The Shadow Hero - Graphic Novel

"The Shadow Hero", written by Gene Luen Yang ("American Born Chinese") is a story about living in Chinatown in the 1930s, and with the persistence and insistence of one mother wanting more for her son, a young boy becomes the first Asian American superhero. Calling himself, the Green Turtle, Hank tells the story of how his life as a superhero first began.

The story is exciting, the artwork is beautiful and Gene Luen Yang's humor charm shows each character, especially Hank's strict but loving mother. The mystery and folklore weaved throughout the origin story of  The Shadow Hero was captivating and the account of Chu Hing's Green Turtle in the back of the volume was really appreciated. I love learning more about the history of comics, especially when it, although rarely, involves a character, writer or artist that is not a straight-white-male.

Really great story that speaks larger than just what or who a super hero can be.

Amazing Spiderman -- Volume 1

Spiderman is BAAAACK. Didn't know he left, but apparently (says my coworker prior to me reading this), Doctor Octopus switched his brain with Peter Parker's brain because he believed he could be a better Spiderman than Peter.

This volume starts off with the switch back, so Peter is back in his own head and realizes everything the Doc has done as Peter, which is actually a lot. He got a ton of degrees and started his own factory making science experiments with a ton of people and they are working closely with Spiderman, making uniforms and equipment for him. Peter also has a girlfriend now that he has to break up with because it is his coworker and he realizes that Maria really was interested in Doctor Octopus.

The city didn't like the Doctor's take on Spiderman's 'friendly neighborhood attitude', so Peter must now win back the approval of the city and repatch his friendship with Black Cat.

We are also introduced to Silk, a girl who got bit by the same spider as PETER DID 10 YEARS AGO, EXCEPT SHE WAS KEPT IN A ROOM THIS WHOLE TIME AND NOW THANKS TO PETER SHE IS FREEEEEEE.

She-Hulk - Volume 1

This volume of She-Hulk assumes that you know the back story of Jennifer Walters, so I talked with my coworker prior to reading this and found out that she is the cousin of Bruce Banner, who gave her a blood transfusion when she was injured really bad and that caused her to have a milder version of what Bruce has, causing her to be SHE HULK. It seems based on the art in this story, that she is green 100% of the time and can use her strength and healing powers whenever she wants, so its pretty much like she is a bad ass woman who if she wants to show her strength, like for example, splitting a table in half with just one finger, she can. But she can control her powers, so she is able to be a lawyer to regular joes and also superheros as well!

The storyline for this volume is cool - She finds an old case file hidden in the back of her folders, realizes that she and a bunch of other superheros and villians are all being sued for something, and doesn't remember what the case is about. When she goes to talk to these people about the case, finds that there has been some sort of sorcery attached to it. The case is a trigger word and causes anyone that talks about the case that is involved to lose their minds and try and kill whoever is talking to them about it!! Crazy. And cool. She-Hulk is really awesome, independent, strong and speaks up for herself and those that need her (intelligence OR powers!)

Hawkeye - Volume 1

 

'My Life as a Weapon' intruduces us to, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye, a self made Avenger, doesn't really have 'superpowers' per-say but is incredible at using the bow and arrow, (kind of like Oliver Queen in Arrow, but Clint Barton is cooler in my opinion). The young Kate Bishop is his partner in crime. Even though she is a lot younger than him, she isn't really his sidekick or his protege, because she is already crazy good at bow and arrow and fighting and defending herself, but she also is usually the one helping Clint get out of any trouble that he has shimmied his way into. The two work together to steal from the rich and help those in need. A modern day Robin Hood and Little John duo. They are really cool together, and Matt Fractions writing makes this story really humorous and fun to read. Not as serious or dark as you would expect, but still really gripping and intense.

Ant Man - Issue #01

I read this because I had to, but I was pleasantly surprised at this story line. I didn't know anything about Ant-Man before I read this, so it was a good starting off point for me, considering some first issues assume that you'll know some background for characters.

The writing is clever, making Scott Lang a realistic dude who knows his superpower is crazy stupid but is still a likeable guy who really just mainly loves his daughter and does things so that he can provide a good life for her.

The story is so cliche and cheesy that pretty much made a full 360 for me and I actually found Scott Lang's character very endearing at the end of the issue. He really does just want to give his daughter a good life, and will do a lot for her. Like come on, who doesn't want to read a story about a good father.

They're making Ant-Man into a movie which looks ????? If I had been drinking and someone said I needed to create a cast for this movie, I would say Paul Rudd would make a good Scott Lang and also lets put Evangeline Lilly in because why not. But then those are the ACTUAL people in the movie, so I can only assume the person that wrote this script was drunk, and then their wish came true. Which is pretty awesome.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl - Issue #01

I love squirrel girl.

This character is so incredibly awesome and the writing of this series is 100% very cool. The original writer of the Adventure Time comic book left that comic to start writing for Squirrel Girl, so if you like Adventure Time, then chance are very high that you'll dig this series too. If you don't like Adventure Time then I don't really know whats up but maybe you'll like this anyway.

The first issue follows Squirrel Girl who is going undercover as herself to start her first week of college at Empire State University. She gets in a battle with Kraven the Hunter and outsmarts him, thus still remaining 'unbeatable'.

I knew it was going to be worth it, but man I REALLY ENJOYED THIS SO MUCH. Its light and fun and witty and really charming.

Additionally I should mention that there is one page in the issue where Squirrel Girl goes into a dream scene and the drawings look JUST LIKE the intro to the original Yours Mine and Ours, which happens to be my favorite movie. Super 60s, its really beautiful!

Gotham Academy -- Issues #2, #3

Since this series is pretty new still, I wanted to catch up on what has been put out so far, #4 comes out the end of January.

Olive gets partnered with her least favorite person in school for a project and together they find a book in the library about the Cobblepot ghost. The school's north hall has been blocked off and the two girls with the help of Maps and some other delinquent go there in search of the ghost.

Olive's memory is really spotty but when she see's the entrance to the north hall she realizes that she has been there before, and not alone. They find a hole in the floor, and someone or something is in the whole and grabs Olive.

Nothing really crazy has happened, its still mostly about high school drama. I feel like this would be a good recommendation for a teen who isn't really allowed to read violent stories but also wants some suspense.

Gotham Academy -- Issue #01

This story is following a number of academy students around Gotham Academy.

The main girl Olive with white hair is suuuuuper moody and acting like she has changed so much since the last year and wants to break up with her boyfriend and doesn't know why she feels so different and blah blah.

The younger girl, Maps is the younger sister of Olive's current boyfriend who she wants to break up with. Olive is supposed to be mentoring Maps this year because she is a first year student at the academy.

Bruce Wayne comes and visits the academy and Olive gets in trouble and somehow Bruce already knows who she is. Olive is NOT down with Batman, and she seems very angsty about the whole Batman hero in her hometown and is annoyed when people are talking about it.

There is talk that there is a ghost in the school, there was an incident that no one is speaking about yet in detail and the issue ends with a yellow eye peeking out of a crack in Olive's bedroom.

Captain Marvel - Volume 1

 I wanted to know more about female lead superhero's so my co-worker recommended Captain Marvel.

This is one of the first superhero comics I've ever read so I was very overwhelmed. The way the story was laid out and the graphics seemed really busy to me, compared to the other comics I have been reading, overall I found it to be confusing because all these new superhero characters were popping in and out, and I had no idea who they were! 

I haven't read anything about Guardians of the Galaxy or seen the new movie so this was my first introduction to these characters so I really didn't know much about what was going on or how they were all connected to each other.

Even though I felt intimidated while reading this, I still enjoyed it. Captain Marvel is one bad bitch who is best buds with her cat and loves being a pilot over everything else. She leaves her hot boyfriend on earth so she can pursue her dreams of going to space and learning more about herself (which rules!!). She seems to have a large passion for those who are less fortunate and believes in loyalty and justice. One groovy gal.

Batman - Court of Owls Volume 1

"We are who we choose to be, Bruce. Not the role the past says we should play." - Dick Grayson

 I had my third day at work on Wednesday and while I've been reading a number of different story lines for homework, I told my manager that I am really very intimidated by superhero comics. He gave me Batman, Court of Owls to read, said it was a good starting point.

WAS HE RIGHT OR WHAT

First of all, this was amazing.

I wasn't too familiar with the storyline of Batman because I've only seen the Christopher Nolan Batman movies, so Dick Grayson (Nightwing), Tim Drake (Red Robin) and Damian Wayne (Robin) were all new characters for me. They weren't really in this volume too much but I'd like to learn more about their characters/what their scene is to the overall Batman story. The idea of someone or a group of people (the Court of Owls) knowing more than Batman about Gotham city is scary and intriguing, and the Court of Owls is a whole group of villians, not just one villian, so Batman really has no idea who they are or where they are or what is even going on!

Last night before I started reading this I was thinking to myself, I can just go online and watch a classic Batman movie to learn more about Batman, being a whiny 21st century baby who can't use their own imagination. But luckily, my computer battery was dead and I have lost my charger so I had no choice but to read this and I feel bad for ever thinking that I might not be into this storyline. Let me say it again...

I AM SUPER DOWN WITH THIS BOOK. The writing is incredible, from the very beginning I was hooked. I feel like I need to get the second volume immediately and forgo all other plans for the rest of my life until I have read everything in this series.