The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor & the Bogus Identity

by Mike Carey
art by Peter Gross
covers by Yukio Shimizu

If you like reading the classics, you'll love this intriguing graphic novel of fantasy and literary mysteries that will have you digging out that copy of Shelley's Frankenstein and Kipling's Jungle Tales. Mike Carey explores the power of story, and what some people will do to gain control of it. The protagonist of this tale is Tommy Taylor, the son of bestselling fantasy author who gone missing before finishing his beloved series. A series whose main character was inspired by Tommy Taylor himself, when he was a boy. As characters from the book and literature come alive and seek out Tommy, his very existence comes into question. Pursued by sinister characters, Tommy is helped by the mysterious Lizzie Hexam, as he follows clues his father left him that lead him to Villa Diodati and ... murder!

The last issue collected in this book appears to have nothing to do with Tommy Taylor and the events surrounding him, as it deals with a young, unpublished Rudyard Kipling accepting a Faustian deal with a gentleman named Mr. Locke who wants him to write a particular type of story. But it becomes clear that the group Mr. Locke represents is the same group that is causing trouble for Tommy over a century later. Carey takes advantage of the graphic novel's visual medium to expand the main plotline and move it along via pages that look like blogs, and forums, chat rooms and 'newscasts,' as well as maps and diaries and scenes from his father's book, Tommy Taylor and Golden Trumpet. All of which makes the Unwritten is an engaging treat for the eye and the mind.

The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor & the Bogus Identity reprints The Unwritten 1-5. Extras include unused cover sketches, the script and thumbnails for the book within a book, and an introduction by Bill Willingham, author of Fables.

Reserve your copy of The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor & the Bogus Identity here.

Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men

By Chris Claremont and Len Wein
Art by Dave Cockrum

Today the X-Men are one of Marvel Comics most recognizable superheroes, thanks to three movies and a few animated TV shows, but back in 1975 the X-Men were something of a failure, and existed only in reprinted comic books. That all changed when writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum created the "All New X-Men!" and introduced them in Giant Sized X-Men #1. For the first time readers met Nightcrawler, Storm and Colossus, and for many, Wolverine since he had only appeared previously in one issue of The Hulk. Needless to say, in good condition, this comic goes for hundreds of dollars. However, you can still read an affordable reprint of it, and the first seven issues of X-Men (#94-100), in Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men.

Marvel Masterworks is the name of a line of books that reprint classic Marvel comics and make them accessible to new readers. And these issues of the X-Men should definitely be accessed, as not only do they relate the history of the X-Men, but they still rank amongst the most entertaining comics made. Yes, some of the writing is a little clunky for modern tastes, but it still sweeps up the reader with great characterization and an engaging plot. The art is less cinematic with no digital embellishments, but it is vibrant, beautifully designed, and some of the best of its era. Dave Cockrum's Storm is still one of my all time favorite portrayals.

Chris Claremont was brought on the second issue (X-Men #94) to handle the scripting, and two issues later was writing the book without Wein. He immediately put his stamp on the book. Cheesy villains, like Krakoa the Living Island, were replaced by threats of a more realistic nature, like Sentinels -- government sanctioned mutant hunting machines. The plots became more interlaced, with new elements introduced every issue that would play out in future issues. The characters were given more depth as they struggled to get along with each other, and team members, as well as readers, learned bits of and pieces of their history. The settings for the story moved out of New York, and became international and even interstellar! And readers were treated to the everyday life of superheroes -- going on fishing trips and dates and celebrating the holidays. These stories were great reading when I was a kid, and reading them as an adult I was happy to discover they still have that exciting sense of wonder. I highly recommend this book.

Reserve your copy of Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Nine

30 DAYS OF NIGHT

If you liked Twilight, and pretty vampires, then you probably won't care for today's selection. These vampires are messy eaters, to say the least, and decidedly inhuman. But the special effects that make them so are subtle and disturbing. And Ben Foster's performance as The Stranger, his reactions to the vampires' pending arrival, adds another layer of uneasiness to the creatures.

Barrow, Alaska, where a winter night lasts 30 days, serves as the 'haunted house' our heroes are trapped in. While the vampires stalk them like any iconic boogey man and provide the adrenaline startled jumps.

30 Days of Night is based on a graphic novel by the same name by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by B.F. and S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

The Incredible Hercules: Against the World

By Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente
Art by Khoi Pham

Can you keep Lycus and Laeomedom straight? Do you remember what a Hydra is? Who really liked the Birds of Stymphalis? Well, if Greek mythology is Greek to you, then you might want to pick up, The Incredible Hercules: Against the World. All these questions and more are answered in this extremely entertaining graphic novel.

It collects the first four issues of the ongoing monthly comic Incredible Hercules, which deals with the Greek demi-god’s adventures in the present -- of the fictional Marvel Universe, that is. In this arc, Hercules and a boy genius sidekick named Amadeus Cho find themselves on the wrong side of the law. They are relentlessly pursued by S.H.I.E.L.D. (think C.I.A. and F.B.I. combined with more toys) and Herc’s half-brother Ares, the Greek god of war, who has somehow joined the ranks of the Marvel Universe’s super-hero team, the Avengers.

Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, the writers, weave the present story of the fugitives’ with past tales of Hercules legendary labors to illustrate the human condition of our heroes. Hercules struggles not to make the same mistakes, even as his enemies from the past, namely Ares, are out to make him pay for them. And even more endearing, Hercules attempts to dissuade his young comrade, Amadeus, from emulating his bad decisions. The rest of the supporting cast of characters is fully realized, different and entertaining. From Wonder Man playing the straight man to a blatantly fratricidal Ares, to a frustrated S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Gabe Jones watching his carefully ordered world being destroyed by a teenager, to a lethally competent Black Widow admitting to an earlier crush on Hercules – all play their parts, and yet reveal hidden depths. Especially Ares, who so easily could have been a cardboard, melodramatic villain, but instead is portrayed with all too understandable human desires.

Khoi Pham handles the art chores perfectly, with a detailed style that has an etching quality suitable for the heroic tales of the past, but is still loose and dynamic enough to convey the frenetic plight of the present story line. Pham, Pak and Van Lente have created a rare thing these days: A comic book that is fun AND literate; that indulges in its epic superhero tropes AND deftly comments on everyday human concerns; that girls AND boys, children AND adults will enjoy. I highly recommend giving this graphic novel a try.

Reserve your copy of The Incredible Hercules: Against the World here.

Crossing Midnight: Cut Here

By Mike Carey
Art by Jim Fern

Here’s a graphic novel that is different from my usual super hero fare. It’s a mix of horror and fantasy set in modern Nagasaki, Japan. For film fans, think of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away given a Ringu twist. Which is a warning: this is not a graphic novel for kids. The horror is, well, pretty horrifying.

The covers are in the flattened style of Japanese wood block prints, but with the rich decorative touches of Klimt. Which, considering his influences, makes sense. The interior art, however, is more realistic, drawn with clean lines. The colors, while probably applied digitally, look like watercolor washes. All in all, Jim Fern's artwork is appropriate for the tale and a pleasure to view.

The protagonists are an unusual pair of twin teenagers. Toshi Hara was born a minute before midnight, while her twin brother Kai Hara was born a minute after midnight. Though the timing of their births is a symptom of their cursed heritage, rather than the source of their problems. Because of the actions of her ancestors, Toshi can’t be cut by edged weapons, and on her birthday is visited by a supernatural being named Aratsu, the Lord of Knives. Aratsu wants Toshi to be his servant, and he does not take her refusal well. He tells her he will return and ask her again, after she has seen the grisly results of his displeasure.

The rest of the book relates Toshi and Kai’s struggle to escape Aratsu’s demands. As might be expected, some of their actions involve the supernatural and other kami, like Nidoru who presides over the Needle and the Pin, and a dragon of shadows. But other more mundane avenues are explored too, which involve school bullies and, of all things, an unexpected Yakuza connection to their family. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, but I don’t want to give too much away. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and discovering a mythology I’m not familiar with. My only complaint is that we don’t have Volume Two on the shelves.

You can reserve Crossing Midnight by clicking here.

Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War

By Geoff Johns and David Gibbons and Peter J. Tomasi

Art by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, and Ethan Van Sciver

After reading Marvel’s space opera, Uncanny X-men: Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire, I decided to read DC’s take on the genre. Like Marvel’s X-men story, DC’s Green Lantern epic is in several volumes, and has not yet been concluded.

First off, I have to admit to some bias, as I’ve always been a Marvel fan and only followed DC sporadically. I grew up with the Marvel characters and can fully appreciate the history and references. When terrible things happen to them, I feel like it is happening to people I know. I don’t have that connection with the DC characters. So, despite a great many terrible things happening to the Green Lanterns (the body count is high), it doesn’t resonate fully with me. That said this is a roller coaster of a tale, with plenty of action and the dark, grand scale you expect of a war story. There are lots of splash pages, but they aren’t wasted. They are crowded with creatures from hundreds of worlds battling each other, or filled with alien vistas, or those huge gotcha story moments -- all of which contribute to the realization of the cosmic world of the embattled Green Lanterns.

For those like my self, who aren’t as familiar with the DC universe, Sinestro is a former Green Lantern who was stripped of his ring when he abused his powers. That's his very angry face in the picture. He was Hal Jordan’s mentor in the Corps, and it was Hal who realized Sinestro had gone from helping keep order to imposing order, and turned him in. Needless to say, the former Green Lantern has a special animosity for Hal. And with the help of some fairly powerful villains, Sinestro forms an anti-Green Lantern Corps, whose mandate is to spread fear.

As far as the art goes, let me just say I’m adding Ethan Van Sciver and Ivan Reis to my favorite artists list. Wow! I could heartily recommend this book on their work alone. It is reminiscent of Neal Adams, but more detailed. Van Sciver especially so, and plus he has a talent for making the horrible really creepy. Compare his full page splash of the Parallax host in the Prologue of Volume One to Reis’ in Chapter One of Volume One.

To reserve Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War Volume One, click here; for Volume Two, click here; and for Tales of the Sinestro Corps, click here.

X-men: Emperor Vulcan

By Christopher Yost

Art by Paco Diaz Luque

Picking up right after the events of Uncanny X-men: The Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire, this graphic novel follows the X-men left behind in another galaxy to deal with Vulcan, the third Summers brother, now ruthless Emperor of the Shi’ar Empire. He’s not the uncontested Emperor, however. Professor X’s old flame, the dethroned Lilandra, is still alive and leads those rebel Shi’ar loyal to her, the Starjammers, and the X-men, including Vulcan’s own brother Havok.

As if this weren’t conflict enough, an unknown race named the Scy’ar Tal enters the fray, and they want _all_ the Shi’ar dead. Needless to say, this prompts a realignment of alliances to deal with the Scy’ar Tal -- just the first of many. This book is chock full of double crosses, shifting alliances, and unexpected surprises on a grand scale. Like Star Wars, it’s a glorious and entertaining space opera and yet, it has the intimacy of a family drama, as siblings (Havok and Vulcan, Lilandra and Deathbird) square off against each other.

And most the characters, in a very large cast, are fully realized with their own understandable, if not entirely agreeable, motivations, adding yet another layer of depth. I’m still fascinated by the new character Korvus, even if we don’t get to see as much of him in this graphic novel. And I’m a little disappointed in the smaller role Polaris plays, as I’ve always thought she was interesting character, but there’s always the next book.

The art is suitably grand for the tale. Luque may not have the dynamism of Tan, or the clean lines of Henry, but he delivers a nicely polished panel and conveys the space battles in a cinematic manner. I haven’t seen his work before, but I’ll definitely watch for it now.

I won’t spoil it, but it turns out that the Scy’ar Tal aren’t entirely unknown, just forgotten. Nor does the fun end here, with one side triumphant, but we’ll have to wait for things to be resolved in the next big event at Marvel, War of Kings, later in the year.

To reserve Emperor Vulcan click here. To reserve Uncanny X-men: The Extremists, and read what happened to the X-men who returned home, click here.

Uncanny X-men: Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire

By Ed Brubaker

Art by Billy Tan and Clayton Henry

Wow. Where to start? New characters with ties to old characters? Emotions running deep and rampant? The bonds and betrayal of family? Romantic entanglements? Political struggles on a galactic scale? Space pirates? Or how about a hero with really BIG sword? You’ll find all these things in this enjoyable graphic novel.

The book starts right after the events of X-men: Deadly Genesis, where we met Cyclops and Havok’s previously unknown brother, Vulcan. Unfortunately, for the X-men, Vulcan harbors a vicious grudge against the Shi’ar Empire, whose Emperor D’ken was responsible for the death of Vulcan’s mother and his own enslavement. Unfortunately, for Vulcan, the emperor he wants revenge upon is in a coma, and Vulcan becomes a pawn in the struggle between the two imperial daughters, Lilandra and Deathbird, for control of the Shi’ar Empire. Of course, things don’t end exactly how anyone planned, and the X-men are split up. Professor X, Nightcrawler, Warpath, and Darwin are prematurely sent back home with one of the StarJammers, while Rachel Summers, Havok, and Polaris are left behind to deal with the new political order. All of which leaves things open ended for the next adventures.

Ed Brubaker also introduces a new character named Korvus, who has ties to the Phoenix Force. He’s an intriguing addition to the X-men mythology, and I’d say look for him, but I don’t think you can miss his BIG sword.

They did an interesting thing with the art in this graphic novel. The parts dealing mainly with Vulcan and the Shi’ar Empire are drawn by Clayton Henry, who has a clean, straightforward, and static style. The parts dealing with the X-men and the outlaw Starjammers are drawn by Billy Tan, who has a looser, shadowy, dynamic style. Besides being particularly appropriate for their respective characters, the styles of both artists fit the mood of their respective storylines and settings. Yet, the individual work complements each other, making a harmonious and multilayered whole, instead of a discordant eyesore. I wouldn’t be adverse to seeing more such artistic collaborations on titles, as I’m sure it would help with production delays, if they were as good as this one.

If you like Star Wars, space opera, the X-men, or just a rousing adventure story, this book is for you. To reserve Uncanny X-men: Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire click here.

X-men: Deadly Genesis

By Ed Brubaker

Art by Trevor Harsine and Scott Hanna

This graphic novel draws from the origins of the 60s X-men team and the 70s new X-men team, and starts an arc that is still playing out today for those characters. When the X-men were first created, there was only Scott Summers, aka Cyclops. Later we learned that he had a brother, Alex Summers, aka as Havok. In this book we learn that there’s a third Summers brother, Gabriel, aka as Vulcan. Why has no one heard of him in all this time? Well, it’s a bit complicated.

But if you are an X-men fan, you will be amazed at the all the past events that Ed Brubaker seamlessly knits together to explain the presence of this third Summers brother. Of course, if you are reading Captain America or Iron Fist you already know that Brubaker is a master of incorporating the history of characters and giving them a fresh and unexpected twist. Giant Sized X-men #1 featured the first appearance of the New X-men like Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus, and I bought it on the newsstands (yes, I know that’s dating me). It’s one of the issues I read a gazillion times as a kid. So I was stunned, and happily so, at seeing that issue not only revisited, but cast in a completely different light in this graphic novel. And that’s just one of many surprises awaiting you here.

As far as the art, Trevor Hairsine did the layouts, with Scott Hanna finishing the pencils, which made things look a little rough, and not in the usual style of Hairsine. There are also four different inkers, so the uniform look of book was a little off. But overall, nicely done, with no wasted splash pages. As a graphic novel extra there are pencil sketches of the new character designs by Hairsine. Speaking of, I liked most of the new X-men characters and what was done with them. I hope somehow we get to see more of them. But I wasn’t very happy with what happened to Banshee.

And finally, the book really does change the status quo of the X-men and sets up some great hooks for the future. In particular, Professor X and Cyclop’s father – son relationship, once the bedrock of the X-men, seems irrecoverably damaged. And then there’s Vulcan’s quest for revenge, which leads to several other arcs in the X-men books and will culminate in Marvel’s next big event: War of Kings. If you want to be on that from the ground floor, then reserve X-Men: Deadly Genesis by clicking here.

Talking with Alabama Comic Book Writer Jason Aaron

PODCAST
Ever want to hear about comics and graphic novels from someone who actually creates them? Well, then tune in to the newest Homewood Hotcast, as Alabama comic book writer Jason Aaron – creator of Scalped and The Other Side – talks to us about his career, his influences, and his upcoming projects. Mr. Aaron has also worked for DC on Hellblazer and Joker’s Asylum and for Marvel Comics on Ghost Rider, Wolverine and Black Panther.

What Is A Graphic Novel??

What Is A Graphic Novel???

The comic book industry has gotten a lot of attention the past few years with major motion picture releases like Dark Knight, Iron-Man, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, and the much anticipated release of Watchmen in 2009.

While in my local comic book store this weekend I noticed a couple of moms and dads bringing in the kids and looking for comics of the heroes they'd just seen at the movies, and didn't quite know what to look for.

The best place to start if you or your children are interested in reading comics is the graphic novel. A graphic novel is simply a collection of issues of one title, bound together, usually in hardback or trade paperback format. For example, if you're looking for a Superman story that spanned 6 months in 1983, tracking down all those issues would be a challenge. With a graphic novel, all those issues are put together into one book, oftentimes with extras like commentary from artists and writers, and excerpts from the artists' sketchbook. Another plus is that graphic novels hold up much better after repeated reads than single issues.

So now that you know what a graphic novel is, which ones do you want? Some of the most successful graphic novels are:

Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer, and features most of the big names in the DC universe, like Superman, Batman, Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, etc.

Civil War by Mark Millar, that features almost the entire Marvel Universe: Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor, Captain America, the Punisher, etc.

The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and The Killing Joke by Alan Moore are must reads for fans of the new Batman movies.

Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman puts a new twist on popular mythology.

Click the following link to see a list of the top 30 graphic novels of all time:
Top 30 Graphic Novels of All Time

This is only a sampling of the best the comics world has to offer. You'll find hundreds of titles for different tastes and age groups, and finding a title you can't wait to come out each month is a great way to get young people reading.

As with anything your kids are involved with, know what they are reading. Some comics contain violence and dark subject material, and knowing you're interested and involved in picking out comics will make it a more exciting experience for them.

Happy Reading!

New Avengers The Illuminati One Shot from The Road to Civil War graphic novel, written and drawn by Bendis and Cheung

PODCAST
Did you see Iron Man in the theatres? Or The Hulk? If so, you’ll want to tune into the newest Homewood Hotcast to hear the discussion on the comic book version of Iron Man and exactly why the Hulk is angry with him. All this, and Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic! Stephen Strange, Doctor Strange! Professor Charles Xavier of the X-men! Black Bolt, king of the Inhumans. And Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner! Yes, that's right, the secret history of the Marvel Universe!

Part 2: Discussion of The Immortal Iron Fist, The Last Iron First Story, by Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction

PODCAST
Homewood Hotcast returns with another Fantastic Podcastic edition (Part 2) and your hosts Mojo JoJo and Neptune's Own finish the discussion on The Last Iron Fist Story. This time they get around to talking about the art of David Aja and Matt Hollingsworth, Luke Cage's fashion choices, kung fu dialog, and of course SPOILERS. Join us for the fun!

Discussion of The Immortal Iron Fist, The Last Iron First Story, by Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction-Part 1

PODCAST
And make my fist into a thing of iron!
Sweet Christmas!
August Personage in Jade
Lei Kung the Thunder
Hail Hydra!

If you're familiar with these phrases, then you will want to tune in to the Fantastic Podcastic edition of Homewood Hotcast to hear Mojo JoJo and Neptune's Own discuss the newest reboot of Marvel's Iron Fist collected in this graphic novel. If none of that is sounding familiar, tune in anyway. We promise fun and SPOILERS!

Sub-Mariner: Revolution

By Matt Cherniss and Peter Johnson
Art by Phil Briones

As I might have mentioned before, Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner is my favorite comic book character, so I was very excited to see this graphic novel on the library’s shelves. For those that aren’t familiar with him, in the fictional Marvel Universe, Namor is the proud ruler of a submerged Atlantis (think Yul Brynner’s Ramses from The Ten Commandments) But he’s also half-air breathing human and half-water breathing Atlantean, and thus an outsider to both cultures. He was created in 1939 by Bill Everett, which makes him the oldest of Marvel Comics’ many characters. And since his first appearance, he’s had an uneasy, and often antagonistic relationship with the surface world, which makes him one of the first anti-heroes in comics.

No where is that clearer than in this book, where a terrorist attack on an American town is blamed on Namor and Atlantis, and he must find the traitor responsible before war erupts between the two nations. It’s a tangled political tale, it’s an action filled adventure, it’s a psychological study, and most importantly, it’s an honest to goodness narrative that moves along at nice clip. There’s no decompressed story telling here. However, I get the feeling that the writers were given an editorial road map of sorts, because in some places the characterization was sacrificed to fit the plotline. In some ways, it reminded me of those old Marvel Team-Up issues, where the anchor character would have an encounter with a different super-hero each issue, usually resulting in a misunderstanding, followed by a fight. Namor’s quest brings him into contact and / or conflict with Iron Man, Wolverine, Professor X, Venom, and the Invisible Woman and each meeting reveals just how bad the situation is for our sea prince.

French artist Phil Briones brings a certain dynamism to the art reminiscent of Gene Colan’s classic work on the Sub-Mariner. Both artists like to capture that slightly off balance moment of action that lends itself particularly well to scenes that take place in the water or in the air. And there are plenty of those with a water breathing prince who can also fly. The underwater battle between Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner is amazing, and the best of book. Briones’ style is a bit loosely drawn, which some people enjoy, but which can lead to distortions of proportion. In other words, new readers, Namor’s ears normally are drawn like Tolkein elves, rather than Anime elves.

Sub-Mariner: Revolution is an entertaining read. But I must admit, for characterization and continuity reasons, I did not like the concept of Namor’s foe or how Namor dealt with him. But I loved the last chapter and the ending. Wow! You know how comic books and TV shows advertise episodes where “everything changes” and “nothing will ever be the same”? Well, this graphic novel delivers. Now, if only Marvel will capitalize on the fantastic cliff hanger, and the really intriguing opportunities left by the events of this book. Yes, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.

You can find this book in our catalog and reserve it here.

Defenders: Indefensible

By Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Art by Kevin Maguire

The Sub-Mariner has always been my favorite Marvel character, and I fondly remember the inception of the Defenders comic book. Unlike most superhero groups, the Defenders was entirely unofficial – no club house or headquarters for them -- and was really a temporary alliance of some of the most powerful, if most anti-social, characters in the Marvel Universe. That anti-social dynamic between the Sub-Mariner, The Hulk, Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer is played for all it’s worth in this hysterically funny mini-series, now collected into a graphic novel. Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis don’t alter the dramatic tone of our heroes, but certainly have a good time putting their seriousness in humorous perspective. And unlike many comic artists, Kevin Maguire captures the myriad of emotions that play across our abused heroes’ faces, complementing Giffen and DeMatteis’s words perfectly. Namor's expressions as he tries to think of a reason to be humble had me laughing out loud.

The comedy lies in the deft execution of a fairly simple plot. Doctor Strange discovers yet another reality conquering attempt of the Dread Dormammu, but this time he’s allied with his much more intelligent, if untrustworthy sister Umar. Strange’s answer to this threat? Reuniting his old ‘comrades,’ who: 1) don’t want to be reunited, and 2) don’t consider each other comrades. Reluctantly, our heroes join forces, but of course, things go badly when they bring the fight to Dormammu’s dimension. Umar carts the Hulk off as her new plaything. The Sub-Mariner only wants some aspirin, and silence, from Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer -- well, he may make it to the battle, if he can tear himself away from his Earth counterparts. Somehow the Defenders overcome their bickering, take advantage of Dormammu’s self-esteem issues, and deal with this week’s menace to the multi-verse, much to this reader’s amusement. In an age where grim, ruthless comic books are the standard, it is refreshing to spend some time laughing with old friends.

Reserve it from Homewood Public Library here.

30 Days of Night by Steve Niles

We've all heard that "the book is better than the movie." But what if the movie is based on a graphic novel? 30 Days of Night, by Steve Niles, is an 80+ page graphic novel originally published in 2003. The movie came out just last month.

The graphic novel is by illustrated by Ben Templesmith in a shaky and low detail style. The bulk of the illustrations are in black, white, brown and shades of the three, giving the work a murky, dark feeling. When other colors are used, they are also darker, muddier tones...except for reds, yellows and oranges. Fire and blood are illustrated with vibrant tones, making them pop from the pages for maximum impact (and there is a lot of blood). The story itself is a simple one, though creative and well-written. It recounts the town of Barrow, Alaska's horrifying fight to survive when the sun went down for an entire month, and vampires came to party. There is a lot of tension in the story, as a small group of humans struggle to keep their lives, and their sanity; hiding, and waiting for the sun to come up once again.

The movie retains the basic storyline of the graphic novel. The differences are in the character relationships, added characters and situations and location changes. It's understandable that the filmmakers would need to pad the story in order to make a feature length film from an 80 page book. Their changes don't detract from the plot, and their more fully developed characters help the viewer become more engaged, and therefore more horrified, by the events that transpire.

The graphic novel and the book contain enough differences that one will not detract from the pleasure of the other.

Marvel 1602

Written by Neil Gaiman, Art by Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove, with covers by Scott McKowen

The premise of the series is simple: What if Marvel’s Silver Age superheroes had appeared in Britain of 1602, instead of the America of the mid-20th Century? The result is intricate, intriguing, and most of all, entertaining.

In this timeline, Nick Fury is Sir Nicholas Fury, Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster, and Peter Parker, sans his Spider Man super-powers, is Peter Parquagh, Sir Nicholas’ protégé. Carlos Xavier runs a haven for witchbreed (mutants) like himself whilst his nemesis The Grand Inquisitor (Magneto) has his own agenda in Spain. The Fantastic Four still gain their powers on a voyage to the remote frontier, but this time to the New World instead of outer space. Doctor Doom still rules Latveria, and is still a villain, but as a physically unscarred Count Otto Von Doom. Doctor Strange, Daredevil, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Captain America, Thor, Hulk and The Watcher are some of the other characters you’ll find subtly altered in these pages.

Overall all, Marvel 1602 lived up to my expectations. I liked reading about characters that were similar to my old friends, but different. I liked how Neil Gaiman entwined historical characters, like Virginia Dare, with fictional superheroes. And I loved the historically inspired covers.

Apparently it was the writer’s and artist’s creative choice, but I found the use of multiple, small panels, laid out in fairly standard patterns to be slightly disappointing. Something this epic, with all the historical details, needed larger panels and more dramatic layout. Perhaps, these small panels also dictated the simplified, slightly anachronistic, clothing choices for our heroes, so they could be as recognizable in their tight panels as if they were wearing their contemporary costumes.

While it was nice to see so familiar faces, it also meant that many of them were given short shrift -- the Hulk and Thor and the Fantastic Four particularly. Luckily, some of this may be addressed by the sequels: 1602 New World and 1602 Fantastik Four, but I don’t believe either has been collected into a graphic novel yet.

This graphic novel collects the eight book series. It includes the “script” for the first issue that Neil Gaiman delivered to Andy Kubert, a great addition for both aspiring comic book writers and artists. Scott McKowen also talks about the process behind the creation of his unique scratchboard covers in a short article. Plus there are several preliminary sketches of characters, as well as a couple of pages of the enhanced pencil art that Andy Kubert delivered to colorist Richard Isanove.