“The darkest corners of the mutant universe are about to be exposed...NOW! 

The X-Men have always been sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them. But the all-new Uncanny X-Force is charged to deal with situations that the X-Men themselves hate and fear! Psylocke and Storm lead a new team of outcasts and scoundrels, including fan-favorite Puck, the villainous Spiral, and the mysterious Cluster.
The first adversary to strike out from the darkness? X-legend Bishop! But what secrets does the man with the "M" on his face bring from the future? And will X-Force be destroyed on their very first mission?”

Bedlam by Nick Spencer

“Fillmore Press was once Madder Red, a homicidal maniac and criminal overlord who ruled the city of Bedlam. Now he's been cured of his mania, and says he wants to help protect the place he once terrorized -- but can he be trusted?”

Outcast: A Darkness Surrounds Him by Robert Kirkman

Outcast: A Darkness Surrounds Him
Robert Kirkman
Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Horror, Supernatural
Published: January 15th 2015
Pages: 152
Rating: 4 stars

“Kyle Barnes has been plagued by demonic possession all his life and now he needs answers. Unfortunately, what he uncovers along the way could bring about the end of life on Earth as we know it.”

Outcast promises demons, horror, and the impending apocalypse. I'd expect nothing less from the creator of The Walking Dead, and the first few pages are enough to raise your hopes for the rest of the series. They're sufficiently horrible and compel you to read on.

Our main character, Kyle, is first introduced as a brooding slob, and rather than put me off, it made me curious. Just what have the demons in his life done to make him live in such squalor? Are these demons inside him? Those he loves? Or are they just in his head? We get answers when he has a run in with the local reverend, but they still manage to create more questions. Just what is up with Kyle?

The artwork is fairly simple and I can't quite tell if I like it or not. It's not overly cartoonish, but at the same time it's not totally realistic, either. There's minimal shading when it comes to clothes, and some larger panels lack finer details. The full pages, however, do deliver more in these departments and the landscapes in general seem to have more detail than the people. Mixed feelings aside, the colour scheme throughout this volume is fantastic. Each issue seems to have a different main colour which is nice as it gives you more of an idea of when things begin and end, but as a whole nothing feels out of place.

There's a lot of talking and a smattering of action in this volume, but it doesn't drag or come across as boring. Yes, some of the speech is rather deep and philosophical - which seems out of place in a graphic novel but actually ties in nicely with the theme of demons - but it feels somewhat necessary. While this is set in our world, it feels like a world of its own and some degree of setting up is required.

Overall, this is an interesting volume and a good set up for the rest of the series. I'm excited to read more.

Recommendations: Graphic Novels

Bedlam by Nick Spencer

If you want something dark, gory, gritty, and full of black humour then this is the series you need to start. It's an intense first volume but such a gripping read that you won't want to put it down until you've finished - and then you'll be reaching for the second volume. The art is gritty, with splashes of red all over the page. A good indicator for the tone of the story.

Rat Queens: Sass and Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe

For something more fun and lighthearted - and with an all female leading cast - Rat Queens is what you need. It's funny but still badass, with characters and an adventure that draw you in and keep you entertained. There's diversity, too, with a romance you can't help but root for and friendships that are even better.

The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman

A more serious look at horror comics but still just as gripping, The Walking Dead is a must-read for any zombie fan. And even those who don't care for zombies, as it's so character driven you almost forget this is set in a post-apocalyptic world. It's dark - and not just because it's drawn in grey-scale - and at times harrowing, disgusting, and emotional. You won't regret picking this up.

TBR Feature #16

TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

Wolf by Ales Kot

Book Review: Thor: The Dark World Prelude by Craig Kyle

Thor: The Dark World Prelude
Craig Kyle
Genre(s): Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Published: October 29th 2013
Pages: 120
Rating: 3 stars

“One volume collecting the official adaptation of Marvel's Thor and an all-new adventure leading you directly into the upcoming Marvel Studios blockbuster THOR: THE DARK WORLD ! First, get introduced to the world of Asgard and witness the origin of Marvel's mightiest hero! Then, find out what happened to your favorite Asgardians between the events of THOR and MARVEL 'S THE AVENGERS. Featuring Thor, Loki, Odin, Heimdall, Jane Foster, Sif, The Warriors Three.

COLLECTING: Marvel's Thor Adaptation 1-2, Marvel's Thor: The Dark World Prelude 1-2, Thor: God Of Thunder 13”

Going into this, I don't really know what I expected. I didn't really expect it to retell the Thor film, or include an out of place issue of Thor: God of Thunder. Luckily, I'd read the first three volumes of God of Thunder before this, so I understood what was happening, but I didn't really understand why it was included in this novel. I get that this is a prequel to The Dark World and Malekith is the villain of that film, but I just feel like you need to read the first 12 issues of God of Thunder before you're able to fully appreciate and understand the next arc of it.

But I digress. Overall, I enjoyed the artwork, and I especially enjoyed the colours. Drawing style is a big part of whether I enjoy graphic novels or not and I'm very glad it was good, as if it wasn't I feel like I would have rated this lower as I already know the basic plot line from the film. In some parts, I liked how lines were taken directly from the film, but in others I was left wishing for a bit more. It would have been nice if the cinematic universe had been expanded on in this volume. 

I did enjoy the actual prelude to The Dark World but I feel like the inclusion of retelling the film dragged it down a bit. I guess it was mostly included to pad the volume out, as it is very short. I'd say fans of the film who are new to comics would enjoy this most.

Book Talk: Graphic Novels

As you may or may not know, I am a big fan of graphic novels. Specifically, the collected volumes of individual comic issues. I read a lot of Marvel, so it's safe to say I stick mainly with superheroes, but lately I've found myself wanting to branch out into the more novelly graphic novels. You know, the ones that are really long and not made up of several issues, the ones that actually tell a whole story. I don't really know where to start, though.

Part of why I'm such a big fan of graphic novels is because they are so, well, graphic. I love seeing all the different styles of artwork, the colour schemes, and how artists decide to sketch things. I love how the pictures accompany the text and really help bring the story to life. The artwork plays a huge part in whether I enjoy a volume or not, and it's this that really got me thinking.

Are graphic novels literature?

Now, there's no denying that they're art - and I know that literature is a form of art, but that's just the thing. You can't really compare a novel and a graphic novels. One is solely prose (in the majority of cases, at least) and one is, fundamentally, a collection of art. But does art really mean literature?

This has in no way hindered my love of graphic novels - they're so quick and fun, and I love how stories can be told in two different mediums - but it has got me thinking. I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions, too.

Book Review: Red She-Hulk: Route 616 by Jeff Parker

Red She-Hulk: Route 616
Jeff Parker, Wellington Alves, and Carlo Pagulayan
Genre(s): Graphic Novels, Comics, Superheroes
Published: October 8th 2013
Pages: 120
Rating: 2 stars

“Red She-Hulk is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most wanted, and Machine Man has joined her on a deadly chase across the Marvel Universe! But Jennifer Walters, the original She-Hulk, is hot on their trail! Red She-Hulk goes deep underground to find the secrets of the ancient order of the Shield - but there's a new ruler of the world below, and he may never let her leave! As Jen Walters strikes a deal with the military, Red She-Hulk discovers that others have also taken the path before her. Others named Dr. Doom, the Red Skull, Ultron and Loki! Is Red destined to become a villain as well, or can she prevail in her race against time?”

I wasn't a fan of Red She-Hulk in volume one, Hell Hath No Fury, and Route 616 hasn't really changed much. 

I decided to give it a chance though, in the hopes that it would open my eyes and enlighten me to the way of Marvel's many Hulks, but alas - I still don't think they're for me.

The artwork was once again crisp, clear, and engaging, but I still found myself lacking the knowledge - and general interest - to fully appreciate the whole story. It wastes no time in getting into things, and from the start I was confused. Whether that's just a Marvel trademark, I don't know (because I've found quite a few of their comics to be tricky to understand, even when I've enjoyed them). For a volume in the Marvel Now! collection I found this very disappointing.

Probably only read this if you've read a lot about the Hulks before hand, or are a long-term Marvel fan. For a relative beginner, this was a bit much.

Book Review: The Avengers Initiative by Fred Van Lente

The Avengers Initiative
Fred Van Lente and Ron Lim
Genre(s): Graphic Novels, Comics, Superheroes
Published: October 10th 2012
Pages: 88
Rating: 4 stars

“The perfect introduction to Marvel's The Avengers movie! All your favorite characters from the film packed into one digest! Meet the incredible cast of the Avengers Initiative: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye! The perfect introduction to Marvel's The Avengers movie! All your favorite characters from the film packed into one digest! Meet the incredible cast of the Avengers Initiative: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye! Collecting MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS: THE AVENGERS INITIATIVE, CAPTAIN AMERICA & THOR!: AVENGERS”

The Avengers Initiative was a good, quick, and fun graphic novel that focuses heavily on the Avengers from the film. I really enjoyed this take on them, as I saw the film prior to reading any Marvel comics, and so my versions of the characters and ideas about the Avengers were those of the ones in the cinematic universe, which do not necessarily match those in the comic universe.

The artwork in this instalment are sharp and crisp, realistic and boldly coloured, and very good cartoon interpretations of the actors from the film. I especially liked the way Black Widow was drawn, this is probably my favourite version of her. I also really enjoyed how in Captain America's issue in this, his comrades look just like the ones he was with in his film, Captain America: The First Avenger.

I found this to be a very nice introduction to the Marvel comics, and I wish I'd found it before I read any other graphic novels, as the continuity from film to comic was excellent, even if the stories did not follow the events of the film. As a prequel to it, though, it works nicely. I did find myself wondering a little about how everyone was recruited before Avengers and what they got up to before, and this sheds a little light on those situations.

Overall, a very enjoyable read. Perhaps a little on the short side; it would have been nice to have issues for all of the individual Avengers, not just Cap and Thor. The inclusion of Tales of Suspense #64 was really the only thing that pulled the rating down to four stars. Definitely give this a go if you're a fan of the film and want to get involved with the comics, though.

Book Review: Ultimate Comics Wolverine: Legacies by Cullen Bunn

Ultimate Comics Wolverine: Legacies
Cullen Bunn and David Messina
Genre(s): Graphic Novels, Comics, Superheroes
Published: June 26th 2013
Pages: 96
Rating: 3 stars

“When the legendary mutant Wolverine died at the hands of Magneto, he left behind an incredible legacy for his biological son, Jimmy Hudson.

Hidden deep within an encrypted holographic recording of his father, Jimmy discovers a long-dormant black ops program, codenamed Project: Mothervine. With fellow mutant Black Box at his side, he must set out on a quest to uncover the devastating truth behind its existence. But it seems other factions, including the disgraced mutant speedstar Quicksilver, have their own nefarious plans for his deadly inheritance. 

Mother is calling her children home - who will answer the call?”

While I found the title of this to be a little misleading, I did still enjoy this graphic novel. I expected more of the focus to be on Wolverine himself, but then, I guess Jimmy is his legacy and it makes sense to focus the story on him and his fellow mutants. While this wasn't necessarily what I was expecting, I wasn't disappointed by it.

I did enjoy the introduction of new characters (to me, at least) such as Jimmy and Blackbox, and it was nice to see Quicksilver make an appearance and I really liked the background behind him and how he was connected with Jimmy. I did feel, however, that Jimmy lacked a personality. Quicksilver I found to be quite sly and tricky, using a bit of manipulation to get what he wanted, and Black Box I found to be quite fun in how he talked about technology being ancient.

Although I did quite enjoy the story and plot of this, and I didn't mind the jumps in time, as they were clearly labelled and featured different characters, I am a little confused about 'Mothervine'. Whether that's just because I haven't read any other comics involving it, I don't know. I do know that I would have liked a little more explanation. 

That being said, what really bothered me the most was the art. Usually, I like Marvel artwork, but there was something about it in this graphic novel that I just didn't really enjoy. It was a bit too cartoony and almost childlike for me. I prefer more realistic, less over-exaggerated figures with more shading and harsh lines. 

Other than that, I did like this. A nice, quick read.

Book Review: Wolverine: Season One by Ben Acker

Wolverine: Season One
Ben Acker, Ben Blacker and Salvador Espin
Genre(s): Graphic Novels, Comics, Superheroes
Published: June 25th 2013
Pages: 136
Rating: 4 stars

“Discovered as a feral mutant prowling the wilds! Recruited as a covert operative by a secretive government agency! Destined to pursue a dream of peaceful coexistence between man and mutant! Witness the birth of the Wolverine as the man called Logan makes his journey from animalistic wildling to beloved X-Man. Including Logan's first blockbuster battle with the Hulk, as well as pivotal appearances by Sabretooth and Wendigo, this blood-splattered tale features a contemporary retelling of the Clawed Canuck's formative years!”

I wasn't sure what I'd be getting into with Wolverine: Season One. Thankfully, I know about Wolverine and his mutation, and how he came to be 'Wolverine' and his involvement with the X-Men (in the films, at least) etc. I feel without a lot of that knowledge I'd have been left stranding, as this graphic novel wastes no time in jumping straight into things.

The story was interesting and I did like the majority of the characters. I didn't really care for the Hulk in this, but then I generally have no interest in him anyway. I did, however, like the Wendigo and how the fight with it led Wolverine to James and Heather.

The art was okay. I liked the colouring of things but I wasn't keen on how Wolverine himself was drawn. I understand that he was starting out more animal than man in this volume and I felt that the way he was drawn reflected that, but I didn't like the style, personally. Overall, though, there was talent in the art so I can't complain too much, and it didn't detract or put me off from the story.

That being said, I did like Wolverine as a character and the way he acted. I found it realistic, given the situation, and I just generally like him as a character anyway.

All in all, I did enjoy this first volume and will carry on with any more that follow it.

Book Review: Gambit: Once a Thief by James Asmus

Gambit: Once a Thief
James Asmus, Clay Mann and Diogenes Neves
Genre(s): Graphic Novels, Comics, Superheroes
Published: April 2nd 2013
Pages: 152
Rating: 4 stars

“When Marvel's premiere thief sets his sights on his biggest score yet, he may just end up over his head. 

Desperately searching for a means to destroy the pilfered artifact that's cursed him, Gambit journeys deep into the Guatemalan jungles in search of a lost temple - but finds an ancient god-monster accidentally loosed on Earth! It's going to take more than just playing cards and southern charm to get out of this one! 


Then, coerced by a criminal mastermind, Gambit is sent to the United Kingdom to heist the greatest weapon in the history of man: Excalibur! How will Marvel's premiere thief manage to dupe his extortionist while also escaping with a clear name? Be here as the X-Men's ragin' cajun kicks off his all-new solo career!”

After marathoning all of the X-Men films, I really wanted to jump into some of the comics. Once A Thief seemed like a good place to start, as not only is it from the Marvel NOW! line of comics, it also collects the first seven issues of Gambit's comics, a character I have very limited knowledge of. I often find that comic collections are confusing and offer little to know prior information of characters, so the fact that this starts from the very beginning of his story line had me very excited to pick it up.

For starters, I really like the artwork. Just having a quick flip through it showed me that it was crisp and clean, with lots of lovely colour schemes in the panels. Marvel really does some to know what it's doing when to comes to artists, and I really cannot fault the talent of all the pencilers and inkers involved.

I did like Gambit as a character, and I was interested to read about him and his abilities. He seemed very well prepared and equipped for everything, and not just because of his mutation. He seemed to give off that kind of 'I know what I'm doing' vibe, and his costume was really cool. I also really liked his mysterious partner in crime. She was independent and headstrong and I was interested to see what she was up to. The way she and Gambit interacted and worked together, even though she didn't want his help, was nice too. 

I did like the plot, it was fun, even if it was a bit of a typical thief plot. But then again, the title of this volume is Once a Thief, so I shouldn't really have expected anything different.

Overall, I did really enjoy this graphic novel, and I think I'll definitely be carrying on with the series.

Book Review: Red She-Hulk: Hell Hath No Fury by Jeff Parker

Red She-Hulk: Hell Hath No Fury
Jeff Parker and Carlo Pagulayan
Genre(s): Graphic Novels, Comics, Superheroes
Published: April 16th 2013
Pages: 120
Rating: 2.5 stars

“The world's strongest female, Red She-Hulk, has a new mission - and she's dead set on a path of destruction! Her enemies? Every super-powered being in the Marvel Universe! Captain America has no choice but to hunt her down...but will the newly redesigned X-51 need to use lethal force against her? And even if he has to make that tough call...will it even be enough to take a fighting mad Red She-Hulk down!? A smashing new direction begins here!”

I've never read a Hulk comic before. I've only recently watched the Hulk film. I have no prior knowledge of any of the Hulks or how they came to be, and honestly, I have no interest in finding out.

I am, however, interested in Marvel NOW! and so when I saw the first volume of Red She-Hulk I thought it would at least be worth a shot. Maybe I'd enjoy it and start understanding the many Hulks - and Marvel comics in general. 

Unfortunately, that was not the case. There was little back story about Red She-Hulk in Hell Hath No Fury which meant I didn't have a clue about how Betty came to be Red She-Hulk, or why she was on a mission to destroy the Echelon project. The other characters (mainly the Avengers) also had little explanation, and as a new comic reader, I was very confused. I know who Thor and Iron Man are, but Captain America and Captain Marvel and Machine Man I am basically clueless about. I know this volume follows Red She-Hulk, but a bit of clarification of the other characters would have been appreciated.

That being said, I did really enjoy the artwork, and found it to be very consistent, vibrant, and easy to follow. It certainly has peaked my interest in some of the other characters (albeit in a way that confused me first) so I'll probably pick up some of their story lines as well.

I might even continue with Red She-Hulk. Just not in the near future.

Book Haul: Library Graphic Novel Edition

My library has recently been refurbished. I mentioned that it was closed in my last library book haul and that I was taking advantage of it and taking out a whole bunch of books. Seeing as it's now open again, I decided to pop in and have a look, and boy am I glad I did! Not only has the layout and shelving of everything been changed and improved, but there seems to be a lot more stock to choose from. I certainly noticed that there was a difference in the graphic novel section, so I wasted no time in pulling a bunch off the shelf to borrow.

As you can see, I'm a Marvel fan. More specifically, a Thor fan and a Wolverine fan. I've been wanting to jump into the Marvel comics properly, and my library now has a bunch of Marvel NOW! volumes that I can try before I buy so I'm probably going to be reading a lot more graphic novels in the future!

Let me know if you've read any of these, or is you have any that you'd recommend to me.

Book Review: The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman

The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye
Robert Kirkman
Genre(s): graphic novel, horror, post-apocalyptic
Published: September 26th 2006
Pages: 144
Rating: 4 stars

“The world we knew is gone. The world of commerce and frivolous necessity has been replaced by a world of survival and responsibility. An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months society has crumbled: no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, the survivors are forced to finally start living.”

I've been wanting to read a graphic novel for quite some time, and seeing as I've recently become more than a little involved in The Walking Dead TV series, I figured that this would be the best place to start.

Overall, I did really enjoy this first volume and will definitely be continuing with the series and reading graphic novels in general. It took me a few pages to get the balance between reading and looking at the pictures right, but once I'd got that sorted out I flew through this (seriously, I read it in an hour or two). I also feel that I'm going to be able to enjoy the graphic novels and the TV series as two separate entities. I was aware of the changes made before picking this up, but not to the extents by which they were made. The ending of this volume certainly took me by surprise!

The story telling throughout was very cleverly done as well, although I do feel in places it was a bit out of place. A few times, I found myself flipping back a page to make sure I hadn't missed a page or panel because the next bit of dialogue was jarring in how disconnected it was. (See: Rick talking to the horse he rescues)

That being said, I thought it was a very clever way to introduce character development and back stories without being glaringly obvious. 

My only other complaint is that I felt things happened very quickly. Maybe that's because, unlike a book, you don't have to read a full page of text and the text you do have to read is nearly always dialogue. I just felt that one thing after another after another was happening, and that the pacing was a bit off. However, I felt in some series of the TV show things moved too slowly, so perhaps I'll find a happy medium regarding pacing by combining the two. 

In short: I'll definitely be getting my hands on the next volume as this was an incredibly quick, fun read. The illustrations were done in a really nice style; they weren't too cartoonish but they always weren't overloaded with detail (them being in greyscale was a nice touch too, I found). I'm very excited to see how things play out and how I'll next be surprised.