I am suffering from a degree of exhaustion from the people who read DC Ink and get bent out of shape that it's a one-shot origin story that doesn't fiI am suffering from a degree of exhaustion from the people who read DC Ink and get bent out of shape that it's a one-shot origin story that doesn't fit with the exact same origin story as comics canon. I'm not saying all of them are perfectly done, but this is essentially what the imprint is supposed to be: accessible one-shots to introduce the characters for teenagers. I thought the Harley Quinn one was simply inspired by the identity of the city and the cast of characters, I liked the twist on the Cassandra Cain novel, the strongest opinions I have about Black Canary: Ignite are 100% colored by a Dinah Lance bias so I will withhold judgement, and I look forward to reading more from this publisher.
That being said, I enjoyed this book for what it was, a Raven Origin Story. The art is stunning and captured so much of Raven's personality that I tore through the book, which is carried so much by Raven's face and the sharpness of the design. It's a simple story and I think it has rather elegant dialogue and narration at times. It's spooky and mystic and adds a nice modern twist that complements Raven's overall vibe, and DC Ink can best be summarized in an exploration of vibes. It's a character aesthetic, it's a look, and I love the step DC has taken to embrace genre over the heavy, cement rigidity of its own mythology. The content for women and teenagers from DC has actually been really solid: I can't say enough kind things about Batgirl of Burnside and the Black Canary comic, which plenty of people are similarly bent out of shape about, so I'm more of an intended and open audience.
Though this one had some glaring, of all things, Kami-Garci-isms that were more glaring and distracting than anything about the DC mythos. It's set in the South with a lot of mysticism and side characters practicing voodoo to advance the plot outside of our possessed, cursed, somewhat passive Magical Girl protagonist. Women of Color have their side spiritualism just like in the Caster Chronicles, to the point that it does prop the narrative a little too much for my taste without letting the actually interesting story (in this case the side story of these magical women in NOLA and their ancestral ghosts) run free. There's a lot of Beautiful Creatures in this and just as much Lena Duchannes in Raven, so I found that more of an adaptational sickness than any DC Lite to the mythology.
However, I take it as Kami Garcia playing to her strengths (and her favorites) which is probably exactly what she was hired on to do: if Beautiful Creatures was her calling card I can hardly complain that we have a gorgeous graphic novel and it's exactly the book I'd place Raven in if I had to choose a YA setting. It's Garcia's strength for a reason, the art is fantastic, and you get to hang out with a genuine teenage version of Raven. I'm already sold on DC Ink's publishing strategy, which isn't here to lovingly preserve the characters as you always saw them, but it's always a solid and fun adaptation and I loved the visual journey with Raven....more
I was truly and thoroughly pleased with this book. Murder, prostitution, New Orleans, bookshops, college applications, motorcyclists, the mob; Out of I was truly and thoroughly pleased with this book. Murder, prostitution, New Orleans, bookshops, college applications, motorcyclists, the mob; Out of the Easy has everything. This is historical fiction done right, the voice, tone, setting, and style all balancing perfectly and perfectly complimentary to each other. So stylish. Stylin'. Did I mention the style?
Not to put style over substance, but historical fiction, especially one set in this sort of "Noir" time period, needs to commit to the times. Stylistically. I'll stop saying that word now. There is a glitz to the language, the slang, and the...erm... panache (ten points for not saying "Style" again. Oh, shit there it is again. Fuck.) of the times is there. The 50's is a great time to walk around in, a balance of flouncy moral goodness and a sleeker darkness, and that was certainly present here. There's edge and softness, perfectly juxtaposed.
The plot is winding, complicated, and loaded. It pulls you along, trying to keep up, but is fully entertaining enough to hold your attention.
All the characters in this book have a purpose and weight, and loads of personality. I loved everyone. I never love everyone. But I loved everyone. Jo is our lovely protagonist, stuck but not ruled by her circumstances, practical, smart, passionate, and insecure about her background, but not ashamed of herself. And she could give fuck all about boys. It's weird that my requirements to adore a character either mean loving casual sex with lots of boys or absolutely LOATHING them, and Jo isn't either of those things, but you get the point. She's fun. She hops on boys laps, can dish and take whatever chemistry she's offered, but has that level of cluelessness that keeps her blissfully un-knocked-up the entire book. If that girl knew what a catch she was she's be intolerable. So we like Jo! She don't know she's beautiful! Oh-oh-oh!
Too many side characters to list, but Willie, shit, I don't care if she runs a brothel, I want to Willie when I grow up. She is the light of my goddamn life. The love interest is a balance of James Dean and...someone way nicer and more compassionate than James Dean. He's actually quite a sideline character, and I would have liked to see more of their relationship, but at least she really doesn't need him. I like that. Boys are lame. Sometimes. Nearly always.
My only complaint at the the moment is for a novel set in New Orleans, it really doesn't have much New Orleans. We hear about the other characters yukking it up in Jazz clubs or at parties, but our narrator never really walks around in the setting and we don't see enough of the wildness. I like wildness and debauchery. That's why a gravitate towards books like this. Despite the murder and prostitution, this book didn't have that devil-may-care wickedness that I absolutely adore. It views the male gaze of sexuality in a very dark light, which I can appreciate, and the main character has some major qualms with sex, but it's never really...fixed. She just escapes them, the views don't change. Would have liked a little more, because she goes from running out from almost selling her virginity to flirting with her love interest, despite being very bristly about the topic of sex before any of this shit went down.
I've been searching a long time for a YA American Historical Fiction to replace What I saw and How I Lied in my heart, and this book is truly the closest match. ...more
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