Reviews and more by Erica McGillivray
Comic book reviews for Jem and the Holograms #22, Jem and the Holograms #23, and Jem and the Holograms Outrageous Annual 2017 by Kelly Thompson, Meredith McClaren, Gisele Lagace, M.J. Barros, M. Victoria Robado, Katarzyna Witerscheim, and Savanna Ganucheau
Average rating: 4/5 stars
Continue reading “Jem and the Holograms #22, #23, and Outrageous Annual 2017 Comic Book Reviews”
Comic book reviews for Jem and the Holograms #19, Jem and the Holograms #20, and Jem and the Holograms #21 by Kelly Thompson and Meredith McClaren
Average rating: 3.3/5 stars
Continue reading “Jem and the Holograms #19, #20, and #21 Comic Book Reviews”
Yes, the time has come to say goodbye to (aka light on fire) 2016 and ring in 2017. Here’s a look back at the Best and the Worst of 2016* Comic Books.
I reviewed 265 pieces of individual media on this blog this year. Giant Days, Jem and the Holograms, and Lumberjanes had the most individual issue reviews at 12 issues each. Technically, I reviewed 16 Wonder Woman comics; but the New 52 and Rebirth comics are vastly different stories and one was close to the top 5 and the other at the bottom rating-wise.
I changed the format a bit as some stories start off or end strong, which might be my only reviews. But for series where I reviewed many issues, I can be tough even on series that I love, and I wanted this list to reflect consistency in storytelling.
26 different series eligible in this category.
1. Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
Average rating: 5/5
This book is gorgeous with its fantasy, art deco, and manga influences in Takeda’s pencils. It’s horrifying with plots of a post-war world and a land of broken people. Mostly women, it’s full of women and their stories. It’s a challenge read for the soul. But also for the mind, as Liu’s world building and plots build bit-by-bit. You are immersed in them. Your hand isn’t held. You figure out how to use your feet while running just like the characters.
Read all my reviews for Monstress. Continue reading “The Best and the Worst of 2016 Comic Books”
Hopeless Savages: Break by Jen Van Meter
Art: Meredith McClaren
Hopeless Savages remains a super cute book about this punk rock family through the lens of Zero. One of the most interesting aspects of Zero’s point-of-view has been how she seems her family history. She sees her parents as super accomplished. Zero only knew them as their sober, more together selves, who’d already figured out how to raise children. Same with how she views her older siblings.
Of course, this also means Zero has high expectations about what it means to tour.
All those expectations are soon to fall down, which makes for an entertaining book. Continue reading “Hopeless Savages: Break Graphic Novel Review”
Yes, the time has come to say goodbye to 2015 and ring in 2016. Here’s a look back at the Best and the Worst of 2015* Comic Books.
1. Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Val De Landro, and Robert Wilson IV
Average rating: 5/5
I love this blatantly intersectional feminist book so much. It packs a solid punch with each and every issue. Though it makes me sad that the book is late almost every month. However, the work and finesse that DeConnick and De Landro put into it make it layered, relevant, and scarily close to our reality. Not to mention the fantabulous essays in the back of every issue.
Read my reviews of Bitch Planet.
2. Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters, Brooke Allen, Kat Leyh, Brittney Williams, and Carolyn Nowak
Average rating: 4.9/5
This series was a runaway hit. I’m so happy for the success Lumberjanes has had, both in making it an ongoing series and for its creators, who are doing other amazing projects too. At its heart, this is a book about female friendship and that critical friendship during adolescence. Sure, there are dinosaurs, magical gods, mermaids, etc., but the core is the relationships between the girls. My only wish would be that when I was a girl, there was a great book like this.
Love live Lumberjanes! Friendship to the max!
Continue reading “The Best and the Worst of 2015 Comic Books”
Heart in a Box by Kelly Thompson
Art: Meredith McClaren
This story was an unexpected surprise. I loved it quite a bit. McClaren’s art was a great style to accompany the story. She’s best with movement and Emma’s impromptu road trip kept her moving.
Thompson sets up the story when the main character Emma is depressed and heartbroken over her ex-boyfriend Alec. She can’t get out of bed. And her best friend and roommate Xan is determined to bring her back to the world of the living. Nothing can cure the blues like a night out, and maybe the fact that she’ll meet someone who will change her life.
Which she does.
Of course, who she meets is Bob, and Bob — like many people at clubs — promises to take away her pain. Continue reading “Heart in a Box Graphic Novel Review”
Yes, the time has come to say goodbye to 2011 and ring in 2012. Here’s a look back at the Best and the Worst of 2011* Comic Books.
1. Echo by Terry Moore
Average rating: 4.7/5 stars
Reading rating: Teen
Moore’s Echo finished with a bang (or did it?) this year. A story of Julie, the unlikely superhero, and stopping the end of the world, Moore’s work is consistently great and on-point. For those scared of the tome that is Strangers in Paradise, check out this much shorter work.
Read my reviews of Echo.
Purchase Echo.
2. Punisher by Greg Rucka, Marco Checchetto, Matthew Clark, and Matthew Southworth
Average rating: 4.3/5 stars
Reading rating: Teen
I never thought I’d like a Punisher book as much as I love this one from Rucka. Dive into the gritty world of Frank Castle, his mission, and the fall-out of villains, reporters, cops, and victims. With some beautiful art to accompany it.
Read my reviews of Punisher.
Purchase Punisher.
3. Batwoman by J.H. Williams, W. Haden Blackman, and Amy Reeder Hadley
Average rating: 4.3/5 stars
Reading rating: Teen
The most anticipated comic (for me) ever. Anyone reading my blog is probably not surprised that I love Batwoman. Kate Kane is probably one of my favorite characters ever, and in combination with Williams’ art, this title has been making me very happy. I only want more.
Read my reviews of Batwoman.
Purchase Batwoman. Continue reading “The Best and the Worst of 2011 Comic Books”
Hopeless Savages (Vol 1): Greatest Hits 2000-2010 by Jen Van Meter
Art: Christine Norrie, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Chynna Clugston Flores, Ross Campbell, Andi Watson, Vera Brosgol, Becky Cloonan, Mike Norton, Tim Fish, Catherine Noorie, Meredith McClaren, and Terry Dodson
I’d been looking forward to reading Hopeless Savages for a long time. In fact, I’d spent a few years collecting the single issues when I’d find them in bins at comic shops before this handy-dandy trade came out. So when I had the chance to choose it as the July 2011 book for GeekGirlCon’s book club, I decided now was the time to read it. (It just took me a little longer to actually sit down to write my review.)
I pretty quickly fell in love with the Hopeless-Savages. Perhaps because part of me still has my punk rock heart and the other part of me loves a story about a caring, if odd, family.
Book 1: Hopeless Savages
I thought Van Meter did a wonderful job at introducing the family here. I have to say that just reading the description for this book, a tale about a family of punk rockers, Continue reading “Hopeless Savages (Vol 1): Greatest Hits 2000-2010 Graphic Novel Review”