Book Review: The Adventures of Luna the Vampire vol #1

Book: The Adventures of Luna the Vampire volume #1: Grumpy Space written and illustrated by Yasmin Sheikh

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: June 28, 2016

Description:

Ever wondered how it would be if outer space was populated by monsters? LOOK NO FURTHER! As this is the AMAZING everyday life of Luna the Vampire. Jam packed with awesome adventures, crazy faces, zombie postmen, AND SPACE. By the power of the giant floating god heads, don’t miss out!


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

The Adventures of Luna the Vampire volume #1 is a collection of funny little stories that focus on a generally bored and grumpy vampire named Luna. She along with other monsters live out in space. The book feature stories with Luna getting a new pet, becoming a bit obsessed with losing weight, hanging out with her friend Helga (a witch), scoring the ultimate find at a Comic Con, trying to escape from a children's party and more.

I love the artwork (see below) it's very colorful and drawn in a wacky cartoony way. Although, I can see the artwork appealing to children but I don't think it's actually for them. Some of the story content may not be quite appropriate for them such as in one story Luna was influenced by the media (and Helga) to lose weight. I like Luna, she's definitely grumpy and perhaps a little anti-social. Meanwhile, I found Helga to be okay, she's a bit flighty and inconsiderate at times. I think Kir is adorable, he has a crush on Luna which I don't think she realizes.

This was a fun if not zany read, I like finding something different. There was one thing I found to be a slight issue. It was that some of the words, which were in cursive, can be a little hard to read in a few places.

Book Review: Sherlock Holmes: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (Comic Book)

Book: Sherlock Holmes: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (issues #1-5) by Nicholas Myers adapted by David and Scott Tipton with illustrations by Ron Joseph and Kelley Jones

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

The best-selling Sherlock Holmes novel by writer/director Nicholas Meyer comes to comics! The real story behind Sherlock Holmes' final confrontation with Professor Moriarty is at long last revealed! Who is the real Moriarty? Why did Holmes disappear for so long? The game is afoot!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

This was very good, it's a rather faithful adaptation of Nicholas Meyer's The Seven-Per-Cent Solution story. For anyone not familiar with the story, Sherlock Holmes' drug addiction has started to take its toll on him causing him to become paranoid and to obsess over trying to prove that Professor Moriarty was the King of the underworld.

Dr. Watson simply couldn't stand to see his good friend continue in this state, so he along with Sherlock's brother Mycroft devised a plan to get Sherlock to Vienna to see a specialist, Sigmund Freud. While Sherlock was trying to overcome his addiction, the trio of Sherlock, Watson and Freud stumbled upon a mystery concerning one of Freud's patients.

This was a fascinating mystery that revealed an interesting connection between Sherlock and Professor Moriarty. I thought this was a good read because even if you've never read the original story this is easy to follow along and the artwork provides a clear picture as to what is happening.

As a Sherlock Holmes fan, I would definitely recommend giving this a read. 

Book Review: Godzilla in Hell

Book: Godzilla in Hell (issues #1-5) by James Stokoe, Bob Eggleton, Ulises Farinas, Erick Freitas, Brandon Seifert, Dave Wachter

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Godzilla meets his greatest adversary of all time―the impossible tortures of Hell! Each issue of this special miniseries will see Godzilla enter a new level of the underworld to do battle with the impossible


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Godzilla in Hell was an interesting and slightly weird story. And with most of the issues containing no dialogue or narrator, it left the art to tell the story.

This opens with the legendary monster falling down to hell and once down there he quickly found himself constantly under attack. However, time and again Godzilla proves that nothing can defeat him. This story is a bit of a mind trip because clearly Godzilla was in the underworld but then there would be scenes where he was fighting other monsters in major cities. Perhaps in the underworld there are duplicate of cities down there unless I'm misinterpreting these scenes.

The story maybe a little simplistic with Godzilla fighting his way through hell but it does have an interesting ending. However, it's the artwork that really sells it. Each issue features amazing artwork by a different artist.

This really was an interest if not some what weird at times story Godzilla was in, but I enjoyed reading it.

Book Review: D4VE2

Book: D4VE2 (issues #1-4) by Ryan Ferrier with illustrations by Valentin Ramon

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

ONE YEAR LATER. With the world seemingly at peace, things seem pretty all right on 34RTH until a strange ship's arrival sends D4VE head-first into an existential crisis: an inconceivable blast from the past that threatens not only D4VE's dwindling relationship with 5COTTY, but all of robot-kind itself!


Rating: 1 star (Did Not Finish)

Review:

D4VE2 just wasn't for me. It's filled with slacker robots plus a story that didn't seem to be going anywhere made this a Did Not Finish. The dialogue between the characters was simply awful, this reads like a bad 90s film.

I have a friend who read this (and liked it), said that it does get better near the end. He said there is good story here, it just take some time for it to develop. I have a question, should the reader have to wait for the story to get better or should it already start out good?

The only thing I did like about this was the artwork. Maybe I'll pick this up at a later time and try to give it a second read but for now, I'll pass. 

Book Review: Crystal Cadets

Book: Crystal Cadets by Anne Toole with illustrations by Katie O'Neill with color by Paulina Ganuchaeu

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Zoe has always felt out of place; her foster parents are great and all, but she's long felt like something was missing. That is, of course, until she discovers a mysterious gem left to her by her birth mother and her whole universe gets flipped around! When the crystal grants Zoe mysterious powers of light she becomes the Diamond Cadet, and she's not the only one; suddenly she's meeting new friends who shoot flames and glowing green arrows. It's all fun at first, but when The Darkness possesses Zoe's foster parents her only choice is to join this wild group of action-hero girls, traveling the globe to defeat The Darkness and find a cure!



Rating: 3 stars

Review:

Crystal Cadets = Sailor Moon meets children/middle grade readers. This was a fun and cute comic that followed a group of girls who as the Crystal Cadets use gem power to stop the Darkness. The story opens with Zoe at school meeting three new girls Jasmine, Gwen and Olivia who stop her from being bullied. At home, Zoe celebrated her birthday and received a special gift from her foster parents. It was a journal from her birth mother and inside she found a hidden letter that also contained a diamond.

The next day at school, the Darkness was attacking. As Jasmine, Gwen and Olivia were trying to stop it, Zoe went home but found the Darkness was already there. It was controlling her parents and was trying to get her. Although, she was saved by the Cadets the Darkness left her parents in a state of unconsciousness. After finding out that Zoe had a gem, they took her and her parents back to the Crystal Cadet castle where they hope to one day cure Zoe's parents of the Darkness.

From there the girls along with Jasmine's older sister Nahla, who runs the control room, were trying to locate the other holders of gems before the Darkness could get to them. But standing in their way, was a girl name Emmy who seems to be able to control the Darkness.

This ends on a cliffhanger but also with a twist in regards to who the newest Crystal Cadet was.

Although, this was a fun and fast-paced story with a lot of action I felt like there wasn't enough time put in to actually develop the story. It went from one scene to the next without giving out a lot of information. And there was not a lot explanation about how the Crystal Cadets came to be other than they get their power from gems which were passed down to them. They then use their powers to protect the Earth from the Darkness. Their enemy the Darkness besides being too ambiguous almost seemed too big for them to handle.

I like the concept of the Crystal Cadets but the writing was lacking. With the story moving so fast you don't get a good sense of who the Cadets are that is besides Zoe. And speaking of Zoe, it was unbelievable that she went from newbie Cadet to assuming the leadership role. It didn't seem right especially since the group already had a very competent leader in Jasmine. I like Zoe but I thought the book focused too much on building her up instead of focusing on all the Cadets.

I like the artwork, it reminds me of Steven Universe and other similar cartoons on the Cartoon Network, Disney, etc..

Overall, this was a fun, easy-breezy comic that's geared towards children and middle grade readers. Kids will love the bright colors and action packed scenes and most likely will be looking to read more from this.

I believe this has been turned into an ongoing series and if the author would add a little more depth and slow down the pace a bit, I really think this would make an excellent series.

Book Review: The Infinite Loop

Book: The Infinite Loop (issues #1-6) by Pierrick Colinet with illustration by Elsa Charretier

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

A science-fiction series that asks the age-old question, "What would you risk for a chance at true love?" Meet Teddy, a young woman who lives in a faraway future where time traveling is a common practice and her job is to maintain the status quo by correcting time paradoxes. But when she meets Ano, "a time paradox" and the girl of her dreams, Teddy must decide between fixing the time stream or the love of her life, both of which have unique consequences. A dynamically graphic, science-fictiony, poetical, paradoxical wunderkind of a sexy, time-traveling, adventure-packed comic.


Rating: 1 star

Review:

This was a very confusing and slow moving story, it follows Teddy who is employed as a Time Erasure. It's her job to go throughout time to remove anomalies that appear. If the Time Erasures do not remove them, they could affect time. However, she was unable to go through with her job when she meets an unusual anomaly, a young woman named Ano.

Teddy immediately falls for her and decides the two will try to hide out but two other agents are soon after them. From there the story turned into time traveling nonsense. Teddy and Ano's relationship made no sense, it was just insta-love and I never got a sense that there was a real connection between them. 

If I read this correctly, the meaning I got from this was that if you see something that isn't right then don't sit back and do nothing. Once meeting Ano, Teddy started to doubt her job and wondered what really happened to the anomalies once they got rid of them.

The author tried for something different but the story was trying to do too much and by the end, it became really confusing. I have to say one of the best things about this story was the artwork, it had a Bruce Timm quality to it.

Book Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures vol #2

Book: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures volume #2 (issues #5-8) by various writers and illustrators

Edition:

Digital: Issues #5 and #6 
Print: Issues #7 and #8


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

This was a fun and action packed read for all ages. Reading them was just like watching the animated series and should be a treat for fans of the show. I like that the turtles always find some kind of way to stop their enemies even in some of the most ridiculous ways.


Issue #5 written by Kenny Byerly with illustrations by Adam Archer with color by Heather Breckel

In this water filled issue, the turtles on a tip from April head out to a cruise ship to stop Fishface who was set on revenge against his former childhood friend Vitor Sousa. Tension grows between Raph and Leo after the two disagree about trying to stop Fishface and save Sousa, who is now one of the most powerful gangsters in Sao Paolo.

With a ship that's quickly sinking, are the turtles heading into deep water trying to save the day.


Issue #6 written by Cullen Bunn with illustrations by Dario Brizuela and color by Heather Breckel

In this issue, the turtles were simply supposed to be going out on a reconnaissance mission to observe the Krang and according to Master Splinter to only engage the enemy if absolutely necessary. However, they didn't stick to the plan and were soon taking on the Krang. But the turtles problems started when they ended up taking an unusual device from the Krang. Donnie thought maybe it was bomb but as they were on their way back to their lair to further study it, a large squishy tentacle monster burst out of the device and took over the turtles' vehicle the Shellraiser.

The turtles were having a difficult time trying to stop the monster but they had a great plan to stop it and give the Krang a dose of their own medicine.


Issue #7 written by Brian Smith with illustrations by Chad Thomas and color by Heather Breckel

This issue has the turtles each doing their own thing but somehow they wind up in a huge fight with Dogpound and the Purple Dragons.

First up is Donnie and April who were enjoying the Chinatown Food Festival when they ended up crossing paths with the Purple Dragons and Dogpound. They had no problem fighting off a couple of Purple Dragons but they were no match for Dogpound who was accompanied by more of the Purple Dragons. Not liking their odds, the only thing for Donnie and April to do was to escape.

Meanwhile, Mikey and Raph were planning on going to the movies but Raph really did not want to use Mikey's top secret ninja method to get into the theater. However, it was either going to be Mikey's plan or not seeing the movie but Raph really wanted to see that movie. Last is Leo who was on one of his solo patrols when he ran into Karai.

Trying to get away from Dogpound and the Purple Dragons, Donnie and April went to the movie theater to get help from Mikey and Raph. Leo was already at the same theater but was unaware of the situation going inside because he was on the roof talking with Karai.

The turtles and April get a little inspiration from the movie in stopping Dogpound.


Issue #8 written by Kenny Byerly with illustrations by Dario Brizuela and color by Heather Breckel

In this last issue, the turtles, April and Dr. Rockwell go up against the Rat King.

The turtles and April had been attacked by the Rat King but got help from Dr. Rockwell who used one of his inventions to incapacitate the Rat King. The group then took the Rat King back to Dr. Rockwell's lab because the doctor wanted to find a way to neutralize the Rat King's powers. But the Rat King summoned his rats and during the chaos he took control of Dr. Rockwell's invention and used it to boost his powers.

With the Rat King all powerful, how will they stop him? 

Book Review: Drones

Book: Drones (issues #1-5) by Chris Lewis with illustrations by Bruno Oliveira

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Join pilots Stinger and Angel Eyes for a wild night in Las Vegas' finest terrorism-themed hotel. Collecting all five issues of the hit miniseries, this book is a satirical look at a world in which terror and entertainment have begun to blur.


Rating: 1 star (Did Not Finish)

Review:

This was so boring. I couldn't even bother to even finish reading it. I found it to be very confusing as the story follows two military drone technicians/pilots Stinger and Angel Eyes as they operate in Las Vegas. The two some how get caught up in some kind of trouble/conspiracy centering around a terrorism-themed hotel.

The description stated that this was supposed to be a satirical look at how terror and entertainment has begun to blur well, this book wasn't funny it was just boring and confusing. There was no plot, the art was bad and the characters were easily forgotten.

Book Review: Jem and the Holograms vol #1

Book: Jem and the Holograms volume #1: Showtime by Kelly Thompson with illustrations by Ross Campbell

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Meet Jerrica Benton - a girl with a secret. She and her sister Kimber team with two friends to become... JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS! But what does it mean to be JEM today? Fashion, art, action, and style collide in Jem and the Holograms: Showtime!


Rating: 1 star

Review:

I'm thankful that I had a chance to have read this but after giving it a read I'm definitely not going to purchase it. As a Jem and the Holograms fan this should have been the best year ever in regards to that iconic cartoon series getting both a movie and a comic book series.

After seeing that trailer I wasn't wasting my money on going to see the movie. Meanwhile, reading this comic book felt like I was seeing everything through a warped carnival mirror. I certainly was not expecting this to be anything like the 80s cartoon but I was hoping it would be a fun read.

This was really boring and although the story kept some elements of the cartoon (but not all of them where was Eric Raymond?), it was the writing that was weak, the characters that were shallow and unlikeable and the artwork hideous that made this a poor read. So many of the characters look like they were the walking dead.

In this book, Jerrica, Kimber, Aja and Shana had plans to enter The Misfits contest where bands are chosen to go up against the group. They had been trying to film a music video but something was stopping their progress, Jerrica's stage fright. After getting an ultimatum from Kimber and later overhearing Aja, Shana and Kimber talking about her, Jerrica left and went back home.

At home a storm knocked out the power which somehow rebooted Synergy, the advanced computer system that was built by Jerrica's father. The computer has the ability to create holographic images. Unexpectedly, Synergy appeared to Jerrica and showed her where to find the earrings her father had made for her. The earrings will allow her to contact Synergy and to project the holograms.

As Synergy was talking to Jerrica, the other three returned home and that's when Synergy informed them about another secret their father left for them. Jerrica had an idea to use a hologram to over come her stage fright and thus created Jem.

The Misfits are introduced to the reader through a performance but you really get to see their personalities after an interview with Lin-Z. While the ladies were finding out about the latest entry into their contest Jem and the Holograms, they were surprised by writer Rio Pacheco who was currently writing an article about The Misfits.

After getting put out by The Misfits, Rio then went in search of Jem and the Holograms, well more specifically Jerrica. As Jem and the Holograms relish in their new popularity they were also getting ready to go to the Starlight Community Center where they volunteer by helping the Starlight Girls. While there Ms. Bailey asked Jerrica if Jem and the Holograms could perform at the fundraiser since one of the acts dropped out. While Kimber was sneaking out of the community center to go to The Misfits album signing in hopes of meeting Stormer (who she has a crush on), Jerrica was not only meeting Rio but found herself being asked out on a date by him.

Kimber and Stormer's moment was ruined when the rest of The Mistfits showed up making a huge scene which also resulted in The Misfits getting more bad publicity. Jerrica and Rio were enjoying their first date while Kimber was all down about her ruined moment with her crush. At that point she hasn't told the rest of the group who she was with. Influenced by her band, Stormer decides not to see Kimber but it doesn't look like it's going according to plan not with Kimber giving her a kiss. Meanwhile, Clash who is part of The Misfits entourage has a plan to ruin Jem and the Holograms' performance at the fundraiser.

However, Clash's plan backfired and made Jem and the Holograms even more popular. The extra attention Jem and the Holograms were getting was making Pizzazz even angrier. As both groups prepare for the contest, the relationships between Jerrica and Rio and Kimber and Stormer were starting to deepen. But when Kimber realized the truth about the accident that happened at the fundraiser, a huge food fight broke out between the two groups leaving Jem and the Holograms disqualified from the contest. But not willing to accept the responsibility for starting the fight instead Jem and the Holograms decided to upstage The Misfits by performing at a nearby location.

I was disappointed with this for so many reasons. It's not a fun read for all ages like the cartoon was especially not with all the cursing. I found that many of the characters were out of character, I can't believe how petty, mean and shallow Kimber was while Jerrica was very insecure and wimpy. Shana and Aja didn't really seem to have been given much of a personality and certainly didn't get as much attention in this as Kimber and Jerrica. I can't believe they made Pizzazz a paranoid psychopath, Roxy an idiot and Stormer mean. Jetta's personality is the only one that's pretty much the same.

Reading this just didn't feel like Jem and the Holograms, it was far from empowering and there was a lot of childish antics and negativity surprisingly on the part of the titular group. It's understandable that The Misfits are going to be jerks but I wasn't expecting that Jem and the Holograms would stoop to their level.

There was a lot of unnecessary drama in this slow moving group of issues. I can't believe the only reason the writer could come up with for Jerrica becoming Jem is because Jerrica experiences extreme stage fright. And what was with Kimber issuing out an ultimatum to Jerrica that if she doesn't hurry up and deal with her stage fright and get the band's video ready then Kimber was going to leave the band. This version of Kimber was so self-centered and egotistical.

The romance portions of this story seemed so force for both Jerrica and Rio and Kimber and Stormer. It's more on the lines of insta-love instead of really building up a connection between the couples.

I don't think I will be continuing on with this series, it's outrageous but not in a good way.

Book Review: Ghosts and Girls of Fiction House!

Book: Ghosts and Girls of Fiction House! edited by Michael Price

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

The publisher Fiction House was infamous for what anti-comics crusader Dr. Fredric Wertham called "headlight comics," i.e. comics featuring the ample female bosom. The Pre-Code publisher used their buxom heroines to star in jungle comics, science fiction tales, and scary GHOST STORIES! The Chilling Archives of Horror Comics series curates the sexiest and scariest of these poltergeist-infused Good Girl Art comics in a pulse-pounding tome, Ghosts and Girls! Your hair will stand on end and at the same time your toes will curl! Featuring faithfully reprinted original art from these 1940s and 1950s by brilliant masters Matt Baker, Maurice Whitman, and more, don't miss this must-have, large format collection edited by comics historian and filmmaker Michael Price, with its lovingly restored comics.



Rating: 1 star

Review:

I'm always interested in learning more history about the comic book industry or in this case Fiction House Comics but unfortunately this was a letdown. Although the book mainly featured essays about Fiction House Comics and many of their popular sci-fi, supernatural and pulp fiction comics, it was the dull writing that left me uninspired.

The essays were informative but I was very bored reading them, most of the essays were about a lot of the behind the scene stuff about writers and artists at the company as well as other stuff that was going on at the company. I also found the samples of The Ghost Galley comics that followed after the essays weren't that interesting either.

Book Review: Uncle Scrooge: Pure Viewing Satisfaction

Book: Uncle Scrooge: Pure Viewing Satisfaction by Jonathan Gray, Rodolfo Cimino, romano Scarpa, Jan Kruse and Joe Torcivia

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

The adventures of Uncle Scrooge return in these kid-friendly-sized collections. Includes the stories “The Wraith of Gigabeagle,” “Shiver Me Timebers,” “The Duckburg 100,” and more!


Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Review:

This was a fun group of stories,

1st Story: Uncle Scrooge vs. Gigabeagle: King of the Robot Robbers

Scrooge McDuck is extremely anxious because the crooks The Beagle Boys have not tried in a while to steal any of his money. He's driving the rest of the family crazy so they all decide to take a vacation to go camping.

Everything is going great until one night Donald sees an enormous beagle robot but no one believe him. It wasn't until Huey, Dewey and Louie stumbled upon large tracks in the woods that the family finally believed Donald's story. From there they went off to investigate.

Following the tracks, the family found out The Beagle Boys created the robot to use in stealing Scrooge's huge safe that's filled with billions of dollars. Is there anyway the family can stop the crooks plan or is Scrooge out of all his money?



Short Story: Uncle Scrooge's Home EC 101: Pure Viewing Satisfaction

In this short story, Scrooge delights in all of the money he's saving from watching his new TV. However, Donald doesn't think his uncle's latest penny pinching idea isn't all it's cracked up to be.



2nd Story: Uncle Scrooge in Stinker, Tailor, Scrooge and Sly

Someone has been trying to steal Scrooge's jacket and after the second attempt the jacket is in need of repairs. He took the jacket to his friend Brigitta to see if she could fix it (and for free). In doing so her tailor Jubal found something really interesting inside the jacket. The crook showed up again trying to steal the jacket. What's inside the jacket that's making it worth stealing?



3rd Story: Uncle Scrooge in Shiver Me Timbers!

Scrooge, Donald, Huey, Dewey and Louie found themselves in a real swashbuckling tale following the family boarding a legendary ship. It took the family to an island where they not only found treasure but three pirates. The pirates had been on the island for centuries, they had been cursed by a wizard for stealing his treasure. To break the curse they needed the family to return the treasure to the wizard. But there is no way they were going to help those dangerous pirates, well that is until the pirates take Scrooge hostage to force the family to help. Is there anyway that Donald and his nephews can travel the deadly sea to return the treasure in time to save their Uncle Scrooge?



Short Story: Uncle Scrooge's Home EC 101: Yo!

In short story, Scrooge finds another cheap way to try to save money this time concerning his laundry machine. He's such a miser.



4th Story: Uncle Scrooge

It's Scrooge McDuck vs. Flintheart Glomgold, the two cheapskates are trying to out do each other. Scrooge may have gotten a chance to increase his wealth when scientists tell him a meteorite crashed landed, he thinks he may be able to make some money off of it. However, Glomgold has plans to get that meteorite for himself.



5th Story: Uncle Scrooge in The Duckburg 100

The First Interfeather bank has a new program the Duckburg 100 to encourage people to save more money. The contest will have the bank for a hundred days sending out a $100 bill to various spenders with the first being Donald Duck, Jubal Pomp and one of the beagle boys. After 24 hours if they still have the $100 bill or have invested it in a profitable way then the bank will add another $100 into their bank account. If they lose then they will owe the bank money.

Sounds like a amazing contest, well that's what Scrooge thought until he found out he owned the bank and there is no way he's going to be giving away money. He devises a plan to get the money back but that causes more trouble for him in the end.



Short Story: Uncle Scrooge in Donald's Gabby Guest

The last story in this book, Donald and his nephews are caring for Uncle Scrooge's pet bird Doubloon for a week while he's gone on a trip. The four are having a problem with the bird because of its nonstop talking about how they should treat Scrooge. It's as if the bird is trying to brainwash them into doing things for Scrooge, but they have a plan to fix that uncle of theirs. 

Book Review: Littlest Pet Shop: Wait A Second

Book: Littlest Pet Shop: Wait A Second by Georgia Ball and Matt Anderson with illustrations by Nico Pena

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

Join Blythe, Russell, Zoe, and all of your favorite pets in these brand-new adventures based on the hit animated series and toy line.


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

There are eight stories in this book with the stories 2-4 interconnecting with Blythe trying to get into a spring fashion week program:

In the first story, Pepper's owner was going out of town for a week and that would cause her to have to be boarded at Shady Brooks, a place she's never stayed in before. To help alleviate Pepper's nerves, Blythe and Mrs. Twombly found another place for her to stay, at Penny Ling the panda's home.

Pepper staying with Penny Ling was like an odd couple situation with Pepper being her typical loud and noisy self. Meanwhile, Penny Ling wished that things were a little more quiet.

In a secondary plot, Vinnie was testing new iguana food trying to find the best one. Later on things were starting to get out of hand between Penny Ling and Pepper. Separately thinking they needed to change to be better temporary roommates, they started to act like one another and changing their personalities and doing wacky things instead of saying what was bothering them.


In this second story, as Blythe was off trying to fill out her application for the Downtown University's Fashion Week program, Sunil tired of Minka never listening to him wishes that he could hypnotize her into paying attention to him. Still in his magician's costume he thinks he may have just done it when Minka starts listening to his every command but after a while he no longer wanted a brainwashed friend he wanted the old Minka back.


The third story had Blythe worrying over whether she got into the fashion program but her worrying was interrupted by the Bisket twins' pet chinchillas Velvet and Cashmere. They went to Littlest Pet Shop for a birthday gift for themselves, however the Bisket's butler Francois doesn't understand what they want. Will Blythe be able to persuade him?


In the fourth story, Blythe was dealing with disappointing news about the fashion week program. But her friend Sugar Sprinkles, who just happens to be a dog, helped her realize that this was another opportunity for her to try something else like attending the Scorching Torch Beach Festival. After getting permission from her dad, Blythe was heading to the two day festival with Mrs. Twombly and the pets. At the festival Blythe met some new friends, but are they as nice as they seem? Meanwhile, the pets started a band but are their disagreements going to break them up before they can perform?


The last four stories were previously included in the trade Littlest Pet Shop: Open For Business, here is my repost of those stories:


Story: The Bracing Race

In this story, Blythe thinking the animals need a little more exercise devised a scavenger hunt around town with Russell in charge of finding the locations and Penny Ling writing up the clues. But as expected Blythe and the animals have many problems as they try to complete the scavenger hunt.


Story: A Rockin' Father's Day

For Father's Day, Blythe is going to be attending a concert with her dad. But she starts to feels a little nervous because she's afraid her dad is going to embarrass her. However, it's not until she runs into one of her friends that she start to see her father in a new light.


Story: So You Think You Can Dance Craze?

Vinnie was trying to teach the other pets a few dance steps but his steps are so crazy that may not be able to keep up with him.


Story: A Fine Day for a Parade

Both the Littlest Pet Shop and the Largest Ever Pet Shop (which is owned by the Biskit family) were in the Downtown city's annual parade but the Biskit twins had no desire to greet the crowd. However, Penny Ling came to rescue by entertaining the crowd.

Book Review: The October Faction vol #1

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

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

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


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review: Galaxy Quest: The Journey Continues

Book: Galaxy Quest: The Journey Continues (issues #1-4) by Erik Burnham with illustrations by Nacho Arranz

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: August 6, 2015

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

Once upon a time, a troupe of has-been actors that starred on an old sci-fi show were enlisted by an alien race to save them from an intergalactic tyrant. Despite being way out of their depth, the cast somehow managed to save the aliens and stay alive... but their actions in outer space may have had dire consequences for another world. The cast of Galaxy Quest have enjoyed a career resurgence since returning from their intergalactic adventure, but all that is about to be interrupted by Qint, an alien with a very surprising ax to grind against Jason Nesmith and the crew of the NSEA Protector!


Rating: 2 stars

Review:

This was very slow moving and it lacked the fun humorous adventure that the movie showcased so well. The fun of the movie was that it was about this TV series that was similar to Star Trek but with a campier feel. Aliens somehow thought the TV series was the real exploits of this space crew and went to them for help. However, this comic wasn't really that funny and the characters' personalities didn't seem to mesh up.

Galaxy Quest: The Journey Continues takes place some time after the movie with both the actors and the TV series having made a comeback. But the actors soon found themselves being taken back out to space this time to help end a long fought war on the planet Dryth between the two factions. The aliens who came to get them believe that the device that they used, the Omega 13 was the cause of the aliens' downfall in ending the war.

After some clunky negotiations they were off to Dryth to set things right. Despite a few mishaps, they do find a way to help the aliens but it was very unimaginative with the ending leading into another possible storyline.

This was okay, it's definitely not the most interesting of stories. I guess I was hoping for something better than this and I really wish it had been funnier. The humor that was there seemed forced.

I had a problem with the artwork, there is no way to really distinguish Jason, Guy, Fred, and Alexander (and Brandon to some extent) they all had the same face. The artist didn't do a good job of making them look different from one another.

Book Review: The Powerpuff Girls: Super Smash-Up

Book: The Powerpuff Girls: Super Smash-Up! (issues #1-5) by various writers and artists

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: August 20, 2015

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

After their victory in the Super Secret Crisis War, the Powerpuff Girls take it easy with a rare VIP tour of Dexter’s Laboratory! But when tag-along Dee Dee accidentally activates Dexter’s newest invention, the fate of the entire multiverse is suddenly at stake! A dimensions-spanning epic into the worlds of Courage The Cowardly Dog, Cow and Chicken, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, and Dexter's Laboratory!


Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review:

I used to love watching the Powerpuff Girls, and on occasion I still watch an episode or two every now and then. I found reading this was like watching an episode of the show. It was fast paced and exciting. This is a tie-in to the Super Secret Crisis War! comic book series (here's my review for the first volume).

This opens with the Powerpuff Girls trying to stop one of their villains Fuzzy Lumpkins after he terrorized City Hall and abducted Ms. Bellum. While they were chasing him, Fuzzy releases some of the animals from the zoo which leaves the girls to have to catch the animals to keep them from  harming the people. This however didn't end like Fuzzy had hoped because he ended up being stopped by Ms. Bellum who can take care of herself.

With that all taken care of, the girls along with their dad Professor Utonium were off to tour Dexter's laboratory. The tour was going well, until Dexter's sister Dee Dee showed up, and during her impromptu ballet dance she caused the vial of Chemical X that the professor gave Dexter to break and it ended up turning her into a monster.

Dee Dee unable to be stopped by the Powerpuff Girls was able to escape through a interdimensional portal but due to an accident there was now no way of tracking her. The newly transformed Dee Dee found herself in the world of Courage The Cowardly Dog.

At the end of the first issue, there was a Courage The Cowardly Dog short story.


The second issue finds the girls traveling to Courage's world thanks to transportation bracelets and with a spray that will change Dee Dee back. As soon as the girls transport they are mistaken for Courage's dog-sitter and with no sight of Dee Dee or the real dog-sitter the girls just have to wait. But it doesn't take long for something to happen. They were soon trying to stop the weird dog-sitter and monster Dee Dee and in between being scared Courage tried to help. However, something went wrong and Dee Dee ended up transporting somewhere else leaving the girls to return back to Townsville.

The issue ends with a Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends short story.


The third issue finds the girls back in Townsville trying to see if the professor and Dexter knew where to find Dee Dee. After locating her, the girls were soon off to the world of Cow and Chicken.  Prior to the girls showing up, Cow and Chicken were putting on a lawn theater show when the Red Guy spots them and plans to make them superstars, that is until monster Dee Dee shows up and the Red Guy is no longer interested in them.

The Powerpuff Girls and Cow and Chicken head to the movie studio to try to save Dee Dee but as the fighting got underway Dee Dee transported again.

The short story at the end was The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.


Issue four opens with Townsville being overrun by villains and with the Powerpuff Girls still in another dimension, Dexter calls on some of his superhero friends, The Justice Friends, for help. With that situation dealt with, the professor and Dexter can now turn their attention back to finding Dee Dee. This time she was in the world of Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends.

At Foster's Bloo, Mac and some of the friends are playing a game of hide and seek when Dee Dee shows up. She was then added to the game, hiding out with Bloo. But once the Powerpuff Girls showed up, they were unable to find Dee Dee and needed help to find her. And as soon as they found her she disappeared again.

The short story for this issue was about Mojo Jojo.


In this last issue, Mojo Jojo was brought in to help to build a trap to capture Dee Dee. No surprise that the Powerpuff Girls are suspicious of Mojo's motives but they need help to bring Dee Dee home who this time was in the world of Camp Lazlo.

With Dee Dee quickly captured and de-mutated everything was finally perfect except for Mojo double crossing them. He ended with one of the transportation bracelets and used it to return back home to steal Dexter's research. Mojo was going to use the information to change the multiverse into his image. It was now up to everyone to stop him but the biggest help surprisingly came from Dee Dee.

This ends with a Dexter and Dee Dee short story.

I think The Powerpuff Girls: Super Smash-Up is a good read for all ages and for anyone who loved watching many of the Cartoon Network's animated series.

Book Review: Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland

Book: Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland by Eric Shanower with illustrations by Gabriel Rodriguez and color by Nelson Daniel

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: June 23, 2015

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

An all-new, all-ages series full of magic and whimsy from award-winning creators Eric Shanower (Adventures in Oz) and Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key)! Spinning out of Winsor McKay's brilliant early 20th Century strip, Return to Slumberland sees King Morpheus' daughter, in the Royal Palace of Slumberland, selecting her next-playmate - Nemo! Only Nemo has no interest in being anyone's playmate, dream or no dream!


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

I must have a knack for finding weird and whimsical stories because Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland is like the Wizard of Oz meets Alice in Wonderland with a dash of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

It's a cute little story that finds James "Jimmy" Nemo Summerton being selected to be the Princess of Slumberland's latest playmate except he doesn't really want to go there. However, the hardest part is actually getting there any accidents have him waking up back in his bed. And when he finally does arrive in Slumberland it's unbelievable. Even though Jimmy thinks the palace is amazing he would still rather go home.

Trying to avoid having to play with the Princess, Jimmy started hanging out with the trouble maker Flip Flap. The two went from one situation to the next to have to end up needing help from the Princess.

This was a fun fantasy adventure that finds Jimmy finally enjoying himself and ends with a cliffhanger finding the trio about to go on another adventure, hoping to read more from this. I love the artwork it's very bright and colorful.

Book Review: Edward Scissorhands vol #1

Book: Edward Scissorhands volume #1: Parts Unknown (issues #1-5) by Kate Leth with illustrations by Drew Rausch

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: June 9, 2015

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

An all-new adventure revisiting Edward Scissorhands' two decades after the end of the fan-favorite movie! In a castle just outside a sleepy suburban town, a brilliant inventor created Edward Scissorhands... but left him tragically unfinished. Two generations of exile have left Edward digging through abandoned experiments, but once he wakes up a creature left buried, he discovers he isn't the only one missing a vital piece. As Edward tries to fix a grave mistake, he comes face-to-face with a teenage girl who was sure he was only myth... despite the stories her grandmother told her about the man she could never touch.


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Edward Scissorhands continues where the movie ended with Edward spending his days toiling around the old mansion keeping busy. His old and dear friend Kim has since passed away leaving him with no real friend or companion.

On the anniversary of her death, Edward ended up finding an old experiment that was locked away, a robot he named Eli. But as soon as Eli was reactivated he did something horrible.

Meanwhile back in town, Kim's granddaughter Megan wanted to do something to honor her grandmother since her mother seems reluctant to. Megan always believed the stories her grandmother told her and when searching through her grandmother's old things she found items that proved the stories were true. Especially when her mother told her those were just stories from a crazy old woman.

Edward had no idea that Eli was considered dangerous until he checked the scientist's old notes however by then Eli had already left the mansion and was heading to town. Eli seems to be searching for something, according to the notes he's looking for something to complete him.

While Megan was still trying to connect with her grandmother she went to the mansion and was surprised by Edward. She was frightened but after a while she realized he wasn't going to hurt her. He told her about Eli who was now somewhere out there in the town.

When Philip a young boy from the neighborhood goes missing, Edward was immediately blamed. Megan knows who really took the boy but no one will listen to her including her mother who is outside the mansion with the rest of the townspeople turning into an angry mob.

This was good, the story was fun yet suspenseful and a little creepy. I thought the artwork had a nice Tim Burton feel to it. I'm not sure if this is an all-ages comic it reads like one however there were a few curse words in it. So, I guess it's up to the parents to see if this is appropriate for their children.

Book Review: Knight Rider vol #1

Book: Knight Rider volume #1 by Geoffrey Thorne with illustrations by Jason Johnson with color by Sai Studios

An additional story written by Shannon Eric Denton with illustrations by Brian Denham and color by Milan Parvanov

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: June 9, 2015

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

All secret agent Michael Knight wants to do is take his girlfriend Katherine out for a night on the town. Of course, Katherine is the brilliant scientist he's been assigned to protect along with her top secret PROJECT: RIDER. When a team of mercenaries crashes their date, it's up to Michael and the mysterious Bishop to keep Katherine and the Rider out of their hands. What follows is a high-speed, high-casualty race through the streets and mountains of California in which loyalties are tested, alliances betrayed, and a global conspiracy is revealed. And, of course, at least one talking car. Knight Rider: A shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man who does not exist.


Rating: 3 stars (for the second story only)

Review:

There are two stories in this volume and the first was really awful.

Oh boy, the first story was very clunky and not to mention boring and poorly written. I barely finished reading it, but I'm glad I did because the second story was so much better (more on that later). Now back to the first one, it's a very generic spy story that's filled with boring characters, tons of technobabble, text messages and chess speak. There is an unnecessary back story for KITT the car the could have been left out.

The story finds Michael Knight tasked with trying to guard and protect Dr. Katherine Beachum who is currently working on a project for the secret organization that Michael works for. The doctor had been targeted by a shadowy group looking to acquire her experiment.

I found Michael to be poorly written and pretty much lousy at his job while his coworker Tabitha (Michael's Bishop) was better written. Dr. Beachum is smart but a bit of ditzy damsel-in-distress at times.

The art for the main story was very generic however the color was very good. This was nothing more than a filler story that at least introduced a good character, Tabitha.


For the second story the art and the writing improved so much, too bad this wasn't the lead story.

In this story, Michael and Kitt were checking out one of the company's buildings to see if any of them had been compromised following the incident in the first story. This was a very well-written action packed story with Michael appearing smart and capable as well as has a good personality. The author even managed to add in some well placed humor.

I wish I could get back the time I wasted on reading the first story but at least the second one was good.

Book Review: The Bigger Bang

Book: The Bigger Bang (issues #1-4) by D.J. Kirkbride with illustrations by Vassilis Gogtzilas

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: June 3, 2015

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

The Big Bang created all life as we know it. The Bigger Bang creates just one: a being named Cosmos. Is he a destroyer? A hero? A god? All he knows is that he's completely alone in what was our universe... so he seeks out another where he'll try to atone for the sins of his mysterious creation.


Rating: 4 stars

Review:

I'm really surprised by the mixed reviews for this. The Bigger Bang feels like a nod to those old comic books filled with classic space adventures. It's well written, dramatic and humorous.

In this book, Cosmos is considered one to be feared because they believed he destroyed a universe but instead he was created when said universe was destroyed. Despite all the times he has saved worlds countless times he can not escape their fears of him.

There is also evil King Thulu who is not only trying to destroy a world where the citizens do not care to be ruled by him but also trying to stop Cosmos. When his plan to attack Cosmos didn't go to plan, Captain Wyan refused to attack him after she observed him during a rescue. Upset with her for not going through with his command, the King tasked Captain Wyan with finding him and giving him an offer to serve the King.

King Thulu wants to use Cosmos in his reign to conquer and control the universe. As Captain Wyan spends more time with Cosmos she is starting to realize that blindly following the King's order is not all it cracked up to be.

Okay, the story may not be super original but it's interesting with this lone hero trying his best to help. I thought the artwork had this gritty, messy, scratchy, elsewhere feel to it that just seems to work for it.

This was a fun read.

Book Review: Angry Birds/Transformers: Age of Eggstinction

Book: Angry Birds/Transformers: Age of Eggstinction (issues #1-4) by John Barber with illustration by Livio Ramondelli and Marcelo Ferreira

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: May 26, 2015

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Description:

When the Transformers lose their powerful Allspark, it ends up on Piggie Island - and the world of Angry Birds turns robotic! Prepare to meet... the AUTOBIRDS and DECEPTIHOGS!



Rating: 1 star (Did Not Finish)

Review:

The writing for this was so awful that I couldn't finish reading it. With so much of the dialog being off it made it hard to read, for instance when Starscream was telling Soundwave he needs to loosen up and stop being such a company man. That right there, I'm not buying that as something he would have said. From the writing it didn't seem as if the author was familiar with either the Transformer or the Angry Birds characters.

None of theses characters were in character, the writing really made this unbearable to read. This crossover follows the Autobots losing the Allspark after they were attacked by the Decepticons. The Allspark wound up in the world of the Angry Birds.

The Pigs after stealing the birds eggs attempted to cook them when they found the Allspark and after touching it they started to turn into Deceptihogs. Sometime later the birds found the Allspark then turned in Autobirds.

The Angry Birds and The Transformers are usually fun comics to read but this crossover was not good at all.

The only good thing about this was the artwork. It was bright and colorful for the Angry Birds section and dark and dramatic for the Transformers.