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| GraphicNovelReporter.com Newsletter |
June 18, 2009
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Quick Links to Features on Graphic Novel Reporter
Reviews, Author/Illustrators, Features, Op-Ed, Roundtables, Recent Blog Posts, Podcasts/Videos, Behind the Scenes, Bestseller Lists, Books Into Movies, Coming Soon,
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Required Summer Reading
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Sometimes it seems like even my non-comics reading involves comics. That probably says a lot about my taste in books, but in this case, it's because of someone else. My book club decided to read Beautiful Children by Charles Bock. It's a good book, and Bock is a great writer, and it pertains to comics: One of the characters is a writer and illustrator, and, without giving away too much of the plot, two teens go to see his signing at the local comic store. Reading it took me back to my days as a young fan, when I rode my bike downtown to a store called Worlds Beyond several times a week (weather permitting). It was a small store in a small town, so they never had any signings, but still...I could relate.
Beyond that, I've been caught up in tons of reading, most of which is covered in the books I've reviewed this time around. Something like Robert Kirkman's massive Walking Dead Compendium is hardly a quick read. Clocking in at over 1,000 pages, it's huge --- and totally worth the time you have to invest in it. I'm a huge Kirkman fan (I'm hoping to feature him on GNR very soon), and meeting him at Book Expo America (BEA) a few weeks ago was a distinct pleasure.
I'm still proud of all the books we picked for our feature on the Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2009. I really think these are some of the best books of the year, making it a very exciting summer for comics. In case you missed it, check it out; and even if you did see it, be sure to keep checking back for updates to the page, including excerpts from the books, reviews, and interviews with the creators.
By the way, be sure to check out the Coming Soon page for news on soon-to-be-released graphic novels and manga. We keep the page updated regularly so you can plan your buying and reading accordingly. We've also updated our Manga Glossary. That's where you can go to check out the terms everyone is using when talking about manga. Why is this important? Well, for one, it can help parents, teachers, and librarians determine the age-appropriateness of books. If words like fanservice mean nothing to you, check it out. It can help you figure out whether that new book is right for you. We aim to please, after all.
By the way, if there are other services like the Manga Glossary that we can provide, let me know. We're trying to build a vast, indispensible resource for graphic novel and manga lovers, one that you can use for all your needs. Let us know how we can be better.
Happy reading!
John Hogan (John@bookreporter.com)
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Creator Interview: A. David Lewis on Some New Kind of Slaughter
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Flood Lines
Writer A. David Lewis explains how he and his coauthor came to be inspired by the many flood myths that permeate so many different human cultures, and how that inspiration in turn led to the gorgeous comic series Some New Kind of Slaughter. By John Hogan
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Creator Interview: Jarrett J. Krosoczka on Lunch Lady
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Lunch Is Served
Jarrett J. Krosoczka created a fun new kids' character with Lunch Lady, his heroine du jour for solving classic school crimes. By Brigid Alverson
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Creator Interview: Nicole Chaison on The Passion of the Hausfrau
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Passion Under the Sun
Wife, mother, and all around funny Nicole Chaison discusses her hilarious new memoir, The Passion of the Hausfrau. By John Hogan
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OP-ED: Talk of Punisher with Gregg Hurwitz --- And A Contest Where His Writing Worlds Collide
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Best known for his bestselling novels The Crime Writer and Last Shot, Gregg Hurwitz has also made a huge name for himself in the comics world with his work on Punisher. Now, he tells GNR about how he came to write his favorite childhood antihero for Marvel, and he gives you a chance to enter a contest related to his new prose thriller, Trust No One!
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Click here to check out this Op-Ed with Gregg Hurwitz and read about his contest.
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Behind the Scenes with Joe Hill
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The acclaim for Joe Hill’s work continues! His bestselling series Locke and Key has just been nominated for two Eisner Awards: Best Limited Series and Best Writer. Now, get to meet Hill yourself in our Behind the Scenes interview.
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Click here to go Behind the Scenes with Joe Hill.
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Fiction Reviews
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Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez
Settle in for a very scary treat. Locke and Key is nailbiting suspense of the highest order, a creepy tour through a house haunted by many creepy things. Reviewed by John Hogan
The Walking Dead Compendium, Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn
When the dead come back to life, take cover. In a series that pays homage to the great zombie films and stories of the past, Robert Kirkman finds new ground to tread on while creating a rip-roaringly good fun series. Reviewed by John Hogan
Air, Vol. 1: Letters from Lost Countries by G. Willow Wilson and M.K. Perker
Thinking she's on another routine flight, a flight attendant named Blythe meets Zayn and finds herself drawn into a strange new world of conspiracy theories, alternate reality, and genuine weirdness. The fun is in trying to keep up with the odd plot and figure out where this boldly intriguing series is going next. Reviewed by John Hogan
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Click here to check out all our fiction reviews.
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Teen Reviews
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Venus Capriccio by Mai Nishikata
Best friends Takami and Akira have been playing the piano together since childhood. After Takami gets dumped by yet another boyfriend, she looks to Akira for help; but he tells her something she wasn't ever expecting to hear. Could it be that the perfect guy has been by Takami's side this whole time? Reviewed by Courtney Kraft
13th Boy, Vol. 1 by SangEun Lee
Hee-So has developed unreciprocated crushes on twelve boys. But it is the thirteenth boy who will be her first true love...and her last. Reviewed by Casey Brienza
Yokai Doctor by Yuki Sato
Yokai are little spirits and, until now, who knew they ever got sick? That's what a Yokai Doctor is for, it turns out! Reviewed by John Hogan
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Click here to read all our teen reviews.
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| Kids Reviews |
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Somewhere between a graphic novel and an "actual novel" is Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a surprisingly hilarious and well-observed account of growing up and struggling to find your place. Reviewed by Collin David
Ninja Baseball Kyuma by Shunshin Maeda
He is a lone ninja honing his skills in the mountains and waiting to be sent to battle. They are a ragtag baseball team with a gaping hole in their lineup. Throw in a cute dog, and you've got a great summer manga. Reviewed by Brigid Alverson
Swans in Space by Lun Lun Yamamoto
Corona is just your average overachieving sixth-grader until the day she is recruited to join Space Patrol. Now she flies around in a swan-shaped boat, scooping up spilled Martian papayas and straightening out slacker aliens in this colorful, supercute kids' manga. Reviewed by Brigid Alverson
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Click here to read all our kids reviews.
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Cathy's Ring and iPod Giveaway
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Our sister site Teenreads.com is giving seven readers a great opportunity to win some fantastic prizes related to the upcoming release of Cathy's Ring, the final installment in the Cathy trilogy. This is the book that readers have been waiting for, and it's a contest for everyone. The prizes are sweet, including the Grand Prize of an iPod Touch and a portrait drawn by Cathy Brigg, the coauthor and illustrator of the Cathy books. Second Prize is an iPod Shuffle. And all seven winners will get the complete Cathy trilogy. So check out the contest and fill out this form by Tuesday, July 14th to enter.
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Click here to find out more about the Cathy's Ring and iPod Giveaway.
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| New Video: The Powers of U2 and Spider-Man Unite |
Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is coming to Broadway in February of next year. Get ready for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark with a special interview with U2's Bono and The Edge, who are doing the music and lyrics for the show.
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Check out all of our videos by clicking here.
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Poll, Question, and Word of Mouth Contest
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Poll:
Do you think comics and graphic novels should be rated?
Yes, it would be helpful to parents, librarians, and booksellers.
Maybe, if it were done fairly and properly.
No, it goes against free speech.
No, it would be too difficult to do correctly.
I don't know.
-Click here to answer our poll.
Question:
Which hot graphic novel of the summer are you most looking forward to reading?
-Click here to answer our question.
-Click here to check out our Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2009 Feature.
Word Of Mouth Contest
We want to know what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon on June 30, 2009 to ensure that you are in the running to win one of five copies of Invincible: Who's the Boss? by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley. Last month's Word of Mouth winners were Renee from Guelph, ON; Laural from Portland, OR; Chris from Burbank, CA; and Ken from Guelph, ON. Congratulations to all the winners!
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Click here to enter our Word of Mouth Contest.
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Those who are subscribed to the GraphicNovelReporter.com newsletter by June 30, 2009 are automatically entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. June's selections include The Photographer by Emmanuel Guibert; Dark Tower: The Long Road Home by Robin Furth and Peter David; La Perdida by Jessica Abel; My Brain is Hanging Upside Down by David Heatley; and Bone: Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith.
The winner of May's contest, Kathleen from Pittsburgh, PA, won Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan; Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology by Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, Keith Chow, and Jerry Ma; The Adventures of Blanche by Rick Geary; B.P.R.D.: The Warning by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and Guy Davis; and Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez.
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