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divineblkpearl's Reviews (732)
FTL, Y'all!: Tales From the Age of the $200 Warp Drive
Julie Gravelle, Iris Jay, Nathaniel Wilson, Earl T. Roske, Olivia Northrop, James F. Wright, Evan Dahm, Skolli Rubedo, David Andry, Jonathon Dalton, Seren Krakens, Cindy Powers, Molly Kennedy, C.B. Webb, Sunny, Cheez Hayama, N.N. Chan, C. Spike Trotman, Kay Rossbach, Chris Williamson, Alexxander Dovelin, Ainsley Seago, Little Corvus, Xia Gordon, Luz Bianca, Maia Kobabe, J. Piechowiak, Miss Jamie Kaye, Rachel Ordway, Mary Anne Mackey, Ahueonao, Mulele Jarvis, Blue Delliquanti, Paul Schultz, Jay Eaton
FTL, Y’ALL Is The Sci-Fi Trip In Comic Form That We All Need To Take
The premise of this collection is:
Six months from now, detailed schematics anonymously uploaded to the Internet will describe, with absolute precision, how to build a faster-than-light engine for $200 in easily-available parts. Space travel will be instantly—and chaotically—democratized. The entire cosmos is suddenly within reach of all humankind, without organization, authority or limitation.
FTL, Y’ALL is a immerse trip into the imaginations and hearts of all the folks who contributed to this volume of comics. With the premise of technology and science, defining and redefining what home is and exploration that isn’t just in space–this comics anthology does deep and it is better for it.
With over 20 stories and over 300 pages of comics, FTL, Y’all! is one of Iron Circus Comics’ biggest and most intriguing anthologies ever.
And if you’re a ICC fan like myself, I think it might be in your top three after you finish reading thorough the tome–it’s a strong contender to the Smut Peddler books for me. While the anthology boasts a big variety of different art styles there are a few stories that have art that is a bit hard to follow and may come across as distracting.
Thankfully its not enough to ruin the experience for me and even those stories do, at heart follow the theme of the adult sci-fi anthology even if the unique art styles flex in their own way. I was really impressed by the wide range of personal struggle and out this world drama bombs that were dropped making nearly every story I read a treasure to read and ruminate on.
There seemed to be a story for everything under the sun from having unwavering moral responsibility to keep access to evolving technology for the people and keep government out (Alexander’s Dovelin’s “LIA”) to having to grow up fast in a new and changing world when adults fail you (Rachel Ordway’s “Fail safe”, Nathaniel Wilson’s “Story of A Rescue”).
There were stories that gave a spotlight on not being welcomed due to being apart of colonizing efforts (Jonathan Dalton’s “Words From The Dead” to being seen as “other” when being human isn’t the majority (Evan Dahm’s “Way Home”) This collection captures some of the best storytellers and artists with some veteran talents and newer emerging faces that I look forward to following and seeing in this newer wave of folks working in the comics industry giving us that work.
Read the rest of my review here: http://blacknerdproblems.com/ftl-yall-is-the-sci-fi-trip-in-comic-form-that-we-all-need-to-take/?preview=true
The premise of this collection is:
Six months from now, detailed schematics anonymously uploaded to the Internet will describe, with absolute precision, how to build a faster-than-light engine for $200 in easily-available parts. Space travel will be instantly—and chaotically—democratized. The entire cosmos is suddenly within reach of all humankind, without organization, authority or limitation.
FTL, Y’ALL is a immerse trip into the imaginations and hearts of all the folks who contributed to this volume of comics. With the premise of technology and science, defining and redefining what home is and exploration that isn’t just in space–this comics anthology does deep and it is better for it.
With over 20 stories and over 300 pages of comics, FTL, Y’all! is one of Iron Circus Comics’ biggest and most intriguing anthologies ever.
And if you’re a ICC fan like myself, I think it might be in your top three after you finish reading thorough the tome–it’s a strong contender to the Smut Peddler books for me. While the anthology boasts a big variety of different art styles there are a few stories that have art that is a bit hard to follow and may come across as distracting.
Thankfully its not enough to ruin the experience for me and even those stories do, at heart follow the theme of the adult sci-fi anthology even if the unique art styles flex in their own way. I was really impressed by the wide range of personal struggle and out this world drama bombs that were dropped making nearly every story I read a treasure to read and ruminate on.
There seemed to be a story for everything under the sun from having unwavering moral responsibility to keep access to evolving technology for the people and keep government out (Alexander’s Dovelin’s “LIA”) to having to grow up fast in a new and changing world when adults fail you (Rachel Ordway’s “Fail safe”, Nathaniel Wilson’s “Story of A Rescue”).
There were stories that gave a spotlight on not being welcomed due to being apart of colonizing efforts (Jonathan Dalton’s “Words From The Dead” to being seen as “other” when being human isn’t the majority (Evan Dahm’s “Way Home”) This collection captures some of the best storytellers and artists with some veteran talents and newer emerging faces that I look forward to following and seeing in this newer wave of folks working in the comics industry giving us that work.
Read the rest of my review here: http://blacknerdproblems.com/ftl-yall-is-the-sci-fi-trip-in-comic-form-that-we-all-need-to-take/?preview=true
I think...I will reread this one in the very near future because it truly didn't stick with me. I got lost somewhere in the middle so the ending left me with mixed feelings. What I did like: tackling the issues of figuring out your identity, sexuality, how depression and suicide affect us, self worth. The artwork is always on point from Asano, in particular I loved the scenes at the shore through the book, especially during the shore.
I 'm not bothered by all the sex and nudity, I believe perhaps there's some scenes that feature that some depth--of action, of silence that tells more that's going on. One thing is for sure is that Inio Asano doesn't spoon feed readers anything and I have enjoyed other works by him like Solanin and What a Wonderful World! yet this one I just couldnt connect with as much as.
I know Asano's trademark is the darker stuff that's not for kids that's haunting and can be funny--maybe I'll reread this one after devoring Goodnight Pun Pun and rereading Nijigahara Holograph. Maybe I'll feel different?
I 'm not bothered by all the sex and nudity, I believe perhaps there's some scenes that feature that some depth--of action, of silence that tells more that's going on. One thing is for sure is that Inio Asano doesn't spoon feed readers anything and I have enjoyed other works by him like Solanin and What a Wonderful World! yet this one I just couldnt connect with as much as.
I know Asano's trademark is the darker stuff that's not for kids that's haunting and can be funny--maybe I'll reread this one after devoring Goodnight Pun Pun and rereading Nijigahara Holograph. Maybe I'll feel different?
So this it totally in that 4.9/5 star category for shojo goodness if you're looking for some new-ish manga. I'm fresh off reading Nikki Asada's other shojo series, The Heart Break Club and wanted more from this mangaka. So this series does borrow from the typical genre tropes like other reviews on here have noted, such as the rich boy, commoner girl, love triangle and high school life tropes but breathes a fun story here with them with her characters. What I learned of Asada's work from The Heart Break Club is that she can craft characters that are likeable and throw them in hilarious situations with fun quirks and personalities. The Prince's Romance Gambit is so incredibly fun to read and I was game for the next volumes in the series. Pick this one up if you're a shojo/shoujo fan and want something new-ish!
The topy tursy courtship and adventure of (Prince) Hatsuyuki Ichimonjim, the endearing and (not wealthy) commoner Koume Yoshida with the hear of gold. And of course their friends and confidents. Volume two brings more themes of CONSENT, of having a inner circle of friends to whom you can be yourself with and the being a person that's easy to love--a person that helps others and enriches their lives. Another great volume.
Wash Day popped on my radar thanks to its Kickstarter campaign. The 27-page story was written by Jamila Rowser and illustrated by Robyn Smith, with script edits by J.A. Micheline. It follows Kimana, a 26-year-old woman living in the Bronx, as she cares for her long, thick hair. As Kim goes through her Sunday morning rituals, readers experience the highs and lows of her day — fresh coffee, rising rent, girl talk, and catcalls. It is a welcomed addition to the growing world of indie and alternative comics taking up real estate in my heart.
“Wash Day is a slice-of-life comic that pays tribute to the beauty and endurance of Black women and their hair.”
Wash Day opens to Kimana waking up one morning after a night on the town, taking a look at herself in the mirror, and after messing around with her hair saying “Alright. Time to wash you”
From jump, Rowser has penned this story to have this air of familiarity that I instantly connected to. This is a slice of life genre narrative that is more or less a “Day In the Life Of” a Black girl. Seeing Kimana put in work while in the shower and detangle and comb and apply product to her hair isn’t something commonly seen in comic form when you think of Black women in comics. Not something you see routinely in mainstream comics at least. I’m always here for authenticity when looking at representation of Black girls and women in the media I consume, and this is an accurate one and great to see.
Seeing Kimana walk through her neighborhood, seeing folks outside at a table playing dominoes or cards, seeing the small talk she exchanges with the folks who work at her favorite corner store and hell–even seeing the dudes who have nothing better to do but take up space and catcall–makes it a comic I’m glad to have and glad to re-read.
You may ask what risks are taken, who the villain is or what ante is raised and honestly there are none and that’s fine. It’s not saving New York City from invading aliens. It isn’t figuring out how to stop a moody team member from trying to merk another in the rain, but it is what I want. Seeing Black girls shoot the breeze, start on their hair, and go see their friends can be just as exciting for me many others.
There is something revolutionary in seeing Black women drawn, written, and arranged by Black women in a medium where we aren’t traditionally centered or catered to.
Read the rest of my review here: http://blacknerdproblems.com/wash-day-review-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-black-girl/
“Wash Day is a slice-of-life comic that pays tribute to the beauty and endurance of Black women and their hair.”
Wash Day opens to Kimana waking up one morning after a night on the town, taking a look at herself in the mirror, and after messing around with her hair saying “Alright. Time to wash you”
From jump, Rowser has penned this story to have this air of familiarity that I instantly connected to. This is a slice of life genre narrative that is more or less a “Day In the Life Of” a Black girl. Seeing Kimana put in work while in the shower and detangle and comb and apply product to her hair isn’t something commonly seen in comic form when you think of Black women in comics. Not something you see routinely in mainstream comics at least. I’m always here for authenticity when looking at representation of Black girls and women in the media I consume, and this is an accurate one and great to see.
Seeing Kimana walk through her neighborhood, seeing folks outside at a table playing dominoes or cards, seeing the small talk she exchanges with the folks who work at her favorite corner store and hell–even seeing the dudes who have nothing better to do but take up space and catcall–makes it a comic I’m glad to have and glad to re-read.
You may ask what risks are taken, who the villain is or what ante is raised and honestly there are none and that’s fine. It’s not saving New York City from invading aliens. It isn’t figuring out how to stop a moody team member from trying to merk another in the rain, but it is what I want. Seeing Black girls shoot the breeze, start on their hair, and go see their friends can be just as exciting for me many others.
There is something revolutionary in seeing Black women drawn, written, and arranged by Black women in a medium where we aren’t traditionally centered or catered to.
Read the rest of my review here: http://blacknerdproblems.com/wash-day-review-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-black-girl/
The topy tursy courtship and adventure of (Prince) Hatsuyuki Ichimonjim, the endearing and (not wealthy) Koume Yoshida with the heart of gold continues in this third volume. And of course their friends and confidants. Volume three puts pressure of the building love triangle of Hatsuyuki, Koume and Tsubaki. This volume also brings more themes of experiencing your first love and how that manifests for others, societal expectations and setting your own pace in life and standing in support of those who you can friends. The love triangle is spicy enough to pick up this one for but the slowly revealing relationships of Hatsuyuki and his 'Four Lords" that act as friends and protectors is worth digging in as well. I'm so bummed that I have to wait for volume four!!! AHHHHHH!
