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michaeljohnhalseartistry's reviews
111 reviews
Beowulf by Santiago García
1.0
Beowulf. Everyone knows Beowulf, or at least the significance of Beowulf. It’s an Old English poem, and possibly the oldest surviving Old English poem dating back to somewhere between 700-1000 AD. It tells the story of Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, who comes to aid the Danes who are under attack by a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf slays Grendel, the monster’s mother attacks and is also defeated by Beowulf. Victorious, he returns home to Geatland (modern Sweden) and becomes king of the Geats. After nearly fifty years, Beowulf defeats a dragon harassing his own people, but is mortally wounded during the battle. Beowulf has been translated over and over, re-imaged and reinterpreted. There are least five different graphic novels about him, along with countless novels, songs, operas and theatre productions, as well as movies and even video games. I think it’s safe to say that we have covered Beowulf enough… it’s time to stop.
I first saw Santiago García’s Beowulf graphic novel while scouring through the comic book section at Chapters after winning a pretty prize during the store’s Christmas promotion, and it looked impressive. The cover is an ombre of deep, rich red, and across it is etched the face of Beowulf in light lines over the dark face of Grendel. It’s a striking cover! And I remember being generally impressed with the artwork inside while flippantly turning through the pages. I wasn’t impressed, or blown away… but I thought, it’s Beowulf, it’s more about the story, less about the artwork.
Unfortunately, this graphic novel of Beowulf failed on both accounts. First let’s talk about the artwork. At best it was subpar, highly cartoonish, and incredibly amateurish. There were some beautiful panels, and the flow of the pages was interesting and unlike anything I’ve read before, but mostly I had no idea what was going on because the artwork was so jumbled and confusing, and felt almost rushed. And in a way, that rushed feeling of the artwork was mirrored in the writing. García took the epic poem and stripped it of all it’s guts and kept the action. His version is a rushed, testosterone fuelled, action-packed, rushed retelling… which kind of sucked, I’m so tired of people taking old stories, unpacking the meat, and leaving in the blood and guts.
I had SUCH high hopes for this graphic novel, but I was let down… although apparently I’m not the only one. Reviews have been varied and maybe if I had read them before purchasing I never would’ve bought it. But hey, you and live and learn, and if anything it’s got an impressive look to it. Something to add to my Gatsby’s library.
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I first saw Santiago García’s Beowulf graphic novel while scouring through the comic book section at Chapters after winning a pretty prize during the store’s Christmas promotion, and it looked impressive. The cover is an ombre of deep, rich red, and across it is etched the face of Beowulf in light lines over the dark face of Grendel. It’s a striking cover! And I remember being generally impressed with the artwork inside while flippantly turning through the pages. I wasn’t impressed, or blown away… but I thought, it’s Beowulf, it’s more about the story, less about the artwork.
Unfortunately, this graphic novel of Beowulf failed on both accounts. First let’s talk about the artwork. At best it was subpar, highly cartoonish, and incredibly amateurish. There were some beautiful panels, and the flow of the pages was interesting and unlike anything I’ve read before, but mostly I had no idea what was going on because the artwork was so jumbled and confusing, and felt almost rushed. And in a way, that rushed feeling of the artwork was mirrored in the writing. García took the epic poem and stripped it of all it’s guts and kept the action. His version is a rushed, testosterone fuelled, action-packed, rushed retelling… which kind of sucked, I’m so tired of people taking old stories, unpacking the meat, and leaving in the blood and guts.
I had SUCH high hopes for this graphic novel, but I was let down… although apparently I’m not the only one. Reviews have been varied and maybe if I had read them before purchasing I never would’ve bought it. But hey, you and live and learn, and if anything it’s got an impressive look to it. Something to add to my Gatsby’s library.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
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The Destined Bond: A Mystics of V'nairia Novella by J.C. Ritchie
5.0
This is my first little dive into J.C. Ritchie's fantasy world, and I have to say I was not disappointed. Ritchie weaves together an action-packed and highly driven story with interesting and unique characters with their own desires, pain, and motives. In particular Ritchie's well written action sequences and battle scenes were a highlight of the novel, I was very impressed with how the scenes played out, and how effective the writing was at grabbing my attention. In my own writing, action has always been something I've quickly forced my way through (much to my editor's irritation), in favour of dialogue and character interaction, but Ritchie has a strong grasp on writing action, and after reading this novella I'm only more interested and excited about diving into the main novels of his Mystics of V'nairia series.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
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Saga, Book Two by Brian K. Vaughan
4.0
Even before I had started reading comics, I’d heard of Saga. Like The Walking Dead, it’s one of those more recent comics that everyone’s been talking about for the last few years. It’s one of the most critically acclaimed comic series of recent history, has a huge following and fan-base, and continues to win accolades and awards as the series progresses and furthers. I picked up the first book of the series, comprising the first 18 issues, last Christmas, and the second book later in the year, but put them aside while I dove into some shorter comics. Saga has been established for years, so it was a lot to catch up on and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit daunted. For some reason I never wanted to read Saga, I’ve looked at the comics before, and never seemed too interested in what I saw or read… but when I picked it up this time and started from the beginning, it won me over. In fact, it completely blew away the competition, Saga is, without a doubt, the second best comic series I’ve ever read (Monstress remains first, it will always be first).
This comic is packed with incredible adventure, heart, and hilarity, riddled with profane, complex, likeable characters, and a plot riddled with war and conflict. Saga, told from the perspective of Hazel, a newborn in this first book, tells the story of Hazel’s parents, both from opposing sides of an intergalactic conflict that has raged for centuries, and some of the assassins sent to deal with them from their home factions.
At the centre of Saga is the relationship between Alana and Marko, Hazel’s parents, and it’s one of the most complex and deeply real relationships I’ve ever read. The dialogue flows so easily between them, and their love for each other is passionate, complicated, and deep.
While some of the alien races are a little… ridiculous – for example, there’s a race of women who are literally just legs and a huge head, and a race of sentient, robots who seem to just have a lot of sex – the real heart of this comic doesn’t come from the absurdity of the universe it’s set in, but rather the character relationships, whether they're antagonistic or friendly. While the first book is definitely more interesting and fast-paced, the second furthers the storyline and takes a more internal look at conflict within the home.
I’m not sure who my favourite character is. I LOVE Marko, he might be my favourite, but I also have a soft spot for Upsher and Doff, a pair of homosexual reporters from the water-world Jetsam, who follow the story of Alana and Marko hoping for a big break in their journalistic careers. You would think that with a revolving cast, and a characters who come and go without warning, that some of the characters would fall flat, but that’s not the case, not at all. In fact every character is unique and fully fleshed out, with their individual quirks, problems, and personal challenges. It’s some of the best writing I’ve ever read, when it comes to a comic series, and it’s one that I will definitely continue with! I highly recommend it!
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
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This comic is packed with incredible adventure, heart, and hilarity, riddled with profane, complex, likeable characters, and a plot riddled with war and conflict. Saga, told from the perspective of Hazel, a newborn in this first book, tells the story of Hazel’s parents, both from opposing sides of an intergalactic conflict that has raged for centuries, and some of the assassins sent to deal with them from their home factions.
At the centre of Saga is the relationship between Alana and Marko, Hazel’s parents, and it’s one of the most complex and deeply real relationships I’ve ever read. The dialogue flows so easily between them, and their love for each other is passionate, complicated, and deep.
While some of the alien races are a little… ridiculous – for example, there’s a race of women who are literally just legs and a huge head, and a race of sentient, robots who seem to just have a lot of sex – the real heart of this comic doesn’t come from the absurdity of the universe it’s set in, but rather the character relationships, whether they're antagonistic or friendly. While the first book is definitely more interesting and fast-paced, the second furthers the storyline and takes a more internal look at conflict within the home.
I’m not sure who my favourite character is. I LOVE Marko, he might be my favourite, but I also have a soft spot for Upsher and Doff, a pair of homosexual reporters from the water-world Jetsam, who follow the story of Alana and Marko hoping for a big break in their journalistic careers. You would think that with a revolving cast, and a characters who come and go without warning, that some of the characters would fall flat, but that’s not the case, not at all. In fact every character is unique and fully fleshed out, with their individual quirks, problems, and personal challenges. It’s some of the best writing I’ve ever read, when it comes to a comic series, and it’s one that I will definitely continue with! I highly recommend it!
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
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The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
3.0
It’s been a while since I wrote one of these. I was two thirds of the way through The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy, and… not quite enjoying it, when a good friend suggested I read… well, strongly insisted I read the Mistborn Trilogy instead. I had bought the box set last Christmas, and was looking forward to reading them after hearing that Brandon Sanderson’s world-building is some of the best of modern fantasy authors, but when you win $5000 at Chapters, and spend a good chunk of it on books, the choice of what to read next can be a daunting one. Thankfully, I didn’t have a choice in the matter.
The Final Empire is the first book in the Mistborn Trilogy written by Brandon Sanderson and first published in 2006. It tells the story of a world, choked in ash, with perpetual mists that swirl about in the night, instilling fear in the population. The world is broken into clear caste systems, with the skaa at the bottom, little more than slaves, disheartened and suppressed under the weight of the nobility and the Lord Ruler, a god-king who rules over the Final Empire with a heavy fist. While the narrative weaves between a number of characters, the main two are Kelsier and Vin, both Mistborns, beings with the ability to use special powers by ingesting small flakes of metal. Together they insight an uprising against the oppression of the nobility and the Lord Ruler, seeking a better world order for everyone within the Final Empire.
That description barely scratches the surface of the world Sanderson has created. If you want to talk about current fantasy authors who excel in their world-building, he definitely has to be on the list. This year I’ve read a number of really bad novels, especially from the fantasy genre. When you’re writing fantasy, you need either a well developed and unique world, or realistic and complex characters. If you’re looking for a well, fleshed-out, and unique world, written with incredible detail, flare, and intricacy, then Sanderson’s work is definitely something to check out.
While I was in awe of the fantasy/steampunk world Sanderson created, his characters left me a little… disappointed, or at the very least, conflicted. There were three characters I really liked - Kelsier, the brash, somewhat egotistical leader of the rebellion; Sazed, a priest-of-sorts who collects religions and knowledge; and even though I wasn’t a fan of her at first, the main character Vin, who’s abandonment issues and reservations about friendship and loyalty hit a little too close to home at times. The supporting cast, as well, was filled with memorable characters, especially Breeze and Hammond (who are totally in a relationship, even though Sanderson isn’t really an LGBT ally, and Ham has a family, I don’t care, they’re together, end of story). So you’re probably wondering why I had a problem with his characterization if I loved most of the main characters. And I think the answer has to do with the language Sanderson uses to illuminate the characters. Every single character (with the exception of Sazed… mostly) speaks in the same voice. They all have the same vocal quirks, the same thing to add to the conversation, the annoying habit of pointing out the obvious, and I mean every, little, obvious tidbit of plot. It was irritating at times. Yes, each character has their own attributes, fears, and issues, but when they speak, it could’ve been any one of them speaking. The language Sanderson himself uses to build the world is also a little dull. While his description of the world is in-depth and well fleshed out, the language he uses is sort of… basic, it lacks that flowery-quality that authors like Tolkien or Robin Hobb use to build up their world.
All of that aside, Sanderson has also incorporated some very clear Christian symbolism, literally turning Kelsier into a Christ figure of this world… and literally, to a tee. Yes, authors take bits of this and that when creating their world and writing their novels, and it’s hard not to find some fantasy novel that doesn’t have hints of the classics or other works within their pages, but the blatant rip-off of Christianity was something Sanderson didn’t try to hide, and was also something I was hoping against. As much as I appreciate a feel-good novel with self-sacrificing characters and the triumph of good over evil… I also like to see a little evil win every once in a while. Corrupt a character! Make them second guess themselves and who they are! Lead them down a dangerous path of power-trips and death! Make them suffer! And then slowly bring them back to the light… if you NEED to. And this novel lacked any of that. Our characters were martyrs from the beginning of the novel to the end, there was never any room for character degradation, corruption, or redemption.
Those are just some of the bigger feels I have for this book. I’m sure I could discuss every little detail of this novel, and probably will with my friend who recommended it. Overall, I did enjoy The Final Empire, and I’ll be continuing with the other two novels in the series. Yes, there were cons to this book, but the world-building and the characters (when they’re not speaking) are enough to keep me interested in the world of the Final Empire, and curious to see where Sanderson takes Vin next.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
The Final Empire is the first book in the Mistborn Trilogy written by Brandon Sanderson and first published in 2006. It tells the story of a world, choked in ash, with perpetual mists that swirl about in the night, instilling fear in the population. The world is broken into clear caste systems, with the skaa at the bottom, little more than slaves, disheartened and suppressed under the weight of the nobility and the Lord Ruler, a god-king who rules over the Final Empire with a heavy fist. While the narrative weaves between a number of characters, the main two are Kelsier and Vin, both Mistborns, beings with the ability to use special powers by ingesting small flakes of metal. Together they insight an uprising against the oppression of the nobility and the Lord Ruler, seeking a better world order for everyone within the Final Empire.
That description barely scratches the surface of the world Sanderson has created. If you want to talk about current fantasy authors who excel in their world-building, he definitely has to be on the list. This year I’ve read a number of really bad novels, especially from the fantasy genre. When you’re writing fantasy, you need either a well developed and unique world, or realistic and complex characters. If you’re looking for a well, fleshed-out, and unique world, written with incredible detail, flare, and intricacy, then Sanderson’s work is definitely something to check out.
While I was in awe of the fantasy/steampunk world Sanderson created, his characters left me a little… disappointed, or at the very least, conflicted. There were three characters I really liked - Kelsier, the brash, somewhat egotistical leader of the rebellion; Sazed, a priest-of-sorts who collects religions and knowledge; and even though I wasn’t a fan of her at first, the main character Vin, who’s abandonment issues and reservations about friendship and loyalty hit a little too close to home at times. The supporting cast, as well, was filled with memorable characters, especially Breeze and Hammond (who are totally in a relationship, even though Sanderson isn’t really an LGBT ally, and Ham has a family, I don’t care, they’re together, end of story). So you’re probably wondering why I had a problem with his characterization if I loved most of the main characters. And I think the answer has to do with the language Sanderson uses to illuminate the characters. Every single character (with the exception of Sazed… mostly) speaks in the same voice. They all have the same vocal quirks, the same thing to add to the conversation, the annoying habit of pointing out the obvious, and I mean every, little, obvious tidbit of plot. It was irritating at times. Yes, each character has their own attributes, fears, and issues, but when they speak, it could’ve been any one of them speaking. The language Sanderson himself uses to build the world is also a little dull. While his description of the world is in-depth and well fleshed out, the language he uses is sort of… basic, it lacks that flowery-quality that authors like Tolkien or Robin Hobb use to build up their world.
All of that aside, Sanderson has also incorporated some very clear Christian symbolism, literally turning Kelsier into a Christ figure of this world… and literally, to a tee. Yes, authors take bits of this and that when creating their world and writing their novels, and it’s hard not to find some fantasy novel that doesn’t have hints of the classics or other works within their pages, but the blatant rip-off of Christianity was something Sanderson didn’t try to hide, and was also something I was hoping against. As much as I appreciate a feel-good novel with self-sacrificing characters and the triumph of good over evil… I also like to see a little evil win every once in a while. Corrupt a character! Make them second guess themselves and who they are! Lead them down a dangerous path of power-trips and death! Make them suffer! And then slowly bring them back to the light… if you NEED to. And this novel lacked any of that. Our characters were martyrs from the beginning of the novel to the end, there was never any room for character degradation, corruption, or redemption.
Those are just some of the bigger feels I have for this book. I’m sure I could discuss every little detail of this novel, and probably will with my friend who recommended it. Overall, I did enjoy The Final Empire, and I’ll be continuing with the other two novels in the series. Yes, there were cons to this book, but the world-building and the characters (when they’re not speaking) are enough to keep me interested in the world of the Final Empire, and curious to see where Sanderson takes Vin next.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
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The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
4.0
Well, I have finished my very first novel of 2018! No… I did not read it in 5 days… yes, I suppose when 2017 started I only had about 100 pages of the 600 novel to go, but I finished it and I’m counting it as my first read of 2018. The Well of Ascension is the second novel in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Trilogy, a series recommended to me by my boyfriend, MOSTLY because he wanted someone to nerd out with about Mistborn. The Well of Ascension picks up a year after Mistborn and the fall of the Final Empire. Vin, the leading character of the series, is adjusting to her new life as the mistress of King Elend Venture, a kind and gentle man who has taken over leadership of the city Luthadel and freed the subjugated peasant human population known as the skaa. But Elend struggles to keep control over his new kingdom as three armies march on Luthadel for it’s resources and internal strife threatens his crown. Vin, on the other hand, works to keep Elend safe from potential assassins, while struggling with a deep, internal calling from some mysterious source - the Well of Ascension.
In this novel, Sanderson continues to build his intricate and very different world through sweeping description and detailed passages akin to great world-builders like J.R.R. Tolkien, Robin Hobb, and even George R.R. Martin (even though I do not like Martin's books or writing style). And once again, the world-building is where Sanderson excels. He really paints this mist shrouded world and the steam-punk themed architecture and culture with detailed flare. His magic system also continues to impress. In this series, characters classified as “Mistborn” have the ability to enhance their attributes like strength, senses, and a sort of telekinesis through the ingestion and “burning” of metals (a practice called Allomancy). It’s a unique system of magic, one that Sanderson expertly uses to illuminate and set apart his action scenes from other authors. However, once again, his characterization left me a little torn. On the one hand, the characters are well developed and their struggles are highlighted and featured even more in this book than the first; Vin’s emotional damage from past relationships often leads to her questioning the sincerity of Elend’s feelings for her; similarly Elend’s lack of Allomancy often leads to feelings of inadequacy when it comes to his relationship with Vin; Breeze struggles with his own mask of flippant joviality and character flaws that he amplifies in order to hide his true feelings; and Sazed experiences love and loss, on both a personal and religious level. And while I really enjoyed the character’s personal arcs and individual growth, I was let down (once again) by Sanderson’s dialogue. Sanderson is an incredible world-builder, he can conjure complete worlds with his descriptive writing, but as soon as the characters open their mouths and interact with one another, they fall incredibly flat. They are constantly contradicting themselves, they all ramble on in the same voice, and with the exception of Breeze, they all have the same vocal quirks and tone. This was something that bothered me about the first book. I’m sort of the opposite of Sanderson when it comes to writing. I do enjoy world-building my own fantasy world, but I don’t describe it to the details that Sanderson does, instead, I concentrate more on character development, voice, and style. That’s just the kind of author I am, and I’ve heard it said before that you’re either an excellent world-builder, or an excellent character-builder, and I’m discovering that to be true the more I read, especially when it comes to fantasy. Is Sanderson’s disappointing dialogue enough to keep me from reading and emoting with the characters? No. I will continue to read his work, and I am incredibly invested in both Vin and Sazed’s stories (mostly because I am Vin, and my boyfriend is Sazed, almost eerily so).
I have to say that I liked this book a lot more than the first. Even though I’ve been left with a lot of questions, I loved both Sazed’s and Vin’s personal development. Sazed slowly begins to question his faith, and eventually looses it after discovering his entire religion had been corrupted and twisted over the years by a malevolent force, while Vin finally puts the past behind her and accepts both Elend’s love for her and puts aside her own insecurities and feeling of inadequacy… something that was very important for me to read.
That all being said, I am generally enjoying this series. I love that I dove (was forced) into it when I did, because watching Vin’s character progression and growth has been so personal and in alignment with my own. It’s been incredibly beneficial, and a few times I’ve been shocked at how closely what I’ve read mirrors my own thoughts or feelings at the time that I read it. I am really excited to enter into the final chapter of this trilogy, and can’t wait to see where Sanderson takes these characters… hopefully there’s lots of pain and suffering and death in their future. Gotta love a powerful death!
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
In this novel, Sanderson continues to build his intricate and very different world through sweeping description and detailed passages akin to great world-builders like J.R.R. Tolkien, Robin Hobb, and even George R.R. Martin (even though I do not like Martin's books or writing style). And once again, the world-building is where Sanderson excels. He really paints this mist shrouded world and the steam-punk themed architecture and culture with detailed flare. His magic system also continues to impress. In this series, characters classified as “Mistborn” have the ability to enhance their attributes like strength, senses, and a sort of telekinesis through the ingestion and “burning” of metals (a practice called Allomancy). It’s a unique system of magic, one that Sanderson expertly uses to illuminate and set apart his action scenes from other authors. However, once again, his characterization left me a little torn. On the one hand, the characters are well developed and their struggles are highlighted and featured even more in this book than the first; Vin’s emotional damage from past relationships often leads to her questioning the sincerity of Elend’s feelings for her; similarly Elend’s lack of Allomancy often leads to feelings of inadequacy when it comes to his relationship with Vin; Breeze struggles with his own mask of flippant joviality and character flaws that he amplifies in order to hide his true feelings; and Sazed experiences love and loss, on both a personal and religious level. And while I really enjoyed the character’s personal arcs and individual growth, I was let down (once again) by Sanderson’s dialogue. Sanderson is an incredible world-builder, he can conjure complete worlds with his descriptive writing, but as soon as the characters open their mouths and interact with one another, they fall incredibly flat. They are constantly contradicting themselves, they all ramble on in the same voice, and with the exception of Breeze, they all have the same vocal quirks and tone. This was something that bothered me about the first book. I’m sort of the opposite of Sanderson when it comes to writing. I do enjoy world-building my own fantasy world, but I don’t describe it to the details that Sanderson does, instead, I concentrate more on character development, voice, and style. That’s just the kind of author I am, and I’ve heard it said before that you’re either an excellent world-builder, or an excellent character-builder, and I’m discovering that to be true the more I read, especially when it comes to fantasy. Is Sanderson’s disappointing dialogue enough to keep me from reading and emoting with the characters? No. I will continue to read his work, and I am incredibly invested in both Vin and Sazed’s stories (mostly because I am Vin, and my boyfriend is Sazed, almost eerily so).
I have to say that I liked this book a lot more than the first. Even though I’ve been left with a lot of questions, I loved both Sazed’s and Vin’s personal development. Sazed slowly begins to question his faith, and eventually looses it after discovering his entire religion had been corrupted and twisted over the years by a malevolent force, while Vin finally puts the past behind her and accepts both Elend’s love for her and puts aside her own insecurities and feeling of inadequacy… something that was very important for me to read.
That all being said, I am generally enjoying this series. I love that I dove (was forced) into it when I did, because watching Vin’s character progression and growth has been so personal and in alignment with my own. It’s been incredibly beneficial, and a few times I’ve been shocked at how closely what I’ve read mirrors my own thoughts or feelings at the time that I read it. I am really excited to enter into the final chapter of this trilogy, and can’t wait to see where Sanderson takes these characters… hopefully there’s lots of pain and suffering and death in their future. Gotta love a powerful death!
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
Star Wars: Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen Vol. 1 by Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca
2.0
Let me preface this by saying I am a huge Star Wars fan. I definitely don’t mean to brag, but when it comes to Star Wars I know more than anyone else I’ve ever known. I’ve read comics, novels, I’ve spent too many hours on the Star Wars Wikipedia site, just reading articles about characters, creatures, history, planets, events. I am a huge Star Wars fan. I’ve mentioned this in other posts, but growing up there were three franchises that I obsessed over. The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and Star Wars. Those three franchises (albeit, I wasn’t AS into Star Trek as the other two until my teenage years) make up the building blocks of my imagination and creative self and so I hold them close to my heart.
That being said… I may not have enjoyed the Darth Vader comics as much as I was expecting to. Before other Star Wars fans go berserk, let me try and explain this. I grew up in the 90s, I was introduced to Star Wars when I was 7 or 8, when the remastered original saga was being re-released in theatres. In 1999, The Phantom Menace came out, and looking back on it now, yes it was a cheesy film, especially when compared to the original trilogy, but I was also 10 at the time, and for me, the prequels were the films that encompassed "Star Wars" as I grew up. Don’t get me wrong, I love the original movies, and while they do a better job in telling a small, character-driven story, the prequels took that tiny universe of the original trilogy and opened it up. I loved the Jedi Order, I loved the Senate, the Galactic Politics, the myriad of aliens, it made the small world of Star Wars something much larger, and for that, I could almost overlook the terrible acting and scripts. When it came to the character of Darth Vader, I was never really afraid of him, people talk about how terrifying of a villain he was, but for me the Anakin Skywalker of the prequels was a much more terrifying and disturbed villain. Darth Vader almost felt like the lukewarm leftovers (maybe he needs another lava-bath). Actually, it wasn’t until Rogue One that I finally felt a little fear for the Sith Lord.
As for the comics, I mentioned to an employee of Chapters one day that I was a Star Wars fan, and they told me that as a Star Wars, it was imperative that I read the new Darth Vader comics. Now… I’ve been shying away from anything “new” and Star Wars, because Disney took the expanded universe that I cherished SO much as a kid and teen and threw it in the trash without a second thought, or thinking about how angry it would make Star Wars fans. But I gave in, and thought I’d give them a read… and man was I bored.
Maybe the story was dull, maybe I just find Darth Vader a little dull, I don’t know what it was. However I do know that these comics lacked the beautiful artwork of the Star Wars comics I grew up with (the Star Wars: Republic comics… which are no longer canon, because Disney is a destroyer of all things) and the fast-paced, action-packed stories therein. The Darth Vader comics introduces us to a smattering of new characters, all of which lack any interesting character traits, and all Vader does is threaten his way through every scene to the point where it gets a little boring. I was hoping to see some humanity brought back into Vader, but instead all we see is more quiet, brooding, simmering anger.
Am I biased towards these new comics? Yes. Am I bitter over Disney’s treatment of the Star Wars franchise? You know it. But I still went into the Darth Vader comics with an open mind, hoping to be shown something new and spectacular. These comics have received a number of great reviews, and I’m sure a lot of people and fans of the franchise love them, but they just weren’t for me… and that’s really all there is to it… I’ll stick with my Star Wars: Republic omnibuses… even though none of that matter anymore.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
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That being said… I may not have enjoyed the Darth Vader comics as much as I was expecting to. Before other Star Wars fans go berserk, let me try and explain this. I grew up in the 90s, I was introduced to Star Wars when I was 7 or 8, when the remastered original saga was being re-released in theatres. In 1999, The Phantom Menace came out, and looking back on it now, yes it was a cheesy film, especially when compared to the original trilogy, but I was also 10 at the time, and for me, the prequels were the films that encompassed "Star Wars" as I grew up. Don’t get me wrong, I love the original movies, and while they do a better job in telling a small, character-driven story, the prequels took that tiny universe of the original trilogy and opened it up. I loved the Jedi Order, I loved the Senate, the Galactic Politics, the myriad of aliens, it made the small world of Star Wars something much larger, and for that, I could almost overlook the terrible acting and scripts. When it came to the character of Darth Vader, I was never really afraid of him, people talk about how terrifying of a villain he was, but for me the Anakin Skywalker of the prequels was a much more terrifying and disturbed villain. Darth Vader almost felt like the lukewarm leftovers (maybe he needs another lava-bath). Actually, it wasn’t until Rogue One that I finally felt a little fear for the Sith Lord.
As for the comics, I mentioned to an employee of Chapters one day that I was a Star Wars fan, and they told me that as a Star Wars, it was imperative that I read the new Darth Vader comics. Now… I’ve been shying away from anything “new” and Star Wars, because Disney took the expanded universe that I cherished SO much as a kid and teen and threw it in the trash without a second thought, or thinking about how angry it would make Star Wars fans. But I gave in, and thought I’d give them a read… and man was I bored.
Maybe the story was dull, maybe I just find Darth Vader a little dull, I don’t know what it was. However I do know that these comics lacked the beautiful artwork of the Star Wars comics I grew up with (the Star Wars: Republic comics… which are no longer canon, because Disney is a destroyer of all things) and the fast-paced, action-packed stories therein. The Darth Vader comics introduces us to a smattering of new characters, all of which lack any interesting character traits, and all Vader does is threaten his way through every scene to the point where it gets a little boring. I was hoping to see some humanity brought back into Vader, but instead all we see is more quiet, brooding, simmering anger.
Am I biased towards these new comics? Yes. Am I bitter over Disney’s treatment of the Star Wars franchise? You know it. But I still went into the Darth Vader comics with an open mind, hoping to be shown something new and spectacular. These comics have received a number of great reviews, and I’m sure a lot of people and fans of the franchise love them, but they just weren’t for me… and that’s really all there is to it… I’ll stick with my Star Wars: Republic omnibuses… even though none of that matter anymore.
-----
FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
Arclight by Brandon Graham
2.0
Huh, this was an interesting read to say the least. Arclight tells the story of… if I’m correct, a lady whose mind is trapped in an alien body waited upon by a genderqueer knight named Arclight. Apparently it’s a part of a larger shared universe, in which author Brandon Graham weaves poetic and delicate stories together. I, myself, am kind of torn on whether or not I liked this comic. To analyze it I’m going to have to break it down into the two most basic mediums of the comic genre: the story and the art.
Let’s start off with the story. I, like many others, found myself a little confused. I love poetic pieces, I am all for comics that rely more heavily on images than text, but here, in this strange and alien world, I feel like more textual explanation would have helped in establishing both the world and the events taking place in the volume. About half way through the comic it veered off-course, and I had no idea what was going on, and that disorientation carried on throughout the second half. However, the world that Graham has created here is phenomenal. I want to know more about the world this is set in. In particular, Graham’s magic system is so interesting and unique. In Arclight, the knights of the Blood House use their own blood to scribe runes into the air, which fuels their magic. This type of magic is unique to members of the Blood House, and other Houses within this world have their own forms of magic. The setting, the creatures, the magic, and the genderqueer society of knights was something I was left wanting more of, and because of that, I think Arclight would have been more impactful and interesting as a novel, or perhaps a more fleshed-out, longer comic series where the dialogue and prose was more carefully crafted and built up.
As for the artwork, once again Marian Churchland (From Under Mountains) has created a BEAUTIFUL book. Churchland’s soft, pastel colour pallet and curved, wispy drawing brings this world to delicate life with a tender vibrance that highlights the poetic beauty of the story. Churchland’s artistic touch fits perfectly with the, somewhat vague, but rapturing concept that Graham has created. From an artistic standpoint, this comic deserves all of the praise… it’s just too bad that Churchland’s artwork couldn’t explain some of the more confusing plot points towards the end of the volume.
So overall, I’m kind of torn. I loved the concept and the artwork, but there wasn’t much content. I feel like we got a hollow shell here, it’s painted beautifully, and well groomed, but in the end, there’s nothing inside of it.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
Let’s start off with the story. I, like many others, found myself a little confused. I love poetic pieces, I am all for comics that rely more heavily on images than text, but here, in this strange and alien world, I feel like more textual explanation would have helped in establishing both the world and the events taking place in the volume. About half way through the comic it veered off-course, and I had no idea what was going on, and that disorientation carried on throughout the second half. However, the world that Graham has created here is phenomenal. I want to know more about the world this is set in. In particular, Graham’s magic system is so interesting and unique. In Arclight, the knights of the Blood House use their own blood to scribe runes into the air, which fuels their magic. This type of magic is unique to members of the Blood House, and other Houses within this world have their own forms of magic. The setting, the creatures, the magic, and the genderqueer society of knights was something I was left wanting more of, and because of that, I think Arclight would have been more impactful and interesting as a novel, or perhaps a more fleshed-out, longer comic series where the dialogue and prose was more carefully crafted and built up.
As for the artwork, once again Marian Churchland (From Under Mountains) has created a BEAUTIFUL book. Churchland’s soft, pastel colour pallet and curved, wispy drawing brings this world to delicate life with a tender vibrance that highlights the poetic beauty of the story. Churchland’s artistic touch fits perfectly with the, somewhat vague, but rapturing concept that Graham has created. From an artistic standpoint, this comic deserves all of the praise… it’s just too bad that Churchland’s artwork couldn’t explain some of the more confusing plot points towards the end of the volume.
So overall, I’m kind of torn. I loved the concept and the artwork, but there wasn’t much content. I feel like we got a hollow shell here, it’s painted beautifully, and well groomed, but in the end, there’s nothing inside of it.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
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Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians by Ricardo Delgado
2.0
My latest comic book read is Ricardo Delgado’s Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians, part of Delgado’s Age of Reptiles series, in which the artist creates stories about (slightly) anthropomorphized dinosaurs in their natural setting and time period. This specific comic follows a season in the life of a Spinosaurus, one of the largest known carnivorous dinosaurs, in it’s natural habitat - what has become modern day Egypt.
I don’t really have much to say about this comic. The artwork was incredibly beautiful, detailed, and full of life, but the story was… sort of lacking. While some of the dinosaurs have anthropomorphized features, Delgado tries to paint dinosaur life as naturally and organically as if we were watching a wildlife documentary… one without commentary. There is no text in Age of Reptiles, and why would there be? It’s a comic book depicting Cretaceous life, as such the story is driven wholly by plot… and I found that a little boring. It did take me a while to get through this comic, I just wasn’t particularly drawn to the “characters” or the plot.
But where this comic excels is in the art, as it should. Delgado truly transports you to an ancient world filled with dinosaurs and wildlife that is now-extinct, and provides a colourful snapshot of ancient reptilian life.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
I don’t really have much to say about this comic. The artwork was incredibly beautiful, detailed, and full of life, but the story was… sort of lacking. While some of the dinosaurs have anthropomorphized features, Delgado tries to paint dinosaur life as naturally and organically as if we were watching a wildlife documentary… one without commentary. There is no text in Age of Reptiles, and why would there be? It’s a comic book depicting Cretaceous life, as such the story is driven wholly by plot… and I found that a little boring. It did take me a while to get through this comic, I just wasn’t particularly drawn to the “characters” or the plot.
But where this comic excels is in the art, as it should. Delgado truly transports you to an ancient world filled with dinosaurs and wildlife that is now-extinct, and provides a colourful snapshot of ancient reptilian life.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
3.0
I first picked up Amulet in 2010, back then the third book in the series was coming out, and they were getting a lot of publicity and were showcased everywhere from Chapters to Wal-Mart. I was also very naive to graphic novels back then. As I’ve mentioned before, I didn’t really grow up on comics. I was a fan of Star Wars, and really those were the only comics I read, and even those were few and far between. I also sort of missed the whole YA fiction boat, something I blame my grade 7 English teacher for. While other kids my age were reading Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events, I was delving into Jane Austen, Shakespeare, and Lord Byron. I jumped from Star Wars-themed beginner chapter books to The Lord of the Rings. I’ve since gone back and read some of the more iconic YA series, but I think that because I missed that stage, I don’t really enjoy them as much as I could have. Enter 2010 me, curious about comics and graphic novels, but with no interest in superheroes, and searching for something a little heavy on the fantasy. I picked up the Amulet books, and knew right away that they were for a younger demographic, but they were unlike anything I’d seen and I thought I’d give them a try.
It’s now eight years later, and there are seven Amulet books in total, with an eight slated for a 2018 release. The graphic series follows a girl, Emily, who is transported from Earth to another world, Alledia, and thrust into a saviour-like role as protector of that planet through the use of a magical (and corrupting) stone. The series is created by Kazu Kibuishi and has been critically acclaimed the world over. Because there are seven books in this series, I decided to lump them all together in this review, giving the series as a whole a broad, overlapping, examine.
I have very mixed feelings about this series. While the artwork is beautiful, and the characters are likeable and the themes, dark and interesting, I still can’t seem to shake a sort of apathetic response for this series. Amulet never really gets as dark as you’d like it to, which also makes total sense, as it’s targeted toward a younger audience in the YA genre. There are very dark themes, don’t get me wrong, some of the later books deal with ideas like guilt and repression, and the main protagonist is constantly walking a thin line between morality and corruption, but there’s never really any true danger to the main characters. I know, I know, “But Michael, this is a series targeted towards children and (very) young adults,” and maybe that’s why it just fails to resonate with me.
If we examine Amulet from an artistic perspective alone, this series is incredible. Kibuishi’s artwork is stylistic, unique, flashy, and resonating with that cherubic charm that’s so enticing to a younger audience. I really have no problem with his artwork. In fact, I like it. And in a medium like graphic novels, you’d better have spectacular artwork, because (and I’ve seen this often) the writing-side of the work tends to falter when compared to traditional novels. And of course it would, you’re essentially taking a novel and condensing it into a series of images, you are bound to loose some of the depth of the written word. Unfortunately, Amulet’s story is where the series tends to fall apart for me. The plot has meandered on and on through seven books thus far, without really progressing all that much. Characters and plot seem to change and shift subtly with each new book, almost impressing that Kibuishi really has no direction and doesn’t even know where the plot is going (*cough* George R.R. Martin anyone? *cough*). I felt this was incredibly apparent in the latest book, Book 7: Firelight, with the re-occurance of a former enemy who has suddenly switched sides, and the introduction of alien technology and space-explorative themes to this series that has been, thus far, rooted in fantasy. It all just seems a little strange, and like it’s taking a little too long to get to the finale. Every time I picked up the next book in the series I'd wonder what’s going to be slightly different and changed without an explanation, from the last.
Still, this series continues to grow, and capture the hearts of new readers and fans alike, and I am interested to see how Kibuishi wraps up this… somewhat chaotic story. Let’s just hope it happens in fewer books, I’m not sure I can handle any more meandering around the plot.
-----
FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
It’s now eight years later, and there are seven Amulet books in total, with an eight slated for a 2018 release. The graphic series follows a girl, Emily, who is transported from Earth to another world, Alledia, and thrust into a saviour-like role as protector of that planet through the use of a magical (and corrupting) stone. The series is created by Kazu Kibuishi and has been critically acclaimed the world over. Because there are seven books in this series, I decided to lump them all together in this review, giving the series as a whole a broad, overlapping, examine.
I have very mixed feelings about this series. While the artwork is beautiful, and the characters are likeable and the themes, dark and interesting, I still can’t seem to shake a sort of apathetic response for this series. Amulet never really gets as dark as you’d like it to, which also makes total sense, as it’s targeted toward a younger audience in the YA genre. There are very dark themes, don’t get me wrong, some of the later books deal with ideas like guilt and repression, and the main protagonist is constantly walking a thin line between morality and corruption, but there’s never really any true danger to the main characters. I know, I know, “But Michael, this is a series targeted towards children and (very) young adults,” and maybe that’s why it just fails to resonate with me.
If we examine Amulet from an artistic perspective alone, this series is incredible. Kibuishi’s artwork is stylistic, unique, flashy, and resonating with that cherubic charm that’s so enticing to a younger audience. I really have no problem with his artwork. In fact, I like it. And in a medium like graphic novels, you’d better have spectacular artwork, because (and I’ve seen this often) the writing-side of the work tends to falter when compared to traditional novels. And of course it would, you’re essentially taking a novel and condensing it into a series of images, you are bound to loose some of the depth of the written word. Unfortunately, Amulet’s story is where the series tends to fall apart for me. The plot has meandered on and on through seven books thus far, without really progressing all that much. Characters and plot seem to change and shift subtly with each new book, almost impressing that Kibuishi really has no direction and doesn’t even know where the plot is going (*cough* George R.R. Martin anyone? *cough*). I felt this was incredibly apparent in the latest book, Book 7: Firelight, with the re-occurance of a former enemy who has suddenly switched sides, and the introduction of alien technology and space-explorative themes to this series that has been, thus far, rooted in fantasy. It all just seems a little strange, and like it’s taking a little too long to get to the finale. Every time I picked up the next book in the series I'd wonder what’s going to be slightly different and changed without an explanation, from the last.
Still, this series continues to grow, and capture the hearts of new readers and fans alike, and I am interested to see how Kibuishi wraps up this… somewhat chaotic story. Let’s just hope it happens in fewer books, I’m not sure I can handle any more meandering around the plot.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi
3.0
I first picked up Amulet in 2010, back then the third book in the series was coming out, and they were getting a lot of publicity and were showcased everywhere from Chapters to Wal-Mart. I was also very naive to graphic novels back then. As I’ve mentioned before, I didn’t really grow up on comics. I was a fan of Star Wars, and really those were the only comics I read, and even those were few and far between. I also sort of missed the whole YA fiction boat, something I blame my grade 7 English teacher for. While other kids my age were reading Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events, I was delving into Jane Austen, Shakespeare, and Lord Byron. I jumped from Star Wars-themed beginner chapter books to The Lord of the Rings. I’ve since gone back and read some of the more iconic YA series, but I think that because I missed that stage, I don’t really enjoy them as much as I could have. Enter 2010 me, curious about comics and graphic novels, but with no interest in superheroes, and searching for something a little heavy on the fantasy. I picked up the Amulet books, and knew right away that they were for a younger demographic, but they were unlike anything I’d seen and I thought I’d give them a try.
It’s now eight years later, and there are seven Amulet books in total, with an eight slated for a 2018 release. The graphic series follows a girl, Emily, who is transported from Earth to another world, Alledia, and thrust into a saviour-like role as protector of that planet through the use of a magical (and corrupting) stone. The series is created by Kazu Kibuishi and has been critically acclaimed the world over. Because there are seven books in this series, I decided to lump them all together in this review, giving the series as a whole a broad, overlapping, examine.
I have very mixed feelings about this series. While the artwork is beautiful, and the characters are likeable and the themes, dark and interesting, I still can’t seem to shake a sort of apathetic response for this series. Amulet never really gets as dark as you’d like it to, which also makes total sense, as it’s targeted toward a younger audience in the YA genre. There are very dark themes, don’t get me wrong, some of the later books deal with ideas like guilt and repression, and the main protagonist is constantly walking a thin line between morality and corruption, but there’s never really any true danger to the main characters. I know, I know, “But Michael, this is a series targeted towards children and (very) young adults,” and maybe that’s why it just fails to resonate with me.
If we examine Amulet from an artistic perspective alone, this series is incredible. Kibuishi’s artwork is stylistic, unique, flashy, and resonating with that cherubic charm that’s so enticing to a younger audience. I really have no problem with his artwork. In fact, I like it. And in a medium like graphic novels, you’d better have spectacular artwork, because (and I’ve seen this often) the writing-side of the work tends to falter when compared to traditional novels. And of course it would, you’re essentially taking a novel and condensing it into a series of images, you are bound to loose some of the depth of the written word. Unfortunately, Amulet’s story is where the series tends to fall apart for me. The plot has meandered on and on through seven books thus far, without really progressing all that much. Characters and plot seem to change and shift subtly with each new book, almost impressing that Kibuishi really has no direction and doesn’t even know where the plot is going (*cough* George R.R. Martin anyone? *cough*). I felt this was incredibly apparent in the latest book, Book 7: Firelight, with the re-occurance of a former enemy who has suddenly switched sides, and the introduction of alien technology and space-explorative themes to this series that has been, thus far, rooted in fantasy. It all just seems a little strange, and like it’s taking a little too long to get to the finale. Every time I picked up the next book in the series I'd wonder what’s going to be slightly different and changed without an explanation, from the last.
Still, this series continues to grow, and capture the hearts of new readers and fans alike, and I am interested to see how Kibuishi wraps up this… somewhat chaotic story. Let’s just hope it happens in fewer books, I’m not sure I can handle any more meandering around the plot.
-----
FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
It’s now eight years later, and there are seven Amulet books in total, with an eight slated for a 2018 release. The graphic series follows a girl, Emily, who is transported from Earth to another world, Alledia, and thrust into a saviour-like role as protector of that planet through the use of a magical (and corrupting) stone. The series is created by Kazu Kibuishi and has been critically acclaimed the world over. Because there are seven books in this series, I decided to lump them all together in this review, giving the series as a whole a broad, overlapping, examine.
I have very mixed feelings about this series. While the artwork is beautiful, and the characters are likeable and the themes, dark and interesting, I still can’t seem to shake a sort of apathetic response for this series. Amulet never really gets as dark as you’d like it to, which also makes total sense, as it’s targeted toward a younger audience in the YA genre. There are very dark themes, don’t get me wrong, some of the later books deal with ideas like guilt and repression, and the main protagonist is constantly walking a thin line between morality and corruption, but there’s never really any true danger to the main characters. I know, I know, “But Michael, this is a series targeted towards children and (very) young adults,” and maybe that’s why it just fails to resonate with me.
If we examine Amulet from an artistic perspective alone, this series is incredible. Kibuishi’s artwork is stylistic, unique, flashy, and resonating with that cherubic charm that’s so enticing to a younger audience. I really have no problem with his artwork. In fact, I like it. And in a medium like graphic novels, you’d better have spectacular artwork, because (and I’ve seen this often) the writing-side of the work tends to falter when compared to traditional novels. And of course it would, you’re essentially taking a novel and condensing it into a series of images, you are bound to loose some of the depth of the written word. Unfortunately, Amulet’s story is where the series tends to fall apart for me. The plot has meandered on and on through seven books thus far, without really progressing all that much. Characters and plot seem to change and shift subtly with each new book, almost impressing that Kibuishi really has no direction and doesn’t even know where the plot is going (*cough* George R.R. Martin anyone? *cough*). I felt this was incredibly apparent in the latest book, Book 7: Firelight, with the re-occurance of a former enemy who has suddenly switched sides, and the introduction of alien technology and space-explorative themes to this series that has been, thus far, rooted in fantasy. It all just seems a little strange, and like it’s taking a little too long to get to the finale. Every time I picked up the next book in the series I'd wonder what’s going to be slightly different and changed without an explanation, from the last.
Still, this series continues to grow, and capture the hearts of new readers and fans alike, and I am interested to see how Kibuishi wraps up this… somewhat chaotic story. Let’s just hope it happens in fewer books, I’m not sure I can handle any more meandering around the plot.
-----
FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse