Category: Graphic Novel

Recent Reads: Love Me, Love Me Not, Vol. 1 by Io Sakisaka

Posted on by Pam

My review:???

Love Me, Love Me Not, Vol. 1 by Io Sakisaka is a manga comic book, in black and white.  It’s a romance story, with 2 friends, Yuna and Akari, who are complete opposites.  This is a story aimed at teenage girls, so YA.

As it is YA in genre, this means there’s lots of strong emotions and is sweet.

Love Me, Love Me Not, Vol. 1 was published on 10th April 2020 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find where you could follow Io Sakisaka.

I was given access to this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Viz.

Recent Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 1 Izuku Midoriya: Origin by Kohei Horikoshi

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

My Hero Academia, Vol. 1 Izuku Midoriya: Origin by Kohei Horikoshi is the first volume in the manga series My Hero Academia which has also been made into an anime series, season 1 of which is on Netflix!

This is a black and white comic book, with a story that moves along at a good pace and the anime is very similar.   

My Hero Academia Vol 1 Izuku Midoriya was published on 4th August 2015 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Kohei Horikoshi on Twitter.

I was given access to this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Viz Media.

Recent Reads: The Dream; 1. Jude by Script by Jean Dufaux and Art by Guillem March

Posted on by Pam

My review:???

The Dream 1. Jude Script by Jean Dufaux Art by Guillem March is a little strange.  It has Jude, he’s gorgeous, and wants to be in films and so on, but is currently a sex worker, performing live sex acts.  He gets asked to be in a film, and is thrilled.  There are Yakuza, beautiful women, and a surreal quality to this.

It’s a weird story, and one that not everyone is going to enjoy.  

The Dream 1. Jude was published on 21st November 2018, and is available from Amazon.

You can follow Jean Dufaux on Facebook.

You can follow Guillem March on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

  

Recent Reads: Not Your Idol by Aoi Makino

Posted on by Pam

My review:  ????

Not Your Idol by Aoi Makino is a Japanese Manga (like a graphic novel), about a teenage girl who has been part of a girl pop group in Japan (so an idol), who was attacked by a fan.

If you’ve not encountered Japanese or Korean pop music, go ahead and have a look at a group like AKB48. In the west, we’re used to groups having 5-7 members, with 7 feels like a lot.  AKB48 has 22 members in 1 team, and the teams rotate.  

There are various rules that a member of groups have to obey, such as no dating, no bad behaviour.  They are expected to perform and to carry out ‘handshake events’ where they meet their fans.

Nina was one of the lead singers of her group, and was attacked at one of these handshake events.  She drops out of the group to recover, and to be normal.  She cuts off her hair, and starts dressing like a boy (yes, that’s her on the cover of the book), and we see the trauma that this event caused her mentally, as she has the scar to show what it caused her physically.

Not Your Idol will be published on 11th June 2020, and is available on Amazon and Waterstones.   I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to Viz Media (the publishers) for this book.

 

Recent Reads: Asgard, Vol 1, Ironfoot with Script by Xavier Dorison and Art by Ralph Meyer

Posted on by Pam

My review: ???

Asgard Volume 1, Ironfoot with script by Xavier Dorison and art by Ralph Meyer is a graphic novel set in the time of the Vikings.  

Asgard is born without the lower half of one of his legs, and so should have been killed as a baby, but his father decided not to.  Since then, Asgard has become a renowned killer of beasts of legend.

When a sea serpent of mythical size starts attacking, Asgard is the man that the king wants on the job, but they have history.

I enjoyed this trip into history, and seeing what life was like for the Vikings.  

Asgard was published on 17th April 2019, and is available on Amazon.   I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can have a look at other Graphic novels I’ve reviewed on here!

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to Europe Comics (the publishers) for this book.

Recent Reads: Miss October Script by Stephen Desberg and Art by Alain Queireix

Posted on by Pam

 

My review: ???

Miss October, Playmates 1961 is the first book in a series of graphic novels about a serial killer who kills young women, and is set in the 1960s.

Our main protagonist is Viktor, a young woman who was attacked and since then has been deaf.  She is also a cat burglar, something that she hides from her wealthy parents whom she lives with.

This was a fine piece of escapism, but I found some bits odd (you don’t know Viktor is deaf to begin with).  There’s nudity and sex in here, so not a graphic novel for those who might take offence.

I thought it was OK.  Not a series that I feel the need to continue and I found it a little confusing.

Miss October, Playmates 1961 came out in 2018, and is available on Amazon.

 I couldn’t find any social medial or websites for either Stephen Desberg or Alain Queireix.  I believe Stephen Desberg is Belgian, and has written other comics.

If you’re interested in other graphic novels, then have a look at the Graphic Novels I’ve reviewed!

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Europe Comics (the publishers) for this book.

You can have a look on GoodReads to see what else I’ve read, or am reading!

Recent Reads: Chew the graphic novel series by John Layman and Rob Guillory

Posted on by Pam

My review: ?????

Welcome to a world where avian flu has swept the world, and where eating chicken has been outlawed.  The most powerful law enforcement agency is the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as they have to shut down any and all ways of people eating chicken.

Tony Chu is a cibopath, which means that he can see where something he has eaten has come from, it’s memories, you might say.  The same is true if he eats normal food, or people.  The only thing that stops his powers are beets.

This graphic novel series is not for the faint of heart or stomach!  Yes, Tony does indeed take bites out of people, and we have blood, and guts, and other people eating others, because, believe it or not, Tony Chu is an FDA Agent, and eating people is often part of his job.

I’ve read all 12 volumes of the graphic novel, and it was very entertaining, funny, heartwarming, gross and sad.  I really recommend it, but just bear in mind my warnings over the grossness of it!  

If you do read it, I hope you enjoy, and do go all the way until the end!

Chew volume 1 was published in 2009,  and is available to buy on Amazon  and on Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow John Layman on Twitter, and Rob Guillory on Twitter and on Instagram.

Check out my 

GoodReads profile

 to see more reviews!

Recent Reads: Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu

Posted on by Pam

My review: ?????

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu is a graphic novel about Nova and Tam, two queer Chinese-American supernatural people.  Nova is a witch with hearing aids, and Tam is a non-binary werewolf.

Tam has come back to one of the many places they lived in whilst growing up, which is where Nova lives.  Tam is on a mission, and Nova runs into them, and offers to help.

There are more witches, demonic horses, and spirits of the forest.  What else could you want?

Mooncakes is due to be published on 15th October 2019,  and is available to buy on Amazon  and on Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Suzanne Walker on Twitter, or through her website, and Wendy Xu on Twitter or through her website.


I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Lion Forge and Oni Press (the publishers) for this book.
Check out my GoodReads profile to see more reviews!

Recent Reads: The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill

Posted on by Pam

My review: ?????

The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill is a lovely graphic novel about Rinn, who is non-binary, trying to find her place in the world.  There are tea dragons (little dragons that live in the village, and everyone cares for them), and a large dragon, who can change into human form, but has been asleep a little longer than he planned.

The Tea Dragon Festival was great for it’s inclusivity.  There were characters speaking in American Sign Language only, some with both ASL and voice, and some just some.  This, along with the main character, Rinn being non-binary means it’s going to be a very out of the ordinary book, which will make some children (and adults!) feel noticed.

This is the second in the Tea Dragon series, but you don’t feel like you’re missing out on information when reading it.

The art in this book is lovely!  It’s such a beautiful, relaxing read that I would recommend it to everyone!

The Tea Dragon Festival is to be published on 17th September 2019,  and is available to buy on Amazon  and on Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Katie O’Neill on Twitter, or through her website.


I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Oni Press (the publishers) for this book.
Check out my GoodReads profile to see more reviews!