Book Review: Aliens/Vampirella

Book: Aliens/Vampirella (issues #1-6) by Corinna Bechko with illustrations and inks by Javier Garcia-Miranda, color by Inlight Studios and letters by Simon Bowland

Cover art by Gabriel Hardman and color by Jordan Boyd

Edition: Digital

Description:

Two iconic horror franchises collide, as Vampirella - the fan-favorite supernatural heroine - faces the most nightmarish creatures ever to appear in cinema: the Xenomorphs from Alien! As the first human colony on Mars digs deeper into the crimson soil, they discover the catacombs of a hibernating civilization, tens of thousands of years old. The evidence suggests that they are Nosferatu, an ancient and sinister species that Vampirella is all too familiar with. Called to the Red Planet to investigate, the monster hunter and her human allies find a chamber with hundreds of ellipsoidal, leathery eggs... and after they hatch, the true horror begins. In space, no one can hear Vampirella scream!

Book Review: Charmed issue #2

Book: Charmed issue #2 by Erica Schultz with illustrations by Maria Sanapo, color by Heartwork Studios and letters by Tom Napolitano

Cover by Maria Sanapo and Heartwork Studios

Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

Djall is the hottest new art curator in San Francisco. When Phoebe gets a premonition of an attack at a gallery, the Charmed Ones learn that Djall is more than he seems.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

This second issue finds the demon Djall's implementing his plan at the Eisenberg Art Gallery while also trying to placate the other demons who feel he's not moving along fast enough.

Meanwhile the sisters are trying not to let their personal problems overwhelm them. Which is impossible with so much on their plates. Paige is trying to juggle all of her duties along with guiding her new charge Shaina while Piper tries to sort out her tax problem and Phoebe continues to avoid signing her contract at the newspaper.

Phoebe's premonitions seem to be acting up but her warning still stands about Piper's accountant Mr. Wiskunde. She believes he is trying to kill Piper but her premonition didn't come true the first time. But with the accountant showing up at their home he finally attacked. The sisters were able to vanquish the demon who had taken over Mr. Wiskunde but that led to another issue. Where was his soul? He's now nothing more than a statue in their home.

The sisters were unaware that demons were collecting human souls and using the bodies as vessels. In trying to figure out what to do with Mr. Wiskunde, Phoebe received another premonition that showed a demon attack at the Eisenberg Art Gallery. Paige was already going to be attending the gallery for her friend's exhibit but now the sisters would be going to stop a possible demon attack. Going to the exhibit actually helped them to find a way to help Mr. Wiskunde as well as stop a demon.

This ends on cliffhanger and it looks like the sisters may have found themselves in a bit of trouble. It will be interesting to see how they will get out of it.

I really like this second issue, there was a lot of magic and demon activity. The writing continues to be good with this issue furthering the demons plan. This was a fun read because it really does feel like your watching an episode of Charmed and the artwork and color are fantastic. So far this series is off to a great start, I can't wait to read the next issue.

Book Review: Charmed issue #1

Book: Charmed issue #1 by Erica Schultz with illustrations by Maria Sanapo, color by Heartwork Studios, letters by Tom Napolitano and cover by Joe Corroney

Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

Balancing work, witchcraft, and a life is never easy, and the Charmed Ones are stretched too thin. Meanwhile, a demon in the Underworld rallies the troops with a plan to take out the Charmed Ones forever.



Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review:

I'm not sure if this new Charmed series is supposed to take place during a specific season. But while I was reading this first issue I got the feeling that it was set somewhere during season four.

This opens with Piper, Phoebe and Paige fighting a demon in an alley but in what should have been an easy victory gave the sisters some difficulty. With the demon vanquished and back in the underworld, the demons, witches and warlocks needed a new plan to destroy the Charmed Ones and it appears another warlock may have the perfect plan.

With the demon fighting out of the way, the sisters were each dealing with a few issues. Piper was trying to sort out her nightclub P3's taxes while Phoebe has the opportunity to take on more responsibility at her job with the newspaper The Bay Mirror and Paige has a new charge, a witch who she is trying to help. With so much going on they were unaware that the demons were already putting their plan into place.

The writing is good and it feels like Schultz has a good feel for the characters and managed to capture each of their personalities. It read like I was watching the show, the chemistry between the characters is there. I love the artwork, the illustrations really do resemble the actors: Holly Marie Combs (Piper), Alyssa Milano (Phoebe) and Rose McGowan (Paige). I also love the color, it's a lot richer than what's shown in the picture that I took.

I like how this first issue is setting everything up and I can't wait to read the next one. I don't necessarily believe you need to have watched Charmed to read this first issue because the way it's written it's easy to following along. There's nothing here that feels like only fans of the show would understand. I think it's a good jumping on point for new fans.

Book Review: Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini

Book: Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini (issues #1-5) by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, with illustrations by Carlos Furuzono, color by Aikau Oliva and letters by Rob Steen

Cover Art by John Cassady

Edition: Single Print Issues


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Despite the feeling that more attention was focused on Harry Houdini that doesn't take away from this being a good read. The mystery in this story surrounds Harry Houdini who seemed to have angered the mystics and one in particular is threating to destroy him.

When the story opens the legendary magician Harry Houdini was putting on a small show at Scotland Yard to demonstrate his inability to be imprisoned. It's also where he had the misfortune of meeting Sherlock Holmes who at the time was imprisoned himself. However, that didn't stop him from deducing or telling the secrets of one of Houdini's acts.

At that moment is when the mystic decided to denounce Houdini's skepticism towards the unknown and issued a threat that someone will die on stage at the magician's show that night. Not one to be dissuaded, Houdini would not cancel his show, he even invited Holmes to attend to see if he could figure out any more of his acts.

The mystic didn't disappoint because there was indeed a most tragic death on stage causing a panic from the audience. With more tragedies in store for the magician, can Holmes and Houdini figure out who is behind everything before it's too late?

I love the concept of these two figures meeting then subsequently trying to solve a deadly mystery. I thought the writing was good but as I stated above, Houdini got center stage in this miniseries. Perhaps the title for this should have been Harry Houdini featuring Sherlock Holmes due to the uneven treatment. Even Dr. John Watson was treated as a supporting character with limited scenes.

And with Sherlock not at his best, he was suffering from being under the influence of a new drug he found, it caused him to be off his intellectual game. The drug was a tea like brew that gives the drinker hallucinations and he seems to have become dependent on it. It was shown off and on throughout with him wrestling his demons to get his extraordinary sharp mind back to where it should be.

Harry Houdini wasn't shown without his many faults including his ego and arrogance making it possible for the mystic to continue to strike and put others in danger.

This miniseries is an interesting mix of mystery and "magic" as Holmes and Houdini try to match skill and intellect to solve the crime. Of course the clashing of their personalities doesn't necessarily make it easy to develop a sense of camaraderie. But one doesn't have to like someone to learn to work with them.

Before this review becomes any longer than it should be, I will close by saying I loved reading this. There is a lot of action and adventure and drama and suspense with an interesting mystery. Oh and love the artwork, great use of color and shading.

Okay, it's official, I've had it with finding all these good books. Can someone please pinpoint me to a few books that absolutely no one seemed to like? I just need to find a truly terrible book, something so bad that it made you never want to read it again. So please, feel free tell me all about them. I will be most appreciative.

Book Review: Li'l Sonja #1 - One Shot

Book: Li'l Sonja #1 by Jim Zub with illustrations by Joel Carroll, color by Andrew Elder and letters by Simon Bowland

Cover by Art Baltazar and Special Two Page Activity Sheets by Roger Langridge and Andrew Elder


Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

Li'l Sonja is a warrior girl who travels the lands testing her mettle against monsters big and small, a younger pluckier version of the famous She-Devil With a Sword.

When Li'l Sonja encounters a town plagued by eccentric bandits, she needs to figure out the pattern behind the thefts and bring the baddies to justice.

No task is too tough for our crimson-haired hero. And if that isn't enough, each Li'l book comes with a two-page activity sheet!



Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review:

This Li'l Sonja one shot is a fun read, it shows why Red Sonja no matter the size is one of the best warriors around.

As Sonja was traveling through an unfamiliar village she found the townspeople dealing with a range of problems from thefts to kidnapping of several children. Sonja wasn't going to stand by and let these crimes go unsolved. From her investigation, it appeared that all the random crimes had a connection and she was going to set a trap to capture the thief.

Things don't go according to plan when she wound up being captured but it didn't stop her from fighting back. However she was no match for her opponent and was soon imprisoned with the other children.

Not being able to simply use only her fighting skills to save the day, Sonja was going have to outwit her captor if she is going to free herself and the other children. Can she do it?

Full of action, adventure and humor this one shot had me rooting for Red Sonja and laughing at the same time. Although this is a more kid friendly take on the character, Sonja is still fearless with the same fiery spirit and sense of duty to help those in need. I love the artwork besides being bright and colorful it has this energizing and animated feel to it.

I enjoy reading these Dynamite Li'l comics (the other one I read was Li'l Bionic Kids), I'm going to try to find the other one shots that were published.

If you have a young reader who likes comic books, please check out my All-Ages Comic Books and Children's Comic Books categories to see other books and reviews that might interest them.

Book Review: Li'l Bionic Kids #1 - One Shot

Book: Li'l Bionic Kids #1 by Brandon Jerwa with illustrations and letters by Ian McGinty and color by Andrew Elder

Cover by Art Baltazar and Special Two Page Activity Sheets by Roger Langridge and Andrew Elder


Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

Better! Stronger! Faster! and smaller?! Steve Austin and Jaime Sommers are the newest students at A.S.I. - the Academy of Science Intelligence, a school for the unique and gifted.

They're also both cyborgs - human kids with a variety of high-tech body parts and modifications.

Can these two outsiders put aside their shyness, and a growing rivalry, in time to take a stand against alien invaders who are determined to ruin the A.S.I. Track and Field Day?

And if that isn't enough, each Li'l book comes with a two-page activity sheet!



Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review:

This Li'l Bionic Kids one-shot is adorable fun as it follows little Steve Austin and Jaime Sommers. After they were injured on the playground, Jaime and Steve were able to be saved. As the first bionic kids they are now better, stronger and faster.

To learn how to better use their abilities, they were enrolled in the Academy of Scientific Intelligence (A.S.I.) which is a school for very different and gifted students. Being new students at the school did not go very well especially with Jaime clashing with the Fem-Bots while Steve seems to have made an enemy of Freddie Sloan.

Steve and Jaime did eventually make new friends, Marcus Grayson and Irina Leonova. And they are going to need all the help they can get to win the games at their school's Track and Field Day especially since they will be competing against Sloan and the Fem-Bots.

Unbeknownst to everyone at the school, they were being spied on by a mysterious group who have plans to derail the games.

This is a cute and charming little book that I hope readers of all ages will enjoy. I think the writer did a good job capturing the essence and feel of the TV shows yet giving a fresh take for younger readers. The writing is obviously written with kids in mind but it's not overly simplistic which makes it a fun read for both kids and adults. The writing is easy to follow along and the characters who are mainly kids are written how you would expect kids to be. I think fans of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman will like how characters from the TV series are incorporated in this.

I really like the illustrations they're colorful and the cartoonish style should appeal to young readers. As a comic book geek, I feel like there are not enough comic books for kids. Which is why I love finding these all ages comics to read and review in hopes that kids will have a variety of books to choose from.

Book Review: Brandon Sanderson's White Sand vol #1

Book: Brandon Sanderson's White Sand volume #1 story adapted by Rik Hoskin with illustrations by Julius Gopez and color by Ross Campbell and letters by Marshall Dillon

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

A brand new saga of magic and adventure by #1 New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson.

On the planet of Taldain, the legendary Sand Masters harness arcane powers to manipulate sand in spectacular ways. But when they are slaughtered in a sinister conspiracy, the weakest of their number, Kenton, believes himself to be the only survivor. With enemies closing in on all sides, Kenton forges an unlikely partnership with Khriss -- a mysterious Darksider who hides secrets of her own.

White Sand brings to life a crucial, unpublished part of Brandon Sanderson’s sprawling Cosmere universe. The story has been adapted by Rik Hoskin, with art by Julius Gopez and colors by Ross Campbell. Employing powerful imagery and Sanderson’s celebrated approach to magical systems, White Sand is a spectacular new saga for lovers of fantasy and adventure.



Rating: 2 1/2 stars

Review:

This first volume has a lot of potential but it suffers from being too busy in both the story and the illustrations.

This starts off focusing on Kenton who is a member of the Sand Masters, a group that has the ability to control sand. If you're familiar with the Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra animated series then think of the sandbenders because that's exactly what the Sand Masters reminded me of.

Kenton who has a difficulty accessing his powers, wanted to prove not only to his father who was the leader of the Sand Masters but also to himself that one doesn't necessarily need powers to be a Master. To do that he took on an extremely dangerous challenge but despite succeeding his father still considers Kenton a failure.

An ambush during an awards ceremony killed all the Masters and some of the trainees. However, right before the attack, his father although begrudgingly promoted Kenton to a higher position. Kenton somehow survived the attack but passed out due to dehydration. He was saved by a group of Darkside explorers and one of the explorers was a young woman, Duchess Khrissalla. She was following a quest her fiancé took before his death. He had been looking for Sand Mages.

There are other characters in this but everything appears to revolve around Kenton and Khrissalla. I actually like Kenton, Khrissalla and many of the characters however it's the story that disappoints. Since this is an adaptation it makes me wonder what may have been left out. I would love to read the Brandon Sanderson's original story because I'm sure there is a lot more to this.

One thing this story definitely could have benefited from is more world building. At times, it is a little confusing but in general it's easy to follow but it can be a tad slow moving and boring. With the way this is written it seems as if you would have to be familiar with Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere universe. But since I'm not, I read this on what was presented which could have been much better.

I did give this an additional half star because this story does have potential. I can see hints of brilliance here and there but ultimately, there is too much that muddles this up and makes it feel not completely thought out. There are some good action scenes in this but the story kind of lags. As far as characters go, I do appreciate all the diversity in this story, it's really nice to see. But Khrissalla and Kenton deserved a better story than this.

I wouldn't mind reading the second volume to see if the story improves but if it continues in the same way as this first volume then I will pass on the series.

Book Review: Bob's Burgers: Medium Rare

Book: Bob's Burgers: Medium Rare (Bob's Burgers ongoing series volume #1 - issues #1-4) by various writers and illustrators

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

While Bob and Linda Belcher have their hands full running the family business, their kids Tina, Gene, and Louise have adventures that you won't believe! The producers, writers, and animators of the hit animated show Bob's Burgers proudly present all-original comic book stories, including hilarious installments of "Louise's Unsolved Mysteries & Curious Curiosities", "Tina's Erotic Friend Fiction", and "Gene's Rhymey Rhymes That Could One Day Be Songs." Whether it's Tina's daydreams of cloning back-up dancers or jungle misadventures, Louise's explorations of underground tunnels and time-stopping Wonder Wharf rides, Gene's lyrics that reimagine boring Aunt Gayle visits as epic journeys to fantasy worlds, the Belcher family hijinx are guaranteed to make you laugh!


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

The first time I read a Bob's Burgers comic book I had not watched the animated series. But since then, I've nearly gotten caught up on the series. I enjoyed reading this, it had some really good stories.

Some of my favorite stories were:

"Take a Chance on Me(s)": In this story, Tina overhears Jimmy Jr. talking about needing back up dancers for the school talent show. She couldn't bear not to help and used Darryl's cloning machine to make a lot of copies of herself.

"The Ride": follows Tina, Louise and Gene as they try to figure out if a carnival ride caused time to stop. This is definitely one of my favorites.

"The Kid, The Witch and The Clothes Closet": This was an interesting retelling of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

"The Spy Who Lived and Let Dance": This was a take on James Bond with Tina as a spy who was tasked with stopping a villain.

"Bizarre Bazaar": While Tina and her dad were at the food market, they met a mysterious vendor who was selling magical food. Things became even weirder when Bob used the food as an ingredient in the burgers. The customers soon went crazy for more burgers and couldn't get enough of them. Making the situation quickly going from good to bad.

This book has a good collection of stories including one that's a take on Casablanca. I think Bob's Burgers: Medium Rare is a wonderful tie-in to the animated series because the characters are written just as they are on the show and the stories are fun to read.

Book Review: Swords of Sorrow: The Complete Saga

Book: Swords of Sorrow: The Complete Saga story by Gail Simone written and illustrated by various writers and artists

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review (Plus, I also read my own single print issues of Swords of Sorrow)

Publication: Available now

Description:

Dynamite's fiercest females appear in a massive genre-spanning crossover event featuring an all-star line-up of female authors, headlined by Gail Simone (Batgirl, Birds of Prey)! The ultimate pulp adventure features Vampirella, Dejah Thoris, Red Sonja, Purgatori, Lady Demon, Chastity, Jungle Girl, Jennifer Blood, Kato, Lady Zorro, and many, many more! Villains and heroes from a dozen worlds and eras face off against a legendary evil that threatens all their homelands. Written by Gail Simone, Mairghread Scott, Nancy A. Collins, G. Willow Wilson, Erica Schultz, and Leah Moore, and featuring artwork by Sergio Davila, Mirka Andolfo, Dave Acosta, Noah Salonga, Francesco Manna, and Cristhian Zamora!



Rating: 1 1/2 stars

Review:

I usually don't request a book that I already have, however, although I have all six issues of the Swords of Sorrow miniseries. I do not have all the additional issues of the one-shots and miniseries that tie-in with the main series.

This was not good, the writing was very clunky and felt like a total waste of a crossover with these amazing characters. Reading this felt like I was reading one big filler issue because the story didn't seem to be going anywhere. It was very random with no clear purpose other than good vs. evil.

The story follows the mysterious Traveler who has gathered a group of female heroes to help her stop her evil nemesis, The Prince (as in Prince Charming from Snow White) who has also put together a team of female villains to carry out his plans. Unlike the villains in this story, the heroes had no idea what was going on as they were unknowingly thrown together and given special swords called Sword of Sorrow.

I was disappointed with this and not only for the bad writing, poor dialogue, thin plot but also because so many of the characters were written and shown out of character. There were only two things I liked about this, one was Jennifer Blood (in the Vampirella & Jennifer Blood miniseries), who was probably the only character in this book that was well-written and interesting to read about. And second was the artwork, which ranged from good to average with a few issues showing artwork that appeared slightly cartoony.

This crossover event had so much potential but it got lost somewhere in this muddled story.

Book Review: Red Sonja/Conan: Blood of a God

Book: Red Sonja/Conan: Blood of a God (issues #1-4) by Victor Gischler with illustrations by Roberto Castro and color by Alex Gumaraes

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Red Sonja, the fiery She-Devil with a Sword. Conan, the relentless barbarian from Cimmeria. The two legendary heroes of the Hyborian Age are reunited once more, captains in a mercenary army drawn together to wage war on an evil sorcerer. With good swords at their side and loyal men at their backs, Sonja and Conan believe themselves more than capable of defeating Kal'Ang, an ambitious herbalist whose power resides in Blood Root experimentation. But little do they know, a shadow of the past has returned, a foe both familiar and fearsome... and whose secret goal is nothing short of divinity!


Rating: 2 stars

Review:

This was not exactly the best story. It was a very generic sword and sorcery story with Conan and Red Sonja hired to defeat a wizard but wind up unexpectedly fighting an old enemy they thought to be dead. I found the writing to be very clunky and the dialogue as equally bad with the artwork being okay.

The title maybe Red Sonja/Conan but Conan got the top billing in this story with more to do and a better portrayal. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it was a good one just better when compared to Sonja's portrayal. Meanwhile, Sonja appeared out of character, instead of being headstrong and intelligent, she constantly defers to Conan's lead. It wasn't until the end that she made a decision about something.

I wish this had been a better written and more interesting story. Conan and Red Sonja are two of the most fiercest warriors and they deserved a better story than this.

Book Review: The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat (and Pokey!) vol #1

Book: The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat (and Pokey!) volume #1 (issues #1-3) by various writers and artists

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Dynamite proudly presents the comic book misadventures of Grumpy Cat, featuring "The World's Grumpiest Cat" and her brother, Pokey! With her ever-present pout and sassy disposition, Grumpy Cat has won the hearts of people everywhere. Now, her unbearable cuteness and infectious sourpuss are featured in an all-new, all-sensational collection of comic stories, sure to make fans of all ages laugh! If you love the memes, the videos, and that irresistible scowl, then get ready for the wildly fun antics of Grumpy Cat and Pokey!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I Absolutely Love This!

In this first volume of The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat (and Pokey!) there are 11 delightfully amusing stories that follow the lovable duo as they go from one adventure to the next. As I was reading this, I couldn't help thinking that Grumpy and her extremely optimistic brother Pokey remind me of Garfield and Odie. Even though, I do think Grumpy may be meaner than Garfield.

With 11 stories, you will see Grumpy and Pokey dressed up in superhero costumes (much to Grumpy's dismay) trying to fight crime. As well as Pokey and Dog planning a birthday party for Grumpy with disastrous results. Other stories find the duo (and sometimes with Dog) solving a mystery, meeting aliens, experiencing time travel and much more.

Although there were different writers and artists for the stories in these three issues, everything felt very cohesive. I thought the stories were interesting and Pokey was simply adorable with all his happiness. While, Grumpy stays true to her name, she was definitely very grumpy.

This was a fun read that I would recommend to all ages.

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.

Book Review: Dresden Files: Down Town

Book: Dresden Files: Down Town (issues #1-6) by Jim Butcher and Mark Powers with illustration by Carlos Gomez and color by Mohan

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Chicago wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden and his new apprentice, Molly Carpenter, intend to end the havoc caused by a mad sorcerer - one whose ambitions would have the Windy City streets carved out as his own private kingdom. But when the magical upstart enters into an alliance with the notorious mob boss "Gentleman Johnnie" Marcone, will the fast-and-loose Dresden and his young charge survive unscathed?


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

In this miniseries, Dresden was called to a murder scene to see if he can find out what killed store owner Sam Fogle. The man had been horribly murdered and left on the scene had been some kind of ooze.

Along for the journey was Dresden's new apprentice Molly Carpenter who he was helping to train and hone her magical abilities.

From Dresden's investigation he found out that mob boss Johnny Marcone had been offering magical protection to business owners but after two attacks by a golem it's clear that someone was targeting Marcone's customers.

Dresden, Molly and Marcone were soon heading to undertown, a magical city underneath Chicago to stop the sorcerer who was controlling the golem.

I like this, besides getting a complete story it was well written, fast paced and fun to read. This is my second time reading a Dresden File comic book and I really like it, there was a good mix of action, drama and humor. After reading this one I might see if there are other books in the series I might like to read.

Book Review: Vampirella Feary Tales

Book: Vampirella Feary Tales (issues #1-5) by various writers and artists

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Description:

Nancy A. Collins (Swamp Thing, Sunglasses After Dark) has called upon some of today's finest creative talents — including Gail Simone, Steve Niles, Joe R. Lansdale, Devin Grayson, Stephen R. Bissette, and many more — to celebrate Vampirella's 45th Anniversary by crafting an anthology of twisted tales, bizarre bedtime stories, and fearsome fables in the tradition of the original Warren magazines, each featuring everyone's favorite sexy, kick-ass vampire-turned-monster hunter. 

While exploring the Transylvanian castle she's recently inherited, Vampirella discovers a strange old book of "Feary Tales" that seems oddly familiar. Upon opening it, she is sucked inside its pages and lands in a weird alternate reality, where she is compelled by a disembodied voice calling itself 'The Storyteller' to live out each of the 'feary tales' if she ever hopes to return to reality. Collects the five-issue Vampirella: Feary Tales comic book series, with a complete cover gallery.



Rating: 2 stars

Review:

First and foremost it's about time that Vampirella had a costume change. She can still be sexy with a new costume.

Anyway on to the review, Vampirella Feary Tales was okay. For a celebration of 45 years of Vampirella, this could have been much better. A bulk of the book contained stories that were a retelling of fairy tales and most of them were hit or miss.

The book begins with Vampirella exploring her new castle with one of her staff with the two heading towards the castle's library. While they were there, they uncovered Feary Tales, a mysterious book that some how seemed familiar to Vampirella. A problem occurred when she opened the book, doing that caused her to literally be sucked into the book.

She soon found herself dealing with an annoying narrator and going from one altered fairy tale to another as she tried to find a way out of the book. Meanwhile, there seemed to be a mystery with Vampirella trying to find out who this blonde woman that many said resembled her was.

Sometimes, I found a small number of the stories to be good or great such as in the case of story "Thirsty, Thirsty Town" (a retelling of the Little Mermaid) but most of the time the stories ranged from okay to awful such as with "Snow-White Revamped" which was really bad from the rhyming to the ridiculous plot.

This book was dark yet very campy usually that's a good mix but not this time. I really wished this had been a better read, instead of it being so mediocre.

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 Review: Justice, Inc. vol #1

Book: Justice Inc. volume #1 (issues #1-6) by Michael Uslan with illustrations by Giovanni Timpano and color by Marco Lesko

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Description:

A historic crossover seventy-five years in the making! The Shadow, Doc Savage, and The Avenger, the three iconic crime-fighters first introduced in the pulp magazines of Street & Smith Publications, come together for the first time ever to avert global catastrophe! Out of tragedy, a hero is born... and an alliance formed! When an airliner carrying industrialist Richard Henry Benson and his family disappears, it's the first strike in a secret cabal's master plan for world conquest. As genius adventurer Doc Savage and brutal vigilante The Shadow attempt to avert disaster with their science and bullets, Benson rises from the ashes with a fearsome new identity: The Avenger. Can three men of contrasting ideology and methodology cast aside their inherent differences and band together to conquer the overwhelming threat of the Voodoo Master and his mysterious allies?


Rating: 1 star (Did Not Finish)

Review:

Reading this made me feel like I had no idea what was going on. This was not written for the casual or new reader because there was no back story given about these characters and I'm not exactly the most knowledgeable with The Shadow, Doc Savage and The Avenger so this story left me feeling a little confused.

There's a lot of time traveling, historical figures, a wacky villain, scientific discoveries, switching back and forth between the past and the present, lackluster heroes and all of that was coupled with bland writing and a confusing plot.

This was not a good read for me.

Book Review: Bob's Burgers

Book: Bob's Burgers (issues #1-5) by various writers and illustrators

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Now you can read about the Belcher family (parents Bob and Linda, and their children Tina, Gene and Louise) with brand-new in-canon stories created by the TV show's producers, writers, and animators!

That's right, all-original stories that expand upon the fan-favorite animated series, including hilarious installments of "Louise's Unsolved Mysteries", "Tina's Erotic Friend Fiction", "A Gene Belcher Original Musical", "Letters Written by Linda", "Bob's Burgers of the Day", and much more!

"If you like Bob's Burgers and you like comic books then you may feel like you're living in one of the greatest times in human history because Bob's Burgers and comic books are coming together in the form of the Bob's Burgers Comic Book. But, of course, we could really mess it up. Then you'd feel like you were living in one of the worst times in human history. Either way, we hope you'll check it out. We tried to make something that's true to the show and true to the form without being a sad knock-off of either!" - Loren Bouchard, the creator of Bob's Burgers.


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Full disclosure, I've never watched an episode of Bob's Burgers but after reading this book I want to. These characters are simply nuts but in a fun and fabulous way. They are a weird and strange family but a family they are who run a small burger restaurant.

This comic features several short stories that centers around the children: Tina, Gene and Louise. I like this, it was really funny and I like that Louise was always trying to solve some kind of mystery.

For those who have never watched an episode (which includes me), this is written in an easy to follow format that doesn't require you to have a huge amount of knowledge about the show. This was fun group of stories that make for a good read.

Book Review: Altered States Red Sonja - One Shot

Book: Altered States Red Sonja - One Shot by Brandon Jerwa with illustrations by Juanan Ramirez with color by Rohvel Yumul

Edition: Single Print Issue

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

This opens with Red Sonja losing a battle against the wizard Kulan Gath and his army of monsters. But as she is dying, she says a prayer to Scáthach in the hopes that her will and desire for war will not be lost. In the end, all that was left of Red Sonja was her sword.

The story then takes place in our modern time where a team at an archeological dig have unearth Red Sonja's sword. At some later time in New York, the story follows Sonja Majeure, a 26 year old museum curator who just so happens to have red hair had been examining the newest item on display, the sword of Red Sonja when she received a call informing her that her latest acquisition has now arrived at the museum. The item turned out to be a mummified Kulan Gath along with his spell book.

With plans to send the book to a translator, Sonja was thrilled by these latest developments. Once she was e-mailed the translations, Sonja made the mistake of reading them out loud near Kulan Gath's display. As the mummy came back to life he caused a lot of damage to the displays including the one that held Red Sonja's sword.

Thinking she needed to protect herself Sonja picked up the sword and immediately transformed into the legendary Red Sonja (well, appearance wise). Although she may look like Red Sonja, she has none of Red Sonja's skills which is what she's going to need to defeat the wizard who took off to find his spell book.

But Sonja wasn't completely on her own, Red Sonja's consciousness was there to guide her as Kulan Gath was trying to make over the modern world to suit him. The world was turning back in time and Sonja needed to right the world as soon as possible before it was too late.

I like this, it was definitely different. Yes, this story doesn't feature the usual ruthless warrior Red Sonja but it's well written and gives you a very interesting alternate reality that shows the strength and drive of this modern Sonja as she tries to save the world.

Book Review: The Six Million Dollar Man: Season Six vol #1

Book: The Six Million Dollar Man: Season Six volume #1 (issues #1-6) by James Kuhoric with illustration by Juan Antonio Ramirez and David T. Carera with color Fran Gamboa

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Better. Stronger. Faster.

The original Six Million Dollar Man, Steve Austin, was a man barely alive — until the OSI transformed him into the world's first Bionic Man!

Now, he and Oscar Goldman are the most effective team in National Security. But a rogue faction in the OSI is making a power play for that position with a new type of infiltration agent — one that is completely obedient and robotic.

Fan-favorite classic action figure Maskatron joins the official Six Million Dollar Man original television continuity.

Can a soulless machine that wears Steve Austin's very face make the Six Million Dollar Man obsolete?

And as Steve's world is threatened from within, his very actions unknowingly release an alien menace upon an unsuspecting world.

It's a return to the original 1970s Six Million Dollar Man in all its groovy bionic glory!



Rating: 4 stars

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised by how good this was because sometimes with media tie-in books the writer doesn't always capture the feel of the TV show but the writer did with this.

In this first volume, Steve Austin and special guest Jamie Sommers found themselves dealing with a whole hosts of issues from the Bionics division being shut down to an alien contamination. There are a lot of behinds the scenes problems at OSI which has resulted in a killer android on the loose and someone is planning on taking out Steve for good. But this is all just a day at the office for the bionic duo.

I like the illustrations but I think the artist did a better job drawing Steve than with Jamie because Steve looked more like Lee Majors while Jamie had a generic face instead of looking even remotely like Lindsay Wagner.

This was a good read and would be perfect for fans of the original The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman TV series.

Book Review: The Lone Ranger vol #8

Book: The Lone Ranger volume #8 (issues #19-25) by Ande Parks with illustration by Esteve Polls and color Mark Rueda

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: January 6, 2015

Description:

The legend of the Lone Ranger and Tonto lives on, in two-fisted tales from the Old West!

Thrill to the famous masked man's adventures as he avenges the cold-blooded murder of Abilene marshal Tom "Bear River" Smith, rescues a stranded wagon and its precious cargo from a deadly Colorado blizzard, saves an elderly rainmaker from a lynch mob during a season of drought, pursues a high-strung outlaw after a botched bank heist, foils the train robbery by a war-obsessed Chiricahua renegade, and averts the starvation of an Arapaho tribe after pleasure-seekers hunt their only food source - the American buffalo - to near extinction.

Also, Tonto takes center stage in a origin story that proves that a rider is only as good as his horse, as his escape from Fort Garland leads to a fateful first encounter with his trusty stead, Scout.


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In this eighth volume, the reader gets seven very well written stories which also includes an origin story for Tonto that shows how his life was anything but great with the settlers taking over their land and killing those who got in their way.

For a person who really doesn't care for westerns, I thought this was really good. The writing was strong and emotional as The Lone Ranger and Tonto set out help those in need or to try to stop those committing crimes especially with robberies increasing and the law unable to stop them.

This doesn't show the romanticized old west but the harsh realities of those who lived back then. You see the turmoil and stress and also the truly awful treatment of the Indians as they were pushed further off their land and their fights between the new settlers.

There is a lot of action and adventure in these stories and you get see why The Lone Ranger and Tonto are heroes.