Birds of Prey: Of Like Minds

Author: Gail Simone
Illustrators: Ed Benes, Alex Lei, Rob Lea

Title:Birds of Prey: Of Like Minds

Publication: March 1, 2004

Publisher: DC

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book

Pages: 144

Audience: 16 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): After being paralyzed from the waist down, former Batgirl Barbara Gordon took on the persona of information cyber lord oracle and began a successful crime-fighting partnership with the Black Canary.
But when the two femmes fatales are confronted by Savant, a villain whose physical and mental abilities equal their own, they become drawn into a deadly and elaborate trap. Now with the madman holding Black Canary hostage, Oracle- who reluctantly enlists the aid of the Huntress- must choose between revealing Batman's secret identity to her captor and saving the life of her friend and partner.

My thoughts:
Gail Simone is one of my favorite comic book writers. I also follow her on Twitter and she is hilarious and extremely opinionated. Either way, the lady can write. I'm not sure if this is volume three, or if she took over and made it her own. Amazon claims it is volume 1, Goodreads says volume 3. I feel like it could be a continuation of Chuck Dixon's story, but starting in this graphic novel, Black Canary knows who the Oracle is. Either way, I believe this is where the story really picks up. I gave the other two a 4 out of 5, but I could not put this book down! I was taking a 15 minute break at work, and accidentally took a longer break because I was reading. 
This story adds a more human aspect to the characters. Even though they are superheroes, they are still  human and can get hurt. It also deals with relationships- business, romantic, friendship. It just made the storyline more rounded. No matter what number in the timeline, this graphic novel falls in, it is a perfect stand alone graphic novel and I highly recommend it!

 

Birds of Prey Volume 2: Old Friends, New Enemies

Authors: Chuck Dixon, Greg Land, and Drew Geraci
Illustrators: Greg Land and Drew Geraci

Title:Birds of Prey Volume 2: Old Friends, New Enemies

Publication: February 22, 2011

Publisher: Vertical

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book

Pages: 224

Audience: 16 and up

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): 
Recruited by the mysterious Oracle to act as her agent, former justice leaguer Black Canary now travels the globe fighting injustice and forcing the guilty to pay for their crimes. Through their adventures an odd friendship has developed, even though Black Canary has never even seen Oracle face to face.

But their friendship and their lives could be cut sort when Black Canary finds herself. in the middle of a deadly hunt being led by the ruthless cult leader Kobra for a long forgotten piece of Russian technology, and as Black Canary fights for her life, Oracle has her own troubles when the U.S. Army begins tracking down the person hacking into their systems, There's no rest for anybody here, wicked or otherwise.

My thoughts:
This comic was action packed. My husband loves Chuck Dixon and I can see why! He is a great writer and I just love him for spawning The Birds of Prey storyline. Black Canary is still doing what she does best- kicking bad dude's butts. Oracle is still utilizing her librarian skills and finding the bad guy's hideouts. They make a great team, which in turn is a great read. I found the individual stories intertwined, but not as closely as volume 1. The last story in the book was kind of crazy and involved time travel and a lake in Minnesota. It was just really odd. Even though, the last story kind of threw me for a loop, the entire book is worth reading!

 

Li'l Gotham Volume 1

Authors: Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen
Illustrator: Dustin Nguyen

Title: Li'l Gotham Volume 1

Publication: February 25, 2014

Publisher: DC

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book

Pages: 128

Audience: 10 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): Life in the big city just got crazier with this year-round all-ages holiday fun, featuring Batman and all of his adorable allies and adversaries! Crimefighting and celebrating go hand-in-hand in Gotham with Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, The Penguin, The Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and more!

My thoughts:

 I have been waiting since September or October for the trade of this graphic novel to come out! It was sooooo precious! I'm not sure every character stays in the "li'l" format, but this is the cleanest novel I have ever read. I would share it with a younger audience. It is really perfect for all ages. I love corny jokes and puns, and this comic was filled to the brim with them- I laughed through the entire book. The artwork appeared to be done in watercolor, which was beautiful, but at times lacked in detail or was a bit faint. However, when you are making all your characters little, I guess small details can be forgiven.
If you are looking for a clean read or a place to jump start into comics, this one is perfect!

Young Marvel: Little X-Men, Little Avengers, Big Trouble

Authors: Skottie Young, Dan Slott, Ruben Diaz, Chris Claremont
Illustrators: Gurihiru Gurihiru, Mark Buckingham, JJ Kirby, Tom Raney

Title: Young Marvel: Little X-Men, Little Avengers, Big Trouble

Publication: October 15, 2013

Publisher: Marvel

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book

Pages: 208

Audience: 15 and up

Rating: 1 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): There's no pacifying Cyclops and Cap, who swap "ABC" for "AVX" as the playground becomes a battleground over a cherished teddy bear! Then, when Mojo kidnaps Wolverine to star in his arena of death, it's Longshot, Dazzler, and the uncannily cute X-Babies to the rescue! And when those junior X-Men stand up to the Brotherhood of Mutant Bullies in a murderous game show produced by Mojo and Arcade, will they be outdone by new kids on the block- or will one of their number dissolve back into neoplasm from which they were formed?

My thoughts:

 Little X-Men was one of the worst books I have read in a long time. I would almost say it verges on false advertisement. I judge books by their cover, and I assumed this book would be all about mini- marvel characters. The first little story was and the artwork matched the cover. The crap after that was just that, garbage. I fell asleep numerous times while trying to trudge through this book. It was a Valentine's gift from my husband, and I felt bad because it was awful and about $10 more than graphic novels typically are.
I will admit to not know much about the Marvel universe except for a few Rouge singles I have read, the X-Men cartoon from the 90's, and what I have watched of the blockbuster hits. In this graphic novel though, the names were changed. I finally realized Sugah was Rouge, Storm was Rain Cloud or something, it was stupid, unnecessary changes. I was lost as to who some characters were due to the name changes, and eventually I gave up the guessing game.
I expected the art to be the same throughout. It usually is for graphic novels, but this was a mish-mash of garbage that must have not made it into other storm arcs. The main story that takes up most of the pages in the middle was confusing and to me, the characters weren't little, more like middle school or teenage. It wasn't cute either. Only the first story was. Then there were a few more short comics at the end by some other person that had nothing to do with the Young Marvel title. I was baffled. Then at the very end (about 20-30 pages) were just comic covers that were never made into covers.
I was sorely disappointed by this graphic novel. It was money and time wasted. I should have actually looked up reviews on Goodreads or Amazon before I begged my husband to purchase it.

Black Canary/ Oracle Birds of Prey Volume 1 by Chuck Dixon

Author: Chuck Dixon, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Gary Frank
Illustrator: Stefano Raffaele, Matt Haley, Jennifer Graves, Sal Buscema

Title:Black Canary/Oracle Birds of Prey Volume 1

Publication: February 1999

Publisher: DC Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Super Heroes.

Pages: 208

Audience: 15 and up

Rating: 4 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): Alone, they are driven vigilantes...together they are a force to be reckoned with. 
Name: Barbara Gordon 
Alias: Oracle
 The former Batgirl, she now serves as information broker to the super-hero community-all the while searching for something beyond the limitations fate has forced upon her.
Name: Dinah Lance
Alias: Black Canary
A master of judo, aikido, karate, and several other martial arts, this ex- Justice Leaguer now finds herself searching for a new direction, a new outlet for her talents.

My Thoughts:
I am a huge fan of Barbara Gordon, who is Batgirl/Oracle. I am also a fan of the Birds of Prey, mainly thanks to Babs. I started the New 52 Birds of Prey and decided I wanted the entire original back story. My husband lovingly spent months, time, and money on helping me collect the original story. The art in this book is marvelous as well as the writing. Granted, the art is a little dated looking. I thought it looked a bit like the 80s or 90s. It is from 1999, so that could explain it, but it is worth the read. Chuck Dixon is one of my husband's favorite comic book writers, and he hasn't let me down on any story I have read by him so far. 
The story is essentially how Black Canary and Oracle come together to create this team of heroines to save Gotham and the rest of the world. The story throws in some details that are probably explained in other comics or hopefully in the future comics of this series. Some of it is kind of understood, like everyone should know that the Joker shoot Barbara Gordon and paralyzes her. She then uses her knowledge and technology to help the super heroes fight the bad guys, and she turns into the Oracle. Occasionally other questionable ladies are thrown into the mix like Catwoman, Lois Lane, Lady Shiva, and the Huntress (I REALLY hate her, especially since the show Arrow had her on there.). Even though there are other characters mixed in, Black Canary proves time and time again she can take care of herself, with a little help from Oracle. If you are interested in the series at all, I strongly recommend this "origin" story.

Avatar the Last Air Bender:The Lost Adventures

Author: Aaron Ehasz, Josh Hamilton, Dave Roman, J. Torres

Illustrator: Joaquim Dos Santos

Title: Avatar the Last Air Bender:The Lost Adventures

Publication: July 5, 2011

Publisher: Dark Horse

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book

Pages: 240

Audience: 10 and up

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from Goodreads): One of America's hottest shows returns For three years, millions of eager fans tuned in each week to watch Nickelodeon's hit animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Ever since, fans have been hungry for more - and now their wait is finally over This volume collects the long-out-of-print, fan-favorite comics previously published in Nickelodeon Magazine and with the Airbender DVDs, plus over 70 brand-new comics pages. That's over 26 stories set in Airbender continuity, by a host of top-notch talent, many of whom worked on the original animated series itself

My thoughts:

Have you ever watched Avatar: The Last Airbender? If not, stop reading and go watch an episode. I'm twenty something years old and I am a fan of this show. I even watch the spin off, Legend of Korra, which is a great show too. If you have watched the show, this book is a compliment to the episodes. It goes into some detail, but not a lot. It is mainly funny little "mini-sodes" that the creators did not add for some reason. I chuckled the entire time I read the book. If you have seen the show all the characters are back- Oppa, Katara, Anng, Sokka, Toph, Momo, Zuko (they make up the main group). If you have not seen the Last Airbender, then I do not suggest reading this. I mean, you can, but you may be lost. It is more for fans of the show. Also, I enjoy attending conventions were people cosplay (dress as favorite characters from shows, books, etc). Some of the best cosplay I have ever seen has come from Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. The characters show the importance of patience, love, friendship, and especially teamwork. It is really not a bad show and who knows, if you try it- you just might like it.

Fables Volume 1: Legends in Exile

Author: Bill Willingham

Illustrator: James Jean,  Alex Medina, Steve Leialoha, Craig Hamilton
Title:Fables: Legends in Exile

Publication: November 21, 2011

Publisher: Vertical

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book

Pages: 128

Audience: 17 and up

Rating: 3 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): In Fabletown, where fairy tale legends live alongside regular New Yorkers, the question is all anyone can talk about. But only the Big Bad Wolf can actually solve the case- and, along with Rose's sister Snow White, keep the Fabletown community from coming apart at the seams.

My thoughts:

I love Once Upon a Time. I watched an interview with the creators and actors of the show, and an audience member had asked the creators was the story and ideas of their own, from Disney, or Fables? The creators said it was a mix of all of them, but it was ideas that sprang up from their minds. I thought this would be similar and I should give it a try. It was okay, but it was lacking something. I'm not sure what, but it just wasn't my favorite story arc. I have bought some of the series, so I plan to give it a go. I hear from many people, "You have to read this!" Maybe, it will get better, but the first story was not the best. I found the characters more interesting than the storyline, and I really enjoyed the short story in the back of the graphic novel. The characters were really easy to pick out, and I found an eerie resemblance of Fables Snow White to Once Upon a Time's Regina. Everyone from Little Boy Blue to Prince Charming to Snow White to Cinderella were in the graphic novel. I am going to give the series another try just because I have bought a good chunk of it. Otherwise, I would recommend checking it out at the library and giving it a try. You aren't wasting any money that way.

Batwoman Volume 2: To Drown the World

Author:J.H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman

Illustrators: Amy Reeder and Trevor McCarthy
Title:Batwoman Volume 2: To Drown the World

Publication: January 22, 2013

Publisher: DC Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book

Pages: 144

Audience: 16 and up

Rating: 2 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): Murder. Madness. Monsters... Medusa. Taking its name from the horrifying creature of myth, this global conspiracy of crime has taken its war against goodness to Gotham City. 

There, its sinister agents prey upon Gotham's children, using the guises of urban legends. Ghosts in the mirror searching for bloody retribution. Monsters in the sewer hungering for innocent lives. Crazed specters spreading their pain in a  tide of blood. Brutal killers wielding death with a hook bladed hand. 

At Medusa's dark heart stands the Mother of Monsters. Her goal is to drown the world in darkness.  

But the Mother isn't Gotham's only dark spirit.

Batwoman's mind, body, and soul have been battered as never before. But she's emerged from her trials stronger than ever. Now on a collision course with Medusa, no one- not the GCPD, not the shadowy Department of Extranormal Operations, and not the men and women who care about her the most will stop her from seeking justice for the lost....

My thoughts:
What an utter and total disappointment.  I love the character Batwoman/ Kate Kane. She is a wonderful character and I believe there are so many (good) things the writers could do for her. However, this story was complete garbage in my opinion. The graphic novel was split up by people and their individual time lines that occurred over what appeared to be about a few weeks or so. It would jump from various character who were not Kate or Batwoman and the time line would jump around also. It was a complete jumbled mess. Also, the story is full of mythology and along with the timeline it was just incomprehensible. I was able to understand some of the basics of what was going on. It was like the graphic novel was a filler meant to tease the reader. It actually makes me angry that the storyline and the flow was such a mess. I'm actually trying to decide if I want to purchase the next graphic novel or not. Most fans do not question their loyalty, but I will unless a writer steps up to the task of sorting the chaos that the Batwoman plot is at the moment and sculpt it in a beautiful, well thought out story.

As for the art, it seems to have diminished a bit. She isn't as shiny or as detailed as I remember, which I can forgive. I do appreciate the artists attempts to bring Kate Kane's complexion to that of the living and less like a dead corpse. She is still pale, but she looked healthier and better than before. The art is still great even if the story is completely lacking.

I will read the next one, but I may wait for it to arrive at the library first.

 

Batgirl Volume 2: Knightfall Descends

Author: Gail Simone

Illustrators: Ardian Syaf,Ed Benes, Vicente Cifuentes
Title:Batgirl Volume 2: Knightfall Descends

Publication: February 12, 2013

Publisher: DC Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book

Pages: 192

Audience:  17 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): Gotham city can be dangerous. No one knows this more than Barbara Gordon. Recovered physically but not emotionally, Batgirl is back on patrol. Unfortunately, others have their own ideas about how but to safeguard the city. These vigilantes will execute every criminal they find, down to the pettiest offenders. They answer to a maniac named Knightfall, a masked woman who wants to save Gotham, but not before drowning it in blood. Smart and skilled, she is every bit Batgirl's equal. But right now, Batgirl isn't who she used to be. Can Barbara find the strength within her to defeat Knightfall? Or will crime in Gotham finally be wiped out- brutally, lethally and permanently?

My thoughts:
Batgirl is back and kicking butt! She is trying to protect the people of Gotham from the villain, Knightfall. However, Knightfall has paired up with someone from Batgirl's past who may know her better than she knows herself. This graphic novel really delves into  her back story. It explains why her mother is back and why her mother left. Barbara is just not ready to patch things up with her mother though. She is still very bitter about their relationship. So to soothe that wound, she turns to fighting the bad guys. The story becomes a bit of a mess when Batwoman appears in the picture. I have the new Batwoman comic that I need to read, but there is apparently some disagreement between the two ladies. This makes for an interesting story line. This comic was a bit longer than most and it covered a lot of Barbara's back story while setting up a continuing storyline. Things are a little convoluted because there is a lot going on, but it isn't too hard to follow. I cannot wait for the next trade to come out because to me, this one left me on a cliff hanger. I want to know what happens, but I'll have to wait until the trade comes out- dang it! 

 

Fairest: Wide Awake Volume I

Author: Bill Willingham
Artists: Phil Jimenez, Andy Lanning, Matthew Sturges, Shawn McManus

Title: Fairest: Wide Awake Volume I

Publication: November 27, 2012

Publisher: Vertigo

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Fairy Tales

Pages: 160

Audience:16 and up

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Favorite Quote: "You're an addict. You need stories the way the furrow needs the plow."

Synopsis (from the cover):

They call her Sleeping Beauty, but life's always been ugly for Princess Briar Rose. Cursed at birth by a pissed-off fairy godmother, she wound up acting as a one-woman weapon of mass destruction against the Adversary in the last days of his war against the Free Fables. She won the day, but at the cost of sending herself into a permanent nap from which only true love's kiss can awaken her.

Few would have guessed that it would be Ali Baba Prince of Thieves, who would rise to the challenge- or that he'd be accompanied by an obnoxious, not-quite-a-genie sidekick. But as Briar Rose's true origin is revealed, can this no-longer sleeping beauty and her Prince Charmless escape the cold fury of the Adversary's former right-hand woman--the icily regal Snow Queen?

My thoughts:
 I started collecting the singles for this graphic novel, but then decided to wait for the trade to come out. I really enjoyed the storyline until the last 10 or so pages, which starts a new storyline from out of no where. I was a bit lost through out the entire story because it kept referencing Fables. I understand this novel is a spin off of Fables, but I thought it would be able to hold its own. Apparently, I was wrong. So I have really mixed feelings about the novel. I will want to know what happens so I may wait and check out the next trade to see if I want to continue reading it. Also, my favorite character was Jonah, the bottle imp, and the Snow Queen was pretty cool too. I enjoyed the storyline when background story was not necessary, but when it was it was confusing and irritating. If you have read Fables, then go for Fairest. If you have not read Fables but really want to read Fairest, go for it, but just know you may have to go back and eventually catch up on Fables.

Saga Vol.1 by Brian K. Vaughan

Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Illustrator: Fiona Staples

Title: Saga
Publication: October 10, 2012

Publisher: Image

Genre: Science Fiction, humor, action

 Pages: 160

Audience: 18 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Bought

Synopsis (Amazon):

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. From New York Times bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina) and critically acclaimed artist Fiona Staples (Mystery Society, North 40), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults. This specially priced volume collects the first six issues of the smash-hit series The Onion A.V. Club calls "the emotional epic Hollywood wishes it could make." Voted one of the top graphic novels of the year by the NYT, IGN, the Examiner, and SF Weekly. Voted Best Comic of the year by MTV Geek and Best New Series by Paradox Comics. Voted a finalist in the GoodReads Best GN of 2012 contest. Voted #2 Graphic Novel of 2012 by Amazon editors.

My thoughts:  Saga. Wow, what can I say about Saga? I picked up this book on a recommendation from a friend, without knowing one single thing about it other than, "Dude it's amazing you need to read it." So I did, and was blown away. This is the story of two military deserters from two opposing planets at war and their newborn child, on the run from a cruel universe. I loved Saga, it has everything from guns and swords to spaceships and ghosts. Keep in mind this book does have nudity, strong language and heavy violence, but don't let that scare you away, because this is a very touching and action packed story. I can not wait till the next volume.



 

Catwoman Volume 1:The Game (New 52)

Author: Judd Winick

Illustrator: Guillem March
Title: Catwoman Volume 1: The Game (New 52)

Publication: May 22, 2012

Publisher: DC Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Villains 
Pages: 144

Audience: 17 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

 Favorite quote: "Life isn't without risk.You hear that bon mot a lot. But mostly around business. Or dating. Or eating friend food from street vendors. But we take risks all the time, every day, in a thousand ways. Driving a cat. Talking to a stranger. Jay-walking. Those are the little ones that we don't even think about."- Selina Kyle


Synopsis (from the cover):
The at came back. Under the dark mask of night, the cat is out on the prowl...What's she looking for? Sometimes it's dazzling jewels and priceless artwork. Sometimes it's a kiss with a caped crusader. But nearly every time, it's trouble. She's a thief who steals for the thrill and a lover who lives for the chase. But lately Catwoman has been stealing from the wrong people. And when they come after her? Even nine lives might not be enough to save her skin.

My thoughts:
Another cat book- I know. I'll also admit that I wasn't a huge fan of Selina Kyle. I thought- eh, she steals stuff and loves Batman- who cares? After reading the Gotham City Sirens I grew to like Selina and decided to give the New 52 Catwoman graphic novels a chance. I'm really glad I did. The Game starts over and allows you to get to know Selina as a person, not just Catwoman. There is once again, tons of gore, violence, and sex. After all, Batman is a hunky man. I think the artwork is beautiful, and the gorey parts were a bit too detailed. I think the sex scene was drawn grotesquely and incorrectly (I won't go into why that is...just read it and see for yourself). However, I'm not reading this for any other reason than reading pleasure, and if the artists want to be over the top- okay. Other than that, the novel is very interesting. The writers did a great job with the New 52 of this graphic novel. 

Birds of Prey Volume 1: Trouble in Mind (New 52)

Author: Duane Swierczynski

Illustrator: Jesus Saiz
Title: Birds of Prey Volume 1: Trouble in Mind

Publication: September 18, 2012

Publisher: DC Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Villains 
Pages: 160

Audience: 17 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover ):

The sirens of the night. One is wanted for a murder. The other is on the run for knowing too much. Together, Black Canary and Starling work in Gotham City, taking down the villains other heroes can't touch. But now, as a grizzled newspaper reporter threatens to expose them, the two get sucked into a nightmare involving stolen pharmaceuticals, terrorists for hire, and killers in stealth suits who can appear-and disappear- at will. Realizing that Gotham City's citizens are in grave danger, Black Canary recruits Katana, a vengeful samurai and the notorious bio terrorist Poison Ivy. Will the Birds of Prey be able to work together to save Gotham?

My thoughts:
I have read a few Birds of Prey graphic novels before the New 52 rolled out and wasn't impressed. It could have been the fact that there was so much back story that I was totally lost. For Trouble in Mind, you don't have to know an awful lot about Black Canary or Starling or Katana. I feel the New 52 is a bit more graphic...and there is a lot, a lot of gore and violence in this graphic novel. I'm also not a fan of the New 52 outfits. I hate them. Poison Ivy looks stupid. I know this will sound anti-feminist, but I liked her ivy leotard...I'm not sure what this solar panel/ivy/green body suit is, but I'm not a fan. (I won't even go on my rant about Harley Quinn's new attire).  
As from the title of this trade paperback, Trouble in Mind, it gets pretty crazy trying to keep up with everything. Towards the end of the book I was having to flip back to the page I previously read because I thought I might have skipped over something. It messes with your mind a bit...especially if it is 1 AM and you have been battling a sinus infection. However, if you are new to comics or want to start on something new. DC's New 52 is the perfect place to start. For a new beginning, it was a great start because now I'm a fan of the Birds of Prey.

Oracle: The Cure

Author: Kevin VanHook

Illustrator: Tony Bedard, Claude St. Aubin, Julian Lopez, Fernando Pasarin
Title: Oracle: The Cure

Publication: April 6, 2010

Publisher: DC Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Villains 
Pages: 128

Audience: 17 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Favorite quote: "Why are people always so frightened of technology? It's never the computer, or the transit system, or the x-ray machine that does you wrong. It's the mind that guides it. The most advanced weapons system on earth is harmless in the hands of an idiot...while in the hands of a genius, a simple lever can move the world."

Another favorite quote: "But I do have a super-power: Information. I'm better at gathering and using it than anyone on earth. In an information society, I bank the coin of the realm." 

Synopsis (from the cover ): After disbandng the Birds of Prey, Barbara Gordon--the first Batgirl, before a vicious attack by the Joker paralyzed her for life- returns to Gotham City and her reclusive life as Oracle. As the premier source of superhero intelligence, she spot trouble as it strikes around the world, but this time it hits too close to home... With genius to rival Oracle's the Calculator has grown to become of her greatest enemies. Now he's hijacked the Internet and an entire virtual world in his desperate pursuit of the devastating Anti-Life Equation. Without a network of allies to rely on, Oracle stands alone against this brilliant enemy. If she can get her hands on the remnants of the Anti-Life Equation first. she could save millions and possibly even heal her broken body. But is the cure worse than the disease?

My thoughts:
This graphic novel is not from the New 52 launch. I'm just very fond of Barbara Gordon over the fact that she was a librarian and Batgirl. After becoming paralyzed thanks to the Joker, she becomes the Oracle who provides intelligence to all superheros. This graphic novel was interesting as it involves technology and alien technology. I felt the alien technology was not fully explained. This could be due to the fact that I'm not a tech-savvy in the least. Either way, it is alien technology and it doesn't need to be explained. he reader gets to know Barbara as a victim and you see how she is and is not coping with her new lifestyle. It is a great read. The art is beautiful. It seems every image has almost shiny, and it is not from the glossy paper. The art work is a bit different, but it works. There is some gore and violence, but nothing too terribly bad.  After reading this graphic novel, I would love to read the one that comes after this due to the ending, but older and more obscure graphic novels are harder to find.

 

Sybil the Backpack Fairy: Nina

Author: Michel Rodrigue

Illustrator: Antonello Dalena, Manuela Razzi, and Cecilia Giumento
Title: Sybil the Backpack Fairy: Nina

Publication: December 6, 2011

Publisher: Papercutz

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Children
Pages: 48

Audience: 8 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover ): I'm Nina and she's Sybil, my fairy friend. Being friends with a fairy is so cool! She does all my homework and straightens up my room with a simple wave of her magi wand! All that would be just great if she didn't drag me into her magical world, peopled with monsters and fairies a lot less nice than she is.

My thoughts:
I have a book problem. It happens anytime I go into a bookstore or comic shop. I usually see something I just have to buy because I just have to read it. I usually don't have time and that is where my book collection comes in. However, I thought this cover was so funny and I just had to buy it and read it. I thought it would be more pre-teen than what it is, but it is a perfect G-rated, girly comic. It was so funny and the artwork is well done. Oddly enough, the artwork reminded me of cartoons I used to watch when I was young. Nina is a cute little girl who has  issues that everyone can relate to. She gets in trouble at school for talking too much, her parents are divorced, and she is young. Then Sybil comes along and turns Nina's world for a loop. Its all fun and games until Mom comes home! This is a wonderfully cute graphic novel. If you want to share the love of graphic novels or encourage a young child to read- I suggest this. I just looked it up on Amazon and Papercutz is still in business. It is super cute and easy to read! 

 

Batgirl Volume 1: The Darkest Reflection (New 52)

Author: Gail Simone

Illustrator: Ardain Syaf and Vicenete Cifuentes
Title: Batgirl Volume 1: The Darkest Reflection (New 52)

Publication: July 17, 2012

Publisher: DC Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Villains 
Pages: 144

Audience: 16 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): Batgirl is back! Three years ago, the brilliant and brazen Barbara Gordon received a nearly life-ending shot to the spine at the hands of the Joker. Not only did she survive but, after years of paralysis, she also regained her ability to walk. A miracle, and Batgirl was born again! Now Barbara must prove to her mentors Batman and Nightwing, as well as her Police Commissioner father, that she's ready to get her life up and running again. Even more important she must prove it to herself. But getting back on her feet in Gotham City will become even more challenging when a very personal hit list is revealed in the hands of a new villain. And Barbara's name is on it.

My thoughts:
I was a little sad when Batgirl was rebooted. Not because I wasn't happy Barbara was back as Batgirl, but because I'm pretty sure they erased the part of her being a librarian. That's okay though because this story is AWESOME! You meet Barbara as a young lady and she is ready to get out on her own and start her own life. The graphic novel starts currently, but it flashes back to when she was paralyzed and how life was for her then. She is still dealing with the guilt of being able to walk again and it continues to rear it's ugly head throughout the novel. She does fight some bad guys in between. Then a person we never thought would come into her life re-appers, which I found odd and suspicious. I think more will come about that later...or at least I hope. The one thing the writers did not touch is the budding romance between Batgirl and Nightwing and I'm happy for that...considering Batgirl and Nightwing are my wedding cake toppers. This story is awesome. It provides enough back story to get you through the novel and it provides plenty of butt kicking to keep you entertained!