The Lion of Rora: Review Haiku

Little-known tale of
religious persecution
and war strategy.

The Lion of Rora by Christos Gage and Ruth Fletcher Gage. Oni Press, 2015, 184 pages.

Courtney Crumrin: Review Haiku

Creepy sorcerers
and lots of mustaches make
for one spooky read.

Courtney Crumrin Volume 7: Tales of a Warlock by Ted Naifeh. Oni Press, 2015, 113 pages.

Baba Yaga's Assistant: Review Haiku

Creepy as all hell,
but notable for Masha's
grace under pressure.

Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola and Emily Carroll. Candlewick, 2015, 125 pages.

Secret Coders: Review Haiku

I for one welcome
our new computer science
overlords. Good fun.

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes. Turtleback Books, 2015, 96 pages.

Oyster War: Review Haiku

Oysters and pirates
and selkies, oh my!
Plus epic mustaches, dude.

Oyster War by Ben Towle. Oni Press, 2015, 167 pages.

Terrorist: Review Haiku

Oppressed Serb becomes
pawn in global pissing contest,
unleashes hell.

Terrorist: Gavrilo Princip, the Assassin Who Ignited World War I by Henrik Rehr. Graphic Universe, 2015, 231 pages.

Dragons Beware!: Review Haiku

The further adventures
of everyone's favorite
pint-sized hothead.

Dragons Beware! by Rafael Rosado and Jorge Aguirre. First Second, 2015, 153 pages.

Ms. Marvel: Review Haiku

Not your average
origin story. Not your
average superhero.

Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona. Marvel Comics, 2014, 120 pages.

Nimona: Review Haiku

Why, what does your
stereotypical kicka$$
heroine look like?

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. Harper, 2015, 266 pages.

The Marvels: Review Haiku

Intertwining stories
about family, theatre,
loss. Marvelous.

The Marvels by Brian Selznick. Scholastic, 2015, 665 pages.

It's Cybils Day!

Calloo callay, it's Cybils Day! Head on over here for the winners.

And many thanks to my fellow judges on the Graphic Novel panel!

Happy New Year!

Hope you are all suitably resolved and recovered from the year-end festivities.

I'll be in Cybils judging mode for January and half of February, so posting may be lighter than usual. Godspeed.

Honor Girl: Review Haiku

Not your typical
summer-camp love story.
Also, she's a crack shot.

Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash. Candlewick, 2015, 267 pages.

March, Book 2: Review Haiku

How long shall my
enemy be exalted over
me, O my Lord?

March: Book 2 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell. Top Shelf, 2015, 192 pages.

Sunny Side Up: Review Haiku

Serious fare from
the Babymouse sibs.
Addiction hurts everyone.

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. Graphix/Scholastic, 2015, 224 pages.

Roller Girl: Review Haiku

Take some time away
from your barbecues to meet
one kick-ass skate babe.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Dial, 2015, 240 pages.

Through the Woods: Review Haiku

CREEPY AS ALL HELL,
and wonderfully rich and
compelling to boot.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll. McElderry/S&S, 2014, 208 pages.

Gaijin: Review Haiku

A different story
of internment, with
complicated characters.

Gaijin: American Prisoner of War by Matt Faulkner. Disney, 2014, 144 pages.

The Harlem Hellfighters: Review Haiku

A story of wartime
bravery, tainted by
shameful racism.

The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks. Broadway Books, 2014, 272 pages.

The Shadow Hero: Review Haiku

A turtle for our time:
the classic superhero
tale writ anew.

The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Lieuw. First Second, 2014, 176 pages.