Bloody Mary by Nick Winn
Silver Sprocket publishers had a sale. I looked up titles, found a few I wanted, and signed up for their monthly subscription for books. One of the books that came out of that mish-mash was called Bloody Mary by Nick Winn. It is a smidgen longer than a usual Zine, but it is more zine than what I consider a full-on graphic novel. The first issue I had with it was that there are several moments where I felt like I started in the middle […]
You Can Never Die: A Graphic Memoir by Harry Bliss
I learned early on in my journey of reading Harry Bliss that there are two styles when it comes to his artwork. One is kid friendly and the other adult friendly. However, via an online reader copy of You Can Never Die: A Graphic Memoir, I learned there is a third type to Bliss: the really adult Bliss. This memoir takes slices of life and puts them on the page of a journal. These journal entries, illustrations and more come out in the book. He […]
Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand
Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand has several potential triggers. They include (but are not limited to): self-harm, alcohol consumption, sexual context, suicidal thoughts, bullying, mental health, suicide attempt, and cultural situations/responses. Despite the issues, or maybe because of them, this is actually a fantastic story about how mental health is “hidden” even when it is right in front of you. The idea of being the “perfect Indian girl”, the idea of the “favorite son,” the idea of family and honor, and more, […]
Issunboshi: A Graphic Novel by Ryan Long
Picture it: Feudal Japan where creatures of myth and folklore are real. You can liken it to some Western stories (which came first? I do not know, but I assume the Asian ones) and the adventures our tiny hero has will meet the pages with clever text and images. This graphic novel, Issunboshi: A Graphic Novel by Ryan Long, unfolds in quick layers. There are a few surprises, but for the most part, you know where things are going. The idea of “you do not […]
Tales from the Craft Box V02 Emily Was SO Embarrassed by Michelle Olson
You never know who will pop up and ask you to “read their book” when you are in the book business. Now, many self published authors or small press publishers are not always worth the time, but once in a while you find a small author and/or press that is. And when I was asked by the author Michelle Olson to read their newest book Tales from the Craft Box V02 Emily Was SO Embarrassed, yes I was a little skeptical. However, I also have […]
Little Moons by Jen Storm and Ryan Howe
I needed more than the sixty-odd pages in the graphic novel, Little Moons by Jen Storm and Ryan Howe. I needed to see more about the family, the relationships, the other women who have gone missing. I needed to see the community. I need to see what is being done to locate our character. And yet, that is the point. We do not always get that neat bow to tie the story up. There is no happy ever after for Chelsea and so many girls […]
