The Tarot Cafe Volume 1 &2 by Sang-sun Park

Volume 1:

• Paperback: 184 pages

Publisher: TokyoPop (March 8, 2005)

• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595325557
• ISBN-13: 978-1595325556
• List Price: $9.99

Volume 2:

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (June 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595325565
• ISBN-13: 978-1595325563
• List Price: $9.99

First off: my new puppy ate one of these books, which is awful. We won't be repeating that mistake again. In any event: Viggo says they are tasty.
So: this is a fairly popular comic book series. Basically you have Pamela, who has crazy hair, tells fortunes and runs the cafe. She happens to tell fortunes to a hodge podge of different folks: like a dude who's really a cat. Or a blind male model/vampire. So, what you really have is little vignettes of their stories framed by Pammy in the cafe.
The vignette I liked the best was in the first book with the vampire dude. He keeps finding his true love over again and then offing her sister. I hate when that happens. There is also a cool one about a puppet master who's boy puppet falls in love with him. Please enjoy a visual sample, here:

The next book has a little more about Pamela and there's also a werewolf boy, which is cool. I can see how this is popular with the tweeny girls cause it has some dark ideas/themes plus fantasy fun. Here's one thing, now: anime male characters are often very pretty but these guys are downright beautiful (and they might be wearing lip gloss. strawberry lip gloss) and I often had to use context clues and dialog to make sure I knew the sex of the character. See, check out cat boy, pretty, huh? I wish my lips were that full. Either way, it's something I found funny and a little odd. Boys will have to be pretty secure in their masculinity to dig on this as much as the female of the species.
If you lurve this series you can join a fan group here. Also, here's the TokyoPop webpage, if you want to check out similar manga.

Mister I by Lewis Trondheim

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing; English Ed edition (January 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561634867
• ISBN-13: 978-1561634866
• List Price: $13. 95
• I finished this book on Dec. 4

See that guy? He's Mister I. And...he's kind of a dick. Really. He's all about trying to steal food. Pies from windows, apples of trees, that kind of thing.
I'm not going to talk about this book much because it's something you really need to see to believe, but here's what I can tell you: Each page is a block of 60 postage stamp size pictures of Mister I's antics. He is usually trying to steal food and mostly ends up dead at the end (a la Kenny from South Park) Some of them are super funny. Some are sad and most are just really fucked up. Here's an example of a page:
So, yeah. If this were a cartoon it would be Don Hertzfeldt's Rejected. What? Please show another movie, bee? No problem my lovelies. I live to serve. P.S. if you think this cartoon is funny, you should probably find this book and read the hell out of it (also, no words! hello, visual literacy!)

The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft edited by Scott Allie

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (June 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593071086
• ISBN-13: 978-1593071080
• List Price: $14.95
• I finished this book on Nov 11

So, this little collection was on the "Shelf of Shame" at my school. Meaning that, some other esteemed librarian in the past had found it to be inappropriate for our students. I took it home to investigate.
So, what we have here is a collection of what appears to be a smattering of different animated stories about witches and witchcraft. For example, there is a tale about a toad-like witchie poo who by force of potions gets a young man to have creepy toad sex with her. Note to attractive young men (or anyone really) it is very unwise to drink any concoction cooked up by a crone who you expect to be a witch. Honestly. It's as bad as Ofelia eating the grapes. There was also a comic book treatment given to the witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth as well as a little Hellboy action. Of course, don't forget a story about Tituba and the Salem Witch Trials. That one actually had the illustrations I liked the best.
Now, crammed in the middle of all this is an interview with a Wiccan laywer Phyllis Curott who talks about the actual religious practice of witchcraft. Including something like this is a good idea, however, the questions and answers that make up this particular interview did not particularly do it for me. I feel this book would be aimed at school age kids, and this interview would go right over their heads. If you're really interested in reading about Wicca I recommend trying Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham, or if have goth-leanings then maybe Nocturnal Witchcraft: Magic After Dark by Konstantinos is for you (Konstantinos also has a good Vampire book out there, in case you're interested.)
Anyway, the moral of this whole story is: I didn't find anything in this book that I would think is totally out of hand for my high school students to read. There's a little sex talk in the toad-lady story, but nothing overly graphic (and, thankfully, no in your face picture of toad-boobs). However, there is something of a mixed message in here. The forward and the interview with the real witch trying to dispel the stereotype of old gross crone doesn't really jibe with the wart covered old ladies of questionable hygiene portrayed within. Then again, getting rid of witch stereotypes is about as simply done as getting rid of librarian stereotypes, so what can you expect. (Very few people can refrain from making a crack about my specks when I tell them I'm a librarian.)

Dracula: the Graphic Novel by Bram Stoker, Gary Reed and Becky Cloonan

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (March 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142405728
• ISBN-13: 978-0142405727
• List Price: $10.99

Let's start with the cover shall we? Wow. First, Dracula looks like a male stripper/Elvis impersonator version of a vampire, no? Not nearly as sexy as Stuart Townsend or Keifer Sutherland (or really anyone from the Lost Boys) and not nearly as creepy as Bela Lugosi. Also, Mina looks like Christina Ricci. A lot. Not that there's anything wrong with that but she should totally sue.
Okay, that's off my chest. Now, the actual illustrations. There's nothing wrong with them, per say. It's just that...well...everyone looks like they are in a goddamn emo band. Seriously. It's bizarre. Please check out Jonathan Harker getting bitten by Dracula here: He's all "Oh noes! Please don't mess up my eye makeup!" All I'm saying is: he looks like Pete Wentz. Which is bad news. (Damn you, Becky Cloonan, for making me admit I know who that douche is.) And you think Dracula looks bad there? When he gets young he grows flowing locks of fury. Spooky! The female characters actually look pretty good. They have good hair that artfully blows into their faces as all comic book females should (I wish my hair did that). Dr. Seward looks like a malnourished Snape with a ponytail. And he's inexplicable sweaty. Oooh! And Van Helsing sort of looks like a wolf man.
Thirdly: the adaptation. I'm not saying it's bad. But I'm not saying it's good. I'm just saying this: if I hadn't just read Dracula I would probably be very confused.
I have to hope that this kind of book would appeal to the tween population and maybe I'm just too old and lame to get it. But, I kinda doubt it.
Now, for fun: please enjoy a booknerd recommended video. My excuse for posting this is that this song is definitely vampiric. And it's effin rad. Thanks, Chip!

Goodbye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon (May 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375714766
• ISBN-13: 978-0375714764
• List Price: $12.95
• I finished this book on Oct. 24

So, in the grand tradition of me crying at hallmark greeting cards and pretty much everything else, this frigging graphic novel made me cry.
Ready? Here goes:Little Mouse and Little Turtle are friends. (Little Turtle's name is Chunky Rice, I have no idea why. Is he Chinese food? I dunno, but let's go along with it.) Anyway, Turtle guy is going away, presumably forever. (Don't make me quote Sandlot again here, people) and this is a cause for much grief. There is a weird dude who is trying to cover up for past mistakes by befriending a self mutilating bird (?!) and a creepy set of conjoined twins. And the trip to the new place the Turtle guy is gonna live doesn't go very well. And the Little Turtle and the Little Mouse are both so sad. And here's me on my couch all "Boo Hoo, the little Mouse is so cute and sad! And they miss each other so much! Why can't we all just get along?" Damn you Mr. Thompson, I was snuffly for the rest of the night.
Anyway, it's a sweet and sad look at friendship and loss. But really, it's cute animals. Please check out Mr. Turtle Rice Butt. He's Teh Qte. (Yes, I spend far too much of my life with Cuteoverload and lolcats. Lolcats never make me cry.)
So, in my next book choice I will try to chose something that is less sniffles and more giggles.

Avigon: Gods and Demons by Che Gilson and Jimmie Robinson

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Image Comics (June 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582405034
• ISBN-13: 978-1582405032
• List Price: $19.95
• I finished this book on Oct. 15

I nabbed this one from my library's fledgling graphic novel collection cause I thought it looked neat. I was right. And p.s. search engines: no I did not mean "Avignon"
Back on task: Avigon is a clockwork robot sort of gal, only she has feelings. And she can break your neck like it's no big. You know, usual girl stuff. So anyway, she's annoyed that she's made to live with and obey the woman who created her so she's all: "I'm out, suckas!" and runs away. You and I both know that she's gonna find out that the outside world isn't as glamorous as she thinks it is. Apparently she hasn't ever read a book or seen an after school special like this. So, our girl takes a powder and gets the real world treatment and wears some fishnet clothes (awesome! did I mention she is a super badass and like 7 feet tall?). Eventually, important lessons are learned and one smarmy dude with some seriously warped views of love gets pwned.
Oh, and there's also a totally amazing fight between some broad with wings and a clockwork who looks like Robert Smith of The Cure (who did kick Barbara Streisand's ass in a fight). There was more than one moment where I gasped out loud during this book. (I historically have an inappropriate reaction to surprise/fear. Like laughing or saying really dumb things.) And there was certainly a surprise or two here.
The illustrations are very cool, lots of neat angles and images. Though it's black and white I'm throwing in a bonus color pic of some of the characters, cause I'm generous like that. Apparently this author, Che Gilson, is a mystery, cause I couldn't find much on here anywhere, but: please enjoy this interview she did about this book. Also, check out Jimmie Robinson's myspace. And...here's some more about the book.
Note: when I grow up I want to be a kick ass robot goth chick. That is all.

The Metamorphosis by Peter Kuper and Franz Kafka

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Crown (August 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400047951
• ISBN-13: 978-1400047956
• List Price: $7.99
• I finished this book on Sept. 16

So, you know what super sucks? Turning into a giant bug. Really, really sucks. That's what happens to Gregor Samsa in Franz Kafka's 1915 novella. This is a graphic novel adaptation of that story done by artist Peter Kuper. His stuff is weird and very cool. My estimation of this gentleman when up considerably when I realized he feels pretty much the same way about G.W. Bush that I do. Anywho: his website is cool, check out the stock illustrations.
So, the story at hand. I confess that when I read the original for some class or another in undergrad I thought it was only okay. I see why they make kids read it and everything, but really: it's just kind of a bummer. Likewise: the graphic novel is scratchy black and white. It is harsh, it is ugly. Except: Gregor the MacDaddy Beetle himself. He's not that ugly. He often looks like a sort of very concerned cartoon dad's head on top of a bug body. I keep thinking that he probably sounds like the dad from The Oblongs. Actually, he kind of looks like him too. Weird. I know that was a horrible description, so feel free to look at pages out of the book here, and here. There was a bit of coolness with the text going in different directions, or following the pattern of Gergor's shell. Overall, though: it was a bit strange. I'm not sure that reading this would make any kid want to read the actual book.
You can study up on the original version at sparknotes, if you're interested, but I'm all set. My grade for this one: meh.

The Secretary of Dreams by Stephen King illustrated by Glenn Chadbourne

• Hardcover: 290 pages
• Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications (October 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587671409
• ISBN-13: 978-1587671401
• List Price: $75.00
• I finished this book July 7th

Okay, friends and neighbors, you all know I'm a Stephen King "constant reader". Also, you know I dig on the graphic novels and comics. So, imagine my happiness last fall when I heard I could purchase some of SK's short stories newly illustrated. I hinted that I wanted this gift for Christmas (by hint I mean I sent the link to the Amazon page and where to buy it to my boyfriend via e-mail. cause I'm stealthy like that.) and his parents bought it for me. However, it was on this crazy backorder or something and I only just got it now. Let me tell you this, my lovlies, it is sexy! It's big and hard bound and came with this faux leather case deal. Fancy.
So, the actual stories are all ones I've read before, of course. I was impressed that they were some of his lesser known ones. The first is called Home Delivery and is actually from a collection called Book of the Dead which is all zombie stories from different authors. There are 6 short stories in all, 3 are just illustrated about every other page and the others are written as though they are comic books. So, it's a really cool idea. However, I'm not in love with the illustrator's work, to be honest. It's gory, to be certain, but it's all black and white sort of scratchy pen lines to me, and I didn't love it. Apparently Glenn (with 2 n's, why?) is an illustrator from Maine (shock!) and you can read an interview with him here. He has already signed on for volume two and is hard at work. These are put out by Cemetery Dance who is also putting out the Dark Tower Series as comic books (which, you know, I want super bad too).
Honestly, I will probably get the second volume too, though I'm not a huge fan of the art. Mostly because Stephen King is my boyfriend (I think you should know that when I say that I'm saying it in the Frau Blücher voice from Young Frankenstein) Maybe the artwork will grow on me. I guess I was expecting some super creepy art like from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Let's not pretend that stuff didn't scare the crap out of you when you were little (or last night, you wuss!). See creepy images, here, here and here. Hell's bells, creepy stuff, people.

Strangehaven Vol 3: Conspiracies by Gary Spencer Millidge

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Abiogenesis (September 21, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0946790078
• ISBN-13: 978-0946790074
• List Price: $14.95
• I finished this book on April 10

I know you're expecting the exciting conclusion to Strangehaven right now, but too bad: it wasn't the end! That's right, guys, its happened again. Remember A Distant Soil? Argh!! And once again, the last book isn't even available yet. Boo. To. That.
Anyway, I suppose I will begrudgingly tell you what happened even though I'm mad. Ku Klux Klan outfit guys tried to get Alex into their group, and while he was inclined to say boo to that a couple of the people from town convinced him to go in as a spy. Apparently Strangehaven is a kind of magical hot spot that affects the whole world (not to be confused with the Hellmouth, guys). And the KKK dress guys are gonna put the whammy on the universe if they aren't balanced by the white witches in the town.
In other news, the murder (which was actually two like I thought) from the last book is pretty much ironed out and don't worry one of the many ponytailed men was exonerated. There was also more infidelity and the switching of identities. Oooh! And there was a ghost who came back to hang with his wife when she died. That's sweet, and you know it. Warms my heart.
So this is the problem I always have with graphic novels and comics: I can't get my hands on the good ones in order. Hopefully when this next one comes out I'll be able to get my hot paws on it quickly and share it with you all. Cross your fingers
If your interested, you can check out some of Millidge's other artwork: here. And for fun: here's a picture of Millidge with his flowing locks of love falling over his face as he signs some comics. I dunno, guys, it's funny to me.

Strangehaven Vol. 2: Brotherhood by Gary Spencer Millidge

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Abiogenesis (March 1, 2001)
• ISBN-10: 0946790051
• ISBN-13: 978-0946790050
• List Price: $13.95
• I finished this book on April 10

So, I've gotta tell you kiddies, a lot just happened. Like I mentioned, the first book had various bizarro plot lines going on and they kept right on going in this one.
So, this book did not focus on Alex as much as the first one did, though he played a part in it. He gets lost in the woods for like a week (which is apparently enough time to grow a ponytail) and then comes back to start teaching. Imagine his surprise when there are only two students and some creepy dummies in the classroom. Other than him there's an affair going on in which the young woman decides to tell the wife (because that always works out well) and of course, our pal the alien guy who I think has a skullet (looks like from balding though, not shaving). Either way, there are many many plots weaving in and out here.
Now, I like to think I'm a sharp cookie (what does that phrase even mean, when you think about it, it doesn't even make sense) and I can follow a confusing plot. Having said that, it might be easier for this girl to understand it is every man in the book didn't have long hair wearing a ponytail. Seriously, there's at least 3 ponytail guys in here. Not to mention that because of Millidge's interesting illustrations and shading these guys sometimes look blond and sometimes not - so I'm all "huh?" and have to go back and think about which ponytail dude I'm looking at. Maybe that makes me visually illiterate or something, but I'm okay with that. I have a theory that perhaps Mr. Millidge only has so many male characters with long hair because that's clearly the style he likes to rock. As evidenced by the photos of his flowing locks. So, for fun: please enjoy a picture of him getting made fun of for his awesome 80's hair at a comic con (pic is halfway down the page - caption is priceless).
Sorry, I got all sidetracked thinking about petting the author...dreamy. Anywho: did I mention that there was one death, possibly two at the end of this book? There was. So, yeah, I have to go and find what happens. Up Next: the exciting conclusion!

Strangehaven Vol. 1: Arcadia by Gary Spencer Millidge

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Abiogenesis (May 1, 2001)
• ISBN-10: 0946790043
• ISBN-13: 978-0946790043
• List Price: $13.95
• I finished this book on April 8

So, alright, my lovelies, I know I said that I was going to be reading something from the list next, and I swear I had the best intentions. I got a book from the list out from the library. Then I couldn't bring myself to read it. And it kept staring at me. Creepy. Anyway, an esteemed library school colleague of mine loaned me a series of graphic novels, among others, and so here it is. I am too busy with real homework right now to be dealing with self-imposed homework. I will get back to the list in a week or so. For now...graphic novels.
So this book one of three. In it, we meet Alex, who gets in a car accident and wakes up in a mystery village somewhere in the UK. He keeps having visions of a woman underwater with fish. When he tries to leave he can't seem to get out - he drives in circles for hours and ends up right back there. So he decides to stay. Huh? I'm not mad at this or anything, but I mean, who really stays somewhere that they fully intended to leave because they get lost? Someone who's not trying very hard, that's who. Okay, anyway, so there's a girl he likes, Janey. He finds a house and a job and then, inexplicably turns down Janey's advances and goes camping.
There are also a bunch of other subplots going on here. For one, there is a weird cult/religious group who wear ku klux klan outfits and are doing shady rites. There is also a brazilian guy who befriends Janey's brother and who's contstant offerings of tea and pipe smoke are suspicious to me. Also, one of the guys claims he's an alien and appears to have x-ray vision. I must admit I'm intrigued by all of this and will be starting the next one tonight.
The illustrations are unique, they look a lot like photographs. The pictures of Alex's vision underwater woman are very cool. They are blurred in places and look as though they're really underwater.
In searching, as I do, for more information on these books I found the author's website. He looks all cool and dark in that picture, right? So I was intrigued ( I love cool dark men) so I was compelled to search him out: and I found this. Seriously, look at that hair, it's better than I could have hoped! Oh me oh my, it's like awesome 80's hair band hair. So tasty, and hilarious, thank you Mr. Millidge and your auqua net. I mean, it's lovely, it's prettier than my hair for certain. Anyway, back to the point: Mr. Awesome Face Framing Waves Millidge also has a blog but it doesn't look like it's been updated in a while.
Overall, interesting beginning and I look forward to reading more. Thanks, Chip, for loaning them to me!

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (October 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618723927
• ISBN-13: 978-0618723928
• List Price: $16.95
• I finished this book on Mar. 24

I first encountered this book in the fall in the vendor tents at the NYLA conference. The cover caught my eye. I stood and looked at it as long as I could before some shifty Houghton Mifflin guy started skeezing around me and I had to leave. After that it earned a spot on the ever growing list of books I want to read. (I heart books, and I heart lists - this list is like a living breathing post-it monster that I carry bits of around like a total nerd) Anywho, this one got bumped up on the list due to Mr. Lyga's impending appearance at the Teen Book Festival that's coming (sort of near) here soon. Good times.
So, okay, first off: points for an excellent title. More points for having a funny, nerdy absolutely realistic and believable narrator. I am a little in love. Here's the rub, our hero (nerdy sophomore Fanboy, who's real name I think is Don but that's totally not important) is writing a graphic novel. More accurately, he's birthing a graphic novel he's been cooking up forever. He works on it constantly, trying to perfect it even though he has to use a sub par computer. His plan is to show it to his hero/comic book god mentor guy Brian Michael Bendis at an upcoming comic con. His plans are altered when he meets Kyra (goth girl), a sort of rude, unpredictable, smart, disenfranchised girl at his school. He ends up showing her his graphic novel (which he hasn't even told his best friend about) and she tries to help him. Only her help is not the kind of thing one exactly thinks of as 'help.'
I've got to say, from my cursory glances at it back in the Fall, it wasn't what I expected. It was actually a totally different kind of things. I'm not mad though, I actually think I'm happier with what it was than with what I was expecting. In addition, the book uses Fanboy's IM conversations: which is a new(er) thing in YA books. I've seen it used copiously in some places, but it was just right here. I think there may have been more if poor Fanboy wasn't struggling with such a POS computer.
The whole time I was reading it I was concerned that something bad was going to happen. While there was darkness, nothing overly tragic happened. The end left an enjoyable taste in my mouth. There was some making fun of wanna be goth girls who love Gaiman (at which I looked around shocked and went..."Who, me?") so that was funny too.
The more I think about it, the more I really liked the book. I'm not the only one, either, School Library Journal listed it as one of the best books of 2006. This is Lyga's first published YA novel, and I'm looking forward to more. I encourage the checking out of the following websites: Lyga's own site and the Fanboy and Gothgirl site.
I only wish that I was reading Fanboy's completed graphic novel. I'm just saying...

300 by Frank Miller

• Hardcover: 88 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse; 1098 edition (December 15, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 1569714029
• ISBN-13: 978-1569714027
• List price: $30.00
• I finished this book on Mar. 7
  

So, in honor of the movie coming out this week (which I'm super stoked about) and my love for graphic novels, I wanted to check this out. I however, being a broke college student had to wait for one of my more economically comfortable pals shelled out the $30. That seems like a lot for something that's under 100 pages, but fyi: it's totally worth it.
Miller's telling of the epic battle between 300 Spartans and approximately a zillion Persians centers around Spartan King Leonidas. He is an incredible badass and takes his army of cohort badasses to certain bloody death on the name of his beloved home. You've got to appreciate that. It kind of makes you feel guilty when you complain about jury duty. At least no one's asking you to spend your whole life training to die in a battle you have no hope of winning. I'm just saying.
The illustrations are complex and bloody and breathtaking. The books is also a sort of weird rectangle shape, and it's so big it doesn't quite fit in my bookbag. It does, however, have a nice heavy weight to it, which I appreciate. At the end there is also suggested reading, and I love things like that.
My only hope is that the movie is as interesting and entertaining as this. Having read this, I now have even higher hopes than before.

**Update** I saw the movie last night, and I know that this isn't 'movienerd' but I have to tell you that it was amazing. It was stunning and beautiful. I wanted to lick it. That is all.

A Distant Soil: Coda by Colleen Doran

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Image Comics (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158240478X
• ISBN-13: 978-1582404783
• List Price: $17.99
• I finished this book on Jan. 8

Oh my, boys and girls. Let me tell you a story about A Distant Soil. Here's me on my big comfy chair with a blanket and one to two purring snuggly kitties. I'm reading A Distant Soil: The Aria (Book 3) and I'm starting to get close to the end. I say to the kitties "Gee, I'll bet there's like a cheesy wrap it up quick ending because I'm getting close to the end of the book and there's still a lot going on." The cats nod and go back to sleep. Then they wake in fear at my screams of anguish when I get to the end of the book and it wasn't the end! I had no idea. I had taken books one through three from the library. Since it was all they had I assumed it was a trilogy. Anyway, I had to wait quite a while for my order of the fourth book to come in.
While it definitely sated my hunger temporarily it was not the quenching drink of great graphic novel goodness I was hoping for. This is mainly due to the fact that it's still not the last book and worse...the final book is not out yet. Boo to that.
The story of this graphic novel as best as I can relay it is thus: Seren is the embodiment of a God on his planet, but is at best a figurehead and at worst a slave to the sadistic politicians that make up the hierarchy. He leads a double life, that of the Avatar, and that of a leader of the resistence against the heirarchy. He travels to Earth and recruits two human youths who are the children of one of Seren's teacher. This makes them half of his race, and they turn out to be exceptionally powerful beings. With the help of other human fighters they try to take on the Heirarchy. Craziness goes down, however, and they end up cutting off Seren's beautiful man ponytail.
So the story is amazing, though I realize my description makes little to no sense. This particular volume wasn't my favorite so far though, I must admit. This is probably because the relationship between Seren and D'mer is my favorite part and they were apart for the whole book. I had to take solace in D'mer hitting on the super uncomfortable Kovar. One thing I do like about these books is that everyone is beautiful and almost naked all the time (mmmm, cartoon sex). They are funny and sexy ( I'm totally into man on man action!). I really could cry and laugh on the same page. The illustrations are amazing and I love pretty much everything about it. The only reason this doesn't get the Bee seal of approval-love is because it's not the effin end to the story. The moral of the story is, though, that you should read it.
Check out the site here

Getting Graphic by Michelle Gorman

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Linworth Publishing (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586830899
• ISBN-13: 978-1586830892
• List Price: $36.95
  
• I finished this book on Jan. 7
  

No kids (Yes, we're on a pet-name callling basis now. Nice, isn't it) it's not a dirty sexbook. Sigh. But it's about an equally sexy topic: Graphic Novels aka comic books. Here's me explaining to my father the difference between comics and graphic novels:
me: A comic book is a short serial that's staple bound, and a graphic novel is a longer story that's actually a book.
my dad: ah-ha (goes back to eating his dinner)
Now, I have no idea if that is right, but it seems solid, right. Anywho, I love the graphic novels. This book is designed to introduce the format to librarians. Btw: it's a format, not a genre. A graphic novel can be any genre. The problem with me reading this book is that I am already sold on them. However, the book did include good selection guides and book suggestions.
I didn't really like the layout of the book, I felt that all the suggestions should be at the end. But I liked the content so what can you do?
Now my next task is to get the librarian at my friendly neighborhood public lib to start ordering some. I'm thinking of giving him this book.
For fun, here's links to some good sites on graphic novels and comics.
Comic books for young adults

Here's a great link to many different sources

American Library Association's site on graphic novels

Sandman: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano

Hardcover: 126 pages
Publisher: Vertigo; 1st ed edition (November 1, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1563895730
ISBN-13: 978-1563895739
List Price: unknown

The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman is a series of graphic novels about Morpheus or Dream. I have read two books in this series. They are interesting, but I am usually feeling that I would like more of the character Dream.
This is sort of love tale/Chinese fable. It is not a traditional graphic novel, I would call it a picture book. Mostly it is text on one page and illustrations on the other. Some of the illustrations cover both pages. The story is about a magic fox who falls in love with a monk. She tries to protect the monk from death by asking Dream for help. Then the monk realized what has happened and goes to rescue her. The story is very sweet and interesting and the characters of the monk and fox are interesting. I am left, once again, trying to root for the union of man and fox in my head. We all know it's not going to happen, but I'm all 'C'mon....' Either way the story is neat.
The illustrations are very beautiful if a little more abstract than I would sometimes like. They are colorful and definitely add a lot to the story.
This might be a good book for someone to introduce themselves to the Sandman books, but it is not entirely like the rest.