The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault

 The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault-240 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Synopsis: Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, where women are prohibited from holding jobs, reading, and forming friendships. She serves in the household of the Commander and his wife, and under the new social order she has only one purpose: once a month, she must lie on her back and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if they are fertile. But Offred remembers the years before Gilead, when she was an independent woman who had a job, a family, and a name of her own. Now, her memories and her will to survive are acts of rebellion.

Provocative, startling, prophetic, The Handmaid's Tale has long been a global phenomenon. With this stunning graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood's modern classic, beautifully realized by artist Renee Nault, the terrifying reality of Gilead has been brought to vivid life like never before.

Thoughts: Provocative, startling, and prophetic are good adjectives for this book. I've heard so much about the series, especially with the HBO series of the same name. I saw this on the shelf at a local book store in New Orleans and was drawn to it. Having now read it (at least the graphic adaptation), I can see what all the talk is about. Honestly, shocking as the story is I don't think it's that outlandish. That's the thing about a lot of dystopian fiction. We may want to think something like it isn't possible, but I think it very well could be if we're not careful. This is a good, if heavy, read. 

The Joker Presents: A Puzzlebox by Matthew Rosenberg, Jesús Merino, and more

 The Joker Presents:  A Puzzlebox by Matthew Rosenberg, Jesús Merino, and more - 252 pages, ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The Riddler has been murdered, and all of the other Batman villains we all know and love to hate are suspects.  In an interview room, the Joker tells Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock all he knows, but can they trust his story?  Of course not, it's the Joker -- but we're getting ahead of ourselves here.

This graphic novel is reminiscent of the Akira Kurosawa film Rashomon in that the story is told from several characters' perspectives, which often contradict each other.  Each characters' version is drawn by a different artist.  The concept is interesting, although most of the artists don't take it far enough; for the most part, I didn't feel like the different art styles gave me any more insight into how the characters think.  Harley Quinn's perspective is the only one where the art helps establish her mindset and her opinions of the other characters, particularly the Joker.  It would've been nice to see the art complement the shifting perspectives more.

Although the story did hold my attention, it did seem too long at times, as though the Joker was intentionally dragging it out.  Oddly enough, Batman himself barely appears at all, instead leaving much of the detective work to Gordon and Bullock.  I often wondered why Batman didn't just jump in and solve the case, especially because it seemed like he was just hanging out on the roof of the police precinct whenever it was convenient for him to show up.  While it doesn't make sense from a character standpoint for him to keep his distance from the case, I finally realized at the end why the lack of Batman and the novel's excessive length were necessary for the narrative to work.  Sure, it would be a much shorter story if Batman was involved, but that would defeat the purpose.  Without spoiling too much, I will say that this is a shaggy dog story at heart, a joke where the whole point is to go on forever until finally reaching an underwhelming punchline -- very appropriate for the Joker.  As long as you approach it from that perspective, The Joker Presents:  A Puzzlebox is a well-drawn, funny graphic novel with an interesting narrative structure and a story that will keep you guessing.  

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, 240 p.

"In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere."--Goodreads blurb

Putting yourself in someone else's shoes, so to speak, is the only way to grow as a person. I will never know what it's truly like to be Maia, but through her story and illustrations, I feel like I understand sexualities that differ from my experiences a little bit better. This story could have been very different had Maia not been supported by family. So many sexually questioning people end up very different because the people in their lives just could not accept them. This is a hard, yet important read for anyone trying to learn about people in different walks of life.

 

Locke & Key by Joe Hill

 

Locke & Key: Master Edition

By Joe Hill

328 pages

The Master edition of Locke & Key contains the volumes Welcome to Lovecraft and Head Games. 

After their father's murder, the Locke siblings return to their ancestral home, Keyhouse, a place filled with dark doors & magic keys that open them, one of which holds an incredible power. 

I started reading Locke & Key because of the previews for the television show that is based on these books. It looked very interesting and just the right amount of spooky to start the fall with. I have now finished the first two volumes of the series and have the next four ready to go as soon as the weekend starts. I absolutely loved reading this. It has psychological creepy-ness, horror, bad people getting what they deserve, all wrapped up in a mystery that keeps taking unexpected turns. 

If you choose to read these and have already started the show, there are many differences between them so far. However I hope they both end, if not in the same place, at least in a satisfactory way.

Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh

Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh - 156 Pages

"In this tender, bittersweet, full-color graphic novel, a young woman named Clementine discovers herself and the elusive magic of love when she meets a confident blue-haired girl named Emma: a lesbian love story for the ages that bristles with the energy of youth and rebellion and the eternal light of desire."

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Adapted and Illustrated by Fred Fordham

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Adapted and Illustrated by Fred Fordham, 273 pages

I have read To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee a couple times.  I saw this graphic novel and it intrigued me what the illustrator would do with the novel.  The graphic novel was based pretty much word to word of the classic except with illustrations.  I actually really enjoyed this graphic novel.  The illustrations were very similar to the movie version with Gregory Peck.

Cemetery Girl, Book One: The Pretenders by Charlaine Harris and Christoper Golden

Cemetery Girl, Book One: The Pretenders by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden, 128 pages

I did actually enjoy this graphic novel by Charlaine Harris about a young lady who is dumped alive in the cemetery.  She does not know how she got there, but she adopts the name Calexa Rose Dunhill.  She makes the cemetery her home.  One night, she witnesses a group of teenagers committing a murder. When she finds the spirit of the young murdered girl has entered her body, she must decide whether to protect herself or bring justice to the teens.

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son Volume 2 by Dean Koontz and Chuck Dixon

Dean Koont's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son Volume 2 by Dean Koontz and Chuck Dixon, Illustrated by Scott Cohn & Tom Seeley, 128 pages

The horror continues in Volume 2.  Detectives O'Conner and Maddison dig deeper into the life of Victor Helios and Victor's wife, Erika discovers her husband's dark hidden secrets of creating the perfect race.

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son Volume 1 by Dean Koontz and Kevin J. Anderson

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son Volume 1 by Dean Koontz and Kevin J. Anderson, Illustrated by Chuck Dixon, 144 pages

A serial killer is on the loose in New Orleans. But, what detectives Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison have to worry about is a lot more than a serial killer.  A man named Victor Helios is creating a race of perfect people from the parts of dead people.

Batgirl Volume 2: Knightfall Descends (The New 52) by Gail Simone and Illustrated by Ardian Syaf

Batgirl Volume 2: Knightfall Descends (The New 52) by Gail Simone and Illustrated by Ardian Syaf

Batgirl Volume 2 continues to follow Batgirl as she battles back to recover the life she once lead.  Batgirl has to face her enemies and their followers who have a plan to execute every criminal.

Batgirl Volume 1: The Darkest Reflection (The New 52) by Gail Simone and Illustrated by Ardian Syaf

Batgirl Volume 1: The Darkest Reflection (The New 52) by Gail Simone and Illustrated by Ardian Syaf, 144 pages

Three years ago, Batgirl almost died.  Now she is fighting her way back. This is Batgirl's comeback after being wheelchair bound.  Now, she must prove herself as she faces rivals Mirror and Gretel.  Great graphics by the illustrator!

Heather's April Reads

Assassination Classroom bu Yusei Matsui (humour)
 Vol. 1 183 pages
 Vol. 2 199 pages
 Vol. 3 190 pages
 Vol. 4 198 pages
 A classroom of slacker students must kill their teacher before the year ends to keep him from destroying the world. The only problem? He is the best teacher they have ever had, and he is unbeatable!


Boneyard by Richard Moore (humour)
 Vol. 1 106 pages
 Vol. 2 96 pages
 Vol. 3 96 pages
 Vol. 4 96 pages
 Michael Paris has inherited a piece of land from his grandfather who dies just before the start of the story. When he goes to Raven's Hollow to settle on the land for a price he discovers the town's graveyard and it's inhabitants being forced out of their home by the overzealous town mayor.


The Devil is a Part-timer by Satoshi Wagahara (humour)
 Vol. 1 178 pages
 Vol. 2 178 pages
 Vol. 3 178 pages
 Vol. 4 162 pages
 Devil King Sadao Maou and his general have been stripped of their powers and banished to earth where they end up in modern day Tokyo. Now the Demon King is a part-time fry cook trying to survive and figure a way to get back to conquering the masses on a budget.


Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson (humour)
329 pages
This book is hard for me to describe but I feel it has a very good message. No matter what life throws at you grab the good things and hold on tight to them. Even when you feel beat down and ready to give up, don't and remember to smile with your arms wide open.

American Vampire Vol. 1 by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, and Stephen King

American Vampire Vol. 1 by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, and Stephen King-192 pages; Eisner Award for Best New Series, 2011

This is definitely interesting. I am somewhat interested in vampires and thought I would try this since it won an award. Two stories are contained within this volume that are intertwined. One starts in 1880 with outlaw Skinner Sweet being taken by train to jail when an ambush set by his gang gets him free, but he is killed by a vampire. However, the vampire's blood gets in Skinner's wounds and he "raises" from the dead a new breed of vampire. The story leads up to 1925 where the second story begins.

The other story is about Pearl, who is an up-and-coming actress working multiple jobs to pay the bills. She is fatally injured by European vampires, just like Skinner Sweet, but Skinner bites her and turns her into a vampire much like himself. Skinner and Pearl can walk around in broad daylight without and ill effects. It was an interesting read and Stephen King wrote the chapters on Skinner Sweet's story, so that's pretty cool.

Deadpool vol. 1 by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn

Deadpool vol. 1 by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn, 280 pages

Deadpool is awesome.  That should be more than enough for people to read this, but I've got more.  This volume contains two story arcs, "Dead Presidents" and "Soul Hunter," which are issues 1-6 and 7-12 respectively of the current running of Deadpool awesomeness.

In "Dead Presidents," a Necromancer summons back the former U.S. Presidents in order to bring about a new age of prosperity for the country.  His plan backfires and it's up to S.H.I.E.L.D. to stop stop them.  However, not being in good taste to send Captain American to take down the former leaders of his namesake, the Merc with the Mouth is sent instead, and hilarity follows.

"Soul Hunter" kinda picks up where "Dead Presidents" left off, starting with a fairly relevant flashback.  Anyway, this time around Deadpool must collect souls for a demon who wishes to challenge Mephisto for power.  Hilarity follows.

Deadpool is great.  Never before have I actually "lol'd" at anything print, let alone a graphic novel, let alone super hero one.  I knew what I was getting into and still had my expectations blown out of the water.  Upon finishing, I had to call a carpenter, because my the fourth wall of my room had been completely torn down (but not really, just my lame attempt at humor).

Mind MGMT #2: The Futurist, by Matt Kindt

 Mind MGMT #2: The Futurist, by Matt Kindt, 184 pages

As usual, Matt Kindt makes you think one thing is going on, when it turns out to be the opposite.  Who is Meru- what is her real story, and why doesn't Henry Lyme tell her?  Who else is on the Mind Management team, and what are the Immortals after- who are they working for?  The action continues in this second volume, and more secrets come to light.  Lots of travel and adventure, as usual.

Lock & Key #2: Head Games, by Joe Hill

Lock & Key #2: Head Games, by Joe Hill, 144 pages

Things are getting interesting at Key House, especially with Tyler's new friend "Zack."  Tiny bits of the back story are revealed, as is a new key with a kind of awesome and kind of terrifying purpose.  Fans of Stephen King might like this (and I don't say that because he's the author's father)- it's got the right amount of creepiness and horror mixed with a well-formed back-story.  I am really enjoying this series, but there is some violence and gore for those sensitive to that.

Mind MGMT, by Matt Kindt

 Mind MGMT, by Matt Kindt, 200 pages

Meru is a struggling writer, looking for material for her next book.  Not a very interesting story, right?  But then Meru stumbles across a super secret spy network made up of mind-manipulators and others with supernatural abilities, and finds out some secrets about her own past.

Matt Kindt is a local author, which is a good enough reason to check this out.  But he's also a great artist with a distinct style and I just LOVE the spy angle that he's very good at incorporating.  

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, by Joe Hill, ill Gabriel Rodriguez

 Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, by Joe Hill, ill Gabriel Rodriguez, 168 pages

This is the first volume of Joe Hill's horror series and it does not disappoint!  There's definitely some gore and adult situations, but also some general spookiness and well-crafted character development.  It is basically the story of a family devastated by a horrible murder and their relocation; but beyond that it is a story of evil, vengeance, guilt, and family.  This has alot of real potential, for horror fans out there.

Goddamn This War, by Jacques Tardi

   Goddamn This War, by Jacques Tardi, 152 pages

This was a pretty powerful graphic novel about the despair and desolation inherent to war in general, but in this particular instance, the Great War (WWI).  There are no winners, just the maimed and the dead, in this bleak depiction by the great French graphic artist.  An interesting addition to the other material that will be undoubtedly released for the centennial of the war.

Saga, volume 3(13-18), by Brian K Vaughan, ill by Fiona Staples, 144 pages

 Saga, volume 3(13-18), by Brian K Vaughan, ill by Fiona Staples, 144 pages

I have a feeling that this is one of those series where as soon as you get attached to or interested in a character, they will probably die.  Sheesh.  In this installment, Marko, Alana, baby Hazel and family are settling into a lighthouse on the planet Quietus- but their suitors are close behind.  There are some major action scenes, some new journalist characters, and a possible relationship in the works between Gwen and The Will?  That is, if The Will survives.  Whaaaaa?  You've just got to read it.  A good series for fans of space soap operas.