Graphic-Novel-Loving Librarian Blog

Summary: Often times in a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mystery involving Sherlock Holmes, the protagonist relied on the assistance of individuals that he referred to as the Baker Street Irregulars.  These "irregulars" were the people of the streets or in this case the children.  These kids were more than likely orphaned or abandoned to the streets of London, left to fend for themselves.  Despite their sordid lives, Sherlock saw them as invaluable and would consistently turn to them for help.  In The Baker Street Four , we follow three such children, Tom, Charlie, and Billy, along with their pet cat, Watson, on two of their own personal cases: The Blue Curtain and The Rabúkin Case. The children get to practice the techniques that they most likely learned from associating with Holmes and their own street-wise expertise in order to solve their mysteries, which it turns out to be a great help to those they're aiding.  As we get to know each of these kids, we learn that...

Summary:   As the subtitle of the book suggests, this exquisitely illustrated biography is about a young artist growing up in a life of uncertainty and doubt.  Jarrett Krosoczka tells of his life growing up with a drug addicted mother, whose presence fluctuates in and out of his life. Forced to be brought up by his grandparents and young aunts, a young Jarrett has to adapt to an unusual and atypical upbringing.  His grandparents do their best to raise Jarrett, but Jarrett can't help but long to be with his mother and, believe it or not, his absentee father, despite not even knowing who he is.  Jarrett just wants what he believes to be a normal happy life.  Despite all of this uncertainty, there is one thing that does bring Jarrett comfort and self-confidence: drawing.  Jarrett's drawing skills bring him recognition and self-identity, and to some degree happiness.  However, as he is growing up, beginning to feel comfortable about his life, he discove...

Summary: For some lucky people, knowing what they want to do in their life comes to them at an early age.  Jimmy Gownley is one such individual.  Having been an avid reader of comic books since his toddler years, Jimmy decides, during his middle school years, that he wants a career creating comics.  In The Dumbest Idea Ever! , Jimmy tells us of how he gets started, who were his influences, and where he gets his inspiration from.  Remarkably, the advice that he gets from a childhood friend, which Jimmy initially believes is the dumbest idea ever, is what leads to Jimmy to financial and worldwide success.  So, what is the "dumbest idea ever"?  That is for to us to read and find out. Reference : Jimmy Gownley (2014). The Dumbest Idea Ever! Scholastic Graphix. New York.  Why I Picked It Up: The title.  I know it's cliché, but I chose the book for it's title. It intrigued me enough for me to want to know what exactly was "the dumbest idea eve...

Summary: A biographic telling of an artist finding herself through the lens of a camera. Graciela breaks from tradition and social expectations in order to follow her muse.  She shares with her reader her self discovery, her passions, her poetic insight, and most importantly her art.  Through out her life, Graciela's soul flies with the birds that she encounters through her aesthetic encounters, flying away from her everyday life toward her freedom from it.  Depicted through illustrations and photographs, Isabel and Zeke reveal to the reader the beauty of Graciela's artistic and aesthetic life. Reference : Isabel Quintero, Zeke Peña (2018). Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide . Getty Publications. Los Angeles, CA. Why I Picked It Up: Having been a photographer myself and a fan of professional photography, I was curious as to who Graciela Iturbide was and what her photography would capture. Plus, the idea that an writer and artist would try to meld two...

Summary : The biography of Jacob Kurtzberg, aka Jack Kirby, aka the King of Comics.  From his lowly beginnings as a newspaper hawker to drawing comic book heroes, we see the man doing what he is good at doing: creating.  Creating stories, creating fantasy, creating characters, creating never before seen artistic illustrations, and creating comic book lore.  Yet, he did not necessarily do it out of love for his profession, but out of love for his family.  That love of family entails a man's responsibility of taking care of his loved ones, so Jack did.  Yes, he enjoyed what he did and he was good at it, but if Jack could have found a better way to earn money, he would have leaped at the chance.  During his time, the profession of comic book artist paid very little and received even smaller recognition.  Throughout his career, Jack craved respect, but seldom got it; however, this did not deter Jack from continuing to fight for it, no matter who the pub...

Summary: The second part of a trilogy.  Sam Hannigan is a Bay City detective who is trying to keep his town safe, as well as America itself.  Unfortunately, like a number of noir characters, Sam isn't the cleanest of officers and neither is the world around him.  Borrowing heavily from old classic gumshoe-type movies, we following Sam throughout his days, dealing with his community, working the streets, obeying his higher-ups, and partaking in some nefarious doings.  A myriad of characters in Bay City are representative of the American way of life in the big cities during the 1930's.  From union strikers trying to get fair wages from their apathetic bosses to the fear of communism and blatant prejudice.  Like all noir protagonists though, Sam begins to have a change of heart, turning his world more ambiguous.  Unfortunately, that change is not without its consequences.  Reference: Jules Feiffer (2016). Cousin Joseph . Liveright Pub. Corp, N...

Summary: Emotionally up and down, socially in and out, self/worldly comprehension and confusion: characteristics of high school teenagers.  Such is the case for Wendy, Marsha, Frances, Gemma, Trevor, Trixie, Cheddar and many others, all students at the Super-Mutant Magic Academy.  These students have their cliques as well as their outsiders, their jocks and their performance artists, their hip teachers and their clueless ones, unrequited love and hidden agendas.  Everything your typical high school would have, except these students aren't just kids, they're mutants.  Some students are humans with special abilities, while others are evolved animals with human characteristics.  Yet despite their mutant status they all still suffer from typical teenage angst and concerns, which are all on full display by Jillian Tamaki.  Each character has their own journey to follow, but unfortunately not every issue gets resolved.  Reference : Jillian Tamaki (2016...

Summary: The 1960's were a volatile time due to the desire for Civil Rights.  So many American leaders and innocent lives were lost during this tumultuous period. America was finding itself through violence and battle, but found itself it did.  There were a myriad of individuals who became involved in the protests and rallies, but sadly only a few of them are alive today.  John Lewis, a current U.S. Representative, is one of those surviving individuals, a person who was right there on the front lines for civil rights.  The March Trilogy is his account of the events, a first hand telling of what went on during this decade.  His story is so extensive that it requires three volumes in which to tell it; yet, I'm sure there was still so much still left out.  The amount of detail information and description adds greatly to the story, so much so, that it gives credence to his struggle and fight.  For individuals like me, who weren't around during the tim...

Summary: Just how do so many Hollywood stars become successful?  Did they have any struggles before they became successful?  Was there any help along the way?  There are so many questions we all have when it comes to celebrity biographies and it's no different with John "Legs" Leguizamo.  In this autobiography, we are supposedly told of his struggles and triumphs, we are asked to empathize with him in his journey.  But just as Hollywood has the reputation for being a tinsel town, this autobiography is somewhat flimsy, too. Reference : John Leguizamo 2015. Ghetto Klown . Abrams ComicArts. New York, NY. Why I Picked It Up: I wasn't necessarily a big fan of John Leguizamo, but I knew who he was and enjoyed some of his movies, like Hangin' with the Homeboys , Spawn , and Ice Age .  When I saw this biography, I was interested in finding out just how he made it to Hollywood and just how did he become a sought-after star. Why I Finished It:  I was ...

Summary: Every so often, some people become the scapegoat for something they didn't do, the fall guy, if you will.  Since Spider-Man is seen on the rooftop where the bricks that killed Stacy came from, Spider-Man becomes the fall guy to the citizens of New York, even though the reader knows it was Dr. Octopus.  However, Captain Stacy is a close friend of Peter Parker, the father of Peter's girlfriend, Gwen, and one of the few supporters of Spider-Man, so Spidey takes his death to heart.  Peter has lost another person who was close to him, someone he considered a father-figure, much like his Uncle Ben.  As was the case with his Uncle, Peter feels responsible for Stacy's death.  Spidey believes that if he had been more astute to the people in danger instead of being so single-minded on Doc then maybe Stacy wouldn't have perished. The reader knows though that that wasn't the case. We know that Stacy sacrificed himself to save other people who were in danger and ...

Summary: Told through comic book format, we learn of the journey of Stanley Lieber, first as an assistant for Timely Comics then later as his current role as the Face of Marvel Comics, a.k.a. "Stan 'the Man' Lee." He is so universally recognized as Marvel comics that his cameos in Marvel's superhero movies are a way for others to pay respects to the man for all of the work he put into the company (especially after the debacle involving DC Comics and Superman creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster).  Throughout much of the history of comic books, Stan Lee has been a constant in the success of Marvel Comics.  We learn of his many roles that he played in the company, as well as the trials and tribulations/ups and downs of the comic book industry. We also get to see how Stan's personality and character helped to create/co-create so many of Marvel's heroes and promoted them. Why I Picked It Up: Having been a reader of Marvel Comics since the early 1970...

Summary: Kevin is regular guy going about his day when he happens upon an individual he mistakes for a homeless man, but in reality, he meets a Mage (a magician), named Mirth.  Later, as Kevin is riding in an isolated subway car, he is startled to find himself being attacked by three bald-headed men with pale complexions, eyes with no pupils, and pointy spikes for elbows. In utter confusion and bewilderment of his current situation and because of his opponents makeover, Kevin decides to escape his plight by jumping out of the window of the moving subway.  As luck would have it, Kevin may have alluded his transgressors, but only to wind up in the direct path of an oncoming subway train. Surprisingly, Kevin survives being run over by the subway!  Dusting himself off, he desperately tries to wrap his brain about what's happening and longingly seeks the solace of his apartment home.  However, when he gets there, Kevin finds Mirth awaiting him in his living room....

(Note: Although this is not a graphic novel, it does deal with the comic book industry, so I included it in my list of reviews.) Summary: When I first started working in the retail industry, I was naively believing that those who were above me knew a great deal about working in the business. Months later, I began to wonder how the department store where I was employed was staying open. I no longer saw my bosses as being competent of the retail business, as a matter of fact, I thought a couple of them were complete morons. In other words, I saw behind the curtain of the Great Oz. I was no longer in awe of my managers; I felt let down. That feeling I had back then is how I feel now after reading Marvel Comics: The Untold Story . I saw behind the curtain of the Marvel Logo and it made me wonder, "How in the world did they stay in business?" From the creation of super hero characters that different people took credit for, story lines that had vindictive double meanings, ha...

Summary: Can a person survive in the Arctic?  If so, then how? Luke Healy tells a fictional tale, based on actual events, that describes just how some expeditions (both experienced and inexperienced) survived in the harsh wintry conditions. Or, in some cases, how many travelers (again, both experienced and inexperienced) could not survive. The story explains the power of the ice and the ramifications of those who don't respect it. It's has often times been said that Mother Nature is not to be trifled with and Healy's graphic novel shows us the awesomeness of our Mother's unyielding force in the Arctic. As you read the tale you will not look at snow the same way again. Reference : Luke Healy (2016). How To Survive in the North. Nobrow Inc. New York. Why I Picked It Up :  Being from the Southwest mountain desert of Texas, snow is often just a once-a-year occurrence, two if we're lucky. So, to deal with the weather conditions and snowy environment of the Arctic...

(Note: I know it's not a graphic novel, which is what I dedicated my blog to, but the subject is about graphic novels and about one of it's most famous creators. So, I included it as one of my reviews.) Summary: "Champion" is a great description of Will Eisner, not because he was the best at graphic novels but because he supported and promoted graphic novels for many decades. He believed in what they could do and what they could become.  He was of the originators who never stopped learning and encouraged others in their works, as well. Eisner believed in the medium and practiced what he preached, so much so, that he worked on his novels up until the day he died. In his book, Paul Levitz gives us the details of Eisner's life and the struggles he faced throughout his career. But, we also learn of Eisner's business sense and he lucrativeness that allowed him to pursue his passions throughout his lifetime, despite those struggles. From his childhood until hi...

Summary: Statistics have shown that college students change their major at least 3 times over their college career, which means that people are often uncertain about their future and, in many respects, uncertain about who they are. Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel is about a young man, Dennis Ouyang, who has a difficult time deciding where his passions and future truly lie.  His family pushes him into medicine, but he finds a passion for video games. Unfortunately, his addiction to video games gets Dennis kicked out of college and uncertain of his future. Then one day Dennis is visited by four "guilt-driven hallucinations" who help him get back into college and back on a medical career path.  Once he is back on track, everything should be fine and dandy, right? Well, what we find out is that things aren't okay because Dennis struggles in school again and surprisingly discovers that he can actually making a living playing video games. Is this what finall...

Summary: Everyone wants success, but what that success is depends on the individual. However, to find that success many people are willing to make sacrifices in order to attain it.  David, a sculptor, is just such a person. What he sacrifices though makes him unique. David sacrifices his life . . . literally. Frustrated with his lack of any artistic accomplishments David strikes a bargain with Death: his life for success. His passion for that success blindly leads him to what he thinks will make him happy. What he could not have predicted is that he would soon fall in love. Meg is a fellow struggling artist whose emotional state is a fragile one, but David falls for her anyways. One condition of his agreement with Death states that no one can know about their contract. Another condition is that David only has 200 days before he dies. Because of this David finds himself torn between being with Meg, creating for his art, and fitting everything in before his time runs out. Will Dav...

Summary: Do you remember your friends from middle school? How about the ones from high school? You know, the amigos who you used to hang around with, who helped you get through puberty, and who helped develop who you are today. Now, were these friends the same ones you hung out with in college? Or, even as you entered your twenties? For the majority of us, the answer is "No." We change, we grow up, we develop different interests. In Ghost World , this is what happens to two close friends, Enid and Rebecca. Many people would list this novel as just another coming-of-age story, meaning an attainment of maturity within the characters, but it goes a bit deeper than that.  As you read about these two girls, you see two rebels without causes. They're angry and impatient with the world around them, critical of everyone including themselves. Initially they are the closest of friends, but as their relationship is revealed to us, you can't help but ask "Why?" You...

Summary: A contemporary town with the name of Dragon has to have a reason for it's name, right? Well, in this sleepy, mountain town the residents seem to have forgotten why.  Now, this doesn't mean they're not taking advantage of their town's unique name. On the contrary, the entire town lives off of the name, making this a town a tourist attraction.  Unbeknownst to them, though, they are about to be reminded as to why their town is named Dragon. That's right, hidden in one of the mountains caves is the last dragon egg and certain events occur that end up hatching that egg.  Before they know it, these unprepared, caught-off-guard town folk must fight an actual dragon in order to survive.  Can the citizens get ready to battle a dragon?  Does anyone even now how to battle a dragon? In this unique tale, readers are about to find out. Reference: Judd Winick (2015). A Town Called Dragon . Legendary Comics. Burbank, California. Why I Picked It Up: I hav...

Summary: If you are like me, you probably thought that most video games were created by people who get paid to create them.  Brilliant computer-minded employees of computer-minded businesses gather together and hash together the next hit video game.  But history shows that wasn't always the case, especially in the initial stages of video games.  The graphic novel, Tetris: The Games People Play , which is the story of the game, Tetris, is a perfect example of that.  The creator of Tetris, Alexey Pajitnov, constructed it because he wanted his own computer version of a pentomino puzzle.  On his own time, Alexey created the programming for his electronic version and even shortened the number of blocks from five to four.  Alexey was proud of his creation and enjoyed playing it. He enjoyed it so much that he readily shared copies of his game with his coworkers . . . for free.  It was such a success that Alexey soon convinced others to help create a bette...