Book Review: Con Quest!

Book: Con Quest! by Sam Maggs

Cover Illustration by Chris Danger
Cover Design by Natalie C. Sousa

Edition: Paperback

Description:

Cat and Alex are excited to be at the world’s most popular comics convention―and they’re even more excited to compete in the Quest, a huge scavenger hunt run by their favorite nerdy celebrity. The big prize: a chance to meet him!

The twins ditch their older sister Fi and set off to find geeky clues, tackle nerdy challenges, and cross as many items as possible off their Quest list, which includes volunteering at an Artist Alley booth, gathering cosplayers in enough colors to make a double rainbow, and actually finding something healthy to eat in the convention center!

Can the twins work together even when they disagree on how to compete? Will Fi find Cat and Alex before their parents realize they’re missing? Most importantly, can these ultimate fans complete the ultimate Quest?

Book Review: Kevin Keller: Drive Me Crazy

Book: Kevin Keller volume #2: Drive Me Crazy (issues #5-8) by Dan Parent with introduction by George Takei, illustrations by Dan Parent and Bill Galvan, ink by Rich Koslowski and Bob Smith, color by Digikore Studios and letters by Jack Morelli

Edition: Trade Paperback

Description:

Kevin Keller has gone from the new kid in town to one of the most well-known and popular students at Riverdale High School!

Struggling to stay on top of his new duties while trying to find time for a social life, Kevin deals with the mishaps and mayhem that have always been a staple of high school life in Riverdale. From his first car to first dates to a starring role in a school play (written by Veronica?!) it's bound to be an eventful year for Kevin. Not to mention a surprise appearance and introduction by none other than George Takei!

Book Review for The Book Girl's Book Club for July: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Book: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (Simon/Creekwood series book #1) by Becky Albertalli

Cover Art by Chris Bilheimer
Cover Design by Alison Klapthor

Edition: Paperback

Description:

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight.

Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he's pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he's never met.

Incredibly funny and poignant, this twenty-first-century coming-of-age, coming out story—wrapped in a geek romance—is a knockout of a debut novel by Becky Albertalli.

Book Review for The Book Girl's Book Club for June: My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan

Book: My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan (Justin Goldblatt book #1) by Seth Rudetsky

Cover Design by Nicole de las Heras

Edition: Paperback

Description:

Justin has two goals for sophomore year: to date Chuck, the hottest boy in school, and to become the king of Cool U, the table in the cafeteria where the "in" crowd sits.

Unfortunately, he has the wrong look (short, plump, Brillo-pad curls), he has the wrong interests (Broadway, chorus, violin), and he has the wrong friends (Spencer, into Eastern religions, and Mary Ann, who doesn't shave her armpits). And Chuck? Well, he's not gay; he's dating Becky, a girl in chorus with whom Justin is friendly.

But Justin is determined.

In detention one day (because he saw Chuck get it first), Justin comes up with a perfect plan: to allow Becky to continue dating Chuck, whom Becky's dad hates. They will pretend that Becky is dating Justin, whom Becky's dad loves. And when Becky and Justin go out on a fake date, Chuck will meet up with them for a real date with Becky. Chuck's bound to find Justin irresistible, right? What could go wrong?

Book Review: Slayer

Book: Slayer (Slayer book #1) by Kiersten White

Cover Designed by Sarah Creech
Cover Illustrations by Talexi

Edition: Barnes & Noble Exclusive Hardcover Edition (I pulled the sticker off, it was blocking the cover's artwork)

Description:

Bonus: This limited collector’s edition of Slayer contains an exclusive slayer dream sequence short story from the perspective of Faith!

Nina and her twin sister, Artemis, are far from normal. It's hard to be when you grow up at the Watchers Academy, which is a bit different from your average boarding school. Here teens are trained as guides for Slayers—girls gifted with supernatural strength to fight the forces of darkness. But while Nina's mother is a prominent member of the Watchers Council, Nina has never embraced the violent Watcher lifestyle. Instead, she follows her instincts to heal, carving out a place for herself as the school medic.

Until the day Nina's life changes forever.

Thanks to Buffy, the famous (and infamous) Slayer that Nina's father died protecting, Nina is not only the newest Chosen One—she's the last Slayer, ever. Period.

As Nina hones her skills with her Watcher-in-training, Leo, there's plenty to keep her occupied: a monster fighting ring, a demon who eats happiness, a shadowy figure that keeps popping up in Nina's dreams...

But it's not until bodies start turning up that Nina's new powers will truly be tested—because someone she loves might be next.

One thing is clear: Being Chosen is easy. Making choices is hard.

Book Review: Goldie Vance vol #2

Book: Goldie Vance volume #2 (issues #5-8) by Hope Larson with illustrations by Brittney Williams, colors by Sarah Stern and letters by Jim Campbell

Edition: Single Print Issues

Description:

Sixteen-year-old Marigold “Goldie” Vance has an insatiable curiosity. She lives at a Florida resort with her dad who manages the place, and it’s her dream to one day become the hotel’s in-house detective. In this second story arc, Goldie investigates the mysterious appearance of a lady astronaut on the beach!

Book Review: Kevin Keller

Book: Kevin Keller (issues Veronica #202 and #205 and Kevin Keller miniseries issues #1-4) written and illustrated by Dan Parent, ink by Rich Koslowski, color by Digikore Studios and letters by Jack Morelli

Edition: Hardcover

Description:

Read all about Kevin's introduction to the world of Riverdale! Journey into the mind and heart of Riverdale's newest resident.

You'll see how Kevin first met Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica; how he came to love journalism, and what drives him to want to follow in the footsteps of his father, a retired Army Colonel, and serve in the military!

Experience what it was like for Kevin growing up and how he learned to deal with all kinds of issues ranging from schoolyard bullying to discovering who he is and who he wants to be.

Book Review: Life with Kevin issue #5

Book: Life with Kevin issue #5 written, illustrated and colors by Dan Parent with ink by J. Bone and letters by Jack Morelli

Edition: Digital

Description:

After a flirtatious first date, Kevin visited Michael on the set of his morning soap opera, which caused a stir when Kevin accidentally ended up on-air. With new recognition, his job and his boyfriend all back in his life, it seems like everything's coming up Kevin Keller. What could possibly go wrong?


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In this finale issue of the Life with Kevin miniseries, this opens with Kevin lying in bed moping about how things ended with Michael. Being the good friend that she is, Veronica tried to cheer him up with food and a shoulder to lean on. I think when it came to Michael, Kevin's heart was leading the way and even though Michael had broken his heart before he was still willing to give him another chance. Which unfortunately ended in heartache yet again.

After two weeks of moping around, it was time for Kevin to get back to living his life again. But when Michael unexpectedly showed up, Kevin was able to gain closure but not before Veronica got into a fight with Michael in one of the funniest scenes in the book. 

At work, Kevin was happy to no longer have to deal with ridiculous rating gimmicks now that Babs Waldron's show was cancelled. But even though he was back to doing actual journalism work, Babs who was now at the newspaper NYC Outlook, called with an interesting offer. She was looking for a editorial assistant/reporter. Kevin had a lot to think about, should he stay at the news station or take a chance working with Babs again?

Just when it seemed like things were starting to look up, Kevin received an urgent phone call from his mother telling him that his father was in the hospital. Going to the hospital and seeing his dad, mom and sisters had him thinking about moving back to Riverdale in order to help his mom with his dad's recovery. But I love that his parents were not going to let him do that. They knew that he was scared about his father's health and being out there in the real world and they were not going to let him hide out in Riverdale. With this life option now unavailable, it was time for Kevin to put things into perspective and think about what he now wanted to do with his life. I think his decision was rather unexpected but not something that's out of character for who Kevin is.

This finale issue was a wonderful ending to the miniseries. In it's entirety, I really like that this miniseries had a good mixture of drama and humor as you see Kevin's life go through quite a few changes. And something else I liked was that Veronica had really grown as a character. After being cut off financially by her parents, she had to learn how to survive and take care of herself which was going to be hard to do without the use of her family's fortune as a safety net.

This issue and all the others in the series really were a fun and well-written read that's accompanied by classic Archie Comics illustrations. If anyone is interested in reading Life with Kevin, you can find the individual issues digitally or you can pick up the trade in either digital or paperback.

Book Review: Goldie Vance vol #1

Book: Goldie Vance volume #1 (issues #1-4) by Hope Larson with illustration by Brittney Williams, colors by Sarah Stern and letters by Jim Campbell

Edition: Single Print Issues

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I feel like I've really honed my ability in finding good books because this first volume of Goldie Vance was an absolute delight to read.

When Marigold "Goldie" Vance is not at her actual job as one of Crossed Palms Resort's valet drivers, she's "assisting" the hotel's in-house detective Walter Tooey with cases. And they found themselves investigating a really interesting one when hotel guest Dieter Ludwig needed them to find a missing necklace.

Finding the necklace took a little thinking outside the box from Goldie along with a little illegal car racing but retrieving it was probably the easiest thing she had to deal with. Because no sooner than she brought the necklace back to the hotel, they find out Ludwig was missing and his hotel room showed signs of a struggle.

Back in Tooey's office, they found an interesting clue on the back of the necklace but they also realize that someone may have taken Ludwig. Even though the necklace was found, they now believe someone is after it.

Over the course of trying to solve the case, Goldie inadvertently got herself and her father (who manages the hotel) fired from their jobs. I guess there are consequences to Goldie unofficially getting involved with solving cases. But that's not going to stop Goldie from trying to find Ludwig and get the necklace back after it was stolen again.

Besides featuring a great mystery there are a lot of interesting characters in this story such as Goldie's co-worker valet driver Rob who has a crush on her friend Cheryl and he may have done something really stupid in order to get her attention. Meanwhile, Cheryl who is very smart, works at the front desk of the hotel but one day hopes to become an astronaut.

You also find out some interesting things about Goldie along the way. She is very observant but rather impulsive which tends to get her in huge amounts of trouble. Her parents are divorced and although she lives with her father, she has a great relationship with her mother. She has a long standing rivalry with Sugar Maple, the daughter of the hotel owner. She also has a crush on Diane who works at the record store.

This was a great read because the story which was a lot of fun is filled with suspense, twists and humor. What I love about this series is you have a plucky wannabe assistant who is actually the one who is really solving the cases. Poor Walt, it's a wonder he hasn't been fired yet.

As a mystery fan, I really enjoyed this and now I can't wait to read the second volume.

Book Review: Life With Kevin issue #4

Book: Life with Kevin issue #4 written, illustrated and colors by Dan Parent with ink by J. Bone and letters by Jack Morelli

Edition: Digital

Description:

Kevin garners some unexpected fame after his good deed goes viral, thanks to Veronica! Plus, Kevin bumps into someone unexpected from his past!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Just when I thought that scruffy beard of Kevin's was gone after he shaved it off in the last issue, it returns. Aside from my dislike of the beard, this was a fun read.

In the last issue, Kevin Keller attended a high school prom with Jason Markley, a viewer who wrote to the news station to see if Kevin would be his date. Kevin was unaware that Veronica Lodge had taped it and put it online. But in her defense, she thought she was doing something good by showing how kind and caring Kevin was in helping the high school student.

This issue opens with Kevin discovering the video after learning about it from someone at the laundromat. He was not happy about it and it didn't take long for him to figure out his good friend Veronica must have posted the video.

He went to confront her but Veronica was dealing with her own troubles of getting fired from yet another job. These two are great friends and he knew that she only posted the video with good intentions. But that didn't stop him from being angry when he went to work the next day and found out that the news station was using his good deed as way to drum up ratings and not to mention exploiting Jason Markley.

Kevin was so mad he quit and in his hurry to leave the building he ran into Michael, an old boyfriend. For a second there, I thought it was Craig, the guy Kevin went out with in the second issue because both Craig and Michael have similar hair and facial hair styles. Either way they both resemble Green Arrow/Oliver Queen. Michael recently got a job in a soap opera at the station but the meeting between these two may have sparked up a bit of renewed interest for Kevin. However, a flashback shows that there's a good reason why things ended between them. But sometimes as this quote states "the heart wants what the heart wants, even that which is worse for it". (Yes, that quote is from the Wonder Woman animated movie).

It's a possibility that running into Michael may have factored in Kevin's return to the news station. With his heart leading the way Kevin went to see a taping of the soap opera however a blunder resulted in hilarious hijinks for the show. But as possibilities go it may have lead to something more between Kevin and Michael. However, finding a note addressed to him on Michael's door was not something he expected. Neither was I, since this ends on one of those pesky little cliffhangers. The Life with Kevin miniseries was initially supposed to have four issues and with this cliffhanger I hope that means either more issues are it will be turned into an ongoing series.

This issue continues with great writing and artwork by Dan Parent with the story featuring tons of humor to go along with the drama. I really hope this isn't the end of the Life with Kevin miniseries because it's too good for Archie Comics not to continue it.

Book Review: Kim & Kim vol #1

Book: Kim & Kim volume #1 (issues #1-4) by Magdalene Visaggio with illustrations by Eva Cabrera, color by Claudia Aguirre and letters by Zakk Saam

Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

Kim & Kim are twenty-something besties out to make a name for themselves in the wild world of inter-dimensional cowboy law enforcement. In a massive "screw you" to their parents and the authorities, they decide to hijack some high stakes bounty -- and end up in way over their heads. Kim & Kim is a day-glo action adventure that's bursting with energy and enthusiasm. Blending the punk exuberance of TANK GIRL with the buddy adventure wackiness of SUPERBAD (if Michael Cera was a trans woman and Jonah Hill a queer girl partner in crime), Kim & Kim is a bright, happy, punk rock sci-fi adventure that is queer as shit.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Kim & Kim volume #1 is one crazy, zany wonderfully funny mess. No wonder it was recently nominated for a 2017 Eisner Awards for Best Limited Series. It follows bounty hunters Kimiko "Kim" Quatro and Kimber "Kim" Dantzler as they track down criminals. I wouldn't necessarily say they were successful with their careers since they are in huge financial trouble but they have so much enthusiasm for the job.

With their latest bounty not resulting in payment, Kim & Kim were in a financial bind. A lead for their next bounty came unexpectedly from Kim Q.'s old friend Saar Harring. Saar and his bounty hunting partner Columbus Cross were willing to cut the ladies in on a bounty if they worked with them. Saar and Columbus were members of the Catalans, an elite group of bounty hunters in which Kim Q. used to be a member of. However, problems with her father, Furious Quatro (who runs the organization) sort of ended her friendship with Saar. Despite in need of money, Kim Q. turned down the offer, she didn't want anything do with the Catalans.

Back in their day-glo space van, Kim Q. decided they should go after the bounty themselves. The bounty is to bring in Tom Quilt, a mob courier who has gone rogue and started murdering some of mob boss El Scorcho's minions.

Taking the information they gained from Saar and Columbus they were off to find Quilt. Which turned out to be easier than they expected but unfortunately the Catalans duo wasn't far behind. It also turned out that Quilt wasn't some wayward mob courier but instead a shape-shifting alien who had been enslaved (along with several others) and was forced by El Scorcho to smuggle drugs. He asked the Kims for help to try to get back home which turned out to be a strange and messed up adventure in and of itself.

But first they need to find the elusive Lady Babylon which has Kim D. resorting to using magic she's not very good at. They had no idea that someone was after them which also resulted in more trouble and things didn't go as planned with helping Quilt which of course was nothing but trouble. They were still in debt and needed to find a bounty to at least earn some money but nothing seems to go right for the Kims. Everything is just a big mess. And crossing paths with Saar and Columbus had the four going up against the person who had been after the Kims.

This book is so funny and ridiculous I was laughing so much while I was reading it. Kim & Kim attract nothing but trouble from their jobs to their personal lives. I'm not sure this will be for everyone, the characters do curse a bit but I found the story to be hilarious. I notice the Kims have a distant relationship with their parents. I don't believe Kim Q.'s issues with her father have anything to do with her being transgender I think it's more to do with her dad being so overbearing and over protective. She wants to live her life her way and not her dad's way. As for Kim D., I believe her parental issues stem from her moving away from magic to become a bounty hunter. Honestly, she's truly terrible at magic and should steer clear of it but that doesn't stop her parents from continuing to mention it. Thankfully, her parents came to the rescue financially speaking because they needed the help.

Kim & Kim volume #1 was a joy to read. It works on all levels because it's a fast-paced, action packed, zany story that has great writing and fun artwork. I wanted to read more from this which is why I'm super happy that there will be a second volume with issues starting this summer.

Book Review: The Backstagers issue #4

Book: The Backstagers issue #4 by James Tynion IV with illustrations by Rian Sygh, color by Walter Baiamonte and letters by Jim Campbell

Cover Art by Veronica Fish

Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

It's opening night, but the Backstagers have gone so far past the barrier of no return that even the Stage Managers can't find them!

Book Review: Life with Kevin issue #3

Book: Life with Kevin issue #3 written, illustrated and colors by Dan Parent with ink by J. Bone and letters by Jack Morelli

Edition: Digital

Description:

Kevin's keeping himself busy in the big city -- so busy he almost doesn't have enough time to socialize! To succeed in New York, he's going to have to learn how to make time for dating while juggling a high-pressure journalism gig. Plus, will he keep his promise to a very special fan? Find out in Life with Kevin #3!



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In this third issue Kevin was trying to balance his busy life but it doesn't look like it's working because he was so tired that he nearly missed his date. He was meeting his date Paulo for yoga but he didn't have enough time after leaving work to go home and get his workout clothes. And he made the mistake of borrowing some very tight shorts from his date.

He should have known tight clothes and yoga poses don't mix because he wound up having an embarrassing issue with gas. Nearly every pose had him passing gas and rather loudly.

Kevin was so embarrassed he left the yoga class but thankfully the farting incident didn't ruin things between him and his date. As Veronica put it only Kevin could fart his way to love. The farting scenes were funny because Kevin is this straight-laced sort of perfect guy who although had his fair share of embarrassing situations there has never been anything like this. Which is why I think it was so great to include it.

There was more going on in this issue than just that, working at the news station continues to be a source of frustration for Kevin. And the station knowing that the ratings go up whenever Kevin is on air plan to use him to boost ratings for sweeps week. But after doing yet another ridiculous segment, he was fed up with how his life was going. It makes me wonder if he's going to quit because he wants to make a difference and have an impact on peoples lives and what he's doing at the news station is not going to give him that experience at least not in its current state.

The last part of this story had Kevin deciding to help Jason Markley, a viewer who wrote to him in issue #2. Jason had wrote a heartfelt letter to Kevin asking him to be his date for prom. Being the nice guy that he is, Kevin decided to go and hoped that he could help Jason not only have fun at the prom but also build up his confidence. He had no idea Veronica had showed up and was secretly filming everything but once he found out he was happy she had captured it. Unfortunately it looks like her meddling may either cause problems or lead to something good happening in the next and unfortunately finale issue of this miniseries.

I really like reading Life with Kevin, each issue is a joy to read. It's great that Dan Parent knows these characters and can bring out these fun and interesting moments. Although Kevin's life is slightly messy, I like that he took time out to help Jason because that's who he is, someone who is kind and caring and looking to make a difference. Something I was happy to see in this issue was that Kevin finally shaved off that scruffy beard, I was not a fan of it. I can't wait for the last issue, I do hope something good happens for Kevin and Veronica as well.

Book Review: The Backstagers issue #3

Book: The Backstagers #3 by James Tynion IV with illustrations by Rian Sygh, color by Walter Baiamonte and letters by Jim Campbell

Cover Art by Veronica Fish

Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

It’s Tech Rehearsal for Les Terribles and Beckett is determined to nail every cue, but Sasha’s mistake brings new drama to the stage!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Have I told you how much I love The Backstagers? This miniseries is great and in this third issue the light and sound technician Beckett got the spotlight. Early on in this issue you find out that the control booth for Beckett is sort of like his Fortress of Solitude. He enjoys being up there displaying his tech expertise while also reveling in the fact that he is absolutely alone.

With only five days to go until opening night of St. Genesius' school play, rehearsal efforts are really underway for the actors and the backstagers. There is also an additional actor who joins their school's plays, Bailey Brentwood, she goes to Penitent Angels an all-girls school. She's also Beckett's friend and I do believe he has a crush on her.

As the stage managers Jaime and Timothy assign jobs for the backstagers Beckett finds his solitude in question when Sasha is assigned to be his assistant. For anyone who is unfamiliar with this series, Sasha is very adorable and childlike, he reminds me of Steven Universe. However, he's very energetic and can be easily distracted. The last thing Beckett wants is to share his space but Timothy wants Beckett to have more experience with running the stage as well as instructing others. It's more than likely Hunter and Beckett will be the new stage managers after Jaime and Timothy graduate and Beckett is going to have to get out of the sound box to do it.

It goes without saying that Sasha being in the control room was a total disaster. As Beckett was trying to show him how to use the controls and explain about the power source (a unique crystal), Sasha carelessly made a huge mistake with the lights and caused not only an accident on stage but it broke the crystal. Beckett was so upset with the mistake as well as Bailey may have been injured that he said some rather mean things to Sasha. Leaving to go check out the stage, Beckett realized the accident was minor and there was no injuries or problems however it was the unexpected praise from Bailey that really had Beckett feeling awful for how he treated Sasha. But returning to the control room to apologize Beckett found a note from Sasha stating that he was going to find a new crystal.

There are a lot things that stood out for me in this issue:

First is you learn so much about Beckett such as he feels the most comfortable in the control room. But what I like is that writer James Tynion IV made the revelation that Beckett is transgender feel normal. It was just a simple statement from Bailey saying that she missed going to the same school as Beckett. He used to attend the all-girls school Penitent Angels and now goes to St. Genesius which is an all-boys school. By not making such a big deal out of the revelation and showing it as a normal everyday thing it actually feels both powerful and humanizing.

Second is that I was surprised that the magical supernatural stuff was almost non-existent. Which was probably expected since the focus was on what was happening on stage for the rehearsal.

Third is Sasha. He might seem like a hyperactive little kid but he's willing to go alone into the backstage tunnels to try to fix his mistake. That's saying something and with the way the tunnels change and all the mysterious and sometimes dangerous things that maybe in there he really is taking a big risk to make things right.

And last, with the huge egos of the McQueen twins I'm surprised they are willing to share the spotlight and stage with Bailey. And I love that she stood up to them when they were bullying another student, that's pretty cool.

The Backstagers continues to be a joy to read with both the writing and the artwork working perfectly together for a great story. And with each issue you find out a little more about the characters and the mysterious backstage. This was a fun read.

Book Review: The Backstagers issue #2

Book: The Backstagers #2 by James Tynion IV with illustrations by Rian Sygh, color by Walter Baiamonte and letters by Jim Campbell

Cover Art by Veronica Fish

Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

The rest of the stage crew kids might be used to all the magical weirdness that goes on, but Jory is thrilled to discover more about the worlds backstage.


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

This second issue continues with all the fun and adventure along with a little bit of fright.

As the McQueen twins were complaining to Hunter and Beckett about the wrong paint choices for the stage set The Backstagers created. Jory returns for another day of drama club (more like the magical adventures of being a Backstager) but this time he had a list of questions. He really wanted to know more about what goes on backstage besides just finding out that The Backstagers actually have stage managers.

The guys were now left with trying to find a solution to their paint problem and Hunter may have come up with the answer thanks to Beckett. There is a special paint room somewhere farther into the backstage, problem is, it's out of the safe zone. And anyone who ventures pass there may become lost to never be found again. But Hunter believes he can find it and invites Jory to go along.

Exploring backstage was very eye opening for Jory as Hunter showed him around and explained a little bit about how the magic of the backstage works. The tunnels and corridors are constantly changing making it nearly impossible to keep track of. And it didn't take long before these two were lost but stumbling upon a clue surrounding the legend of the 1987 mysterious disappearance of a group of backstagers may have freaked them out.

Yet that was nothing compared to the terror of seeing a large Echo Spider but being scared out of their minds may have helped them find the special paint they were looking for. If only they can escape the very large spider and find their way back.

The focus for this issue was mainly on Jory and Hunter but there appears to be a mystery about a missing crew of backstagers from the 80s. And after Jory spoke with the Stage Managers Jaime and Timothy, he was even more curious about the mystery. They seemed to down play the mystery as nothing more than a story they pass down but it makes you wonder if they're hiding something.

Now back to Hunter and Jory, you could really see that Hunter has a crush on Jory. And even more so once you find out Hunter's reason for taking on such a risky journey into the farthest parts of the tunnels. But something that I didn't notice before was that Jory most assuredly is crushing on Hunter as well although it more subtle. Time (and issues) will tell if anything more grows between these two as well as unraveling the mystery of the missing 1987 stage crew.

I like the writing, it has a way of drawing the reader in coupled with illustrations that work well with your imagination. I really must congratulate James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh for creating this amazing little miniseries. I'm really hoping The Backstagers will be turned into an ongoing series because two issues in and it's already one of my favorite reads.

Book Review: Life with Kevin issue #2

Book: Life with Kevin issue #2 written, illustrated and colors by Dan Parent with ink by J. Bone and letters by Jack Morelli

Edition: Digital

Description:

Kevin never thought he'd have to share his small NYC apartment with a roommate -- and he definitely never expected that roommate to be Veronica Lodge! Living with someone as demanding as Veronica certainly isn't going to be easy -- and neither is navigating a high-pressure job at a news station! Can Kevin keep his cool -- and his job! -- and still manage to make some time to find romance in the city?



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In this second issue, Kevin got more than he bargained for when he let Veronica move in with him. She's a total disaster, she doesn't understand the concept of privacy and she's ruining his love life. Adding to that, Kevin's internship continues to be unfulfilling with the news station peddling puff pieces. And while he has suddenly become the new face of the network as a roving reporter, he would much prefer to be behind the scenes writing articles and trying to make a difference. Meanwhile, Veronica is struggling big time. Since her parents cut her off financially she's had to get a job but her main problem is holding on to one.

Dating his neighbor Chris has become a bit awkward which can be credited to both Veronica's constant interference and Kevin's busy schedule. However, Kevin decides to look on the bright side and try online dating but that came with it's own set of problems i.e. bad dates. Nevertheless, he did meet a nice guy named Craig who sort of looks like Oliver Queen (see below).

Image: Justice League Unlimited

Although Kevin doesn't know it, his popularity is rising at the news station with viewers due to his honesty in his last on air assignment. He even received an e-mail from a viewer with a special request to which he's trying to decide what he should do.

Even though I'm still not a fan of Kevin's beard (he looks so scruffy), this second issue was even better than the first. Kevin is finding life after college to be a real challenge but no one said life was easy but he's making a good go at it.

I think there is nothing quite like having a really good friend and that's what I think Kevin is for being so kind to let Veronica stay with him. Yet, I think Veronica is going to have to do better as not only as a friend but also as a roommate. She's already at the point where she might be wearing out her welcome if she continues to be a nuisance. She's so used to living a luxuriously spoiled life that going from rich girl to broke girl is taking it's effect on her and not to mention Kevin. But it does make for a fun read.

I love the writing for this because Dan Parent can bring out the humor in everyday situations while mixing in the drama. I really wish this was an ongoing series instead of a miniseries because this is quickly becoming one of my favorite books.

Book Review: The Backstagers #1

Book: The Backstagers #1 by James Tynion IV with illustrations by Rian Sygh, color by Walter Baiamonte and letters by Jim Campbell

Cover Art by Veronica Fish

Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

James Tynion IV teams up with artist Rian Sygh for an incredible yet earnest story about finding a place to fit in when you’re kinda an outcast. When Jory transfers to the private, all-boys school St. Genesius, he figures joining the stage crew would involve a lot of just fetching props and getting splinters. To his pleasant surprise, he discovers there’s a door backstage that leads to different worlds, and all of the stagehands know about it! All the world’s a stage...but what happens behind the curtain is pure magic!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In this cute and fun first issue of The Backstagers, Jory who is new to St. Genesius, an all-boys private high school, is not looking forward to finding an extracurricular activity. Since his mother will be working late she wanted him to find something to do after school.

He's very nervous and reluctant to do anything besides hide out in the bushes. However, there is one club that he was interested in, the Drama Club. But going to the auditorium didn't make him feel like he belonged. He was ignored by his classmates and then slightly embarrassed by the stars of the club for not showing enough enthusiasm for the school's upcoming production.

Although, Jory didn't know it at the time but he was going to be in for an amazing adventure, when the stars of the club, twins Kevin and Blake McQueen asked him to go backstage to get a prop.

As Jory goes backstage, he immediately finds himself helping Sasha, Aziz, Hunter and Beckett as they deal with a magical pest problem. From that short amount of time he spent with the guys backstage Jory saw how fun and cool they were. He also realized that he didn't fit in with the snooty actors and decided to become part of the stage crew.

I adore this first issue, Jory didn't seem to be enjoying his time at his new school. And if it wasn't for his mother making him join an after school program he would have never met his new friends. From reading this, you get a sense that Aziz, Hunter, Sasha, Beckett and Jory don't exactly fit in at school but they found a place where they can be themselves as Backstagers. I like that each of the five guys have different personalities yet share this love of set building.

I also like that this has a magical/fantasy aspect because there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that no one sees. It feels like the perfect way to add a little magic to the book.

The writing for this was fun and exciting and the illustrations compliment it very well. The illustrations have a very animated/cartoony feel that reminds me of Steven Universe and other similarly drawn cartoons. I'm really looking forward to reading the second issue it looks like the fun and weirdness are just beginning.
 

Book Review: Life with Kevin issue #1

Book: Life with Kevin issue #1 written, illustrated and colors by Dan Parent with ink by J. Bone and letters by Jack Morelli

Edition: Digital

Description:

Kevin's made his big move to the Big Apple! He's got his own place, he's starting his internship on the production team at a high-profile news channel -- Kevin's really got it all together... or does he? Will his first day in NYC be a dream come true or will the big city eat him alive? Kevin will learn one thing for sure: when it comes to city living, expect the unexpected!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I'm still not a fan of Kevin Keller's new look, it's the beard. I think it makes him look too scruffy but looks aside I enjoyed reading this first issue. After graduating from college, Kevin moved to New York City ready to make his mark in the world of journalism.

Even living in a slightly run down apartment doesn't lessen Kevin's excitement about living in New York. He's happy to be living on his own and following his passion taking an internship at one of the top news stations. Too bad things are not working out the same for Veronica Lodge, she is not happy working for her father at Lodge Industries nor living at home with her parents.

Perhaps talking with Veronica the night before wasn't such a good idea because waking up the next day for his first day of work was off to a terrible start. It was Murphy's Law at it's finest because his day seemed to get worse by the minute. Not only did he wake up late, his bathroom sink broke and had water flowing down into his neighbors' apartments. One good thing about this horrible situation, he did meet Chris, a new friend and possible love interest.

His troubles were far from over, they was just getting started which included Kevin being late to work. And once there, he found out the joys of interning, as in doing menial tasks. But I think the worst part for Kevin was finding out how much the news industry has changed. Gone are the days of hard hitting news now it's about reporting about celebrities. It's safe to say Kevin's first day at work was awful but a mishap while he was helping a TV chef was the saving grace that kept him from losing his job.

Returning home, he got two surprises, the first had him being invited to dinner with Chris and the second found him with an unexpected guest, Veronica, already in his apartment in desperate need of a place to stay.

I really like this first issue, Kevin might be a little older but he's still the same. He's now in his 20s and trying to figure out life as an adult and everything that entails. Although the writing has a slightly more grown up feel to it, there is still a lot of humor in it. With the way this ended, I can't wait to read the second issue because if Veronica is going to be his roommate (hopefully temporarily) she's probably going to bring a good amount of trouble and baggage (no doubt designer) with her.

The artwork, well more like the coloring was not what I was expecting. I think Dan Parent's artwork is great, it's what I think of as the classic Archie Comics artwork. But I guess I was surprised to see that the typical bright colors were gone. The coloring was mostly in blue, white, gray and black. The new coloring doesn't ruin the comic just something a little different.

As much as I enjoyed this I do have one issue and that's with Archie Comics in general. I'm disappointed that Life with Kevin is only available in digital form. Meanwhile, the new Archie, Jughead and Betty & Veronica series are all available in both digital and print edition. It doesn't make any sense to me.

Book Review: The Art of Being Normal

Book: The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he's gay. The school bully thinks he's a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth: David wants to be a girl.

On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal: to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in his class is definitely not part of that plan. When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long, and soon everyone knows that Leo used to be a girl.

As David prepares to come out to his family and transition into life as a girl and Leo wrestles with figuring out how to deal with people who try to define him through his history, they find in each other the friendship and support they need to navigate life as transgender teens as well as the courage to decide for themselves what normal really means.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Friendship and secrets merge in The Art of Being Normal where the first person narrative really places you right into the story. Usually in first person, the story sometimes suffers from too much telling and not enough showing but this story is a wonderful combination of both. It really made me feel everything the characters were feeling be it happiness, anxiety, anger to everything in between. But you also really feel for these characters and what they are going through.

In this very riveting story set in the UK, it follows two students, 14 years old David Piper and 15 years old Leo Denton. At the age of eight, David knew he wanted to be a girl. He never felt like a boy but he is too afraid to tell his parents how he feels. The only ones who know what he's feeling are his two best friends, Essie and Felix. But even that doesn't help with feeling like he's not normal.

Meanwhile, Leo who transferred to David's school Eden Park was looking for a fresh start. It's clear from the beginning that Leo has a huge chip on his shoulder and was dealing with anger issues. He really just wanted to be left alone, he was happy to revel in the rumors spreading about him at school because it kept the other students away from him. However, meeting Alicia Baker and stopping David from being bullied immediately brought about two changes in his life. Although, he and Alicia were starting to date you could tell that Leo was holding something back. That revelation added another layer to a growing friendship between David and Leo but may have caused a problem in Leo's relationship with Alicia. Things go from bad to worse when the whole school finds out about Leo's secret. But what I love is that through it all, David never stopped being a good friend.

The Art of Being Normal although fictional gives the reader a look at what it might feel like for some transgender teens who are trying to find themselves as they go through the process of becoming who they truly are.

This was very well-written with an engaging story that's filled with heartfelt writing and characters that feel so real that you can't help rooting for them. You just want somehow for everything to turn out right for both David and Leo.

I enjoyed reading this so much that I'm going to buy a copy for myself (I read the ARC). I don't usually do this but I highly recommend giving this a read. It's a good story.

Book Review: Batwoman: Elegy

Book: Batwoman: Elegy (Detective Comics issues #854-860) by Greg Rucka with illustrations by J.H. Williams III and color by Dave Stewart with letters by Todd Klein

Edition: Trade (Paperback)

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Batwoman: Elegy turned out to be even better than I could have expected. Kate Kane's Batwoman is a hero albeit with a bit of an edge to her but a hero none the less. She's smart, tough and well trained thanks to her military background (more on that a little later on).

Elegy gives the reader a good look at who Kate Kane is and how she wound up becoming Gotham's latest hero. This almost reads as a dark fairy tale as Kate is dealing with a cult who feels she fits a certain prophecy. But when a new leader Alice (as in Alice in Wonderland) arrives in town, Batwoman is not only in a fight for her life but for the people of Gotham, if Alice's plans go through.

I like that Kate's "Oracle/Alfred Pennyworth" is her father, a career military man. From the backstory, readers see how the military's policy affect the LGBT community and how it caused Kate's military career to come to an abrupt end. She refused to live a lie but the amazing thing is when she told her father Colonel Kane, a decorated soldier he saw that she in fact was truly living up to the military's code by being honest and being herself. I think that was a great scene and moment to have added in.

In this story, the present and the past intertwine and you see how a very tragic and devastating kidnapping attempt on Kate when she was a kid continues to affect her. But also it's connection to the present story.

Aside from the great writing, I love the artwork. The scenes with Kate are bright and colorful but when she's in her Batwoman costume the color is dark and filled with drama. I just love the contrast.

Prior to read this, I was only familiar with Kate Kane from reading the 52 comic book and Detective Comics and Batman when Dick Grayson had taken over as being Batman. But I feel that this was worth the wait, to finally read this. Now I just hope that when I start reading the New 52 Batwoman series, the stories will be as amazingly well-written as this.