Buy Black Cross

A near perfect book. An absolute must for WWII fiction fans. One of the top 10 popular fiction books I've read.Get more detail about Black Cross.

Purchase The Walking Dead, Book 1 (Bk. 1)

If you start this series you WILL get addicted. I bought it and did not realize how much I would love it. I will break my review into 3 parts. Story, Characters, Images.

Story-DRAMA. I am a woman so I love me some drama. It seems like something is always going down then zombies pop up and then some more drama.

Characters-Beautifully written. I love them. The characters are fantastical enough to be interesting but still so REAL. I feel like I am right there with them. If a main character dies or something bad happens my heart cringes and I actually cried at one point.

Images/Graphics-I am not a comic book person nor am I a graphics person but this is just plain cool. If you get this one it has covers from others in the back. The zombies look awesome also.

Please invest in this. Like I said I don't like comics and stuff but I LOVE This series!Get more detail about The Walking Dead, Book 1 (Bk. 1).

Order The Boys Volume 6 SC

A far more interesting story than 'Herogasm' ('the Boys' volume #5) with a couple of origin stories thrown in for three of the boys (two boys and a female to be precise). It would seem that Ennis has gotten all that pesky forshadowing they were trying to do out of the way and we get to go back to the Boys doing what they do best, namely beating up superheroes. There is plenty of plot, action and amazing artwork to keep you excited and eager for the next installment of 'the Boys'.

*SPOILER ALERT*

There is no spoiler I just always wanted to write that.Get more detail about The Boys Volume 6 SC.

Where To Buy The Indispensable Calvin And Hobbes

This book collects two of my favorite Calvin & Hobbes Books: Revenge of the Baby-Sat, and Scientific Progress goes "Boink." The illustrations are mostly in black and white, but some are in color. Watterson's magnificent blend of simple childhood humor, advanced appropriate grown-up humor, make-believe and childhood realism make this well written and illustrated comic strip a treasure to have in any household. Both adults and children will love it and find themselves laughing silly!

As with all of the Calvin & Hobbes books, this one explores the adventures of a six year old boy (Calvin) and his best friend, Hobbes, a make believe tiger. The comic-strips focus on things such as Calvin's overactive imagination, his hatred of school and girls and the trials and tribulations of having to follow his parents' rules.

Darien Summers, author of The Mischievous Hare, a children's book.Get more detail about The Indispensable Calvin And Hobbes.

Shop For Conan Volume 8: Black Colossus (Conan the Cimmerian)

The Dark Horse Conan is back on top again. Truman does an excellent adaptation of RE Howard's Black Colossus storyline.

Why not 5 stars then? Because (i) the drawings are very good, but not perfect - the colours are a little too "artificial" and not suitable for the Hyborian world, and (ii) on some pages, the damned font size of the lettering actually drops to font 7/8, in cursive writing!!! How in the hell is someone is going to read text like that? A stupid editorial decision affecting a fine comic.Get more detail about Conan Volume 8: Black Colossus (Conan the Cimmerian).

The Tempest: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare (Cambridge Library Collection - Literary Studies)

Many consider "The Tempest" to be the final play that Shakespeare wrote solo, which gives a certain bittersweet flavor to its story -- especially since the main character is a sorcerer who manipulates others to get the ending he desires. Shakespeare juggled a trio of main stories before tying them off in rare style, but it's Prospero and his final speech that are truly intriguing.

For many years, the exiled Duke of Milan Prospero has lived on a remote island with his young daughter Miranda. But when he discovers that his treacherous brother Antonio and his similarly treacherous friends are nearby on a sailing ship, he summons a storm that causes the ship to crash on the island.

And like a puppet-master, Prospero arranges this as he wants -- he sends his servant Ariel to haunt the men who betrayed him, he thwarts the machinations of his evil servant Caliban, and he pretends to treat Alonso's son Ferdinand badly while secretly matchmaking him with Miranda. In the end, everything will be as he desired.

"The Tempest" is a play with two different dimensions. On one hand, we have a simple story about a mage whose power allows him to manipulate everything in his little domain. And on the other, we have the story of a brilliant storyteller who arranges his own little worlds as he sees fit, and bids farewell to his role ("Now my charms are all o'erthrown/And what strength I have's mine own...")

And appreciated on its own, "The Tempest" is a brilliant play -- Shakespeare juggled the three main plotlines nicely, and brought a solid sense of resolution to the story. His rich dialogue is stunning ("But doth suffer a sea-change/Into something rich and strange/Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell..."), especially during Ariel's songs and Prospero's speeches. Even the insults are brilliant -- just try yelling "A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!" at someone you don't like.

Prospero is a rather unique character -- he rules over his little island with magical powers, sort of like a local demigod. Everything that happens on the island is because he wants it to be so, but he's a sad, benevolent figure rather than a tyrannical one. And Shakespeare sketches up an intriguing cast of characters, both mortal and immortal -- the ethereal, puckish Ariel and grotesque Caliban, the naive Miranda, and the contemptible trio of onetime conspirators.

"O brave new world, That has such people in't!" cries Miranda at the end of "The Tempest," and while not every character in it deserves a "brave new world," the play itself feels like a weekend trip into a magical world.Get more detail about The Tempest: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare (Cambridge Library Collection - Literary Studies).

Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities. Review

As others have said, this is a brilliant idea brilliantly executed. The only issue is something I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere: navigating the book uses small tabs of the right side of the pages, and being made of very thin paper they don't hold up very well to rough handling. Handled carefully, this won't be a huge issue. But it should be enough to make you think twice about getting this book for a child who doesn't treat books with care.Get more detail about Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities..

Blankets Top Quality

I continue to feel that I read graphic novels, or whatever you want to call them, way too fast. A good part of this is that there are far fewer words per page in a graphic novel than in a more traditional novel. Description is laid out in pictures instead of words, saving the reader much time. I think that having pictures creates a stickiness for the reader. The force of the speed pulls you through and makes you want to continue until the end. I'm a fairly quick reader of text, but there's no sense of momentum built up in reading even quick reads as there is in graphic novels. The pile in your left hand grows at the expense of the pile in the right.

One caveat is that this process happens best when the art is there to serve and enhance the story, instead of moving into the foreground and becoming the story itself. Craig Thompson's _Blankets_ uses such transparent art. He uses the genre to pull the reader into the world he created (and recreated from memory), immersing you into his own sort of memories. The novel is a brilliant evocation of the late teenage years. It is a story about love and finding yourself and coming to terms with who you are and brotherhood. It is life, split and worked into a nice and believable narrative arc. The story is alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking and entirely worth your time.
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Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels This instant

I found this book both helpful and fascinating as it shows the secrets to making comics stand out. I am considering being a comic book writer/artist (although the video game field is first priority for me), so this book can prove useful. Of course, I feel this book can be useful in other ways...Get more detail about Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels.

Invincible Volume 12: Still Standing Immediately

I've enjoyed all of the Invincible arcs so far, but this one may have been the best. The first arc involves a group of evil Invincible's that have been sent to Earth to trash the place. Unlike your typical comic, where the outpowered defenders would still stop them, in this comic, the evil Invincibles largely succeed. As soon as they're done though, they're replaced by an even greater threat, a Viltrumite who's come to pacify Earth by any means possible. Invincible's battle with him is one of the most thrilling, harrowing, and yes, incredibly graphic fights ever shown in comics.

This arc also truly changes the Invincible status quo. It's no longer our world but with people who have superpowers. It's a dark, desperate place that will only become darker once the rest of the Viltrumites arrive.Get more detail about Invincible Volume 12: Still Standing.

The Bloody Crown of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 2) Best Quality

If you're a man, you grow chest hairs and have the urge to become a MAN without borders when reading any of Howards' Opus! This Cimmerian will cleave the best apart on his days off while wenching the women to his own delights as he chops unknown horrors apart! All at the same time too!!!

What more can I write?

It Is CONAN the BARBARIAN!!!!Get more detail about The Bloody Crown of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 2).

Cautionary Tales for Children Get it now!

Most of the reviews here are for the Edward Gorey version of Cautionary Tales. That's a really fun book, but readers should know that Belloc's little poems are a delight even without the pictures.

Kids absolutely love them and are shocked by their wit. These poems give kids credit for being sharp enough get the joke---and not need absolutely everything sugar coated. When my daughter was six she was told to come to school with a poem to recite. Most of the kids had nursery rhymes or well known American poems. My daughter brought Belloc's The Lion and The Tiger. The teacher, who knew nothing was the poems, got a huge kick out of them, expecially The Tiger with its dry recommendation that "mother's of large families who heed to common sense, will find a tiger well repays the trouble, and expense."Get more detail about Cautionary Tales for Children.

Ex Machina, Vol. 9: Ring out the Old Buy Now

"Ring Out The Old" features Mitchell Hundred's old enemies as they mass for the final book in this superb 60 issue series. Pherson (the guy who can talk to animals like Hundred talks to machines) brings New York to its knees using the animal that lives in their millions under the streets of Manhattan, a psychotic killer who claims the plants talk to him murders one of the city's newspaper publishers, and Kremlin and January are planning something to bring Hundred down.

There's also a big reveal at the end about how Hundred got his powers and where they came from, indicating a strong finale for this great series. Vaughan and Harris also get playful in a one-shot issue playing themselves as they go to an interview to write a comic series of Hundred's life. Very meta, very funny.

I was wondering how this series would end, thinking that there are a lot of unanswered questions but it seems Vaughan and Harris have got it under control and the finale looks to be a doozy. Strong writing from Vaughan as always, great dialogue, and tremendous art from Tony Harris, it's a great addition to "Ex Machina" and I can't wait for Volume 10!Get more detail about Ex Machina, Vol. 9: Ring out the Old.

Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life Order Now

George Eliot's classic novel "Middlemarch" is a timeless treasure that deserves to be read over and over again. My favourite characters in the novel are Dorothea, Will (I always thought of Orlando Bloom playing him while I was reading), Rosamond, Mary and Fred. Very well-written, though Bulstrode's shady past is somewhat confusing to me. great read, though.Get more detail about Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life.

Incorruptible Decide Now

Reason for Reading: I'm really enjoying the Irredeemable series and this is a parallel series which has the premise of the reverse happening. I was eager to read it as I have also become a big fan of Mark Waid.

Incorruptible is the story of Max Damage the world's toughest super villain, who was there the day that Plutonium turned evil going berserk and destroying the city. This hit Max with an epiphany, if the Plutonium was no longer the one saving the world there was no one else left who was able, except him. Max becomes a changed man and uses his incredible power for the benefit of humanity, though everyone is scared to death of him and finds it hard to believe. But Max has decided that saving the world is now his job.

I really liked Incorruptible and I think I'd say I liked it even more than the Irredeemable series. Things happen fast when Max is around. All his friends are villains and crooks so he has to turn them in when they break the law. Leaving him alone with his girlfriend, J@ilb@it, whom he won't have a s*xual relationship with anymore because of her age, no matter how hard she tries. Max goes after an evil scientist who is telling people he can give them superpowers but usually ends up killing them or worse. He goes back into his past where we can see how evil he truly was and we witness the day he watched Plutonium first go berserk which sent Max on a months long disappearance to do some soul searching. Finally Max goes head to head with a villain named Amberjack who is rumoured to have an inter-dimensional device to parallel worlds.

Max is a man of action. We learn an awful lot about him, his past, his character in just these first four chapters. He seems like he is going to be pretty much of a loner, he has his girlfriend and he has confided in the chief of police, and this is going to allow his character to grow much more quickly than if he were a member of a team. This publisher does say the book is recommended for ages 15 and up, but I'm not comfortable with that. This a much more adult presentation than Irredeemable. There is more violence and a lot of s*xual innuendo and behaviour. Parents will have to use their own judgment call on this.

The artwork is gorgeous, leaving a dark and edgy feel. The book ends with the usual Cover Gallery and then several pages preview of Waid's Potter's Field, which I've read and highly recommend. I'm very impressed with the character of Max Damage in this first volume and I eagerly await the second volume. It may be too soon to make a judgment call but I think this may be my favourite of the two series.Get more detail about Incorruptible.

The Complete Far Side 1980-1994 (2 vol set) Right now

This is offbeat zany humor. Some people may not like it. I am one of the people who likes this kind of humor. This is the complete collection including including many that have never been published.Get more detail about The Complete Far Side 1980-1994 (2 vol set).

Lowest Price Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut

this product was shipped in a very timely matter and was in excellent condition I would recommend this sellar anytimeGet more detail about Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut.

Low Price Irredeemable: Volume 1

This is just an excellent concept that is executed very well. I'm not a comic book guy, but I picked this one up and love it. Vol. 2 is on the way. Can't wait for 3 and 4.Get more detail about Irredeemable: Volume 1.

Save Robinson Crusoe (Spanish Edition)

Robinson Crusoe is one of the few books that truly everyone should read and that nearly everyone who reads anything but current bestsellers has read. This has almost as much to do with its incredible importance and near-unmatched influence as inherent quality, though this last is substantial. The book has long been called the first Western novel, and it remains one of the most widely-read and beloved nearly three centuries later and continues to hold a mighty sway over writers and the popular consciousness.

There are many reasons for this. Most obvious and important is sheer readability; the book's age is near-unbelievable, as it reads almost as well as ever despite archaic spellings and punctuation. Unlike nearly all classics, it need not be drastically edited, footnoted, and introduced for comprehension. This is hardly true of even many twentieth century works, much less ones of such vintage. Even casual readers who have almost no experience with classics, to say nothing of ones three hundred years old, can pick it up with practically no trouble. Fast-paced and deeply engrossing, it quickly draws us in and never lets go. Initial readers thought it simply too good to be true; they had never seen anything like it - scarcely even thought it possible -, flocking to it as people now flock to blockbuster films and for much the same reason. This persists to a surprisingly large degree; the book is immensely entertaining even after all this time, drawing in readers of all ages and continuing to be frequently referenced, parodied, and adapted.

The plot itself is of course also key. Robinson is a rollicking, suspense-filled, action-packed adventure of the sort that did not really reappear until over a century later with writers like Dumas. The book was immediately seen as first-rate escapism and continues to be such; we lose ourselves in Crusoe's adventures in a way few books - or any other medium - allow. It is near-ubiquitously imitated - so many clichés began here that it is almost unbelievable - but never equaled.

The character of Crusoe is also profoundly important. One of literature's great figures, he captured initial readers' imaginations in an unprecedented way and is still a towering presence. Drastically different as his experience is from all but a few people's, he has the common humanity and verisimilitude necessary for a truly identifiable character. We feel with and for him almost as if we are him, experiencing his ups and downs much as if we lived them.

This points to another integral facet - stirring realism. Daniel Defoe set a new standard here, and it has in many ways rarely been equaled. Conventionally fantastic as Crusoe's adventures are, the near-documentary style has made them at least as real for millions of readers over centuries as anything in history books or the news - or even their own lives. This ground-breaking, titanically influential feature dramatically changed the very idea of what fiction could be - nay, in the view of most novel historians, all but invented it, at least in the West. Literature has never been the same, and many would say it has never been as good.

Robinson is also of great historical value. Though clearly far from showing what everyday early eighteenth century European life was like, the book gives a very good idea of its thoughts and customs as well as much background information. This lends Robinson value beyond literature but also brings up the greatest difficulty in reading it today - the glorification of values long since rightly deemed unacceptable. Strongly Eurocentric, many parts of Robinson now seem distinctly racist, and it unashamedly champions colonialism - a movement whose destructive tendencies we have learned all too well - when still in its heyday. Some will not be able to get past this, which is understandable, but it is important to see that Robinson was truly a product of its time - indeed in many ways epitomized it. Influential critics even see it is an unapologetic colonialist allegory. This is not an excuse but an explanation. The book shows the early eighteenth century world as it seemed to Europeans - bad as well as good; some of the latter would not have been thought so at the time, but this only increases the historical value. Robinson is thus almost ethnographical - though, as with the allegory interpretation, this was almost certainly not Defoe's intent; its sociological value is probably at least as great as its historical value. More fundamentally, despite a plot that was always in many ways fantastic and has now become so popular as to seem almost hopelessly clichéd, the book remains viable because it speaks to something deep within it. Though not philosophical or otherwise containing the depth of meaning some find essential to truly great literature, its vivid dramatization of can-do optimism in utter adversity's face has always appealed to the best in us. The eternal values of courage, determination, and perseverance have rarely been better or more memorably shown, making Robinson one of the most timeless depictions of the human spirit's endurance.

One admittedly large caveat aside, Robinson is simply essential for anyone even remotely interested in literature. The few who may be reading this and have not read it must do so immediately.

As for this edition, it is important to remember that, like others in the Dover Thrift series, it is bare bones - only a short headnote besides the text. Anyone wanting extra will have to look elsewhere, but this will suffice for most, as few classics are less in need of supplemental material.
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Cheap A Kidnapped Santa Claus

Harper Collins released this small hardcover graphic novel based on L. Frank Baum's original book, A Kidnapped Santa Claus, adapted by Alex Robinson(Box Office Poison). The book was a followup to Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus which told Santa's origins. In this story, Santa gets captured by some evil demons, so a bunch his elves and fairy friends(including Zurline)mount a rescue. This actually turned out to be a great comic for young readers, and I highly recommend it as a holiday gift.Get more detail about A Kidnapped Santa Claus.

Buying Y: The Last Man, Vol. 3 (Deluxe Edition)

I am not so patiently waiting for the rest of this series to come out in the hardcover deluxe edition. I love this series and recommend it to everyone I know. I think, as I've stated in my reviews of the other books in this series, that this plot line can appeal even to people who don't read graphic novels. In fact, I'm thinking of getting the ladies in my book club to give it a shot. I think the writing is clever, and I love the art style.

The deluxe editions are much nicer than standard paperbacks, but I do wish the paper was of a higher quality (that would bump my rating up to 5 stars). The paper used in these editions is thick, but matte (feels almost like thick newspaper to the touch) instead of the slicker paper you get in some graphic novels. Granted, this is just a personal preference, but I figure I should share it in case others have the same opinion. I am sure a super deluxe edition will come out in a few years and I'll have to buy the whole series again. (Not that I mind).Get more detail about Y: The Last Man, Vol. 3 (Deluxe Edition).

Buy Spice and Wolf, Vol. 2

If you've been hesitating to purchase this volume due to the cover art of the previous volume, rest assured- Yen Press has heard your complaints. The books now have the original artwork on the book itself, while the "realistic" covers are now a slip cover. That really is a marked improvement, I must say. While I understand what they were trying to go for, the target audience for these books is the manga & anime crowd. (Especially since these books are almost always placed in the manga section in bookstores.)

In this second volume of "Spice & Wolf", we find our favorite merchant & wolf girl attempting to sell a bag of pepper for a large price. When they discover that the man buying it is using less than honest means to secure a good price, they manage to finagle a good amount of expensive armor from him. Unfortunately they all too soon discover that their "good fortune" was anything but & Lawrence is now in a very sizable amount of death. In order to avoid being sold to a slave ship, Lawrence & Holo must undertake a very dangerous scheme involving their debtors, a lovely young shepherdess, & a dangerous stretch of woods!

I really enjoyed this more than I did the first volume. The translation seems to be far smoother than in the first book. I also enjoyed the information on the merchant trade, which seems to be one of the big driving forces of the series- second only to the slow chemistry that is building between our two main characters. Hasekura could have easily made this book into something more supernatural & romance driven, but his choice to make the merchant life the focus has served him well.

I also enjoyed the new characters in the book- it'll be interesting to see if any of them pop back up in the series later, especially Norah. As always, the illustrations in this are gorgeous, especially the full color versions at the beginning of the book. (Holo fans will be glad to know that they will see quite a bit of her in one of the illustrations!)

If you haven't read the first book, I recommend that you start there first. Even though it is only the second volume, there is already enough going on to where newcomers will have a bit of a problem catching up on the story. Even if you read about the first volume on the web, you are still losing out on a treat! (Now I just have to track down a copy of the first version that has the slipcover with it!)Get more detail about Spice and Wolf, Vol. 2.

Purchase Vampire Knight, Vol. 10

It was in excellent condition when it arrived and I was very happy to receive it because all other places had it on back-order or were just discontinued only after one day! So thank you so much for selling it to me! :)Get more detail about Vampire Knight, Vol. 10.

Order Civil War

I didn't have the heart to even read this all the way through. It was just not there. The characters, the dialogue, the tone, the emotions. Nothing worked. Nothing was well thought through or sincerely felt. Mark Millar is coasting on Alan Moore's, Frank Miller's, Grant Morrison's and especially Warren Ellis's coat-tails and has been his whole career. This is an empty spectacle for spectacle's sake. Yet another examining of the fascist and authoritarian components of superheroes. The writers of one of the Star Trek Next Generation guidebooks said it best:"We don't need speed limits on our dreams." We don't need superheroes who have to file flight plans either. Would Captain America really break down sobbing in front of the whole world? I don't think so. Would Tony Stark really embrace authoritarianism after seeing it's failures first hand in Vietnam? Why would Spider-Man ever reveal his secret identity with so many superhumanly powerful psychotics longing to kill him and his loved ones. Stupid, unbelievable, and sad.Get more detail about Civil War.

Where To Buy Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 14

Wow, we actually see some of our favorite characters developing and growing up a bit. Thanks to the forthright Mei, who pulls no punches when dealing with Haruhi, Haruhi comes to some introspection that broadens her mind and allows her to deal (mostly in an adult, calm manner) with her feelings for Tamaki. Tamaki himself morphs a bit from "clueless idiot king" to quiet and wise - but only a bit, because he wouldn't be Tamaki otherwise! Hikaru is unpleasant and out of character in this, enough that I drop an entire star. By this point Kaoru seems to be relegated to supporting character status - he barely has more lines than Mori.

Wretchedly lacking in Nekozawa (even in the short "supporting character" sections at the beginning of each chapter), this volume is otherwise pretty good. A good balance of funny and feeling. There is a gorgeous guest drawing of Princely Nekozawa and Dark Nekozawa together, which took my thoughts down a dark path :-) but...the book is good; I'm eagerly waiting for the next volume.Get more detail about Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 14.

Shop For Fables Vol. 13: The Great Fables Crossover

The Great Fables Crossover spans three titles- Fables, Jack of Fables, and The Literals (a mini series released to complete the crossover)- so it is indeed a Crossover. It does star Fables (perennial favorites Bigby and Snow are more at the forefront here than they have been recently). But I'd hesitate to call it Great.

To summarize where we are at the start of this (minor spoilers to follow)- the characters of both ongoing books have been ousted from their homes- Jack and co. from Golden Boughs, destroyed in the battle with Bookburner, and the Fables are up at the Farm following the collapse of the Woodland building by Mr. Dark's evil magics. Kevin Thorne, a longtime background character in the Fables book, was revealed to be one of the Literals- embodiments of literary devises- and an important one at that, the embodiment of storytelling itself. He's decided his creations- the Fables/the universe?- has gotten out of control and he's going to end it all and start over. The crossover begins with Jack calling the Fables for help, and they dispatch Snow and Bigby to head out west and investigate Jack's claims. When they arrive Jack leaves in a huff and heads to the Farm (and the main Fables book), leaving Snow and Bigby (and the Jack of Fables supporting cast) to deal with the Literals.

This swapping is probably my favorite element of the crossover. Snow and Bigby are out of their element in Jack's book, and Jack's been apart from the main Fables for so long that there are a lot of interesting character beats to be found.

I'm not a big fan of the Literals themselves- I've never really loved the idea, and this storyline has been building in Jack of Fables for a really long time (and, in my mind, knocking a lot of the fun out of that book , somewhere around the Americana story, as the Literals came more and more to the forefront of the action). The biggest problem with this crossover is that it's really a Jack of Fables story and not a Fables story at all. It's fun to watch Jack wreck a bit of mayhem at the farm, but there's very little advancement to any of the Fables plot lines or characters- the exceptions being some more development of Stinky the Badger and his obsession with Blue's return and a bit more seeding of Grimble being a more important member of Fabletown- that's it. Everything else remains pretty status quo from the end of the last volume. Conversely, the Jack of Fables book is in a completely different place (one I'm more excited to read about than I have in some time).

A word on the art- all very strong. Mark Buckingham draws four of the nine chapters, and Jack of Fables artists Tony Akins and Russ Braun split the rest. Mark Buckingham remains a genius and the other artists' styles aren't too divergent to be distracting.

All in all, this is a pretty good volume of Jack of Fables and a sub-par volume of Fables. If you've been following Jack of Fables, you'll want to pick this up. If you're a Fables fan who dislikes the Jack book, you may want to consider skipping this.
The 3.5 out of 5 stars it has now is an accurate assessment.Get more detail about Fables Vol. 13: The Great Fables Crossover.

Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume (Vol 1)

I loved this story. The characters are diverse and hilarious. The artwork is great and compliments the story. Must read for all graphic novel lovers.Get more detail about Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume (Vol 1).

The Maid-At-Arms Review

If American author Robert W. Chambers (1865-1933) is remembered at all today, it is for his macabre works, including his 1895 book, The King in Yellow. However, around the turn of the twentieth century, Mr. Chambers switched over to writing in the much more lucrative genre of romantic, historical fiction.

The Maid-at-arms is the story of two young people during the American Revolution - George Ormond and Dorothy Varick. Thrown together by family responsibilities, their love can never be. And yet, with the war intruding upon their comfortable New York world, everything is thrown into chaos, and anything is possible...

Overall, I found this to be a pretty good, if lightweight read. The story is interesting, and I loved the author's use of the upper-class New York seigniory class with its slavery and pretensions as a backdrop to the story. So, if you like good historical fiction, then I highly recommend this book to you. It's quite an interesting read.
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Warriors: Ravenpaw's Path #2: A Clan in Need Top Quality

I buy the Warrior Books for my Great Grandaught who is 11. She enjoys them so much she reads them over & over. These stories are for someone who enjoys cats.Get more detail about Warriors: Ravenpaw's Path #2: A Clan in Need.

Dead Sleep This instant

While in Hong Kong, photojournalist Jordan Glass, wanders into an art museum. While admiring the work, she is besieged with stares and horrified glances by the others in the gallery, within moments Jordan realizes why she is receiving this reaction...for on the wall is a painting of a woman, a woman that is identical to her.

Knowing she did NOT pose for this picture, Jordan knows it can be only one other person, her identical twin sister who vanished a year ago. This painting is one of a series of women who were apparently victims of a serial killer who the police have yet to catch.

Dashing off to New York, Jordan wants to come face to face with an agent who sells the painters series of paintings named " THE SLEEPING WOMEN " only when she arrives in New York, the agent is not cooperative and will not name the artist, within minutes his building is torched, leaving him dead.

Jordan barely escapes the horrendous fire. The FBI want Jorden to help them catch the madman who is abducting women, killing them, and then painting them or getting someone else to paint them. Jordan wants to find her sister's killer and find out if her sister is really dead even though this means putting her own life in danger.

I don't give out many 5 stars. This is a great book. I highly recommend it.


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Irredeemable Vol 2 Immediately

Irredeemable is the sort of series that would seem to have a short shelf life. Reading about the world's greatest superhero running amok and torturing the planet's inhabitants should, in theory at least, get old: How long can you read about the same villain going berserk before you want to see him taken down, served justice, made to pay for his crimes?

Surprisingly, in the hands of an able storyteller like Mark Waid, the story remains fresh and vibrant, as Volume 2 of Irredeemable proves. Collecting issues 5 through 8 of the monthly series, this second volume further illustrates the Plutonian's troubled background, both as a child and as a superhero. The Plutonian is more or less a Superman figure, with somewhat similar powers, and he's been a member of a Justice League-like group known as the Paradigm. Together, this collection of superheroes saved the world many times over, but something, some case, has made the Plutonian crack. He's killed millions of people around the globe, including many of his former teammates, and he's biding his time searching for the rest. The survivors have banded together in a secret hiding place--a difficult thing, considering the vision and hearing powers and other heightened senses their pursuer possesses--as they try to formulate a plan to bring him down.

One of the treats of Irredeemable is Peter Krause's crisp, clean art, which oftentimes evokes the style of legendary comics artist Curt Swan. It adds to the overall creepiness of the ongoing story, making it truly seem as though you've stepped into an EC Comics spinoff of a Golden Age storyline.

Volume 2 is less violent and graphic than its predecessor, but that doesn't mean it's light fare. It remains a dark and twisted book with plenty of gore, so it's more suited for adults and older teens. The action is swift and intense, and Waid doesn't dawdle in the plot lines. Most interesting is the subplot involving the Plutonian's former girlfriend (the fabulously named Bette Noir), who is now married to a superhero who has no idea his wife used to be the Plutonian's flame. The storyline gives Waid opportunity to inject a little bit of humor periodically (such as the scene in which the heroes have infiltrated the Plutonian's lair: Bette opens the door on a shrine to herself in various stages of dress, and she quickly shuts the door and says, "Dead end. Keep moving!").

Perhaps a less talented writer would have devolved the series into a quick slugfest, but Waid keeps the interest piqued with Irredeemable. Where he'll keep taking the series is anyone's guess, but it's far and away one of the most interesting and compelling superhero books currently being published.
-- John HoganGet more detail about Irredeemable Vol 2.

The House of Souls Best Quality

I have to admit at the start that I am not a huge Machen fan; I only read him beacause he has influenced the greats, such as Lovecraft. That being said, this is a good book because it contains 2 of his big "classics": "The White People" and "The Great God Pan". These should be familiar to any reader of weird tales. I find The White People to be a little tedious but still should be read by all. The other 2 novellas here are The Inmost Light and A Fragment of Life. I thoroughly enjoyed The Inmost Light because I am a great fan of "The Occult Detective" and this story surely fits that genra. It has a good plot that drives toward a satisfying conclusion. Alas, I cannot say the same for the opening piece "A Fragment of Life". This is a meandering monstrosity that goes nowhere very slowly. I will admit that I never finished it. After slogging through the main couple a)worrying over furnishing a room b)worrying over buying a stove and c)worrying over their mad aunt moving in with them I had had quite enough! Perhaps the end is interesting but I haven't enough time in this lifetime to wade through all the preliminary stuff. The trouble with Machen is that he tends to babble on and this story is an example of him at his worst. But 3/4 of the stories are good. I remain more of a Blackwood fan.Get more detail about The House of Souls.

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Agatha Christie Comic Strip) Get it now!

Agatha Christie is undoubtedly the queen of the mystery novel. And as far as mystery writers go, there is no one who can match her in terms of pacing a plot or creating unusual twists of fate. While "The Mystery of the Blue Train" is a thoroughly enjoyable Hercule Poirot mystery, it lacks some of the pep and vigor of other Christie works.

As usual, Hercule Poriot becomes involved in a mystery by being in the right place at the right time. While aboard Le Train Bleu, an American heriess named Ruth Kettering is found murdered, a famous and extremely expensive ruby necklace stolen from her possession. Immediate suspicion alights upon two suspects - her husband (a man in desperate need of money, who was having an affair with another woman) and her former lover (a charlatan by any standard, but one whom Ruth had been taken in by). Before her murder, Ruth confided her doubts to Katherine Grey, a young woman aboard the train who finds herself wrapped up in the mystery as well. Ruth's father, Rufus Van Aldin, hires Poirot to get to the bottom of the mystery. Is his son-in-law capable of murder? Is the oily charlatan a thief and a murderer? Or has everyone been looking at the wrong suspects the entire time?

Without a doubt, Hercule Poirot is the one to ferret out all of the facts of the case when the French police are content that they have the murderer in jail. "The Mystery of the Blue Train" feels remarkably fresh (unlike some other Christie works that can be bogged down by setting) and is an ingenious if slightly predictable mystery. Sometimes Poirot can be unbearable in a story because of his snobbery, but he is truly the most likable character in this novel - the rest seem mere sketches and somewhat bland ones at that, so the reader is not given much to root for in terms of character.Get more detail about The Mystery of the Blue Train (Agatha Christie Comic Strip).

Wolverine: Old Man Logan Buy Now

I'd seen book in store but Amazon had better deal. Good story and great art!Get more detail about Wolverine: Old Man Logan.

The Walking Dead, Vol. 9: Here We Remain Order Now

After the prison is destroyed (well, for Rick, et al at least) and our beloved cast is decimated, we pick up and see how they pick themselves up. We see Carl grow up, characters reunited, and some new interesting characters are introduced and the ante is upped. It'll be interesting to see where it all heads.Get more detail about The Walking Dead, Vol. 9: Here We Remain.

Hellsing Volume 10 (Hellsing (Graphic Novels)) Decide Now

And everybody died. Well, not everybody. And most of them, to be honest, were dead to start off with. But it answers a lot of our questions. Where did the Germans get the material to make vampires? What is the Major? Why do they have Schrodinger? Where did they get a real werewolf? Well, they don't answer that last question, but still the volume is a great wrap up. And, yes, Seras finally gets to be her own vampire. Kind of.
Welcome back Count! Now time to end. Too bad, so sad.
I would suggest re-reading Dracula if you have yet to read it the first time.Get more detail about Hellsing Volume 10 (Hellsing (Graphic Novels)).

Hard Times for These Times Right now

I totally didn't get this book. Ordinarily I like Dickens but now I simply couldn't figure out what each event had to do with each other, nor did I understand the end. However the single segments, especially those with Louisa in them, were interesting. It is even funny reading the beginning of the book when Mr. Gradgrind teaches that imagination is useless and only facts are important. If you want a fluid book that is more this type of story,read Great Expectations,which is not my favorite book but it certainly makes more sense. Personally, my favorite Dickens is Oliver Twist.Get more detail about Hard Times for These Times.

Lowest Price Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

When I was in college a professor assigned the book "MAUS" for us to read. I think it was the first graphic novel that I'd ever picked up out of a comic shop. I didn't really know what to expect other than an easy A. The A wasn't easy and MAUS changed my perceptions of what a comic book / graphic novel could be. Our next assignment was Barefoot Gen; I knew by then that it wouldn't be a fluff book.

After that class I've always looked for graphic novels that really push the envelope. Comic Books tend to have sameness to them, enjoyable but there is a stereotypical sameness. People don't call them "men in tights" for no reason. A recent Pod cast (I forgot who actually) mentioned Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel affectionately so I picked it up.

"Fun Home" is an autobiography that centers on Alison's growing up and the issues within her family. Her mother seems to have given up. Alison's father is home obsessed; Better Homes & Gardens would blush. Her siblings are present. Everyone in the Bechdel family is doing their own thing; their worlds rarely cross except for breakfast. At first the dark tone started to make me regret this purchase, but after a few pages it doesn't seem so dark. I guess when your standard is depressing even the little flecks of humor. But those flecks stick and "Fun Home" actually becomes a kind of sober, fun book. I was equally impressed by the way that Alison discusses gay themes without coming across as preachy or titillating. The storyline of sexual orientation is handled with respect and done well. It's central to the book, but not in a butch-beat-to-the-head sort of way.

One of the great themes of "Fun Home" is the baton hand-off between two generations. Alison Bechdel and her father are two distinct generations, but similar in ways only a father and daughter can be. I think for this one point, "Fun Home" is a massive achievement and reaches a high standard in comic book storytelling. It's a rare book that will resonate with you for years to come, truly deserving a place on your shelf.

For anyone unfamiliar with graphic novels, "Fun Home" is a great starting out point. A very accessible book, Bechdel's autobiography will dispel all stereotypes that you may have of the medium and maybe people. When done well, the mix of art and prose can give you an experience that no painting or novel can. "Fun Home" is done very well.
Get more detail about Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic.

Low Price Time of Your Life (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 4)

I love all things Buffy. The book I ordered from you got here really fast. I like fast. No complaints here. It would be better if I was able to by the entire set of season 8 comic book/graphic novels of Buffy because it can get a little confusing.
Get more detail about Time of Your Life (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 4).

Save Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders

This review applies to this edition only. I received this book as a gift, and was shocked at the typography when I opened it. The entire book, while it has generous leading (15-pt line spacing) is set in footnote size - 9 pt type. Stupid, why not at least 10 on 15? The small font size makes it very uncomfortable to read. My own technical books, read by 20-somethings, are set in 11-pt type! If you want this book, I would suggest the mass-market paperback edition, which appears to be set in 10 pt type, and is cheaper too. See the content preview on the Amazon pages to compare the two editions.Get more detail about Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders.

Discount Don Quixote

I have been a teacher for seventeen years. I currently teach Spanish to children in grades k-8. I was hoping to share this book with my fourth or fifth grade students as part of their cultural studies. In college, I majored in Spanish and education, where I had the opportunity to read some of the original Don Quixote by Cervantes. This rendition by Argentina Palacios is both poorly written and not appropriate for children ages 9-12, as advertised.

The story is written with simplistic language and boring sentences. It also covers difficult topics including "A boy of about fifteen was tied to a tree, naked from the waist up. He was being hit with a leather belt by a man" (pp. 6, 7). And, "It was clear that he intended to kill the strange old man..." (p. 12).

As an educator, I cannot recommend this book to my colleagues or to parents to share with their children.Get more detail about Don Quixote.

Cheapest Neil Young's Greendale

Neil Young's Greendale by Josh Dysart and Cliff Chiang is a brilliant companion piece to the Neil Young concept album and film of the same name. I really enjoyed the art work and the multitude of fascinating characters. I felt the artist and writer not only did the album justice but made it a perfect companion piece. The book fleshes out the characters that were introduced in Greendale and now we can fully enjoy them and follow their exploits in greater detail. If you enjoyed the album then you will definitely want a copy of this graphic novel. I really liked this book and I can't wait to check out the album and movie.Get more detail about Neil Young's Greendale.

Cheap Batman: Hush

After reading Long Halloween, Haunted Knight, and Dark Victory, I figured I'd give Jeph Loeb's latest Batman offering a good go. Now, while the previously mentioned books were decent stories, helping give some solid background to Harvey Dent, Dick Grayson, and old Bats himself, they were no where near as ground breaking as Year One or Dark Knight Returns.

That being said, I wasn't expecting any great insights to humanity, the darkness of the human soul, or politics of the current day.

And with Jim Lee doing the pencils, it would at least be a pretty read. And essentially, that's all it was. This series has a very "commercial" feel to them as each issue introduces a character, a minor conflict, and a cliffhanger. There's at least one two-page-panel in each issue, with Jim really showing off his attention to detail. Most of his character models look very similar, but his work has such a great depth of field, it's hard to deny it's beauty.

There's nothing new being told about Bruce Wayne or his enemies or his friends in this story. He's still coming to grips with his parents' deaths. He's still a complete control freak. He's still a lonely, lonely man. SPOILER ALERT! (He also hooks up with Catwoman and reveals who he is to her, which as of late, seems to be the only thing they can do to draw readers. So now half of Bats' enemies and nearly all his "friends" know he's Bruce Wayne. Whoop. Dee. Dooooo.)

Let's hope this is Loeb's last Batman story.Get more detail about Batman: Hush.

Buying Serenity: Those Left Behind (HC)

Well I surprised to hat this book was so short for one. And Then it seems to break off into like a comic book type of story telling. Truth be told I haven't really finished it yet because in comic book type format I have some what lost interest.I will of course finish reading it and report on my thoughts.Get more detail about Serenity: Those Left Behind (HC).

Buy Tristram Shandy

At the end of Volume 6 of this work, Mr. Shandy as the teller of his own life story provides a drawing of his narrative line over the previous volumes. Each one is twisted beyond all recognition, of course, since he has been doubling back, digressing, and indeed doing pretty much everything except getting a move on. He promises faithfully that in Volume 7 his narrative will resemble nothing but the very straightest of lines - he's reached the hour of his own birth (in six books) and will proceed from that moment in strict chronology, utterly without interruption. At the beginning of the next volume, however, he suddenly tells us that the Devil is after him and races off to France in an attempt to outrun the old fox - he doesn't get back to his own story until Volume 8.

This gives you an idea of what you're in for. "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy" consists primarily of the author's attempt to not tell a story - indeed, it's about practically everything in the world except its ostensible subject. While the narrator's interruptions and digressions are generally funny in themselves, there's an additional level of humor in the lengths to which he goes to get in his own way. It's a great read, but it makes things rather difficult when it comes to telling the story itself.

There's a plotline of sorts, to be sure, which has to do with the night of Tristram's birth and what a complicated project that turns out to be. In addition to that, Tristram amuses himself with chapters on the nature of obsessions (or hobby-horses, as he calls them), chapters on how to argue with your wife, chapters on sermon-making, chapters on chapters and even a chapter on digressions. This last, by the way, consists primarily of Tristram insisting that he does not have time to talk about digressions and will do it later, and when he comes to the end of the chapter immediately realizes that he has just written his chapter on digressions. Yes, it's a digression from the chapter on digressions that itself comprises the chapter on digressions. Whew.

Now, this whole business begins with Tristram complaining that his parents should have paid more attention to what they were doing at the moment he was conceived - it seems that his mother interrupted the marital act that night by suddenly asking her husband if he had remembered to wind up the clock. You can see from this initial interruption that "Tristram Shandy" bears a pretty consistent tone throughout, including the famous bit where Uncle Toby begins a sentence in Volume 1, Chapter 21, and doesn't get around to completing it until several chapters into Volume 2, Chapter 6 - a gap of about 25 pages. One might be tempted to think of this novel as just a nutty diversion from more serious matters.

This isn't entirely true. Structurally this thing looks like a Godawful mess, but then again Sterne lived at a time when the structure of the English novel was still under construction. More importantly, although the content of the novel veers all over everything, the thematic elements don't. What you get here is commentary, from a variety of angles, on the pernicious effects of taking yourself too seriously. Tristram's father, for instance, an intelligent man, has retreated into the country for uninterrupted study and thus come up with some of the screwiest notions in literature. He thinks, for instance, that a man's destiny is governed to an enormous extent by the size of his nose and by his first name, of which the name "Tristram" is by far the most destructive. So you can imagine how upset he gets when a faulty set of forceps flattens his baby son's nose at the very moment of birth, and when an incompetent cleric christens the boy by that horrid name a few minutes later.

All unbelievably ridiculous, of course, made more so by the careful, studious, and above all lengthy manner of telling. Tristram quotes all manner of ancient and contemporary scholars on these subjects, as indeed on all subjects. Thus we come to understand that this kind of pedantry, even on the most critical topic, makes fools of us all.

That is to say, what makes all these interruptions and diversions so hysterical is that the narrator actually thinks they're all necessary - he has his reasons for each and every one. He's not just a madman; on the contrary, he's so intent on demonstrating what he means that all he comes up with is nonsense.

Of course, no one should require 450 pages to communicate a point like that, so Sterne was careful to make all his sub-stories as entertaining as possible. He succeeded beautifully, too. "Tristram Shandy" was a huge popular success, so much so that those who disliked it had to publish their disdain in the daily papers. Which is fine, except that many of them objected to the undeniably bawdy subject matter, declaring that literature ought to have a moral purpose behind it and decrying the vulgarity of popular taste. Sterne couldn't have come up with a better piece of nonsense if he'd tried - here were some of the generation's brightest minds getting as finicky about a harmless amusement as the biggest fools in the novel itself about their various hobby-horses. The author might as well have jumped up and yelled "Gotcha!"

You might take that as a warning. If you read this thing resisting its diversions from what you might consider good sense or taste, it will trip you up on every page. So just enjoy the ride.

Benshlomo says, What?Get more detail about Tristram Shandy.

Purchase Batman and Robin, Vol. 1: Batman Reborn

If you didn't like Batman RIP or Final Crisis because you thought they were all over the place and confusing, don't worry, this is much more straightforward and fun.

You can tell right away from the first few pages of Batman and Reborn two things. Firstly, it's evident what a master Frank Quitely is at what he does. I loved the upbeat style, he used the onomatopoeia made infamous from the 1960s Batman TV show but did it in a way where it blended in with the art and didn't look silly. On top of that, his art flows seamlessly, that chase sequence in the first scene was done beautifully, as was the fight at Gotham City HQ. It's rare you see this from artists on a superhero book. On top of that, he's so dynamic. The art alone would have justified the purchase...

Secondly, it's clear the first few pages the fun and whacky tone Morrison is taking with Batman and Robin. In the first scene, there's circus freaks including a Mr. Toad who have just committed a drug deal and are getting chased by Batman and Robin (who are now Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne) in a new Batmobile that flies and hovers. It brought me back to early in his Batman run with the crazy showdown with the Joker who was kidnapping schoolchildren on a rooftop only to be shot by a imposter Batman.

There's funny exchanges between Dick and Damian, and Damian's finally starting to grow on me. He's arrogant and even demands for the duo to be called Robin and Batman, but when you realize he's ten years old and just how talented how he is, his arrogance is justified. By the time he gets a pounding later on in the book, you actually feel sorry for the little bugger. The new dynamic feels fresh and they've even moved their HQ from the Batcave in Wayne Manor to the basement in Wayne Tower.

The main villain in the first story is Professor Pyg and he's demented. (Interesting to note that he actually appeared in Morrison's future story in Batman #666, along with many other villains in this arc). He turns everybody into "Dollotrons", turning them into his slaves and making them all look like Raggedy Ann. He reminds me a little of Jigsaw from the Saw movies, except he's also into art and music. He's a strange welcome addition to the rogue's gallery. The confrontation with him is at an amusement park, and there's even a Killing Joke reference made by Gordon.

I thought the second story would go down in quality due to the art shifting over to Philip Tan but I was wrong. Philip Tan draws a good Gotham City and his Batman's better than Quitely's. His dark and street level art was a nice contrast to Quitely bright and superhero-y art in the first arc.

The story in the second arc is the Red Hood (Jason Todd) is back. He used to be the second Robin but was killed by the Joker, only to be brought back, have a mad-on for Bruce not getting revenge for him and then DC stumbled with his character in the horror that was known as Countdown. Morrison makes him interesting again and gives him a redesign that gives a nod to the original Red Hood. He's now decided he is going to go back to being a murdering vigilante who will try to make Batman obsolete. He takes his own sidekick in Scarlet, a girl who was horrifically scarred in the last arc by Professor Pyg.

There's a neat meta nod to Jason Todd's death at the hands of a telephone vote when he captures Batman and Robin. The Red Hood's vigilantism eventually reaches to far and he kills too many Gotham City crime figures, so a character named the Flamingo is sent after him. The Flamingo is pretty much a remorseless and unstoppable assassin who was brain damaged into doing nothing but kill, yet he still wears a pink stylish costume. There's a confrontation between all three parties in the end.

I loved this, it was beautifully drawn and written. I highly recommend it, I think it washes away the stench that was Batman RIP.Get more detail about Batman and Robin, Vol. 1: Batman Reborn.

Order The House on the Borderland

My head is still spinning from this trippy little novel, in a good way. I don't think I've read anything quite like it. Part supernatural, part horror with a smidge of sci fi, it defies convention. Definitely a book that can be read in one sitting, so you can really get absorbed into the story.

The basic plot consists of two friends on holiday, who find a muddied manuscript in the ruins of a very creepy house perched over an abyss. The manuscript is written by a recluse who lived in the house, to provide an account of the eerie goings-on in his home. The suspense builds slowly, and quite deliciously. (I got so absorbed that at one point when something fell in my house, I thought I was in danger from one of the creatures in the book until I remembered where I was-- that's good writing!)

Some of the book focuses on the recluse's experiences in his home, and the later part focuses on a journey he takes through time and space. This later part dragged a bit for me, as it lacked the suspense and energy of the scenes set in the house. But things picked up again, and the ending left me shivering.Get more detail about The House on the Borderland.

Where To Buy The Walking Dead, Vol. 10: What We Become

What can I say other than, it is still great, still top notch. Read it. Love it.Get more detail about The Walking Dead, Vol. 10: What We Become.

Shop For Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 5

Don't let the bright, bright colors and the very cool art and all the exuberant superhero antics fool you. There's a sort of camouflaged complexity to INVINCIBLE, underneath that shiny sense of fun, and that's only one more layer which Robert Kirkman consistently weaves into his world-building and storytelling. It seems like only yesterday when I first picked up this comic book, and look at it now, about to hit the 75th issue mark, clearly having stood the test of time. And the same nod goes to Kirkman's other monumental title, THE WALKING DEAD. At this stage, Mark Grayson, teenaged powerhouse, has become an established superhero, the go-to savior of the world. But he's still learning.

INVINCIBLE: ULTIMATE COLLECTION Volume 5 collects issues #48-59 of the ongoing series, as well as ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #11, meaning that if you already have the trades INVINCIBLE Vol. 10: WHO'S THE BOSS? and INVINCIBLE Vol. 11: HAPPY DAYS, then you've already peeped this bunch of goodies. What's striking about this particular run is that it doesn't seem to feature a consistent thru thread, unless you count the arc which develops Invincible's younger half-brother, Oliver, whose own powers manifest in early, astronomical fashion. We follow Oliver's acclimation as a fledgling superhero under Invincible's wing, and it's interesting that the kid means to redeem the reputation of his hero-turned-villain father. And so he assumes the codename "Kid Omni-Man.' The most fascinating theme in these issues, for me anyway, is the clash between Oliver's pragmatic worldview and Mark's more humane principles. This is one of the things Robert Kirkman, a dynamite writer, really excels at. He raises morality issues but offers no pat resolutions, although the characters do engage in meaningful conversations about them. Kirkman always sets a torrid pace. He throws in oodles of other story arcs. Except that, in this particular stretch of issues, those story arcs don't feel epic.

Friendly warning: The following may be fraught with SPOILERS and, also, with words like "fraught."

Kirkman, possibly comic books' premier dabbler in the realm of pure superhero escapism, keeps on cavorting in his personal playground, guest-starring plenty of his other created characters as well as other established characters from Image Comics. The first arc here deals with Mark Grayson's falling out with Cecil Stedman and the Global Defense Agency, as Mark leans that Stedman is even more underhanded than first suspected. Also, Dr. Seismic launches his big power play, utilizing his legions of Underearths to capture most of the world's superheroes. This gives us a chance to feast our eyeballs on the likes of the Dynamo 5, Savage Dragon, the Capes, the Guardians of the Globe, and the Astounding Wolf-Man rubbing elbows in shared captivity. Invincible and Atom Eve dramatically fly in to save the day. Except that they don't.

I don't know exactly what it is about Atom Eve that I like so much. Maybe it's her awesome power set, or maybe it's that she's simply this hot babe, and yet she acts like that down-to-earth girl next door. Anyway, there's solid progression in her relationship with Mark, although Mark's ex-girlfriend manages to briefly pop up.

Ryan Ottley's artwork is clean and crisp and dynamic and so dang perfect for this comic book. And Robert Kirkman keeps you guessing. You just never know in which direction this dude is gonna swerve. Predictably, he peppers in a few shocking moments in these pages, again reminding readers that the contents here aren't suited for the younger kids. As always, Kirkman ushers in new plotlines even as he closes off existing ones. Somewhere in this trade we get sucked into a gang turf war and there's a catch-up interlude with Allen the Alien, still imprisoned in a space vessel, and with Omni-Man, Mark and Oliver's dad, who is still scheduled for execution. There's a nifty crossover with Gary Hampton, a.k.a. the Astounding Wolf-Man. Gary is a fugitive wanted for his wife's murder, and Mark gets roped into bringing him in. Later, Mark and Eve, looking ahead financially, venture into freelance superheroing. Mark responds to a plea for help from the future and runs into an old friend. At the hind end of the volume, we get wind of Kirkman's next epic arc as the demented genius Angstrom Levy, after months of discreetly spying on Mark, finally launches his revenge scheme against Invincible. But, in issue #59, we don't have to wait to see how supervillain Powerplex's revenge play turns out.

End SPOILERS.

To commemorate having achieved the 50th issue landmark, Mark Grayson gets new superhero threads (even though he didn't ask for a makeover). Oliver also gets outfitted, and his costume is actually cooler looking than Mark's. And because absolutely no one asked for it, there's also Cecil Stedman's secret origin revealed.

As ever with these terrific Ultimate editions, there's a ton of extra goodies in the form of Ryan Ottley's sketches and cover art with behind-the-scenes commentary from Kirkman and Ottley. The script for issue #50 is also reproduced (in very, very small print). As fun as they are to read, I do get the sense that most of the stories in ULTIMATE INVINCIBLE Volume 5 are of the tread-the-water variety, filler stuff while Kirkman preps for the massive events about to go down. I collect the individual issues, so I know what I'm talking about. Devastating, earth-shaking stuff is about to go down! ULTIMATE INVINCIBLE Volume 6 can't come soon enough. Still, this Volume 5 is still very much worth the get, even if its sense of epic isn't as "epic" as in the previous editions. But no one blends those personal little moments and those large scale, world-hanging-in-the-balance moments quite as exquisitely as Kirkman. And no one draws his stuff as invigoratingly as Ryan Ottley. This applies to Volume 5.Get more detail about Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 5.

New Atlantis

It's not what I thought it would be. It seemed to be advertised as an esoteric Rosicrucian document, but it's really just Bacon's portrait of an ideal society. It's true that society has Rosicrucian ideals, but it is mostly a politcal book.Get more detail about New Atlantis.