Title: Pride and Prejudice (Marvel Adapatation)
Author: Jane Austen (adapted by Nancy Butler & Hugo Petrus)
Illustrator: Hugo Petrus
Publisher: Marvel
Copyright: 2009
Price: $19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3915-7
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Marvel has adapted this perennial classic about two people who dislike each other on sight and develop their own ideas of the other. Elizabeth Bennet wants nothing to do with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, but it seems friends, family, and fate has something else planned for them. They banter, they talk, but she really wants nothing to do with him. Instead, she wants to secure her sister’s happiness with Mr. Bingley and maybe find herself a proper fitted suitor. But what is Elizabeth to do when Mr. Darcy has found that he is in love with Elizabeth?
Frankly, I’m not going to go much into the plot of this one. Many know the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from the constant adaptations and from discovering the book on their own. In an attempt to bring girls into the comic shops, Marvel has published a graphic novel with fantastic covers, poor artwork, and plot holes in the adaptation. Read on for more details.
---------
Will Teens Like It? I don’t know…
--------
Things to be aware of: …
----------
Further Thoughts: I wasn’t originally going to pick this up after previewing this on the Marvel site ages ago, but for some reason, I was lured in by the cover (again). The cover of Pride and Prejudice is a play on popular girl teen magazine covers with hints and tips from family to advice to “celebrities.” In the back of this graphic novel, like many other works of collected issues, are the covers of the individual issues. Personally, I would have bought them for the covers alone. The cover artwork is light, fitting to the story and more able to draw the female readers than the art inside the book. The last cover featured brings the infamous first line around Lizzy and Darcy and continues the light artwork and bring a fitting cover to the last issue.
Now, the artwork. This is not the greatest work of art, nor is it the worst, yet I have a serious problem with it. Maybe it is because I’m comparing it to Ruse (long lost CrossGen Victorian period/detective/fantasy book), but the art style really doesn’t fit the story. The art style is a semi-realistic, superhero, Marvel style you’d expect to see in Ultimate Spiderman or some modern day story. It’d work there. It doesn’t work here. More often than not, hair color is messed up (there is one page where Jane’s hair is black “for shading”, to black with blonde spots, to blonde as the panels progress). All the faces fall “flat,” where the eyes aren’t full of life and it is hard to tell what expression is really being conveyed. The Philosopher Musician says it best: “Are they smiling or crying? That is one creepy smile.” Eye contact is often missed to where I think you should be able to see that the character is looking the other in the eye instead of off above a head. In other areas, characters don’t resemble themselves throughout the story. For example, at one point, I was confused. Who was I looking at, Lizzy or another of the female characters? The only way I could tell was context (but I think this would be difficult for anyone who doesn’t know the story).
The text is actually not terrible. I think the writer took as much of the original text as she could and inserted it into the story, which was fantastic and worked wonderfully, but I started to find plot holes. Obviously, points are missing in adaptations, but I cannot believe that one glaring point was omitted and then commented on by characters later. The big error I found was when Lizzy made a comment about how a particular woman would make a fitting wife for a specific husband. I looked back to make sure I hadn’t missed the reference earlier, because if you haven’t read the book, you have NO idea which guy she’s talking about. It wasn’t there during Mr. Collins’s visit. A pity because then I looked at this book with an even more critical view.
Nancy Butler is a romance novelist and was lucky enough to adapt this work. Unfortunately, I find this work is not worthy of a library purchase unless you are a bigger library looking to add titles. It is a wonderful attempt to get girls into comic shops (as she says in the introduction), but it falls flat. If the artwork was “lighter” in style and more like one of the covers, or more in the style of Ruse this would be a fantastic adaptation. I think this will just “fall away” into the comic abyss of titles that were a good faith effort, but just didn’t have it.
------
Source: Library copy.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Ooku: The Inner Chambers - vol. 2
Title: Ooku: The Inner Chambers Vol. 2
Author: Fumi Yoshinaga
Illustrator: Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: Viz Media, LLC
Copyright: 2009
Price: $12.99
ISBN: 978-1-4215-2748-2
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Shogun Yoshimune has sought out and started reading “Chronicle of a Dying Day” to better understand why 80 years ago, the customs were changed and put into motion.
Throughout the land, the Redface Pox is killing men and women are making decisions they never originally had to make. Those in Edo Castle believe themselves to be safe, but when Shogun Iemitsu falls ill and dies, the Lady Kasuga prepares Japan for a change. His illegitimate daughter, his only living heir, is called to the castle and picks up where her father left off, a pawn in Lady (now Reverend) Kasuga’s efforts to make a swift transition by any means necessary.
---------
Will Teens Like It? This is an adult title dealing with adult themes.
--------
Things to be aware of: sexual situations, criminal activities, rape
----------
Further Thoughts: What you are reading in this volume is an account of what Shogun Yoshimune is reading. We meet Monk Arikoto, who is forced to renounce his vows and enter the Inner Chambers. His entrance and forced servitude introduces a clear, if not heart wrenching love story.
Volume 2 sets up the stories that will be continued in future volumes, including the struggle the current Lord Iemitsu faces as she must come to terms with her story of pain as she is forcibly taken from her content life and placed into a position she neither wants nor cares for. We also watch as Arikoto is forced into decisions he cannot stand as well as the actions of Lady Kasuga who desperately wants the man she idolized alive again.
Once again, the author weaves an intricate story and the translations again seem to be that of English used ages ago. The artwork is still fantastic, but again, distinguishing between characters is sometimes difficult. Arikoto is easily identifiable but I did confuse the Shogun and Arikoto’s attendant often as he worked with them on their issues. Plus, it seemed that a character from volume 1 had returned, but I had to remind myself that this story takes place 80 years earlier, not currently. The story of Arikoto and Chie/Iemitsu is the story of two lonely people, who together find they must cope, but how.
------
Source: Library.
Author: Fumi Yoshinaga
Illustrator: Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: Viz Media, LLC
Copyright: 2009
Price: $12.99
ISBN: 978-1-4215-2748-2
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Shogun Yoshimune has sought out and started reading “Chronicle of a Dying Day” to better understand why 80 years ago, the customs were changed and put into motion.
Throughout the land, the Redface Pox is killing men and women are making decisions they never originally had to make. Those in Edo Castle believe themselves to be safe, but when Shogun Iemitsu falls ill and dies, the Lady Kasuga prepares Japan for a change. His illegitimate daughter, his only living heir, is called to the castle and picks up where her father left off, a pawn in Lady (now Reverend) Kasuga’s efforts to make a swift transition by any means necessary.
---------
Will Teens Like It? This is an adult title dealing with adult themes.
--------
Things to be aware of: sexual situations, criminal activities, rape
----------
Further Thoughts: What you are reading in this volume is an account of what Shogun Yoshimune is reading. We meet Monk Arikoto, who is forced to renounce his vows and enter the Inner Chambers. His entrance and forced servitude introduces a clear, if not heart wrenching love story.
Volume 2 sets up the stories that will be continued in future volumes, including the struggle the current Lord Iemitsu faces as she must come to terms with her story of pain as she is forcibly taken from her content life and placed into a position she neither wants nor cares for. We also watch as Arikoto is forced into decisions he cannot stand as well as the actions of Lady Kasuga who desperately wants the man she idolized alive again.
Once again, the author weaves an intricate story and the translations again seem to be that of English used ages ago. The artwork is still fantastic, but again, distinguishing between characters is sometimes difficult. Arikoto is easily identifiable but I did confuse the Shogun and Arikoto’s attendant often as he worked with them on their issues. Plus, it seemed that a character from volume 1 had returned, but I had to remind myself that this story takes place 80 years earlier, not currently. The story of Arikoto and Chie/Iemitsu is the story of two lonely people, who together find they must cope, but how.
------
Source: Library.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Ooku: The Inner Chambers - Vol. 1
Title: Ooku: The Inner Chambers Volume 1
Author: Fumi Yoshinaga
Illustrator: Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: Viz Media, LLC
Copyright: 2009
Price: $12.99
ISBN: 978-1-4215-2747-5
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: It is the early 1700s in Japan, in a time called “The Edo Period.” A mysterious Redface Pox has wiped out over half of the male population in Japan over a period of eighty years. While the country women and few men left cope with the devastating loss in the male population, the Shogun (ruler) of Japan lives a life of comfort and luxury in the palace and with the secret Inner Chambers. In the Inner Chambers of the palace there live countless men all with one purpose: to please, serve, and give the female Shogun (ruler) an heir.
The majority of the story takes place when Shogun Yoshimune is ushered in as the eighth Shogun. This simple woman, with a fiery temper and lust, begins to question the past 80 years and the practice of the Inner Chambers.
---------
Will Teens Like It? This is an adult title, dealing with adult themes. Mature teens will enjoy this.
--------
Things to be aware of: sexual situations, death
----------
Further Thoughts: In what I believe is an alternate/parallel history to Edo Japan (time of the samurais! Woo!), we follow a quick recap of the past 80 years, minus what will be coming up in the next two volumes. From my understanding, it seems a little boy brings the Redface Pox to the village and from there it spreads. Times change, and the jobs and positions traditionally given to men are happily switched to the women.
I was initially drawn to this story, first because it was recommended to me, and second, because of this notion of women in charge and conducting the majority of the business in Japan. In some respects, you could say this is a feminist work asking “what if women were in charge?” The majority of this volume sets the stage, as well as introduces how Shogun Yoshimune happily takes the post and immediately begins to challenge traditions which some would like to continue.
The translation of this work takes on a slightly different spin using words traditionally associated to the 1700s. It does take some getting used to, but it becomes second nature after a time. Unfortunately, this may turn the less mature and light readers away from this excellent title. Yoshinaga’s art style is fluid, detailed, and wonderful. Her men are gorgeous and the women who are meant to be lovely as flowers are as well. I enjoy the images of couples embracing, the fashions, and the men. Unfortunately, the art can get confusing as some characters look a little too similar to another character.
------
Bonus: Shogun Yoshimune did exist, only as a guy. Here’s a link to the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Yoshimune).
ALA Great Graphic Novel 2010
-----
Source: Library.
Author: Fumi Yoshinaga
Illustrator: Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: Viz Media, LLC
Copyright: 2009
Price: $12.99
ISBN: 978-1-4215-2747-5
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: It is the early 1700s in Japan, in a time called “The Edo Period.” A mysterious Redface Pox has wiped out over half of the male population in Japan over a period of eighty years. While the country women and few men left cope with the devastating loss in the male population, the Shogun (ruler) of Japan lives a life of comfort and luxury in the palace and with the secret Inner Chambers. In the Inner Chambers of the palace there live countless men all with one purpose: to please, serve, and give the female Shogun (ruler) an heir.
The majority of the story takes place when Shogun Yoshimune is ushered in as the eighth Shogun. This simple woman, with a fiery temper and lust, begins to question the past 80 years and the practice of the Inner Chambers.
---------
Will Teens Like It? This is an adult title, dealing with adult themes. Mature teens will enjoy this.
--------
Things to be aware of: sexual situations, death
----------
Further Thoughts: In what I believe is an alternate/parallel history to Edo Japan (time of the samurais! Woo!), we follow a quick recap of the past 80 years, minus what will be coming up in the next two volumes. From my understanding, it seems a little boy brings the Redface Pox to the village and from there it spreads. Times change, and the jobs and positions traditionally given to men are happily switched to the women.
I was initially drawn to this story, first because it was recommended to me, and second, because of this notion of women in charge and conducting the majority of the business in Japan. In some respects, you could say this is a feminist work asking “what if women were in charge?” The majority of this volume sets the stage, as well as introduces how Shogun Yoshimune happily takes the post and immediately begins to challenge traditions which some would like to continue.
The translation of this work takes on a slightly different spin using words traditionally associated to the 1700s. It does take some getting used to, but it becomes second nature after a time. Unfortunately, this may turn the less mature and light readers away from this excellent title. Yoshinaga’s art style is fluid, detailed, and wonderful. Her men are gorgeous and the women who are meant to be lovely as flowers are as well. I enjoy the images of couples embracing, the fashions, and the men. Unfortunately, the art can get confusing as some characters look a little too similar to another character.
------
Bonus: Shogun Yoshimune did exist, only as a guy. Here’s a link to the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Yoshimune).
ALA Great Graphic Novel 2010
-----
Source: Library.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Orange by Benjamin
Title: Orange
Author: Benjamin
Illustrator: Benjamin
Publisher: TokyoPop Inc.
Copyright: 2009
Price: $14.99
ISBN: 978-1-4278-1463-0
-----------
Summary: Do not be fooled by the smiling girl on the cover of Orange for she is Orange, a depressed high school girl. The story opens up with Dashu as he jumps off of the apartment building to his death. Orange explains to the reader that he was a drunken artist that she may have loved. The story is a collection of her memories explaining her depression and how he played a role in her life until the moment he jumped from the building.
----------
Thoughts: It honestly took me a little while to get used to the photo-like artwork of the story, yet once used to it, I felt like I was reading a short movie instead of a short graphic novel. This book does not shy away from showing Dashu falling and crashing to his death (he lands on a car). Orange is not always a relatable character to me, but I do understand her depression and the feeling that the friends you hang out with are not really your friends. The afterword of this story by artist Benjamin was more intense than the story itself as he wrote about the creation and publication of Orange. While the images are memorable for the use of color and shadows, the afterword text is haunting. A story about depression, Orange is a book that you have to be aware is there and that it does serve a purpose like other books about suicide.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Probably high school students.
--------
Things to be aware of: sexual situations, suicide (shown), drinking and smoking
------
Bonus: I was surprised that this was a TokyoPop book, but only because I’m used to their manga titles that are all uniformly the same size.
2010 ALA Great Graphic Novel for Teens
-----
Source: Library copy.
Author: Benjamin
Illustrator: Benjamin
Publisher: TokyoPop Inc.
Copyright: 2009
Price: $14.99
ISBN: 978-1-4278-1463-0
-----------
Summary: Do not be fooled by the smiling girl on the cover of Orange for she is Orange, a depressed high school girl. The story opens up with Dashu as he jumps off of the apartment building to his death. Orange explains to the reader that he was a drunken artist that she may have loved. The story is a collection of her memories explaining her depression and how he played a role in her life until the moment he jumped from the building.
----------
Thoughts: It honestly took me a little while to get used to the photo-like artwork of the story, yet once used to it, I felt like I was reading a short movie instead of a short graphic novel. This book does not shy away from showing Dashu falling and crashing to his death (he lands on a car). Orange is not always a relatable character to me, but I do understand her depression and the feeling that the friends you hang out with are not really your friends. The afterword of this story by artist Benjamin was more intense than the story itself as he wrote about the creation and publication of Orange. While the images are memorable for the use of color and shadows, the afterword text is haunting. A story about depression, Orange is a book that you have to be aware is there and that it does serve a purpose like other books about suicide.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Probably high school students.
--------
Things to be aware of: sexual situations, suicide (shown), drinking and smoking
------
Bonus: I was surprised that this was a TokyoPop book, but only because I’m used to their manga titles that are all uniformly the same size.
2010 ALA Great Graphic Novel for Teens
-----
Source: Library copy.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Bride of the Water God - vol. 6
Title: Bride of the Water God vol. 6
Author: Mi-Kyung Yun
Illustrator: Mi-Kyung Yun
Publisher: Dark Horse Manwha
Copyright: 2010
Price: $9.99
ISBN: 978-1-59582-605-3
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: At the beginning of this volume, Mui and Soah prepare to head back to his home when he is paralyzed. Did the stranger from the last volume do something to Mui? Soah, unsure, decides to rest with Mui until she falls asleep. In the morning, Habaek is in his child form and runs off, afraid to show Soah the truth. When Soah wakes, she grows scared and looks for him, only to be captured by another God. In a stroke of luck, Mui/Habaek is captured as well and he saves Soah. Once home though, nothing is right. Mura knows Nakbin’s true intentions, and someone attempts to kidnap Soah, and she faces a familiar face with the truth. Throughout all of this, Mui/Habaek asks that throughout everything that she trusts him. When she finally agrees to, it seems that she might be too late.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Mature and older teens.
--------
Things to be aware of: N/A.
----------
Further Thoughts: Like the game pieces introduced in volume 5, we see that not is all as it seems and we’ll have to sit back as they game plays out. Nakbin’s true motives are hidden, although readers are given hints as to what she plans to do. Alliances are forming and we can tell who is for Soah and Habaek/Mui, and who is not. Like in the last review, the plot lines are intricate, but more and more aspects of the story are coming into focus. There is someone who wants to hurt the Water God, but who is it? There is enough story here to keep readers wanting more and more and more, and to reread until the next latest volumes come out.
------
Source: Library copy.
Author: Mi-Kyung Yun
Illustrator: Mi-Kyung Yun
Publisher: Dark Horse Manwha
Copyright: 2010
Price: $9.99
ISBN: 978-1-59582-605-3
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: At the beginning of this volume, Mui and Soah prepare to head back to his home when he is paralyzed. Did the stranger from the last volume do something to Mui? Soah, unsure, decides to rest with Mui until she falls asleep. In the morning, Habaek is in his child form and runs off, afraid to show Soah the truth. When Soah wakes, she grows scared and looks for him, only to be captured by another God. In a stroke of luck, Mui/Habaek is captured as well and he saves Soah. Once home though, nothing is right. Mura knows Nakbin’s true intentions, and someone attempts to kidnap Soah, and she faces a familiar face with the truth. Throughout all of this, Mui/Habaek asks that throughout everything that she trusts him. When she finally agrees to, it seems that she might be too late.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Mature and older teens.
--------
Things to be aware of: N/A.
----------
Further Thoughts: Like the game pieces introduced in volume 5, we see that not is all as it seems and we’ll have to sit back as they game plays out. Nakbin’s true motives are hidden, although readers are given hints as to what she plans to do. Alliances are forming and we can tell who is for Soah and Habaek/Mui, and who is not. Like in the last review, the plot lines are intricate, but more and more aspects of the story are coming into focus. There is someone who wants to hurt the Water God, but who is it? There is enough story here to keep readers wanting more and more and more, and to reread until the next latest volumes come out.
------
Source: Library copy.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
What's Been Happening
Here's what happened
March is a crazy month for me. It seems that March is one of the few months of the year (the others being May and October for sure) that I just get hit with workshops, programs, meetings, and all sorts of obligations that I must meet (or want to meet). Generally, I chose this craziness, but this March, I almost over scheduled myself because I wasn't using the right planning calendar. Oops...
Which means, I didn't pay attention to the blog. It's sad really. I have so much "back log" review-wise you'd think I'd be ready to go, but I just don't feel like booting the computer up some days, especially after spending a day staring at the computer for various reasons. I'm going to try to change this, and also try to warn you if there seems to be some down time happening.
What's going to happen now
April is my "new leaf" month, at least for the blog. Really, I've marked May 1st as my "turn around date" for a lot (I don't believe in just New Year's Day as the only goal setting day of the year). I've just spent a few hours clearing up the back log and getting posts ready to go. From this weekend out, you'll see regular updates on Sundays. If the Sunday post was volume 1, check back on Monday for a possible bonus post for volume 2. Wednesdays in April will be a slew of "bonus" posts to hopefully make up for my March absence. I'm also going to try to prepare some bonus posts since Book Links has been focused on Graphic Novels, which is an interesting surprise (They reviewed Axe Cop of all things!).
Enjoy!
March is a crazy month for me. It seems that March is one of the few months of the year (the others being May and October for sure) that I just get hit with workshops, programs, meetings, and all sorts of obligations that I must meet (or want to meet). Generally, I chose this craziness, but this March, I almost over scheduled myself because I wasn't using the right planning calendar. Oops...
Which means, I didn't pay attention to the blog. It's sad really. I have so much "back log" review-wise you'd think I'd be ready to go, but I just don't feel like booting the computer up some days, especially after spending a day staring at the computer for various reasons. I'm going to try to change this, and also try to warn you if there seems to be some down time happening.
What's going to happen now
April is my "new leaf" month, at least for the blog. Really, I've marked May 1st as my "turn around date" for a lot (I don't believe in just New Year's Day as the only goal setting day of the year). I've just spent a few hours clearing up the back log and getting posts ready to go. From this weekend out, you'll see regular updates on Sundays. If the Sunday post was volume 1, check back on Monday for a possible bonus post for volume 2. Wednesdays in April will be a slew of "bonus" posts to hopefully make up for my March absence. I'm also going to try to prepare some bonus posts since Book Links has been focused on Graphic Novels, which is an interesting surprise (They reviewed Axe Cop of all things!).
Enjoy!
Bride of the Water God - vol. 5
Title: Bride of the Water God Vol. 5
Author: Mi-Kyung Yun
Illustrator: Mi-Kyung Yun
Publisher: Dark Horse, Manhwa
Copyright: 2010 (2007)
Price: $9.99
ISBN: 978-1-59582-445-5
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Mui/Habaek has decided it is time to make a formal proposal to Soah, but just as she’s going to give him an answer, another human woman arrives. Soah asks Habaek to save the woman because she was in that position before, but no one is prepared for the woman to look like Nakbin, Habaek’s first human bride. What ensues is a story of push-pull as Soah does not know who to trust and enemies in friends are revealed. Complicated plot lines and a constant change in the characters keeps readers on their toes in this high fantasy fairy-tale. A bonus story included at the end shows readers the full story of Mui/Habaek’s first meeting with Soah.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Mature and older teens.
--------
Things to be aware of: Nothing
----------
Further Thoughts: The re-introduction of Nakbin sends the story into a new direction. Who is she? What is her story? Not much in this volume, but what readers want to know is whether or not Mui/Habaek loves Soah still or is he in love with Nakbin? Toward the end of the volume, the discovery of Huye’s alliance shows readers that he is not someone to be trusted (which I think has been there throughout the story). I admit this is a very confusing story because every time you think you have it figured out, the story changes. To me, that makes a good read and if readers can keep up with the varying plot lines, I promise you that the next volume you’ll start seeing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The art continues to be superb.
-----
Bonus: A short story showing when Habaek first falls for Soah.
----
Source: Library copy.
Author: Mi-Kyung Yun
Illustrator: Mi-Kyung Yun
Publisher: Dark Horse, Manhwa
Copyright: 2010 (2007)
Price: $9.99
ISBN: 978-1-59582-445-5
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Mui/Habaek has decided it is time to make a formal proposal to Soah, but just as she’s going to give him an answer, another human woman arrives. Soah asks Habaek to save the woman because she was in that position before, but no one is prepared for the woman to look like Nakbin, Habaek’s first human bride. What ensues is a story of push-pull as Soah does not know who to trust and enemies in friends are revealed. Complicated plot lines and a constant change in the characters keeps readers on their toes in this high fantasy fairy-tale. A bonus story included at the end shows readers the full story of Mui/Habaek’s first meeting with Soah.
---------
Will Teens Like It? Mature and older teens.
--------
Things to be aware of: Nothing
----------
Further Thoughts: The re-introduction of Nakbin sends the story into a new direction. Who is she? What is her story? Not much in this volume, but what readers want to know is whether or not Mui/Habaek loves Soah still or is he in love with Nakbin? Toward the end of the volume, the discovery of Huye’s alliance shows readers that he is not someone to be trusted (which I think has been there throughout the story). I admit this is a very confusing story because every time you think you have it figured out, the story changes. To me, that makes a good read and if readers can keep up with the varying plot lines, I promise you that the next volume you’ll start seeing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The art continues to be superb.
-----
Bonus: A short story showing when Habaek first falls for Soah.
----
Source: Library copy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)