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billyjepma's reviews
594 reviews
Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II Vol. 1: Balance Of The Force by Ario Anindito, Cavan Scott, Andrea Broccardo
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
A decent read, but a clunky one. Scott’s comic work had yet to impress me, which is odd, considering how much I enjoyed what he did with The Rising Storm book. He’s got some decent ideas—using Jedha as a tense hotbed of different sects that use the Force in various ways is so cool on paper—that he doesn’t develop enough. I like the conflict he’s setting up, and it’s neat seeing some setup for stuff we saw in Phase 1 of The High Republic; the issue is how surface-level it all is. The characters are two-dimensional at best, annoying at worst (which happens more often than it should), and have so little connection to the plot so far that it’s hard to care. At least the art is better than the usual stuff from Marvel’s Star Wars lines.
This is the first volume, so there’s room to grow, but an introductory arc should leave you wanting more, and this barely qualifies for that. The sudden ending doesn’t help, either. I wish Scott would get better about pacing his storytelling because he regularly ends “arcs”—if you can even call them that—on unceremonious twists or cliffhangers that feel shallow and leave the plot on an unfinished note. It’s weird how the Marvel comics for The High Republic have been such a clear low point for the series so far. The YA comics are easily better, too, because at least those have solid character work.
All that said, I do sound harsher than I feel. I would still give this 2.5 stars, but I’ll round up because going lower feels too negative. These five issues are perfectly readable, have some decent ideas, and the art has some impressive moments, but it lacks the dramatic heft I want. Hopefully that improves moving forward.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Gaslighting
Love Everlasting, Volume 1 by Matt Hollingsworth, Tom King, Elsa Charretier
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Really unique, striking art and an interesting premise take this decently far, but there’s not a lot of meat on the bones yet. The story doesn’t really evolve or develop in this first volume—it’s cyclical, essentially establishing and reiterating the premise four different times and then ending on something that seems like it’s going to take you a bit behind the curtain but doesn’t. It doesn’t leave me with a strong enough urge to keep going, sadly. I’ll stick around for at least the next volume, but I hope to see some traction or depth injected into the vibes King and Charretier have created because this is a mostly surface-level story so far.
I also hope King dials back the period-specific, old-timey dialogue—it was cute for a few pages yet quickly starts to grow tiresome. This is one of the first of King’s projects where he seems to be writing outside of his usual skill set, so while there’s some excitement in seeing him branch out, this first foray is a little clumsy.
I also hope King dials back the period-specific, old-timey dialogue—it was cute for a few pages yet quickly starts to grow tiresome. This is one of the first of King’s projects where he seems to be writing outside of his usual skill set, so while there’s some excitement in seeing him branch out, this first foray is a little clumsy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, Death, Cursing, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Classism, War, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
The Fisherman by John Langan
Like all good stories that take up the torch of cosmic horror, this is a slippery, unsettling, captivating descent into horrors too big to name. It's more literary than many of its genre peers but also leans into its genre more than any "literary" book would, which means it's essentially the ideal book for me. Langan is a helluva writer, pairing rich prose with dense descriptions that force you to submerge yourself in his storytelling if you want to keep the reins. The story-within-a-story structure of the book is a two-edged blade: its secret weapon and the one thing with the potential to hurt its impact. It was very much the former for me, as the two stories are less about the events that transpire and more about the ideas they confront. But in the same breath, I can admit that the third act, where the original story returns, is notably weaker than the material preceding it. The story moves so quickly in those final 80 pages that the revelations and developments lack the same teeth that the rest of the book uses so well. It still worked for me, though, as evidenced by the score above. There's an inevitability to it that feels appropriate for the scale and subject of the book, so while I would've happily read more, I appreciate how things ultimately unwound, too.
What might impress me the most about this book—which I'm obviously a fan of and will undoubtedly linger in my mind for quite some time—is how fluidly it embraces its influences while differentiating itself from them. Langan takes the horrific ideas of Lovecraft and pairs them with Stephen King's penchant for grief-stricken protagonists who are a hairsbreadth away from disaster, but the book is entirely Langan's front-to-back. The quality of his writing is superb, striking a delicate balance between poetic and needle-sharp that would also feel right at home read aloud by a campfire. The book also isn't that scary, at least not in a traditional sense, but is interspersed with a looming, impenetrable sense of foreboding that worms its way under your skin. I haven't lost sleep over scary stories since I was a kid, but I'd be lying if I said that—when preparing to go to bed—my mind didn't linger on the darkness Langan writes of here.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"How could something sacred be bad?"
Like all good stories that take up the torch of cosmic horror, this is a slippery, unsettling, captivating descent into horrors too big to name. It's more literary than many of its genre peers but also leans into its genre more than any "literary" book would, which means it's essentially the ideal book for me. Langan is a helluva writer, pairing rich prose with dense descriptions that force you to submerge yourself in his storytelling if you want to keep the reins. The story-within-a-story structure of the book is a two-edged blade: its secret weapon and the one thing with the potential to hurt its impact. It was very much the former for me, as the two stories are less about the events that transpire and more about the ideas they confront. But in the same breath, I can admit that the third act, where the original story returns, is notably weaker than the material preceding it. The story moves so quickly in those final 80 pages that the revelations and developments lack the same teeth that the rest of the book uses so well. It still worked for me, though, as evidenced by the score above. There's an inevitability to it that feels appropriate for the scale and subject of the book, so while I would've happily read more, I appreciate how things ultimately unwound, too.
What might impress me the most about this book—which I'm obviously a fan of and will undoubtedly linger in my mind for quite some time—is how fluidly it embraces its influences while differentiating itself from them. Langan takes the horrific ideas of Lovecraft and pairs them with Stephen King's penchant for grief-stricken protagonists who are a hairsbreadth away from disaster, but the book is entirely Langan's front-to-back. The quality of his writing is superb, striking a delicate balance between poetic and needle-sharp that would also feel right at home read aloud by a campfire. The book also isn't that scary, at least not in a traditional sense, but is interspersed with a looming, impenetrable sense of foreboding that worms its way under your skin. I haven't lost sleep over scary stories since I was a kid, but I'd be lying if I said that—when preparing to go to bed—my mind didn't linger on the darkness Langan writes of here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Gore, Grief, Death, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Sexual content, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Abandonment, and Cancer
Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, Terminal illness, and Animal death
Star Wars: Hidden Empire by Steven Cummings, Charles Soule
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
A lot of pomp, a lot of circumstances, and a lot of almost-interesting ideas, but it never catches fire and ends with barely a spark to speak of. I like Qi’ra’s motivations, as loosely developed as they are, and the lore Soule plays with has potential; it just doesn’t go anywhere or have any real stakes, gravitas, or anything worth caring about. The final page is good, I’ll give it that, ending things on a slightly better note than I expected. I guess the artwork is also fine. It’s maybe even a slight step above some of the usual we get in the Star Wars books, but it’s still lacking style or personality, just like the writing.
I hope someday we get more of her story—preferably told by a woman—because she deserves better than the comics have given her.
Convergence by Zoraida Córdova
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
There's a lot of fun stuff here, especially with the charming cast of characters, who are all very easy to spend time with. But for one reason or another, I just wasn't that invested in the story. If this is the formal beginning of Phase 2 for The High Republic, then it's not a very interesting one, at least when compared to the first. That may be an error of expectation on my part, admittedly. Still, the plot felt too slight and too often relied on story tropes I struggled to connect with, even if the execution of them was above average.
I don't know how to say this without sounding disparaging, which I don't intend to be, but the story feels like something you'd find in fan fiction. That's not usually something I mind, as those tropes are popular for good reasons, but they didn't click for me in this context. Despite my misgivings about the story around them, I'm still invested enough in the cast of fresh-faced heroes to want to see where they go next.
If this were a standalone series, I would be more forgiving, probably, but I'm also not sure how compelled to continue I'd be. As part of an ongoing storyline I'm already significantly invested in, it's disappointing. It makes me question more than ever whether the choice to have Phase 2 of The High Republic as a "prequel" series was the best, especially since this first outing has yet to establish a solid direction for the rest of the stories moving forward. I'm obviously in for the whole shebang, so I'm ready and willing to be proven wrong, but the momentum and investment I had in Phase 1 of THR have yet to translate over so far.
I don't know how to say this without sounding disparaging, which I don't intend to be, but the story feels like something you'd find in fan fiction. That's not usually something I mind, as those tropes are popular for good reasons, but they didn't click for me in this context. Despite my misgivings about the story around them, I'm still invested enough in the cast of fresh-faced heroes to want to see where they go next.
If this were a standalone series, I would be more forgiving, probably, but I'm also not sure how compelled to continue I'd be. As part of an ongoing storyline I'm already significantly invested in, it's disappointing. It makes me question more than ever whether the choice to have Phase 2 of The High Republic as a "prequel" series was the best, especially since this first outing has yet to establish a solid direction for the rest of the stories moving forward. I'm obviously in for the whole shebang, so I'm ready and willing to be proven wrong, but the momentum and investment I had in Phase 1 of THR have yet to translate over so far.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, War, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Death of parent
Something is Killing the Children Vol. 5 by James Tynion IV
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was good! I liked the slower pace more than I thought I would—it lets the story lean into its comfortable procedural elements instead of racing toward the next action scene. The pacing of the first storyline was one of my bigger complaints, since it kept me from actually caring about anyone, so it’s nice to find that I’m already invested in this new cast of characters. The broader world building is fine, but I can’t say it’s hitting for me the way the way I want it to her. It feels very reminiscent of stuff I’ve seen before—there are plenty of examples, but John Wick springs to mind—and hasn’t differentiated itself enough to feel like an interesting twist on those ideas. The flashback volume showed promise, and definitely made Erica a character I have more interest in sticking with, so that’s great, and the supernatural stuff is as fucked up and fascinating as ever. But I do hope the shadowy organization of monster killers become more interesting, because I’m still blasé about it.
But yeah, I still really liked the volume. Cool monster, Dell’edera’s art continues to improve (the sun-soaked landscapes are a welcome change of pace from the murky darkness of earlier outings), and I remain, as ever, a sucker for those small-town-on-the-brink-of-extinction vibes that Tynion is so good at using.
But yeah, I still really liked the volume. Cool monster, Dell’edera’s art continues to improve (the sun-soaked landscapes are a welcome change of pace from the murky darkness of earlier outings), and I remain, as ever, a sucker for those small-town-on-the-brink-of-extinction vibes that Tynion is so good at using.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Pedophilia and Animal cruelty
Guardians of the Galaxy by Abnett and Lanning: The Complete Collection, Vol. 2 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Brad Walker, Wes Craig
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A fun, but choppy read. It struggles with the same issue a lot of Marvel’s comics have, which is scale. When the cast can explore their dynamics, Abnett’s writing works really well—believable relationships, nuanced motivations, and even some meaningful (albeit fleeting, because this is comics) consequences. It’s good stuff! But the larger threats about time and space collapsing on themselves get too dizzy for my brain to care about, which is when my mind starts to drift. The plot is so dense and tries to juggle so many threads—some of which are resolved without any fanfare or not resolved at all—that it lost the charm and character that initially drew me in. Those bits are still here, but they’re shakier and spaced out. The artwork is nice, though, and I’m a big fan of the colors and momentum of the characters across panels and pages.
The ending is also very abrupt and unsatisfying. There’s a huge twist and a notable death, and then the series ends before they can sink in. Based on what I know, it seems like it sets up another bigger storyline, which is annoying. Aw well. This was a fun series, still. The first half is a lot stronger than this half, but it scratched the itch I got from playing the (surprisingly good and underrated) Guardians of the Galaxy video game last year, so I can’t complain too much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Pregnancy, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Death
Minor: Animal death
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Of the Narnia books I’ve revisited this far, this one might be the most interesting, but not for the reasons I expected. It’s interesting in a more formal way, as you can feel Lewis’ enjoyment at revisiting this world, growing it further, and letting the Pevensie children see it through new eyes. Those elements are as lovely as ever and give the narrative a different vibe than The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. But in that same breath, the actual story here is thin, often lacking the emotional scale or thematic depth of its predecessor. It almost feels like Lewis was experiencing sequel fatigue of some sort, as he retreads a lot of similar territories (the battle at the end is the biggest example of this) from TLTWATW.
Caspian’s backstory section might be the standout specifically because it deviates from the familiar elements the series is famous for. But outside that single section, he drifts into the background and practically disappears from the story. The number of ideas in the story is great; they just lack the same focus Lewis usually brings to his writing.
But even then, there’s no denying how effortlessly enjoyable this is. It is fun to see the Pevensies as slightly older and more experienced, with Edmund being the standout, having undergone the most dramatic character arc previously. Their dynamic feels natural, and their playful banter and bickering are the best. I was especially fond of the Dear Little Friend they encountered. I almost wish more time was devoted to hanging out with them in the woods. That entire section is so cozy, and I love how much of Lewis’ writing is generally really good at capturing the vibe you get as a kid when you’re hanging out at a fire pit. It’s the best.
Caspian’s backstory section might be the standout specifically because it deviates from the familiar elements the series is famous for. But outside that single section, he drifts into the background and practically disappears from the story. The number of ideas in the story is great; they just lack the same focus Lewis usually brings to his writing.
But even then, there’s no denying how effortlessly enjoyable this is. It is fun to see the Pevensies as slightly older and more experienced, with Edmund being the standout, having undergone the most dramatic character arc previously. Their dynamic feels natural, and their playful banter and bickering are the best. I was especially fond of the Dear Little Friend they encountered. I almost wish more time was devoted to hanging out with them in the woods. That entire section is so cozy, and I love how much of Lewis’ writing is generally really good at capturing the vibe you get as a kid when you’re hanging out at a fire pit. It’s the best.
Catwoman: Lonely City by Cliff Chiang
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I went into this with some trepidation because, despite my affection for Chiang's art, I wasn't sure how he'd manage a Catwoman story, especially under the premium Black Label format, which has been incredibly inconsistent at best. But lemme tell ya, he killed it. After the visually appealing but narratively predictable first issue, things picked up in all the ways that count. Chiang settles into a unique vibe that plays like a weird and delightful mixture of golden-age comics and an HBO drama. His storytelling isn't remarkable, necessarily, and Chiang's plotting can be a little clunky and/or crowded. But I'm pretty forgiving with the plot when the character work is this strong, with only minor a few minor exceptions.
I don't think Chiang's interpretation of these characters is all that surprising, but I consider that a positive, especially considering how many of these Black Label miniseries' have struggled. Having four issues to work with versus the usual three also helps and should definitely be the standard the label uses moving forward. I respect that Chiang kept his iterations subtler, as it allows him to piggyback off what we know of these characters, which also helps his characterizations feel more organic. That's a lot of words to say that I loved a lot of what Chiang did here.
His art is also reliably excellent, the coloring especially. His illustrations strike a good balance between playful and mature, but the colors make the book's visuals soar. There's so much volume to the pages Chiang turns out, from the vibrantly dense environments to the specific expressions of the characters—this is a gorgeous book. Consider this a 4.5-star book and one I can absolutely see myself revisiting.
I don't think Chiang's interpretation of these characters is all that surprising, but I consider that a positive, especially considering how many of these Black Label miniseries' have struggled. Having four issues to work with versus the usual three also helps and should definitely be the standard the label uses moving forward. I respect that Chiang kept his iterations subtler, as it allows him to piggyback off what we know of these characters, which also helps his characterizations feel more organic. That's a lot of words to say that I loved a lot of what Chiang did here.
His art is also reliably excellent, the coloring especially. His illustrations strike a good balance between playful and mature, but the colors make the book's visuals soar. There's so much volume to the pages Chiang turns out, from the vibrantly dense environments to the specific expressions of the characters—this is a gorgeous book. Consider this a 4.5-star book and one I can absolutely see myself revisiting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Police brutality, Violence, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I struggled to get into this at first and found myself bristling at how little the story prepared me for its version of space travel, alien worlds, and technology. On one hand, I admired the in media res approach, but on the other, I felt like it kept me at arm’s length from the characters and the mystery they find themselves in. And then, right around the halfway point, something in me or the book clicked into place, and I tore through the remaining 150+ pages in one sitting. All those wrinkles I initially saw as obstacles unfolded and played out in immensely satisfying, exciting ways. I still think that the first half is a little rough, and there are areas I found to be slightly underbaked, but I can’t argue with the results. Once things got going, I was all in and then some.
The very concept of a single-location murder mystery in a spaceship is enough of a hook to get me. If you’re willing to be patient, Thompson’s storytelling delivers on and exceeds the expectations of that initial conceit. I love the themes stitched into the plot, appreciate how they exist analogously to the story, and pay off in simultaneously rewarding and frustrating ways. Which is a good thing in my book because the themes Thompson introduces are too big and, in some ways, too abstract to have a proper resolution. I appreciate that he lets his characters (and, by extension, his reader) sit in that vaguely uncomfortable space. Take away the headiness, though, and you still have a simmering thriller that feels like the twisted love child of Seven, The Martian, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, with some tasteful hints of a Hercule Poirot caper mixed in for good measure.
The very concept of a single-location murder mystery in a spaceship is enough of a hook to get me. If you’re willing to be patient, Thompson’s storytelling delivers on and exceeds the expectations of that initial conceit. I love the themes stitched into the plot, appreciate how they exist analogously to the story, and pay off in simultaneously rewarding and frustrating ways. Which is a good thing in my book because the themes Thompson introduces are too big and, in some ways, too abstract to have a proper resolution. I appreciate that he lets his characters (and, by extension, his reader) sit in that vaguely uncomfortable space. Take away the headiness, though, and you still have a simmering thriller that feels like the twisted love child of Seven, The Martian, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, with some tasteful hints of a Hercule Poirot caper mixed in for good measure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, Cursing, and Medical content
Minor: Child death, Colonisation, Classism, Racial slurs, and Cannibalism