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Overall a solid installment that spends plenty of time with Reno trying to master the suit that is No 6. We also see a lot of the friendship between him and Iharu. The volume ends with Kafka getting real advice and help from Vice-Captain Hoshin. There is a really interesting panel on the 2nd to last page that may really change the game for Kafka and while it was nowhere on my radar for this series, I am more invested now.
This story does such a good job finding wonderfully quiet moments and truly human moments. I have nothing negative to say about this story. The deliberate pace of the storytelling lets you live in each beat, the joy and sadness have a chance to settle. Magari's optimism continues to push them both forward while Ganta's practicality reminds the reader that there are real problems in front of them.
At the end of the day I can honestly say there isn't another ongoing series I look forward to as much as this. Part of that largely stems from how different this is from much of my other reading, but without fail this series provides the heart and carefully crafted visuals that make it perennially great.
This volume reads quickly, lots of action while still moving the plot forward. The back half is mostly Silver Fang and Genos trying to save some friends, but before that we do have plenty of other heroes featured. There is preciously little Saitama here outside of some quick jumps over to his plot-line early. Bang on the cover is also misleading, he's here for basically 4 pages total. That said, considering how we haven't seen some of these heroes fight much and how the group is really coming together it is still worth the read.
For fans of this series, this is the ending we've always been heading for and that's fine. This series was never high art, it was silly conceits and gigantic set pieces. I liked this because early on it was dumb and fun with protagonists that were 1/2 a joke and antagonists that were going to play it straight. The scope of this book gradually got bigger and it moved away from its original small premise (poking fun at the world of Harry Potter) and the next thing you know Mash is facing down god-level, globe ending threats. It has been a weird ride, but considering it neatly wraps itself up in 18 volumes I have no problem recommending this one. It's unusual while feeling familiar and never asks too much of the reader. It is a great change-of-pace book and helped me break up my reading when I felt like I was getting stuck in a rut with some other titles. Not a bad job for a book about a kid with no magic trying to survive a world of magic users that want to reject him.
FOR ALL THE GODDAMNED HEARTBREAK VAUGHAN PUTS US THROUGH, HE SURE CAN NAIL THE UPBEAT ENDING OF A FINAL VOLUME BEFORE BREAK. please read these dumb books. I really do love them.
This was a palate cleanser and it did just that. Sarah Andersen is still a gem and it was genuinely fun to go back and re-read the first volume and see some of the early, college era humor again. Also, her style has evolved as she's practiced and developed and that was interesting thing to see in the early work.
This volume touches on the idea of graduating for what feels like the first time in the series. For all Magari's medical issues, we've never really looked at what happens at or after graduation. It was a jarring conversation because so much of this series exists inside of small, quiet moments and this really stuck out. It was very natural now that they are no longer the youngest class, but I didn't anticipate it and found myself really considering what it meant. I like that there are still surprises in this series and there are still things at stake. It felt earned and really influenced the rest of this volume. I'm looking forward to seeing how this is handled in subsequent volumes and how the relationships around them continue to evolve.
This was a quick re-read as Fall 1152 was something I wanted to recommend to a friend for their 9 year old who is looking for a graphic novel that isn't all capes and powers. I love the Mouse Guard books and [a:David Petersen 36203 David Petersen https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1256493636p2/36203.jpg] art work is really special, but I couldn't remember how violent this actually got. I'm glad I read it again for my own sake as I still really enjoy this book, but it was nice to see that while it gives a lot of adventure thrills it could be accessible to this young, advanced reader who wants something a little different. It's a pretty special series. ...probably going to have to read the next one in this series now. You know. Because.
Mash winds up in a gigantic battle against Margarette Macaron, prefect from Orca dorm, in front of the entire school. Margarette's sound magic leads to some incredible art and, similar to something like One Punch Man, we get named moves/spells that take up 2 pages at a time. We see Mash working towards becoming a Divine Visionary, but the Innocent Zero show up in force at the end of the book. It's a great cliff-hanger, building on some earlier intrigue when Divine Visionary Kaldo Gehenna decides to take Mash's measure. He's the head of magical talent and wants to find out if Mash is worth of becoming a Divine Visionary, displaying his incredible power in the process. - Fun installment, really drives the plot forward.
This series is real weird. I know I've mentioned this before, but still, like, what are we doing here? Curses, cursed beings, weird martial arts... there is a lot to unpack, but most of it is tough to follow in real time. I guess the show is what is driving a lot of the love for this one? I don't hate this and the art is really what keeps me here, it's terrific, but I feel lost a lot.
this. was. Hot. Garbage.
SING IT WITH ME NOW!!!
I only made it through one and a half issues in this volume before it was just too much.
This book wants desperately to be unique and kick-ass and edgy, among other things I'm sure. It just came off pretty forced to me. It was trying to be a few things too many all at the same time. I get the irony considering the eponymous hero, but it just wound up being too convoluted for me. I thought this might be interesting to try during out YA Reading Challenge, but I wouldn't recommend this to any of our high school readers... or other readers while we're at it.
Upon re-reading, this is still a great Hex book, even if “The Six Gun War” is a terrible and misused title. Bat Lash, Talllulah, El Diablo, and many more show up in this book which is one complete narrative, which we don't always get in these volumes. It's all pretty standard Jonah Hex stuff, but well worth the time.
this series is super weird and not easy to follow, however I enjoy the artwork and people seem to enjoy it. I may need to not go so long between volumes.
In terms of plot progression and story complication, this is a pretty great volume. Tensions ratchet up while the circle of weirdness grows wider and the plot thickens. Alliances are tested, built, broken, etc, etc. It's a really satisfying entry into a fantastic series and I am only sad I forgot how fast it all goes by.
This volume does a lot of great stuff to expand upon the ideas of family, fragility, isolation and ultimately war. It reinforced for me why I have enjoyed this series so much. Also, Ghus!
So this particular volume is almost impossible to discuss without it getting real spoiler-y real fast.
There is a lot of family drama here and it's the first time anyone's love for one another is put to a test. This is maybe the hardest set of issues for me personally because it takes us places I'd rather our heroes not have to go. I completely understand why it makes good drama and interesting story fodder, but it's not what I like about the series. I prefer it when our core characters are intact and the threats are external. - Still 5 stars, still great series.
This volume really kicks this story up one. American Vampire is bleak, bloody and well written. I'm a sucker for Rafael Albuquerque art and this is a shining example of his talent. Snyder really is building an interesting world for multiple breeds of vampires here and it's intriguing to watch the generational conflicts building.
Still 5 stars, still one of my favorites. You get an introduction to Jonah's father, the tribe that raised him for a time and Ms. Tallulah Black. Tallulah is one of my favorite characters not only in this comic, but in all of comics. What she does for any given Hex story she shows up in cannot be understated.
Again, I love this character and these books. Grain of salt this review.
The story and characters are whimsical and engaging, but it's the art. The art of this book, for me, is unlike anything I've seen in a very long time. I find it captivating and almost overwhelming in detail at times. I would re-read pages just to try and take in the scope of it all. Truly an enjoyable story that I hope has many follow up tales.
Less singing, so it's already easier to read. Seriously though, so much winds up happening in this book and the pace feels faster accordingly. As it's the “Empire Strikes Back” installment there is plenty of bleak happenings and the ending is that sort of brilliantly frustrating that begs you to come back for the next installment. Being a fan of the movies I forget about how different it is in the books where you stay with one group for extended periods of time and then catch up with the others some time later. It makes for a different experience of the story that I think helps the book hold my attention. (the Andy Serkis narrations is now an all time favorite for any book)
I'm super conflicted about this one. I think I liked it enough for 4 stars? Something about the art is REALLY captivating, while some of the faces are too close to anime style for me. It's weird, parts of this story were interesting and layered, while others felt detached from the plot... I'm rambling now, but it is a strange book that left me confused. I'm going to read Vol 2 and see if that decides it.
I read this again hoping to like it more, but there is SO MUCH unfulfilled promise here. The art is all over the map and a general dip in quality after the first 2 volumes. This one feels like a struggle to keep the story going and I am hoping volume 4 finds it's footing again.
Really helpful step by step directions, wonderful tips and tricks. A great companion piece to David Erik Nelson's previous book “Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred” which also has some great instrument building ideas. Lots of side bar information that really fleshes out the process of DIY and makes it seem doable for anyone.
Great introduction to the world of cigar box guitars. Really interesting interviews with builders who love sharing what they've learned. Several step by step instructions for building your own guitars at home. Wonderful photos of some historic c.b.g. This is subtle entrance into a world that will quickly swallow you up and become more than a hobby.