2015 Graphic Novel Challenge

Challenge: Graphic Novel Challenge
Host: Graphic Novels Challenge
2014 Level: Modern Age (12 books) - FAIL
2015 Level: Modern Age (12 books)

1. Kill My Mother by Jules Fieffer
2. The Gigantic Beard that Was Evil by Stephen Collins
3. The Graveyard Book, Vol. 2 by Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell
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2014 Graphic Novel Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Graphic Novel Challenge
Host:  Graphic Novels Challenge
2014 Level:  Modern Age (12 books) - FAIL
Thoughts:  I was doing good, but then I got hung up on one book.  I'll definitely try again next year.
1. Borrowed Magic by Dave Roman & John Green
2. Avigon by Che Gilson & Jimmie Robinson
3. The Summer of Love by Debbie Drechsler
4. Manhattan Beach 1957 by Hermann & Yves H.
5. Over the Rainbow by Tom Hutchinson, Alisson Borges, & Kate Finnegan
6. Out of Picture 2 by Daisuke Tsutsumi & Michael Knapp
7. Get Jiro! by Anthony Bourdain, Joel Rose, & Langdon Foss
8. The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley
9. The Graveyard Book Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell
10.
11.
12.

The Dumbest Idea Ever!

Title: The Dumbest Idea Ever!
Author: Jimmy Gownley

Publisher: Graphix
ISBN: 978-0-545-45347-9

Why Read?: First Reads
Challenges: Graphic Novels, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts:  This graphic memoir is cute and good for middle grade readers.  It has a great message about following your dreams and really made me want to check out Gownley's fictional works.

Rating: 3 stars

Get Jiro!

Title: Get Jiro!
Author: Anthony Bourdain, Joel Rose, & Langdon Foss

Publisher: Vertigo
ISBN: 978-1-4012-2827-9

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Graphic Novels, Dystopia, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts:  Imagine a world where food is the only business left.  This is the premise for this highly imaginative dystopian.  Foss's artwork is not exactly my thing - one of the main characters just does not look right to me - but Bourdain (yes, that Anthony Bourdain) and Rose's storyline is exciting and not too unrealistic.

Rating: 4 stars

Out of Picture 2

Title: Out of Picture 2
Author: Daisuke Tsutsumi & Michael Knapp

Publisher: Villard
ISBN: 978-0-345-49873-1

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novels, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts:  This is a wonderful collection of sequential art short stories in a variety of styles.  My favorites - both for artwork and story - are "Crawdaddyo" by Lizette Vega, "The Carnivore" by Vincent Nguyen, and "Plane Food" by Willie Real.

Rating: 5 stars

Over the Rainbow

Title: Legends of Oz: The Wicked West Vol 1: Over the Rainbow
Author: Tom Hutchinson, Alisson Borges, Kate Finnegan

Publisher: Big Dog Ink
ISBN: 9781938958014

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novels, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is a very interesting and unique twist on The Wizard of Oz.  All the characters and the basic story devices are there, just with a Wild West Theme.  The end is a logical one and opens itself for a whole series.  The artwork with bright colors is just beautiful and a lot of fun.

Rating: 4 stars

Manhattan Beach 1957

Title: Manhattan Beach 1957
Author: Hermann & Yves H.

Publisher: SAF
ISBN: 1-931724-23-7

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novels, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This story is complex and intense, made even more so by Hermann's skillful artwork.  As John Haig is a man stuck in his past, Hermann chooses to always have him in black and white - not just in the flashbacks - and this adds amazing depth.  I do think the story could have become more complex and circular, but that would have changed the ending.

Rating: 4 stars

The Summer of Love

Title: The Summer of Love
Author: Debbie Drechsler

Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
ISBN: 1-896597-65-3

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novel, Author Alphabet, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Not sure what it was like growing up in the 60s, but Drechsler's red, green, and white drawings sure capture a definitely feel for the era.  Even though it takes place in the past, this coming-of-age graphic novel will resonate with anyone who remembers their first experiences with love, no matter what the decade.

Rating: 4 stars

Avigon

Title: Avigon
Author: Che Gilson & Jerome Robinson

Publisher: Image
ISBN: 1-58240-182-9

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novel, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is a beautifully drawn tale of trying to find your place.  It is dark and bittersweet and truly imaginative.

Rating: 5 stars

2014 Graphic Novel Challenge

Challenge:  Graphic Novel Challenge
Host:  Graphic Novels Challenge
2013 Level:  12 books Advanced-FAIL
2014 Level:  Modern Age (12 books)

1. Borrowed Magic by Dave Roman & John Green
2. Avigon by Che Gilson & Jimmie Robinson
3. The Summer of Love by Debbie Drechsler
4. Manhattan Beach 1957 by Hermann & Yves H.
5. Over the Rainbow by Tom Hutchinson, Alisson Borges, & Kate Finnegan
6. Out of Picture 2 by Daisuke Tsutsumi & Michael Knapp
7. Get Jiro! by Anthony Bourdain, Joel Rose, & Langdon Foss
8. The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley
9. The Graveyard Book Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell
10.
11.
12.

Borrowed Magic

Title: Borrowed Magic
Author: Dave Roman & John Green

Publisher: AiT/Planet Lar
ISBN: 1-932051-11-2

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novels, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This was the first compilation of the Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden comics, and if this is any indication, this was a fun series...for the 90s.  It is very dated, and while the artwork is enjoyable, it is also uneven at times. 

Rating: 3 stars

Sidekicks

Title: Sidekicks
Author: Dan Santat

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine
ISBN: 978-0-439-29811-7

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novels

Thoughts: Looking at the cover, Sidekicks looks like it would appeal most to kids.  Really, though, it is a great all-ages superhero graphic novel about super-powered pets.  It has the perfect mix of humor and meaning, and Santat's artwork is just right.

Rating: 5 stars

2013 Graphic Novel Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Graphic Novel Challenge
Host:  Graphic Novels Challenge
2013 Level:  12 books Advanced-FAIL
Thoughts:  I did the advanced challenge which had the categories, and that is what tripped me up.  Next year, there is not an advanced one, so I should be fine trying 12 again.
Manga - 
Superhero - The Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Classic Adaptation - 
Memior - Funny Misshappen Body by Jeffrey Brown
Fantasy - Zen of Wonder by Frank Beddor
Translated from a Foreign Language -  
Single-Issue Comic Book -
Science Fiction - Sidekicks by Dan Santat
Crime or Mystery - On the Ropes by James Vance & Dan E. Burr
Fairytale or Mythology - 
Children's Book -  The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra
Anthology -  Native American Classics by Graphic Classics

Funny Misshapen Body

Title: Funny Misshappen Body
Author: Jeffrey Brown

Publisher: Touchstone
ISBN: 978-1-4165-4947-5

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novels

Thoughts: Memoirs are always best when they are in graphic novel format, so I had high hopes for Funny Misshappen Body.  Brown definitely delivers with a black-and-white typically 6-panel page retelling of his life thus far, a life that anyone from his generation can relate to.

Rating: 4 stars

The Watchmen

Title: The Watchmen
Author:  Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons

Publisher: DC
ISBN: 978-0-930289-23-1

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Graphic Novel, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I can see why The Watchmen was so groundbreaking when it was released - especially since it came out prior to DC's Vertigo imprint, which is really where it needs to go -  but I am not sure it has aged well.  As I am used to comics from today, the garish coloring immediately threw me out of the story.  Also, I quickly got frustrated with the characters who were unable to see what was really going on. And the ending was on par with It.  

Rating: 2 stars

2013 Graphic Novel Challenge

Challenge:  Graphic Novel Challenge
Host:  Graphic Novels Challenge
2012 Level:  12 books - COMPLETED
2013 Level:  12 books Advanced

Manga - 
Superhero - The Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Classic Adaptation - 
Memior - Funny Misshappen Body by Jeffrey Brown
Fantasy - Zen of Wonder by Frank Beddor
Translated from a Foreign Language -  
Single-Issue Comic Book -
Science Fiction - Sidekicks by Dan Santat
Crime or Mystery - On the Ropes by James Vance & Dan E. Burr
Fairytale or Mythology - 
Children's Book -  The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra
Anthology -  Native American Classics by Graphic Classics

Graphic Novel Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Graphic Novel Challenge
Host:  Graphic Novels Challenge
2012 Level:  12 books - COMPLETED
Thoughts:  I love graphic novels, so this was an easy one.Books:
1. Alice the 101st 2 by Chigusa Kawai
2. The Influencing Machine by Brooke Gladstone
3. Third-Grade Barbarian by Michael Rex
4. Shay's Story by Scott Westerfeld
5. My Bad! by Rize Shinba
6. Double Cast by Ellie Mamahara & Takana Mizuhashi
7. Honey/Chocolate by Nanao Okuda
8. When the Heavens Smile by Aki Senoo
9. Nightmare Inspector 1 by Shin Mashiba
10. March Story 1 by Hyung Min Kim & Kyung Il Yang
11. Brody's Ghost 1 by Mark Crilley
12. Stagger Lee by Derek McCulloch & Shepherd Hendrix

Stagger Lee

Title: Stagger Lee

Author: Derek McCulloch & Shepherd Hendrix
Publisher: Image
ISBN:  1-58240-607-3
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges:  Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I picked this up shortly after seeing a reading of the first half of the musical which is currently in development.  A few things really drew me into the story.  The first was the basis - a song based on a real murder that eventually took on a life of its own.  The other thing that really hooked me was the historical aspect.  While some of the characters are fictional, others are real, and it was the politics they were involved in that kept me intrigued.  

Rating: 5 stars

Brody's Ghost 1

Title: Brody's Ghost 1

Author: Mark Crilley
Publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN: 978-1-59582-521-6
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges:  Graphic Novels, Horror & Urban Fantasy, Ghostly, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is the first in a six-volume series, and boy does it end making the reader want more.  Brody is a down on his luck slacker who sees a ghost.  Talia, the ghost, wants Brody's help to solve a murder so she can get into Heaven, but Brody does not think he has what it takes... and it ends with a bang.  I definitely need to find the rest of this series.

Rating: 4 stars

March Story 1

Title: March Story 1

Author: Hyung Min Kim & Kyung Il Yang
Publisher: Viz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-3755-9
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges:  Graphic Novels, Horror & Urban Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is a beautifully illustrated yet highly gory horror. Each chapter could stand on its own, but March’s backstory is slowly and expertly doled out through it, so they are much richer together and make for excellent reading. The story and illustrations compliment each other so well that it is amazing it was a collaboration. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely a keeper.

Rating: 5 stars