Book Review: The Patchwork Girl of Oz (Volume 1): A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Otis Frampton

The Patchwork Girl of Oz Volume 1: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Otis Frampton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Patchwork Girl of Oz is the seventh book of L. Frank Baum’s Oz series of children’s books that artist and adaptor Otis Frampton is bringing back into broad public consciousness in his wonderful artist style. This first volume is a collection of the five individual comic issues Frampton published that covers the first six chapters of Baum’s book. In them we are introduced to our three main protagonists—Ojo the Unlucky, Scraps the titular the Patchwork Girl, and the Glass Cat—through various means and see the inciting incident that forces the three to undertake a quest to save Ojo’s uncle and Scraps’ mistress after they’re turned to stone. The designs for all three main characters are excellent as is his page layout along with his background artwork that brings the Land of Oz to life, there is a reason I am a longtime fan of Frampton’s work and once again I’m not disappointed. Though I knew of the most famous book of the Oz series given it’s many adaptations and references in culture—including a certain Broadway play turned two film franchise of recent—this particular installment I had never heard of and allowed to me an introduction to the greater landscape of Oz, which hopefully will be the same for children of all ages.

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Book Review: Star Wars Adventures, Volume 3: Endangered by Delilah S. Dawson & Sholly Fisch

Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 3: Endangered by Delilah S. Dawson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Star Wars Adventures, Volume 3: Endangered combines three issues of the comic that featured main stories focused on Rose Tico from The Last Jedi and the crew of the Ghost from Star Wars Rebels. “Rose Knows” is fine for what it is, and Ros is portrayed better than how Rian Johnson writes her in the film. The titular story of the volume features the crew of the Ghost on a mission to save a rare bird from being taken to the Emperor’s menagerie for a planet that view it necessary for things to grow. Having seen a few episodes of Star Wars Rebels, “Endangered” reads like what I imagine a script for the show would be and the art appears to be accurate as well, a surprise given the all-ages demographic. The are three Tales from Wild Space that features a young Anakin Skywalker in “Podracer’s Rescue, Nien Numb in “Look Before You Leap”, and a young Jawa in “Gonk!”. While all three short stories were at least good, I’ll admit I purchased this for “Gonk!” written and drawn by Otis Frampton who had drawn random Jawa images and unofficial little comic strips for years prior to getting this opportunity to do a short story that would appear under the official Star Wars banner. Overall, it’s a nice little volume of stories set in the galaxy far far away.

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Book Review: Lore Olympus Volume Five by Rachel Smythe

Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A relationship is ending, a relationship is beginning, a secret revealed to the audience, and it’s revealed to someone who is furious that the event happened and was hidden from him, oh and the female protagonist disappears. Lore Olympus Volume Five by Rachel Smythe finds Hades and Persephone begin a relationship after the former breaks up with Minthe but things get complicated when we learn how Kore became Persephone.

Covering episodes #103-126 of her webcomic, Smythe zeros in on Persephone’s backstory both from a brief glimpse from her point-of-view but other investigating her life before Olympus. However, the two protagonists don’t take a backseat as Hades attempts to figure out how to deal with his feelings and Persephone tries to continue to figure out things, Smythe’s continual work on deepening the characters really pays off in this volume because as the two most important characters gain layers it allows secondary characters to get more layers as well strengthening the overall piece. Once again Smythe’s artwork and choices to denote the different types of immortals—nymphs, gods, Olympians, Titans—makes the worldbuilding better and the colorizing choices allow the reader to realize something is up when a character’s shading darkness or lightens or completely changes for a few panels. Unlike the last volume, this one—though honestly, I was reading it on and off for a month—resonated better. I can’t tell you the reason why because frankly I don’t know why I had the issue with Volume Four, but things clicked for me in this one better maybe more things happening allowed me to appreciate the two protagonist’s struggles more because I knew other things were going actively without them knowing about it.

Lore Olympus Volume Five by Rachel Smythe continues with compelling characters, expanding the narrative out but keeping it from bloating, and great artwork. To say the least the way the volume’s ending has me interested in what is next.

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Book Review: Lore Olympus Volume Four by Rachel Smythe

Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The complicated relationship between the goddess of spring and the king of the underworld has entered its fourth day and not only are the two protagonists that are having trouble, but it also seems all of Olympus is starting to have issues. Lore Olympus Volume Four by Rachel Smythe finds Hades and Persephone attempting to navigate their various feelings, traumas, and daily tasks while also figuring out whatever is happening between them.

Covering episodes #76-102 of her webcomic, Smythe begins developing the backstories for both Hades and Persephone while also expanding the roster of Greek gods in her retelling of the ancient mythos. However, this doesn’t stop the progression of both main character’s ongoing “present-day” stories and how they are dealing with the increasingly annoying gossip mill building around them amongst the citizens of Olympus as well as their family members and friends. Smythe continues to build the subplots that are expanding and filling out Olympus giving the world more depth. The artwork continues to be excellent and engaging, which given the format of the media is a must. However, for some reason while I enjoyed the filling in of the main characters’ backstory, the introduction of more gods, and the slow building of other subplots there was something this entire volume that just wasn’t clicking with me and I don’t know what exactly.

Lore Olympus Volume Four by Rachel Smythe continues storytelling whose quality I’ve enjoyed up to this point, however for everything I liked while reading there was just something that wasn’t clicking with me the entire book.

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Book Review: Lore Olympus Volume Three by Rachel Smythe

Lore Olympus: Volume Three by Rachel Smythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A goddess beginning her time as an eternal maiden and the king of the underworld have a complicated relationship and they’ve just met, what’s going to happen next? Oh, and things aren’t what they seem. Lore Olympus Volume Three by Rachel Smythe finds the two protagonists once again finding themselves together this time thanks to the machinations of Hera whose plans of everyone else including Persephone and Hades.

Covering episodes #50-75 of the webcomic finds Hades and Persephone combatting the gossip by different means, mainly by doing things that are toxic to themselves or hiding away from the truth as well as staying away from one another. However, when Hera selects Persephone as Olympus’ representative for an intern exchange program with the Underworld, things once again are complicated between the two protagonists. Yet Smythe begins branching out the story with subplots featuring Eros, Minthe, and planting the seeds for others as the series while slowly pulling away layers of the protagonists’ stories including a mysterious event in the past. The art’s quality is excellent and Smythe shaping of the story is engaging, dominated by character-driven narrative but with a mix of worldbuilding and humor.

Lore Olympus Volume Three by Rachel Smythe continues the quality storytelling that she had established earlier and that the story is about to expand in a natural way that makes the reader want to know what is going to happen next.

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Book Review: White Sand Omnibus by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson's White Sand Omnibus by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The desert planet of Taldain is locked between two suns so that that with one side is constantly in light and the other in constant darkness, each side has powerful magic apparently exclusive to it but is it possible that isn’t the case? White Sands Omnibus is the only graphic novel entry into Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere where if follows two individuals looking to save their cultures, Kenton is attempting to save the Sand Masters after a surprise attack left their ranks decimated while Khrissalla and her entourage have arrived from the dark side of the planet to enlist the help of the Sand Masters to save her homeland.

While there are times when a writer’s style and storytelling differ from one format to another, this graphic novel is not one of them as it is quintessential Brandon Sanderson. In fact, given the magic involved, as Sanderson said himself in the forward, the graphic novel worked to showcase it. This omnibus edition included a new prologue that gave better background to Kenton and Khrissalla before the opening of the original first volume of the trilogy, which not only showcased the Diem before it was decimated while Khrissalla’s personality traits are developed for her eventual appearances in other Cosmere locations. The script—translated from Sanderson’s original prose draft—was by Rik Hoskin, who overall did a good job keeping Sanderson’s voice throughout the whole of the book though there were times it was quite Sanderson. A variety of artists and colorists worked on the projected over the course of the three volumes and the new prologue but while those early on had a unique style those later in the prose had a crisper though “generic” style, the sudden change was a bit of a jar but not out of the ordinary. Overall a good story for those interested in continuing their journey through the Cosmere especially as it’s the homeworld of a Shard that is impacting other locations.

White Sand Omnibus is a unique entry in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere as it only graphic novel, yet it’s a fun engaging story once collected in one place that features a new prologue that helps start things off well.

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Book Review: Lore Olympus (Volume Two) by Rachel Smythe

Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two gods quickly meet awkwardly then go their separate ways expecting nothing to come out of it, then stuff just keeps on coming up from that meet that just makes their lives annoying. Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe continues following Persephone and Hades after their initial meeting as they try to either get used to being in Olympus or back to one’s usual routine, but others keep on butting in making immortality annoying.

Covering episodes #26-49 of the webcomic sees the main protagonists attempting to get on with their lives and duties, however things aren’t easy as Olympian gossip makes both of their lives more interesting though more for Persephone than Hades. Smythe while giving depth to her central story arc, world builds a modern age Olympus, and wrapping in various Greek gods and goddesses deciding how to react to the “facts” of the relationship. The art is excellent, and the story is engaging enough to keep me invested and interested in what twists and turns Smythe is planning towards the eventual outcome—just because it is a well-known myth doesn’t mean there are not multiple ways of telling it.

Lore Olympus: Volume Two sees Rachel Smythe build upon the foundation she laid down in the first volume and kept me interested in how she’s going to craft her 21st century version.

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Book Review: Blood Stain (Volume Four) by Linda Sejic

Blood Stain, Volume 4 by Linda Šejić
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elliot ‘Elly’ Torres has been hired officially as Vlad Stein’s assistant, she finally has a steady job but now both she and Vlad need to figure out how to communicate and work together. Blood Stain Volume Four begins the second arc in Linda Sejic’s webcomic series as Elly and Vlad not only figure out how to work together but also figure out how to get their own lives figured out as well.

The book focuses on the next stage of Elly and Vlad working relationship—something Serge stresses needs to be done before leaving with his girlfriend—which basically means communicating each other’s insecurities with the other. Sejic moves away from the comedic misunderstandings phase into grown-ups working together phase very well and allows the story to branch out, namely how Elly’s job is affecting her relationship with her boyfriend and family while we begin to see what Vlad’s professional life is like and keeping his primary job becomes the focus so Elly can keep being his assistant. As always Sejic’s art is amazing and while the focus of the humor shifts, there are still nice little gags like the Vlad-dragon that appear but in a new frame of reference.

Blood Stain Volume Four basically sees Linda Sejic showing the fallout from the previous story arc and shifting to the new one doing so very well.

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Book Review: The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel by George R.R. Martin

The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel by Ben Avery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The graphic novel adaptation of the third of George R.R. Martin’s Dunk & Egg novellas not only stays true to the original story while also giving it a new dimension with fantastic renderings of all the characters, the locales, and the action. Drawn by artist Mike S. Miller based on the adaptation by Ben Avery, The Mystery Knight immediately builds upon the previous adventure of Ser Duncan (Dunk) the Tall and the future Aegon (Egg) V as they stumble upon conspiracy from an enemy from across the sea.

Avery adaptation and Miller’s art effectively brings the novella to life though to be honest some of the character designs while not off-putting or interesting, particularly a character that is attempting to kill Dunk due to jealousy. The appearance of the often-mentioned Lord Bloodraven is particularly amazing, not only the character’s artwork but the double page appearance with him front and center. There was a small change in the order of the story, but it worked well in the flow of the graphic novel and didn’t affect the overall work.

The graphic novel adaptation of The Mystery Knight is something every A Song of Ice and Fire fan should get their hands on.

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Book Review: Lore Olympus (Volume One) by Rachel Smythe

Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Greek gods all to human in character but with fabulous cosmic power that is used to reward or punish human beings, now let’s retell their mythological stories in a 21st Century type setting. Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe follows the young goddess of spring Persephone who is newly arrived on Olympus and is figuring out how to fit in.

The central arc of this webcomic turned graphic novel is the story of Persephone and Hades, yet in this first volume that covers the first 25 chapters of Smythe’s work the two protagonists briefly met before going their own ways, so we learn about them. Beyond the central myth that begins, Smythe interweaves several other myths into the narrative from Eros and Psyche, the shadiness of Apollo, and other myths. Set in the 21st century in the mortal and various divine realms means that Smythe doesn’t shy away from the toxic relationships of various sorts, malicious drugging, and rape in just this first volume of her work.

Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe begins the story of Persephone and Hades in a 21st Century setting while keeping an anchor in it’s mythological roots.

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Book Review: White Sand Volume II by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson's White Sand Volume 2 Tp by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kenton struggles to save the Diem while trying to understand its secrets that might have led to its betrayal in the desert while the Duchess Khriss tries to continue her mission. Brandon Sander’s White Sands Volume 2 finds the various protagonists introduced in the previous volume struggling to accomplish their goals.

The middle installment of this trilogy sees politics and mysteries take center stage as Kenton and Khriss work separately and together to achieve their goals. This is a classic Sanderson story though in graphic novel form, which is brought to the page by the art of Julius Gopez (Chapters 1-5) and Julius Otha (Chapter 6) in addition to colorists Morgan Hickman (Chapters 1-2) and Salvatore Aialas Studios (Chapters 3-6). Overall, the story is good and engaging, however given the format the book the art and color are important. Given the multiple artists I would say that the coloring of Salvatore Aialas Studios worked with both comic artists even though Gopez was more unique while Otha seemed more “generic” in character design but was satisfied in the results.

White Sands Volume 2 is a good continuation of the story in Brandon Sanderon’s Cosmere but shortness of the book made me feel that all three volumes had been combined in an omnibus edition.

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Book Review: The Dead Hand Book by Sara Richard

The Dead Hand Book: Stories From Gravesend Cemetery by Sara Richard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Dead Hand Book: Stories From Gravesend Cemetery is an illustrated collection of short stories from the titular location drawn and written by Sara Richard. A mixture of melancholy, the macabre, and the creepy Richard writes as short story on a gravestone or memorial on one page of a two-page black-and-white illustration that brings the words to “life” but reveals even more to the astute observer. As a longtime fan of Richard’s art, this 96-page book did not disappoint.

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Book Review: Oddly Normal Book 4 by Otis Frampton

Oddly Normal Book 4 by Otis Frampton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After an interesting first week in Fignation, Oddly Normal is looking to begin a not so exciting routine to her life but she’s quickly learning that might not be the case. Oddly Normal Book 4 continues Otis Frampton’s young adult series with ‘classic’ storytelling.

Otis Frampton begins the series’ second story arc with Oddly learning more about Fignation as whole while meeting new characters from Ragnar and Reggie’s father, interacting with Oddly’s favorite comic book character who is fellow student, and their new old teacher who isn’t finished with Oddly. Frampton introduces young readers not only to elements of Mary Shelley’s classic novel but it’s most famous movie adaptation as well as classic comic tropes which all serve as both giving background to Fignation but also foreshadow events in Oddly’s own story in the future. Frampton’s art is vibrant and effective mood setting that enhances the storytelling, which given the medium is a major plus.

Oddly Normal Book 4 finds Otis Frampton giving his readers a follow up to the dramatic events of the previous installment while introducing them to classic tropes in an entertaining way.

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Book Review: Punderworld Volume One by Linda Sejic

Punderworld, Volume 1 by Linda Šejić
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How the earth got its seasons has been mythologized across the planet, one of the most famous comes from the Greeks and has been immortalized in various forms by Western culture. Punderworld (Volume One) by author-artist Linda Sejic is an awkward and relatable retelling of the myth.

When Sejic began sketching Greek gods during a creative break from her series Blood Stain she did not intend to create another graphic novel series, however as illustrated in her bonus material her characters Vlad and Eliot “begged” to be the templates for Hades and Persephone then suddenly she began doing scenes that led to an entire graphic novel. Sejic portrays Hades and Persephone as secret admirers for centuries who suddenly find themselves thrown together after Zeus tries to “help” in typical Zeus fashion by abducting Persephone and Hades attempts to stop it. Besides the two primary characters, the Zeus and Demeter appear as major secondary characters with the latter being a well-meaning overly protective mother true to the myth. But besides a well plotted story, a graphic novel must have the artwork to back it up and frankly Linda Sejic brings the story to life through her art. Not only does the reader have to follow the dialogue and the actions of the characters they must take notice of the overall scene for the subtle clues of what is going on behind the characters’ back and what is going to happen. It’s hard not to drone on, but frankly Sejic’s work speaks for itself and should be experienced book in hand.

Punderworld (Volume One) begins the retelling of a well-known myth just more awkward than the reader is used to. Linda Sejic not only writes a fantastic story, her art catches the eye.

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Book Review: Harleen by Stjepan Sejic

Harleen by Stjepan Šejić
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

She has become one of the most popular comic characters in the past few decades though her character began on the greatest superhero animated series of all-time. Harleen is a character origin story written and drawn by Stjepan Sejic about Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s turn into Joker’s right-hand woman Harley Quinn.

Professionally struggling psychiatrist Dr. Harleen Quinzel doesn’t know what to do with her career as her theory on the suppression of empathy for too long as part of the flight or fight response results in losing it and being mentally unbalanced. After a failed grant presentation and a late night of drinking her disappointment away, Harleen is walking home when she suddenly finds herself at gunpoint across from The Joker only for Batman to save her. The next day she is surprised when Lucius Fox gives her a grant from the Wayne Foundation to pursue research on her theory at Arkham Asylum. Harleen interviews the inmates, a who’s who of Batman’s rogue’s gallery, except Joker until she breaks down and does so. All throughout this time, she can’t sleep which is affecting her perception and thinking. The Joker quickly realizes she’s his ticket out and through his contacts gets her research to manipulate her in the future. But Harleen’s theory doesn’t sit well with Harvey Dent who wants her to quit, which she refuses and days later he is attacked with acid to the face. But the mob boss who attacked him is kidnapped by rogue police officers who execute him and release the video though it shows Batman and Robin coming in at the end. The arrival of “the Executioners” seems to make the Joker’s interviews stand out and she focuses on him for her research, though he has nothing to do with the rogue officers. Dent recovers though the acid also caused brain damage, ironically taking away his empathy, and he publicly derides the failures of the system which makes the Executioners come to him looking for instructions. Dent’s plan is to release the inmates of either Arkham or Blackgate Prison to cause havoc in Gotham City to make the general pubic allow for literally executing offenders. The coin toss lands in favor of Arkham and they stage a raid on the Asylum to release the inmates, but once free Joker tells his fellow inmates that the Executioners are there to kill them which sets them off on a rampage on their rescuers. Harleen rushing into the Asylum to find Joker, not only her patient but now lover, kills a security guard to save Joker’s life then has a mental breakdown as a result and becomes Harley.

Sejic did a wonderful job in building upon the foundations that Paul Dini and Bruce Timm laid in Batman: The Animated Series of Harley Quinn/Harleen Quinzel’s origin as Joker’s doctor to his henchwoman-lover. Taking advantage of the DC Black Label’s adult focus imprint, Sejic shows how Harleen’s slow mental spiral between reality and a living dream/nightmare develops throughout the book including a stunning final page that brings things into clear focus. Sejic includes references to previous incarnations of Joker in various Batman media adaptations now and again as nods to the past, which do not distract from the main story adds to the enjoyment of fans of the franchise. As a longtime fan of Sejic’s art, the book showcases it magnificently and frankly I wanted to go back through ignoring the text and study every panel again.

Harleen is the story of an earnest, dedicated psychiatrist slowly through her own actions and skillful manipulation of her patient joins those she wanted to help. Stjepan Sejic’s wonderfully written and amazing drawn story is a must get for anyone that is a fan of the character or a fan of a well-constructed origin story.

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Book Review: White Sand Volume I by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson's White Sand Volume 1 by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The desert planet of Taldain is locked between two suns so that that with one side is constantly in light and the other in constant darkness with powerful magic apparently only occurring amongst the sands on the dayside. The first volume of Brandon Sanderson’s White Sand graphic novel trilogy is an introduction to a new world of the Cosmere and another unique magic system.

Kenton, a weak but skilled sand master, tries to earn a higher-ranking position in the guild of sand masters by running the Mastrell's Path, despite the disapproval of his father, the Lord Mastrell. The day after Kenton proves himself on the Path, the sand masters gather for a ceremony where new rank advancements will be granted. One man, Drile, is demoted for having attempted to sell out himself and others as mercenaries. Just as Kenton is grudgingly granted the highest rank, his father is shot with an arrow, and an army of Kerztian warriors attacks. The sand masters, being surprised and unprepared, are soundly defeated. Just before his death, the Lord Mastrell unleashes a wave of power that leaves Kenton buried beneath the sand. After waking, Kenton is joined by Khrissalla, Baon, and two Darkside professors who are lost. They are searching for information about Khriss' late fiancé and the "sand mages" he sought. On the way to the nearest city, they are attacked by a small group of Kerztian warriors. Kenton's sand mastery suddenly proves to be inaccessible, but Baon drives the warriors away with his gun. Upon arriving in Kezare, Kenton's powers return with greater strength than ever, and he stands before the Taishin, who plan to disband the Diem of sand masters. He is granted the position of acting Lord Mastrell and is given two weeks to convince the Taishin otherwise. Kenton returns to the Diem and drives away the rebellious Drile, who Kenton believes was responsible for betraying the sand masters to the Kerztians. Elsewhere, Trackt Ais works to catch a crime lord, Sharezan, amid threats to her family. The Lady Judge meets with Ais and asks her to spy on Kenton. Meanwhile, Khriss inadvertently locates Loaten, an infamous Darksider, in her search for information. He offers little direct help but sets her on a path to meet with the leaders in the city. Ignorant of the role of the sand masters, and of Kenton's new station, she arrives at the Diem just as Drile returns to do battle with Kenton.

The story has all the hallmarks of Sanderson book with excellent execution of character introduction and conflict amongst the important members of the cast. The art of Julius Gopez and coloring of Ross A. Campbell bring this unique world and environment alive very well. However, while the elements that makes Sanderson, well Sanderson, are there the book also doesn’t feel like Sanderson. I do not want to blame scriptwriter Rik Hoskin for this, the change of format to graphic novel from the usual book could be the main factor and Hoskin could very well be the reason this story still reads like a Sanderson story but there is a noticeable difference from other Sanderson works. The other main issue I somewhat have is more biological than story, the color pigmentation of the characters is reversed from what it should be given the planetary environment they are living in unless there was a cosmic shift that changed things.

White Sands Volume I is a wonderful addition to Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere and is given a unique place in it with the graphic novel format. The art and color are amazing, yet the change from word medium to visual does have an impact on how Sanderson’s style comes across. Overall a very good beginning with story, characters, and atmosphere.

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Book Review: The Ghost, The Owl by Franco and Sara Richard

The Ghost, The Owl by Franco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One night a ghost of a little girl appears dancing across a lake getting the attention of an owl, while other animals ignore her the owl decides to help her. Using little bits of information that each has and their own pasts, the two discover why the ghost appeared along with a threat to the owl’s forest home. Despite threats from others, the owl continues to the help the little ghost who can protect the person that brought her spirit out from the grave to wander the woods that she did when alive. The Ghost, The Owl is a 48-page book wonderfully written by Franco and beautifully illustrated by Sara Richard, but it is the latter’s drawing that makes this a must buy and read.

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Book Review: Blood Stain (Volume Three) by Linda Sejic

Blood Stain Volume 3 by Linda Sejic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beginning on Elly Torres’ second day on her new job after her long first day in Volume Two, she doesn’t know what to expect next or in fact what she’s actually supposed to do. Linda Sejic’s Blood Stain Volume Three completes the first book of Sejic’s webcomic as Elly, Vlad, and Serge have to decide if they can get along with one another or not.

Waking up late in the morning, Elly nervously hopes that Vlad has not been waiting on her only the reader to find out that Vlad himself has overslept. As Vlad desperately attempts to get ready for the class he’s teaching, his demeanor and instructions to Elly just confuse her. So interpreting her duties as best she can, Elly thoroughly cleans his lab while Vlad embarrassingly falls asleep in the middle of his class. Upon returning an upset Vlad can’t believe the pristine condition and angrily tells Elly she overstepped her duties. While Elly wonders about her future, especially as her family’s situation isn’t improving, Serge argues with Vlad about his behavior over the years and later Vlad realizes how much better the lab is organized.

Unlike the first two volumes, the description of what occurs in this particular volume is straightforward as some sort of resolution has to be made about Elly’s character. In addition, the working relationship between Vlad and Serge comes to fore as it impacts Elly and is used by Sejic to give both characters more development. Given that this chapter ends the first Book, or story arc, of Blood Stain the final panel is somewhat predicable but only if you’ve read the first two books but it’s a rewarding final panel because of the journey we’ve seen Elly go on.

As a longtime fan of Sejic’s webcomic, it was a pleasure to have on paper the story I’ve enjoyed online. While Blood Stain Volume Three might be an ending, but it’s just the beginning of the story that is finished and there is more interesting that will be happening with Elly, Vlad, and Serge to come. So if you haven’t read either of the first two volumes, then I encourage you to check them out.

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Book Review: Blood Stain (Volume Two) by Linda Sejic

Blood Stain, Volume 2 by Linda Sejic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Picking straight up from where Volume One ended with a seemingly chilling end, Elly Torres is face-to-face with their new employer not knowing what’s going to happen next. Linda Sejic’s Blood Stain (Volume Two) continues Elly’s pursuit of a job though she not only has to contend with her employer but also herself in the process.

Elly’s first encounter with her new boss and her first day on the job is on in which both she and her new boss get their first impressions of one another. To say the least it is an adventure of awkward situations and verbal gaffs, for both Elly and her employer, Dr. Vlad Stein. Attempting to create a viable and productive working relationship between the two is Stein’s chef, Serge, who continually explains the good Doctor’s eccentricities to the very imaginative Elly while urging Stein not to send another assistant running away as fast as they can with his gruff behavior. Unfortunately for Serge, he doesn’t know what’s going on in Elly’s head.

Like my review for Volume One, this short description only gives a hint of what transpires in Blood Stain’s second chapter. The continued focus is on Elly, but now that the story is in its central location Sejic begins giving some light on both Serge and Stein. While Elly’s characterization is further along than her two male counterparts, the development on all three is both intriguing and raises questions about how all of them will interact with one another as time goes on and what situations they’ll get into because of their own quirks and misunderstandings.

As a longtime fan of Sejic’s webcomic, it was once again a pleasure to get on paper a story I’ve enjoyed online for years. Blood Stain (Volume Two) is a continuation of a fantastically drawn story with intriguing characters both familiar and that one is just getting to know. If you haven’t already picked up Volume One then I encourage you to get both it and this volume, you won’t regret it.

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Book Review: The Sworn Sword by George R.R. Martin

The Sworn Sword by Ben Avery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The graphic novel adaptation of the second of George R.R. Martin's Dunk & Egg novellas, not only stays true to the originally written story but gives it life with fantastic renderings of all the characters, the locales, and the action. Drawn by artist Mike S. Miller and livened by colorist Mike Crowell, The Sworn Sword gives both "Game of Thrones" book and show fans a great look into the history of the Seven Kingdoms as Ser Duncan (Dunk) the Tall and the future King Aegon (Egg) V learn about the greatest threat to the Targaryen throne nearly a century before Robert’s Rebellion—the Blackfyre Rebellion.

The story begins almost two years after The Hedge Knight, Dunk and Egg are in the service to Sir Eustace Osgrey who holds a small tower but reminisces about his family’s ancient glory and his own immediate family’s misfortune. A nearly two year drought has gripped Westeros after the Great Spring Sickness—think the Black Death—resulting in water and people being short, which is when Ser Eustace’s stream disappears. After Dunk and another sworn sword, Ser Bennis, search upstream they discover that Ser Eustace’s neighbor Lady Webber has built a dam to divert the water. Soon things escalate and the two nobles begin to lob threats and promise blood vengeance as Dunk tries to find a way to make peace.

Of the work surrounding the graphic novel itself, I can only praise the work of Miller and Crowell who not only brought into visual life Dunk and Egg but so many other historically important characters in very consistent way throughout the entire book. It is hard to find fault with the work of these two men save with pointing out a few continuity errors, which unfortunately happen in every graphic novel. But when it came to the memories of Ser Eustace Osgrey about the Battle of the Redgrass Field that ended the threat of Daemon Blackfyre, the artwork is fantastic and brings the memories of the battle alive and giving justice to some of Martin’s best writing.

If you're a fan of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" world and haven't gotten this book yet I, what are you waiting for? I highly recommend this graphic novel adaptation of The Sworn Sword as well as the novella itself, you won’t be disappointed.


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