Book Review: Donald Duck: The Black Pearls of Tabu Yama

Carl Banks (author and artist), Walt Disney's Donald Duck: "The Black Pearls of Tabu Yama." Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics, 2018.  ISBN: 9781683961239.

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: retro, vintage, Disney comics

Format: hardcover

Source: Berea branch, Madison County (KY) Public Library

 

This volume is part of The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library from Fantagraphics; this series collects his Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge comics from the 1940s and 1950s. Though the stories are being published in order, the compilation volumes are not. This one is volume 19 of the series. The stories stand alone, so you can read them in any order. This volume features the title story, "The Black Pearls of Tabu Yama" and thirteen other stories. The volume also includes: 

• Story notes by various contributors that provide some additional commentary on the stories.
• Carl Barks: Life Among the Ducks. A biographical note on the author. 
• List of contributors.
• Where did these stories first appear? A note when the stories were first published. 

 

The stories in this volume are fun and silly at times. They are entertaining and take us back to simple times. For some readers, there may be an image or stereotype that does not hold well today, but remember these are tales of their time. Donald Duck and his nephews are hard workers, but things don't always work out as planned. However, we usually get a happy ending and there is a good amount of good humor. 

The comics are a light and easy read. The comics are published in color. Some of the stories are better than others, but they overall make a good package. I really liked this volume. 

I do recommend this volume for all libraries that collect comics and graphic novels. This edition is a nice hardback with some good extras that are informative about the time when the comics came out. Fantagraphics is doing a good labor of love publishing these. In a time when so many comics feel a need to be dark, moody, edgy, and/or depressing, it is nice to read some comics with simple humor and written just to make readers happy and smile for a while. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book Review: Bomb Run And Other Stories

Harvey Kurtzman (author) and John Severin (artist), Bomb Run and Other Stories. Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics, 2014. ISBN: 9781606997499.

 

Genre: graphic novels and comics

Subgenre: war, soldiers, 1950s

Format: hardcover

Source: Berea branch, Madison County (KY) Public Library

 

This is a collection of 1950s EC war comics. John Severin does the art work, and Harvey Kurtzman wrote the stories. The volume includes 32 comics. It also features an introduction and some supplementary essays at the end of the volume. 

Most of the comics feature stories of World War II and the Korean Conflict. However, we also get stories from antiquity, the American Civil War, World War I, and a few other eras. The stories are pretty good, and they are often meant to promote patriotism. Kurtzman was known to be a bit of a moralist, per one of the essays in the book, so the stories often have a lesson or illustration of values. In addition, the stories often have an unexpected twist or turn. I often enjoyed best the stories with the unexpected turns. 

The comics are in black and white. Severin draws with a gritty style that is mostly realistic. I'd say at times his art can draw readers in, and the characters are very expressive. We often see the horrors and tragedies of war in Severin's art bringing Kurtzman's stories to life. The comics may encourage patriotism, but war is not glamorized nor glorified.  

This volume is part of Fantagraphics EC Library series. This is a volume I would recommend for libraries with graphic novel collection. The hardback volume is good quality overall, and yes, it looks good on the shelf too. I really liked it, and I would suggest it for folks who like war comics. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Top Graphic Novels, Comics, and Manga I Read in 2022

These are my top reads in graphic novels, comics, and manga for 2022. These are titles that I rated at four or five stars. The list is in no particular order, and if I have a review done by now, I am including a link. 

Usagi Yojimbo: Bunraku and Other Stories.

Bomb Run and Other Stories.

Star Wars Age of Rebellion: Villains.

From the review: "I personally liked the Tarkin story, which shows how ruthless he can be. The Jabba the Hutt tale was pretty good too with a bit of a twist revealing that the gangster can also be practical."

Shadowman, Book One.

From my review: "For starters, the art in this book is very good. Early on Shadowman and Baron Samedi look very good. I particularly liked the sort of dark and fun portrayal of Baron Samedi. The art overall is colorful and can be a bit evocative."

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Volume 1.

From my review: "Story combines good action with a bit of the grittiness Batman comics are known for, and it also maintains the humor that distinguishes TMNT comics."

Deadpool Samurai, Volume 1.

From my review: "Deadpool's humor is spot on in this series. His fourth wall breaks are great, and he aims his humor at everyone up to and including his publishers-- Marvel and Shonen Jump. "

Deadpool Samurai, Volume 2.

From my review: "The Merc With the Mouth is back and still doing all sorts of hijinks in Tokyo as part of the newly formed team Samurai Squad."

Space Pirate Captain Harlock.

From my review: "Author Alquié takes Matsumoto's story and art in a new direction that is a sequel to the 1970s original series.  If you watched and enjoyed the original series, you'll probably enjoy this one as well."

Lady Mechanika, Volume 6: Sangre.

From my review: "This is a solid selection for libraries with graphic novel collections. I'd buy it for our library."

The Art of Sushi.

 

From my review: "The author travels from France to Japan to learn all he can about sushi. Along the way not only do we learn about sushi, but we also learn about elements of sushi such as the fish and the rice as well as those who make it and even related topics like sake and soy sauce."

Booknote: 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente

Wilfred Santiago, 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente. Seattle, WA; Fantagraphics Books, 2011.  ISBN: 978-1056097-892-3.

Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: biography, Puerto Rico, baseball, sports
Format: hardback
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library.

I stayed up late to read this one, and it was definitely worth it. Roberto Clemente rose from poverty in Puerto Rico to play Major League Baseball. Despite facing racism and discrimination in the United States, he found fame and fortune, becoming one of the greatest to play the game. He was also a great philanthropist who used his fame and fortune to help others in need. He died on December 31, 1972 as he lived, serving others, when the plane he was in for a relief mission to Nicaragua crashed. In 1973, he became the first Latin American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The comic tells the story in a concise yet very evocative way. Santiago not only tells the story, but he also catches the little details of growing up in Puerto Rico in the 1950s and onward, even the jingle of the local radio news station WKAQ. Granted, the jingle has been translated into English, but believe me that Puerto Ricans like me who grew up listening to it on the island can still hear it. Santiago goes on to take us from Clemente's childhood to his rise in baseball. It is a story of hard work and sacrifice, of athleticism and service to others.

The book is very easy to read. I got through it in one night as it is a captivating story. My only issue was the art. The art is very good; it captures the era and his life very well. But it is also very cramped at times, and some of the frames can be a bit busy because the author tries to pack so much into the story. Perhaps a larger book, or more pages could have solved some of that issue.

The library I borrowed this from has it as juvenile title, and it is definitely a good title for young people to read. Santiago presents Clemente as he was. He also does a good job of depicting Puerto Rico at the time in a pretty accurate way. In addition, this is a book that adults will enjoy as well, especially fans of baseball. While not a definitive work, it is a solid biographical graphic novel that educates and honors the great man. It is one that I am glad to recommend, and it will likely make my end of year best reads for 2016. Definitely a great addition to any library. This is one I would add to my personal collection.

5 out of 5 stars.


This book qualifies for the following 2016 Reading Challenges:

Booknote: The Complete Peanuts, 1973-1974

Charles Schulz, The Complete Peanuts, 1973-1974. Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics, 2009. ISBN: 9781606992869.

Genre: comics
Subgenre: humor, children
Format: hardback
Source; my local public library

I continue reading the collections of Peanuts published by Fantagraphics, which are available in my public library. Like other volumes, this one also has a celebrity introduction. Billie Jean King, the tennis great, writes the introduction for this volume. Schulz was a big sports fan, and he especially admire King. This shows in the many strips with sports themes and references found in Peanuts. In this volume, there are various allusions to King. Overall, the sports references seem to shine a bit more in this year of the series.

Other than the sports themes, much of the volume is the same as previous ones. Peanuts overall have a consistent familiarity. This means that such consistency can be very comforting to readers. However, it also means that, like an old relative that you know well, you notice the flaws too. For me, the big flaw in these comics is the constant obnoxious bullying on the part of Lucy along with her persistent and unwelcome stalking of Schroeder. I have expressed this before, and I will say it again: if Lucy was Lou and Schroeder was say Katrina, every other feminist in the U.S. would have crucified Schulz by now. The more I read this comic, the more it amazes me his audience so easily laughed at the bad behavior and gave him a pass. For instance, see the February 1974 strip where she destroys his piano while yelling at him, "are you sure you want to risk losing me?" (180). I think the poor boy would most likely say yes, get lost already.

The highlight of the volume remains in Snoopy and Woodstock. Their interactions and humor always bring me a smile. Also, the storyline in this volume where the kids talk to the school building was cute. In the end, the volume has just enough for me to like it, at least for a while longer. Fans I am sure will enjoy it.

3 out of 5 stars.

Booknote: The Complete Peanuts, 1969-1970

Charles Schultz, The Complete Peanuts, 1969-1970. Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-56097-827-5.

Genre: comic strips
Subgenre: humor, children
Format: Hardback
Source: My local public library. 

I continue to make my way through this series. This time I got through the 1969-1970 volume. We are coming out of the 1960s, and many of the strips reflect issues and ideas from that time as Lucy declares herself a "new feminist" and Peppermint Patty defies her school's dress code.

However, the reality with Lucy is that she remains a bully and even an emotional abuser. There is whole week or so worth of strips in this volume with a plot where she destroys Schroeder's piano for no other reason than he does not pay attention to her. Because, when you look at it, in addition to harassing Charlie Brown and her brother Linus, she is really stalking Schroeder. Schroeder has clearly and often expressed he has no interest in her. This is not exactly very feminist on her part, though I am sure some feminists out there would see her being "bossy" as a plus. It is bullying and stalking pure and simple. If the situation were reversed, and Schroeder did half of what she does to him to her, I am sure every feminist in the U.S. would be yelling for his head because he is an abusive male. In her case, we'll, it's humor. Uh huh.

Overall, the more I read this series, the more I see Schultz as a way overrated cartoonist. I honestly wonder how this cartoon manages to keep its appeal, especially now when a lot of people, including a lot of feminists, are so sensitive to things like bullying and stalking. Another example, in a January 1970 strip, Linus is making small snowmen. Lucy, without a word said, comes by and kicks them, destroying them. As a reader, I found that kind of disturbing to be honest. The guy is just there minding his own business, and she comes out of nowhere to ruin his brief fun. I do not see the humor in this.

The only thing redeeming in this series is Snoopy's imagination. By the way, in this volume we find out that the cute little bird's name is Woodstock. In the end, I liked the volume but barely. I am keeping my expectations low as I continue to read the series.

3 out of 5 stars.