Reading List 2009

In chronological order. Textbooks not listed. 'GN' = Graphic Novel.

Brockmeier, Kevin - The Brief History of the Dead - Engrossing tales that you can't believe are intertwined: A) People who have died (but still have someone on Earth who met them) live together in 'The City' in relative happiness. B) Three Coca-Cola employees are stuck in a tiny little shack in Antarctica and the radio goes out. Thoughtful, optimistic and interesting. A cool idea of the afterworld and a great start to the reading year.

Rowling, J. K. - The Tales of Beedle the Bard - Cute, short 'fairy tales'. I like Dumbledore's comments. Fun background info for Harry Potter fans, but might enthrall only those immersed in Wizarding World fervor.

L'Amour, Louis - The Comstock Lode - I remember this being one of my favorite Westerns, way back when. This is still a solid tale (set in lawless silver-boom Nevada) with engrossing detail and richness. Somehow, these days I find the characters a bit wooden (perhaps formulaic?), but the focus is certainly on the plot, not refined dialogue or deep exploration of motivation. There isn't much grey moral area; killing someone bad is just fine. A good ol' page-turner from more uncomplicated times.

Collins, Suzanne - The Hunger Games - Hoo boy! I very much liked her 'Gregor the Overlander' series (and still think it would make an excellent series of shows or movies due to its very cinematic scenes and characters), but she has kicked it up a notch with this work, aimed at teens. A near-future America where the 'Haves' control all and force the compartmentalized Have-Nots into producing what they need... where they exact an annual tribute, and sacrifice young (Have-Not) people in 'Survivor meets Olympics' to the death... hmm, in some ways we're nearly there. For all that, it's also a tale of growing up, of teen romantic conflict, of loyalty, of sacrifice, of rage against the Machine. Really good, thought provoking, and it looks like there will be more!

Akamatsu, Ken - Negima Vol. 3 - GN. Contains the Evangeline A.K. McDowell vampire/wizard story arc; Negi finds out one of his students is a very Zen ninja and awakens his courage; Asuna kicks robot 'can'. As always, a somewhat risque' guilty pleasure.

Chadwick, Paul - Concrete, Vol. 2: Heights - GN collection of those wonderful, thoughtful stories about the man trapped in a body made of rock. Not a superhero story despite Concrete's abilities; not a 'funnybook' despite some bits of silliness... it's a very human story. Still among my favorite stuff.

Various - Tales of the New Gods - GN collection of stories about Darkseid, Mister Miracle and all those other characters of Apokolips and New Genesis, created by the late and very great Jack Kirby. These are new tales by other writers and artists, but most are very Kirbyesque. Generally quite good.

Jurgens, Dan - Metamorpho, Year One - A retelling of one of my favorite superhero's origin. Makes more sense storywise but has less of the off-the-wall fun of the old comics. Apparently, that was what I liked about the old comics; I'm done with the new version. GN.

Masamune, Shirow - Appleseed 1: The Promethean Challenge - Manga-style GN. WWIII aftermath; civilization has fallen and things are devastated. Veteran combatant Deunan and her bunny-eared cyborg partner Briareos are on their own, but they get found by what passes for civilization and soon are stuffed into its police force. Mayhem ensues. This was really promising, but then degenerated into pages and pages of incomprehensible running around and fighting. In a movie this works when the eye can track who is who and what is blowing up. Clear cause and effect in the GN would have been nice, and I don't feel that this worked here. Perhaps I'd like the anime version better, but I'm not all that interested.

Lemire, Jeff - Ghost Stories - Second in the GN series set in and around Essex County, Ontario, Canada, it precedes and crosses over a bit with the excellent 'Tales from the Farm'. Still honest and hard-hitting. Deaf and lonely Lou Lebeuf reflects on his life, his brother, his hockey career, and how his actions and decisions tore his family apart. The art appears simple, but look at the same person at many stages of his life and watch the evolution of the character. He evokes loneliness better than, well, anyone. Best for adult readers, more poignant the older or more lonely you are.

Waid, Mark - Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes: Dominator War - Well, it held my attention. There were bright colors. GN. (What if Kurt Busiek or Bill Willingham wrote 'Legion' stories... )

Lemire, Jeff - The Country Nurse - Third in the Essex County trilogy of interrelated GNs. This is actually sadder to me than the other two; Anne Quenneville isn't quite as tragic as Eleanor Rigby (she's alive, and is still a bit of an optimist), but she's as lonely. She busybodies her way through the stories of the prior two books while bringing to light a third perspective. Resolution! Some of the mysteries of the first two find illumination here. Still poignant and powerful. The series is about secrets and family and mistakes and loneliness and loss and regret, and is a very human drama.

Sievert, Tim - That Salty Air - It took me a while to figure out what the giant octopus meant; I never expect parables or allegory or symbolism, and when I have to work to understand a story, I usually back off. (I'm lazy; so sue me.) Yet, I didn't back off this short GN. Simply but expressively drawn, this is a tale of a fisherman's relationship with the sea. From the back cover: "But when Hugh feels that the sea has betrayed him, his whole existence is thrown into question." Very thoughtful and thought-provoking. I liked the giant octopus.

Ford, Jeffrey - The Physiognomy - Kudos to my pal Roger for pointing this one my way. Set in a world where one of the most respected jobs involves officially sizing people up by their appearances. Strange and fanciful, grim yet funny, with a main character (who at least starts out) so blisteringly rude that I was laughing out loud. Can't wait to read more, and apparently this is the start of the Well-Built City trilogy.

Akamatsu, Ken - Negima!, Vols. 4-8 - Ongoing fun.

Burlew, Rich - The Order of the Stick: Dungeon Crawlin' Fools - GN collection of webcomic based on the adventures of characters in a fantasy game much like (okay, based totally on) Dungeons and Dragons. Hugely funny to gamers like me, possibly incomprehensible to those who don't play such games or at least read lots of fantasy novels.

Waid, Mark, and Ross, Alex - Kingdom Come - Very interesting and mature superhero GN based on the Book of Revelations, and set in a possible future for the DC universe. The heroes have gray hair (except Wonder Woman), and their successors seem to have forgotten what it means to be a hero, or discarded the idea as 'old fashioned'. Superman is in seclusion, having been told that he's unwanted. The story's viewpoint is through the eyes of one courageous normal person, drawn into world-shaking events by the immortal Spectre, and called upon to judge what he sees. Excellent storytelling, and the entire thing is painted (not drawn like a cartoon) by the talented Alex Ross. Quite a work. Recommended for older comic fans and for those who might be pleasantly surprised by such a good story happening to involve superheroes.

Cornwell, Bernard - Agincourt - Cornwell (my favorite historical fiction author, and my Facebook friend) tackles one of the pivotal battles of European history. As with all his work, you feel like you understand what happened, why it happened, and how it happened. Look for the connection to his 'Archer's Tale' character Thomas of Hookton... somehow, I envision a Michael Moorcock-style 'Eternal Champion', and this will wind up connected to Sharpe, as well. But I digress. If you like realistic, well-researched fictional accounts of the great battles of history, Mr. Cornwell's your guy.

(Some other stuff)

Akamatsu, Ken - Negima! Vol. 9 - Manga GN. Negi magically ages himself so Asuna can interact with a non-kid; the class 3-A ghost makes herself known. Fun as usual.

Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - It's been a bit since I read these, and it's fun to do so after having seen the movies again recently. Sometimes I forget all the bits that I liked that didn't make it into the movies: Professor Binns, the ghostly teacher of History of Magic, the dwarf-o-grams at Valentine's Day... And then, reflecting on how much of the books that the movies got spot-on. Still darned good.

Modan, Rutu - Exit Wounds - Excellent storytelling in this GN set in Tel Aviv. The characters are flawed and not the cutest, but they're human and likable and they have a tangled and compelling story to navigate. The world of compulsory military service and occasional bombs going off is there but in the background.

Faust, Minister - From the Notebooks of Doctor Brain - A psychiatrist gets to analyze and take apart the psyches of the F.O.O.J. superheroes Iron Lass, X-Man, Flying Squirrel, Omnipotent Man, Brotherfly and Power Grrrl. Somehow annoying and compelling at the same time. Interesting ideas kept me reading; some of the characters behaviors and dialogue kept me thinking about giving up on it. Flung it aside with eye-rolling when I finished.

Talbot, Bryan - Alice in Sunderland - My favorite GN from a couple years ago. Bought it, and it was time for a re-read.

Scott, Sir Walter - Ivanhoe - One of my favorite adventures. It makes it cooler for me that my dad read this as a young fella.

Clavell, James - Shogun - Stunning how something like 1200 pages goes so fast.

Westerfeld, Scott - Pretties - sequel to Uglies... just as gripping and weird and fun as the first. Teen drama, dystopian future, some cool action bits & futuretech... very awesome and worth recommending to nearly any teen, even the 'Twilight'-obsessed, if they dare read a non-vampire book.

Wilson, F. Paul - The Touch - Quite the page-turner in the Dean Koontz tradition. Likable, dedicated doctor gets blessed with the Dat-tay-vao: the healing touch. Great, right? Nope. What do you think would happen if you heard that someone could reliably heal with a touch? Every incurable from everywhere would flock to the person, the government would want to nab them... and if that isn't bad enough, the Dat-tay-vao exacts its own price on its vessel. Very gripping.

various - Who Can Save Us Now? Superhero short story anthology. Started it before and had to return it before finished. Not one story is a 'normal' hero tale - consider the Quick Stop 5, with Convenience Store Powers! Or perhaps 'Bad Karma Girl Wins at Bingo', where a very nice young lady happens to be a bad luck sink. Generally very interesting.

Aragones, Sergio - Groo: Hell on Earth - GN look at global warming and environmental catastrophe, in the world of Groo. Kinda preachy, and that detracted from Groo-ish fun.

Rosenberg, Jonathan - Goats: Infinite Typewriters - Very hard to describe this GN webcomic collection. 'Bizarre', certainly. 'Funny', indeed. Neither come close to the sacrilegious insanity presented here, however, where we feature robots, a Norse goat named Toothgnip, Mayan death gods, gay aliens, and Reese Witherspoon. For adults who are not easily scandalized; most gamers would LOVE this. Next: The Corndog Imperative.

Tames, Richard - Servant of the Shogun - About the real fellow who lived John Blackthorne's fictional adventures in Clavell's 'Shogun'. Led just as fascinating a life; who knew that Shogun was so close to the mark? Short, fun to read; liked the period journal entries.

Davys, Tim - Amberville - Really amazing story. The people are stuffed animals, all of whom live in one four-part city. Crime, betrayal, death, torture: this is no children's book. It's really good film noir, oddly enough, with strong themes and probing looks inside the heads of many characters. I booktalked this one to Nancy Pearl; she wrote it down! I hope there's more by this author.

In Progress:

Weisman, Alan - Gaviotas : A Village to Reinvent the World - Nonfiction; tells the story of a town created in the uninhabitable savannas (the llanos) of Colombia, 16 hours by jeep from 'civilization', surrounded by guerillas and not much more. Now: it's a community living in harmony with the land, generating its own power from wind and water and sun, making its own food, and getting the things it needs from the outside world by selling sustainably-harvested resin from the MILLIONS of trees they planted and got to grow where they couldn't before. The idea: if they can do it there, people should be able to live sustainably anywhere. This is brilliant and inspiring.

various - Comic Book Tattoo: Narrative art inspired by the lyrics and music of Tori Amos - Big GN book of short tales. Some are close matches to the songs, some take off on a theme. So far they are both bizarre and quite good.

Reading List 2008

Books are listed in order of when I read them, starting on January 1st. 'GN' refers to graphic novel.

Donaldson, Stephen R. - Fatal Revenant: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Book Two - What is it that I just eat up about these books? The character names range from okay to 'what the heck?' ('Saltheart Foamfollower'?); the plot is sometimes incomprehensible (wait, where are we going again and why?); the motivations are frequently unknown to the reader (Why does EVERYONE hate Linden, and should we?) and the protagonist spends entire chapters either whining or having 'family meetings'. Somehow, the world Donaldson has created is bigger than any of that, and seems real enough to matter to us. He does a great job with extremes of beauty and despair and power and helplessness. And where in many fantasy books the magic seems small, in his books it is epic, mythic even. Now awaiting the next one, and it may be a while.

Various - Simpsons Comics Royale - I don't often list GNs that are just funnybook collections, but this also had a number of short 'essays' by Matt Groening that talk about his growing up in Portland and some of the stories of his own life that show up in the Simpsons. Interesting just for those, and the comics are fairly funny too.

Stewart, Paul and Riddell, Chris - Beyond the Deepwoods: The Edge Chronicles, Book One - Seemed a bit choppy at first, with the short chapters, each one some new peril being dumped on Twig. He had no time to stop and think! Still, everything worked toward a goal and all his challenges prepared him for the end of the story... fun, and kept Penelope and I interested. She wants the subsequent books!

Smith, Jeff - SHAZAM: The Monster Society of Evil - Very fun new beginning for Captain Marvel. He clearly loves the old comics, but updated them for modern readers, making goofy old characters (Mary Marvel and a talking tiger) palatable and fun. Gorgeous art!

Brake, Colin - Doctor Who: The Price of Paradise - Would be a fun episode to watch, but somehow not as 'important' as the other books. Planet in such perfect balance that it freaks out and attacks if anyone new lands on it.

Geary, Rick - The Saga of the Bloody Benders - Non-fiction GN chronicling the freakish serial killer family of the Kansas homesteading days.

Burner, Brett and Miller, Mike - Hand of the Morningstar: Resurrection - Second in ygn superhero series by Zondervan. Curse it all, interesting characters. That Bible, it has some good stories. I don't really want to keep reading, but I suspect that I will. Gaah.

Oppel, Kenneth - Dead Water Zone - earlier work than Airborn, probably something that didn't get as much attention until he got popular. Interesting short work about a grim kinda-Earth where people are being turned into pale non-bloodsucking vampires (strong, fast, not so good in the sun) by drinking 'dead water'. Boy looks for his missing brother, meets weird pale girl. More interesting: the stratified society in the background. A fun ride...

Lovelace, Maud Hart - Betsy, Tacy and Tib - (Bedtime reading with Penelope). The kids are just plain funny, in that universally inventive way that kids still are, despite all the technology and nonsense these days. What a neat picture of a bygone age.

Various - Superman: The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen - That kid is the most resilient person in the DC universe. Megabrain, fatboy, freak/superhero, werewolf... silly fun.

Wright, John C. - The Golden Age - The 'Jack Vance' wikipedia entry listed this as a book based on Jack's style of storytelling, world-building and language use. Just so! Not derivative, just a fabulous homage, yet truly its own tale of a future society gone awry, and a look at what happens when we can consciously edit our own reality to fit our preferences. One stunning concept after another... to be continued!

Palin, Michael - Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years - Excerpts from Palin's copious diaries. Short, interesting insights into the times and events concurrent with (but not necessarily all about) the Monty Python television series and movies. Read the first eighth or so, but then it was due... will try to get it again, good fun and interesting commentary.

Nix, Garth - One Beastly Beast - Contains four short stories that have humor and unlikely situations for young folks. Read with Penelope, and she enjoyed them quite a bit. Definitely for kids, less exciting for adults. 'Blackbread the Pirate' was my favorite.

Mieville, China - Un Lun Dun - About the place where obsolete things go, a girl foreseen to be its savior, and someone who finds out that she's the 'funny sidekick', yet seems to have to do everything. Deeba is a fabulous character, imperfect, occasionally irritable, but heroic. Lots of 'Who's on who's side?'

Wright, John C - The Phoenix Exultant - Picks up where 'The Golden Age' left off, like the second part of one long work rather than a separate book. Much like the first, it's stuffed with intriguing concepts. The protagonist, Phaeton, is a fearless individualist immersed in a society where nearly everything is done for you. It's just plain fabulous. More to come!

Card, Orson Scott - Ender's Game - I wasn't planning on rereading it just now, but I picked it up while waiting for something on the computer to load, and before I knew it was 50 pages in. I'd forgotten how good this actually is.

Gaiman, Neil - M is for Magic - Short story collection, featuring some of my favorites ('Chivalry', for instance).

Wright, John C. - The Golden Transcendence - Last of the Golden Age trilogy... and curse it all, it's over. An excellent ending; keep reading through the appendices!

Stracyzinski, J. Michael - Spider-Man: Back in Black (GN of course, covering the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War in Spidey's life. Aunt May takes a bullet meant for Peter, and the gloves are off.)

Burroughs, Edgar Rice - At the Earth's Core - First of the Pellucidar series. Great adventure, certainly reflective of the time written (oh good, savages to uplift!), but fun for all that.

Fox, Sonny - Jokes... and How to Tell Them - I had this as a kid, and now I thank MCL for its participation in the Interlibrary Loan System, for I got to read it again after all those years. To think I've been mistelling the Great Dane in the ice cream shop joke for all this time! Q. How do you make a car top? A. Tep on the brake, tupid! Fox notes to avoid offensive jokes that may be hurtful, but when this came out in 1965, it was still okay to make fun of Native Americans and the Japanese. Kind of odd to read as an adult in the 21st century. Still, many old gems to be found.

Bourne, Malcolm - Tales of Ordinary Madness - Painful and disturbing GN, truly affecting. Started reading it standing up, and didn't notice I was still standing up until I was done reading it. Scary how close the 'sane' are to the mentally ill....

Elsey, David - Always There - Short book (chapbook?) of poetry and prose. Especially liked 'We Give Death the Finger'. Nice fellow, too!

Grossman, Austin - Soon I Will Be Invincible - Account of the supervillain Doctor Impossible and the rookie superhero Fatale. Reasonably literary, thoughtful and fun. Some action but not a lot; most is off-camera, and the mood is more introspective. I liked it.

Shivack, Nadia - Inside Out: Portrait of an Eating Disorder - Nonfiction GN about the author's lifelong battle with bulemia. Very painful to read. 2007.

Anthony, Piers - Battle Circle - What truly engrossing stuff. Classic Anthony, hopeful sci-fi but not sugar-coated. The scenes in the circle (and pretty much all of the 'Sos the Rope' third) are just plain excellent.

Vance, Jack - The Five Gold Bands - Rogue of the future Paddy Blackthorne has the secret to spacedrives, and those controlling the use thereof want it back! Early Vance, not quite as fanciful or, well, 'Vancian' as his later stuff, but very fun and a quick, rollicking read.

Moore, Alan - League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier - It's many years later (WWII), and Mina and Allan are looking quite immortal and young. They're afoul of James Bond & MI5. Bits about Roland/Orlando, Fanny Hill. Plenty of sexual stuff as usual per Moore; he shies away from nothing. '1984' happened, 'Little Nemo' (I think) is there, and the best bit of all, a text piece called "'What Ho, Gods of the Abyss' by the Rt. Hon. Bertram Wooster," where Jeeves and Wooster run afoul of Cthulhu worshippers at Aunt Dahlia's. Poor Gussie. Spot on! Looks like the last tale of the League. 2008 GN

Orwell, George - 1984 - This is so much scarier NOW considering the 'reforms' made under the Bush presidency. Far more relevant with this reading, perhaps because I know more than I did years ago. Everyone should have to read this.

Coupland, Douglas - JPod - About six odd people whose last names all start with J, and who happen to work together at a computer-game design company. In turns, wildly funny, briefly poignant and highly improbable.

Johnson, Mat - Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery - 2008 GN. A painful tale based on the adventures of a real person, a black man who could pass for white, and who went into the deep south to report on lynchings. Affecting and very good.

Gurewich, Nicholas - The Trial of Colonel Sweeto and Other Stories - GN (07) - macabre collection of very odd and disturbing little cartoons. Very funny for those who can laugh at the painful side of human nature. I kept flipping back to it in amused, shocked disbelief.

Kinney, Jeff - Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules - Funny, painful and mean just like the other one. Everyone has a little of Greg in him, but thank goodness the actual Gregs and Rodricks are few and far between. This is an illustrated 'j' book (not officially a graphic novel, according to the catalogers), but I think it's really best for adults looking back.

Palin, Michael - Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years - After finishing this, which I might add is a considerable investment in time and interest, it being a rather long book, I feel that I have a new friend. It's intensely personal, reading a diary, very immediate and engrossing. As he writes, he has no idea what lies in store for him. It brings me to the edge of considering a journal for myself, but now I think that my reading list fulfills that for me, in some small way. Although few are likely to wish to read it, it's already 'published' and out there being shared. It makes me wonder if Mr. Palin now blogs... I should investigate, as his 1969-1979 entries, despite their length, left me wanting more!

Albom, Mitch - For One More Day - Somehow when I pick up his books, I always think that I should be rolling my eyes, preparing for something preachy or cheesy or something. Picking it up for a quick browse down at the library's beach house, I soon found myself settled into a comfy chair, 50 pages in. My philosophy of life is already one of joie de vivre, and living life as if it could end at any time, but this is a good reminder to keep on doing just that. Satisfying and optimistic, without that preachiness or cheesiness that makes me run away. Maybe it's someone else's writing I keep expecting.

Thompson, Craig - Carnet de Voyage - GN chronicling Thompson's promotional tour (for his excellent 'Blankets') through Europe and a side trip to Morocco. Considering what an honest and heartfelt charmer he is in real life, it's funny to see him depicting himself as a hayseed when in fancy places. You feel like you have been given permission to read a good friend's diary, a good friend who happens to be a keen observer and excellent artist. I need to write him a letter.

Sfar, Joann and Guibert, Emmanuel - The Professor's Daughter - Wonderful GN, gorgeous art that has the quiet intimacy of sepiatone while still in fact being in color. The gentleman mummy and his romance with the title character in Victorian England is actually a rather exciting tale. The queen herself has a role, and comports herself appropriately. Fun; a bit of a love story, a bit of a mystery, and it would be a wonderfully odd movie.

Simone, Gail - Welcome to Tranquility - A very pleasant surprise, worthy of Kurt Busiek, and that is saying something. Tranquility is the city where superheroes (and supervillains) go to retire, and the murder mystery that unfolds kept me going. Characters are great; iconic abilities, yet not stereotypical personalities. And, the normal people are just as heroic and interesting as anybody with powers. The little asides and fake ads actually added to the story. This was handled really well.

Anderson, Eric A. - PX! Book One: A Girl and Her Panda - 2007 GN with striking colors, an amusing villain, a very cool non-ninja, and a walking nuclear-powered arsenal shaped like a panda. The little asides are hilarious, and Weatherby (Queen's Agent OO-VII) is great fun. Loved by people aged 10 and 46.

Card, Orson Scott - Red Prophet - Tales of Alvin Maker, Vol. 2 - 2008 GN, and it turns out that Volume 1 was not 'Seventh Son', as I expected, but part 1 of Red Prophet. Whoops! Still, having read and very much liked the books, it was easy to jump into the middle of this. The story was strikingly true to the book. It was fun to see the artist's conceptions of the characters, but Alvin wasn't quite as I had pictured him. I liked it, but as with (most) books adapted into movies, I prefer the original to the adaptation.

Cornwell, Bernard - Sword Song - Fourth in Uhtred/Alfred the Great series of historical fiction. It stuns me that I liked this so much. Sure, I'm a bit of an Anglophile, and sure, I love his Sharpe series... well, never mind, I guess it's not that surprising. Cornwell is my favorite 'page-turner' author. The stories are gripping, the characters interesting, the history well-researched, and the Author Notes always worth waiting for. I love how he lets us know that there will be more to come; other authors, take note!

Drooker, Eric - Flood! A Novel in Pictures - Almost totally wordless GN, yet vividly evokes a dark, mythic New York City. Read it, study the notes at the back, then read it again with more well-informed eyes. Gorgeous and sad.

Casey, Joe & Scioli, Tom - Godland: The Celestial Edition - The best and most cosmic homage to Jack Kirby I've ever seen. I love the art, I love the story, the characters are iconic and powerful, and in case I didn't mention the art, wow! The most sincere legacy to the early Stan & Jack Fantastic Four and all the New Gods stuff, and that's saying something. GN.

Lem, Stanislaw - One Human Minute - Reread the title story because it's so bizarre to think about, but some of the surprise is gone on the second reading. Central concept: a review of a book yet unwritten, about everything that happens to humanity in the course of a minute. Strange (yet fun) to read due to sheer plausibility.

Gaiman, Neil - The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch - Beautiful Michael Zulli art graces a pleasantly weird short story, now in (2008) GN form. Odd and mystical, a nicely done tale of wish fulfillment, freaks, humanity.

Various - Green Lama - 2008 GN collecting the first four issues of 'Green Lama', a 1940's comic anthology series with a hooded Buddhist superhero ('The Man of Strength') as the central character! A remarkably enlightened comic for the time, it also featured 'Rick Masters', flyboy with a very competent Native American partner; 'Angus MacErc', a pixie from ancient times having fun with today's Americans; and the very goofy Lieutenant Hercules, with the power of everyone from comic books! Blows a raspberry to activate his powers... Pretty darned fun stuff for those who enjoy Golden Age comics.

Simmons, Danny - '85 - 2008 GN, and one of the most powerful and affecting stories I've read thus far this year. 'Pulp Fiction' wasn't my typical cup of tea, with its fierce violence and consistently profane dialogue, yet I couldn't look away because the story was so tight and so well done. '85 invoked a similar 'can't put it down' sort of response.

Cotter, Joshua - Skyscrapers of the Midwest - 2008 GN. People in the story are cats, cicadas = migraines, God is a giant invisible robot that walks the Earth, and for all that, this is a very human story of a boy dealing with imminent adolescence in the Midwest. The little ads and asides and letter columns with Skinny Kenny fit right in to the world Cotter has remembered/created, and are snort-milk-out-your-nose funny. Some strong language...

Munroe, Jim & Sam, Salgood - Therefore Repent! - 2007 post-Rapture GN. All of a sudden, people rise into the sky and disappear. But not everyone. Those left behind do various things: loot & pillage, despair, keep living their lives as best as possible, and some of them are able to get real results from New Age magic, psychic powers and witchcraft. Really good! NOT preachy, and certainly not Christian propaganda. The ending surprised me.

Moore, Alan, and various - Tom Strong, Book 4 - GN collection from the ongoing comic series. As always, excellent adventure stories, happy fun Moore work, a pleasure to read.

Novik, Naomi - Victory of Eagles - A Temeraire novel. This one somehow seemed even tighter and more dramatic than the last, and, excellently, she blends varying kinds of drama - family disapproval, internal moral struggle, the choice between following orders or doing what is right, and of course the strategic and tactical military fun of Napoleonic Era battles with the added feature of a dragon air force! Pure fun; I wish I could make them last longer.

Mashima, Hiro - Fairy Tail, Vol. 1 - 2008 GN and manga, to boot... Enjoyable tale of a loosely-organized wizard's guild featuring the fiery, scrappy Natsu, effervescent Celestial summoner Lucy, and a flying cat-critter. Worth pursuing.

(Various) - New Recruits, Vol. 1 - Dark Horse GN collection of short tales from auspicious new writer/artists. All good, all intense, but Ian Culbard's 'Wild Talents' stood out as my favorite, creating a gaslight England world out of Wells or Verne. Definitely something I would keep reading. I also liked Jacob Chabot's 'The Mighty Skullboy Army' a lot, for very different reasons. 'Discreet Despair' was painful and disturbing, not for me despite the powerful nature of its images and words.

(Various) - Robot, Vol. 5 - 2008 GN collection of manga story snippets. They appear to be ongoing, which would explain my general level of confusion with this. Some interesting bits and gorgeous art, but I don't think I'll pursue more editions of this.

Cebulski, C.B. - The Loners: The Secret Life of Super Heroes - 2008 GN about five young adult superheroes who give up the public life and try to ignore or avoid the use of their powers, and attend 'superheroes anonymous' meetings to help each other. They have trouble and keep falling off the wagon! Kinda predictable.

Gaiman, Neil and McKean, Dave - Signal to Noise - 2007 GN/movie in print form. It's about people, about mortality, about the Millennium. A dying filmmaker has an idea for a movie about the impending Apocalypse at the end of the year 999, but it seems he won't be around to make it. Gorgeous, affecting. While some of the poetry bits before the main story were a bit impenetrable for me, 'Signal' itself was masterful in terms of story and art.

Stein, Garth - The Art of Racing in the Rain - The narrator is Enzo, a dog, but it's a story about people. The lives of these folks seemed very real to me, and it rang true. Despite large amounts of grief and grim family drama, the book was about hope, and the wisdom found in (of all places) auto racing is exactly the amount of inspiration I enjoy. I loved the canine perspective on things and recommend this book to nearly every adult.

Tamaki, Mariko and Tamaki, Jillian - Skim - 2008 GN featuring an excellent look at high-school stresses like grief, love, depression, changing relationships, overzealous peer support and preconceptions. Very good; probably likely to create some controversies. Definitely recommended for older teens and adults looking back.

Hamilton, Laurell K. - Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures Vol. 2- More thrilling and fierce vampire-hunting action in a world that somehow combines fascinating paranormal subject matter (were-critters, the undead, and magic) with the realism and interesting characters of 'Law & Order'. Art: gorgeous. Words: enticing. This is a comic? 2008 GN. Yum yum, a guilty pleasure indeed.

Shiga, Jason - Bookhunter - Nice... an action movie about library police (in GN form)! An in-depth knowledge of libraries and how they work is in evidence, but you don't need it to enjoy this tough cop 'show'. The art is simple, but very effective, and Special Agent Bay is awesome, right up there with the best of detectives. Plus, having met Jason and finding him a really nice guy makes this even cooler. I wish I'd read this BEFORE I met him! From 2007.

Porcellino, John - Thoreau at Walden - 2008 GN. Elegant in its simplicity, this depicts the thoughts and deeds of Henry David Thoreau during his two years at Walden Pond, living simply. Not a chronology, but rather a glimpse. Thoreau's words appeal to me, as did the quietly expressive cartoons.

Satrapi, Marjane - Persepolis 2 - 2004 GN covering the continued story of Satrapi's life growing up in Iran and Austria, and the lessons she learned about life, love, society and identity. Why her story is so popular: she's honest. She makes mistakes and stupid decisions like everyone else, but has the courage to chronicle them. Excellent.

Aleichem, Sholem - Tevye the Dairyman - Quite different from 'Fiddler on the Roof', despite these tales being the inspiration thereof. Tevye is commentator on the vagaries and atrocities of society, but his outlook (at least, as he describes it) never changes. One could say he is fatalistic, but really, it's more of an acceptance of what happens and his best effort to face it all. Painful for me, since it deals with my saddest subject: daughters growing and moving away. His humor and his adapted quotes make the sadness bearable. Excellent.

Fall, Thomas - Canalboat to Freedom - This held up marvelously for me, not having read it since approximately age 13. Some of the language required explaining for my daughter. She loved it.

Brown, Chester - I Never Liked You: A comic-strip narrative - GN, painful to read in the way that 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' was, in that the protagonist wasn't all that nice.... Because of that, it certainly rings true. People can be cruel at any age, but it always seems so brutal when you look back on how you acted while growing up. It makes me wonder if the artist really grew out of it, and if he can still only express himself through his art. Well worth reading.

Remender, Rick + Various - Tales of the FEAR Agent - 2008 GN. Short stories about Heath Huston, a mostly amoral interstellar alien exterminator. Tough, competent, funny, with just a smidge of redeeming courage & compassion. Shades of gumshoe noir and cowboy stories blend in with this sci-fi romp. Good stuff, and a quick read.

Standage, Tom - A History of the World in 6 Glasses - The stories of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and Coca Cola. Informative and fun, well-researched and very readable.

Giffen, Keith and DeMatteis, J.M. - Hero Squared: Another Fine Mess - 2008 GN. Giffen really has gotten better over the years, and he effortlessly blends 'really funny' with 'honest and poignant'. The stories of the hero trapped in a 'real Earth' with his slacker counterpart is just plain good stuff. I was feeling misty-eyed at the end of this excellent character study; the characters are very complex and the pacing of the story gives enough time to examine them.

Stewart, Aaron - The Other Side - GN. (07') Gripping, powerful tale from two perspectives: one, a North Vietnamese patriot, battling against imperialism, and the other, an indifferent American soldier. Both of them are plagued by visions, demons that push them onward. Whew. Horrific and excellent.

Various - Mome, Spring 2007 - GN anthology. Some bits are dreamlike and bizarre, some surreal, some realistic, some are only one page, some are comic-book length. Good stuff! My favorites, I think, were 'Seven Sacks', about a ferryman trying desperately not to know too much, and an untitled page about a girl who let a horse go where it would.

Geary, Rick - J. Edgar Hoover, a Graphic Biography - 2008 GN, and Geary is at his factual & illustrative best. It's nice to be able to trust someone, and I trust Rick Geary. He always sticks to what truth is known and labels theories as just that. His bios are readable and and fun (sometimes despite the subject matter), and his cartoony art captures the essence of his subjects with economical line. Worth recommending to those who don't know that they might like graphic novels; have them read three pages and see if they want to put it down.

Rudahl, Sharon - A Dangerous Woman - 2007 GN, a graphic biography of activist icon Emma Goldman. Anarchist, public speaker, friend of the downtrodden and firm believer in joie de vivre, she was one fine human being. An excellent character study.

Duncan, Dave - Ill Met in the Arena - Men manifest physical powers... teleportation, telekinesis and flight, while women wield mental ones - mind reading, illusions and such, and the more noble you are, the stronger the powers. Also, noble=tall. An interesting world as always, with fun arena combat and a very motivating mystery. Quite the page turner!

Akamatsu, Ken - Negima! Volumes 1 & 2 - For silly escapism, go no further. A 10-year old Welsh wizard teaching in a Japanese girl's school where everyone seems to have an amazing talent... and his sneezes tend to cause clothes to fly off. Some highlights : they delve deep under Library Island and find hidden chambers, secrets, traps and a magic book that makes you smart. Negi makes a love potion as a favor and then is forced to drink it himself.

Busiek, Kurt & Ruth, Greg - Conan: Born on the Battlefield - 2008 GN collection of Busiek's meticulously researched and lovingly extrapolated stories of Robert E. Howard's archetypical barbarian. The gorgeous art is like a book of posters, and reads like watching a movie. These stories cover Conan's early formative years in Cimmeria before he left to 'tread the jeweled thrones of the earth under his sandaled feet.' A MUST for Conan, Busiek and Sword & Sorcery fans.

Busiek, Kurt & Wein, Len - Conan: Book of Thoth - 2008 GN that is the flipside of the last item. This one is entirely Conan-free, and chronicles the 'origin' of Conan's greatest foe, the evil Stygian archwizard Thoth-Amon. No touching bits here, nor gruff warrior bravado like the last one. This is like watching Anakin turn into Darth Vader. He just keeps getting worse and anyone you like will probably die horribly. Excellent writing, but not 'fun'.

Larson, Hope - Chiggers - 2008 JGN about girls at camp, and friendship with someone who your other friends don't like. Honest, quiet and unassuming like Abby (the main character), but with some spark and wit and bite (like Shasta), and certainly a good dose of nerdiness ( like Teal). A very good choice for discerning preteens.

Various - Flight Explorer Vol. 1 - 2008 JGN anthology, and mostly VERY good. Ranges from wordless and cute (Snow Cap, 2nd Verse) to adventurous and fierce (Missile Mouse in 'The Guardian Prophecy'); from NOT wordless and cute (Jellaby: First Snow) to just plain cool (Fish & Chips in 'All in a Day's Work').

Hague, Michael - In the Small - 2008 GN... nicely illustrated (but oddly lettered) tale of what happens when Earth's human population is suddenly shrunk down to 6 inches in height... but the cats, rats, bugs and snakes AREN'T. An interesting take on humanity... what would we do if we could no longer use our tools? Physics note: even though small animals can fall several feet without really getting hurt, a 6-inch person falling off the swings apparently just dies. They're falling proportional, not real distance. Maybe not great, but definitely worth reading and thinking about.

Owen, James A. - Here, There Be Dragons - Adventures in the lands of imagination, aboard dragonships, meeting people and creatures from legend, history and fiction... dragons, the Ark, Prydain, Dickens, elves, the hook-handed Winter King, all in the quest to either protect or destroy the map-book of it all, the Imaginarium Geographica. This is absolutely stuffed full of wonder. I loved this book.

Vaughan, Brian K. - Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition - Quite the collection of tales in this 2008 GN. Mitchell Hundred, exposed to an alien artifact, can now speak with (and command) machines. He gives up heroics for politics, and runs for Mayor of New York City. This is an R-rated spy thriller with social issues, politics and personal conflicts, peppered with horrific violence and strong language. Extremely engrossing with distinct, powerful personalities, but being a collection of individual issues, it cuts you off rather abruptly at the end. Definitely worth pursuing.

Waid, Mark - Flash: The Wild Wests - 2008 GN collection of current Flash stories where Wally, once 'Kid Flash', now has a family full of his own sidekicks. Nicely written, interesting family and all strong enough characters to hold their own. Fun, upbeat stories, great for all who actually like superheroes or want to.

Sfar, Joann - Little Vampire - GN collection of 'Little Vampire Goes to School', 'Little Vampire Does Kung Fu!' and 'Little Vampire and the Canine Defenders Club'. Extra cute and funny in a pleasantly European style. Mr. Sfar (yes, MISTER) blends whimsical and touching with grotesque and slapstick in an excellently unapologetic way that few Americans can do.

Cammuso, Frank - Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles - 2008 jGN retelling in the most inventive way I've yet seen (except maybe for Monty Python and the Holy Grail) of the King Arthur story. All the usual suspects are present, but their lives revolve around Camelot Middle School: Artie, Gwen Lee, Artie's snarky sister Morgan, good friend Percy, math teacher Mr. Merlyn... even Excalibur shows up, but as a magic locker. The best bits are the little asides to true myth & legend nerds: look at the names of the urban legend kids who have gone missing. Well done! Intended for kids, but very fun for adults looking back.

Hernandez, Jaime - The Education of Hopey Glass - A Love and Rockets collection (and 2008 GN) featuring two main story arcs: Hopey is trying to figure out who she likes and who she loves and who she is while working at a less than optimal new job as a teacher's assistant, and Ray pursues and has a love/hate relationship with the full-throttle Viv (aka Frogmouth), a fascination with the very athletic and somewhat clueless Angel amid his perpetual mooning over Maggie. All in all, a fun and engrossing soap opera, even if you're starting in media res. Los Bros Hernandez, even solo, never fail to entertain.

Bamman, Henry; Odell, William; Whitehead, Robert - Ice Men of Rime - When I was in sixth grade, there was a series of science-fiction books for young readers that included this, Space Pirate, Milky Way, Planet of the Whistlers, Inviso Man and Bone People. My friend Robert and I simply ate them up, having little else in the genre that wasn't aimed at adults. Reading them now, I am amazed that at that age, I still liked material this simple. No idea what the lexile number is, but it's *low*. This is probably what we would call an 'easy reader'. Also, the female character (Tanya, the "girl-scientist", is the only character with no last name) is there to be cute and helpless, apparently a sign of the times (1970). I ordered this through Interlibrary Loan for nostalgia's sake, but should have left this in my fond memories.

Akamatsu, Ken - Negima Vols. 4, 5, 6 - I didn't realize that these GNs were 'rated' for ages 16+. Apart from the occasional (okay, frequent) nudity (which is less of a shocker outside prudish America), I'm not sure what the fuss would be. Anyway, these are happy, silly fun, a bit of soap opera in a magical world, where a class of middle school girls is full of surprisingly talented students: computer programmers, journalists, ninjas, bold librarians, samurai, robots, vampires, ghosts, inventors, gymnasts... well, you get the idea. A talking ermine and a 10-year old teacher who is also a wizard almost make sense after that!

A bunch of reference material on the geologic history of the Bridge of the Gods.... See my bibliography at bridgeofthegods.wikispaces.com.

Rothfuss, Patrick - The Name of the Wind - Very promising! A fantasy complete with demons, swords, minstrels, etc., and interesting, original and consistent to itself. This came highly recommended by a fellow library person, and am I glad of it. Some bits are adapted from our world (the nomadic 'Ruh', storytellers and musicians, not always trusted by those they entertain, seem very similar to the Roma people, aka 'gypsies'), but this is probably my favorite discovery of the year. The style is solid, the world fantastic, the writing good but not pretentious. Magic here is not that of 'high fantasy', but rather the tool of the inquisitive mind. Magical tinkering at the University reminds one of engineers and scientists, rather than Gandalf and Dumbledore, and that is just fine. (It also reminds me of an old fave, 'Master of the Five Magics', for the variety of kinds of magic shown.) I like the pace, I like the epic length (as it suits the epic central character, Kvothe the Minstrel/Wizard/Rogue/Warrior/Assassin). I can't wait for more.

Willingham, Bill - Fables: Wolves - GN collection from Willingham's excellent series, featuring story-arc where Mowgli crosses the world seeking Bigby Wolf (Big B. Wolf!) to call him back for one last mission: go up the beanstalk, befriend the giants and travel across their land to rain down destruction on their Enemy: Geppetto. Snow White and Rose Red, Prince Charming, Bagheera, the North Wind... all have their parts, and of course half the fun is looking for the cameo appearances. Great as usual. (Hey, Bill: Any more 'Elementals', like, ever? Just for fun? Please?)

Movies seen: 2007

(Total for year, 18 theater movies, 73 seen at home, 91 total movies watched in 2007.)

Blue: Saw in theater Pat-ratings:
* : Demand the time back. Regret seeing it, walked out or shut it off early.
**: See for free if at all. Boring or predictable or inept.
***: Economy Hour. ‘Average’, 'fine' or ‘good but not great’....
****: Paid full price and No Regrets. Good stuff!
*****: Would pay to see again! Outstanding; filmmaking done well.

January 07

Flushed Away – Funny Aardman (CGI) tale of pet rat flushed down into the sewer world and the civilization there, and his efforts to get home and find happiness. (May have actually been December.) ****

Eragon – I heard so much bad stuff that my expectations were for total crap. I was pleasantly surprised that it was only mildly bad. Saphira looked great, the scenery and cinematography were good. Plot, already sketchy in the book, was cut to shreds, the elves and dwarves looked like humans, motivations were inexplicable... **

The Greatest Game Ever Played - about young golfer Francis Ouimet, back when America was very new to golf. Solid performances. *** 1/2

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - watched again for the nth time... ****

Memoirs of a Geisha - Beautiful tale of a young girl, dragged out of a simple life into the world of the geisha in 20th century Japan, just as the world was about to change with WWII. **** 1/2

Cars – Pixar: you can trust them to be surprising, funny, touching and just plain excellent. Their latest is no exception. Very 'Disney', too, in a good way. ****

Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - This time, at my 9-year-old's request! I'm raising her right. *****

The Cat Returns - Still a couple Hayao Miyazaki movies left I haven't seen... must continue to space them out like this to maximize my fun. This was cute and delightful and whimsical like all his stuff. Lots of good voice work, some really good. Cary Elwes, Tim Curry, Peter Boyle, yes, and even Andy Richter all fabulous. And Anne Hathaway, despite lots of screaming, did just peachy. Need I discuss the artwork? I DID say Miyazaki. ****

February 07

Hell in the Pacific - Considering how much fun most of this movie is as Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune argue and fight, two stranded WWII soldiers (one American, one Japanese) on a tiny island. Note: it's pretty funny to turn on the subtitles and see what Toshiro is saying. Grim ending. Good stuff. ****

Star Trek - First Contact - Can't recall, was this one an even-numbered movie? In any case, I like this one. Deanna tipsy, James Cromwell doing a little dance to 'Ooby Dooby', Alice Krige delicious as the Borg Queen... plenty to like. *** 1/2

Ray - Okay, folks, they were right about Jamie Foxx's performance. Dang. Fun to watch for all the music, painful to watch for the addiction and philandering. Well worth seeing. ****

Shrek 2 - One of the rare sequels that holds its own with the original. Inventive, satirical, funny and doesn't actually lose 'touching' for all that. I love to be able to say that. **** 1/2

The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Continuing the series with Penelope. *****

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - I still think this is the best of the movies thus far. *****

Syriana - At first, I thought this disjointed, but in reality it is several interwoven tales that bring together people from very different situations. A scene of torture was excruciating to watch. This was based on nonfiction, apparently I'll need to do my homework and read "See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism" by Robert Baer. Good performances, agonizing subject matter. ****

Bridge to Terabithia - Excellent performances by the young stars. Miss Annasophia Robb is a winsome lass, an excellent Leslie, and has a bright future.The story feels true and real despite the flights of fancy. I'm glad they waited until someone in Hollywood was willing to allow this heartwarming, tragic story to be properly told. Bring your Kleenex. *****

Teen Titans, Trouble in Tokyo - What fun! If you like the cartoon series, you'll love this. They have time to do a little with each character, Robin and Starfire have several close calls with a first kiss, and the villains are great. Beast Boy karaoke: hilarious! Listen to end credits. ****

March 2007

The Mask - Watched for the nth time. One of my movies I watch when I'm in need of good cheer and upbeat heroics. You'll see the others pop up in this list. ****

Shaun of the Dead - Why didn't somebody TELL me it was British? I thought it was going to be some stupid Hollywood "funny" zombie film. It turned out to be WAY better than I expected, actually funny and touching and featuring lots of great filmmaking. Really enjoyed it. ****

Akeelah and the Bee - Don't look to this for surprises and plot twists, just an extremely well-told tale of how a girl's love (and need) for spelling changes a community. Likable, well-drawn characters and solid performances that stay with you. *****

Wild Hogs - Reminded me a bit of City Slickers, being a funny mid-life crisis kind of movie, but more slapsticky. Not bad, funny in parts, but the actors were wasted on the material. Still, some good chuckles. ***

True-Life Adventures, Volume 1 - Contains classic Disney nature documentaries such as 'White Wilderness' and 'Beaver Valley'. In the old days before Jacques Cousteau's nature specials and Animal Planet and such, these shows were fabulous introductions to the love of animals and the wilderness. A shade dated now, in these more environmentally conscious days, but still fun and visually arresting. 'March of the Penguins' should have been one of these. ****

For Your Consideration - Enjoyable but not hilarious offering from the ensemble (Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Harry Shearer, Fred Willard, Parker Posey, Catherine O'Hara, etc.) that brought us A Mighty Wind, Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman. Characters, b-list actors who think they might be up for an Oscar somehow seemed more tragic than funny, a line that they always walk in these mockumentaries, usually with more success. ***

Meet The Robinsons - Entertaining and cute but predictable. Saw a few too many previews that (worked in that they got me there, but) left me knowing more than necessary. Saw most of the 'surprises' coming a mile away. CGI animation, ho-hum, so what. Colorful and festive in the future... fine for kiddies. ***

April 2007

The Departed - Are you bloody kidding, this won 'Best Picture'? That was totally a 'Scorsese hasn't won an award in a while' conciliatory gift. Suspense is good in most parts, acting was great, but some of the editing choices and tricks knock you out of the story, which is so appallingly grim and violent that you lose hope altogether in all characters. If you don't, you ought to. I can at least say that I saw it. Whee. Why do people make and watch these movies? I'll go back to my usual stuff. **

Peter Pan - Funny how older eyes see new things. Much of this movie still fills one with wonder and delight, but now the scenes with the Indians make me cringe. "Why does he ask you 'How'?" I don't think Penelope has grown up seeing the old stereotypes with 'How' and 'Ugh' and 'You want-um smoke peace pipe?' Perhaps this is why people fuss about Song of the South... as a kid, I remember it talking about acceptance, but maybe the 'tar baby' scene it just too much for black folks to readily accept. ****

Hoodwinked - Wow, didn't have to stretch my face into a smile even once... what an energy-saving movie! Barf. Songs appeared tacked in, humor attempts were mostly unfunny, characters and voices were overdone, and all in all entirely predictable. Glad when it was over. *
The Aviator - As a section of a life, this movie works. The beginning isn't a beginning, the end isn't an end, but if you understand it as a picture, an examination of the life and career and loves of Howard Hughes, it works admirably. Liked it very well due to superb performances by DiCaprio, Blanchett and other folks. See, I'm not anti-Scorsese, just that other recent movie. ****

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - All in all, it's holding up well for me. It's a little more obvious than Azkaban, but a bit better acting by the kids than #1, and still plenty of fun. ****

The Twilight Girls - Oh my goodness, what an odd little film. The French track is dubbed over with Serious American Voices, and the plot never quite gets to the drama of why the father's scandal was such a big deal. A clear example of how we have changed as a nation; guess this was far more scandalous in 1961. Ooh, young people exploring gender identity... and in an all-girl's school! Goodness gracious. I would think the ample nudity would have been the more shocking, feature, but the previews clearly showed it. I guess A) the previews only played in 'Art Film' theaters, or B) the previews only played in 'Adult Film' theaters. A bit gratuitous, and disturbing considering the characters were supposed to be minors (but clearly not the actresses). *** for causing incredulity.

Happy Feet - Man, it don't take much, do it? Just a snappy score and a feel-good story, and people love it and give you prizes. Did I say sappy? Did I say, Tries to be heartwarming and cute and funny? Hmm, I think I said this about Ice Age and Hoodwinked and several other movies that want to be 'Shrek' or anything by Pixar. I am entirely stunned that this beat out the funny AND touching AND cute 'Cars' for best animated feature at the Oscars, but each year I realize that the award is more and more about who likes who in Hollywood. No, it didn't entirely suck, but it didn't achieve anything beyond cuteness and great music. Not that funny, some good chase scenes, but WAY too preachy re: global warming. Think about 'The Lorax'. Clearly a book and show that explored the ramifications of cutting down all the trees. This tried to sneak it in like a moral, rather than having it be the theme of the show. Sigh. Disappointed again. ** 1/2

Sky High - While in the light of the previous entry, I realize that 'Sky High' may not be the epitome of innovative filmmaking, but: it does what it sets out to do, don't it? Yes it do. It's a movie about superheroes, particularly those in a high school for superpowered teens. What would you expect in a Disney-made movie with high school and superpowered teens? Well, it's in there. Are you surprised by much? Probably not! But does it make you grin with how they follow the formula? I'll just bet it does. ****

May 2007

Night at the Museum - Okay, so now we own it on DVD. Hmm, must have been pre-January when it came out? Thought I already reviewed this. Was great fun in the theater, definitely worth seeing, plenty funny for kids and dads. Not quite as exciting the second time, funnywise or touching-wise. Still good, but I think I can easily give it a year off now. **** first time, *** second time around.

Spider-Man 3 - Woohoo! Darned fine work by all concerned. Even worth the overpriced Bridgeport Village IMAX expense! Quite the sob-fest at the end, plenty of action and humor and romance and heroism for all. Mostly good suspense, despite one very predictable scene where you're waiting for someone in particular to arrive and save the day. Sandman=perfect usage. Venom=nice use of him as a thematic villain, symbolizing revenge in its ugly aspects, and so many people examining this issue: Harry, Peter, Brock, Sandman.... Very pleased. *****

City Slickers - It was my 45th birthday, and time for one of my all-time favorite movies. We look at success, mortality, aging, focus, fun, Jack Palance, the meaning of life, and some of the great 'bits' in modern cinema. Yes, I mean it. "Franks and beans." "Scoop of chocolate, scoop of vanilla. Don't waste my time." ***** personally.

Meatballs - Another 'comfort movie'. With these last two, The Rocketeer, Mystery Men and That Thing You Do, we pretty much can get me through any sickness. Another perhaps less than intellectual film ("shark infested waters!") but replete with highly quotable bits, cute girls, practical jokes, and an Olympiad! "And you know what they're saying, Larry? They're saying 'This is the year that Fink beats The Stomach'." ***** personally.

Looks Like a Brown Trouser Job - Graham Chapman's 1988 'lecture' tour of colleges that Roger and I saw at PSU in person, and what would be among his last performances. Talks about his involvement with the Dangerous Sport Club, Monty Python memories, and questions from the audience. Wonderful and funny. ****

Howl's Moving Castle - I seem to like it better with repeated viewings. I finally (3rd viewing, and help from Elizabeth) understand why Sophie gets turned into an old lady. Quite good! ****

Mark Twain - An excellent portrait of an American life. It's funny and touching and illuminating. Ken Burns does good work. *****

High School Musical - Pretty fun! Goofy, cheesy, predictable... just what a musical should be! Characters appealing, songs catchy and relevant... why not add to my list of guilty pleasures!****

Shrek the Third - I had hoped for more like I and II. This one fell WAAAY short on inventiveness. All the jokes seemed recycled, and it tried to be just a little too dark with Prince Charming's revenge quest. Unfortunately, they made him too sympathetic as a villain instead of a laughable buffoon, so funny opportunities were wasted for moments of faux-pathos. Curiously, though, they played the Frog King's death for laughs, Not sure who was writing this one or what happened, but this is a good way to get lots more Shrek movies made...NOT! Oddly, what I liked best was the Artie character, voiced by Justin Timberlake.) **

June 2007

An Inconvenient Truth - Al Gore's excellent explanation of the climate crisis. Interesting facts, like how politics created the controversy about global warming being a 'theory' when reputable scientists are in fact united in their views on the subject. A must-see. ****

Homecoming - Part of a series called 'Masters of Horror', apparently, probably shown on HBO or something. Surprisingly good short (1 hr) show about the President's wish that all the fallen soldiers would come back to life, because if they did, they'd say how much they supported him. Surprise! They do, and they want to vote. Gruesomely fun and very political. ****

Para Para Sakura - This is about the third time I've seen this, and (sure, make fun, I don't care!) it still makes me laugh and cry. I LOVE this movie. It became one of my feel-good faves. He only sees in black and white. Then she shows up, and he sees her in color. What a great frame to hang a story on! Add to that lots of dance and music and comic moments and great supporting characters and a little martial arts, romance, a tearjerker moment and really good-looking stars and you get ***** from me for pure silly, lovable fun.

The Hot Spot - Hokay, honestly, I got this from Netflix because of Jennifer Connelly. And why not, may I ask? But this odd little flick was surprisingly interesting. Not sure why, exactly; most of the characters were pretty unpalatable, but somehow I couldn't quite stop watching or hit fast-forward. Not bad... *** plus an extra 1/2 * because of that one Jennifer scene. Yes, I am a guy. So sue me.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - Still funny and upbeat and happymaking, but watching it with my 9-year-old made me realize how dated this movie is... having to explain 'Dust in the Wind', the significance of the phrase 'Reach out and touch someone' and such reminded me that I am older than some people. ****

Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer - Although there were some good 'bits' (Stan Lee's part, some of the humor, some of the special effects and cgi scenes) by and large this was pretty choppy and inexplicable. Wow, the Surfer can just absorb the hungry space-storm they call Galactus, huh? Why didn't he just do that in the first place? Arrgh. *** at best.

Evan Almighty - Lacked the hilarity of Bruce Almighty. Has the 'Trying to be touching and funny' predicament, and only approaches either goal. ***

July 2007

Batman Begins - HERE is a movie done well. Wish I had seen this one in a theater. Some of the best-integrated use of flashbacks that I ever recall seeing. Villains seamlessly show up in the story, rather than trotting them out like props. A tough, intelligent female character who isn't a martial artist. A solid use of fear as theme, and a deep understanding of what motivates the Batman. A WAY better explanation of how Batman gets all his nifty gadgets. Excellent. *****

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Had to see again before #5 hits the theaters soon. Still think the editing/directing is pretty choppy, but what's there is good. The humorous bits are the best in the series (Snape hovering over Harry, Hermione and Ron making them work, frostily receiving Hermione's assignment, and then rolling up his sleeves to stuff Harry and Ron's heads into their books... great timing and silent comedy by Alan Rickman). ****

Paprika - Japanese animated film about dreams and people who tap into and record them for therapeutic reasons (but of course the tech gets co-opted for evil purposes). Quite good and weird, hard to describe. Definitely worth seeing. ****

Swimming With Sharks - Billed on the DVD box as 'hysterical' and 'incredibly funny', but I found it intense and slightly disturbing. Not much of it was funny to me, because they did such a great job of, well, keeping it real. Very good characters by Frank Whaley and Kevin Spacey as a fresh-out-of-film-school Hollywood assistant and his big-shot, abusive producer boss. It is really a story about Guy (Whaley) coming to terms with the vicious realities of Hollywood, powerfully done, but billing it as a comedy, even with its funny moments, seems almost impious. ****

The Cowboys - A favorite John Wayne western, with a passel o' kids as his trail hands for a cattle drive. Held up very well after all these years. ****

Flags of Our Fathers - Realistic, somewhat depressing true story of the famous Iwo Jima flag-rasing photo and how it changed many, many lives. Well-acted, well-depicted, but I (like many) preferred my illusions to reality, darn it. ****

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - naturally, with a book so long, I knew going in that many storylines would not even show up. That being a given, I was very pleased with what they chose and how they arranged it. They left me wanting more, always a good sign. Wish we could have had a few more seconds of Lupin and Tonks somewhere... Didn't care for how Grawp looked that much, for some reason. ****

Zoom : Academy for Superheroes - A cross between Galaxy Quest (smartass Tim Allen character jaded and bored, needs to be re-engaged with life) and Sky High (kids at hero school, they're not quite in control of their powers). Doesn't quite achieve the fun of either but not without smile value. ***

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus - Man, those later movies got back to good stuff! This one had quite a bit of suspense, and the personal (human) drama was very good. The evolving insect monster(s) actually looked dangerous. Stay through the credits.... ****, believe it or not!

The Jungle Book - Those backgrounds look so lush and realistic, the entire musical score is so perfect, the characters are such huge fun that you forgive Mowgli easily. Last of the old Disney greats before the Horrid Hiatus (during which, the only decent offering was Robin Hood) until The Little Mermaid. ****

Jurassic Park - My criteria for a movie is, does it do what it intended to, and if so, how well? Jurassic Park would get few votes for 'Best Picture', but man! It did what it was supposed to. Awesome dinosaurs, heroic paleontologists, excellent kids (not annoying at all), great music... ****

Cold Comfort Farm - I forgot how much I liked this. Marvelous cast, memorable characters, crisp writing, and even the one who changes all the others experiences some personal growth too. *****

Ratatouille - As said afore this day, always trust Pixar. Laugh-out-loud funny, touching, great cooking accuracy (I'm told), and in the moment when the critic flashes back to his childhood, a perfect example of the power of food to bring back memories. Really great. *****

August 2007

Charlie the Lonesome Cougar - Finally, Rex Allen's narration again! Worth it just for that. Funny how stiff the quasi-actors were; were they actually the real people re-enacting a true story? A couple of moments that made my 'PC' alert go off, which always annoys me, but being sensitive to others is a good thing. Something about hunting cougars with dogs, though, and some of the scenes where you wonder how the animal avoided getting gruesomely killed... Great scenery, nice cougar footage, and of course Rex! *** plus 1/2 * for the narration.

Simpsons Movie - One review I read suggested that this was no better than the show... I believe that I must disagree. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments, and that for me is the bellweather. I should avoid reviews before seeing a movie, but sometimes I just can't help myself. ****

Night at the Museum - Oddly, when forced to watch this again with Penelope, I liked it better than I did the second time, approaching how much I liked it the first time! Either I'm crazy... oh, let's stop there. ****

Ultimate Avengers - Pretty darned good Avengers tale, reimagining the origin of the Avengers and Captain America's return. ****

Ultimate Avengers II - Follows the first nicely, continues alien invasion story and the role of Vibranium. Decent character development, and the Black Panther was done very well. This would make an excellent series ala' the Saturday morning Spider-Man and X-Men cartoons of the early 90's. ****

Mary Poppins - Truly among Disney's best, for the look, for the songs, for the story, certainly for Julie Andrews... *****

7 Faces of Dr. Lao - Great fun even in its hokiness. Perhaps because of it. Tony Randall carries the show, natcherly, and counteracts the annoying kid. A perennial fave. ****

September 2007

Stardust - Really wonderful, sparkling performances, gorgeous effects and scenery, and funnier than I remember the book. *****

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham - Recommended by a library patron, and I wish I remembered which one so that I could thank her profusely. I was very involved with the family's drama, the themes of family duty vs personal duty, the three love stories, etc., and loved the musical dance numbers. Excellent. *****

Porco Rosso - Very much enjoyed seeing this again. Possibly my favorite Miyazaki movie. *****
Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle For Earth - Modern rerun of 'Godzilla vs. The Thing', down to the magic twins and their song. Godzilla had cat ears. Not right. **

The Game Plan - The big question always is: did the movie do what it set out to do? If so, how well? This is one of those daddy/daughter movies where the dad learns from his daughter to loosen up and/or straighten up, and finds out what's really important in life. Since my own life has had this story as a powerful theme, it's a favorite recipe and one that always sucks me in. This was well-done for what it was, funny, touching, pleasantly goofy, and with the right message. Kid appropriately precocious, The Rock his usual tough-charming self. ****

October 2007

Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Cate, of course, is awesome in all things, but the more I think about this, the fine acting, the characters, the lovely scenery, the naval stuff... I still didn't like it that much. It was mostly Elizabeth whining about not having a life and making eyes at Raleigh. She makes a speech to rouse the men, but it wasn't really believable or inspiring. At some point, I wanted to feel something that would make me happy or proud or something. The battles were surprisingly dull considering how huge the whole Spanish Armada was... When I think of what Peter Jackson could have done with this, I sit back and regret the time wasted. ***. Would be ** except that Cate is so fun to watch.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge - A musical like Kabhi Khushi, also features the lovely and winsome Kajol and the charming fellow Shahrukh Khan. Similar themes of love and modern society vs tradition and respect for family, and similarly done very well. Title means something like 'Brave Heart Wins the Bride' - translations differ. In both movies, it is ultimately the dad who must grow and change and accept that blind obedience to tradition is not necessarily the best answer for his family, and in both movies the dad is rewarded by keeping his family's love and respect. I like this world. *****

November 2007

The Enchanted Cottage - Very good. Stunning use of lighting and mood and makeup when you consider watching Dorothy McGuire transform from homely to attractive and back without facial prosthetics. We're beautiful to those who love us... a fine and true message. ****

On Golden Pond - Have I seen this 20 times yet? Maybe. Always funnier than I think it will be, and always just as real and touching. "Awwww." No, really! *****

The Wild Geese - Loyalty and dedication, idealists vs. mercenaries, double-crossing, battle plans, and best of all, recruiting the team! Tragedy, drama, action... it's all here. *****

Enchanted - Much better than I thought it would be, just the right blend of touching and fun and cheesy. I had feared cheesy and funny only. Fairly predictable, but it's a theme that works and Amy Adams was fresh and lovely. ****

Wild Hogs - Seeing it the second time, I'll go as far as adding half a star for the great cast. ***1/2

Corpse Bride - Better than I expected. Fairly predictable but cute, with a very lovable corpse bride. Despite her being dead, you kinda wonder why the guy prefers the living girl. ****

Michael - Why do I like this movie? William Hurt, though I think he's great, does 'distant' so well that I can't really believe him when he's trying to be warm and fuzzy. Andie has some indefinable 'lovable yet annoying' thing about her. I guess it's John! Yup, it's all John. ** plus one * just for John.

December 2007

The Santa Clause - Just plain fun. Great timing, proper schmaltziness. ****

The Santa Clause II - If not quite as fab as the prior one, still better than most sequels. I do like me some Tim Allen movies, yeah? ***

The Santa Clause III - Ecch. Acting passable, scenes looked nice, but the writing was appalling and the directing sub-par. Someone should have been overseeing this travesty. I guess this ends THAT franchise. * 1/2

Superman Returns - Better than I expected. I thought I'd only be able to accept Brandon Routh as Clark, not Superman, but he did it with his voice. Superman was authoritative and heroic-sounding, while Clark was tentative and homespun. The plot was took its time and was oddly driven (not necessarily a bad thing), mostly by Luthor's malicious activities interrupting a strained reunion after Superman's 5-year departure. Questions remain... where did Superman get the crystal spaceship? Why did he not arrive on Earth as a 3-year old, if the trip takes so long? Or did he stay in space longer than necessary? If kryptonite saps his powers, how did he lift an island infested with it into orbit? Still, Luthor was greedy and amoral,Lois winsome and believable, her new beau heroic in his own right, the kid interesting but under-used. Some of the odd feeling comes from Superman's questionable moral choices... x-ray spying on Lois and her family, using his super nature to try and woo back a mostly-married woman.... Nice visual and musical homage to the first Christopher Reeve-era movie with the theme and 'Can You Read My Mind' playing throughout, and that closing fly-by, missing only the wave at the audience. Around ****, subject to revision as I think this one over.

It's a Wonderful Life - What I need to see when I'm feeling depressed. It still gets me teary-eyed. *****

White Christmas - Help! I have the entire soundtrack in my head! Luckily, I love the soundtrack. Happymaking as usual. **** 1/2

Note: I don't ordinarily keep track of TV show episodes or 1-hour holiday specials as movies (Year Without a Santa Claus, 30 Rock are recent views) but I had to mention this next one.

Oh My Goddess - Disc had episodes 1-3, and this was really fun. It's always refreshing to see people who are actually thoughtful and honest and nice, especially when they're surrounded by the 'usual' types of characters that fly off the handle, make the wrong decisions, etc. ****

The Golden Compass - Very nice! Kept my interest, fun characters, Sam Elliott, Derek Jacobi, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen's voice, and a fierce heroine with unblinking courage, good friends and a great deal of luck. No puny "Oh no, I tripped!" boredom with Lyra! Okay, guess I'd best read the thing. ****

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Y'know, Imelda Staunton is either a truly excellent actress, or she's just nasty. I think she did marvellously as Umbridge. Still pretty happy with how they did things, and when your main complaint is that you want more of it, that's a good sign. ****

Reading List 2007

It occurs to me that this is a fabulous venue for me storing my book, graphic novel and movie reviews. Any who find them useful, post a comment! My rules: none, other than: I'm not counting newspapers, picture books, magazines or actual comics. Graphic novels, yes. The other rule: I take no money for my exciting reviews. Unless someone wants to pay me. Thanks...

In order, here's what I've read thus far in 2007...

Suetonius - The Lives of the Twelve Caesars (Out of nowhere, I decided I wanted to read this and get an account other than Robert Graves, and shortly after I had started, I found out that some other bozo put it on hold! Suetonius! A queue after 1900 years! Nicely balanced views, from multiple sources when possible. Helpful editorial comments.)

Vowell, Sarah - Assassination Vacation (She’s an odd one, pursuing her interest in presidential assassinations as a wide-ranging sporadic vacation. She tours sites related to the deaths of Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley, but also offers insights into the politics and history of the time, and witty/snarky comments on America today. Fun to read.)

Bendis, Brian Michael - Powers, The Definitive Hardcover Collection, Volume One (Graphic Novel, dark and evocative (yet still fun) art by Mike Avon Oeming. Combines a world where there are superheroes with a good cop show, perhaps of the Law & Order or Crossing Jordan ilk, where the personalities of the cops are definitely a part of the story. Not for kids, or at least little ones, as people die gruesomely, there are crime scenes, strong language, etc. I'd say consider it R-rated. Reminds me a bit of Alan Moore's excellent 'Top Ten' series, but this is far closer to cop show than superhero comic. Definitely mean to read Volume Two!)

Bates, Judy Fong - Midnight at the Dragon Cafe' (The 'Everybody Reads' book selection for Portland this year. Have mostly stayed away from those, but so far, I'm very glad I picked this up. Excellent slice-of-life scenes as young Chinese girl arrives in Canada and copes not only with being visibly different, but also with adapting to the new culture while her parents do not. Writing is simple and powerful, each scene is important is a quiet way. Touching and real, several very sad parts.)

Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Didn't I just reread this? Well, now the kid requested it for bedtime stories. Who am I to refuse such a reasonable request?)

Novik, Naomi - Throne of Jade (Second in Temeraire series, follows His Majesty's Dragon, about ex-naval officer in Napoleonic times who bonds with a newly-hatched dragon. Great stuff for fans of alternate histories as well as fantasy. Quite good, this one seems more like an installment in an ongoing series than a stand-alone book, though. Great for those who are fans of alternative histories/historical fiction (Sharpe, Jack Aubrey) plus dragons.

Bendis, Brian Michael - Powers: Psychotic (graphic novel, seems like there's a Retro Girl lookalike... or is she back from the dead? Missed some issues, apparently! Still awesome, still gritty cop stuff in a superhero world.)

Hiiragi, Aoi - BARON The Cat Returns (The Miyazaki movie 'The Cat Returns' is from this graphic novel, and I can report very true to it. Great fun, and a nice mysterious secret cat world.)

Busiek, Kurt and Nicieza, Fabian - Avengers/Thunderbolts: Best Intentions (Graphic Novel about group of villains gone straight crossing paths with suspicious government-friendly heroes, in the hands of excellent writers. Quite good, but hopefully you read the earlier stories first.)

Twain, Mark - The Innocents Abroad (Account of the very first American boatload of tourists to go to Europe and the 'Holy Land'. Satire is mostly gentle, but there are some definite pokes in the ribs. Travelogue/essay/satire, a fun multi-genre! A quote: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.")

Kanigher, Robert - The Metal Men Archives, Vol. 1 (Hardbound GN collects first few issues of the Metal Men comic book I loved so much. I want more!)

Novik, Naomi - Black Powder War (Third in the Temeraire series. She mixes history and fantasy and excellent characterization so adroitly that one almost forgets it's fiction! This time: land battles and Napoleon in action (we had air and sea in the first two books). Really good stuff.

Chadwick, Paul - The World Below (GN collection of mostly-unknown comic. It's about a team of six adventurers who head deep into the Earth [searching for something to sell] and find seriously weird, surreal critters and circumstances. The little arm, the giant "toaster", the squid heads... this series has so much in the way of shades of grey that it's hard to know who to root for. Kinda wish I'd borrowed this rather than bought it... worth reading, but disturbing.)

Cornwell, Bernard - Lords of the North (Third book in the Alfred the Great series, featuring the grim and determined Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg, dispossessed ruler battling fate and an evil uncle to get back his castle, and crossing paths and destinies with Alfred over and over. Cornwell does such a great job of keeping humor and love and fun juggled in with all the marching and hacking and misery... just like real life! He's doing the Sharpe thing in the author's note: "Serpent-breath will be drawn again...")

Duncan, Dave - The Alchemist's Apprentice (Tricked! Totally deceived. It said "SF" on the spine, so I expected something fantastic. Instead, what Mr. Duncan wrote should have been labeled 'Mystery'. This was a whodunnit set in Renaissance Venice, starring one Alfeo, a young nobleman apprenticed to a (not 'The') Nostradamus. There is roughly a page or two of demon-summoning and an allusion to it here and there later. That's the fantasy bit. Well-written, yes. Pacing? Good! Interesting depiction of Venice, and nicely researched? Granted. Fantasy? Stretching it.)

Berryhill, Shane - Chance Fortune and the Outlaws (A 'Sky High' sort of book with an academy for young superheroes. A good deal of clumsy writing, (it's a first novel) but the pacing, plot and characters are pretty good. Very visual, great reading for the 12-14 male crowd. Where are the editors? He optimistically suggests a sequel... I'd give him 50-50 odds.)

Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Bedtime reading, already reviewed by me.)

Obama, Barack - The Audacity of Hope (Non-fiction discussion of his philosophy of politics and lots of personal detail... I very much appreciate his idealism and respect that in a leader when combined with backed with resolve, honesty and interest in fact. He talks at length about race, family, foreign policy... it's a great, long campaign piece, and I wish all candidates had to craft such a thing. I could be happy with this man running the nation.)

Nix, Garth - Lady Friday (Keys to the Kingdom book 5 of 7, quick like the last couple. Somehow the first ones seemed, well, meatier and longer. Maybe it was just getting used to the world paradigm, but these seem to rock rather than flow. Can't put them down, and it's exciting enough to where you have to stop yourself from skimming ahead to see what happens. This one definitely seems like a chapter in a larger work, and I can't wait for the next installment.

Niven, Larry and Barnes, Steven - The California Voodoo Game (A Dream Park novel, and thusly interesting. Some old friends return, but most of the fun is getting involved in the Game itself...)

Ryan, Sara - The Rules for Hearts (Follows the very excellent Empress of the World, but changes main characters. Sara is just plain damn good. I like her characters, I like her choice of settings, I like the pacing, I like the attention to theme, I like the dialogue.... People seem real.)

Rushkoff, Douglas - Testament: Akedah (GN. Incredible. A reimagining of many of the great mythic stories from the Bible, bringing back the rebellious essential meanings instead of just retelling the tame modern interpretations. The ancient tales are commingled with modern parallels in a just barely futuristic world, and tied in with godly powers behind it all. Not for kids, the faint of heart, or the closed-minded. 2006.)

Verheiden, Mark - The American (GN. A grim yet ultimately hopeful series collected here about a governmental 'super-soldier' program that turns out to be a sham, and the last in a series of heroes who still believes in the ideals he was supposed to represent. Interwoven nicely is are themes of guilt and forgiveness, as well as cynicism and hope. Darn fine. 2005.)

McCloud, Scott - Making Comics ("GN". GN is in quotes because, as usual, McCloud stretches the definiton of the graphic novel. This is a textbook. philosophical treatise, essay, examination and challenge all in one, all about what makes good comics and how you (or I) could make them. As he himself points out, there are tons of books that say 'How to Draw Comics' or such, but this to my knowledge is the only one that touches on the real guts of storytelling in sequential art (i.e. comics). Honestly, it makes me want to start making comics again for the first time since high school. He's coming to Portland on the day I get back from vacation, as in, I fly in, and if I go downtown instead of home, I might get to see him. It is a measure of my admiration for him that I am working out how to make this possible. A must-read for those seriously interested in using pictures and words to tell stories, and I would extend this to include picture-book authors. Note to self: tell Suzy.)

Collins, Suzanne - The Code of Claw (The latest, perhaps the last of the Underland Chronicles started in Gregor the Overlander. Superior, had to keep reading and finish the same day. Exciting, fun, and a nicely-done rendition of a twelve-year old. He makes mistakes, gets impatient and in other ways seems very real, as do the other heroes (and villains). Is it over already? Maybe she'll think of a new adventure some time... )

Chabon, Michael - The Yiddish Policemen's Union ( Way back when Israel was about to be formed, another option was on the table: give them some land in the Alaska territory. Almost happened, and this detective story is set in the world where it did happen. Expertly told and with a great deal of fun and Yiddish panache, lots of crime/mystery stuff, but also a love story and a historical what-if.)

Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Read with Penelope. Even I forget how different the books and movies are sometimes! The whole werewolf attack and 'awoooOO!' scene was made up for the movies, for instance.)

Denton, Bradley - Buddy Holly is Alive and Well on Ganymede (What a weird, fun story of confused people, aliens, motorcycle and car chases, friendship, humanity's potential for good and evil, and what happens if you take over all tv and just have one thing on. Buddy was great.)

Johnson, Kim Howard, and Cleese, John - Superman: True Brit (GN from 2004, what if Superman had been raised as a repressed Brit? Played mostly for laughs; his love interest is Lois Lane's cousin, a reporter and Page 3 girl, etc. Pretty funny, and John Byrne art!)

Busiek, Kurt - Avengers Assemble, Vol. 4 - (GN, story arcs include Earth being turned into a prison planet so that heroes will stay on earth instead of meddle in galactic business, Goliath having a split personality, the Avengers changing from reactive to proactive, an army of Hulks, and the Vision and Warbird go jetskiing! Great fun as usual from Kurt & co.)

Morrison, Grant - Doom Patrol: Magic Bus - (GN, skimmed after it got too disturbing. One story in the middle, a Jack Kirby homage/parody, was fun, but the rest was Grant on his, 'Huh, haven't done THAT yet' binge. Sometimes I really don't like him. Wish he didn't do great stuff once in a while.

Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Of course, rereading before book 7 comes out. A pretty tight story, the movie should work fairly well. I hope they film books 6 and 7 back-to-back. First reread. I like Slughorn because he's a friendly and reasonable Slytherin, unlike everyone else who is just nasty. Yes, he likes power and name-dropping, but he wouldn't be spiteful to you like [fill in the blank with any other Slytherin]. The controversy around the meaning of Dumbledore's sacrifice will be over in a few days... I still say, trust Dumbledore to have had a suitable plan ready, one that could outlast even his life.)

Limke, Jeff and Witt, David - Isis & Osiris: To the Ends of the Earth - 2007 GN, part of a Graphic Myths and Legends series, beautifully brings to life the ancient Egyptian story of Isis, Osiris, Set, Horus and the others, in the days when God-Kings ruled. Dramatic and accessible for all, and though a work of fiction, carefully researched. Gorgeous art.

Kostick, Conor - Epic - (A future where all violence is banned, since you can get rid of your aggressions in-game. Everyone can 'clip in' to the MMORPG 'Epic', and the world is run by the best gamers with the coolest stuff. Some signs of 'gamer novel': sloppy editing ('held the reigns', assorted typos), lack of deep thought (um, if the whole planet is playing the game, it seems REALLY unlikely that no one tried the 'swashbuckler' profession). This could possibly be a statement about regimented thinking... I'll keep reading.) Okay, that was indeed the point, but it needed to be shown more strongly that people had lost all their inventiveness and interest in anything except dull, slogging progress. Worth reading, still, needed editing!

Gottlieb, Daphne and DiMassa, Diane - Jokes and the Unconscious - (GN from 2006. Painful and excellent study of death and loss, humor and coping, love and 'a year in the life'. Really good.)

Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - (Well, I can't say too much on here in case someone actually happens to read this. I don't believe in spoilers. I will just say that I couldn't wait for my own library copy to come in, and I found out that I have very good friends who were nice enough to share so that I could read it. About the book: it was quite good, tightly written with plenty of heart. Amelia thought the epilogue was 'cheesy', but I thought it was necessary. I'll amend this in a month or so after I reread it. Second longest of the books but didn't seem rambling like #4 and #5 did.)

Yolen, Jane - Sister Emily's Lightship - Fabulous collection of short stories, some of the best stuff I've read in ages. Inventive, weird, fun, creepy, optimistic... really runs the emotional and thematic gamut.

Cogan, Adam -Villains : Thick As Thieves - GN with simple, effective art and a killer, realistic story of a young punk finding out his super is in fact a retired supervillain (heh, funny). He gets the retired villain to train him, but "the old pro is about to teach his student some lessons he'll never forget". Well handled, a nice look at villainy and heroism.

Kirkman, Robert - Low-life: Irredeemable Ant-Man Vol. 1 - Funny and kinda sad GN, as the main character is an anti-hero, who only does the right things for the wrong reasons (when he does them at all). Good writing.

Hardinge, Frances - Fly By Night - Truly excellent book, wonderful use of language, a spunky heroine who manages to act her age (makes mistakes, chooses poorly, doesn't do the strategically soundest things) but is remarkably loyal to her goose and is bright enough to figure out what's what. No magic, but it reads like fantasy. Politics and intrigue, cinematic derring-do, a bit of tragedy and romance and lots of surprises, this is one of the very best books I've read this year.

Gaiman, Neil and Reaves, Michael - Interworld - What inventive fun! I can easily see this being an awesome animated (or even real-life sf) series. Page-turner. A legion of alternate selves, all teamed up to keep magic and science in balance across the Altiverse... Definite recommendation for sf-boys.

Duncan, Dave - Mother of Lies - Duncan is one of the very few authors who quietly allows gay characters to live in the world and have that not be their defining trait. Not a bad tale, but not my favorite of his... I wish there were a little more that explained the characters of the gods... why do they meddle so much, are they mindless knee-jerk responders to prayers, or do they have an actual agenda... some good bits, plenty of action... Hard to root for any of the characters when none of them are exactly the star... the one I liked the best (Benard, the servant of the art-goddess) was back-burnered a lot in this book. Recommend for Duncan fans...

Avi - City of Light, City of Dark - GN with evocative art by Brian Floca, a mythic tale of the guardian of the Power, handed down from mother to daughter over the years. Without the annual ritual, the Kurbs will take back the livability of Manhattan Island and it will freeze. Very enjoyable, excellent for good readers who like big fairy tales.

Vance, Jack - To Live Forever - Excellent Vance. You root for the rogue, and that takes some careful doing. Full as usual of the arch dialogue and wry social satire for which he is noted. 'Striving' and 'slope' are painful reminders of where we could wind up if not careful.

Willingham, Bill - Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days) - GN collecting a story arc involving the arrival of Sinbad and co. in the fable enclave in modern-day New York. Lots of tongue-in-cheek wit enlivens the dramas in play. Prince Charming in charge makes a mess of things, King Cole saves the day, the old witch from the Gingerbread House makes herself very useful...

Cole, Stephen - Doctor Who: The Feast of the Drowned - There must be a really good editor handling the series, because they're consistently good, gripping, and very cheeky - like a good Doctor Who episode! I like how regular folks make a difference even though the fabulous Doctor always saves the day.

Chandler, Raymond - Playback - GN Adapted from the Chandler screenplay that never got made into a movie, the art style is dark and, well, rather old-fashioned: a perfect match for the material. It reads like a film noir movie. Pretty darned good.

TenNapel, Doug - Gear - 2007 GN. Cats, dogs, bugs, giant guardian robots, but what is it really about? War, intolerance, loyalty, redemption, Heaven, death. Gorgeous, colorful and weird, not for the squeamish or easily confused, but it makes you think and then think again.

Norman, David - Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction - An excellent and thoughtful overview by someone who is important in the field. Covers the history of modern paleontology and explains how it is becoming more interdisciplinary. Very readable.

Hesse, Karen - The Music of Dolphins - So simply told, yet so very personal and gripping. Two feral children "rescued" and the story of the attempt to bring them into their humanity. Many good questions raised and assumptions challenged about if our way is the best way. Fun to watch the first-person POV grow and change as Mila becomes more sophisticated.

Ridley, John - American Way - 2007 GN, possibly the best and grimmest superhero story I've read since Watchmen, similarly turning superhero conventions on their ears. Set in the very early 1960's, the strife within the country is mirrored within the Civil Defense Corps, a group of government-sponsored paranormals. Much of what the country sees turns out to be a sham, racism tears the team apart along North-South lines, there is language, violence and gruesome death, yet the story is ultimately about hope. Seriously painful to read, and very affecting. Not for kids or the faint of heart.

L'Engle, Madeleine - A Wrinkle in Time - It had been so long since I read this that I guess I had never looked at it with adult eyes. Wow, is this religious! Not preachy, not attuned to a particular faith, thank goodness, but all about the battle between good and evil. And as we see over and over again, the power of love is the most powerful force of all. I used to accept this stuff as a given, why no longer?

Vaughan, Brian K. - Runaways - GN collection of ongoing series about teens and pre-teens who find out that their parents are all supervillains, and that they themselves all have odd powers or abilities. More fun, their parents are now after them, and one of the kids is a traitor! Excellent, believable teen characters.

Talbot, Bryan - Alice in Sunderland - GN 2007 and possibly the star of the year. This rightly should also be in my list of movies watched, or perhaps plays attended. It is a book and a device, something that is first a non-fictional look at the lives of Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddell, later Lady Alice Hargreaves. It is also a show, a history, a geography and an entertainment (with a bit of philosophy). We learn all about England, particularly focusing on Sunderland (Carroll's and Liddell's stomping grounds) and its storied history, but the way it's done is more like watching an excellent Ken Burns documentary done live with you in the audience, with a tiny bit of Mystery Science Theater 3000 thrown in. You learn about railroads, shipping, English theater, cartoons and comics, crime, dragon legends, comedy, ghosts, and all about the symbolism and history of the Alice books. Reading this, watching this, is a huge treat, and is my best recommendation for Anglophiles, Carroll fans, people who like documentaries and people who think graphic novels are all about superheroes. I must go out and buy this.

Wood, Brian - Demo - 2005 GN collection of short stories. Some are about kids with odd things going on. Think 'Twilight Zone' rather than 'X-Men'. Some are just about young people living their lives and making life-altering decisions. Rings true.

Gipi - Garage Band - 2007 GN The art is excellent, the characters are strong and clear. It happens to be about four (Italian) teen rockers who get to use a parent's garage for their practice. Even the most likable of them isn't all that likable, which I suppose makes them well-rounded characters, but it's hard to really enjoy a book when you WANT them to get caught for what they do. Interesting.

Aradziz, Nick - Laika - 2007 nonfiction GN about the world's first space traveler, a dog, but also the people in the Soviet space program. Sad and painful, this is an excellent combination of meticulous research and well-crafted fiction where the facts weren't knowable. Graphic novel with a bibliography! Really brings heart to the story, excellent for animal lovers who don't mind a bit of a tear-jerker (think Old Yeller....)

Burner, Brett - Hand of the Morningstar: Advent - 2007 GN from Zondervan, first of a series about a group of superbeings given their power from the mysterious Morningstar, with an agenda of doing good deeds in Morningstar's name to cultivate trust and reliance on them. There are quite a few political statements (the President is good, the press is bad), and some very symbolic people (the super-eco-terrorist 'Tempest' is so careless that when he destroys a whaling ship, he finds that it has long since been converted to a ship hauling paper for recycling). There is a location called 'Pinhead Creek' in Oregon (a real place, but it seems like a bit of a slur) where a sheriff wonders what the super-powered environmental wacko is doing, holding loggers hostage - "We're in Oregon, we got nothing but trees." Thought it might be interesting to see what Zondervan is pushing these days, and this looks just as evangelical as the Left Behind series, only aimed at comic fans. With as many typos as it had plus the proselytizing, I don't know that I can bear to continue.

Hernandez, Gilbert - Sloth - 2006 GN that I can't describe, just summarize. Very involving tale of young mostly-nerdy people in love, and occasionally in comas, and in a band, and investigating goatman legends in a haunted lemon orchard. Quite good and strangely satisfying. Also satisfyingly strange.

Moore, Alan - Alan Moore's Hypothetical Lizard - 2007 GN and novella. Odd and disturbing, full of Moore's usual blend of the mythic, the sexual and the violent. A woman's brain halves are split and then half her face is permanently masked so that she can be the perfect sorceror's whore, not being able to speak about what she perceives. She is mute witness to a drama of envy and domination. Depressing, if inventive.

Niles, Steve, & Fraction, Matt - 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales - 2007 GN. Disgusting in terms of subject matter and story and depiction thereof. Without artistic merit? Not necessarily... it is done well if you don't mind the graphic hideousness of live vampire dissection, being stabbed through the eye, and numerous other things even more repugnant. The frequently-used GN rating system would certainly call this 'M' for mature audiences, and the fact that this is not so labeled is a good case for it to be mandatory. NO ONE should open this without warning.

Crumb, Robert and Mairowitz, David Zane - Kafka - 2007 GN biography of the writer famed for self-loathing, fantastic imaginings of his own demise, and detailed examinations of life from an animal's viewpoint. If you've ever heard (or used) the expression 'Kafkaesque', you'd best have a look at this.

Chantler, Scott - The Annotated Northwest Passage - 2007 GN set in Canada's frontier days. Yes, violent (there's a bit of a war on, and someone who hangs people when he feels like it) but all in all, most is off-screen, and this feels like an adventurous romp. The characters have that fine balance of seeming larger than life yet still tied firmly to reality - they care about people, they make mistakes, they trust people they shouldn't. Really good! Read the annotations at the end; they make for a fine tale on their own about the creation of a comic.

Varon, Sara - Robot Dreams - 2007 GN, totally without dialogue but very strong on story. Touching and sad and funny and cute all at once, it's the story of an ill-fated friendship between a dog and a robot. What do you do when your friend is broken? Abandon them? Very human, and definitely worth sharing.

Tan, Shaun - The Arrival - 2007 GN . Dreamlike and mythic yet utterly human, this is the story of immigrants to a strange land. Told without dialogue, it still clearly tells in poignant, realistic visual drama of a land that has elements of America in the early 1900s. The sense of wonder is tangible as the central character sees his new home through the eyes of an immigrant. The hard knocks of his life are mitigated by kindness and hope, and the stories of other people who trod a similar path. Gorgeous and touching, certainly in my top ten this year.

Gipi - Notes for a War Story - Thought I'd give him another try. 2007 GN. Reading the notes in the back was very helpful. This is one of those 'literature'-type GNs, and I'm out of practice with symbolism and allegory. I will say that I liked it better than 'Garage Band'. Deals with the lives of three young men in a crime-ridden, war-torn land. One gets tougher, one enjoys the camaraderie of the criminals, and one is detached, but tags along to do cool and exciting things. In retrospect, a nicely done study of violence and what happens to society when war unravels it.

Hamilton, Laurell K. - Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Vol. 1 - 2007 GN and a fantastic introduction to Hamilton's world. Really involved and engrossing, a must for Buffy fans, vampire or horror readers. Certainly 'R' rated, but not gratuitously so. The world of were-creatures, vampires, zombies reads very realistically, since its focus is on the human response to all of this. Alert! Second volume not yet released! Read slowly.

Vaughan, Brian K. - Pride of Baghdad - 2006 GN based on the real escape of lions from the bombed-out zoo in Baghdad and their ultimate fate. The story is told from the animal point of view, but even with dialogue, this is no cute animal story. Fierce and powerful.

Ubukata, Tou - Le Chevalier d'Eon Vol. 1 - 2007 manga GN, largely forgettable, even if loosely based on a real-life character. Art and language are very strong and disturbing. Rated for ages 16+, and I would agree but add "and for those who enjoy demonic crime scenes with mutilated corpses. Not going back to read more.

Alexander, Lloyd - Time Cat - Shorter than I recall. When I was much younger and read this, I felt that there was a lot in each section. I wonder if Penelope feels that way... At any rate, this is the way to learn historical (and feline) trivia.

Ohba, Tsugumi - Death Note Vol. 1 - 2005 manga. 'Light' finds a death-god's notebook, in which, if you intentionally write a name of someone you can identify, they die. He chooses to "make the world a better place" by taking upon himself the job of purging the human race of the violent criminals. Quite interesting!

Ellis, Warren - Nextwave agents of H.A.T.E. Vol. 1 - 2006 GN. "Hi. I'm Warren Ellis, and I can do whatever I want and people will buy it! I can use characters that no one else wants in any way that amuses me. Violence not senseless enough for you? Wait until you see mine!" Did not finish.

Wood, Brian - DMZ. 1 : On the Ground - 2006 GN, and really good. Fierce and grim, but good. Imagine 'Escape From New York' meets ''Lord of the Flies', with a little bit of 'Ecotopia' thrown in. VERY interesting.

Vaughan, Brian K - Doctor Strange: The Oath - Excellent 2007 GN, revitalizing a heretofore very weird character. This rendition hearkens back to the old Stan Lee/Steve Ditko Dr. Strange when he seemed interesting, vulnerable and human. The motivations of the hero, the villain and even the sidekicks are critical to the story - that's good writing! Vaughan discovers a forgotten character from the days of Marvel's romance comics ('Night Nurse') and makes her important... huge fun. Really Good. Since this recaps Strange's origin, this might be a good introduction for someone new to "superhero" comics.

Schrag, Ariel (edited) - Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an UNPLEASANT Age - 2007 GN anthology featuring very honest peeks at life in middle school. Painful and familiar recollections of being bullied, growing, changing, cliques and their power, wanting to belong, learning about love... all very real. Strong language. Recommended.

Sis, Peter - The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain - 2007 non-fiction GN/picture book. Personal narrative about growing up in Soviet-era Czechoslovakia. Excerpts from his journals are very interesting. Short; a good intro to what went on for young people who have no idea.

Cabot, Meg - Avalon High Coronation Vol. 1: The Merlin Prophecy - 2007 Manga-style GN. Reincarnations of all the Arthurian people, but now they're in High School in America! Fluffy & slight, seems like all prologue rather than any content. Clearly not aimed at me, but this would probably appeal to the usual manga fans and Cabot-philes. "I want no more of this. -Chad"

Lundin, Stephen - Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results - A made-up example illustrating the real-life effect that the 'Pike Street Market fish guy method' might have on your place of work. I've believed in this for years and was delighted when I first saw the video that vindicated my work philosophy. Choose Your Attitude - Play - Be There - Make Their Day. Works for me!

Novik, Naomi - Throne of Ivory - Temeraire Book 4! Yay! Curse her, ending on a bit of a cliffhanger... Great drama, easily envisioned scenes, cinematic action, and as usual, a fine mix of history, a Hornblower-like character with honor, and really cool dragons. I love the fact that Novik is slowly uncovering all parts of the world and offering tidbits of how dragons have changed the geopolitical scene ("and maybe someday get into the Inca City of Gold..." [I paraphrase]). Awesome as usual, and now I have to wait again. She did it again: she left me wanting more. Okay, off to the fan site. BTW, I note with interest a movie called 'Temeraire' mentioned for 2009 as a possibility. They should really stick with 'His Majesty's Dragon' for a title, and with its likely success create a franchise. Of course, they could do like LOTR: "Temeraire - His Majesty's Dragon", then "Temeraire - Throne of Jade", etc.