Tag: Graphic Novel

Book Review: Monstress Vol. 1-4

On By AllieS.In Book Review, Comics, Graphic NovelsLeave a comment

I finally went back and reread Montress vol. 1 and 2 to continue on to vol 3 and I love the series just as much now as I did when I read it the first time. Montress is set in a fantasy world where humans and fantasy creatures know as Arcanics live. Some Arcanics and their halfbreed children can pass as humans, many have animal characteristics that set them part. In the past there was a war between the Humans and the Arcanics but when the story stats the war has been over for several years. The story follows Miaka Halfwolf a young Arcanic woman who passes as a human attempting to find more information about her mother and what her mother was involved in as Miaka suspects that it will effect her future.

Miaka holds in herself the mind and form of one the the ancient demons that some worship as gods and she needs to figure out what she wants to do and her place in the world before others can stop her, kill her or use her.

The world of Montress is a matriarchal one based on 20th century Asia with the war between Arcanics and sorceresses being the main conflict that sets the back story for the rest of the series. The story starts with Maika trying to discover the secrets of her late mother, Moriko which is the focus of volume one as well as setting up the world. In volume two Maika’s quest takes her to the mysterious Isle of Bones and forces her to confront past and her future. Volume three focuses more on the demon the Miaka holds and its connection to her family. Finally, volume four which is the currently the last of the collected volumes, has Maika meeting with her father and finding out some information about a plan to restart the war.

These graphic novels are wonderfully illustrated and the story is told not just through the writing but also the art. Its no wonder this series has won multiple awards and is now one of my favorite graphic novel series.

Comics vs Graphic Novels

On By AllieS.In Books, Comics, Graphic NovelsLeave a comment

I read a lot of comics, graphic novels, and manga but when I hear people talk about this story telling medium most use some of the words interchangeably. So, is there a difference between comics and graphic novels or not?

First by definition all of these different words all describe the way art is used to convey a story.  A comic or comic book is generally a magazine that presents a story in an illustrated format. A graphic novel is a novel that written in the comic format which generally is longer and more self contained. Manga is technically the Japanese word for comics but is used in the west to designate comics from Japan and in the Japanese style. Most reader do know that manga is different and don’t use the word to describe other things.

In my experience, the word comic and graphic novel are used interchangeably as at this point there isn’t that much of a difference between them. I think most people use which ever word they’ve heard other people use and which ever one sound better. For instance, when talking about The Walking Dead most would say The Walking Dead comic book series and not The Walking Dead graphic novel because it sounds better. However, Saga which is printed by the same company, Image Comics, is called a graphic novel because the Saga comic book series doesn’t sound as good.

The only time that I think this doesn’t happen is when people talk about long running comics from DC, Marvel, or those in newspapers. In my experience none of these are ever called graphic novels because they are connected to a long running story that is serialized.

These are my experiences so I would love to here what other think about this topic.

Saga Vol. 1-9 Review

On By AllieS.In Book ReviewLeave a comment

Saga is a scifi graphic novel series that follows Alana and Marko, lovers from different world that are at war with each other. Alana is from the more technologically advanced Landfall and Marko is From Wreath, Landfall’s moon, where people use magic. This war has spread to other worlds though there is peace on the main worlds. Alana and Marko met when she was guarding him in prison the first issue of the series has Allan giving birth to their daughter Hazel and escaping from those who would kill them. Hazel is narrating the story to the reader so we know she survives throughout the story. The summary of the series will contain spoilers for multiple volumes and events. If you don’t want to read further know that I love this series and would recommend it to anyone looking for a mature science fiction graphic novel series.

The first couple of volumes follows Alana and Marko trying to keep ahead of the different groups trying to track them down. These include Prince Robot IV who’s father wants him to capture them and a mercenary named The Will who also wants to kill Prince Robot after he killed The Will partner. During this time Marko’s parents and ex-fiancee, Gwendolyn, come into the story as they want answers as to what is going on.

Starting with the third volume the series shifts from everyone running away to them trying to find a way to live as a family without those pursuing them finding out where they are. We are also introduced to the journalist Upsher and Doff who are investigating Alana and Marko. In volume four, Alana is acting in a underground program where everyone wears masks and starts to get involved in drug use while Marko is a stay at home dad. When Prince Robot’s son is kidnapped and ends up separating the main family Marko must team up with those who want him dead to save those he loves.

In volume six, Alana and Marko find Hazel at a Landfall detention center and reuniting with her while also finding out that Alana is once again pregnant. Sadly, due to a battle and Alana getting injured she loses the baby and they must travel to a world where abortions are preformed to save her life. While this is happening the family starts to see visions of the life the baby would have had. Through out these events Prince Robot and his son are slowly becoming friends with the family and as the series progresses to the last current volume it becomes obvious that these people that once hated each other are starting to become family.

Though I love this series some volumes fell like filler stories to add to the tension of the main plot but don’t matter that much. I also think that at times the graphic and sexual content is just there for shock value which doesn’t add anything to the story. There are several volumes, especially those about Alana pregnancy and miscarriage that are hard to read given the topic and the ending of volume nine is heartbreaking.

However, I do love this series and recommend it to older audiences for a mature graphic novel read and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.