Preacher Vol. 6: War in the Sun Top Quality

War in the Sun is book six in the series (of 9). Although not the best in the series, that's still a relative measurement - Preacher is terrific from start to finish. If you're starting the series with book 6 (which is kind of odd...) it won't make much sense, but still probably keep you entertained. If you're more conventional, and you've read the first five before getting to War in the Sun... then... well, then, you've pretty much made your mind up on Preacher already, haven't you?

War in the Sun has Jesse Custer taking a back seat to Herr Starr, the foul-tempered head of The Grail. The collection begins with Starr's 'origin story' and then returns to the main story-line in time for a major showdown between Starr and Custer (hint: everyone loses). Thanks to the blackly comedic origin story (everything in this title is blackly comedic...), Starr is actually & oddly... empathetic... for this storyline. Fortunately, that soon passes, and he returns to being the loathsome creature that we all know and love. But, for a few issues at least, we find ourselves cheering for the wretched/evil guy.

As much as the Cassady / Custer / Tulip interpersonal struggles upset me, I admit they're well-written. I'd happily get blind drunk with any of the three of them, which is why their conflicts (internal and external) are so affecting.Get more detail about Preacher Vol. 6: War in the Sun.

The Boys Volume 1: The Name Of The Game Limited Edition HC This instant

Some say The Boys is strictly for mature readers. More accurately, The Boys is strictly for extremely immature readers, just not kids. You know that in-between age where boys have seen their first pair of boobies in their first dirty magazine? That mean age where snuffing out frogs and anthills with firecrackers and magnifying glasses is the height of hilarity? That disillusioned age where "antihero" may not have entered their vocabulary, but all the same they decided they like Vegeta better than Goku, Wolverine better than Superman, Lobo better than Wolverine? That's the maturity level best-suited to appreciate The Boys.

I rank Garth Ennis' Preacher as a masterpiece of the medium, thus it's disappointing that as years pass, Ennis has become content to lazily snipe at the low-hanging fruit. This series presents the misadventures of a covert team of operatives that police the superhero community, and while Ennis and his fans preen The Boys as a testosterone-fueled polemic with a bold lack of inhibitions, the execution is actually rather like a baby-in-a-microwave joke: a fourteen-year-old kid might be delighted by its "shocking" cruelty and "twisted" humor, but grown-ups just find it stupid in its one-note crudeness.

The Boys sticks to the basic formula one has come to expect of the "British Comics Invasion". We get iconic superheroes depicted as sociopathic sexual deviants. We get a sophomoric straw-manning of the evil conspiracy known as the American government. And we get lots of swearing, bodily-function humor, and exploding flesh, all of which serves as a substitute for compelling storytelling or engaging characters. It's a dusty well that's been drained relentlessly by the likes of Wanted, The Authority, Top 10, The Ultimates, and many derivative works penned by authors who claim to hate the complacency of the supehero genre, but themselves can't seem to defy the inexorable gravity of cranking out yet another by-the-numbers Superman or Batman pastiche.

Perhaps that's the one true insight that The Boys has to offer amidst its unremittingly mean-spirited uglyness: the hypocrasy of it all. For all the hatred that the British Billy Butcher and his crew have for the spandex-donning degenerate yanks of Ennis' lampooniverse, they're every bit as unlikable and deserving of contempt. There's nobody worth rooting for, nothing worthwhile at the heart of all of the nastiness.

If you're still on the fence, if the weight of all the five-star rave reviews are tempting you to doubt my words, then use Look Inside feature to check out the very first line of dialogue in The Boys. It sums up the crass, ugly, and unclever nature of the entire series. Then when you're done, get your hands on Pat Mills' trade paperback, Marshall Law: Fear and Loathing. Based on a comic series published twenty years before The Boys, you'll have a firm grip on exactly how little Ennis' ups the ante.

One final nail in the coffin: 168 pages book does not warrant a hardcover edition.Get more detail about The Boys Volume 1: The Name Of The Game Limited Edition HC.

Y: The Last Man, Vol. 3: One Small Step Immediately

Another strong volume by Vaughn. There is less inventive atmosphere and more development of character in this volume. There is a notable uprise in puns within this volume--occasionally annoying.Get more detail about Y: The Last Man, Vol. 3: One Small Step.

The Walking Dead, Book 7: The Calm Before Best Quality

This series is a great zombie adventure. I'd recommend it to anyone into the genre.Get more detail about The Walking Dead, Book 7: The Calm Before.

SuperHero ABC Get it now!

My son, who is in kindergarten, checked this book out of his school library and loved it so much. He didn't want to turn it back in, so I bought it for him to keep forever.Get more detail about SuperHero ABC.

Chew Volume 1: Taster's Choice Buy Now

This is a frequently nauseating and often laugh-out-loud hilarious comic book about a psychic and reluctantly cannibalistic detective who gets drafted into a position as a special agent for the FDA after a bird flu epidemic (which may be a government cover-up) leads to a prohibition on poultry. And that's the simple summary. The full story has many more complications, with likable and mysterious characters presented in cartoonish exaggerated figures to soften the ever-lurking violence and gore. See, Tony Chu has an unwanted psychic ability to know the history of anything he eats (except for beets, as one example of the book's charming quirkiness), so when he needs to investigate a case, he can just nibble on the corpse or a suspect, and he can get the information he needs. His boss can't stand him, his similarly gifted partner enjoys the macabre aspects of the job too much, and the love of his life has her own set of food-based quirks. I highly recommend it for fans of detective stories, even if they don't think they like comic books, as long as they don't have weak stomachs.Get more detail about Chew Volume 1: Taster's Choice.

The Walking Dead, Book 8: Made to Suffer Order Now

Whoa, what a turn this volume takes in this phenomenal comic series. There may be spoilers ahead. We are first taken back to a badly maimed Governor as he recovers and searches out the prison, and there we see that man, living man, not the undead, is the true evil in the world. Beloved characters die. People are broken, inside and out. Sanctuary is no more. It's good stuff.Get more detail about The Walking Dead, Book 8: Made to Suffer.

Angel: After the Fall, Vol. 3 Decide Now

The writing is strong, but the art isn't always clear enough to adequately convey the story to the reader. The supplemental materials in the volume go a long way towards rectifying that.

In spite of these criticisms, would recommend highly to any fan.Get more detail about Angel: After the Fall, Vol. 3.

The Perry Bible Fellowship Almanack Right now

Definitely part of the "Oh Man that's so screwed up" webcomic appeal bloc, most of the punchlines involve something horrible happening or being revealed. Fans of red meat, early achewood and even exploding dog or "candy mountain" and similar memes will like it. The art, writing and overall execution are superb, top-of-the-class material. His Gorey impression is dead-on. This is worth your money even though it will make you cry.Get more detail about The Perry Bible Fellowship Almanack.

Lowest Price The Complete Peanuts Boxed Set 1971-1974 (Box Set) (Vol. 11-12) (Complete Peanuts)

I welcomed this latest annual Boxed set full of personal celebration and could not wait for the upcoming sets that come once every year only. Life would be much excited anticipating the next years toward completing this quality collection. My shelf will not gather dust for the space I have provided for these PEANUTS books.Get more detail about The Complete Peanuts Boxed Set 1971-1974 (Box Set) (Vol. 11-12) (Complete Peanuts).

Low Price Call It Sleep

I tried four or five times over forty years to read this book and failed - till now. Why in my 70's did it finally grip me! And grip me it did. The angry bitterness of the father, Albert, the yielding supportiveness of the mother, Genya - all the side characters, each adding something to one's sense of life, one's sense of the human condition.
The immigrant English was perfect. Still better, the way the children talked opens sealed portals of our past. What I loved were passing sensory descriptions, the sound of a boat horn in the night, luminous shadows of buildings, moment to moment sensations that are heavy one moment, turn into airy nothing the next. A combination of James Joyce and Yiddish drama. For dramatic it is, and in a style those of us who remember Yiddish theater will recognize.

Most of all for me was the penetration of darkness and the ways the protagonist sought Light. Even if it meant almost electrocuting himself to achieve ultimate union with God, much as Aaron's sons did.

If I wrote such a novel as a young man, as Henry Roth did, I can see that I would have a hard time writing another or writing at all. I'm left more than breathless, more than forlorn. Scarred with recognition of the human plight, commingling hope and hell.Get more detail about Call It Sleep.

Save Warriors: The Rise of Scourge

The book was great, the illistrations were awesome, and the plot was good. The best part, we get to see things from a villians POV! SPOILER: I just have to tell. Scourge and Firestar are half brothers. I have read this book alot, I love it.Get more detail about Warriors: The Rise of Scourge.

Discount Bad Kitty Gets a Bath

my six year old daughter who has a little trouble reading and therefore doesn't always want to read was interested in this book right away. so much, she could barely put it down. we read it together a chapter or two a night with me reading some and her reading some. she was even a little sad when it was over. then she read it all on her own, and reread it because it was so funny! she loved the pictures of the cat. now she feels like some of her class mates who read chapter books. love this book! i hope there are more like this to encourage struggling, frustrated and reluctant readers. way to go!!Get more detail about Bad Kitty Gets a Bath.

Cheapest Jonah Hex: No Way Back

Wow, if you're going to create a great, self-contained graphic novel for an existing character, where you recap their history yet still progress their allure and mystic, then Jonah Hex: No Way Back should be a reference point for anyone. Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have consistently provided monthly one and done stories with the regular Jonah Hex title from DC but this format really allowed them to expand their skills and talents by showing some sides of Jonah Hex that a shorter story has to imply. The writing team was able to pull Tony DeZuniga (a Jonah Hex staple) back on with the art and he is able to give the story that gritty look that surrounds Jonah Hex's life. Rob Schwager provides that grim and dusty look to solidify the western feel for the story.

Speaking of the story, this is where the book really stands out. An interesting twist for Jonah's history is brought out by revealing he has a half-brother. Faithful readers knew that his mother left, now we see more of why she left and the consequences of her actions. Even in the end, Jonah Hex harkens back to his childhood to open up his calloused heart and do what he feels he is obligated to, albeit in his way. The interaction and obvious differences between Jonah and his half-brother are played off well. Both have a purpose for the paths they have chosen.

Really can't recommend this book enough to everyone, even if you are not a fan of Jonah Hex already. This book will both entertain and impress you at the same time!
Get more detail about Jonah Hex: No Way Back.

Cheap Warriors: Tigerstar and Sasha #3: Return to the Clans

I didn't realise that Magna books were graphic novels. As an adult I'd rather had all three books in one book of words. The drawings of the characters were not consistent across the books. It was interesting to read the back story of Sasha.Get more detail about Warriors: Tigerstar and Sasha #3: Return to the Clans.

Buying The Book of Mr. Natural

The book I ordered came promptly and in perfect condition. The bookseller's brochure explained his praiseworthy philosophy and business ethic. This is the kind of store that deserves to have many customers!Get more detail about The Book of Mr. Natural.

Buy Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds

One of the worst things as a baseball fan is to see a pitcher for your team on the mound for 6 or 7 wonderful innings and then fall apart at the end of the game. That's how "Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds" is. The art by Perez is excellent and the story by Johns was fine until the end when he tried to wrap things up a bit too quickly and undermined a good deal of the story. There are some funny moments to be sure and those help propel the story along but the book fails to deliver on the truly emotional moments--characters long since dead return with barely a blink of an eye while other characters die to universal shrugs. The lead villain is Superboy Prime, who truly represents the banality of evil--instead of a dark brooding Romantic bad guy, he is a whiny brat. There is no motivation provided though and that is frustrating. The surreal, almost post-modern, ending for Superboy Prime was baffling to say the least and was a better idea on paper than in reality. With three different versions of the Legion on stage, there is little room for character development for the heroes though there are some funny scenes as the three versions of Brainiac 5 meet and annoy each other with their insufferable arrogance and overweening intellects. This is not a bad book by any means and it really had my admiration but the ending left such a bad taste in my mouth that I see this book is merely alright instead of good.Get more detail about Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds.

Purchase Fables Vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers

Volume #4 of Bill Willingham's 'Fables' series (March of the Wooden Soldiers) is a nice, long compilation of issues 19-21 and 23-27. The primary storyline involves a breach into the Mundy world by the Adversary's forces leading to an immense battle in Fabletown. As always, the story and writing is crisp and breezy yet packed with plenty of detail and references to fairy-tale folklore hidden throughout. A great read and if you're a fan of the series certainly a volume not to be missed.Get more detail about Fables Vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers.

Order I Kill Giants

I think the thing that got me most about this was that I was never sure how the story was going to turn out. It keeps suggesting a predictable story line but it keeps changing all the way through, not quite delivering what you were expecting but something better instead. The art is a little difficult to begin with but really, really works well as you go on, playing a major part in the overall delivery. Truly captivating.Get more detail about I Kill Giants.

Where To Buy The 13 Clocks (Childrens Collection)

I was introduced to this marvelous fantasy in junior high and despite the passing of decades and the reading of hundreds of Young Adult books and dozens of Children's Classics I still recall this tale with fondness. Known for his droll and irreverent Midwestern sense of humor Thurber is generally known for his outrageous short stories like, "The Night the Bed Fell" and "The Night the Ghost Got In," the Ohio journalist let out all the literary stops when he took pen in hand (or was it just an old Royal typewriter?) to decant a fairy tale of 50's vintage.

Also a pen and ink artist, whose spare cartoons are more charica- tures of people and animals, Thurber easily captured the traditional elements of a fairy tale: a beautiful princess, her evil guardian who fiendishly discourages all suitors with impossible quests, a prince with an unusual name, and a "pet" monster whose loyalty is casual at best.

But it is Thurber's use/invention of Words which boggles readers of all ages; his vocabulary is from out of this galaxy and his descriptive expressions are beyond creative--brainchildren of his darkly satirical genius. Today's young readers--trained in video games of fantasy--are remarkably resilient, and will handle the physical violence verbally unscathed. Gleep! Is that the ubiquitous Todal slurking off in disregust, because the 13 clocks risk being ungefrozen as a result of human happiness? This short book should be considered a kids' klassik--no shame to adults who rejoice in their inner kiddom.
Get more detail about The 13 Clocks (Childrens Collection).

Shop For Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race

Good books were requested on his Christmas list. These definitely were. In fact, we have already ordered the next three in the series.Get more detail about Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race.

The Boys Volume 1: The Name Of The Game Limited Edition HC

Some say The Boys is strictly for mature readers. More accurately, The Boys is strictly for extremely immature readers, just not kids. You know that in-between age where boys have seen their first pair of boobies in their first dirty magazine? That mean age where snuffing out frogs and anthills with firecrackers and magnifying glasses is the height of hilarity? That disillusioned age where "antihero" may not have entered their vocabulary, but all the same they decided they like Vegeta better than Goku, Wolverine better than Superman, Lobo better than Wolverine? That's the maturity level best-suited to appreciate The Boys.

I rank Garth Ennis' Preacher as a masterpiece of the medium, thus it's disappointing that as years pass, Ennis has become content to lazily snipe at the low-hanging fruit. This series presents the misadventures of a covert team of operatives that police the superhero community, and while Ennis and his fans preen The Boys as a testosterone-fueled polemic with a bold lack of inhibitions, the execution is actually rather like a baby-in-a-microwave joke: a fourteen-year-old kid might be delighted by its "shocking" cruelty and "twisted" humor, but grown-ups just find it stupid in its one-note crudeness.

The Boys sticks to the basic formula one has come to expect of the "British Comics Invasion". We get iconic superheroes depicted as sociopathic sexual deviants. We get a sophomoric straw-manning of the evil conspiracy known as the American government. And we get lots of swearing, bodily-function humor, and exploding flesh, all of which serves as a substitute for compelling storytelling or engaging characters. It's a dusty well that's been drained relentlessly by the likes of Wanted, The Authority, Top 10, The Ultimates, and many derivative works penned by authors who claim to hate the complacency of the supehero genre, but themselves can't seem to defy the inexorable gravity of cranking out yet another by-the-numbers Superman or Batman pastiche.

Perhaps that's the one true insight that The Boys has to offer amidst its unremittingly mean-spirited uglyness: the hypocrasy of it all. For all the hatred that the British Billy Butcher and his crew have for the spandex-donning degenerate yanks of Ennis' lampooniverse, they're every bit as unlikable and deserving of contempt. There's nobody worth rooting for, nothing worthwhile at the heart of all of the nastiness.

If you're still on the fence, if the weight of all the five-star rave reviews are tempting you to doubt my words, then use Look Inside feature to check out the very first line of dialogue in The Boys. It sums up the crass, ugly, and unclever nature of the entire series. Then when you're done, get your hands on Pat Mills' trade paperback, Marshall Law: Fear and Loathing. Based on a comic series published twenty years before The Boys, you'll have a firm grip on exactly how little Ennis' ups the ante.

One final nail in the coffin: 168 pages book does not warrant a hardcover edition.Get more detail about The Boys Volume 1: The Name Of The Game Limited Edition HC.

Rapunzel's Revenge Review

Who knew Rapunzel had it in her? All those years spent locked away in that tower, waiting for some handsome young prince to come along and rescue her --- wait, she didn't need a man to get out of that predicament?

It turns out Rapunzel was actually a kick-butt heroine who had a feisty temperament and tenacity --- or at least that's how a trio of Hales have envisioned her. Shannon Hale, a Newbery Honor-winning children's book author, has teamed up with her husband, Dean, to write RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE, which turns the original Brothers Grimm tale on its ear. They brought in the help of talented illustrator Nathan Hale (no relation) for help fleshing out the story.

RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE offers a thrilling reimagining of the fairy tale --- just look at the cover to see Rapunzel looking like she's straight out of the wild west. Inside, she's thrown into even more outrageous settings, all of which work somehow --- and it succeeds because of its unabashed spirit. The Hales seem like they're having a ball with this story, and they like to mix in generous helpings of other myths and legends to flesh out the action. (Also, a couple of other fairy tales find their way into the telling of RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE, but it would take an evil stepmother to give them away here.)

RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE sticks fairly close to the original at the beginning. Rapunzel is a young girl living with Mother Gothel, who rules over the land with an iron fist (and a little bit of witchcraft). They live in luxury (or boredom, to hear Rapunzel tell it), with Rapunzel having no idea what lies over the giant wall surrounding their castle. When she dares to spy over it one day, and finally meets her real mother living in poverty on the other side, she incurs the wrath of Mother Gothel and gets locked away in a small room at the top of a very tall tree.

When her hair begins to grow excessively long, Rapunzel formulates a plan. With a clever guile, she learns how to use her hair like a rope, rappelling out of the tree and into the wild forest around her. And here's where the adventure truly begins (as Rapunzel herself puts it in her narration, "This is where the `once upon a time' part ends."). And what an adventure it is. When Rapunzel meets up with a young scallywag named Jack, things really pick up. Both are on the run: Jack is a horse thief, and Gothel has put a price on Rapunzel's head. To make things worse, Gothel has locked up Rapunzel's birth mother, and Rapunzel is bound and determined to get back to the castle to rescue her mother and overthrow Gothel for good.

Luckily for readers, RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE is as clever as it is good-humored. The plot never rests for too long, keeping our two intrepid heroes constantly moving and always in some spot of trouble that takes all their wits to escape. Mining the depths of fairy tales provides a wealth of material, and giving this one a modern-day twist adds layers of personality to the mix. Believe it or not, this Rapunzel is so much more interesting to read about than what the Brothers Grimm offered.Get more detail about Rapunzel's Revenge.

Preacher Vol. 4: Ancient History Top Quality

I was surprised by how engrossing this turned out to be. :)

Originally I was almost put off by the fact that volume #4 really represented a diversion away from the character of "The Preacher" himself... but I have to say, for the backstory of some of the other characters, this really was a welcome distraction.

The storytelling is excellent. The illustrations under Steve Pugh do differ quite a bit from that of Steve Dillon, but the simpler artwork wasn't inferior or anything.

Definitely darker stuff here (as if that were possible)... really enjoyed it.Get more detail about Preacher Vol. 4: Ancient History.

The Last Airbender This instant

This book is absolutely terrible. The art is terrible, the story is butchered beyond all belief, and the characters are flat and boring. Now I'm a big fan of the show and I cannot wait for the upcoming live-action film, but this is just a senseless money grab. You could finish this in less than an hour! Granted, it is a book for kids, but it feels like the spirit of the show and everything that made it one of the greatest animations of all time is just skinned alive and butchered into a 100 page fiasco of suck. Oh, and the artwork. Is this the first time the illustrator has drawn something? It shows. Half the time, I couldn't figure out what was a wall or a scenery. It looks unfinished and rushed, much like this book in general. The story loosely (very loosely) follows the events of season 1 of the show and the live-action movie coming up. I hope you have prior knowledge of the story before reading because the book does a poor job of explaining the plot. Just stay away from this thing and use your $9 to buy yourself a ticket to the film in July. You won't regret it, unless the movie sucks too. After reading this garbage, my faith for the movie greatly declined.Get more detail about The Last Airbender.

Fables, Vol. 11: War and Pieces Immediately

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Comments: This is a fabulous edition! A culmination of the overall plot to date that is very satisfying. The book starts of with an issue devoted mostly to the farm and the relationship between Blue and Red but also sets the stage both on the farm and back at Fabletown for the preparations before the war. Next up is a two-parter devoted solely to Cindy on a special op. which was seriously fun. We've seen her in action before but only in small doses, this dedicated storyline has made her one of my favourite characters. Finally, the book finishes with the 4 titular issues "War and Pieces" where the final battle and ultimate war that all previous issues have been leading up to one way or another. The book ends with a written afterward by the author speaking of this "ending" in the series and the new "beginnings". Things will certainly be different now and I can't wait to see where they go from here. A fabulous volume that brings a great ending to an 11-volume story arc. Onward ho!Get more detail about Fables, Vol. 11: War and Pieces.

The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Beneath the Bed (The Adventure of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle) Best Quality

Patrick Rothfuss has conjured a delightfully twisted story with the shell of children's book, the spirit of a fairy tale, and ending options that range from Disney to Sweeney Todd. The dark side of Darth Vader's personality would enjoy reading it as much as his light side, thanks to the adorable wholesomeness of Nathan Taylor's illustrations. Pat's sick wit and Nate's slick pics combine to create a contemporary Grimm's Fairy Tale. I recommend buying a copy for yourself and your friends before a real villain spoils this treat for you.Get more detail about The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Beneath the Bed (The Adventure of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle).

Arkham Asylum: Madness Get it now!

It can be quite a disappointment when a much anticipated project fails to live up to expectations. One can become so spoiled by a favorite creator's impressive talents and past successes that you start taking things for granted. Sam Kieth has that type of talent. His surrealistic illustrations are unparalleled in the comic industry and worth the price of admission alone, but when you combine them with his wickedly weird way of looking at the world is when the magic truly transpires. His tales belong to no continuity; they have an eerie and unreal life all to their own. Just strap yourself in and enjoy the madcap ride. One would think a cautionary tale about decadent, dreary ole Arkham Asylum would be right up his perverse alley, but instead of justifiably focusing the titular madness on the usual culprits, the infamous inmates, he instead surprisingly spotlights the asylum's diverse yet ultimately nondescript staff, using them for his psychological explorations on obsession and paranoia. Although certainly a different approach, they're not compelling enough as lead characters to take center stage in this uncanny horror show. Add in the debatable decision of having much of this virtual nightmare taking place inappropriately during daylight hours, akin to a sunlit vampire romp, which just further diminished what little macabre mood it aspired to. While not a bad story by any means, it is far too tame for the subject matter, clearly lacking the requisite trepidation and fear; hell the Joker to a degree is without his normal excessive menace, with most of his amoral acts recounted here occurring in the past tense, therefore neutering whatever tension or suspense they may have elicited. Even his normally fascinating visual designs are by his standards unremarkable, with Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, and Harvey Dent being more uniquely rendered in the recent Azzarello Joker novel. The entire story would have worked better as a monthly series, without having the additional pressure an original graphic novel brings with it. Alas this is Kieth's weakest Batman project to date. His recent low key Batman Confidential mini contained superior art, a deeper mystery, along with a newly introduced female character that inspired more compassion toward her than her equivalent counterpart here. Obviously the best of talents cannot always produce superlative work, but judging by curious comments made at the end of the book, one wonders if editorial involvement might have played a critical role in its' dubious direction and unexceptional results. Oh, what could have been.Get more detail about Arkham Asylum: Madness.

Power Girl: A New Beginning Buy Now

Simply a really well written comic and I am definitely looking forward to the new one coming out in October which is the continuance of this one. I have never really read any comic books and this one is the first one I purchased based on several different reviews on this site as well as others and it's definitely a good comic book. I would recommend this to anyone looking to get into comics and who has never really picked one up before.Get more detail about Power Girl: A New Beginning.

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Recovery Order Now

This book is actually the prologue of Star by Star, 2 books further into the series. There is no reason to buy this book when you can read this whopping 82 pages as the prologue in another book. This is not advertised anywhere in the review or information pages of this book. DO NOT BUY THIS KINDLE BOOK. Instead buy Star by Star and read it there, and get the entire Star by Star book as well. For the same price. Luckily this book beamed to my kindle before they realized my credit card had expired and I wasn't charged. Neener Neener! I'd say I won but since I already owned the Star by Star book I feel like I just broke even.

Thanks Amazon for trying to swindle me out of $2.99. Better luck next time.Get more detail about Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Recovery.

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Recovery Decide Now

This book is actually the prologue of Star by Star, 2 books further into the series. There is no reason to buy this book when you can read this whopping 82 pages as the prologue in another book. This is not advertised anywhere in the review or information pages of this book. DO NOT BUY THIS KINDLE BOOK. Instead buy Star by Star and read it there, and get the entire Star by Star book as well. For the same price. Luckily this book beamed to my kindle before they realized my credit card had expired and I wasn't charged. Neener Neener! I'd say I won but since I already owned the Star by Star book I feel like I just broke even.

Thanks Amazon for trying to swindle me out of $2.99. Better luck next time.Get more detail about Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Recovery.

Justifiable Means Right now

I haven't had a Blackstone book that I didn't really enjoy. Good mystery, characters and book I've passed along to friends and relatives. Good story with Christian values sprinkled in appropriately without preaching or straying from a good escape story.Get more detail about Justifiable Means.

Lowest Price Wanted

NO SPOILERS:

Lets get some things out of the way: this is an adult comic. These are /bad men doing bad things/. He becomes what any normal person would call a sociopath, but this comic is really about the 'big picture'.

NO BULLET CURVING! I knew this wouldn't be exactly like the movie, but.. I really thought that the bullet curving was something thought up by a comic book writer. That was the reason I bought this, along with the scene where they shoot each other's fired bullets. But nope, none of that.

They are NOT ASSASSINS. They're slayers.

NO LOOM OF FATE. I mean, really? Even that was thought up just for the movie?

Fox is disgusting ghetto talking trash. Not the sly assassin from the movie.

Wesley... kinda looks like Eminem. Just a note.

I don't mean to sound shallow, but there were relatively few action scenes. It felt talky and slow paced more than a few times.

Once you accept these things, it is a fun ride, and if you enjoyed the movie, you will enjoy the comic. I dont know that it was worth 13 dollars to me, but it was a good read.

And lastly, as a product of a single mother, I really enjoyed this book's message. That's all I'm going to say. You'll have to read it to understand. :)Get more detail about Wanted.

Low Price The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1

I received the book quickly and in great condition. My son and I were happy with the purchase.Get more detail about The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1.

Save Superboy: The Boy of Steel

This is about Conner's search for personal identity. Nature vs nurture. Who is he? How much does he behave like his genetic donors? Is his behavior and nature influenced by them? How is he like and unlike Superman and Lex Luthor? What kind of man does he want to be?

This is one of those happy books where I enjoyed both the story line & the art. It's going on my keeper shelf. I would recommend it to any fan of Superboy. I can't wait for the next book. (I'm assuming that this is one of a series because there were several secondary matters introduced and then left unresolved. The book felt like a setup for a series.) I greatly enjoyed this book, but had a few minor quibbles.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

Liked: Conner makes the Kent Farm his base as he rediscovers himself and tries to decide who he is. He catches up with old friends, Tim and Cassie, and makes some new acquaintances. Conner tries to be a better son to Ma Kent, and find his place in the world. I was charmed by the scenes of Conner bonding with his dog. Conner also reestablishes his relationships with Cassie and Tim. There's one brief, but amusing exchange, between Conner and Bart.

I would've liked to see a little more of Bart, Cassie, and Tim, and a little less of some of the new characters. The main story consists of Conner measuring his behavior against the behaviors of Superman and Lex Luthor, and wondering how much he is like and unlike each. Conner has encounters with both Superman and Luthor.

Minor Quibble: While I admire the honesty and forthrightness of Cassie and Tim's confessions to Conner, as well as Conner's generosity of spirit in his responses to them, it seems to me that matters are smoothed over too quickly and easily in order to advance the main story arc. In fact, I think that Tim confessing his attempt to clone a Conner 2.0 would have advanced the identity story line. I would expect this to be a very big deal for anyone and an even bigger deal for Conner considering his particular identity issues, but Conner's reaction is very mild.

Also no matter how understandable it was for Cassie and Tim to seek comfort from each other after Conner's 'death', or how unfair it would be for Conner to blame them for any comforting taking place between them while he was 'dead', I would expect Conner to have more of a reaction to Cassie's confession that she had been comfort snogging his best friend. Instead Conner promptly forgives all. He brushes both cloning and best friend snogging aside with very little reaction.

Maybe he was feeling numb. Maybe it didn't really hit him. Maybe those two lamas seemed like baby lamas after his 'death' and revivification. But it's not addressed and the reader is left to guess at his feelings and wonder about his muted reactions. I can understand if Mr. Johns had no wish to ride those particular drama lama, but once drama lamas are introduced into a story, characters need to react to them.

On the whole, I enjoyed this story very much and hope to see more Superboy books from Mr. Johns as well as more books illustrated by Francis Manapul.Get more detail about Superboy: The Boy of Steel.

Discount Spider-Man: Spider-Man versus Electro (I Can Read Book 2)

My kid loves to read and enjoys her new spider man books. They seem great for beginners. She just turned 5 and can read so this helps keep her reading.Get more detail about Spider-Man: Spider-Man versus Electro (I Can Read Book 2).

Cheapest Batman: The Black Glove

When comics' writer Grant Morrison assumed authorship of the Dark Knight's legends in 2006, he stated in a Newsarama interview (which I can no longer access from their site, sadly) that he "wanted to see a psychologically 'healthier' Batman... [one that] combines the cynic, the scholar, the daredevil, the businessman, the superhero, the wit, the lateral thinker, the aristocrat." Batman: The Black Glove occurs midway through the run in which he accomplished that and much more. His approach to the character, that has undergone serious deconstruction throughout the eighties and nineties, is to reconstruct him; bringing to light Batman's best parts, while reconciling his paradoxical contradictions.

The subtlety is breathtaking for anyone familiar with the 70-plus year history of the character. Morrison seamlessly invokes the "Batman fighting space aliens" stories of Batman in the fifties alongside the "Bruce Wayne as corporate philanthropist and socialite" elements of the Steve Englehart-Marshall Rogers era of the seventies. By faithfully restoring characters like Talia and Man-Bat into the modern age with powerful reverence for the source material, Morrison navigates the cul-de-sacs of our scrutiny and effortlessly appeases our demands for stories that fit within our (often over-zealous) need for logical continuity and "realism". This is what good comic writing produces: building new stories from antecedent, rather than ignoring them or worse, defaming them.

Perhaps the highest credit of Morrison's venerated run must be paid to the marriage of his words with the artwork of J.H. Williams III in the first half of the book. Williams is perhaps the best talent for evoking the emotional content of the Black Glove storyline. His work is as strong as anything he's done before (i.e. Alan Moore's Promethea), and it's unfortunately all the stronger against the less powerful work in the second half of the book, by artist Tony S. Daniel. This is not to say that Daniel isn't good. His work has come a long way since his early-nineties' X-Force run for Marvel, and it's in tight form here, but it brings the esoteric storylines back down to an almost procedural level, as if Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream had been directed as a televised episode of Law & Order, rather than for the cinema; both are enjoyable, but the approach does not necessarily best fit the other's intended audience. Regardless, Daniel does perform competently and it is not his skill that compromises the effect of his contribution, only that his work seems miscast against the complexity of the writing.

It's difficult to effectively review a book which sits in the middle of a series' storyline on its own merits but, nevertheless, even if you don't pick up the rest of his run (Batman and Son, Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul, and the final chapter, Batman R.I.P.) you still won't be disappointed by this peek at Grant Morrison's rich approach to one of comics' most enduring legends. Batman: The Black Glove is self-contained enough to be appreciated at face value by most casual readers, while giving Batman enthusiasts the concentration and depth of ideas we should be demanding from the entire comics' media, not just the superhero genre.Get more detail about Batman: The Black Glove.

Cheap The Ten Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How It Changed America

Laws aren't any crazier today then they were 50 years ago-- people just have short memories!

This excellent is about the comic-book bans that the government inacted in the 1950s-- they burned comic books all over the nation. They even banned Wonder Woman because she was too much like a sexual dominatrix (with the gold lasso, etc) and her outfit was too skimpy. Compare that to the flesh you see on TV now!

The first amendment basically went out the window for 10 years for an entire subset of the print industry.

The only drawback I felt, was that the book jumped around a lot-- from one point of view to another. But it was very exciting reading, and well-researched. I really enjoyed it.Get more detail about The Ten Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How It Changed America.

Buying Bone, Vol. 9: Crown of Horns

When I finished this volume, I was sorry to have read all of the bone comics. The characters are so endearing, the plot so engaging and the artwork so beautiful in its simplicity I couldn't help but love it. If you've read the previous volumes of Bone and enjoyed them, you won't be disappointed by this great conclusion.Get more detail about Bone, Vol. 9: Crown of Horns.

Buy Iron Man: The Art Of Iron Man 2 HC

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3T5NAD0FHIKZZ I'm pleasantly surprised that this book actually comes with a slipcase. The cover art for the slipcase and book are also different from what's shown. The hardcover is very beautiful, smooth matt, and features a painting of Iron Man by Ryan Meinerding, who's still the concept artist for the second movie.

At 224 pages, this book features much more Iron Man designs that the first book, The Art of Iron Man. There's the new Iron Man suit which you can recognise by the triangle RT on the chest, the Suitcase Suit, The War Machine, plenty of drones and Whiplash. There are illustrations, 3D models, screenshots, physical sets.

The Iron Man suit designs are really fantastic. It's more streamline, cooler and just mean at the same time. They are beautifully drawn with lots of details. You can see the different plates, metal shine and even battle damaged suits, which will make you go "Ouch, that must have really hurt." Many of the designs have the high drool factor and deserved to be made into action figures.

If you've watched the trailers, you'll see that Iron Man was surrounded by lots of drones. Well, those drones are also included. There are Army, Navy, Airforce and Marine drones. As if it's not enough, there are Feebles also, which are the mechas designed by other countries. Feebles are really cool because they convey personality of their home countries through the designs. Mecha fans will be delighted.

About a quarter of the book is on the environment and set. And the bulk of that is actually on the Stark Expo, featuring illustrations, miniatures, etc. Right at the back there are some storyboard sequences and more miscellaneous art like the re-designed RT, Stark's cars, labs, and other stuff. Whiplash armor is actually a physical set and there's an impressive photo showing all the parts separately, like LEGO bricks, but in metal.

This book is as good as or even better than the first art book.

Highly recommended.

(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)Get more detail about Iron Man: The Art Of Iron Man 2 HC.

Order Bone, Vol. 9: Crown of Horns

When I finished this volume, I was sorry to have read all of the bone comics. The characters are so endearing, the plot so engaging and the artwork so beautiful in its simplicity I couldn't help but love it. If you've read the previous volumes of Bone and enjoyed them, you won't be disappointed by this great conclusion.Get more detail about Bone, Vol. 9: Crown of Horns.

Where To Buy Iron Man: The Art Of Iron Man 2 HC

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3T5NAD0FHIKZZ I'm pleasantly surprised that this book actually comes with a slipcase. The cover art for the slipcase and book are also different from what's shown. The hardcover is very beautiful, smooth matt, and features a painting of Iron Man by Ryan Meinerding, who's still the concept artist for the second movie.

At 224 pages, this book features much more Iron Man designs that the first book, The Art of Iron Man. There's the new Iron Man suit which you can recognise by the triangle RT on the chest, the Suitcase Suit, The War Machine, plenty of drones and Whiplash. There are illustrations, 3D models, screenshots, physical sets.

The Iron Man suit designs are really fantastic. It's more streamline, cooler and just mean at the same time. They are beautifully drawn with lots of details. You can see the different plates, metal shine and even battle damaged suits, which will make you go "Ouch, that must have really hurt." Many of the designs have the high drool factor and deserved to be made into action figures.

If you've watched the trailers, you'll see that Iron Man was surrounded by lots of drones. Well, those drones are also included. There are Army, Navy, Airforce and Marine drones. As if it's not enough, there are Feebles also, which are the mechas designed by other countries. Feebles are really cool because they convey personality of their home countries through the designs. Mecha fans will be delighted.

About a quarter of the book is on the environment and set. And the bulk of that is actually on the Stark Expo, featuring illustrations, miniatures, etc. Right at the back there are some storyboard sequences and more miscellaneous art like the re-designed RT, Stark's cars, labs, and other stuff. Whiplash armor is actually a physical set and there's an impressive photo showing all the parts separately, like LEGO bricks, but in metal.

This book is as good as or even better than the first art book.

Highly recommended.

(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)Get more detail about Iron Man: The Art Of Iron Man 2 HC.

Shop For Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown

Many kids will never get the chance to go to camp for real so why not live vicariously through LL and the Summer Camp Shakedown. No reader will need encouragement to read this newest graphic book whether or not they have read the other 3 in the series. Just a fun adventure with all the elements of a good summer read--perfect for the readers edging into chapter books. Look for one of the Lunch Ladies in her hair rollers--LOL!Get more detail about Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown.

Fables Vol. 6: Homelands

Fables Vol 6: The Homelands. Wow. What more can you say other than if you have stuck with it this long this is it. This is where you get more information. This is the Bee's knee's as one would say. This Volume focuses on Boy Blue and his adventure back to world in which he came from. This is not filler, this is not backstory. This is everything we wanted from Willingham and his team. Please never allow Micheal Bay to get his hands on the movie rights.Get more detail about Fables Vol. 6: Homelands.

Black Butler, Vol. 2 Review

Character development is a less in this second volume, pushed aside slightly in favor of plot. It seems almost a given that a faux Victorian gothic horror story will cover the Jack the Ripper tale and sure enough, that is what Toboso does, though she seems to value the story less for its historical roots and more for its horrific possibilities. She uses the tale as a jumping off point to begin exploring Earl Phantomhive's past, especially the death of his parents. The investigation also allows her to start showing her readers that evil is more pervasive than just one simple butler. Several new characters are introduced in this volume, each with motives uncertain to both readers and to the Earl. By the end, things have taken a slightly predictable turn, but the abrupt ending should lead to more exciting action and revelations to come.

One of the best touches in Toboso's second volume is the opening story. It is a humorous aside about Sebastian trying to get his work done while also dealing with the disasters caused by the other members of the Phantomhive staff. The chapter effectively introduces Sebastian, shows off his abilities, sets the scene at the Phantomhive residence, lays out the relationships, and tells a little bit of the previous volume's plot, all in a light story that won't seem repetitive to readers who have already read volume one, but which will help new readers get their bearings. From there the story takes a slightly slower turn, getting a touch soggy by the end, but it picks up dramatically on the last page, leaving readers eager for the next volume and the promised confrontation.

Toboso does not neglect humor, though. Wacky events and character behavior abound, even in the midst of gruesome or horrific moments. One particularly effective page uses her continual hints at homosexual relations between characters to good effect, though it is still subtle enough to keep the rating at an appropriate OT/16+. She also continues to find excuses to place the Earl in young women's clothing, much to his distress, but to the amusement of the other characters (and readers). Fans of the first volume will snatch this one off the shelves, but it is also a decent jumping off point for new readers. From here on out, though, the plot seems likely to take off, so be prepared for these volumes to move quickly.
-- Snow WildsmithGet more detail about Black Butler, Vol. 2.

It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection Top Quality

I bought this book for my son and he loves it. Showed up in great condition.Get more detail about It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection.

The Essential Calvin And Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury This instant

I ordered this book for my son and he loves it. Arrived in great condition and was all that I asked for.Get more detail about The Essential Calvin And Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury.

Fables Vol. 10: The Good Prince Immediately

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Comments: This is a big issue and I mean that literally and metaphorically. It's a nice, hefty book containing ten issues with nine of those continuing the title story. In the middle there is a one issue intermission that centres on the cubs. The main story, though, without giving anything away, focuses on a minor character who has been around since Vol. 1: Flycatcher, whose real name is Ambrose, and is better known to mundies as the prince who was once turned into a frog. Prince Ambrose takes centre stage and the action switches between him and the resident Fables as he undertakes a very important journey and mission. This book is a turning point in the series. Things will not be the same from the point forward. This was a fabulous issue! I loved it and am more eager than usual (if that is possible) to get my hands on the next volume.Get more detail about Fables Vol. 10: The Good Prince.

Jonah Hex: No Way Back Best Quality

Wow, if you're going to create a great, self-contained graphic novel for an existing character, where you recap their history yet still progress their allure and mystic, then Jonah Hex: No Way Back should be a reference point for anyone. Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have consistently provided monthly one and done stories with the regular Jonah Hex title from DC but this format really allowed them to expand their skills and talents by showing some sides of Jonah Hex that a shorter story has to imply. The writing team was able to pull Tony DeZuniga (a Jonah Hex staple) back on with the art and he is able to give the story that gritty look that surrounds Jonah Hex's life. Rob Schwager provides that grim and dusty look to solidify the western feel for the story.

Speaking of the story, this is where the book really stands out. An interesting twist for Jonah's history is brought out by revealing he has a half-brother. Faithful readers knew that his mother left, now we see more of why she left and the consequences of her actions. Even in the end, Jonah Hex harkens back to his childhood to open up his calloused heart and do what he feels he is obligated to, albeit in his way. The interaction and obvious differences between Jonah and his half-brother are played off well. Both have a purpose for the paths they have chosen.

Really can't recommend this book enough to everyone, even if you are not a fan of Jonah Hex already. This book will both entertain and impress you at the same time!
Get more detail about Jonah Hex: No Way Back.

Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School Get it now!

The girls in my upper elementary classroom LOVED the first Ellie McDoodle and have been pestering me nonstop for the new one. I ordered it over Christmas, and it hasn't hit my bookshelf yet because, as soon as one finishes it is is passed directly to another eager classmate. While my boys seem to enjoy the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, my girls really relate to the feelings and situations encountered by Ellie McDoodle. I hope another enstallment is on its way to bookstores soon! Ruth McNally Barshaw has a talented handle on our middle grade girls!Get more detail about Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School.