Be happy!

A couple months ago, I noticed an ad that read, “If you like V.B. Rose, you’ll like Happy Cafe!”  I know somebody likes V.B. Rose because it was requested. So I ordered Happy Cafe. It just arrived so get it while it’s hot!

And don’t forget you can always request things.

“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice “without pictures or conversation?”

Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has inspired movies, songs, re-imaginings, and (of course) graphic novels.

Frank Beddor re-imagined Wonderland in his trilogy The Looking Glass Wars. In his books, the true story of Wonderland, Alyss must fight to regain the throne of Wonderland, where all imagination comes from. Her enemies are The Cat, a nine-lived assassin, and Redd Heart, her aunt and the usurper of the throne. Alyss is helped by Hatter Madigan, her mother’s bodyguard, and the Alyssians of Wonderland.

Hatter M. stars in his own comic series, which details the years after he and Alyss were separated fleeing Wonderland through the Pools of Sorrow. He travels around Europe following those with the strongest white glow of Imagination, trying to find his princess.

Wonderland follows MaryAnn, the White Rabbit’s maid mentioned in the original book, as she follows the destruction left by “The Alice Monster.” The Queen of Hearts want to behead MaryAnn’s boss, various animal citizens of Wonderland want MaryAnn to take over Wonderland, and MaryAnn just wants to tidy things up.

While there is a Disney-esque flavor to the art, there is a bit more creepiness in the story. The Jabberwock and the three little girls from the treacle well make an appearance. We also meet other Royal Cards and learn where they have been all this time.

A bit more romance

Well, it’s that time of year so I guess I will mention some nice romantic manga.

V.B. Rose is a sweet little manga. The art is pretty. It takes place mostly in a bridal shop. Might be a bit fluffy, but that’s okay.

Miki falls opens with our heroine jumping out a third story window. In four books, one for each season, the reader learns why this was a good idea.  (It really was.)

Series ending

Two series have come to an end.

Knights of the Zodiac High School Debut

What shall I get now?

Easy Graphic Novels

The Toon Books are graphic novels written for beginning readers. Short stories with young characters, these graphic novels are great for the youngest reluctant and avid readers alike.

Art Spiegelman created a crazed Jack in the box!

Jeff Smith (of Bone fame) wrote about a little mouse getting ready for his day! That book got a Theodor Seuss Geisel honor this year.

The winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel medal for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States is Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!
Benny and Penny are a brother and sister who get into simple adventures. Fun books to share with the younger kids.

Hurrah for Benny and Penny! Hurrah for Toon Books!

Tournament Results!

Ninjas Win!

Week 4 Final Match-Up! Ninjas VS Fairies!

Teen Read Month Read Beyond Reality Tournament!
In a very close vote, Ninjas beat Vampires and Fairies beat Zombies!

So this week it’s:
NINJAS vs FAIRIES!

This could actually be a close match, power wise.

Ninja are fast, have a variety of powers (real and illusion), but they are mortal.

Fairies can vary in size from inches to human size, have magic powers, are immortal but are allergic to cold iron.

Who can win?

VOTE HERE!
Comment Here!

Week 3! Ninjas VS Vampires & Fairies VS Zombies

Teen Read Month Read Beyond Reality Tournament!

NINJAS vs VAMPIRES!

Will Recca’s flames toast the vampires? Or will he be overwhelmed by the strength and speed of the Vampires of the Cross Academy? Maybe they will be outnumbered by the bunshin of Naruto? Or perhaps Karin will… okay I can’t really see her fighting, but maybe her family?

I suppose the sparklepires will win the day again.

FAIRIES vs ZOMBIES!

Fairies come in all sorts of sizes, have incredible speed, good hygiene, cunning, and magical powers!

Zombies are implacable, slow, stupid, nasty smelling, and flammable.

Fairies are the protagonists and antagonists of a large number of books.

Zombies are either smelly angst-muppets or smelly annoyances with only a few books.

Fairies should win!

VOTE HERE!
Comment here!

Week 2: Robots VS Fairies & Aliens VS Zombies!

Teen Read Month Read Beyond Reality Tournament!

ROBOTS vs FAIRIES!

The Good Neighbors by Holly Black and Ted Naifah tends to make me think of a Terry Pratchett quote

Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.
Elves are bad.

These Fair Folk are not the Disney type. They are old school. They are not nice.

The Transformers have a classic good guy/bad guy storyline starring robots. The movies have resurrected this series from the 80’s, although the comics were always a bit stronger than the cartoon. Cartoons back then seemed to require that nobody win or get shot or anything.

Vogelein the Clockwork Fairy will sit out the battle this week. While she is a sentient robot who requires winding every 24 hours, she is also able to see the Summerlands, where the Fairies dwell.

ALIENS vs ZOMBIES

We actually don’t seem to have as many aliens as one might expect in the in the graphic novel section. There’s Spock and various others in the Star Trek manga and graphic novels. The books we have are mostly based on the old original series not the new, revised movie version of the original series. Lots more special effects because they are cheaper when you only have to draw them.

Of course we also have Superman! I think he may be a naturalized alien. Or maybe that was an Elseworld. But he isn’t from around here so that will do.

I honestly can’t think of anything nice to say about the zombies. We don’t have any in the YA graphic novel section. There are a few in the adult section because they are mature reader only books. Because zombies are disgusting. Zombies stories are depressing. They mostly end with not being turned into a zombie TODAY. No guarantees about tomorrow.

There is currently some effort in teen fiction to turn zombies into romantic leads, thereby displacing the vampire. These are not old time zombies that mindlessly eat human flesh and are rotting where they stand. These are mostly just teens without a pulse. And probably a very nasty smell.

*runs away with my Zombie survival guide*

VOTE HERE!
Comment here to defend your choice!

X-Men Misfits

X-Men Misfits is very disconcerting for me. Not just for the uniforms.

The storyline is interesting. I was surprised that Kitty was the only female, but then remembered she was the first of the new generation of mutants in the original stories. What threw me off was having many male characters who had been much older than Kitty de-aged to their teen years. All the other female characters remained adults. I gather there will be some new girls in the next book.

They do use a lot of the original characters but they are mostly not introduced or explained. I am not sure someone could pick up this book without the background and completely follow the action.

The art is pretty, although they don’t always distinguish people very well. The new looks for some of the characters is rather odd. For example The Beast is now some combination of the Catbus and Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro.

Bad guys are now good. Good guys are now jerks. Some things are very confusing but original Marvel is a bit messed up now too so I suppose I can’t complain.

I’m not sure how successful this book was overall.