hunters who are never far behind. However, the joke in on the them when Zatanna who is ever so resourceful got the last laugh as she turns the tables on them.

This was a fast-paced, well written story that had great art. The story even gives the reader a nice little scene with Zee's father trying to teach her not to only rely on her magic but to use her mind and sometimes strength to solve a problem.

I miss this series, it was great.

DVD Tuesday: JL: Gods and Monsters and Home

It's been a while since I've posted a DVD Tuesday, especially since I forgot to post the Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery movie last week.

The two movies that I would like to get this week are, Justice League: Gods and Monsters and Home. I can't wait to see JL: Gods and Monsters, this is a new take on the trinity and with Bruce Timm making this it should be something really good.

Now I saw Home when it was in the theater and thought it was funny and adorable and I really would like to see it again.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters

Description:

From animation legend Bruce Timm, comes an all-new original movie. A seemingly familiar Metropolis skyline, though upon closer inspection this is not the same city. Journey to an alternate universe where the Justice League is now a trio of unchecked terror. Employing methods of intimidation and fear, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman deal a brute force of justice. But, when a group of famed scientists experience untimely "accidents", a government task force follows the trail of clues to the Justice League or is there a more powerful player operating from the shadows. It's a high stakes game of intrigue, mystery and action that asks the question, how do you serve justice to those above the law?

DreamWorks Home

Description:

In this animated movie, an alien is on the run from his own people, he escapes and lands on Earth. He then becomes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own.

Currently Reading: Hexes and Hemlines

I must be on a magic kick. Have you ever unintentionally read a theme of books without even realizing it?

Book: Hexes and Hemlines (A Witchcraft Mystery book #3) by Juliet Blackwell

Description:

With her vintage clothing store taking off, Lily Ivory is finding that life in San Francisco suits her just fine. But her ability to sense vibrations from the past, so useful in locating secondhand gems, has landed her in the middle of a new mystery...

Lily gets called away from Aunt Cora's Closet when the police need a witch's take on a strange case. Malachi Zazi was stabbed to death in his apartment, under a ladder, surrounded by the number thirteen, a broken mirror, and a black cat—superstitions that the victim, as head of a rationalist society, was devoted to discrediting.

When the police identify a suspect from the Serpentarian Society, Lily is shocked to learn it's someone she knows. But with bad luck plaguing all its members, she begins to wonder if there's more at work than mere coincidence. And while there aren't many clues from the crime scene, Lily finds evidence of dark witchcraft and a hex on her friend's doorstep. With her friend's safety at stake, Lily is determined to use magic to find the murderer before everyone's luck runs out...

TV: Special Olympics World Games

I just finished watching the ESPN coverage of the Special Olympics World Games and it make me mad that there is only 30 minutes of airtime available to cover it. Why only a half hour? I don't understand how there is no time available to live broadcast the events. Do they really need to air all of those rebroadcasts of SportsCenter?

I find it interesting that the opening ceremony which aired Saturday evening was given hours of coverage but the actual sporting events are not being shown. You don't find out about the events until you watch the allotted 30 minute daily special at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN.

The Special Olympics is fantastic and inspiring not just for the athletes competing but for everyone and it would be nice if this was given the coverage that it deserved.

Has anyone else been watching the Special Olympics World Games? What do you think of it?

Art of the Day: Superman

Artwork: cover art for Action Comics issue #847 by Renato Guedes

Book Review: Dreamwalker

Book: Dreamwalker (The Red Dragon Academy book #1) by Rhys Bowen and C.M. Broyles

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: Red Dragon Press

Description:

Seven children. Seven special powers. One enemy.

Addy is a typical California surfer girl until her mother dies and she is sent to a strange boarding school in Wales, where one hallway leads not to another part of the school but to another universe. Addy has always had vivid dreams. Now it seems this power to dream has made her the enemy of the powerful ruler of Gallia.

How can Addy and her new friends be any match for the powerful Grymur who calls himself The One in a world where nothing makes sense.


Rating: 1 star (Did Not Finish)

Review:

Sometimes the prologue can enhance or hinder a story and it's the latter in this account. It's confusing and didn't really inspire me to read further but I did to see how the story would be. I think it would have been best if the prologue had been removed completely with the book opening with the first chapter.

I really had a hard time getting into this story, I just couldn't connect with it. It's boring and slow moving with the writing being sometimes choppy, unengaging and bland. The main character Addy was forgettable as well as the rest of the characters. I read over a hundred pages of this before I stopped, it didn't leave me interested in continuing.

The first chapter finds Californian 7th grader Addison "Addy" Walker with her English aunt Jean packing up all of her belongings for her move to London after the death of her mother. One moment while she was looking out the window, she saw two women dressed in hooded capes standing near a dragon. They asked her if she was going to go out and meet them, which she did with absolutely no hesitation. Hello, they're strangers and not to mention there's a dragon just standing there.

They told her they had been waiting for her that it was time for her to leave, she somehow wound up on the dragon flying off to an unknown destination but surprise, surprise that turned out to be a dream. She woke up on a plane sitting next to her aunt. The thing about Addy is she has a lot of strange dreams that always seem to feel real or as if they are trying to tell her something.

As soon as Addy arrived in London it wasn't long before her stuffy aunt was trying to find a boarding school to send her to. After several unsuccessful online searches, her aunt found The Dragon Academy (thanks to an annoying and very persistent pop up) and it seemed to offer everything that her aunt was looking for in a school, discipline and a tough curriculum.

The school which was in a castle was located in Wales and was not at all what Addy was expecting. The castle was old and creepy and had bars on the windows and at one point over the years it had once been an insane asylum.

On her first day she spent most of her time touring the school with the headmistress Ms. Neves but during dinner she met some new friends, Sam, Celeste, Raj and Pippa. As they were talking it appears that the school was promoted in different way to either fit each student's interest or the parent/guardian's interest.

During her first night there, Addy had an awful dream that seemed to take her to a very strange place where she was nearly captured by a mysterious man if she had not been woken up by one of her roommates.

By the time Addy completed her test in the dungeon which was to access her academic abilities and took a painting test, I was so bored with this book. And even as she headed to dinner with her headmistress and overheard her art teacher and the headmistress talking about her in a mysterious way that didn't spark my interest in this story.

This story was pretty mundane and I didn't feel like reading any more to finally get to the magical aspect of this book. I wish this had been a fun and whimsical story but it felt so predictable and a little disjointed. I really wanted to like this book but I didn't.

Toy Corner: Funko Harley Quinn, Storm and Arrow's Black Canary

Yesterday, the Funko Storm bobble-head that I ordered showed up before I left to go shopping. And after an hour of two of finding some really cute clothes, I stopped by GameStop and found Funko Arrow's Black Canary figurine. Although, it's Sara Lance instead of Laurel it's okay. But I do hope at some point there will eventually be one for Laurel. And later in the day I went to the bookstore and found this Funko Harley Quinn figurine.

Full disclaimer for Harley Quinn, I didn't like the dull and awful paint job for Harley's hat so I repainted it. There was a lot of smudges and one of the pom-poms on her hat wasn't even painted. While doing a search online, I've found similar complaints about the paint job for this figurine. At the bookstore there were three of these Harley figurines sitting on the shelf and this was the best out of the three. I was able to clean up some of the smudged paint on her face but not all of it. It's hard to believe that the company allowed such a poorly painted product to be shipped out.

I think these Funko's are starting to become a little bit of an obsession. I still wasn't able to get the Funko The Flash from the TV show since it was sold out when I went to the comic book store on Wednesday. 

Do you collect Funko products? If so, are there any that you really wish was in your collection?

Book Review: The Fuse vol #2

Book: The Fuse volume #2: Gridlock (issues #7-12) by Antony Johnston with illustrations by Justin Greenwood with color by Shari Chankhamma and letters by Ryan Ferrier

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: Image Comics

Description:

They call it "Gridlocking"—maglev-bike races across the Fuse’s vast solar arrays. Fast, dangerous, and very illegal. So when the #1 gridlock racer turns up dead, Klem and Ralph begin their own race to catch a killer...in a case that will force them into the dark underbellies of drug smuggling and terrorism in zero-g!


Rating: 3 stars

Review:

When the #1 racer for an illegal and popular bike race was found dead, detectives Klementina Ristovych and Ralph Dietrich were on the case. The body was identified as being the sport's representative Catherine Kuang. Now the question remains, was it murder or accidental death caused by a meteoroid burst?

Reports soon prove it was indeed murder but with multiple suspects and motives it's going to require the detectives to dig deep into the case. What does a terrorist group and drug and gun smuggling have to do with the death of Catherine Kuang? And how does the recent murder of Kuang's younger sister Allison factor in?

I thought the mystery was good but not as intriguing as the one in the first volume. I have to say that the ending surrounding detective Ralph Dietrich really sparked my interest because who is he and what is he really doing up there on the space station. This definitely had me wanting to know more of this side of the story.

Similar to the volume #1, I feel like this series continues to move a little slow at times but it's still an enjoyable read. I do wish there was more to detective Ristovych than a tough and grouchy older cop I wonder if the author will give more insight into her character as the series moves along.

Trailer for Hallmark Channel's Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Movie

Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery  premieres Sunday July, 26th  9:00 PM EST (check local listing for time)  Hallmark Movie & Mysteries

I had no idea there was a new Aurora Teagarden Mystery movie, it premieres tonight. I may not agree with Candace Cameron Bure's views but everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I still think she's a good actor and I do like many of the Hallmark movies she's starred in. So, hopefully this will be a good one as well.


Movie Description:

Aurora finds a member of her crime buff group, the Real Murders Club, killed in a manner that eerily resembles the crime the club was about to discuss. As other brutal "copycat" killings follow, Aurora will have to uncover the person behind the terrifying game.

Art of the Day: Team Avatar (The Legend of Korra) Enjoying a Sunny Day

Artwork: Just Another Sunny Day At Republic City by Ctreuse109

It's such a beautifully sunny day out that I decided to make this a no blogging (except for this art post) or reading day. I'm just going to enjoy the day relaxing, hanging with friends and maybe even get in a little shopping but no book shopping (yes, I'm still sticking with that no book buying break). 

So, I hope everyone will have a great day!

Art of the Day: Storm (X-Men Days of Future Past)

Artwork: Storm by x-men-pro

This artwork is amazing! Didn't the artist do a fantastic job with this?

I'm sure I am not the only X-Men fan who now has two copies of X-Men Days of Future Past. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, there are two versions of this movie, the theatrical and the Rogue Cut. The latter includes additional scenes that for some unknown reason was left out of the movie.

Throwback Thursday: Birds of Prey TV Series

The Birds of Prey TV series was short lived and never quite lived up to the comic book series that it was unfortunately loosely based on. Birds of Prey premiered October 2002 with the show focusing on Oracle a.k.a. Barbara Gordon (played by Dina Meyer), Huntress a.k.a. Helena Kyle (played by Ashley Scott) and Dinah Redmond (played by Rachel Skarsten) as they go after villains in New Gotham City.

In an older post, I gave 10 reasons why the show didn't work for me but there are a few things I did like about this show which are:


1) It featured Oracle in a prominent role, even though in the episodes near the end of this 13 episode series you can tell that the production team (or perhaps interference from Warner Bros./DC Comics) was doing their best to have Barbara out of her wheelchair and walking around. Side note, Dina Meyer did an awesome job as Oracle.

2) The scenes with Alfred Pennyworth (played by the late Ian Abercrombie) were good.

3) The teamwork and friendship, despite the initial hiccups the Birds eventually became a well meshed team.

Currently Reading for A-Z Title Challenge: Zatanna issue #15

I wanted to end this challenge with one of my favorite characters, The Mistress of Magic, Zatanna. Even though I've read this several years ago this challenge gives me the perfect excuse to read it again.


Book: Zatanna issue #15: Witch Hunt by Derek Fridolfs with illustration by Jamal Igle, ink by John Dell and color by John Kalisz with cover art by Adam Hughes

Edition: Single print issue

Description:

Can Zatanna escape modern day witch hunters who ambush her backstage following the end of one her magic shows?

Book Review: The October Faction vol #1

Book: The October Faction volume #1 (issues #1-6) by Steve Niles with illustrations by Damien Worm

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

The October Faction details the adventures of retired monster-hunter Frederick Allan and his family... which include a thrill-killer, a witch, and a warlock. Because sometimes crazy is the glue that binds a family together.


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Imagine the craziness of The Addams Family but creepier and scarier. The Allan family is full of mystery, with Frederick and his wife Deloris who are now former monster hunters. Frederick now spends his time teaching at college while he avoids the troubles in his marriage. Meanwhile, their children Geoff and Vivian with no desire to further their education the traditional route by going to college have decided to follow in their parents' footsteps and become monster hunters. Something their dad is not too thrilled about.

With Frederick immersed in teaching, Deloris seems to be up to something from sneaking around with Merle Cope and going to a storage unit looking for something.

With the return of Frederick's old friend and former monster hunting partner Lucas showing up, things were starting to get even weirder for the family. Old enemies are coming back to take their revenge. Deloris is in the hospital after being attacked, Vivian is being stalked by a mysterious figure, Geoff's life is in danger and not to mention the entire family is being threatened by Merle Cope. What does a family like this do? They fight back.

With everything that has happened to the family, it has strangely reconnected them. Which may be a good thing because it looks like near the end of this first volume that some serious trouble is heading their way.

I really like this, it's not short on monsters and ghosts but it's this family that's the focus. The writing for this is very good and the artwork is dark yet has an airy misty look to it.

Book Review for A-Z Title Challenge: Young Justice vol #4

Book: Young Justice volume #4 (issues #20-25) by Greg Weisman with illustrations by Christopher Jones and color by Zac Atkinson

Edition: Trade - digital

Rating: 3 stars

Review:

Well, this wasn't an unpleasant read but it was a very busy story with a lot of characters in it. I did think there were some good and bad parts but what makes it sort of lean heavily towards the bad was that the story was trying to do too much. It not only focused on Dick Grayson's birthday but also two simultaneous yet separate alien attacks. Brainiac was attacking Metropolis while Kylstar abducted several heroes. Plus, YJ was trying to protect Noor Harjavti from a possible attack from Queen Bee. Ms. Harjavti was in Metropolis to speak out against the dire situation in Qurac. There was also a new member being recruited to YJ and lastly, the story constantly kept flipping back and forth between two backstories and the present. One of the backstories centered around an earlier birthday party for Dick Grayson and the other focused on an assassination by Queen Bee on Ms. Harjavti's father.

I think if the story had just focused on maybe 2-3 plots maybe this would have been a much better read. The story read as if they author was trying to fit in as many things as possible since this was the last group of issues before the TV and comic book series were cancelled.

I debated on whether to rate this 2 1/2 or 3 stars but in the end I decided to go with the 3 stars since it wasn't bad and I did enjoy reading it.

Art of the Day: Summer Reading

Artwork: Summer Reading by vivsters

Book Review: At Home in Last Chance

Book: At Home in Last Chance (A Place to Call Home book #3) by Cathleen Armstrong

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: Revell

Rating: ;3 1/2 stars

Review:

This is an easy breezy story that takes place after the second book One More Last Chance, with Kaitlyn Reed trying to make up for the huge mistake of leaving her 7 years old daughter Olivia and taking off. Olivia was being taken care of by Kaitlyn's brother Chris where she had to get used to the idea that her mother left her. So for six months she built a new life with her uncle who also had gained custody of the little girl and was starting to no longer feel sad and lonely.

But then her mother Kaitlyn returned trying to make amends, she's doing her best to prove that she is there for her daughter. Yet that doesn't keep the small town residents from constantly commenting about how she left her daughter. However, no one can make her feel any worse than she already feels for what she did.

Although trained as a hair stylist, Kaitlyn works in her brother's restaurant as a waitress to get herself back on track. Even though she has been getting reacquainted with her daughter it still doesn't help that no matter what she still feels like an outsider in Last Chance. And with trying to get her life back in gear the last thing she's looking for is any type of romantic relationship. Since they have brought her nothing but trouble so not falling for the charming Steven Braden is not in her plan.

Kaitlyn isn't the only person who feels like an outsider, Steven shares that feeling. Although he has grown up in the small town he never quite fit in with his family and the town. He works for his uncle and aunt on their farm but he still doesn't feel as if he's really a part of the family. Like Kaitlyn, Steven has made his fare share of mistakes but is always reminded by his family and the rest of the towns people about those mistakes. I guess that's why he can't wait to leave Last Chance, in a few months he plans to leave to attend the police academy but with nothing holding him in place, especially since his flirting effort with Kaitlyn were leading nowhere, he feels as if he could leave even sooner.

Will Kaitlyn and Steven ever get over their pasts and their mistakes or will they continue to let other people's opinions guide their lives?

I like how the story was unfolding but there were times when I wished that Kaitlyn and Steven would have stood up for themselves whenever they were being talked down to as if they were children. They were adults and I kept waiting for both of them to stand up to their judgmental family. Yes, Kaitlyn made a extremely awful mistake of leaving her daughter but no one was seeing all the good she's done since then and how hard she was working to fix things and the same goes with Steven.

The author did a good job with the characters they seem like regular everyday people. This is definitely a story about forgiveness to oneself and to others but also learning to look pass your mistakes and let it go so you can become the person you want to be.

The pacing for the story was good until the ending which felt a little rushed and unexpected, hopefully the next book will continue from there. Just to inform readers this is a faith based book but it's not so in your face that it feels preachy.

Comic Book Wednesday: July 22nd Picks

Happy Comic Book Wednesday,

Kind of a big list this week. Not sure if everything will be sitting on the shelf by the time I make it to the comic book store later today. I do have a lot of Archie comics on my list including the last issue of the Archie vs. Predator miniseries (Dark Horse Comics) but also the Archie vs. Sharknado one-shot.

The only three new books are Cyborg, the one-shot JLA: Gods and Monsters: Batman and Sword of Sorrow: Red Sonja & Jungle Girl miniseries.

Well, that's it for me, what's on your list?



Archie Comics

Book: Archie's Funhouse Comics Double Digest #16

Description:

Archie's best (non-human) pal Vegas is excited for a day at the dog park-except that Mr. Oswald T. Clump, a millionaire mogul who's come to Riverdale, is threatening to tear down the dog park in favor of putting up his own Clump Plaza!

This looks like a job for the pets of Riverdale! With a little bit of luck, will they be able to save their park, or will it be a ruff ride for our fearless furry friends? Find out in 'Dog Walk, Don't Run,' the fun lead story to this comics double digest!

Art of the Day: Misty Knight

Artwork: cover art for Heroes for Hire issue #4 (2011) by Rob Schwager

Book of Interest: Vampires in the Lemon Grove

The description featuring different types of supernatural stories seems intriguing. I wonder if the library will have this? If not then I'll add it to my wishlist to pick up later on after my book buying break is over.


Book: Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell

Description:

From the author of the New York Times best seller Swamplandia!—a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize—a magical new collection of stories that showcases Karen Russell’s gifts at their inimitable best.

A dejected teenager discovers that the universe is communicating with him through talismanic objects left behind in a seagull’s nest. A community of girls held captive in a silk factory slowly transmute into human silkworms, spinning delicate threads from their own bellies, and escape by seizing the means of production for their own revolutionary ends. A massage therapist discovers she has the power to heal by manipulating the tattoos on a war veteran’s lower torso. When a group of boys stumble upon a mutilated scarecrow bearing an uncanny resemblance to the missing classmate they used to torment, an ordinary tale of high school bullying becomes a sinister fantasy of guilt and atonement. In a family’s disastrous quest for land in the American West, the monster is the human hunger for acquisition, and the victim is all we hold dear. And in the collection’s marvelous title story—an unforgettable parable of addiction and appetite, mortal terror and mortal love—two vampires in a sun-drenched lemon grove try helplessly to slake their thirst for blood. 

Art of the Day: Punisher and the Hulk

Artwork: cover art for The Incredible Hulk issue #8 (2012) by Michael Komarck

Toy Corner: Teen Titans Go! Action Figure Set

Teen Titans Go! 2 Inch 6-Pack Action Figure Set    $19.99


Toys are not just for kids, with a little creative thinking, these little action figures could easily look great as home décor especially with how cute and colorful they are.

You could stack Robin, Raven, Cyborg, Starfire, Beastboy and Silkie together or separately on a bookcase/shelf. Or, if you have an entry way, you could place them on a side table in a cute tray. You could even use them as a nontraditional table center piece.

However, if there happens to be a little kid in your life who loves watching Teen Titans Go! animated series and would absolutely love this set then I guess they could even make great toys.

Book Review: Material Girls

Book: Material Girls by Elaine Dimopulos

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group: HMH Books for Young Readers

Description:

In Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde’s world, teens are the gatekeepers of culture. A top fashion label employs sixteen-year-old Marla to dictate hot new clothing trends, while Ivy, a teen pop star, popularizes the garments that Marla approves. Both girls are pawns in a calculated but seductive system of corporate control, and both begin to question their world’s aggressive levels of consumption. Will their new “eco-chic” trend subversively resist and overturn the industry that controls every part of their lives?

Art of the Day: I Am Captain America

Artwork: I Am Captain America variant cover by Skottie Young for FF issue #5 (2011)

This is so cute. A little boy trying to protect his friend by standing up against a bully. Cap would be proud.

Book Review: Flash Gordon Omnibus vol #1

Book: Flash Gordon Omnibus volume #1 (issues #1-8, Flash Gordon 2014 Holiday Special and Flash Gordon 2014 Annual) by various writers and artists

(This is a Partial Advance Review Copy featuring the first six issues instead of the complete book) 

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Description:

Flash Gordon never fit in on Earth. But on the bizarre planet Mongo, Flash's thirst for thrills and daring danger makes him the perfect weapon against the iron-fisted tyrant Ming the Merciless and his awful inter-planetary swarms of terror! Can the cocksure Man From Earth funnel his overconfidence into saving whole worlds? Will his less-rambunctious allies, Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov, force a lasting peace with such savage races as the Beast-Men of Arboria and Hawkmen of Sky City? Or will the universe fall to MingThe full-throttle, complete Flash Gordon saga is collected here, featuring epic space action from the wildly talented creative team of Jeff Parker (Batman '66, Aquaman) and Evan Shaner (Adventures of Superman). This out-of-sight Omnibus edition also includes bonus stories from faraway Mongo, as well as a comprehensive cover gallery!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Flash Gordon is such an idiot, well not really, he is smart but it's the fact that he's an adventure seeking adrenaline junky who has never met a sport or activity he didn't like that can sometimes get him (and others) into trouble. Sometimes he just doesn't think things through before he acts yet you can't help but love him.

In this first volume (which takes place after Kings Watch) Flash, along with reporter Dale Arden and scientist Dr. Zarkov are in the Z-Plane trying to escape from Emperor Ming of Mongo's troops when they take refuge on the planet Arboria. As they were flying over the planet they realized it's mostly filled with huge trees that are even taller than the tallest sky scraper. Running low on fuel Flash landed but they were now stuck there unless they can find some kind of fuel.

While exploring the trees they were nearly attacked by an enormous worm and before they could become that bug's meal they were saved by Prince Barin and some of the royal guards. And just before Flash could tip off Barin (since Arboria is a colony of Mongo), Dale comes up with quick lie that they were Ming's Royal Historians. She was hoping saying that would not only keep them alive but also give them a chance to find another fuel source.

However, the trio found out so much more including that many of the people of Arboria were being turned into monsters for Ming to use as his mind controlled warriors. Flash not liking that at all tried to stop the machine but that also caused Ming to find out that they were on Arboria. He ordered for Flash to be tossed into the Imperator Bout which is similar to the gladiatorial fights.

Flash's actions from earlier found him getting some help including from Prince Barin who had been wanting to free his planet from the Emperor. As the trio helped the Prince free his imprisoned people and destroy the arena and factory they made a daring escape.

Yet that wasn't the end of the trio's adventure, they were soon on their way to another planet to avoid Ming's troops. This time they met winged people and sirens. As the sirens carried off Flash and Dr. Zarkov, Dale was left stranded on a floating island when unlikely help showed up, two winged guards. They were not really there to help, they only wanted to retrieve something the trio had took from Ming but she used that opportunity as a plan to rescue Flash and Dr. Zarkov.

Since this is a partial copy it ends on a cliffhanger of the trio falling to their doom. Will they be saved or is it the end for them?

I absolutely love this Flash Gordon, he's a total nut but he's always trying to help others. I also think Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov are pretty amazing too and even when they get dragged into Flash's problems they can get themselves out of it.

Prior to reading Kings Watch, I've never read any Flash Gordon comics but I have to say that I am quickly becoming a fan.

Book of Interest: Spellcasting in Silk

I just added this to my wishlist and although I'm a little behind with reading this series that hasn't stopped me from wanting to buy this. And as soon as I'm finished with my current reading, I'm going to start on the third book in this series, "Hexes and Hemlines".


Book: Spellcasting in Silk (A Witchcraft Mystery book #7) by Juliet Blackwell

Description:

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Vision in Velvet comes more spooky sleuthing with Lily Ivory, vintage boutique owner and gifted witch…

Lily would like nothing better than to relax, enjoy her friends, and take care of business at her store, which is booming thanks to San Francisco's upcoming Summer of Love Festival.  But as the unofficial witchy consultant to the SFPD, she is pulled into yet another case.

A woman has jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, and her apparent suicide may be connected to a suspicious botanica in the Mission District. When the police investigate the shop, they ask Lily to look into its mysterious owner, whose granddaughter also appears to be missing. As Lily searches for the truth, she finds herself confronted with a confounding mystery and some very powerful magic…

Book Review: Deathstroke vol #1 (New 52)

Book: Deathstroke volume #1: Gods of War (issues #1-6) written and illustrated by Tony S. Daniel with ink by Sandu Florea and color by Tomeu Morey

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: DC Comics

Description:

Slade Wilson is the world’s deadliest assassin. His reputation doesn’t just precede him, it’s his most important asset. So when Slade is betrayed by his trusted friend and handler and left for dead, the world thinks Deathstroke has finally been terminated. Slade’s most valuable possession has been taken from him.

Now, the world’s deadliest assassin has awoken with a completely different face and a completely new mission: find the man who arranged for his death, and who is building an army that will threaten every nation on Earth. Find Odysseus.

But as Slade hunts Odysseus, Odysseus hunts the one man who will unlock his ultimate power and ultimate victory. And all three have one thing in common-a shared history that could destroy Deathstroke’s new life before he even has a chance to build it!

Writer/artist Tony Daniel (DETECTIVE COMICS) carves a new path for the DC Universe’s deadliest killer…and newest hero?


Rating: 1 star

Review:

Right off the bat the writing for this is horrible but the artwork is great (which by the way is the best thing about this). However, good artwork can not save a poorly executed, poorly written group of issues. This is just a sad piece of work.

This new take on Deathstroke has him being de-aged after some kind of mysterious treatment that I-Ching performed on him that ended up kicking up his healing factors. Slade had been ambushed and was nearly dead. He woke up a much younger man who was now being hunted by someone named Odysseus and he no longer had any of his resources which were supposedly taken by his friend Benjamin Williams.

A mysterious man called Red Fury, who had recently hired Slade wants him to find the others that Odysseus is after.

There is so much going on in this convoluted story, from a back story showing Deathstroke rescuing his son Jericho then killing Odysseus, who turns out to be Slade's own father Charles Wilson. Also two operatives of Odysseus, Lady Shiva and Bronze Tiger tried separately to kill Deathstroke but their plans didn't work. Jericho is in Gotham looking for his sister Rose with another New 52 change that now has Rose as the older sibling.

The mystery about who Red Fury is, was solved with Slade finding out that Red Fury is Kendal James a member of some shadowy organization. The organization is trying to stop Odysseus as well as keep him from using Jericho's powers to further his plan.

Slade having no money or any other resources is now forced to work with the organization. But first he's going to Gotham to find his son. For some reason he sought out Harley Quinn's help who was still mad at him for double crossing the Suicide Squad. She had a plan of her own to double cross him by leading him to an abandon school where multiple people were found murdered. With Batman showing up believing Slade was the cause of it. Of course they fight but the younger Slade was unable as well as being unprepared to take on Batman. Seriously, Slade's inner monologue actually stated that Batman was the last guy he hoped to meet in Gotham. It's Gotham, Batman would be the one person you are absolutely most likely to run into if you're a villain.

This was just a pointless violent story filled with a lot of characters that added nothing to it. This story made no sense and to think it started out with so much potential but then went downhill. The author tried to inject a little humor in it with Harley's scenes but it was stale.

I don't know why they decided to make Deathstroke young but he works best as a cold and hardened calculating old man. The new Slade is not very smart, he's weaker and can barely fight. I guess that's the thing, despite the title of this book it's not Deathstroke. It's just some guy who happens to have the same name as Slade Wilson and wears a costume similar to Deathstroke.

The New 52 sure knows how to ruin a great character, the funny thing is, Deathstroke previously had a series in the New 52 but it was canceled again due to bad writing. I wonder if this one will be too.

Art of the Day: Captain America and Iron Man (Avengers movie)

Artwork: The Avengers: Rogers and Stark by Bayou-Kun