Moonshine Vol. 4 Angels Share and Vol. 5 The Well

Title: Moonshine Volume 4: Angels Share

Author: Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso

Publisher: Image 202012

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 120

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Lou Pirlo escaped the zombie-filled bayou of New Orleans only to land down on his luck in Cleveland—living in a shanty town known as "Kingsbury Run," which just happens to be where the very first serial killer in the US is hunting, and none other than the great Eliot Ness is on his trail. Meanwhile, Tempest has finagled her way into the heart of Lou's old gang in NYC, searching for her lost father, Hiram. Werewolves, G-Men, serial killers, mobsters…what more can you ask for?

Collects MOONSHINE #18-22

The next volume moves location and time once again. I found the switch to be a bit jarring and had to reorient myself. I didn’t really like how Lou’s story seemingly got stuck and we didn’t see much movement of plot. I wanted to see more about what happened with Delia and Jean Baptiste. But we don’t get that in this volume.

Title: Moonshine Volume 5: The Well

Author: Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso

Publisher: Image 2021

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Torpedo-turned-werewolf Lou Pirlo finally returns to NYC, and he's come at just about the worst possible time. With Prohibition on its last legs, happy days are here no longer for those in the rum-running business. As an all-out war brews between Joe the Boss and the Holts of Appalachia—AND Lou's lost love Delia returns—Lou's life is about to get a whole lot messier…or is it bloodier?

Writer BRIAN AZZARELLO and artist EDUARDO RISSO, the Eisner Award-winning creative team behind the crime classic 100 Bullets, bring this brutal series to its sobering conclusion.

Collects MOONSHINE #23-28

Thankfully the series ended fairly strongly. I was concerned that we were going to have Hollywood happy ending that would seem at odds with the story. I’m glad that the story played out in a logical fashion given the choices of the characters. This is a violent, dark story, but overall it is one that I enjoyed exploring.

Moonshine

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

Next up on the TBR pile:

Moonshine Vol. 2 Misery Train and Vol. 3 Rue Le Jour

Title: Moonshine Volume 2: Misery Train

Author: Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso

Publisher: Image 2018

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

“Torpedo” Lou Pirlo thought his troubles might be over when he and his new girl, Delia, hopped a boxcar headed to New Orleans—as far and fast as they could get away from the hillbillies in Appalachia and the Mafia killers in New York City. But trouble has a habit of sticking to Lou… and trouble ain’t all that’s stuck to Lou. See, Lou got bit by a werewolf, and now the most deadly monster hunter on Earth will stop at nothing to put this dog down. The hit horror/crime series that Nerdist called “damn near perfect” is back from the creative team behind the seminal crime drama 100 Bullets! Also reprinting variant covers from GABRIEL BÁ, FÁBIO MOON, RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, GRAMPÁ, and JORGE ZAFFINO! Collects MOONSHINE #7-12

I read the first trade in this series back when it published I think and somehow forgot about it. I was going back through my records and decided to finish the series. The second volume moves the story forward but not by much. I wanted to see a bit more movement from the characters. It felt like after the first volume, this one got stuck a bit…

Title: Moonshine Volume 3: Rue Le Jour

Author: Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso

Publisher: Image 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 120

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

The hit supernatural gangster story continues! Delia is on a quest to rid Lou Pirlo of his werewolf curse, and along the way, she enlists the help of two witches who come at a high price. Lou is a resourceful man, willing to do whatever it takes to pay, but when you've got no soul left to sell, bad things are going to happen.

Collects MOONSHINE #13-17

Thankfully this next volume changes locale and amps up the story. We get to meet some new characters and learn more about Lou while dealing with the aftermath in Virginia. I’m now actually excited to see where this story goes next. I foresee more complications with Tempest leaving the mountains and the altercation with Jean Baptiste at the end of this volume.

Moonshine

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Borderland Vol. 9

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 9

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2024

Genre: Comics

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Books (Manga) to Movies (Television Shows)

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future weighs on him like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

After stumbling on a dealer’s bunker, Arisu is even more determined to uncover the terrible truth behind Borderland. But that means he and Usagi will have to abandon their plans to sit out the games and instead seek out the last person who might have the answers—the Queen of Hearts. Will taking on the queen find them a way home, or will it be their final game?

And we come to the end of the story. We get a wrap-up of the previous games and a reconnection of characters. We slowly start to wind down, but not without one last game to play. This time we get the Queen of Hearts, who we’ve already met. But in this game, the focus comes back to Arisu and his experience. I appreciate how the story started focused on Arisu and ended focused on Arisu. We get a nice bookend to series. But then, the big reveal at the end of the games. I’m not quite certain how I feel about the twist, but I did enjoy the wrapping up pages. Overall, I truly enjoyed this series and am so excited to now go and watch the television series.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Borderland Vol. 8

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 8

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2023

Genre: Comics

Pages: 360

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future weighs on him like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

Not every visitor to Borderland spends their time struggling to survive. Much like Arisu, some are hunting for the truth behind the strange and deadly world they’ve landed in. But whether that means searching for the boundaries of their strange prison or finding ways to expose Borderland to the media back home, does the truth even matter if everyone dies before they can share it?

Oh goodness, we are nearing the end of the story. We get an interesting interlude featuring a player attempting to record the experience for the future. Seemingly it’s not related to the main story, but then we get some clues as to other going-ons. I have really enjoyed seeing how disparate stories come together into the main story or at least give us clues to the mysteries. Plus we get an excellent story featuring the King of Diamonds. The reveal was absolutely perfect. Plus, we get to check in with another player we’ve met before. I was fascinated to see it all go down. And now I am ready for the conclusion.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Borderland Vol. 7

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 7

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2022

Genre: Comics

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future weighs on him like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

Most of the Face Card games continue to be a deadly challenge to Borderland’s visitors, their often complicated or confusing rules meant to trick players into dooming themselves. In contrast, the King of Spades’ game is refreshingly direct—kill or be killed! Can an uneasy coalition of visitors band together to take down the sniper King before his bullets declare game over for everyone?

This volume didn’t quite hit for me like the others. We continue the game with the King of Spades (and end up finishing it), but the action and the characters meander a lot in these parts. I wanted more Arisu and a check back in with some of the other characters. Instead, we get an extended section focused on Aguni. Not my favorite character, but it was nice to see him as more than just a thug. The bright spot was really the game involving the Jack. I really enjoyed that one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Borderland Vol. 5-6

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 5

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2022

Genre: Comics

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future weighs on him like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

Arisu and his companions have managed to defeat the Dealers, but the battle isn’t over yet. Now they must take on the Face Cards—12 players who have the dubious honor of being Borderland “royalty.” Arisu hopes they are close to going home, but the games the Face Cards play might be worse than any of the cruelties the Dealers came up with.

And we dive into another game, this time with one of the Kings. The game is not all is seems and the players have to understand just how to manipulate the rules to win. We don’t get to the see the conclusion in this volume, but we get a lot of game play and discussions about the future in Borderland. Plus, we get two more side stories, one featuring a player that we have already met. One of those players that seemed so mysterious a few volumes back. We don’t necessarily get a bunch of backstory, but we do see how the player fared in their first game.

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 6

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2022

Genre: Comics

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future weighs on him like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

The battle against the King of Clubs continues as Arisu and his team struggle to make up for their shocking point deficit. But no matter what strategy they try, the king and his compatriots maintain the upper hand. When each move is a matter of life or death and no victory comes without sacrifice, can Arisu and his team bear another loss to secure the win?

We get to see the end of the King of Clubs’s game and some big changes for our players. I’m constantly surprised by how this story can absolutely gut me. I truly get hit in the feels so many times. And we start another side game involving some very interesting characters. I love following the breadcrumbs of the larger mystery as we navigate Borderland. I don’t think that I can hold off on reading the rest of the volumes.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Borderland Vol. 4

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 4

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media 2022

Genre: Comics

Pages: 344

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future weighs on him like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

The Beach has turned into a killing ground as Aguni and his men use the witch-hunt game as an excuse to take out everyone in sight. Arisu and his friends must race to understand the logic behind the game and identify the real witch before they join the growing pile of Aguni’s victims!

Another great volume of this horror show. My favorite part of this one was the Runaway game. I did not see any of that coming at all. (I think I saw this with every volume now, but it’s still true.) I’m interested in seeing how the revelations in this one affect the games in the next volume and the relationships between the characters.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Borderland Vol. 2-3

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 2

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2021

Genre: Comics

Pages: 344

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future weighs on him like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

Life in Borderland can be grim, but after completing two games Arisu feels like he might be getting a handle on how his new world works. Chota’s and Shibuki’s visas are expiring soon, however, so the group doesn’t have time to be picky about their next match. And the arena they stumble upon is a lesson in just how treacherous the rules in Borderland can be.

Diving back into this series and it just doesn’t let up. This particular volume really hit me in the feels. I did not see the events coming at all. The game depicted was absolutely brutal. I was completely slack jawed by the end. I am obsessed with this series.

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 3

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2022

Genre: Comics

Pages: 344

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future weighs on him like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

Aguni now has control of the Beach, and one of his first actions as king is to lock Ryohei in a room on one of the empty floors of the hotel to die of an expired visa. But Ryohei gets an unexpected stay of execution when the Beach becomes the arena for a brutal game of Hearts! Can he survive a witch hunt and get his visa extended, or has he just traded one terrible death for another?

And on to the next volume… with a change of venue and new characters. I wasn’t sold on the beach resort plot line, but it grew on me. The volume got even better when a game began at the beach. I cannot wait to see what happens next and how this particular game concludes.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Borderland Vol. 1

Title: Alice in Borderland Vol. 1

Author: Haro Aso

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 2021

Genre: Comics

Pages: 344

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retellings (replacing Rumplestitlskin)

Where I Got It: Library

Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future feels like impending doom. As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When a strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.

The first game starts with a bang, but Ryohei manages to beat the clock and save his friends. It’s a short-lived victory, however, as they discover that winning only earns them a few days’ grace period. If they want to get home, they’re going to have to start playing a lot harder.

I’ve had this series on my TBR for years now. Funnily enough, it was watching Katee Robert’s instagram stories that brought it back to the top of the pile. Very quickly, we are dumped into Borderland and attempt to start understanding the rules of the game. I was concerned that Ryohei was going to be super annoying throughout, but very quickly attempts to focus on his new reality and the games. Volume 1 includes the introduction plus two games. We get to see some of Borderland’s other players and begin to understand the implications of the games. Plus there are some tantalizing clues as to the ultimate strategies. Cannot wait to read Volume 2.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lore Olympus Vol. 7 by Rachel Smythe

Title: Lore Olympus Volume 7

Author: Rachel Smythe

Publisher: Inklore 2024

Genre: Fantasy Comic

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

“Blood of mine or not, if you proceed with this trial, I hope you are prepared to live with the consequences.”

The rifts between realms grow ever wider as the temporary shelter Persephone had found in the Underworld is destroyed. Apollo has captured Demeter, turning the fugitive goddess over to Zeus in an attempt to win the king’s favor. Persephone and her mother must now stand trial for concealing Persephone’s unsanctioned act of wrath—though the goddess of spring feels secure with Hades on her side.

But safety is not guaranteed in the world of the gods.

As the trial brings to light truths and betrayals that threaten to upset everything—even Hades and Persephone’s relationship—the other gods face perils of their own.

Eros uncovers Ampelus’s secret during a fight in the Mortal Realm. Thanatos and Daphne’s budding relationship is threatened by a vengeful Apollo. Minthe is trapped in her cursed form until Persephone gains full control over her powers. And Hera is haunted by the specter of Kronos, whose influence in Olympus seems to be growing . . . 

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 153-179 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

I got my hands on this volume pretty quickly after its release date. And we finally get some movement in the story. It’s less about the will they, won’t they, and more about the how. I loved seeing Persephone become more confident and seek help when needed. I loved seeing some of the secrets start to be revealed. I feel like we need to coming towards the end of this series. I really want to see Persephone become Queen of the Dead!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Year Zero Vol. 2

Title: Year Zero Vol. 2

Author: Benjamin Percy, Kaare Andrews, Juan Jose Ryp, Frank Martin

Publisher: Artists, Writers, and Artisans 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel Horror

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spooky Reading Season

Where I Got It: Library

Upshot's hit series Year Zero returns with four new harrowing tales of survival from around a post apocalyptic world, set several months after the events on Volume One: A grizzled Norwegian sea captain and her two young grandchildren navigate an ocean teeming with undead while eluding the relentless pirates on their trail. A Colombian cartel boss indulges all of his most sadistic whims unaware that a threat far greater than zombies is headed toward his jungle fortress. A Rwandan doctor must overcome the crippling fear that has plagued him all his life as he stumbles through the African bush. And a pregnant woman barricaded in an American big box store discovers that the greatest threat to her life – and her unborn child's – might not be undead. Benjamin Percy (Wolverine, X-Force) once again pens this global look at the zombie apocalypse, now joined by artist Juan Jose Ryp (Britannia) and colorist Frank Martin (Infinity Wars).

Another great collection of stories. I really enjoyed the Norwegian sea captain story. We get to see children added into the mix and a fun setting. I also really enjoyed the art style of that story. It was bleak and yet fun of emotion and action. Another great collection of stories from the zombie apocalypse.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Year Zero Vol. 1

Title: Year Zero Vol. 1

Author: Benjamin Percy, Ramon Rosanas, Kaare Andrews, Lee Loughridge

Publisher: Artists, Writers, and Artisans 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel Horror

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spooky Reading Season

Where I Got It: Library

Ben Percy (Wolverine) and Ramon Rosanas (Star Wars: Age of Resistance) team up to present an epic tale that offers a global look at the Zombie Apocalypse. A Japanese hitman, a Mexican street urchin, an Afghan military aide, a Polar research scientist, a midwestern American survivalist – five survivors of a horrific global epidemic who must draw upon their unique skills and deepest instincts to navigate a world of shambling dead. Year Zero wrestles with the weighty moral and theological questions posed by the pandemic and investigates its cause and possible cure.

I cycled back around to the actual beginning of this series. Love the multiple storylines as we watch the zombie apocalypse unfold. My favorite was definitely the Afghan military aide story. I found her story to be very compelling even within such a short amount of time. I sped through this collection as I could not put it down. Love this spooky story for spooky reading season.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Year Zero Vol. 0

Title: Year Zero Vol. 0

Author: Daniel Kraus, Goran Sudžuka

Publisher: Artists, Writers, and Artisans 2023

Genre: Graphic Novel Horror

Pages: 128

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spooky Season

Where I Got It: Library

In this action-packed prelude to the hit series, acclaimed horror writer Daniel Kraus (George Romero's The Living Dead, The Autumnal) unveils four globe-spanning tales from the earliest days of the zombie apocalypse when even the wildest rumors couldn't measure up to the horror to come. A streetwise Russian cop patrols the back alleys of the opportunistic black market that emerges in response to the crisis...a North Korean soldier observes strange happenings on the DMZ...An E.R. nurse in the rural South fights to protect her hospital from threats without and within...A transgender flight attendant who has observed disturbing clues as she crisscrosses the globe keeps a wary eye on the passenger in seat 23C.

I somehow completely missed this series. I absolutely love zombie stories so I definitely needed to grab this one. I didn’t even realize that this is prequel, but it was still a fun ride to see the beginnings of a zombie apocalypse. We follow a few characters as they slowly get the sense that something terrible is happening. The Korean storyline was my favorite. We get a few very introspective conversations and monologues by those characters. I really loved the reveals as the stories progressed. I most definitely need to keep reading this series.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lore Olympus Vol. 6 by Rachel Smythe

Title: Lore Olympus Volume 6

Author: Rachel Smythe

Publisher: Del Rey

Genre: Fantasy Comic

Pages: 432

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

“We have to make an example of her.”

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld—and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.

But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.

And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released. . . .

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features exclusive behind-the-scenes content and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 127–152 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

Finally I grabbed this volume of one of my favorite comic series. I loved how the story actually moved forward in this volume. The last one did not move the plot along very much. We finally get to see more perspectives of Persephone and move along her relationship with Hades. And that last issue was a doozy. I am very interested to see where Smythe takes this story next. Cannot wait for the next volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Universal Monsters: Dracula

Title: Universal Monsters: Dracula

Author: James Tynion IV, Martin Simmonds

Publisher: Image Comics 2024

Genre: Comics; Horror; Classics

Pages: 120

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spooky Season - D

Where I Got It: Library

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH creators, James Tynion IV (W0rldtr33, Something is Killing the Children)and Martin Simmonds, reteam to tell a new tale of the monster who started it all!

When Dr. John Seward admits a strange new patient named Renfield into his asylum, the madman tells stories of a demon who has taken residence next door. But as Dr. Seward attempts to apply logic to the impossible...his daughter falls under the spell of the twisted Count Dracula!

Collects UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: DRACULA #1-4.

A wonderfully creepy graphic novel version of a classic story. The art is decidedly vague when it comes to the count and the horror and very clear when we follow our human characters. I loved the dichotomy of style within each page. As for the story being shown, I do appreciate that they focused on the part back in England. We see what happens to Lucy and Mina and Renfield. I do love seeing classic stories retold in different ways. A quick fun read for the day.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 2

Title: The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 2

Author: James Tynion, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Jordie Bellaire

Publisher: DC Comics 2023

Genre: Comics

Pages: 176

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library

One of the most critically acclaimed and bestselling horror books of 2021 returns for its shocking second act—and now is the perfect time to enter the house! The 10 hardy survivors gathered in the house by their mutual friend Walter thought they’d finally cracked the code on his plans…and now everything they thought they knew has literally changed. Can they free themselves from their patterns? Or are they all just determined to build a prison of their very own?

I finally grabbed the second trade in this series and goodness, it was a journey. The first couple of pages really threw me. The reader has to orient themselves to the story being told. Once I got my bearings, I sped through the next chapters of this story. I loved the interplay of the different personalities and their reactions to the events. I do wish that the story would have a progressed a bit more before we got to the end. Now I just have to wait I guess. No idea when the next chapters will be released.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1

Title: The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1

Author: James Tynion, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Jordie Bellaire

Publisher: DC Comics 2022

Genre: Comics

Pages: 200

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library

Everyone who was invited to the house knows Walter-well, they know him a little, anyway. Some met him in childhood; some met him months ago. And Walter’s always been a little…off. But after the hardest year of their lives, nobody was going to turn down Walter’s invitation to an astonishingly beautiful house in the woods, overlooking an enormous sylvan lake. It’s beautiful, it’s opulent, it’s private-so a week of putting up with Walter’s weird little schemes and nicknames in exchange for the vacation of a lifetime? Why not? All of them were at that moment in their lives when they could feel themselves pulling away from their other friends; wouldn’t a chance to reconnect be…nice? Collects The Nice House on the Lake #1-6.

How did I miss this series? Probably because it came from DC Comics. I’m definitely more of an Image reader. But I finally picked this one up and devoured it. This is a story that starts slow, but hooked me immediately. I desperately wanted to unravel the mystery presented with the inhabitants of the house. We get clues here and there and then the story takes a huge turn. I was absolutely floored and cannot wait to grab the next volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Glass Town by Isabel Greenberg

Title: Glass Town

Author: Isabel Greenberg

Publisher: Abrams ComicArts 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 220

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love

Glass Town is an original graphic novel by Isabel Greenberg that encompasses the eccentric childhoods of the four Brontë children—Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The story begins in 1825, with the deaths of Maria and Elizabeth, the eldest siblings. It is in response to this loss that the four remaining Brontë children set pen to paper and created the fictional world that became known as Glass Town. This world and its cast of characters would come to be the Brontës’ escape from the realities of their lives. Within Glass Town the siblings experienced love, friendship, war, triumph, and heartbreak. Through a combination of quotes from the stories originally penned by the Brontës, biographical information about them, and Greenberg’s vivid comic book illustrations, readers will find themselves enraptured by this fascinating imaginary world.

I absolutely loved Greenberg’s other work, The One Hundred Nights of Hero, and was hoping for something similar. This is a reimagining of the make-believe world from the real life Bronte siblings. I am not the biggest fan of the Brontes, but dove into the volume anyway. Enjoyed the pieces focused on Glass Town. I did not enjoy the pieces focused on the real life characters. At times, the storytelling framing got in the way of the good stories. I wanted more Glass Town, less Brontes.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lore Olympus Vol. 5 by Rachel Smythe

Title: Lore Olympus Volume 5

Author: Rachel Smythe

Publisher: Del Rey 2023

Genre: Fantasy Comic

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

“You want to know about The Bringer of Death.”
 
It is Persephone’s birthday, and she receives the ultimate gift: Hades confesses his desire for her, leading to their first kiss. But that doesn’t necessarily make things easier for the goddess of spring, who is still in over her head in gossip-driven Olympus. Persephone feels intense guilt over the official breakup between Hades and Minthe, she is struggling to find her footing in her fast-paced job, and—worst of all—the shades of her past are slowly coming to light.
 
After an unexpected encounter with Apollo, Persephone flees into the depths of the Underworld. Concerned for her safety and determined to find her, Hades must team up with Artemis, Eros, and Hera, but they’re working against a ticking clock. Zeus knows about the bloody secret in Persephone’s past, and now the furious king of the gods will stop at nothing to bring her to justice.
 
This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features exclusive behind-the-scenes content and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

I still really love this series, but it’s hitting a bit of a low point I think. The will-they-won’t-they portion is feeling a bit tired. And I’m not very happy with just how naive Persephone is. Her keeping secrets is starting to annoy me. I really want to see where this story goes, but things better get moving a bit in the next volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll

Title: A Guest in the House

Author: Emily Carroll

Publisher: First Second 2023

Genre: Graphic Novel Horror

Pages: 256

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love

After many lonely years, Abby’s just gotten married. She met her new husband―a recently widowed dentist―when he arrived in town with his young daughter, seeking a new start. Although it’s strange living in the shadow of her predecessor, Abby does her best to be a good wife and mother. But the more she learns about her new husband’s first wife, the more things don’t add up. And Abby starts to wonder . . . was Sheila’s death really by natural causes? As Abby sinks deeper into confusion, Sheila’s memory seems to become a force all its own, ensnaring Abby in a mystery that leaves her obsessed, fascinated, and desperately in love for the first time in her life.

Emily's masterful balance of black and white, surreal colors, rich textures, and dramatic lettering is assured to bring this story to life and give readers a chill up their spine as they read.

Now this book was much more up my alley. We get a horror comic examining a life of complacency and self-doubt. I loved how Abby’s story spirals with Crystal and Sheila’s stories. The interplay between black and white images and bursts of color drove home the push and pull between reality and dreams and nightmares. Throughout the pages, I was rooting for Abby in every encounter. After reading this volume, I definitely need to get more from Carroll.

Next up on the TBR pile: