Sunday, January 31, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #31: kate spade New York: Things We Love

Sometimes, you need a dose of inspiration and I guess that's what this book is about. According to the description, the staff at kate spade New York compiled a list of things that inspire and interest them.

I love that cover because you never know what will inspire you.


Book: kate spade New York: Things We Love: Twenty Years of Inspiration, Intriguing Bits and Other Curiosities by kate spade New York

Description:

within the four walls of kate spade new york, personal style is applauded and cultural curiosity is encouraged. long before the days of pinboards and social sharing, the brand’s in-house creative team began amassing a collection of things we love on their website: a crayon ring, a cocktail doodle, a particularly dreamy photograph.

people began visiting and chiming in with suggestions. now, the things we love have come to life in celebration of the brand’s 20th anniversary. each of the book’s 20 chapters is filled with things we love—from the color red to a well-placed bow to a sense of humor and handwritten notes. part visual diary, part inspirational reference and sprinkled throughout with playful tips and practical advice, things we love is a beautiful compilation that visually represents the spirit of kate spade new york—a place where the colors are bold, smart design is key and fashion is fun.

Art of the Day: Black Canary and Green Arrow


Artwork: Black Canary and Green Arrow - Esquire 1972 by Phil Noto

Saturday, January 30, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #30: Spidey vol #1

I am a huge Spider-Man fan and I think what makes him interesting is that despite the powers he's just a regular guy. And even though most of the people in the city hate him that doesn't stop him from going out there and being a hero. Anyway, he doesn't do what he does for thanks and if he did, he would probably never get them.

I want to read this, it follows Spider-Man during some of his earlier moments of being out there fighting crime. This should make for a fun read.


Book: Spidey volume #1 (issue #1-5) by Robbie Thompson with illustrations by Nick Bradshaw

Publication: June 28, 2016

Description:

Think you know everything about Peter Parker? Think again! Expect action, adventure and hilarity in equal measure as we head back to high school to explore Pete's early days! Modern talent combines with the classic Marvel flavor to present the web-slinging wonder's younger years in truly amazing, spectacular, sensational style. It's a return to the hassles of overdue homework, not knowing how to talk to girls and a never-ending merry-go-round of madness courtesy of the best rogues' gallery in comics, each one more incredible than the last.

You'll love watching Spidey tangle with Doctor Octopus and dig Sandman, the walking beach. With these and more faces from Peter's past -both familiar and surprising figures -you'll remember what made Spider-Man the world's greatest hero in the first place!

Book Review: Red Sonja: The Black Tower


Book: Red Sonja: The Black Tower (issues #1-4) by Frank Tieri with illustrations by Cezar Razek and color by Salvatore Aiala Studios

Cover Art by Amanda Conner with color by Paul Mounts

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

What is the Black Tower? What startling mysteries does it contain within its walls? And most shockingly... how will its very existence cause the death of Red Sonja?

When the Hyrkanian swordswoman rides into the city of Lur, she discovers that a mysterious ebon fortress has risen in the night, inspiring paranoia among the populace. While some fearful citizens are driven to murderous frenzy, others become fanatic devotees of the tower's unknown inhabitants. As the years go by, Sonja is always drawn back to this desperate place. Who are the Soulless, and what terrible fate will they bring to the red-tressed heroine?


Rating: 1 star

Review:

Oh, boy this was bad. Most of the story appears to be taking place somewhere off page and the rest was a jumbled and disjointed mess. There was like this weird sci-fi/Star Wars/Doctor Who element to this which only made this poorly written story worse.

Red Sonja: The Black Tower opens with Red Sonja riding through the town of Lur and end up fighting off some barbarians who had been attacking the people who came out of a mysterious tower. From there the story follows one brutal attack after another until strange robotic men emerge from the tower and start taking over the town. Later on Red Sonja mounts an attack but things don't fare well for her. Then Thraxis tells his story of who he was and why he was there. Then some convoluted time travel stuff happened that did nothing to improve this story.

This story moved far too quickly and didn't take any time to pause and let the reader in on the purpose of this story. It wasn't until the last issue that the futuristic plot was unfolded in this pitiful story.

This was one weird and poorly told story.

Fashion Meets Comics: Plum Pudding


No one in Berry Bitty City is more knowledgeable about dance than Plum Pudding. As the owner of Plum Dance Studio she teaches her students a variety of dances including water ballet.

Since dancing is her life, her wardrobe reflects that with a ballet motif.

To re-create an outfit, I decided to keep it a little simple by sticking with only the pink and purple colors. I definitely wanted to keep it dance inspired but I also wanted it to be something that could go straight from the studio to meeting up with friends. Casual and comfortable but still stylish.

For the shoes, I went with a wedge bootie in a neutral color, so as to keep the focus on the outfit.

Art of the Day: Beast Boy and Raven


Artwork: Raven and Beast Boy by Drakyx

Friday, January 29, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #29: What I Know For Sure

I've found that good advice never really goes out of style. And if a very successful person such as Oprah Winfrey wants to share some of her life experiences, I certainly wouldn't mind giving it a read.



Book: What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey

Description:

As a creative force, student of the human heart and soul, and champion of living the life you want, Oprah Winfrey stands alone. Over the years, she has made history with a legendary talk show - the highest-rated program of its kind, launched her own television network, become the nation's only African-American billionaire, and been awarded both an honorary degree by Harvard University and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. From all her experiences, she has gleaned life lessons―which, for fourteen years, she's shared in O, The Oprah Magazine's widely popular "What I Know For Sure" column, a monthly source of inspiration and revelation.

Now, for the first time, these thoughtful gems have been revised, updated, and collected in What I Know For Sure, a beautiful cloth bound book with a ribbon marker, packed with insight and revelation from Oprah Winfrey. Organized by theme―joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power―these essays offer a rare, powerful and intimate glimpse into the heart and mind of one of the world's most extraordinary women―while providing readers a guide to becoming their best selves. Candid, moving, exhilarating, uplifting, and frequently humorous, the words Oprah shares in What I Know For Sure shimmer with the sort of truth that readers will turn to again and again.

Lois Lane Friday: The Supergirl TV Show's Lack of Respect for Lois Lane


The Supergirl TV series mistreatment of Lois Lane is a topic of discussion that has been heating up lately.

I'm so glad I stopped watching this show because I would have been upset with all the insults that Cat Grant and Lucy Lane have been dishing out towards Lois Lane. For a so called show that's all about "Girl Power" and "Feminism", why is it okay to bash Lois? That's so hypocritical. Where is the respect for an iconic character?

I have a friend, who is a fan of the show but an even bigger fan of Lois Lane, show me some of the scenes. If anything those scenes show how petty, jealous and bitter both Cat and Lucy are. Yes, both characters have always seemed to dislike Lois in the comics but since she's not on the show what's the point of including insults. Before I stopped watching the show, I always noticed how Superman and Clark Kent were always spoken of in a positive way even though not appearing on the show. Which is surprising since Clark dumped Kara off to be raised by strangers and he also wasn't there to help with her training yet neither Kara or Jimmy ever said anything bad about him. So, why is it okay for Lois to get the insults?

It's no surprise that Cat resents Lois because although she may have her own news organization, she has yet to achieve half of the accolades, recognition and success that Lois has. But Cat is older now and shouldn't feel the need to lower herself to making insults about Lois just to feel good about herself. The show's creators/writers didn't have to create this Lucy who is okay with someone insulting her sister and also joining in. Wouldn't it have been more interesting if Lucy stood up for Lois?

I find it very disappointing that Lois Lane continues to be treated poorly. It also brings up a lot of stereotypes about strong and successful women and that the only way women bond is by putting down another woman.

I guess Supergirl is following the unfortunate new tradition of bashing Lois Lane. I wonder if this got the DC Comics' seal of approval?

Art of the Day: Asami and Avatar Korra


Artwork: Korrasami! by talitapersi

Book Review: Sabrina: The Teen-Age Witch issue #27


Book: Sabrina: The Teen-Age Witch issue #27

Edition: Single Print Edition

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

This is another issue I found in the discount bin at the comic book store. The cover may not be in the best condition but it was still a good read. This was published in 1975 and the funny thing is, I couldn't find any credit for the writers and artists for any of the stories. Perhaps they didn't start listing them until later on. In this issue, there were four Sabrina stories and one Li'l Jinx short story.


Story #1: "Salem Sing Along"

In this story, Sabrina's Aunt Hilda was not enjoying the song that Sabrina was singing. She felt the song was too modern and too kind and caring, certainly not something that a witch should be singing. Plus, Hilda preferred the old songs. Feeling defeated, Sabrina went up to the attic to think and wound up finding some of Hilda's old music books. After she found a song that she really liked, Sabrina went to go play it for her aunt. However, she had no idea that playing the song would cause so much trouble.

When she played the song, it was like she conjured a spell because it was a total magical disaster causing all types of problems around the house. But that turned out to be a good thing for Sabrina because Aunt Hilda no longer had a problem with the song Sabrina used to sing.



Story #2: "Not Wanted!" (Li'l Jinx)

In this short story, Li'l Jinx had a cold and couldn't go out to play with her friend Gi Gi.



Story #3: "Cold Wave"

On a very hot and sunny day, Harvey came over for a visit and couldn't help commenting on how cool it was in Sabrina's house. He had no idea it was magic keeping the house cool and in a rare display of kindness Aunt Hilda placed a spell on Harvey to keep him cool once he left the house.

It wasn't until Sabrina's Uncle Ambrose pointed out a problem in the kitchen that everyone realized that Hilda's magic was malfunctioning. They had to call in the Zelda, the Head Witch to fix all of Hilda's spells. It's a good thing Sabrina remembered the spell casted on Harvey before it was too late.



Story #4: "A Spell in the Sun"

Sabrina, Hilda and Ambrose take in a day at the beach but Hilda was not enjoying herself. From a rambunctious little boy who kept tossing sand in her face to a rude teenager, Hilda used a little magic to make the day better but her attempt to enjoy a meal on the beach may have created some unexplainable trouble for the family.



Story #5: "Pocus Hocus"

This last story has Sabrina assisting Harvey in a magic show. Seeing how horrible he was doing with his act, Sabrina cast a few spells to help him out. Thanks to Sabrina's help the audience thought Harvey was only pretending to be a bad magician. Too bad Harvey wasn't in on it because despite all the cheers from the audience he ended up being confused with how the show turned out.


Having magical powers doesn't make life easy, it seems to cause nothing but trouble for Sabrina and her family. Even when they try to help, it turns out wrong. I love reading these old comics, they're so much fun. The stories were written as light and humorous with the artwork showing all the zaniness that occurs.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #28: Rooville

A new age culture seems to have descended upon the residents of a small town in Iowa in this book. And Owen Martin, a former resident is back to see if he can try to recapture some of the life he left behind but it looks like the simply life might not be easy to find. Especially with the town becoming divided.

This seems like it will be an interesting book.


Book: Rooville by Julie Long

Description:

TV weatherman Owen Martin is relieved to leave Southern California―the monotonously mild climate and the holistically hip trends―and head home to Iowa, back to the four seasons and the simple life he knew before his father died. But he can’t predict the atmospheric pressure awaiting him: The town his family founded has become the center of the Transcendental Meditation movement and host to all things alternative. There are mass meditations and dosha discussions, a vegan cafe has replaced the burger joint, and all the doors now face east. Far worse, however, is what the meditating mayor has planned for the Martin family’s farm.

In a town divided between “Regulars” and “Roos” (gurus), Owen is sure where he stands―until he falls for a levitating yogi. Before he knows it, he’s caught in a veritable tornado of midwesternness vs. mindfulness. Can he save the farm, get the girl, and reunite the town? Maybe . . . if he’s willing to forecast a change in the weather.

Book Review: Betty and Veronica issue #55


Book: Betty and Veronica issue #55

Edition: Single Print Issue

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review:

When you go to your local comic book store, do you ever visit the discount section? I found this and few other Archie Comics in the dollar bin. This issue was published in 1992 and contains four stories.


Story #1: "Lunch Break" by Frank Doyle with illustrations by Dan DeCarlo, ink by Alison Flood and color by Barry Grossman

In this story, Betty and Veronica were planning on enjoying a day at the beach. But first they had to deal with windy weather making it nearly impossible for them to roll out their beach towels. With that taken care of it was time to enjoy a swim but did Jughead eat the food from their picnic basket? It also looks like he may not be the only threat to their lunch. 


Story #2: "The Victory" by George Gladir with illustrations by Dan DeCarlo, ink by Alison Flood and color by Barry Grossman

In The Victory, Betty's known for being a calm and happy-go-lucky person which is usually a good thing but not in this case. With the school's swim meet approaching, Coach Clayton was trying to figure out how to get Betty to swim the way she did during practice. Veronica told him that the only reason Betty was able to swim so well was because she was angry. Coach came up with the idea to ask Archie, Jughead and Veronica to see if they could help make Betty mad so she can swim her best. At first nothing seemed to work that is until Jughead and Archie came up with the ultimate test to Betty's good mood.



Story #3: "The Hitter" by Frank Doyle with illustrations by Dan DeCarlo, ink by Alison Flood and color by Barry Grossman

In this story, Archie and Jughead were practicing for the next day's baseball game when they meet Sal, a kid who is probably one of the best baseball players they've ever seen. They ask Sal if he wanted to play on their baseball team for tomorrow's game. However, it wasn't until Betty and Veronica showed up that they uncovered the truth about Sal, who in a surprising twist turned out to be a girl whose full name is Sally. She thought that as a girl, they wouldn't let her be on the team. But the girls were able to convince her that Archie and Jughead wouldn't mind that she's a girl all that matters is how great a baseball player she is.



Story #4: "Nature Calls" by Mike Pellowski with illustrations by Dan DeCarlo, ink by Alison Flood and color by Barry Grossman

In this last story, Betty and some of the other girls were fed up with Veronica stealing all the guys' attention at the party. But Betty had a plan to give Veronica a dose of her own medicine. Betty had invited Veronica to spend the day with her at the Environmental Awareness Camp, where Betty worked at. She figured that it would be one of the few places where Veronica wouldn't be able to attract a lot of attention especially since the guys there are all about the environment. Everything was going according to plan if not for Betty making a mistake which drew all the guys' attention towards Veronica.


Sometimes, it's hard to imagine that these two are friends let alone best friends especially with how competitive they can be. But I guess that's what makes these stories so much fun to read. This was a very enjoyable and entertaining read and I love the artwork.

Art of the Day: Billy and Teddy


Artwork: First Date by Cris-Art

Currently Reading: Accidentally Fabulous


My bookcase is starting to feel like unearth buried treasure. I keep finding all these books I forgot I had. I read the first two books quite a while ago and really like them. This is a cute little fashion series that's about Imogene who is a high school student, fashion writer and fashion forecaster.

I hope this last book in the series will be a fun read.


Book: Accidentally Fabulous (The Fashion-Forward Adventures of Imogene book #3) by Lisa Barham with illustrations by Sujean Rim

Edition: Paperback

Description:

Imogene's going from starstruck to starlet!

Imogene and Evie are headed to L.A. for a fashion-filled spring break. Hello, gorgeous beaches, celebrity sightings, and nonstop shopping on Rodeo Drive!

Then the spotlight turns on Imogene and suddenly everyone in Hollywood wants to buy her life story. With a famous heartthrob to hang out with and A-list status to get her in anywhere, Imogene is L.A.'s girl of the moment. But what about Evie? Becoming the new It Girl without losing old friends is harder than it looks....

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #27: Doraemon vol #1

I watched the Doraemon cartoon that was on Disney XD but had no idea that it had originally been a manga.

The cartoon was really funny with Doraemon trying everything he can to make Noby not be so lazy. I really can't wait to read this.


Book: Doraemon volume #1 by Fujiko F. Fujio

Description:

Doraemon, a cat robot, traveled back in time from the 22nd century to watch over Noby who’s a good kid but terrible at sports, never studies, and has an incredible capacity for slacking off. Doraemon tries to help Noby with nice but often unpredictable gadgets from his 4th dimensional pocket as Noby’s clumsy and always getting into trouble. Can Doraemon solve the problems and change Noby’s fortune for the better?

Volume #1 contains:

1. All the Way From the Future
2. Return to Un-sender
3. Noby's City of Dreams

Nesting: Samatha Jones' Apartment (Sex and the City)


Samantha Jones' New York City studio apartment was set up for one purpose and that was to entertain. And I don't mean for dinner parties. Something that surprised me, with her bold and racy personality, her apartment had a very minimalist feel. There were no knick-knacks or clutter strewn about.


Book Review: Montmartre Mysteries


Book: Montmartre Mysteries (Winemaker Detective Mysteries book #8) by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noel Balen with translations by Sally Pane

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Wine expert Benjamin Cooker travels to the French capital, where he is called to help care for some vineyards in Montmartre, a neighborhood full of memories for him. He stops in on an old friend. Arthur Solacroup left the Foreign Legion to open a wine shop good enough to be in the Cooker Guide. But an attempted murder brings the past back into the present. But which past? The winemaker detective and his assistant Virgile want to know more, and their investigation leads them from the sands of Djibouti to the vineyards of Côte du Rhône.


Rating: 2 stars

Review:

In Monmartre Mysteries, Wine Expert Benjamin Cooker and his trusty assistant Virgile Lanssien traveled to Paris for a wine tasting. But Cooker was also in the city to visit Bretonneau Hospital on a request to see if he could help them salvage the vines in the hospital's vineyard.

As Benjamin Cooker was on his way to visit his friend Arthur Solacroup, a local wine seller, he witnessed something strange. He saw a man dressed in fatigues and wearing a ski mask run out of his friend's wine store. When Cooker went into the store he found a horrible sight, his friend had been shot. He was still alive but in poor condition.

Although Cooker and Solacroup were friends he didn't know a lot about him. He couldn't stop thinking about the attack or Solacroup's mysterious past, wondering if the two may be connected.

I do enjoy this cozy mystery series but I was disappointed with this story because all the ingredients were here for a good mystery but it barely contained one. The fun of reading a mystery is reading along following the clues and see if you can figure everything out. This story didn't provide a lot of clues and there was no way that reading this, the reader could figure out the mystery. Which is why I was very disappointed with the ending because that was nothing more than information dump.

The mystery may have been a bust but I love the writing, the characters and the scenery. Perhaps the next book will include a much more developed mystery.

Comic Book Wednesday: Jan 27th Picks

Happy Comic Book Wednesday,

I have a long list of my usual books with the Ghostbusters International miniseries as the only new one. Even though I'm interested in reading the miniseries Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana (the first issue is out today), I decided to wait and pick it up in the trade edition.

Other than that, here's the rest of my list:


Archie Comics

Archie Funhouse Comics Double Digest #18

Book: Archie Funhouse Comics Double Digest #18

Description:

Poor Pop Tate is at wits' end and could use a break-thankfully Archie & the gang have volunteered to run the Chocklit Shoppe for the weekend so he can get a well deserved vacation! Of course this turns out to be one of the busiest weekends ever for the Shoppe.

But with the girls in charge, things should run smoothly, right? Get ready for some hamburger hijinx and milkshake madness in 'Pop's Weekend Off!' the fun lead story to this comics double digest!


Art of the Day: Luke Skywalker


Artwork: Star Wars: Luke Skywalker on Endor for Star Wars: The Card Game by Anthony Foti

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #26: The Tale of Despereaux

I've seen the movie but never read the book. So, I'm going to put this on my wishlist because I liked the movie and figured the book would be a fun read.



Book: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo with illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering

Description:

A brave mouse, a covetous rat, a wishful serving girl, and a princess named Pea come together in Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Medal–winning tale.

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.

Nesting: A Rabbit Bank

Brass Rabbit Bank   $24.00  West Elm (westelm.com)


I currently have my extra change sitting in a tray but it's starting to get a little messy. I've been looking for something a little more chic yet still cute to put my money in.

Most of the banks that I see are ones for little kids such as adorable brightly colored piggy banks or of superheroes.

I think this little rabbit bank is really cute but it still seems grown up.

Book Review: Best Friends Forever


Book: Best Friends Forever (The Girls of Canby Hall book #6) by Emily Chase

Cover Art by David Cook

Edition: Paperback

Description:

Dana thinks country means quilts from cozy boutiques, and Faith can't imagine a town without hot pretzel vendors...

But they find themselves home with Shelley in Iowa for the last weeks of summer, and small-town life is anything but humdrum! One of Shelley's brothers, Jeff, falls hard for Dana, and she wonders if she's always going to attract country types. Everyone is getting ready for the County Fair when Faith is suddenly, shockingly ill. The best doctors in Pine Bluff can't figure out what's wrong. Dana and Shelley stand helplessly by, worried that for Faith, small-town care simply isn't going to be enough....



Art of the Day: Mulan


Artwork: Mulan with lines by Josh C. Martin and color by greendesire

Monday, January 25, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #25: Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider

One good thing about those Marvel movies, they put the spotlight on Black Widow and increased the character's popularity. And with the success of those movies, Marvel has been re-publishing older comics.

This Black Widow trade includes two stories that I haven't read but I really want to.



Book: Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider (issues Black Widow (1999) 1-3 and Black Widow (2001) 1-3) by Devin Grayson and Greg Rucka with illustrations by J.G. Jones and Scott Hampton

Publication: February 16, 2016

Description:

Natasha Romanov has always led a life of adventure. First, she was a Soviet spy, fighting on the Cold War front line. She then defected to the West, eventually becoming a super hero and an Avenger. Natasha has earned a reputation as a consummate professional, coldly efficient and as deadly as her namesake. But now, her time as Black Widow may be running out. Yelena Belova, the new Black Widow, seeks to claim the mantle she feels was stolen from her Motherland.

Fitness Monday: Finding a Fitness Inspiration


I decided to take inspiration from some of my favorite characters, I thought about why I like them so much. It's mainly because they're self-motivated even if some of their motivation may come from tragedy.

Batman's training may be excessive but what I see is someone who has made a goal and does everything he can to achieve that. What I take from that is if being healthy and getting in shape is important to me then I need to make it a priority.

Being the Avatar can not be easy, but both Aang and Korra had to train to master each of the elements before they could truly be called the Avatar. That takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

Storm's calm demeanor is a necessity because if she loses control, her powers could make the storm of the century look like a light spring drizzle. Her staying in control takes a lot of discipline.

These are only a small fraction of the characters that inspire me but I got a good place to start with:

1. Prioritizing

2. Hard Work and Dedication

3. Discipline.

And even though it's not on the list but most of all is to have fun. Exercising doesn't have to be boring.

Art of the Day: Batgirl (Stephanie Brown)


Artwork: cover art for Batgirl issue #10 by Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau

Book Review: Sif issue #1


Book: Sif issue #1 by Kelly Sue DeConnick with illustrations by Ryan Stegman with color by Juan Doe

Cover art by Travel Foreman and June Chung

Edition: Digital

Description:

SPINNING OUT OF THE PAGES OF THOR! The Asgardian warrior Sif was no stranger to battle; the heft of steel, the pitch of combat, the spray of an enemy's blood...she even craved it. But when Asgard and its people made their glorious return through the power of Thor, Sif's body was stolen and possessed by crafty Loki. Cowed by such defilement, Sif hasn't been her true self...until a former lover and mate in arms comes to her with a call to battle and blood-spattering adventure...Now Sif sets out with Beta Ray Bill to fight her way back to true warrior's glory!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In this one-shot, Lady Sif was still getting over the ordeal of Loki stealing and taking over her body and banishing her spirit into the body of an aging and dying woman. Despite Thor restoring her, she no longer felt like the warrior and goddess she once was. Since then, she has been wasting her days away in the little town of Broxton, OK.

Her mundane evening at the local bar was interrupted when Beta Ray Bill and his companion and girlfriend Ti Asha Ra showed up looking for Thor. Beta Ray Bill's ship had been stolen by pirates and needed help in getting it back. But since the God of Thunder was unavailable, Sif offered to help.

Reclaiming the ship will be no simple task because the pirates were infected but the Lady Sif is more than ready for the challenge.

This was very well-written with great artwork. I like this comic because not only does it shows that Lady Sif is awesome but that it showed a rare glimpse of Sif fearful of the experience she went through with Loki. But what I love is that despite that, she was not going to continue to wallow in self-pity. And she was also no longer going to let that fear continue to control her. Fighting with those space pirates reaffirmed her fighting skills but completing the task of stopping their plans seemed to have restored her.

A great issue that makes me wonder why Sif doesn't have her own comic book series.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Must See TV: The X-Files

I have been waiting on this 6-part miniseries for a while and I'm super excited that it finally airs tonight. I know another episode airs tomorrow but I'm not sure about the schedule for the rest of the episodes (which is why I set my DVR to tape this).

I love watching The X-Files because it was one of those shows that always kept you guessing.


The X-Files   10:00 PM EST   FOX


Episode #1: My Struggle

Description:

In the Season 10 opener, agents Mulder and Scully return after 13 years to investigate a government conspiracy at the behest of a popular web TV show host, who introduces them to a woman who claims she's an alien abductee and shares startling news.

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #24: The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

I'm a huge fan of Jane Austen's stories and I also enjoy reading adaptions or inspired stories based on Austen's work.

Here is a book that I would like to read. Although I've never watched the YouTube series this book is based on, I did read a sample and found it to be interesting.



Book: The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet (Lizzie Bennet Diaries book #1) by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

Description:

Based on the Emmy Award–winning YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Twenty‑four‑year‑old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters—beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight.

When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck‑up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets—and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on‑screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera—from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents’ unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future—and whom she wants to share it with.

Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before.

Fashion Meets Comics: Tabitha Galavan (Gotham)


I was inspired by Gotham's Queen of the Whip and notorious hitwoman, Tabitha Galavan to create a Fashion Meets Comics post.

It's an absolute understatement to say that Tabitha is dangerous, in fact she down right brutal and not to mention deadly. She's a total sociopath that not only enjoys the kill but torturing people.

Now as for her fashion, she's shown wearing black but it's anything but basic. There are always a lot of textures and details applied to her look.

Instead of creating an outfit, this time I picked some pieces I thought represented the character.



Saturday, January 23, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #23: Revival vol #1

Doing this challenge has given me a chance to find so many books that I would like to read especially a lot of independent comic books.

I generally read a lot of comics from the big two (DC and Marvel) but over the years I've been reading more independent comics mainly in search of something different. I still love reading my usual group of comics from Wonder Woman to X-Men but it's been fun finding new books.

Case in point, Revival. A murder must be solved but the problem is that the dead have returned and murderer could be either one of the of the living or one of the undead. Interesting, right? I will be adding this to my wishlist, I have to read this.



Book: Revival volume #1: Your Among Friends (issues #1-5) by Tim Seeley with illustrations by Mike Norton

Description:

For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it's up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In a town where the living have to learn to deal with those who are supposed to be dead, Officer Cypress must solve a brutal murder, and everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect.

Art of the Day: Static

Artwork: Static Shock by steven-donegani

Friday, January 22, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #22: A Little Princess

I read The Secret Garden and absolutely loved it. So far that has been the only book I've read by Frances Hodgson Burnett. But another one that I would like to read is, A Little Princess.

The description has a Cinderella feel to it but it also makes me wonder if J.K. Rowling got a little inspiration for writing Harry Potter.


Book: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Description:

Sara Crewe, an exceptionally intelligent and imaginative student at Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies, is devastated when her adored, indulgent father dies. Now penniless and banished to a room in the attic, Sara is demeaned, abused, and forced to work as a servant. How this resourceful girl's fortunes change again is at the center of A Little Princess, one of the best-loved stories in all of children's literature.

This unique and fully annotated edition appends excerpts from Frances Hodgson Burnett's original 1888 novella Sara Crewe and the stage play that preceded the novel, as well as an early story, "Behind the White Brick," allowing readers to see how A Little Princess evolved. In his delightful introduction, U. C. Knoepflmacher considers the fairy-tale allusions and literary touchstones that place the book among the major works of Victorian literature, and shows it to be an exceptionally rich and resonant novel.

Fashion Meets Comics: Miss America


When I think of Miss America, I don't think of the beauty pageant, I think of Marvel's powerhouse America Chavez.

Similar to Captain America and Patriot, she wears red, white and blue however she also has an additional color, black. To recreate her look, I took a more athletic approach.

I omitted the stars and stripes on the jacket and went with a basic denim jacket and took the white from her shirt and applied it to a tote bag. With all things considered, I think I did a good job with this look.

And minus the jacket and hoodie, I figured this could make a good fitness outfit.

Book Review: Death Vigil vol #1


Book: Death Vigil volume #1 (issues #1-8) written and illustrated by Stjepan Sejic

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Gifted? Join the Death Vigil in their ongoing war against the ever-growing power of the Primordial Enemy! Only catch is you have to die first. Become a corporeal immortal Death Knight and obtain reality-altering weaponry in the never-ending battle between good and evil.


Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Review:

This wasn't bad but it did start out a little slow and kind of dragged a little in the middle.

This first volume centers around a reaper named Bernadette "Bernie" who along with her chosen few in the Vigil are fighting against the Primordial Enemy who is trying to escape the underworld. Necromancers are helping to release the Primordial Enemy and it is up to the Vigil to stop them.

The eight issues are mainly told from Vigil member Sam's point of view. He died on Halloween 12 years ago after trying to stop a mugging but Bernie gave him a chance for a second life. The story also centers around Clara who was killed by her boyfriend Jon, a necromancer. Jon murdered her to use her in a ritual but his plan was stopped by Sam and Bernie. However, Clara was given a chance by Bernie to become immortal if she joined the Vigil. Unbeknownst to everyone there seems to have been a problem with Clara's transformation.

This is a standard good vs. evil story that's filled with monsters as the Vigil try to stop the Primordial Enemy. The Vigil were joined in their fight by a necromancer and his daughter Mia, the group also have to stop a crazed researcher and a former ally who are seeking revenge against Bernie for a decision she made. The duo's revenge was also connected to the Primordial Enemy's plan to take over.

Overall, this had great artwork but I think the characters were probably more interesting than the story. Yet I do wish Vigil members James, Marlene, Raven and Grace got as much focus as Bernie, Sam and Clara. I found it interesting that after they return from the dead and join the Vigil each member has a unique weapon and powers that aids them in their fight. The weapons are something that has meaning to them and it takes them a while to find out how to connect with it and use it.

I wouldn't mind reading more from this series, it seems like it may be heading into an interesting direction.

Art of the Day: Superboy


Artwork: Lost In Thought by jemallman

Book Review: Zoo


Book: Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Edition: Paperback

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I didn't watch the Zoo miniseries that aired because I had not read the book. Last week, I was going through my bookcase and found this book wedged on the shelf. Lately, I have been trying to find books that I sort of forgot about (I bought this last year) and to start reading them.

This turned out to be so much better than I expected, especially since a friend of mine kept complaining to me about how much she didn't like either the book or the miniseries. I can't speak for the miniseries, but I really did like this book.

In this story, a strange phenomenon was causing the animals (mainly mammals) to attack and kill people. Years prior to the attacks, Jackson Oz, a biology student at Columbia University, had started to notice something strange was happening with animals. He believed in his theory to the point of obsession. He dropped out of school and focused all his time trying to study it and prove it. However, no one would believe him, they thought he was just another internet crackpot spouting off nonsense.

Even when he tracked a few attacks those were just seen as rare incidents. It wasn't until Jackson took an impromptu trip to Africa that he truly became witness to his theory. He was in the middle of a lion attack but the attack was nothing that had ever been seen before, it was truly strange.

Barely surviving the attack, Oz was trying to figure out a way to get back home with his evidence when he came into contact with ecologist Chloe Tousignant. The duo were soon on a race against time trying to get the information out there. But even with the backing of several scientists and Chloe's credentials, no one would listen to him. Will it be too late?

This was a very inventive, interesting and well-written story. From the moment I started reading this I didn't want to put it down, it was very exciting. There was a time jump in this but it didn't derail the story. I thought the authors did a great job of conveying the fear of the situation because can you imagine if your beloved pet attacked you for no reason and there was nothing you could do to stop them. The animals were on the warpath with humans as the one and only target. When you think about it, that's very frightening.

Not sure if I'll ever watch the miniseries but this was certainly a fascinating read.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #21: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow part 3

I am a big fan of the Avatar: The Last Airbender TV series and I have enjoyed reading the comic books. I really want to get caught up with this book series because I can't wait to read Smoke and Shadow.



Book: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Smoke and Shadow part 3 by Gene Luen Yang with illustrations by Gurihiru

Publication: April 12, 2016

Description:

Children are disappearing in the Fire Nation capitol! Avatar Aang and his friends are doing everything in their power to save them--but will it be enough?!

What's worse, when Azula--the mad sister of Fire Lord Zuko--appears on the scene, Zuko locks down the capitol to catch her, igniting fear and riots in the streets! Will Zuko follow in his evil father's footsteps in order to save those he holds dear?!

Art of the Day: Robin (Tim Drake)


Artwork: Robin by kay-sama (Miles Yagami)

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #20: Black Magick vol #1

This is why I love independent comics because the publishers and writers are always taking chances and offering you something different.

I read the description for this and immediately wanted to read it. Too bad it's not out yet.



Book: Black Magick volume #1: Awakening (issues #1-5) by Greg Rucka with illustrations by Nicola Scott

Publication: May 3, 2016

Description:

Rowan Black is a detective with the Portsmouth PD... and a witch, two aspects of her life she has struggled to keep separate. Now someone is targeting Rowan, someone who knows her secrets and means to expose her... or worse.

Book Review: Rumors


Book: Rumors (The Rumor Series book #1) by A.C. Arthur

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Her death tore them apart. Will solving her murder bring them back together?

Best friends Landy, Tenile, Nicole, Nathan, Justin, and Kareem were the golden children of Tanner University. Their paths were set: doctors, lawyers, business moguls, they were going to light the world on fire. Then, two weeks before graduation, Landy was murdered—and Nathan was blamed. Though he was never charged, vicious rumors drove him from town, and the circle of friends broke.

Ten years later, Nathan is back in Tanner, determined to clear his name. He’s asking questions no one wants answered, and soon rumors threaten to divide the community once more. Everyone in this small town is keeping big secrets—especially Landy’s old friends—and someone is willing to kill to keep their darkest deeds buried.




Rating: 2 stars

Review:

What is with these ethnically ambiguous covers? This story centers around a group of old college friends who are now in their early 30s and late 20s who just so happen to be Black. But looking at the cover you would think this was a Young Adult novel. Why are the publishers so afraid to represent diversity on the covers of books? Do they think they will scare off readers?

It makes me wonder with all these covers including two other books I've recently read His Work of Art and Taste of Sake, if publishers (as well as the author if on the rare occasion they actually get to take part in the decision making) don't realize how bad it is to make covers that don't represent the characters in books. I know there are some who think that covers don't matter but I think they do.

As for my review, this mystery centers around a group of old friends (Tenile Barnes, Nicole Stanfield, Dr. Nathan Hamilton, Dr. Justin Grant and Kareem Winston) who had attended Tanner University, and ten years later are still dealing with the horrific murder of their friend Yolanda "Landy" Connor. At the time, Nathan Hamilton had been accused of the crime despite his claims that he didn't do it. Although he wasn't charged with the crime, in the eyes of the people of Tanner he was a murderer. Ten years later, he is now a prominent doctor in New York city. He received an anonymous note stating that they know he didn't kill Landy but unless he stopped the real killer, he would kill again.

That note prompted Nathan to return to the small town of Tanner to not only clear his name but to find Landy's real killer.

I have a pet peeve with mystery books that take forever for the mystery solving to begin. This book first focused on introducing the characters and their shared history and current situations before it eventually started to focus on the 10 years old murder. That wasted so much time.

I was disappointed because after the author did such a good job of building up the murder, the story then started to focus on what was going on with these characters with the mystery falling to the wayside. The story spent more time unveiling the characters' secrets and lies and romantic entanglements and relationships instead of focusing on the murder. This was moving way too slow and the characters' secrets and lies didn't interest me, I wanted to find out who had murdered Landy and why.

I got tired of reading about Nicole's inability to get over her crush on Justin who has pretty much been using her for sex ever since they met back in college. Justin who is engaged to Tenile but he still can't get over his attraction to Nicole. Meanwhile, Tenile still has unresolved feelings for Nathan who still has feelings for her. Tenile younger sister Tracy is keeping a secret that also involves Nathan.

There were some great plot points in this story that the author could have spent even more time on such as: Who was sending Nicole threatening texts? Could college Professor Maclain Richards be behind the murder? Especially since Landy knew he was extorting sex from female students in exchange for them passing his class and she was planning to reveal his secret.

It wasn't until I would say the last 60+ pages that the mystery started to really unfold but even that was pushed aside for continued focus on the characters. I thought the writing was good but this just wasn't the mystery I thought it would be. It felt more like a soap opera with sex, lies and secrets being the main focus instead of the mystery.

This story also ends with another pet peeve of mine, ending with a cliffhanger. That is so frustrating because I felt like nothing got resolved and it was just a way to set up for the sequel. Perhaps it would have been better to cut out so many unnecessary details and scenes to combine the two books into one fast paced engaging story.

Even though I do want to know who the murderer is, if the sequel moves along at such a slow pace as this one, then I think I'll pass on reading it. A few of the secrets that were revealed did answer some of my questions such as I found out why Landy's stepbrother Donovan was still hanging around town causing trouble. And I also found out what Nathan had been doing when Tenile couldn't reach him during the time of Landy's murder but aside from that, this wasn't the mystery I hoped it would be.

Comic Book Wednesday: Jan 20th Picks

Two new books on my list this week are: Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death (miniseries) and Captain Marvel. This is the third Captain Marvel series within a few years, here's hoping it will reach 20 issues. The first series ended with 17 issues and the second with 15 issues. In defence of the second series, it along with other series was cancelled due to the Secret Wars event. Well, hopefully this one will fair better.

Anyway, here is the rest of my list:


Archie Comics

Betty & Veronica Comics Annual Digest #240

Book: Betty and Veronica Comics Annual #240

Description:

'The Many Loves of Archie Andrews' rolls on! This time, Betty and Veronica are excited to finally get some time alone (well, sort of) with Archie. That is, until, the firestorm that is Cheryl Blossom interferes! Cheryl has an emergency: she needs help being nice-or at least pretending to be nice in order to take over her grandmother's charity foundation.

Can Archie help Cheryl make a good impression? Or will Cheryl's true personality get in the way? Find out in 'Cheryl and Cheryl Alike,' the hilarious lead story to this comics annual, featuring even more pages of fun!


Book Review: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers issue #0

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #0

Book: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers issue #0 cover by Goñi Montes

Edition: Single Print Issue

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

There were three short stories in this first issue:

Story #1: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Kyle Higgins with illustrations by Hendry Prasetya and color by Matt Herms

In this story, which I would consider a teaser introduces the reader to the Power Rangers. The story takes place following Tommy (Green Ranger) leaving Rita Repulsa's team, he still seems to be dealing with the after effects of no longer being under her control. While Tommy was also getting used to being a member of the Power Rangers and trying to work with the team, Rita sent one of her monsters to attack the city. There was a bit of clashing between Jason and Tommy in trying to stop the monster but the ending seemed to have worked in Rita's favor in helping her acquire an artifact.

Even though I really like this story, I feel like it focused more on Tommy, Jason (Red Ranger and team leader) and Kimberly (Pink Ranger). I do hope that Trini (Yellow Ranger), Zack (Black Ranger) and Billy (Blue Ranger) will get an equal amount of time shown in the next issue.



Story #2: The Ongoing Adventures of Bulk & Skull by Steve Orlando with illustrations by Corin Howell and colors by Jeremy Lawson

In this short story, Bulk and Skull are up to their usual mischief causing trouble at school. From getting in trouble for bringing animals to school for a project to pulling a prank on the Principal. However, nothing they do will get them the attention they want from the girls at school but they have a new plan for that, they are going to out hero the Power Ranger. Yeah, like that's ever going to work.



Story #3: What Time Is It? by Mairghread Scott with illustrations by Daniel Bayliss

This story has the Power Rangers trying to stop an attack from Goldar. I thought this was a good story with a lot of action, however it did feel incomplete with the ending being a little abrupt. Granted, I know the Power Rangers will defeat Goldar in the end it just would have been nice to see it.


For an introductory issue, this wasn't bad. You get three good stories with good artwork. Despite the addition of modern gadgets, this still had the feel of the old TV series. I'm really glad they went with the original Rangers instead of focusing on one of the numerous spin-offs. I'm looking forward to reading more from this series.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

365 Days of Books of Interest: Day #19: A Toxic Trousseau

There are a lot of magical mystery series that are published but this is one of my favorite ones.

Although I like the mystery part of the series, what I like the most is the main character Lily who is a witch and has a gargoyle named Oscar as a her familiar. And whenever Oscar is around other people he transforms into a pig.

I'm a few books behind in the series but that doesn't stop me from wanting to get the latest book.



Book: A Toxic Trousseau (A Witchcraft Mystery book #8) by Juliet Blackwell

Publication: July 5, 2016

Description:

Even the most skilled sorceress can’t ward off a lawsuit, and Lily is not at her enchanting best with her hands full as the temporary leader of San Francisco's magical community. So after her potbellied pig Oscar head-butts rival clothier Autumn Jennings, Lily tries to make peace without a costly personal injury case.

But any hope of a quiet resolution is shattered when Autumn turns up dead. As one of the prime suspects, Lily searches for a way to clear her name and discovers a cursed trousseau among Autumn’s recently acquired inventory. Lily must deal with a mysterious dogwalker and spend the night in a haunted house as she delves into the trunk’s treacherous past. She’s got to figure out who wanted to harm Autumn fast, before the curse claims another victim…

Book Review: Oh, Brother! Brat Attack!


Book: Oh, Brother! Brat Attack! by Bob Weber Jr. and Jay Stephens

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Oh, Brother! stars the sibling duo of Bud and Lily, who humorously interact within the leafy confines of their middle-class suburban home and neighborhood. Whether they are playing together in the family room or running amok in the schoolyard, Bud and Lily elevate the act of one-upmanship to Code Red levels. Lily is the quintessential slightly older and far more sensible sister. She takes it upon herself to look after her uninhibited, prank-loving younger brother, Bud. While Lily wins the occasional battle with her cool-headed maturity, Bud is intent on winning the war with his brazen brand of mischief. Despite their obvious differences, Bud and Lily love each other deeply and have a strong sibling bond.


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In this very funny comic, thoughtful and considerate older sister Lily is constantly dealing with her little brother Bud's crazy antics. When Bud isn't causing trouble he's trying to figure out some kind of way to get Lily to give him more desserts.

I like the relationship between Lily and Bud, Lily may be a little protective where as Bud is a terror. However, that doesn't stop the siblings from spending time together and having fun.

This is a great comic book not only for kids but for all ages. I laughed so much reading this, it's both funny and sweet.

DVD Tuesday: The Intern

I've read good reviews for The Intern. I didn't get a chance to see it when it was in the theater, so I'm going to try to pick this up today because I really want to see it.



The Intern

Description:

Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) is a 70-year-old widower who has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway).

Art of the Day: Batgirl (Stephanie Brown)


Artwork: Batgirl - Stephanie Brown by MGNemesi