Book Review: Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive

Lee Allred, et.al., Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2019. ISBN: 9781684054145. 

Genre: comics

Subgenre: crime, detectives

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington Public Library 

 

This was a fun romp to read. Dick Tracy, the iconic detective with the yellow trench coat, hat, and his two-way wrist radio, is modernized for the 21st century. However, the writers and artists maintain the essence of the character. 

Tracy is as honest as they come. After a big bust costs him his job in one city, he ends up in Chicago. He soon starts to clean up the city, and he soon clashes with the local corruption from the mayor, police chief, so on. Only support from the state government keeps him on the job, and a special task force helps him when he gets framed for a crime, an attempt to get him out of the way. 

The story is fast paced and fun overall. Once you start reading, you just keep going. The art feels like the classic comic strips,  but they also have a bit of 1990s or so style of cartoons. In modernizing, the authors try out some interesting things. For example, his wrist radio uses a special technology so cannot be tracker. This counters the need and risk of using a cellphone. 

Overall, the story feels retro and modern. In a time when so many comics want to be dark, gritty, and edgy, this one is just fun. It has a silly moment here or there, but that is part of the charm. The art is colorful and light. Old fans and new fans alike can enjoy this book. The book features the first four issues of the series. The book also includes an overview and historical timeline of the comic strip plus some extra annotations and editorial art. I am not sure if the series has continued at this time, but I would read more of it. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Three short book reviews: May 2025

These were volumes I checked out from the Eastside Branch of Lexington (KY) Public Library. I was not able to renew them, so I had to take them in fairly quickly. I did manage to finish reading them, so here are some short review notes. 

Kieron Guillen, Star Wars Volume 7: The Ashes of Jedha. New York: Marvel, 2018. ISBN: 9781302910525.

In this story, Princess Leia and the Rebellion work to help the inhabitants of Jedha, a planet exploited and left in ruins by the Empire. Luke Skywalker continues to help in the Rebellion while trying to keep to the Jedi Path. Meanwhile, the Imperials bring forward a new tool to finish the job in Jedha. The events take place between Star Wars Episodes 4 and 5, with references to Rogue One. You don't need to have seen the film Rogue One, but you may appreciate the story a bit more if you did. The story is good enough but no big deal. I liked it. 3 out of 5 stars. 

Simon Spurrier, Star Wars Doctor Aphra, Volume 6: Unspeakable rebel superweapon. New York: Marvel, 2019. ISBN: 9781302914882.

Aphra, Star Wars' very shady answer to Lara Croft, is on the run. . . again. Whether it is the Rebels or the Empire, they all want a piece of her. When she gets a job too good to pass up, she does it and comes out with a little extra in the form of an ancient Jedi weapon. Now she tries to stay ahead long enough to sell it. The story is entertaining, and it weaves intrigues on top of intrigues. This character, on the one hand, has potential for a series, but on the other hand, it would be very easy to mess up as Disney often does with this kind of series. Anyhow, this was a good story overall. It can mostly stand on its own, but it does end in a cliffhanger. 3 out of 5 stars. 

 

 Jackson Lanzing, et.al., Star Trek: Day of Blood. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2024. ISBN: 9798887240732.

This is a Star Trek crossover event that brings various characters together. If you have not read and/or watched the more recent stories and/or series, it may be a bit jarring at first. However, the story gives enough exposition for readers to catch up. Kahless II the Klingon Emperor has consolidated power, created a Red Path cult, and plans to purge anyone not in the path. It falls to Captain Benjamin Sisko and the USS Theseus along with Lt. Commander Worf and the USS Defiant to stop him. For Worf, this is complicated by the fact his son Alexander has gone with Kahless. The volume features excellent art throughout. Story is solid with plenty of action and good pacing. It draws you in. I really liked this one, so 4 out of 5 stars. 

Short book review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo

Stan Sakai, et.al., Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2017. ISBN:  9781684051991.

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: fantasy, samurais, ninjas

Series: TMNT, Usagi Yojimbo

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

 

This is basically a short crossover of the two titles. In feudal Japan, Usagi is hired to serve as Yojimbo (bodyguard) to a sensei that needs to return an artifact to a shrine. To get additional help, the sensei uses his magic to summon the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from four common turtles. From there, the story proceeds. An evil master and his minions try to stop them. 

It is a nice hardcover volume, there is not much here. It is a relatively short story with little substance. The second half of the volume is mostly filler material such as cover art. The art on the main story is good, likely the best part of the volume. 

I liked this volume, but was a bit underwhelming. I'd consider this a very optional selection for libraries. For readers, this is one to borrow. Unless you purchase it secondhand, this is not worth the retail price for what little you get. 

3 out 5 stars. 

Book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenge: 

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo: Bunraku and Other Stories

Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo, Volume 34: Bunraku and Other Stories. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2020. ISBN: 9781684056576.

Genre: graphic novels and comics

Subgenre: Feudal Japan, samurais

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College

 

This is the 34th volume in the Usagi Yojimbo series, and this series continues to be great. This volume features four stories.

• "Bunraku" where Usagi has to solve a mystery surrounding a living puppets theater.
• "The Hero." Usagi takes a job as bodyguard to a famous female writer. Her fame seriously annoys her samurai husband, but Bushido dictates Usagi cannot intervene even as her husband abuses her. This turns out to be a very moving story.
• "Adachi." This is a reworking of Usagi's first story. This is the time when Usagi became a ronin. Here he revisits his past. 
• "The Swords of Higashi." Usagi joins two bounty hunter friends to help recover an heirloom sword belonging to the Higashi clan. The story has a bit of a humorous twist at the end. 

The stories overall are well written and take you into feudal Japan. The stories feature good tales that range from moving to humorous. These stories are easy to read and entertaining. For folks who have not read the series before this volume can be a great entry point. 

Sakai's art is light, colorful, and beautiful. The art can be playful at times. It captures the Japanese feudal era well. The comics in this volume are in full color, which is a plus. 

Overall, this is an excellent volume and a great addition to the series. It's also a good entry point for new readers. It has good stories and great art. This is a volume I recommend for all readers. Definitely recommend it for all libraries with graphic novel collections. This is one I would add to my personal collection. 

5 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."

Book Review: Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Volume 1

James Tynion IV, et.al., Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Volume 1. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, 2016.  ISBN: 9781401262785.

 

Genre: Graphic novels and comics

Subgenre: superheroes, crossovers

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

Initially I was a bit skeptical how this crossover between DC Comics and IDW would work. Turns out it works out pretty well. The author and artist manage to keep the essence of the characters from both settings, and they interact pretty well. 

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) find themselves transported by a dimensional portal to Gotham City from their own New York. Their enemy Shredder and the Foot Clan also get transported to Gotham. Shredder figures he may as well try to take over Gotham, but he soon has to figure out alliances with the local villains including the Penguin, Ras Al Ghul, and others out of Arkham Asylum. Meanwhile, the TMNT get to meet Batman, and after a bit of a rocky start they become allies. The Turtles are fighting also against time because the mutagen that makes them who they are does not exist in Batman's universe. This means it will go inert and turn them back into normal turtles if they do not return to their world soon. 

As I said, this comic turns out to be very good. It is fast paced. The reader gets dropped right in the middle of the action, and soon we follow the story from there. 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. While it is a dramatic story, there are plenty of moments to make readers smile as well. 

The art is very good as well. It captures the characters well. It is a bit realistic within the overall fantasy style. Art is also in full color, which makes this volume a pleasure to read. 

Fans of either Batman or the TMNT will probably enjoy this. I certainly did. This is a good selection for libraries with graphic novel and comics collections. If the libraries already collect comics for either series, then this can be a good addition to the collection as well. Overall, I really liked this one, and I am likely to read the next installment of this series.

4 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2020 Reading Challenge: 

Book Review: Transformers: Beast Wars, Volume 1

Various authors, Transformers: Beast Wars, Volume 1. San Diego, CA: IDW Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 9781684058587.

 

Genre: comics

Subgenre: Transformers, cartoons, science fiction

Format: e-book galley

Source; NetGalley 

 

The Transformers: Beast Wars series was one of my favorites back in the day. So when I saw there was a comic book series, I decided to try it out. According to the publisher description, this is a re-imagining of the "fan-favorite Transformers generation. 

 

To be honest, this feels more like they took the pilot of the original series, added a couple new characters, and ran with it. If you have seen the original series, then you'll recognize the basic plot here with some changes given the new characters. This may be geared for new readers not familiar with the previous series. For older readers, this is retreading old ground. 

 

The art does not really help the comics either. While the covers look nice, the actual art in the comics is slick but average. It seems to veer to a sort of manga-like style that might appeal to younger readers, but it does not capture the characters well. At times characters, especially in their robot forms, look similar to each other. It is not always easy to distinguish some characters at times. 

 

Overall, the series is mostly OK. It was a quick and entertaining read, but it is not really memorable. I wish the art was better on this. For libraries, I would consider this as an optional purchase. The volume includes issues 1-6 of the series.

 

2 out of 5 stars.

 

This book qualifies for the following 2022 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

Short book review: Snake Eyes: Deadgame

Rob Liefield and Chad Bowers, Snake Eyes: Deadgame. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2021. ISBN: 9781684057955.

 

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: G.I. Joe, adventure, action

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

An enemy from a distant past rises, and Snake Eyes ends up an unwilling pawn of a challenge known as the Deadgame. The man from the past wields an ancient weapon that naturally interests Cobra, so soon Storm Shadow and later Destro and the Baroness make an appearance to seek it out. Snake Eyes needs to defeat the rival, keep the weapon away from Cobra, and survive. 

The story is pretty good, and it has a quick pace. Once the story gets going, it draws you in. We get glimpses of a distant past along with the present time. For fans of Snake Eyes, we get some more background into the character. The art in the volume is colorful and very good. The art is a good reason to pick this up. 

Overall, I liked it.  For libraries, this may be a good selection, especially if they already collect other G.I. Joe titles. 

3out of 5 stars. 

Book qualifies for the following 2021 Reading Challenge: 

Top Graphic Novels and Comics Read in 2020

This is my list of my top comics and/or graphic novels I read during 2020. List is based on titles I read that I rated 4 or 5 stars. Links go to the reviews of the titles so you can check them out. 

Hit-Girl in Colombia, Volume 1

 

 Redbone: the True Story of a Native American Rock Band

 

 

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! (Zenescope series)

 

 

 

 

Batman: White Knight

 

 

 

Lady Mechanika: La Dama de la Muerte

Booknote: Tales from Vader's Castle

Various authors, Tales from Vader's Castle (Star Wars Adventures). San Diego, CA: IDW, 2019.  ISBN: 978-1-68405-407-7.

 

Genre: graphic novels and comics

Subgenre: Star Wars, juvenile and young adult

Format: paperback

Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

 

When Lina Graf and her Rebels team crash land on Mustafar, they need to figure out how to get out of the planet. This means trying to find and/or steal a ship. The only place that may have a ship is Darth Vader's heavily guarded fortress nearby. In order to distract themselves a bit and lower tension, they tell spooky stories. Stories feature characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo and Chewbacca, and others. 

This volume is basically a collection of light and fun spooky stories for young adult/juvenile readers. The volume features five stories that blend spooky with a sense of humor. If Star Wars characters sat around a camp fire to tell tales, they'd tell tales like this. The book is a light and easy read. The art varies as it is drawn by various artists; some stories look better than others. Stories are light and entertaining. While you can read this any time of the year, it makes for good Halloween season reading. It does have a nice cuteness element coated in Star Wars that works. Overall, I liked it. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

Booknote: Redbone

Christian Staebler, et.al., Redbone: the True Story of a Native American Rock Band. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2020. ISBN: 978-1684057146.

 

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: biography, Native American, U.S. history, pop culture

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

This comic series presents the true story of 1970s Native American rock band Redbone. Brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas start out passing as Latino (Mexican Americans) but they eventually decide to embrace their Native American roots and heritage bringing Redbone to life. In 1969, they signed a deal with Epic Records, then left commercial fame behind as AIM (American Indian Movement) and civil rights movement for Native Americans rose. The authors of this comic series did collaborate with the Vegas family. We get a combination of biography and history of Native American rights and their relations with the U.S. If you missed this part of 1960s and 70s U.S. history, or you want to learn something new, then this is a comic to pick up. 

The story is told through the eyes of Pat Vegas telling the story to his daughter. Along the way we get history highlights and an overview of Native American history and some major events from the 1960s as well as some current events. The text is well written, and the story is compelling and interesting. 

The art style is somewhat basic. A small issue is that some images are not lined up well, so following some of the text was not easy. Despite that, the art suits the story well enough, and the story is the main draw for this volume. It's a good story with a blend of drama and history. This is the kind of story that could make a good film in the right hands. 

This is a title that I recommend for all libraries that collect graphic novels, Americana, and/or Native American topics as well as pop culture. I certainly plan to order a copy for our campus library. Overall this is one I really liked and highly recommend. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Book qualifies for this 2020 Reading Challenge: 

Booknote: Life in the Stupidverse

Tom Tomorrow, Life in the Stupidverse. San Diego, CA: IDW Publishing, 2020.  ISBN: 9781684056972. Publication date for book was 8/18/2020.

Genre: comics and graphic novels
Subgenre: humor, political humor, current events
Format: e-book galley
Source: NetGalley

This is a chronicle of life under the Trump presidency by Tom Tomorrow. The comics in the book cover from the 2016 election to a bit past the 2020 impeachment hearings. From the book's description:

"Relive all the trauma of the first several years of the Trump presidency through the Pulitzer-prize nominated cartoons of Tom Tomorrow!" 

And it has been a traumatic time made worse now by the coronavirus pandemic. Readers may want to think this is satire. The author, I think, is basically presenting current reality, which gets so ridiculous and painful that the dark humor practically writes itself. No matter how outrageous in his humor the author tries to be, he is not far from reality. To be honest, these comics really hit close to home. This book may well be a way to preserve the messed up world we currently live in the U.S.

The humor does vary in quality. Overall, this is very dark humor. You may chuckle or laugh nervously a bit, but you might also get seriously depressed. For some readers, you may not want to read this book cover to cover. Read a few strips, take a break, then read some more to keep the sanity.

Some strips that caught my eye:

• "A look back at Candidate Trump." 
• The one featuring a Trump voted who would lose health insurance if the ACA, a.k.a. as Obamacare, was repealed. I'd laugh, but in Kentucky, administrators had to avoid the "O" word to get the retrograde hicks to sign up for it. You explained ACA, what it did, and they all thought it was pretty cool. Gave the same explanation but used the "O" word, and they would rather did than take anything from the "N-word" guy. 
• Where you almost felt sorry for Putin having to deal with the man-baby president. 
• The parody of Trump Bear. 
• By the way, the Republican Lite are not off the hook with this author. 

Overall, I liked the book. Humor can be variable; some strips are better than others. All strips overall catch the reality of the Hard Times we are currently living. I can only imagine the horrors the author would get when he does things during the pandemic. I'd say this is a book to borrow, especially for casual readers.

For libraries, I'd say do keep in mind your community. Let's be honest, a very red community may not appreciate this book, so select carefully. Other places will probably enjoy it more. This is also a book more for public libraries.

3 out of 5 stars.

Qualifies for these 2020 Reading Challenges:

ArcApocalypse

Booknote: Star Trek: Alien Spotlight, Volume 2

Arne Schmidt, et.al., Star Trek: Alien Spotlight, Volume 2. San Diego, CA: IDW Publishing, 2010. ISBN: 978-1600106125.

Genre: comics and graphic novels
Subgenre: Science fiction, Star Trek
Format: trade paperback
Source: I own this one. Got on clearance at Half Price Books

This is another collection of comics highlighting alien races from Star Trek across different eras. Like the previous volume (link to my review of volume 1), this volume has pluses and minuses, but the overall main issue is the lack of quality consistency. One or two stories are really good, and others are so-so. The art quality is also inconsistent. Some of it is good, but some of it is also pretty bad. The result is a volume that is nice but overall no big deal.

Volume highlights:

• The Klingon story is a good exploration of the concept of honor and the high price it can have. 
• The Q story was good, much like any Star Trek: The Next Generation episode featuring Q. It was amusing at times. 
• The Romulan story explores their intrigues and deceits, where no one can really be sure where they stand. 

In the end, I liked it. Fans of Star Trek will likely enjoy it. For libraries, if you have other Star Trek comics, this is a good addition. Still, mainly one to borrow.

3 out of 5 stars. 

Booknote: Star Trek: Countdown

Roberto Orci, et.al., Star Trek: Countdown. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2015. ISBN: 9781600104206.

Genre: science fiction
Subgenre: Star Trek, graphic novels
Format: paperback
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

This trade paperback collects the four prequel comics to the 2009 reboot movie. If it reminds you of Star Trek: Nemesis, it's because these comics take place 8 years after the end of that movie. I am not too keen on how Abrams and company just shoehorn previous material into the new movie to add "authenticity," but it is what it is. The comic itself is pretty good, and you can read it on its own.

In this story, Spock continues his work trying to reconcile Romulus and Vulcan. He is an ambassador and now legal resident on Romulus. Picard is the Federation ambassador. Data, who successfully integrated his personality into the B4 android, now commands the Enterprise- E. Data and his crew look great in this story. I would not mind a few more Captain Data stories. Meanwhile, this comic presents the rise of the villain Nero.

Overall, it  has good art. The story is pretty good and entertaining. It's not great though at times it feels better than the new movie offerings. Fans of the new movies will likely appreciate the new details. As I mentioned, it stands on its own. In the end, I liked it.

3 out of 5 stars. 

Booknote: Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus, Volume 1

Various authors, Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus, Volume 1. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2015. ISBN: 9781631402463.

Genre: comics and graphic novels
Subgenre: science fiction, robots, Transformers
Format: paperback
Source: Berea branch  of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

This trade paperback contains the first 13 issues of the Transformers: Spotlight series. Each issue focuses on a single character, and the stories alternate between Autobots and Decepticons. This volume is basically an anthology of short stories that serve to give insight into a specific character.

The comics have different writers and artists, so they look different from issue to issue. You get a good sampling of stories and characters. Note that the stories are left a bit open-ended. Overall, it is a good and entertaining volume. Since they are individual stories, it is an easy read. I really liked this one.

4 out of 5 stars.

The bots featured in this volume are:

• Shockwave (Decepticon)
• Nightbeat (Autobot)
• Hot Rod (Autobot)
• Sixshot (Decepticon)
• Ultra Magnus (Autobot)
• Soundwave (Decepticon)
• Kup (Autobot)
• Galvatron (Decepticon)
• Optimus Prime (Autobot)
• Ramjet (Decepticon)
• Blaster (Autobot)
• Arcee (Autobot)
• Grimlock (Autobot)

Booknote: Transformers: The IDW Collection. Phase 2, Volume 6

Various authors, Transformers: The IDW Collection. Phase 2, Volume 6. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2017.  ISBN: 9781684050857.

Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: science fiction, robots, Transformers
Format: hardcover
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

I had read the first part of this volume back in 2014, but I get to read the complete story arc now. In the end, the art is good but not consistent; it  is done in different styles by different artists for different scenes. The result is inconsistent art quality. Also at times they try to pack so much into frames that you can barely make details out. The same goes for the characters; they threw in every Transformer they could find. It really can be hard keeping track of who is who other than some major players.

The story is basically one  of those save the world from some major doomsday event, in this case, Shockwave's scheme to end time itself. It  is a decent action story, but it has a lot of twists, and at times it does feel a bit stretched out. Having read the whole series now, I'd give it a 3 out of 5 stars overall because I liked it, but it has some issues. It is a bit of heavy reading. Plus to be honest, I did not find Megatron's new  behavior believable.

In addition to the main story arc, the volume contains a Windblade four issues series, which takes place after the Dark Cybertron tale. I enjoyed this short series a lot better. Windblade is Metroplex's "city speaker," his advocate. When someone is mining out ore from Metroplex, the signs point to Starscream, but is Cybertron's despot really behind this plot?

Overall, the volume has some good art, and it uses different artists for different parts of the story which was interesting. The main story is not that good, but if you are a hardcore Transformers fan, you'll likely want to read it. I will add that the IDW hardcover volume is solid and well made; for libraries, this format can be a good durable choice.

2 out of 5 stars.

Booknote: G.I. Joe: Future Noir

Andy Schmidt, et.al., G.I.Joe: Future Noir. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2011. ISBN: 978-1600108655.

Genre: comics and graphic novels
Subgenre: manga, G.I. Joe
Format: paperback
Source: Bought on clearance at Half Price Books (but I will be weeding it out of my collection)

This is the comic's first manga adventure, and as far as I am concerned, it should be the last one and never spoken of ever again. IDW usually does well with G.I. Joe comics, so I honestly do not know why they allowed this  mess to be published.

The plot barely makes sense. It is something about Cobra unleashing giant plant monsters in Japan or other. So you may think monster movie in Tokyo kind of thing, but with  G.I. Joe. That actually sounds kind of cool, but that is not quite what  you get. In addition, the characters are not right. I know they are adapting them to manga, but Duke for instance is nothing like the Duke we know. It not just the looks; it's the actions. Duke, for example, acts more like a horny teenager than a decent soldier. The other characters are not much better.

This is one to definitely skip. I did not like it, and I definitely would not recommend it. It should have stayed in the clearance rack of the bookstore where I found it. If you see this, do not bother. This book fails both as a manga and as a G.I. Joe comic.

1 out of 5 stars (barely).

This book qualifies for the following 2017 Reading Challenges:

Booknote: Ghostbusters International

 Erik Burnham, Ghostbusters International. San Diego, CA; IDW, 2016. ISBN: 9781631406232.

Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: comedy, paranormal
Format: e-book galley
Source: NetGalley

This is a short comic of about 60 pages that features the original cast of Peter, Ray, Egon, and the rest of the gang. The story begins with them doing a job at the United Nations building in New York City. Shortly after, they get hired to do a series of ghost busts in a small Italian island. It seems the client wants to develop the land, but it is heavily haunted. However, the client may not be all he seems, and this job may not be as easy as the Ghostbusters think it is.

This small comic combines the charm of the original Ghostbusters with a bit of action and mystery. By the way, it was a cute detail to have Ray getting a Tarot reading at the beginning of the story. Even though they comment on the Death card as a sign of change and not the terrible literal meaning pop culture gives it, the comic, in putting the heroes in danger does the pop culture thing with the Tarot card. Also, check out a certain EMT who makes a brief appearance and looks like Dom DeLuise in Cannonball Run (link to image; link to film information). It was a neat pop culture detail that young readers may miss, but older readers may notice.

Overall, I liked this one, and I would seek out the next volume, especially since this one ends in a cliffhanger. It's a light and fun selection.

3 out of 5 stars.

This book qualifies for the following 2016 Reading Challenges:

Booknote: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Volume 3

Kevin B. Eastman and Peter A. Laird, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Volume 3. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2012. ISBN: 9781613771389. 


Genre; graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: superheroes, TMNT.
Format: Oversized hardcover.
Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College.

I finished reading the third volume in this series. As I have written about the previous volumes (link to reviews of volume 1 and volume 2), this is an excellent compilation of the early work by Eastman and Laird. The volume contains seven stories, including the three-issue arc "Return to New York." These stories were originally published between 1987 to 1989; the stories do hold up well enough with the passage of time.

In this volume, the authors try out different styles such as telling a mobster story or a feudal Japan samurai and ninjas story. You can tell the authors love their work as it shows in the well crafted stories and solid artwork. As with previous volumes, this one does include author commentary sections for each comic. Fans who enjoy learning how the artists work and other trivia will enjoy reading those sections as well.

Overall, this continues to be a solid selection for libraries with graphic novels collections. As I have stated before, this is not for little children, but teens and above will enjoy them. This is one I would definitely add to my personal collection.

5 out of 5 stars.

* * * * *

This book qualifies for the following 2016 Reading Challenges:

Booknote:Star Trek: Alien Spotlight, Volume 1

Various authors, Star Trek: Alien Spotlight, Volume 1. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2008. ISBN: 9781600101793.

Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: science fiction, aliens, Star Trek
Format: Trade paperback
Source: Bought at Half Price Books. 

This is another volume I bought from the clearance section at Half Price Books, and it was a pretty good find. I am not a huge fan of Star Trek, but I do enjoy it, so I figured reading the comics would be fun.

This volume is a compilation of comics that highlights the alien species in Star Trek. Some aliens are allies; others are enemies, and others are just enigmatic. But they are all interesting, and in this collection, we get their point of view. This volume features the following aliens:

• Gorn
• Vulcans
• Andorians
• Orions
• Borg
• Romulans

The volume also features characters we may not have seen often in the series or were featured in the films. For instance, there are at least two stories featuring Captain Pike, the guy who commanded the Enterprise before Kirk took over. Another example is Captain Terrell making an appearance in a story before the events of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Though overall the main characters are not the usual series characters, the stories are firmly connected to the series with various references to other tales and events.

The Andorian story, though it ends in a cliffhanger, was a favorite for me. It has a nice blend of action and political intrigue. In the Vulcan story, we see Spock in the early days when Vulcans were still new to Starfleet.

The art in the volume does vary in quality for each comic as we see the work of different artists. Some comics are better than others in terms of art. The covers are very well done though.

In the end, this is one I liked.

3 out of 5 stars.

This book qualifies for the following 2015 Reading Challenges: