Shannon's Review - Marvel Adventures Hulk: Defenders Vol. 2 by Paul Benjamin

Title: Marvel Adventures Hulk - Vol. 2: Defenders
Series: Marvel Adventures Hulk
Author: Paul Benjamin
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: David Nakayama and Steve Scott
Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel, Marvel, Hulk, Fantasy, Superheroes
Publisher: Marvel
Received: Bought
Release Date: April 2008
Pages: 96
Rating:



Author Paul Benjamin’s Official Websites:



Website:
https://paulbenjaminwrites.com/

Blog:
None found

Facebook:
None found

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/thepaulbenjamin

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/paulbenjaminwrites/



Shannon’s Thoughts:

Dr. Bruce Banner tries to keep his cool except when his friends or the world needs help he gets angry and becomes the big mean green Hulk. Banner’s friends Rick and his pet monkey help the Hulk anyway they can even though they have no real super power. Trouble always seems to follow the doctor and it is usually some really bad evil being trying to take over earth.

This is volume 2 in Hulk adventures. I have not read the first volume and I feel like there might be some important info that I am missing but not a lot. I enjoyed the comic relief friend, Rick, and monkey.

I was a little confused when the silver surfer showed up as a good guy because I really thought he was a villain. I have not read a lot of Hulk comics before but I have seen the movies and tv shows with the character. Rick and monkey have not been in the movies as far as I know so that might be part of the storyline in volume 1 that I missed.

These mini adventure books are great for kids starting to read and for those who may not be ready for novels. Graphic novels like these are short and sweet. I will be reading more of them as they come my way.

Shannon's Review - Runaways: Find Your Way Home #1 by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Runaways: Find Your Way Home
Series: Runaways Find Your Way Home #1
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Kris Anka
Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Superheroes, Marvel
Publisher: Marvel
Received: Bought
Release Date: May 2018
Pages: 156
Rating:



Author Rainbow Rowell’s Official Websites:


(from goodreads.com )


Website:
https://www.rainbowrowell.com/

Blog:
None Found

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/rainbow.rowell.author

Twitter:
None Found

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrowell/



Shannon’s Thoughts:

After the loss and death of family and friends The Runaways or what is left of them disband. Everyone went in their own direction until Chase found a way to time travel and bring the one friend they lost that can bring them back together.

I haven’t kept up with all the Runaways stories. I have read some written by Joss Whedon and watched some of the tv series. I enjoyed both and I do like the characters. This seems to take place after the tv series and the Whedon arc. My favorite character is Gert partly because she is plus-sized and partly because she has control of a dinosaur...duh! Gert is like the mom of the group. Like a good mom, she tries to keep everyone together. A Lot has changed since the start of The Runaways. They have lost friends, even some that were a part of the main group.

I knew some of the stories because of watching the series and reading some. I would say if the reader started here having not read anything about the runaways beforehand it may not be as interesting and probably more than a little confusing.

Like most Marvel comics I do really like The Runaways and will continue to read. Since The Runaways are teenagers I believe young adults 12 or 13+ years will enjoy the characters.

Shannon's Review - Sigil: Out Of Time by Mike Carey

Title: Sigil: Out Of Time
Series: Sigil
Author: Mike Carey
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: (pencilers) Leonard Kirk, Pat Olliffe (inkers) Ed Tadeo, Pat Davidson (colorist) Guru Efx (letterer) Rob Steen (cover art) Jelena Djurdjevic
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fiction, Fantasy, Marvel, CrossGen
Publisher: Marvel
Received: Bought
Release Date: 2011
Pages: 96
Rating:





Author’s Official Websites:




Website:
https://www.mikecarey.net/

Blog:
http://mikeandpeter.com/

Facebook:
None found

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/michaelcarey

Instagram:
None found



Shannon’s Thoughts:

Sam is dealing with the loss of her mother and failing high school. She probably does not need the problems that come next which including time jumps, pirate ships, and magic powers from a birthmark.

This a reboot of a sort. This comic story first belonged to CrossGen which was a comic publishing company that created various stories for different worlds with the goal of connecting their stories in the end. Later CrossGen was bought by Disney which had Marvel. Marvel tried to rewrite (just a little) and restart the comics hoping for interest. I had the pleasure of having read the original comics from CrossGen. I loved every series that came from them, including Sigil. This Sigil story is just a little different but it has been so long I am not sure how different. I enjoyed this again very “girl power” and reminds me of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

I wished I had saved the original comics now that Marvel has rights. Out of all the stories from CrossGen to start out with I am not sure Sigil was the strongest. There was Soujorn and Magick…I believe those were the names. Even though this comic is from 2011 I still hold hope I will see more of the story again.

I enjoy graphic novels and enjoy most of Mike Carey’s stuff. Sigil is action-packed and charged with exciting magic.

Shannon's Review - Cable Vol. 2 : Waiting For The End Of The World by Duane Swierczynski

Title: Cable Vol. 2 - Waiting For The End Of The World
Series: Cable Vol. 2
Author: Duane Swierczynski
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Michel Lacombe
Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Marvel
Publisher: Marvel
Received: Bought
Release Date: May 2009
Pages: 176
Rating:




Author Duane Swierczynski’s Official Websites:



Website:
http://secretdead.blogspot.com/

Blog:
http://secretdead.blogspot.com/

Facebook:


Twitter:
https://twitter.com/swierczy

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/swierczy/



Shannon’s Thoughts:


Cyclops is second-guessing his choice to let his son Cable take a baby girl mutant to keep her safe. He jumps forward in time as he is being chased by Bishop who also thinks that saving the world means killing the baby girl.

I have not read the volume before this and only know a little about the character Cable.

I was still able to enjoy the story and felt very involved. I have always enjoyed the X-men stories and this was no different. The art is great and the story moves quickly.

The only problem I have is that good graphic novels, like this, end too soon. I really want to know what happens next. My second problem is they are expensive so I may not find out for while.

If you like Marvel superheroes and the Xmen stories this is has a great storyline and keeps you hooked. I hope the movies bring Cable because he is interesting and all the time jumping you never know what will happen.

Shannon's Review - Wolverine And The X-men: Alpha & Omega by Brian Wood

Title: Wolverine And The X-men: Alpha & Omega
Series: Wolverine And The X-men #1.5
Authors: Brian Wood
Illustrators/Book Cover Designer: Mark Brooks, and Roland Boschi
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Comics, Marvel
Publisher: Marvel
Received: Bought
Release Date: July 2012
Pages: 112
Rating:



Author Brian Wood Official Websites:


(borrowed from Goodreads.com)

Website:
https://www.brianwood.com/

Blog:
None found

Facebook:
None Found

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/brianwood

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/brianwood.writer/



Shannon’s Thoughts:

Mutant teenager Quentin Quire aka Kid Omega does not mesh well with his fellow student at the Jean Grey School. He thinks he is better than most at the school including teachers. Quentin creates a world in his mind and traps Wolverine and Armor.

I have not read an X-men comic in quite a while. I mean the school was named after Charles Xavier, not Jean Grey when I last read about my favorite mutants. I love being introduced to new mutants and being shown their powers. Armor and Kid Omega are new to me. The story was interesting it really made not like Quentin but it also made me want to know his backstory and I wonder why he seemed to be such a prick.

The fact that Wolverine’s consciousness was in two places was a little confusing. They do explain it and it gives the story more action but I feel like Wolverine probably gotten to Quentin quicker and killed him.

This was not my favorite story but I grew up with X-men comics and the movies. I love them both. I will definitely read more X-men comics and graphic novels.

Happy Holidays!!

Have A Great Holiday!  I Hope You Got Loads Of Books This Year! ;) 

Here's our Xmas card this year. It was Marvel themed.

Hubby is Thor, I am Scarlet Witch,  Gadzooks (in tree) is Tippy Toe the Squirrel and Zanna is Lockheed. 

Shannon's Review - Scarlet Witch Vol. 2 : World Of Witchcraft

Title: Scarlet Witch Vol. 2: World Of Witchcraft

Series: Scarlet Witch

Author: James Robinson

Genre: Graphic Novel, Marvel

Publisher: Marvel

Received: Bought

Release Date: January 2017

Pages: 112

Rating:

James Robinson’s Official Websites:

Website

N/A

Blog

N/A

Facebook

N/A

Twitter

https://twitter.com/jamesdrobinson

Shannon’s Thoughts:

The second installment into the current story of The Scarlet Witch aka Wanda Maximoff. Wanda is still searching for reasons for why magic is broken.  Her search takes her to France and it’s local superhero.

Although the art changes throughout each book in the graphic novel it does not really take away from the story. The most emotional story in this volume is the conversation between Wanda and her brother Pietro aka Quicksilver. I loved their interaction with each other.

What does break the flow of the story is how much time seems to have passed between each book.  In fact the last story in volume 2 kinda threw me because Wanda is not in it but we read about a character she met in the second to last story.

For someone like me who has not read any of the previous story arc of Marvel, like Civil War or House of M.  I feel I am missing some important story lines but it doesn’t stop me from enjoying this series. It only makes we want to go back and read the previous tales.

Shannon's Review - Scarlet Witch Vol.1 Witches' Road by James Robinson

Title: Scarlet Witch Vol.1 : Witches’ Road

Series: Scarlet Witch

Authors: James Robinson

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Fiction

Publisher: Marvel

Received: Purchased

Release Date: July 2016

Pages: 112

Rating:

Author’s Official Websites:

N/A

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Jumping into Volume 1 of Scarlet Witch we see Wanda (The Scarlet Witch) searching for the cause of magic because it is broken. She travels around the world following traces of magic along with a ghost side kick.

I have only seen the movies with Elizabeth Olson as Scarlet Witch. She is a intriguing character.  I did get swept up into the stories and people.  I was very interested in the Irish bad guy The Emerald Warlock.  Doctor Strange has a similar plot but this was just written so much better. It’s a joy to read and look at.  The art for the most part is pretty phenomenal.

Some of the downfalls like even though this is the first volume we are thrown into a tale already in progress. We met Agatha Harkness a ghost that follows Wanda.   We do not really know why or when she died just that Wanda may have had a hand in it.   When the narrative starts Wanda already knows that magic is broken but again we do not know how she knows.  

I look forward to Volume 2.  I hope we find out more about Wanda, her ghostly friend Agatha and The Emerald Warlock.

Shannon's Review - Doctor Strange : The Flight Of Bones by Various Authors

Title: Doctor Strange : The Flight Of Bones

Series: Doctor Strange

Author: Various Authors

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy,

Publisher: Marvel

Received:  Bought

Release Date: November 2016

Pages: 192

Rating:

Author’s Official Websites:

Official Site

N/A

Blog

N/A

Facebook

N/A

Twitter

N/A

Shannon’s Thoughts:

In this graphic novel we see Doctor Strange has fully accepted his role in the world of magic and still looking for ways to heal himself physically.  He has become one of the world’s greatest magicians. He fights evil trying to take over the world while combating his own troubles.

This is my first delve into the world of Marvel’s Doctor Strange.  I became interested after seeing the Doctor Strange movie with Benedict Cumberbatch (which was awesome!). There are about 4 or 5 stories in this graphic novel.  The best one is the first story about Strange fighting a magic infused cult that takes one of his friends into its grasp.

The other stories are pretty dull.  Most of the other stories are also in black and white. To be honest because of the lack of color, and in some cases lack of dialog, made it hard to understand what was happening.  

I would say that this probably isn’t the best of Doctor Strange to start with.  I especially do not think it is the best if you have not seen the movie or have no knowledge of Doctor Strange.  I just feel this could have been much better stories than the ones in this graphic novel.

1602 by Neil Gaiman, Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove

I had tried reading this in the book store one time and did not have good feel for it. I recently went to Wizard World Philly and saw it and decided to try it again. I thought maybe I would have enjoyed more at home and I was right.

Now I am not a big comic book reader. Unless it is written by Joss Whedon and I then I read things here and there. I knew of some of the background story's of the X-men and Fantastic Four but I don't follow them religiously. I am also not a Neil Gaiman fan. My husband loves him but I have a hard understanding what some brit authors are talking about in their books. That aside I still thought it was an interesting story line to the Marvel Universe. Putting in the past made it seem more real.

I give 3.5 stars