Short book review: Star Wars: Target Vader

Robbie Thompson, et.al., Star Wars. Target Vader. New York: Marvel, 2020.  ISBN: 9781302918583. 

Genre: graphic novels and comics

Subgenre: Star Wars

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

 

In this story, Darth Vader is on a mission against a crime syndicate. Soon he discovers that he is the target of bounty hunters. He has to complete his mission, deal with the bounty hunters, and find out who put a bounty on his head. One of the bounty hunters is a former Imperial officer who is very motivated to get Vader. 

The story overall is good. It has some intrigue, some good action, and it moves at a good pace. The art is good enough. Entertaining story that is a quick read, and you move on. This is one to borrow then move on to the next one. I liked it. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

 

 

 

Qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Book Review: Darth Vader-- Legacy's End

Charles Soule, et.al., Star Wars. Darth Vader, dark lord of the Sith, Volume 2: Legacy's End. New York: Marvel, 2018.  ISBN: 9781302907457.

Genre: Star Wars, science fiction

Subgenre: Darth Vader series

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library  

 

This is part of Charles Soule's run on the Darth Vader comics. This volume features two stories. 

The main story is Vader's hunt for Jocasta Nu. Jocasta was the Jedi librarian, and while she is barely a fighter, her knowledge of the Jedi and their library makes her valuable and a threat to the Empire. She strives to stay ahead as she works urgently to preserve what she can of Jedi knowledge. 

The second story has a couple of mercenaries who have a contract to kill Vader. Who would dare we might ask? When Vader discovers the contract may have come from Coruscant, the imperial capital, things may get complicated.  

I liked the stories, but there was a moment or two I honestly questioned a character or two. At one point, Jocasta has to break into the Jedi temple for some information. She is doing well, about to get away with it, when she notices one of Vader's inquisitors reading some books. Instead of just ignoring it and moving on, she decides to be upset and confront the guy pawing her books. Lady, you had one job to do. They guy was totally unaware of your presence, and instead you decide to play pissy librarian. Needless to say the story goes downhill for her from there. It's not often I get annoyed at characters doing stupid shit, but this was some really stupid shit. 

The second story was good enough, with just enough action and intrigue to keep you reading. 

Overall, I liked the volume. It was a nice and light read, and I read it pretty fast. Would've liked to see more of the librarian, but that did not last. We get a couple of stories that keep the series going, but nothing terribly memorable. This is one to read and move on. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

Qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Book Review: The Boys Omnibus, Volume 6

Garth Ennis, et.al., The Boys Omnibus Volume 6. Mount Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, 2020. ISBN: 9781524108595.  ISBN: 9781524113377. 

Genre: graphic novels and comics

Subgenre: superheroes, antiheroes, satire, adapted to television

Format: trade paperback omnibus edition

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

 

As I look back, I realize I read and reviewed volume 5 almost a year ago; that review is dated April 11, 2025. I will include links to the previous reviews in the series below. Anyhow, I finally picked this up and read it, thus completing the series. As I have stated before, I have not seen the Amazon series. 

This volume includes issues 60-72 of the original comics, which bring us to the end of the series. In addition, the volume includes some bonus materials including the original series pitch with author commentary, the series cover gallery, and a pin-up gallery. 

The inevitable confrontation between The Seven, led by the Homelander, and The Boys arrives. When Homelander schemes a coup to take over the United States, The Boys and the U.S. military spring into action. But that is not all. Ennis gives us a surprise twist, and then we soon realize that Butcher has a plan of his own to eliminate the supes once and for all. 

Once the story starts the pace is swift, and you just keep on reading. The story draws you in. Just when you think things may settle, the plot goes on. We get drama, action, heart breaks, betrayal, and more. 

The art is very good, but it is also very graphic including some gore at times. There are reasons this series is rated for "mature readers," and I suspect the Amazon series seriously tones down some of the graphic elements. Feel free to comment if my suspicion is accurate or not. Still, the art is well produced, and it is another reason to read this volume and series. 

The author's commentary in the story on topics like U.S. politics, corruption, corporations, and their abuses of power remain as timely as ever. This last volume, the compilation, came out in 2020. The series itself started in 2006, running to 2012. It is within that context that The Boys operate. 

Overall, this series remains a good series and a solid story. Even in this year and time, it holds up well both for the action and the intrigue story and its social and political commentary. Again, it can be very violent, so not for the faint of heart. Otherwise a great work, and a pretty good way to end the series. That is all I will say to avoid spoilers just in case. 

I do recommend it for libraries that collect comics and graphic novels. I prefer these omnibus editions to the previous trade paperbacks, and I'd encourage libraries to get the omnibus editions. We got them at our library. This is one I really liked, and as a whole, I'd add the series to my personal collection. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

Qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Links to reviews of previous volumes: 

• Volume 1.
• Volume 2.
• Volume 3.
• Volume 4.
• Volume 5.  

 

 

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: 

 

Short Book Review: Department of Mind-Blowing Theories

Tom Gauld, Department of Mind-Blowing Theories. Montreal, Canada: Drawn and Quarterly, 2020. ISBN: 9781770463752.  (Publisher link)

Genre: comics

Subgenre: science and scientists

Format: small hardback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

 

 

This is a collection of Tom Gauld cartoons focusing on science and scientists. If you've enjoyed his relatively minimalist art, you will probably enjoy this book. As in his other books, the humor varies. Some comics are funny, and others are just OK. The strips are published in color. 

A few of my favorite comics include: 

• The new journal issues out now. 
• The smartspoon.  If you are not a fan of "smart" appliances, you may appreciate this one. 
• The "out of office" e-mail auto-reply.
• The virtual assistant and robot-cleaner. 

Overall, I think the book is a nice, quick, and easy read. It is entertaining, but it is one to read and move on. If you need something light to read, this is a good option. On campus, your science faculty may particularly appreciate it. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge:  

 

 

 

7 graphic novels, comics, and manga I read in 2025

To be honest, this was a very low year for me in terms of reading graphic media. I tend to read a bit more in this format, but 2025 was a hard year as a whole. Here is what I managed to read in graphic media for the year.  

The first three volumes I read during the month of May 2025, and I wrote three short reviews in one post.   

 

Star Trek:Day of Blood

 

Star Wars Doctor Aphra, Volume 6: Unspeakable rebel superweapon

 

Star Wars, Volume 7: the Ashes of Jedha

 

 The rest in the list have individual reviews, and I provide the links in the title: 

 

Harley's Little Black Book

 

 I always enjoy Conner and Palmiotti working on a Harley Quinn volume, so naturally I had to pick this up. This series is always good fun.

  

Eerie Archives Volume 3

 

 

Eerie Archives Volume 4

 

The Eerie Archives series, along with other EC Comics Archive series published by Dark Horse, are always  good and entertaining option for me. I have been borrowing them from the public library a bit at a time, and they are always worth it. I hope to read more of these in 2026.

 

 

 

Captain Harlock Classic Collection, Volume 3

 

I finished the Captain Harlock Classic Collection series in 2025. If you've watched the animated series, you'll probably enjoy this as well. 

 

How about readers out there? Any good graphic media you read that you want to tell me about? Have your read any of these? Feel free to comment. 

Next week I wrap up my specific lists of books read with my list of Tarot and esoterica books I read in 2025, so feel free to come back and check it out. Again, thank you for reading and stopping by. 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Eerie Archives, Volume 4

Various authors, Eerie Archives, Volume 4. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Books, 2024. ISBN: 9781506736228. 

Genre: horror

Subgenre: comics

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

 

The series continues to be a good and entertaining read. This volume features issues 16-22 of Eerie Magazine. Some of the authors and artists featured include Archie Goodwin, Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, and Steve Ditko. The variety in art styles is a good reason to read this volume and the series. This volume features an interview with Al Williamson where he discusses his work for EC Comics,  Warren Publishing, and Archie Goodwin.

Some of my favorite stories in this volume include: 

• "Dracula's Guest," an adaptation of a Bram Stoker story.
• "The Final Solution."
• "The Death of Halpin Frayser," an adaptation of an Ambrose Bierce tale. 
• "Side show," about a group of carnival side show performers and a murder mystery. This one offers a solid twist at the end. 

The quality of the tales overall in this volume is a bit inconsistent compared to previous volumes, but there are still plenty of good tales to keep you reading. I always enjoy the literary adaptations. I also enjoy the twists at the end. The best stories in this series usually deliver that twist or surprise at the end that stays with you after reading. 

This continues to be a good series overall. I do recommend it for libraries with graphic novel and comics collections. It makes for good Halloween reading, but you can read it any time. Overall, I really liked it, and I'll keep reading the series down the road. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

Book Review: Eerie Archives, Volume 3

Archie Goodwin, et.al., Eerie Archives, Volume 3. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse, 2023. ISBN: 9781506736211.

Genre: comics, horror

Subgenre: vintage, suspense, mystery

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

I continue reading this series and enjoying it. If you enjoy suspense and horror tales with a twist, this volume may be for you. Some of the artists featured include Archie Goodwin, Joe Orlando, and Reed Crandall. The volume includes a foreword by Gail Simone. The volume features two adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe short stories: "The Telltale Heart" and "The Masque of Red Death." The book collects issues 11-15 of Eerie Magazine. 

As Gail Simone describes in her foreword, this was a "dark period" for the publisher as Archie Goodwin, the editor, left along with some of the original artists. Still, I enjoyed the volume. I like the variety of art by different artists. Overall, I found the stories entertaining. 

Some of my favorite tales in this book include: 

• "The Mummy." 
• "The Monster from One Billion B.C." 
• "The Masque of Red Death." 
• "The Past Master." This is an adaptation of a Robert Bloch tale. This tale shows what happens when warnings are not heeded. 
• "The Talkers" reminded me of some classic Twilight Zone episodes. 

In the end, I really liked this volume, and I continue enjoying the series. It was an easy reading. If you like horror with suspense and a bit of the unexpected, this can be for you. The art is black and white, but makes up for it in good use of shadows to bring the tales to life. 

I recommend this for libraries that collect graphic novels and comics. Volumes like this one make it easy for new readers to discover and experience these tales. I'd order it for our library and for my personal collection. 

5 out of 5 stars .

 

Book qualifies for the following 2025 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. 

Book Review: Eerie Archives, Volume 2

Archie Goodwin, et.al., Eerie Archives, Volume 2. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse, 2023. ISBN: 9781506736204. 

Genre: comics, horror

Subgenre: vintage, magazines

Format: large trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library  

I continue enjoying this series. This volume collects issues 6-10 of Eerie Magazine. Each issue features seven tales. In addition, the issues include a "Monster Gallery," highlighting a specific monster or creature, the letters to Cousin Eerie with readers commenting on stories, and great covers by Frank Frazetta The cover art is a great reason to pick up this volume. You can get it also for the fun stories of mystery, horror, and supernatural. Eerie had various artists on staff, so you get a great variety of art styles throughout the stories. Most of the scripts were done by Archie Goodwin, but there are a few stories written by others including an adaptation or two of a classic tale. Additionally, I love the inclusion of various vintage ads. One that caught my eye was the ad for Sax Rohmer's early Fu-Manchu novels.

If you enjoy horror and supernatural fiction and comics, you'll enjoy this volume. The stories often have a twist or sudden revelation at the end that adds to the horror. I enjoyed reading the tales two or three at a time, just relishing the horror, suspense, and art. This volume can be a great selection to read in the Halloween season, but you can enjoy it any time of the year. Once in a while you want some horror but nothing too heavy. This volume is perfect for that. The stories and art draw you in, and you want to keep reading. 

Some of my favorite stories in the volume include: 

• "The Curse of Kali." A British expedition in India messing with local curses despite the warnings. Naturally, they fail to heed or even acknowledge the warnings and signs until it is too late. 
• "Witches' Tide." This is about a town wanting to destroy a local witch, but there is a deadly twist. 
• "Oversight." This one is a bit reminiscent of the later film "They Live." 
• "Dark Rider." A small group of cowboys caught in a snowstorm realize something or someone sinister is following them. This is an example of what is often called a "weird Western." 
• "Fair Exchange." In this story, an old greedy rich man wants to live forever by transferring his mind to a younger body. He should've done better due diligence.
• "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge." This is an adaptation of the Ambrose Bierce tale. The first time I read the tale as a kid I did not quite get it. I wish I had this adaptation back then. The visual element would've helped a lot. I ended up liking the tale now. 

Overall, I highly recommend this volume. Libraries that collect comics and graphic novels need to add this. You get some good value with this collected set and some seriously fun reading. I would buy it for my personal collection.

5 out of 5 stars. 

Book Review: Cobra Commander, Volume 1

Joshua Williamson (author), et.al., Cobra Commander, Volume 1: Determined to rule the world. Portland, OR: Image Comics, 2024.  ISBN: 9781534398153.

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: G.I. Joe, villains

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

This volume is part of a new, at the time of publication, Energon Universe series crossing together G.I. Joe and The Transformers. The volume is part of four miniseries in the Energon Universe where each part focuses on a specific character. This one focuses on Cobra Commander. 

The story goes back to a time where Cobra the organization did not exist yet. The man who would become Cobra Commander is a rogue member of an alien underground civilization: Cobra-La. He plans to use the energon energy source to take over the world. This is pretty much how the man gets started. 

The story is mostly OK. Along the way, he meets the Dreadknoks and eventually meets Destro. This is where their alliance starts to form. The plot is OK, though it is a bit all over the place. The art is good and colorful, though it has a bit of that modern cartoon aesthetic. If you want something closer to the classic comics, this is not it. It was an OK read, and it is easy and quick. It presents an interesting idea or two; we'll have to see if they develop those ideas later in the series. For now, not a terribly memorable volume. Pretty much read it and done. 

Fans of the franchises may like it better; for casual readers this may be optional. Libraries collecting either franchise may want to consider it, but it feels like an optional selection. We ordered it here, but if it had been up to me, and I had read it ahead of time I likely would not have added it. Still, I am curious to see some of the other volumes, though not urgently. 

2 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: The Boys Omnibus, Volume 5

Garth Ennis, et.al., The Boys Omnibus, Volume 5. Mount Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, 2020. ISBN: 9781524113346.

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: heroes and antiheroes

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

I continue reading the series. Let's get the main issue out of the way. This part of the run can be a serious drag at times. A bit part of the run is Hughie's meeting with Mallory. Hughie is there to learn about The Boys' history and their predecessor operators. We get some flashback scenes, but a lot of the narrative is literally Mallory and Hughie sitting and talking. It is basically two guys sitting and talking page after page. It can get a bit tiring. 

The volume does have some highlights. For me, the story "Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker" may be the best one. Butcher returns home to bury his father. In a private moment talking to the corpse at the funeral home, he tells him and us his story. It is Butcher's tale of young recklessness, a dysfunctional home, fighting in the Falklands, and the woman he loved and tragically lost. The story is well drawn and illustrated, keeping the just talking to the dead man to a minimum. The story does telegraphy a bit the coming tragedy, but it is still pretty powerful once you get there. From that point, Butcher is seriously motivated to take down the supes by any means necessary. 

Overall, the story continues to be pretty good. At this point, we are starting to head towards the eventual confrontations and then end of the series. This volume moves the plot forward, but it also spends a lot of time looking back. If you've made it this far, you'll probably keep reading. I know I will. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Harley's Little Black Book

ISBN: 9781401273606.

Genre: comics

Subgenre: superheroes

Format: e-book galley

Source: Netgalley  

I've enjoyed other volumes in the Conner and Palmiotti run on Harley Quinn, and this one was fun as well. 

This volume basically is an anthology of stories where Harley meets various characters from the DC universe such as Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Lobo, and others. Being Harley Quinn, we get all sorts of hijinks and mayhem, yet her heart is in the right place. 

For me, these comics are always good fun. This collection reminds me that comics can be fun and entertaining. If you want to get away from the dark and gloom of many comics today, this is a good option. The art is very good. This volume features a variety of artists, so you get a nice sampling of styles. Stories are fun and amusing, can be heartwarming here or there, and silly too. Overall, a nice selection and fun reading. 

4 out of 5 stars.   

Qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

Book Review: The Punisher Complete Collection, Volume 3

Garth Ennis (author) and various artists, The Punisher The Complete Collection, Volume 3. New York: Marvel, 2016.  ISBN: 9781302901875.

Genre: comics

Subgenre: superheroes, antiheroes, crime

Series: Marvel MAX

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

I continue to read this collection that features the Garth Ennis run on The Punisher comics. This is part of Marvel's MAX series, meant for adults. This volume features three stories. 

In "Barracuda," Frank Castle, the Punisher, heads to Miami. He seeks to stop a corporation plotting to shut off power in parts of Florida in order to make a serious profit exploiting the situation. The corporate chief hires Barracuda, a seriously dangerous goon, to deal with Castle. Castle will need his brain as well as brawn to counter Barracuda and the corporate boss. This is a pretty solid story with good action and pace. It is very violent, and it features some gory moments. 

In "Man of Stone," Castle confronts an old enemy: Russian general Nikolai Zakharov. To complicate Castle's mission, CIA traitor Rawlins is in the mix trying to play his own agenda. A bit of intrigue and a good amount of action here. Overall, a good story. If you read the "Mother Russia" story from volume 2, you may appreciate this story more, but you can still read it on its own. 

Finally we get "Widowmaker." I remember reading this story years ago as a trade in the days before I started writing reviews and sharing them on the blog. By now, reading it felt like a new experience again. During his one man war on crime and the Mob, Frank Castle has left many widows behind. A group of mobster widows decides to take matters into their own hands and do what the men keep failing to do: kill the Punisher. They get weapons, make plans, study files to learn, and analyze where and how the men failed. However, when a new assassin enters the fray and starts hunting down the widows, we wonder about the assassin's motives, and are they friend or foe to Castle? This is a good story that builds up to a strong and shocking conclusion that hits. It is a tale with some moving moments; it may be the most powerful tale in this collection. 

This continues to be a strong series that draws you in. The art is excellent; the cover art designs included are a favorite for me. Overall, this is another excellent volume. 

Recommended for libraries that collect comics and graphic novels. Do note it is an adult title. I am really enjoying the series, and I would buy this volume for my personal collection. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Star Wars (2020), Volume 3

Charles Soule, Star Wars Volume 3: War of the Bounty Hunters. New York: Marvel, 2021. ISBN: 9781302920807.

Genre: Star Wars

Subgenre: comics, science fiction

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington Public Library

 

This volume is also part of the War of the Bounty Hunters series. This 2020 run is set right after the events from the film The Empire Strikes Back. Leia and Chewbacca are trying to catch Boba Fett in order to get Han Solo back. Luke comes along to help while still working on his Jedi training. 

This is a good story with a good amount of action and intrigue. Lando Calrissian is helping, but we are not totally sure where his allegiances lie. Meanwhile, Commander Zahra and Darth Vader remain strong threats. The story moves at a good pace; it is interesting and draws you in. Note this part of the story does end in a cliffhanger, so you may want to seek out the next one to keep reading.

The volume also features good art; the art is a pretty good reason to pick this up. Overall, I liked this one. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Ten more books I have read with numbers in the title

Some time has gone, and I have found ten more books I have read with numbers in the title. You can find my first list of books with numbers in the title here. If I have reviewed the book on this blog, I will provide a link to the review. So let's have a bit of fun. 

 

The I-5 Killer: the True Story of an NFL Draftee Who Became a Perverted Serial Killer

 

365 Tarot Spreads: Revealing the Magic in Each Day

 

Thrillers 100 Must-Reads

 

Five Families: the Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires

 

Around the Tarot in 78 Days: a Personal Journey Through the Cards

 

Television Series of the 1960s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details

                                                               

Yuge! 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump

 

  

Time on Two Crosses: The Collected Writings of Bayard Rustin

Two for the Road: Our Love Affair With American Food

X-Files: Year Zero

 

 And there you have it, ten more books I have read with numbers in the title. Have you read any of these? Read any books with numbers in the title? Feel free to share in the comments.

                                        

Book Review: Star Wars (2020) Volume 2

Charles Soule, et.al., Star Wars, Volume 2: Operation Starlight. New York: Marvel, 2021. ISBN: 9781302920791.

Genre: comics

Subgenre; Star Wars, space opera

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

This volume includes issues 7-11 of the comics series written by Charles Soule. 

The Imperials have cracked the Rebel communication codes. When when one part of the Rebel fleet contacts another and the other responds, the Empire knows their locations to hunt them down. Leia and her group need to figure out a new code, and they attempt a daring plan to get an artifact that may help. The issue? They have to slip into the Imperial capital city Coruscant to get it. Meanwhile, Leia forms a new elite pilot team, Starlight Squadron. Their first task? To find the remnants of the Rebel fleet and warn them of the code breach before those ships communicate with each other. 

The story that started in the previous volume continues to develop here. Leia and the rebels need to stay a step ahead of Commander Zahra. In this volume, we learn Zahra is not just motivated as a loyal Imperial. She has a personal vendetta against Leia. 

Overall, I am still liking this series. The rare language to create a new code angle was interesting, a bit reminiscent of the World War II Navajo code talkers. The intrigues with Lando, who now feels the Rebellion will not protect him and Lobot, intensify.  This is where the suspense comes in. The reading pace is still fast and easy. It is a fun and light read, one mostly to borrow. Again, libraries already collecting Star Wars comics may want to add this one. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Star Wars (2020) Volume 1

Charles Soule, et.al., Star Wars, Volume 1: The Destiny Path. New York: Marvel, 2020. ISBN: 9781302920784.

Genre: Comics

Subgenre: Star Wars, space opera

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

This is the Star Wars comics run by Charles Soule. This volume includes issues 1-6 of the comics. The events start right after Leia, Lando, Luke, and others escape from Bespin Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back. Luke is coping with learning the truth about him and Darth Vader. Leia is working to bring the Rebel fleet back together after their defeat in the Battle of Hoth. The Empire is determined to crush the Rebellion. Darth Vader puts a ruthless young commander in charge of hunting down the rebels, Tarkin's former protege Commander Zahra. These are dark times for the rebels. 

The story fills out a gap between Episodes 5 and 6. If you thought Leia and Chewbacca hated Lando for his treasonous, albeit at Imperial gunpoint, role in Bespin that angle is really played up here. To complicate things, they need to sneak back into Bespin for various reasons, and this is much of the story in this volume. 

The story has a pretty good pace overall. It feels very familiar given the popular characters and setting within the original films. As a villain, Commander Zahra makes a strong threat. This volume is an easy ready; once you start, you just keep on reading. 

Overall, while not great, this is pretty good. It is certainly better than the bad new trilogy Disney (the current Star Wars owners) produced. If you are a fan of the original films, you'll probably like this one. Libraries already collecting Star Wars comics will want to add this one to their collections. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Essential Judge Dredd, Volume 1: America

John Wagner, et.al., Essential Judge Dredd, Volume 1: America. Oxford, UK: Rebellion 200AD, 2020.  ISBN: 9781781088609.

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: dystopian

Series: Judge Dredd

Format: large trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

 

This "essential" series is supposed to be a "curated line of graphic novels showcasing the very best storylines of all time" (from back cover description). The title story, "America," is written by John Wagner, co-creator of Judge Dredd. In addition, the volume features other stories written within or around the title story. 

The main event is a referendum in Mega City One to either keep the Judges or return to democracy. The Dems seem to have some strength coming in. Dredd does not agree with the process, but he goes along with the referendum, vowing to accept the results. However, both sides have extremists. 

Within that setting, we get the story of America Jara and Bennett Beeny, childhood friends who take very different paths. Beeny becomes a famous singer, eventually finds fame and fortune. America becomes a Dem terrorist. Their story, especially America's path, is the main story of the volume. If you are expecting a Judge Dredd story, "America" is not it. The story mostly follows America and Beeny. Beeny is in love with America, but it is not reciprocated, and to make it worse, once he is wealthy, she basically manipulates him for money. You only see Judge Dredd in small appearances here or there. Additionally, the ending to the main story is just weird to put it mildly, and it seems a bit forced. This may not be Wagner's best writing. 

The other stories are somewhat better. They are also shorter. "America" at times seems longer, seemingly stretching the melodrama a bit. The rest of the stories look at events around and on Referendum Day with "Twilight's Last Gleaming" by Garth Ennis covering the events of the referendum and the results. The ending on that story is about what readers will expect, but the story also has some small twists. To be honest, the side stories in this volume are better than the title story. 

The art in the volume is still a good reason to pick this book up. If you like the art of Judge Dredd, you get some solid artists doing great work here. 

One thing to keep in mind is this series is an extreme parody on the United States, democracy, authoritarianism, and law enforcement. It is very much within the dystopian literary tradition. Along the way, it makes some serious commentary on the United States today along with the action and intrigues. 

Overall, I liked the volume as a whole, but the main story felt a bit overwrought. This volume may be more for Judge Dredd fans. I will still look for other volumes in the series, but I would consider this one to be optional reading, or you can just read the other stories in the volume. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

 

Short Book Review: Spawn Origins Collection, Volume 1

Todd McFarlane, et.al., Spawn Origins, Volume 1. Berkeley, CA: Image Comics, 2009. ISBN: 9781607060710.

Genre: comics and graphic novels

Subgenre: antiheroes, horror

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library

 

Spawn burst into the comics world in 1992; it feels a longer than that, but it is and continues to be a popular character. This Origins series is made it include six issues in each volume of previously released sold out comics. They add some bonus content to the volume such as cover galleries and behind-the-scenes art. 

This first volume in the series takes us back to the beginning. Government agent Al Simmons is killed by his own men, betrayed. All he wants is to see his wife Wanda, and to do so he makes a deal with devil Malebolgia to go back to Earth. Simmons returns to Earth as the hell warrior Spawn. The catch? It is five years later from his death, Wanda has remarried to his best friend, and Simmons's memories are sketchy to say the least. Spawn struggles to remember, and meanwhile he is part of Malebolgia's larger scheme. 

If you've never read Spawn comics from the beginning, or you only know the film (link to my review), you can pick up this book. The original story is much better than the film. You can better appreciate the liberties the film took. At any rate, the volume is a great read. Al  Simmons has to struggle to keep his humanity and balance that with being Spawn now. There are plots, intrigues, sketchy memories, plus Clown, the Violator, keeping an eye on Spawn. The story draws you in, and you keep reading. It has good pacing. I will be looking for the next volume. 

McFarlane's art is a great reason to read this. The art is colorful, very gothic at times. Looking through the volume for the art is fun. McFarlane has a unique style that I appreciate, and I think fans may appreciate reading these again.

Overall, really liked this one. I do recommend it for libraries. For libraries that may be starting on collecting Spawn, this series may be a relatively affordable option to begin. I'd add it to my own shelves. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenge: