This instalent of the story reveals the Plutonian's origin, as well as the origin of Max Damage, a criminal who, it turns out, was created by Tony thrThis instalent of the story reveals the Plutonian's origin, as well as the origin of Max Damage, a criminal who, it turns out, was created by Tony through a series of interactions over the course of both characters' lives.
Military: Starts with the acting POTUS thinking about how he agreed to kill 1/3 of the world population in the hopes of saving the other 2/3
3.5 - Just as things were getting really interesting, the book ends. I realize this is a trope of serial storytelling, but it doesn't have to be if the characters are compelling....more
There wasn't much story here. Several four book arcs are collected together, but it was save-the-world-from-monsters each time. No character developmeThere wasn't much story here. Several four book arcs are collected together, but it was save-the-world-from-monsters each time. No character development....more
What it's about: Book 2 kicks off with Danny the Street, Dorothy learning to access - if not control - her ability to manifest her subconscious in theWhat it's about: Book 2 kicks off with Danny the Street, Dorothy learning to access - if not control - her ability to manifest her subconscious in the real world, and the appearance of a group claiming to be the Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E., who attack Danny because he is not "normal".
After defending Danny, the Doom Patrol sets up their new headquarters on Danny, which allows them to move all over with just a request. But shortly after, Rhea "Lodestar" Jones is woken from her coma in a new form, and then she and Rebis are kidnapped/recruited by an otherworldly group to help them end an ongoing war with Lodestar's renewed powers. In trying to track their teammates, Cliff and Crazy Jane end up working with the other side in the interdimensional conflict that has been going on for untold ages.
Meanwhile, one of Danny's passengers turns out to be an amnesiac Flex Mentallo, a "long lost hero" who built his muscles to such an extent that he can control his muscle vibrations and use them to affect changes on people and the world. His lover tries to track him down, but is co-opted by a dark force with the intention of insinuating her into Flex's life as a sleeper agent.
Meanwhile, at the Pentagon (Why is it a pentagon? For nefarious reasons, of course!), a new recruit is being inducted into the workings of the Ant Farm, a program that uses dark forces to strip the souls out of humans, creating "husks" - undead creatures that can be broken to the will of the military. These husks are trained to become the ACTUAL Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E., who work for the military.
Flex's former lover finds him after Flex recovers his memory, but she is a plant that leads the Men from NOWHERE to Flex. He and Dorothy are taken to the Ant Farm, where they learn that the purpose of the Ant Farm is to create a machine that will remove chaos and impose order on the world - an order that can be easily controlled by the Pentagon. Flex and Dorothy are slated to become part of the Ant Farm's workings, as it turns out that Flex is actually the product of a boy's comic book - a boy with massive psychic powers who brought Flex to life. In doing so, the boy lost much of his power as he transferred it to Flex. The Pentagon plans to have Flex re-absorbed into his creator (who they've kept under their control for decades) so they can harness the psychic's full power. But instead, the psychic dies, and Flex regains his full range of abilities, including his ability to flex the world into submission - which he uses to change the Pentagon into a circle, breaking its dark mystic powers, with an assist from Dorothy's subconscious.
Next comes a story of The Beard Hunter - a lunatic version of The Punisher who kills people who have beards because he dislikes facial hair. The Chief's lush beard puts him in the crosshairs, and it's only through some quick witted work that the Chief is able to escape being killed and having his beard "scalped" as a trophy.
The Doom Patrol then gets a chance to rest for a while, before the appearance of the Shadowy Mr. Evans, an incredibly powerful and dangerous force of the absurd. But as the Shadowy Mr. Evans prepares to return to our plane of existence, a criminal finds himself compelled to take possession of the Painting that Ate the World, now transformed into a colorful but (seemingly) inert canvas after the Doom Patrol's previous work to stop the Brotherhood of Dada.
Meanwhile, Crazy Jane manifests a new sex-positive personality that Cliff doesn't know how to deal with, just in time for the introduction of the Sex Men, a group that works to contain libidinous energy. Turns out that the shadowy Mr. Evans has heralded his arrival by introducing massive amounts of sex energy into the world.
While the Sex Men and the Doom Patrol face the shadowy Mr. Evans, Rebis starts having sex with themself. And the once-inert canvas that was once the Painting that Ate the World releases a splotch that grows into Mr. Nobody, who re-forms the Brotherhood of Dada with new allies. Their mission: To use the bicycle of chemist Albert Hoffman - discoverer of LSD - to give the entire world a massive drug trip, altering perception forever, thereby adding more of the bizarre into the world. After encountering the Doom Patrol, the Brotherhood escapes, and prepares to wreak havoc once again.
What I thought: Morrison specifically stated he wanted to make the Doom Patrol crazy again. This is definitely mission accomplished. Book 2 goes even more weird and abstract than Book 1. I actually found it a little tough to enjoy because there was so much lunacy, but not much plot.
It's also a little tough to buy into Crazy Jane's story when it's all generated by dudes. She is a figure of tragedy, with sexual assault in her history - actually, it's the origin of her "powers" - and in this book, she has an entire storyline about being a harlot (in a story that is supposed to be sex-positive, but which seems to imply that anyone who enjoys sex is wrong).
On the other hand, this book does introduce a "transvestite" sentient street that manifests all sorts of "manly" shops and signs, but with distinctly feminine touches, like the gun shop decorated with flowers. There are also directly cross-dressing guys featured in Danny's ongoing revue.
Why my chosen shelves: CW: Anxiety, body issues, mental health: Cliff and Crazy Jane both have anxiety about not being normal enough; dark, death-dying, violence: There is plenty of violence and people dying, though it's generally not very gory (mostly), though there is a graphic depiction of a humanoid creature that has hung itself; Character: LGBT, Trans, nonbinary: Danny the Street is specifically identified as being a "transvestite" and it is implied that he is either gay or trans, and Rebis is nonbinary; Diverse: While the main characters are, like in the first book, mostly white, there are some other ethnicities included (mostly Black); Genre: Fantasy, horror, sci fi: This book is all about weird and creepy and supernatural; humor, satire, superhero, weird: This series definitely plays with tropes and expectations of the superhero genre and style in some fun ways; Friendship-found family: The Doom Patrol is definitely a found family, relying on each other in a world that otherwise shuns them; topic: sex: This story very specifically deals with sex in two different stories, and one character is presented as being a "harlot" and having sex with anything and everything she can; sociology: Morrison uses this series to explore the social mores and norms, and presents the Doom Patrol as a force for moderation against antagonists that would either completely control or completely unleash humanity's impulses.
Why I rated it like I did: I appreciate that Morrison is willing to push boundaries and make a comic book for adults. And I can appreciate the creativity involved in going so far off the reservation. But I liked the first collection better, where the insanity had a purpose in telling the story.
What it's about: The Doom Patrol is back! In Grant Morrison's reboot of the team, Morrison has arranged to have the then-current roster of the Doom PaWhat it's about: The Doom Patrol is back! In Grant Morrison's reboot of the team, Morrison has arranged to have the then-current roster of the Doom Patrol killed off or otherwise removed because the book had gotten too mainstream superhero-y, and Morrison wanted to bring the book back to its weird, surreal roots. So this book starts off with most of the former team dead or in the hospital.
Cliff "Robotman" Steele is in a psychiatric hospital because he is suffering from depression from not being a "real" person, and not having much sensory input except for vision. While at the hospital, Cliff meets Kay "Crazy Jane" Challis, a young woman with Dissociative Identity Disorder (commonly called "multiple personalities"). Each of Crazy Jane's personalities manifests a different super-ability. At the psychiatric hospital, strange things start to happen, and people start to die. Cliff recognizes that a common link seems to be people talking about the "scissor men" before they die. Jane and Cliff grow close, and Cliff takes her in as a member of the Doom Patrol when they try to figure out what is happening with the "scissor men".
Rhea "Lodestone" Jones is in a coma.
Larry "Negative Man" Trainor is in the hospital recovering from having lost the Negative Force; but it returns to him, and blends him with Dr. Eleanor Poole, creating a new composite character who calls themself "Rebis".
Niles "The Chief" Caulder has recruited Joshua "Tempest" Clay to be the team's medic, with Clay putting aside his superhero name and focusing on just being a "regular" person. As the Chief plans to rebuild the team, he takes in Dorothy Spinner, a teen whose face came to resemble an ape's after the gene bomb activated her abilities, which allow her to manifest her subconscious ideas in reality. She has little control of her powers, but Josh is hopeful he can help her gain some control, to safeguard both herself and those around her from some of the darker imaginings that Dorothy brings to life.
A strange event brings an even stranger book to the attention of The Chief. With Crazy Jane's help, they decipher the book to reveal a cult has imagined a "perfect" world that includes the Scissor Men, and that this other world and its inhabitants are in the process of taking over our dimension.
After this, Lodestone is kidnapped from her coma bed by a being that calls itself Red Jack, who claims to be God. Cliff and Crazy Jane manage to help get Rhea's body back, but she remains in a coma.
Next, the team finds themselves going up against Mr. Nobody, a former human who has become a vastly powerful abstract design. Nobody wants to make the world more "creative", so he forms the Brotherhood of Dada with several power-imbued outsiders. The hatch a plan to feed the whole world to a living painting.
It's never a dull moment with The Doom Patrol!
What I thought: This book is WILD! I love the idea that just because someone has abilities, they would be happy about it. Each member of the Doom Patrol sees themself as broken in some way, with the exception of The Chief, who is mostly just a jerk who is happy to have the others to send out at his whim.
Why my chosen shelves: CW: abuse, violence, sex, mental health, dark, death-dying; audience: Adult: It is HEAVILY implied (all but directly stated) that Jane was raped by her father which led to the beginning of her DID, and there is a good bit of stabbing and blood and killing in other ways; Diverse: Josh and a part of Rebis are Black, and it is implied that Crazy Jane's alternate personalities might not all be white, and Morrison does a decent job of including more than just white characters in other roles throughout the book; satire: Morrison is clearly playing around with superhero tropes; Weird: this book is cuckoo banana-pants wild - but in a very interesting way!; Sci Fi, Fantasy, magic, supernatural: This book is perfectly fine erasing the line that might otherwise separate sci fi and fantasy - there is magic galore, but also science-based examinations of situations; series, sequel, anthology: This book continues the ongoing Doom Patrol series, but serves as the starting point of Morrison's run on the book; nonbinary: The character Rebis specifically states that it is both (and neither) man and woman; omniscient: The book has a narrator that jumps in here and there, showing different situations and revealing characters' thoughts and feelings;
Why I rated it like I did: This is a really fun take on what creativity can look like in a "superhero" story. It's really out-there, but it holds together. ...more
3.5 This story is basically, "What if Superman had a psychotic break?" It's heavy on atrocity, light on what's actually happening. This kind of makes 3.5 This story is basically, "What if Superman had a psychotic break?" It's heavy on atrocity, light on what's actually happening. This kind of makes sense, as most of the story is told from the POV of the Justice League analog that is trying to figure out a way to stop "The Plutonian" (a.k.a. "Tony") while also trying to avoid being captured and/or killed by him. This requires lots of jumping around (literally, as they teleport away from places to avoid being captured or killed). They are also working with the handicap that they know nothing about Tony except that he was a hero for a long while before his switch flipped, so they have to try to carry out an investigation while avoiding death.
I'm curious to see where the story goes, but at 8 issues in, the "good guys" haven't accomplished much. ...more
I wanted this to be good, and it seemed like it might be, but it went WAY off the rails.
In the original Watchmen, Rorschach was such an interesting, uI wanted this to be good, and it seemed like it might be, but it went WAY off the rails.
In the original Watchmen, Rorschach was such an interesting, ultimately broken person, willing to stand up for his principals, even if it meant he died. He had such a tragic backstory, it was easy to see why he'd be so angered by and unable to interact with most of society - he looked into the dark corners that most tried to ignore, and he tried to do something about it, while most others just did their best to ignore it. It gave him a righteousness that was both a fuel and a poison.
The main thing Rorschach did in the original series was follow the leads wherever they went, and do his best to exact justice, often in a biblically brutal way.
This book sort of grabs some elements of that as a continuation of the character's legacy, with several people seeming to take up the mantle of Rorschach over the course of the story. Perhaps ironically, the character who most follows Rorschach's trajectory is one who doesn't seem to actually take up the mantle.
The ending was rather muddled. Actually, big chunks of the story feel like a bad take on mental health, including the finale. (view spoiler)[The ending is also maybe a reference to how Lee Harvey Oswald went to the movies after killing Kennedy? (hide spoiler)]
There are some digs at a conservative presidential candidate whose last name starts with T and whose supporters wear red hats - not too tough to figure out.
There is also maybe a couple swipes at comic book scribe Frank Miller? I'm not sure if he was involved, or if he'd see them as insulting or funny. It didn't really land either way - neither funny nor mean enough for satire, and not really adding anything to the story, except for readers to go, "Oh, it's Frank Miller!"
Overall, I was disappointed. I kept reading 8n the hopes that things would tie together, and while a few elements do, too much of the story just left me going, "Huh?"...more
What it's about: The backstory of Negan as the dead began to walk.
Why my chosen shelves: trigger, Bullying, violence: Negan is a bully pretty much froWhat it's about: The backstory of Negan as the dead began to walk.
Why my chosen shelves: trigger, Bullying, violence: Negan is a bully pretty much from the start, and throughout the story, and there's a ton of violence because that's a central feature of this series; dark, death-dying, illness: (view spoiler)[Negan's wife gets sick and dies the day the dead start to walk again (hide spoiler)]; mental health: Negan cuts off his emotions and basically chooses to be a sociopath as he adopts to a new world; sex: Negan is having an affair at the beginning of the book;
What I thought: / Why I rated it like I did: This felt very unnecessary. It didn't add much (if anything) to Negan's story, except to show that he wasn't always a sociopath. It actually didn't go far enough in showing how he came to be who he was when he came into the main story - this feels extremely abbreviated, in a way that doesn't feel fulfilling, particularly in light of how other characters were developed over the series. ...more
What it's about: Edison Crane is the smartest person in the world. From an early age, he was learning prodigiously, such as when he learned martial arWhat it's about: Edison Crane is the smartest person in the world. From an early age, he was learning prodigiously, such as when he learned martial arts in an afternoon by watching movies so he could beat the bullies who were harassing him at school, or when he learned how to perform open-heart surgery on his friend and operated on him in the basement during a dinner party.
As an adult, Dr. Crane is constantly seeking new adventures, never content to simply be rich, handsome, and brilliant. So he is intrigued when a CIA agent comes to him and asks for help figuring out what is going on with the various instances of spontaneously-appearing vehicles that seem to be alien going on around the globe.
The two set out on an around-the-world whirlwind of action and intrigue as they race to uncover the information they need to decipher what seems to be an invasion from another dimension.
But has Crane bitten off more than he can chew? Can one man stop an ancient order with thousands of years of evil behind it, while also preventing global catastrophe?
What I thought: This was kind of a weird story. Crane comes off as pretty much a jerk, but he has these scenes where he's helping individual people solve their personal issues to such an extent that enemies become trusted allies willing to serve this super-brilliant guy. These pieces didn't seem to fit together for me. Part of that is probably the breakneck pace of the book. It's implied that Crane is so smart, he can figure out problems almost instantly, and implement his solutions on the spot. And the focus jumps from one action moment to the next without any in-between building of character or deepening of the plot - it's just go-go-go from page 1.
So for me, it all felt shallow and kind of boring. There is hardly a single moment in the entire book when Crane faces anything like a challenge - it's just him going from A to B to C.
Millar's work is sometimes satire, but this isn't cutting or interesting in any way - it just seems like super-James Bond, but with less charisma.
Why my chosen shelves: trigger, violence, child abuse: To show how evil the bad guys are, they are introduced during an event where they hunt and kill orphans - which they do regularly; horror, dark: When the interdimensional ships appear, they often do so in the same space as a person, causing that person to explode;
Why I rated it like I did: A main character who knows EVERYTHING is a bit boring....more
What it’s about: In the final volume of the Walking Dead series, things come to a head.
The Commonwealth goes into revolt, which leads to a confrontatWhat it’s about: In the final volume of the Walking Dead series, things come to a head.
The Commonwealth goes into revolt, which leads to a confrontation between Rick and the Governor. As things move toward resolution, **SPOILER THAT WAS IN THE NEWS COMING** Rick ends up getting murdered. The story then jumps ahead several decades to see how things turned out after the loss of Rick Grimes, the man looked upon as one of the great leaders during the zombie apocalypse.
What I thought: The afterword of this volume was interesting. Kirkman discusses how the story had reached the point where he would just be padding it out if he tried to continue it. I appreciate that he didn't, and that he was willing to bring the story to an end.
Kirkman also discusses that his original vision for the ending was incredibly bleak. The ending we get is not as dark, but I felt like it left quite a bit of loss ends flapping in the breeze. I actually wouldn't have minded a few more issues in the jump-ahead time period to see how some things worked out. But most of the main lines were wrapped up enough that it didn't feel totally incomplete.
Why I chose those shelves: I mean, it's the Walking Dead - it's dark and bleak and full of death and violence.
Why I rated it like I did: It was a pretty good ending for a story that rarely went where I thought it would go. ...more
What it’s about: The air of discontent in the Commonwealth grows deeper as people from the loose collection of colonies led by Rick Grimes see the benWhat it’s about: The air of discontent in the Commonwealth grows deeper as people from the loose collection of colonies led by Rick Grimes see the benefits and drawbacks of this new enclave, which has managed to return its citizenry to nearly the same status quo as before the dead began to walk.
What I thought: I didn't like this one as much as others - there was a central character death that felt unearned and kind of pointless.
Why I chose those shelves: This is an explicit horror graphic novel that has tons of death and sex, so... There is also a lot about family and found family across many of these books.
Why I rated it like I did: I didn't like this one as much as others - there was a central character death that felt unearned and kind of pointless....more
What it’s about: After weeks of communicating with someone outside their sphere via ham radio, Eugene joins a group that is heading out to make contacWhat it’s about: After weeks of communicating with someone outside their sphere via ham radio, Eugene joins a group that is heading out to make contact with this other group. But their arrival does not go as expected.
As the group is forcibly introduced to the Commonwealth, they find themselves challenged in many ways - their welcome is not very welcoming, but the community they find is in some ways developed beyond anything they could have imagined.
But there is a darker side to this seeming paradise, one that threatens to tear this seeming-paradise apart.
What I thought: With unexpected reunions and dangers aplenty, this is another decent entry in the franchise.
Why I chose those shelves: It's a graphic novel for adults focused on the horrors of a world full of zombies. It pretty much does what's on the label. The series does jump around to different people's perspectives. The last few volumes deal particularly with Carl coming of age, and his father coming to terms with Carl becoming an adult. Large portions of every volume are told from a male perspective.
Why I rated it like I did: I thought I knew where things were going as our heroes engaged with the Commonwealth - another repeat of previous encounters with outside forces. But this one didn't quite go as I figured. It was an interesting idea about how "civilization" might re-emerge after a catastrophe - one that showcases the hubris of people in a way that felt pretty spot-on. ...more
What it’s about: This is the retold origin story of Cassandra Cain. In this version, Cassandra is a half-Asian girl trained from childhood to be an asWhat it’s about: This is the retold origin story of Cassandra Cain. In this version, Cassandra is a half-Asian girl trained from childhood to be an assassin. She is never taught to read, or write, or even speak; she is just trained in killing.
But after years of being a killer, Cassandra finds herself confused when a target asks her to tell his daughter he loves her. Cassandra has heard the word "daughter" many times, but she doesn't understand how it connects to these other words, or that other people might know the word.
Cassandra runs away from her father's organization, and finds herself huddled in an alley, looking for food from a dumpster. She is found by a local restaurant owner who takes Cassandra in to feed her. Cassandra is struck by the woman's kindness, but runs off, confused by her feelings.
She ends up taking shelter in a library, where she overhears a storytelling lesson led by Barbara Gordon, a girl in a wheelchair. Although Cassandra doesn't understand everything she hears, it makes her want to learn more about reading and writing.
Making a home for herself at the library, Cassandra starts to teach herself to read and write. And she comes into contact with some other regulars in the library. And as she begins to make what she thinks might be friends, she also learns about heroism and relationships.
But when her father comes looking for her, Cassandra has to decide who she wants to be: a hero, or a daughter.
What I thought: My biggest problem with this story was that it tried to do too much. There wasn't enough time for character development, so the entire thing felt rushed. I don't care how smart CC is, she's not learning to read, write, and speak in a week or two, especially on her own, especially after a lifetime of mutism and illiteracy. The timeline is never really clarified, but we're talking about YEARS of development, and this story is DEFINITELY not taking place over more than a few months, tops.
As an origin story, it's a neatly-bowed package, and I get that the story needs to move along to get from the start to the end. But as a teacher, I found it mildly infuriating that this story implies that anyone can just listen to a couple conversations and pick up some books and just teach themselves to read. THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS. THAT'S NOT HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS.
I am not at all familiar with the character Cassandra Cain (and was pretty sure she was Spoiler, which was definitely not the case), and I didn't realize that Barbara Gordon's story seems to have been retconned to make her tenure as Oracle more aligned with her past - which, I dunno, just felt a little weird to me. I mean, the Killing Joke was a pretty terrible storyline that basically "fridged" Barbara, so I'm not too disappointed that it seems to be getting replaced. But what I appreciated about BG AFTER the Killing Joke situation is that she re-focused herself to learn new skills so she could stay involved with crimefighting. This book makes her backstory basically lead directly to her being Oracle, and Batgirl seems like a weird tangent.
OK, pardon the digression. Back to this particular book--
The other big issue I had with this book was that Cassandra seems like she's maybe in her early teens (I'd actually have put her around maybe 13, maybe younger), but she ends up making out (in a relatively graphic way for a young readers graphic novel) with a kid who seems to be several years older than her. That felt pretty squicky.
So overall, I found this to be a bit meh as a story. But I appreciated that this is a character bringing in some diversity to what has traditionally been a White Dudes club.
Why I chose those shelves: This is, at heart, a superhero story; there's plenty of action; Cassandra is basically physically and mentally abused throughout her childhood (though it's not particularly presented that way); Cassandra kills several people and hurts others - pretty dark for a teen hero, and for MG readers; CC starts a romantic relationship (see "squicky" above); CC is portrayed as being Chinese, and Jackie as Japanese; CC finds family-via-friends; CC is marginalized in that she is not treated like a person for most of her life; trigger warning: there's some violence, killing, and parental neglect/abuse
Why I rated it like I did: What the story is doing for the Batfamily mythos is good. This particular story, though, does not strike me as a particularly good example of graphic novel storytelling. It's too rushed, and with the art, I had trouble differentiating details like the ages of the characters, which was problematic when the character that looks 10 was making out with the character that looks 20. ...more
What it's about: This is a collection of stories about the LGBTQ+ superhero group The Pride - their group origin, individual origin stories, and some What it's about: This is a collection of stories about the LGBTQ+ superhero group The Pride - their group origin, individual origin stories, and some of their adventures.
What I thought: To my mind, this book has several extremely important moments that give a deep insight into the experience of the LGBTQ+ population - how they are (mis)treated, how they try to navigate the world, how they want to be seen as people first, and not defined by their sexuality or physical shape.
As a series of superhero stories, it's not bad.
The art didn't work for me. Different stories, and different parts of the same story, are illustrated by different artists, and it's such a mish-mosh of styles. Some of it is great; some of it is not what I would look for in a graphic novel. One of my biggest issues with the art was that a character who is basically a bear (like, the actual animal) is drawn in some spots looking EXACTLY like a Scottish terrier. I mean... c'mon.
I also thought the gay puns were laid on a bit too thick. There's a character whose power is that he is an actual bear, and he's also a gay bear. One character is called Twink, which has seemingly nothing to do with his powers and everything to do with the fact that he's a young gay guy. In a book that's all about how gay people come in all shapes and sizes and colors and styles, I was hoping there would be more characters who were just who they were, without feeling the need to embody (often literally) gay stereotypes.
I see a lot of potential here, but it doesn't feel like it was fully achieved.
Why my chosen shelves: The characters specifically set out to create a group of superheroes that represent as many different types of people as possible - they are purposely creating diversity within their group (though they still seem to end up with a whole lot of white dudes, though most of them are gay). Trigger warnings for gay bashings and attempted suicides, and discussions of conversion therapy.
Why I rated it like I did: This book could be a godsend for LGBTQ+ youth who are looking for themselves in superhero stories. There is one short specifically dedicated to helping a bullied, suicidal teen that includes information about how to reach out and get help, and an explanation of "It gets better" that seemed very grounded and non-platitudinal....more
What it's about: An origin story for the super-powered Puerto Riquena. Young America was found on a beach by a family from the Bronx; they take her inWhat it's about: An origin story for the super-powered Puerto Riquena. Young America was found on a beach by a family from the Bronx; they take her in and raise her as their own. When she begins to manifest powers, she also begins to remember - she came from an alternate dimension, where her mothers died while trying to save the world.
Teen America decides she'll be a hero like her moms, and takes to the streets to stop villainy. This leads to friction with her family, and soon America decides she's had enough and heads out on her own.
Several years later, America finds herself back home, saving her family from a mysterious fire. It turns out that America's family was targeted as a way to lure America into a trap. And the one herding America is the last person she would ever expect.
What I thought: I didn't know ANYTHING about this character before reading this book, except that she's been around in one form or another for several decades.
Overall, I found the book to be a bit meh. It felt like a lot of wasted potential. I am usually all about "get to the story already", but this book seemed to skim across all the character development, particularly when it got to the villain, who REALLY was way to two-dimensional. She is also clearly set up to return as a big-bad at a later point in the series.
Why my chosen shelves: This is clearly a series meant for teens; it deals with the death of America's mothers, and the consequences of making choices. America seems to be in a romantic relationship with another character who is either female or nonbinary (it's not explicitly stated); America learns she was experimented on as a child, along with many other children, some of whom were treated much worse that America; trigger warning for dead parents and cruelty towards children; the book focuses on America's family.
Why I rated it like I did: This whole story felt very rushed to me, which was a shame, because I would love to see this character given some strong depth and background, rather than getting a rough sketch.
What it's about: Continuing the ongoing saga of Tony Chu, the cannibal-detective, and the increasingly-strange world he's operating in.
What I thoughtWhat it's about: Continuing the ongoing saga of Tony Chu, the cannibal-detective, and the increasingly-strange world he's operating in.
What I thought: It's a weird, wild ride! This was a fun, weird story. Layman's creation of various food-based powers is very interesting and unusual. There are some plot points that are telegraphed from a mile back, while others are coming at you sideways.
(view spoiler)[In this one, giant flaming letters appear around the world (and later disappear); Poyo returns, then dies; Tony's sister is revealed to be a cibopath in hiding; and his daughter is kidnapped by Mason. (hide spoiler)]
Why my chosen shelves: Tony Chu is Chinese, a detective trying to solve mysteries, and eats parts of dead people. Layman is clearly playing around with some tropes of detective stories and fantasy/sci fi tales. The story is rather tongue-in-cheek throughout. I saw this listed as a YA pick somewhere; the language and violence are really pushing the envelop, and the overly-sexualized images of women are a little problematic, to my mind.
Why I rated it like I did: It was a fun read, and if I can get my hands on the whole series, I'll read them, but it's definitely not high art in any dimension....more
What it's about: Continuing the ongoing saga of Tony Chu, the cannibal-detective, and the increasingly-strange world he's operating in.
What I thoughtWhat it's about: Continuing the ongoing saga of Tony Chu, the cannibal-detective, and the increasingly-strange world he's operating in.
What I thought: It's a weird, wild ride! This was a fun, weird story. Layman's creation of various food-based powers is very interesting and unusual. There are some plot points that are telegraphed from a mile back, while others are coming at you sideways.
(view spoiler)[In this one, Tony is on the trail of a club that eats endangered or extinct animals; we meet Poyo; Montero's "chogs" are revealed, along with an undercover FDA agent (and former/ongoing partner with the fugitive Mason Savoy); Tony takes Amelia home for Thanksgiving, at the end of which flaming letters appear across the sky, and Tony's daughter is revealed. (hide spoiler)]
Why my chosen shelves: Tony Chu is Chinese, a detective trying to solve mysteries, and eats parts of dead people. Layman is clearly playing around with some tropes of detective stories and fantasy/sci fi tales. The story is rather tongue-in-cheek throughout. I saw this listed as a YA pick somewhere; the language and violence are really pushing the envelop, and the overly-sexualized images of women are a little problematic, to my mind.
Why I rated it like I did: It was a fun read, and if I can get my hands on the whole series, I'll read them, but it's definitely not high art in any dimension....more
What it's about: Continuing the ongoing saga of Tony Chu, the cannibal-detective, and the increasingly-strange world he's operating in.
What I thoughtWhat it's about: Continuing the ongoing saga of Tony Chu, the cannibal-detective, and the increasingly-strange world he's operating in.
What I thought: It's a weird, wild ride! This was a fun, weird story. Layman's creation of various food-based powers is very interesting and unusual. There are some plot points that are telegraphed from a mile back, while others are coming at you sideways.
(view spoiler)[In this one: Tony's partner John returns, with a cybernetic face; Amelia seeks out the weird maybe-vegetable on the tiny Pacific island; The Vampire shows up; John sleeps with the boss that hates Tony to get him off Tony's back; Tony saves his crush, Amelia, and finally asks her on a date. (hide spoiler)]
Why my chosen shelves: Tony Chu is Chinese, a detective trying to solve mysteries, and eats parts of dead people. Layman is clearly playing around with some tropes of detective stories and fantasy/sci fi tales. The story is rather tongue-in-cheek throughout. I saw this listed as a YA pick somewhere; the language and violence are really pushing the envelop, and the overly-sexualized images of women are a little problematic, to my mind.
Why I rated it like I did: It was a fun read, and if I can get my hands on the whole series, I'll read them, but it's definitely not high art in any dimension....more
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