Graphic Novel Review: Avatar - The Last Airbender Volume 1

Synopsis:
The wait is over! Ever since the conclusion of Avatar: The Last Airbender, its millions of fans have been hungry for more--and it's finally here!

This series of digests rejoins Aang and friends for exciting new adventures, beginning with a faceoff against the Fire Nation that threatens to throw the world into another war, testing all of Aang's powers and ingenuity!

* The continuation of Airbender and the link to its upcoming sequel, Legend of Korra!

Publication Date: January 25, 2012
Genre: Graphic Novel, Comics
Source: Thanks so much to Dark Horse for making this awesome title available on Netgalley!


Review:
So I know for a fact that I'm not the only adult with an Avatar obsession. It all began with my husband watching the show with our 5 year old. Eventually our whole family ended up loving it and we were so sad when it ended. The next step in the tv series is Legend of Korra and it takes place many years later and the new Avatar is a girl. Still an awesome show! Anyway! All that to say that this comic is after the events of the first show and will show us what happened to Aang, Sokka, Kitara, Zuko and the rest.

If you are a fan of the show you HAVE to read this :) The quirky, weird humor in the show is exactly the same in the comic. Aang's enormous smile, Sokka's many range of facial expressions and Kitara being all Kitara-y. The art is almost exactly the same as Avatar which is good. If they'd made it look way more mature it wouldn't have felt right. It does tackle some more mature issues, but still in a light-hearted way.

I'm so happy that there is another way to get my Avatar fix :) And yes, I'm an adult that still watches cartoons. I like to just blame it on the fact that 'my kids watch it' and move on. If you love the show, you will love this comic! And I think someone that hasn't watched or kept up with the tv show would still enjoy them. It has a quick refresher at the very beginning for those that need it. Definitely one to check out!

Graphic Novel Review: House of Night by P. C. Cast/Dark Horse Comics

Synopsis:
* The magical world of New York Times best-selling authors P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast comes to comics!

Until recently, Zoey Redbird was an average high-school student worrying about grades, boys, and breakouts. But priorities have a way of changing when you’re Marked as a vampyre, enroll in the vampyre academy House of Night, and have to figure out a whole new social hierarchy, affinities for elemental magic, and physiological changes that make you crave blood! Collects issues #1-#5 of the series.

Follow Zoey, and her group of devoted friends, as they turn toThe Fledgling Handbook, a historical vampyre tome, in hopes of better understanding this big, new world of vampyrism.



Publication Date: July 4, 2012
Genre: Graphic Novel, Paranormal, Young Adult
Source: Thanks to Dark Horse Comics for making this title available on Netgalley.


Review:
I've recently become very enamored by graphic novels. This one caught my eye because I've read most of the books in this series. The books are easy to read and entertaining, maybe slightly addicting. But it's been awhile since I've read them, especially the first ones. This comic does the novels so much justice and it's basically awesome in its own right.

I was GAGA over the artwork. It is seriously eye-poppingly gorgeous. The attention to detail on every single character is superb. And the colors! I read this as an e-galley, but plan on heading to our local comic book haunt to buy this one once it releases. It's just beautiful. And me wants it on my shelf.

Like I mentioned, it's been awhile since I've read the books and I don't remember how much detail was told about the history of the Dark Daughters, but the comic goes in-depth and shows each of the five stories. Those parts might have been my favorite. I know I keep saying it, but the artwork just blew my mind. The history of the five elements is broken up by Zoey trying to navigate her way as the new leader of the Dark Daughters at the House of Night. The banter that goes on amongst Zoey and her group of friends stays true to the novels and was very well done.

Fans of the House of Night series will love this, as well as those that have never read them. I hope there are many more in this comic series because I would love to collect them :)

Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Synopsis:
Orphan Hugo Cabret lives in a wall. His secret home is etched out in the crevices of a busy Paris train station. Part-time clock keeper, part-time thief, he leads a life of quiet routine until he gets involved with an eccentric, bookish young girl and an angry old man who runs a toy booth in the station. The Invention of Hugo Cabret unfolds its cryptic, magical story in a format that blends elements of picture book, novel, graphic novel, and film. Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick has fashioned an intricate puzzle story that binds the reader like a mesmerist's spell.

Review:
I felt very emotional reading it for some reason. Probably picturing if Hugo were my boy, how hard that would be. A boy with so much imagination and potential who is all alone in the world.

This book expertly (perfectly, wonderfully) blends drawings and text to create such a beautiful and touching story. This book was recommended by my sister for us to read with our four year old. He is getting to the age where he likes to be read to, yet his attention wavers easily. It sounded like it was worth a try.

My husband has been reading it to our four year old every night and our three year old daughter joins them (she loves it too). They talk about what's going on in the pictures and then listen intently to my husband as he reads the other parts. I love that they are using different creative parts of their brains and interacting with the book.

The story is so wonderful that I read ahead of everyone because I wanted (needed) to know what happened to Hugo Cabret. I think older kids could relate to this story. Not every child has a loving family or an easy life. It's a great book to read as a family.

Also, a few nights ago we saw that they are making a movie called Hugo, based on this book. The excitement on the kids' faces was a sight to behold. How great is it to be a part of their first book to movie experience? I can't wait to see it with them as a family and talk about how it was the same and how it differed from the novel.

Publication Date: March 1, 2007
Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novels
Source: Public Library