Review: The Son of Neptune

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Percy Jackson is one of my favorite characters in children's literature. And, while I enjoyed getting to know Jason, Piper and Leo in The Lost Hero, it was nice to read about Percy again. And meeting Hazel and Frank, along with the rest of Camp Jupiter (the Roman version of Camp Half-Blood) was like old friends introducing me to new friends.

The book was as exciting as the previous ones set in this world, with surprises peppered throughout the book that I never saw coming. Riordan's writing is exciting, keeping the reader anxious to hear more. Some of the lines that he had various characters say alternately cracked me up and made me want to adopt them as mantras. The characters mesh well and seem very realistic - for demi-gods.

There was only one problem I had with the audio book edition, and that was the pronunciation of Gaea. I'd always pronounced it (and heard it pronounced) Geye-ah. The reader pronounced it GE-ah. And each time he said it, I shuddered. Maybe I'd heard it pronounced wrong all this time. But it still bugged me.

I've got the paper copy of the book coming soon as well, and I'm going to reread it then. Because a) it was a good book and 2) I don't know what I may catch on the second read through. If you've loved the Percy Jackson series, you'll enjoy this one as well. If you love reading about mythology, you'll enjoy the series. And once you've read them, you'll want Fall, 2012 to hurry up and get here for the next installment of the series.



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Review: JSA Vol. 8: Black Reign

JSA Vol. 8: Black Reign by Geoff Johns

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was another random pull from the library book shelves. It was a time that I'd read about in some of the other graphic novels that I'd read, a time when Black Adam brings to him some of the other heroes who were tired of being reactive instead of proactive, including Atom Smasher. Their first order of business is to take back Black Adam's home country, Kahndaq. But the JSA doesn't agree with Black Adam's methods and want to try to bring their errant friends home.

Black Adam is one of my favorite hero/villains so to read a bit more about him was enjoyable. And the more recent stories that I've read about Atom Smasher also made me want to know more about him as well. And this was a good story for both of those. The violence that happened in Kahndaq was a bit... disturbing. But I've kind of gotten used to that.

The best part of the book, however, was at the end. You get to see the future for Atom Smasher and the good things that happen to him. And that makes me feel better for how things ended. I'm really hoping that it's a future that comes to pass.



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Review: JSA Vol. 2: Darkness Falls

JSA Vol. 2: Darkness Falls by David S. Goyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



As is my wont, I was perusing the graphic novel shelves at my local library when I came across this one. I've been randomly working my way through various DC characters and right now, I'm enjoying quite a bit of the JSA.

I'm not sure where in the continuity this particular volume falls. But, like much of my reading, I've found that I don't much care. It's still a very enjoyable read that expands my knowledge of several more of my favorite characters.

This particular volume has two fairly distinct stories: Obsidian's fall into madness, followed by the fate of the universe being held in the JSA's hands. The two stories were linked through Al Rothstein, or Atom Smasher. And it is a wonderful set of stories.

The artwork was, as always, wonderful. And the writing was also top notch. I loved exploring the character of Atom Smasher and finding out more about Star Spangled Kid. Seeing the pain in Alan Scott (formerly Green Lantern, now going by Sentinel) was heartbreaking. And the resolution found at the end to deal with an almost omniscient character was pure brilliance. It was one of the better JSA stories that I've read.



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Review: Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come, Part III

Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come, Part III by Geoff Johns

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Please see my review for the entire Thy Kingdom Come series on the first volume, which can be found here.



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Review: Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come Part II SC

Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come Part II SC by Geoff Johns

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Please see my review for the entire Thy Kingdom Come series on the first volume, which can be found here.



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Review: Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come, Part 1

Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come, Part 1 by Geoff Johns

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I don't remember specifics for each book, so I'm combining a review for all 3 of the parts of Thy Kingdom Come into one review.

When a much older Superman is pulled through a black hole created by Starman, he tells the story of his world gone wrong. He is from an alternate world, Earth 22, and didn't manage to save the people that lived there. His fear, based on some of the things that the members of the JSA had told him, was that this earth would soon be following in the footsteps of his own home planet. And he's willing to help the JSA try to make this happen.

But when the nature of that threat arrives - an old god by the name of Gog from the Third World - the team becomes split. Gog seems to be making things better. He cures Starman's madness. He fixes Damage's scarred face. He restores Dr Midnight's sight. But not everyone is as trusting of this seemingly benevolent god. Will Gog be what tears the team apart?

This is a series that I'd seen in the back of several of the graphics that I'd gotten recently and I thought that now would be the time for me to check them out, especially when I saw the second volume on my library shelves. The other two volumes arrived at my branch of the library last Saturday and I dived into them, curious what the story was going to be about.

And it was a good story. Not my favorite by a long shot (that still goes to the Green Arrow graphic novel, Quiver) but a fairly solid story. The only thing that I had to quibble with is that the message seemed a bit heavy handed at times. But seeing the various members of the JSA struggle with the choice of whether they should believe in Gog or not was well worth the message that was being passed along. I felt sorriest for Citizen Steel, who couldn't even hold his family because of the powers he received. Especially when Gog helped every other person but ignored him. Yet, for the longest time, he kept the faith in Gog stronger than anyone but Damage.

I think the authors did a wonderful job in depicting the various characters from the DC Universe, making us care about those that were new to our world, and giving enough information about the heroes that new readers wouldn't be completely lost. If you're wanting to get started in the world of reading Graphic Novels, then Thy Kingdom Come may not be a bad place to start. Yes, you'll probably want to go out and read a ton of other comics that had come before, but I don't think this will detract in the least.



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Review: Justice League Elite: Volume 2

Justice League Elite: Volume 2 by Joe Kelly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Several members of the Justice League were tired of being reactive to threats to the human race. They wanted to be proactive instead. So they, along with others that weren't quite so noble, combined to make the Justice League Elite. But they are being eaten away from within. Someone is a traitor, and someone else isn't quite who they say they are. Will the JLE survive the trouble from within?

My Thoughts: I was in the mood for more graphic novels and found this one while I was searching. Of course, my library didn't have the first volume, but that never seems to stop me. I wasn't really sure what to expect of this one, but it had Green Arrow (my favorite superhero) so I knew I'd enjoy it for that, if nothing else. And I did end up enjoying it quite a bit. I was only familiar with a couple of the characters before I'd read this one - Flash and Green Arrow. But many of the other characters - particularly Manitou Raven - were ones that I found myself really enjoying learning about. I'm going to see if my library system has the first book so I can check it out, as well as see if there are more books in that series. But I love reading anything DC related, so it shouldn't be a surprise that I've enjoyed it.



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Review: The Rogue Hunter

The Rogue Hunter by Lynsay Sands

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Garrett Mortimer has been immortal for a long time - 800 years. In all that time, very little has been able to draw him away from his duty as a Rogue Hunter for the Argeneau clan. Until, that is, he and his partner are search cottage country outside of Toronto for a rogue vampire and he finds the one woman he cannot mentally influence - Samantha Willan, also know as his life mate. Sam is at her family cottage with her sisters, while Mortimer is staying next door with another member of the clan. As Sam and Mortimer get closer, more obstacles seem to be thrown in their way, finally ending with Mortimer telling Sam about who and what he really is, asking her for commitment. What will Sam decide? And will they ever find the rogue biting mortals in the wilds of cottage country?

My Thoughts: I'd read a few of the Argeneau short stories (or, I think I have. I've read so many anthologies that it's hard to remember what I have and what I haven't read!) I saw this book at my library's month book sale and thought, "You know, I've heard a few good things about this, so let me pick it up." Yes, I'm following my trend of starting somewhere in the middle of a series rather than at the beginning. But in this case, it wasn't a hindrance. Sands wove the vampire mythos into the story very well, along with giving other bits of information that long time readers of the series may have known by newbies needed to know. I'll admit, that's something I relish finding in a book that I'm reading. It makes me want to read what's come before and not feel completely lost in what I'm reading now. I loved the characters - especially Bricker. He's the youngest of the vampires in that group and still has a lot to learn about being an older vampire like Mortimer and Decker (the vamp who owns the cottage). It's a shame that he isn't life-mated with Sam's sister, Jo. They would have made a great couple.

There was also a lot of humor in the book, and that is something I love to read. The interactions between the sisters and the vampires got incredibly comical - particularly when the vamps were trying to come up with a cover story of what they did with a living and Bricker blurted out that they were in a band together, formerly called Morty and the Muppets. The band bit led to some humorous moments throughout the rest of the book. And the poor luck that continually happened to Sam and Mort whenever they tried to get it on was just... definitely chuckle worthy. One of those stories you tell your kids so you can embarrass them when you're older.

One of the highest kudos, however, goes to Sands for the world that she built. I love the vampires-as-products-of-science so much more than the vampires-as-products-of-cursing so much better. Yeah, you need to stretch your imagination a little to make it work (premise: the vampires have nanotechnology inside of them that keeps them in top physical condition. The nanotechnology runs off of the blood in the body and that is why they need to replenish themselves by drinking blood. The Argeneau clan has been around a long time - the first people to have this technology implanted were part of the highly-developed country of Atlantis.), but it's something that doesn't cause the immortals to be evil creatures. And I've never liked vamps as absolute evil. Sometimes you need to do what you have to do to survive, right?

If you like your vampires a little different than the norm, check this series out. I don't think you'll regret it. It's one of the best.



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Review: Bitten

Bitten by R.L. Stine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a compilation of the two books thus-far written for this series. The first book, Dangerous Girls, introduces the reader to Destiny and Livvy Weller, twin sisters ending their jobs as summer camp councilors before the start of their senior year of high school. After all the kids have gone, the councilors and the junior councilors have one last good time together, and Destiny finds herself walking in the woods with the gorgeous head life-guard, Renz Angelina. Little does she know, but Renz is a centuries old vampire and, even more, thinks that Destiny is the reincarnated soul of his long dead love. He wants to be with her again, so he prepares to make her into a vampire so they can spend their lives together. Before he has a chance to do more than bite her himself (since the ritual recalls mingling their blood by each biting the other under the full moon), they are interrupted. He temporarily erases her memory of the night thus far and she heads home with her sister.

When things start feeling strange around her - most noticeably her overwhelming hunger for blood - she starts to get worried. And it's both better and worse when she finds out that she is not the only one who has been bitten. Livvy is showing the same powers that Destiny seems to have. And then their friends start dying around them. They need to find someone to cure them, before the next full moon. Otherwise, they'll go crazy.

The second book, The Taste of the Night, ends a couple of months after Dangerous Girls. Livvy has embraced her vampire-self, while Destiny has been cleansed of the blood lust. Livvy has distanced herself from a family that she doesn't think understands, making new friends among the growing vamp community in their hometown. Regardless of the pleas of her sister, father and brother, Livvy is determined to live a life that she wants, regardless of what the rest of the family has to say. When a new vampire arrives in town, things start to go bad for both girls - again, losing friends that were an integral part of their lives. Can the sisters put aside their differences long enough to save the people they care about?

My Thoughts: I picked this book up in the discount bin at my local grocery store. I've been pretty heavily into paranormal lately, and the back cover intrigued me. So I figured $3 wasn't bad for an omnibus and brought it home. While it's far from the best paranormal story ever written, it wasn't a bad read for a teen novel. The characters were pretty easy to care about, though at times they did seem to act a bit more irrational than others. The story had me turning pages, curious what answers they would find for the mystery that their lives had become. It may not have been the best read that I have had this week, but it wasn't a bad one. I'd say that if you're a fan of the Twilight series, you'll probably enjoy this one as well.



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Review: 52, Vol. 4

52, Vol. 4 by Geoff Johns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



(This review is for 52, Vol 1-4. I couldn't separate them out in my mind.

52 is the story of what happens between the end of Infinite Crisis (after which Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman disappeared for a year) and Year One, where there was a bit of a reboot/change in the status quo. The story revolves around... well, almost all of the characters you've ever cared to hear about in the DC Universe. There are many storylines that weave themselves together into a wonderful whole - Booster Gold and Skeets trying to figure out why history is changing and having some pretty bad things happen to them through out; Black Adam finally finding peace with a woman he loves, only to have that peace ripped from him by people who refuse to believe that he could have changed; Renee' Montoya, former cop whose life has been spinning out of control, meeting the mysterious Question and having her life change tremendously; Adam Strange, Beast Man and Starfire being stranded in space, desperate to try to find a way home; Steel and his niece, Natasha, standing on opposite sides of a battle instigated by Lex Luthor, Not to mention all the other super-heroes who are trying to make sense of a world without the big three. This is a truly epic story that any fan of the DC super-heroes should check out.

My Thoughts: I'd heard a lot of things about 52 while I'd been reading some of the other graphic novels that came across my desk. And almost unanimously, it was said to be one of the best. Most recently, while reading Gotham Central, I heard about it again when told that Renee' Montoya has a large part in the storyline that spanned 52 issues in one year. So I requested them from the library.

Unlike other times when I've gotten books, I waited until I had all four volumes before I started reading. And I'm glad that I did, since I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning - when my eyes could barely stay open - turning pages to find out what was going to happen next. It was truly a world-encompassing story and gave me fantastic introductions to some characters I'd never heard of before, and yet found myself loving. The story was full of surprises, the plot was very tightly written (especially for a series with the kind of time crunch these authors were on - for those unfamiliar with the world of comics, they are usually released in 16 page monthly books. This year-long series was released in 16 page weekly books.). I found myself crying a few times through-out the story, which has always been one of my indicators that a story is good. If it can give me strong emotion, then it's one that was good. And this is one of the few that I want to own, not just have to borrow from the library. I was seriously blown away by all four of these books and the complete story in general.



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Review: Captain America: Road to Reborn

Captain America: Road to Reborn by Ed Brubaker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Road to Reborn is a bridge between the Death of Captain America and Captain America: Reborn, giving the reader a glimpse into what has been happening with those that are important to Steve Rogers - or, as the world knew him, Captain America.

The stories were all good bridges, helping casual readers get ready for Cap's return. Of the stories, my favorite had to be Sharon's in the beginning, when she finally remembers the things that happened at the end of Death of Captain America. It was a strong story that I'd been wanting to see since I'd (granted, only a few minutes earlier) finished the end of the previous series. There was also a good look at Bucky and Cap, back in the days of WWII that I enjoyed.

I don't think these stories struck me quite as much as the stories from Death did, but they were a good read none-the-less. For Sharon's story and to give me an idea of what happened before I picked up Reborn, it was definitely worth the read.



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Review: Captain America (Volume 3): The Death of Captain America - The Man Who Bought America

Captain America (Volume 3): The Death of Captain America - The Man Who Bought America by Ed Brubaker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is the conclusion of the Death of Captain America series, and I've got to admit, it went places I wasn't expecting.

S.H.I.E.L.D. finally knows what's really going on, and they do their best to stop it. They succeed, though partly due to Faustus helping Sharon Carter escape from Red Skull's programing and partly because Red Skull's daughter is too eager to prove herself to Daddy. There is a climactic fight at the end in Red Skull's headquarters, though Skull is one of the few that seems to escape... it's just not the way he was expecting.

As I said above, there were a few places that this story had gone that I just wasn't expecting. Why Sharon Carter was important, the loss of her child and what ultimately became of Red Skull were just a few of the things that widened my eyes as I read. Of all the characters, Sharon was the one that I felt the worst for by the end. While Faustus was doing her a kindness in erasing some things from her memory, I wish she'd had the chance to grieve.

All said, this was a fantastic series and it reads well for those that are fans of Super Hero comics but not necessarily familiar with the ins and outs of the Marvel universe.



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Review: Captain America: The Death of Captain America Volume 2 - The Burden of Dreams

Captain America: The Death of Captain America Volume 2 - The Burden of Dreams by Ed Brubaker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



The Burden of Dreams is a solid middle book for the Death of Captain America series, helping to bring the reader closer to the end game. It's where a large part of the action occurs - including Tony Stark revealing the letter to Bucky that shows that Steve (Captain America) wanted Captain America to go on, as well as Red Skull and Doctor Faustus ratcheting their plan up a notch by having brainwashed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fire on protesters outside the White House.

This is, by far, the most action-packed of the three books and, as any second book should, makes you want to read the next one as quickly as possible. The artwork was as good as I'd come to expect from others, and the story had me turning pages quickly in anticipation. And one of the best lines comes from Bucky as he's taken on the mantle of Captain America. He goes to throw the shield at the bad guys and it looks like he misses, with the shield hitting a girder and bouncing away. The baddies know then that it's not Steve - not the real Captain America. But once the shield hits someone trying to sneak up on Bucky's partner, he admits that the shield went exactly where he'd meant it to.



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Review: Captain America (Volume 1): The Death of Captain America - The Death of the Dream

Captain America (Volume 1): The Death of Captain America - The Death of the Dream by Ed Brubaker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Following directly on the heals of Civil War, the three books of the Captain America: The Death of Captain America series begins with Cap's assassination and follows the hunt for his killers, to the very end where the whole plot is revealed.

This, being the novel in which Cap was actually assassinated, was the most heart-wrenching for me. And I say that being a DC fan who hasn't read a lot of Captain America. But I do know enough of this icon for it to hit home. I was unfamiliar with many of the players in the game, but it didn't take much reading to get me up to speed (which, in my mind, is a good thing for graphic novels dealing with something as world-shaking as this). The story was able to engage me fully and I had a hard time not picking up the next one immediately because I needed to fall asleep.

Though for all that the story itself was a great read, the best part for me was reading the introduction. It told of how Cap's death came about and how they were able to keep this a secret until the books were released. It was a great view into the minds of those behind this momentous decision.




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Review: Gotham Central Vol. 4: The Quick and the Dead

Gotham Central Vol. 4: The Quick and the Dead by Greg Rucka

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The fourth of the series, this book starts out with the Commissioner taking down the Bat-signal. Batman is now going to be among the wanted rather than someone the police go to when they need help taking down the biggest bads. It explores how GCP are trying to deal with this change. The second story involves a corrupt CSI that has a habit of taking things from crime scenes to sell and line his own pockets. This time, what he steals could cause an officer to lose his job. The final story is the longest of the three and gives us a glimpse into Star City as well, thanks to a Silence of the Lambs-like need to get the help from a madman that's locked up there.

The stories were interesting, but they didn't strike me as strongly as the previous books in the series. Still, getting a chance to learn more about the GCP's MCU was great. It primarily focused on Montoya and Allen, but they're a couple of my favorites, so that was a good thing for me.

I'm interested in getting vol 5, but my library doesn't have it currently. So... maybe sometime in the future.



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Review: Gotham Central Vol. 3: Unresolved Targets

Gotham Central Vol. 3: Unresolved Targets by Ed Brubaker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book covers two stories - one involving the Joker and the other involving the Mad Hatter. Both are incredibly engaging stories with a bunch of nuances that have you reading carefully.

The first half of the book follows the MCU as they search for the Joker because of his latest madness - the high-profile killings of some of Gotham's most important people. After the first couple of deaths, he sets up an elaborate trap to keep the MCU looking around in the wrong places while he turns himself in. It's a harsh story, leading to a death in the end. But it's a good one.

The second half brings former Detective Bullock back to the case that has haunted him for a long time. While not officially on the case, he steps into the MCU's case to supposedly try to help them. But it turns out that Bullock is completely blinded to the true story that emerges, instead being convinced of the truth that he wants to be there.

I don't know why, but these two stories didn't strike me as strongly as the first two graphic novels. The story wasn't bad, but it didn't quite give me the thrill in reading it as I'd gotten with the others. Still, it is a good read if you don't expect it to be as strong as the first two.



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Review: Gotham Central Vol. 2: Half a Life

Gotham Central Vol. 2: Half a Life by Greg Rucka

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book is one of the better ones of the series, not just for the stories contained within (all having to do with Two-Face's obsession with Detective Renee Montoya) but for the forward from the author. I loved the chance that Renee gave Two-Face in the beginning of the story, and had tears for her when Two-Face tried to ruin her life, succeeding in doing almost that.

I love the characters and the artwork in this book. I was expecting it to be a good series, since it covers one of my favorite topics, but I hadn't realized just how good this one was going to be. I don't think you necessarily have to read the first book to enjoy this one - each book seems fairly self-contained.

There are a lot of surprises through-out this book, which makes it harder to review, but it's definitely worth picking it up. As I mentioned, it's one of the best one in my opinion.



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Review: Gotham Central Vol. 1: In the Line of Duty

Gotham Central Vol. 1: In the Line of Duty by Ed Brubaker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This was another book that I'd picked up when I was looking for something quick to read. I figured, since it had Gotham in the title, that it would be a Batman-related story. And it was... somewhat.

Gotham Central takes a look at the lives of the police officers in the Gotham Central Police Department - most specifically, of the M.C.U. It's a great look at the everyday heroes that are trying to keep Gotham safe.

The first compilation has the member of the M.C.U. trying to find out who is responsible for the death of one of their own. Three cases combine and merge as the story continues, letting us see that there's more than just the Bat protecting the people of Gotham.

I really love this series. I love finding out about the characters that are just doing their jobs, not in it for the glory but for what they can do to help others. No, not everyone you meet in the GCPD are fine, upstanding citizens. There is still a lot of corruption. But those aren't the ones that are focused on.

I've picked up and read the next several books in the series (reviews coming tomorrow or the next day, or so I hope), and it continues to be great. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the superhero world, but wants to see what the regular heroes are like.



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Review: Civil War

Civil War by Mark Millar

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



As I mentioned in my previous review, I picked this up after reading Fallen Son. I wanted to read what brought about Captain America's death, thinking that it would be at the end of this book.

Well, I was wrong about that part. The book ended with Cap's surrender, which made me need to seek out the next books.

The civil war of the title is between the super heroes of the Marvel world. After a tragedy brought about by the foolish actions of some reality-show heroes, the public is clamoring for something to be done. And that something is making heroes take off their masks and register. The heroes are torn in two, each faction lead by a powerhouse of the hero world.

Leading the faction for registration is Tony Stark - Iron Man. He takes the tragedy very personally and feels it's the only way to keep things like what had happened from happening again (I don't want to give away too much because I don't want to hit anyone with spoilers). Leading those who are against registration is Steve Rogers - Captain America. He, and the others like him, think that requiring heroes to register is taking away their liberties. And the fight between the two sides gets very heated before it is all over.

The whole book was very moving and very touching. I enjoyed reading it quite a bit and, like many of the best books I've read, was making me want more immediately.



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Review: Fallen Son: The Death Of Captain America

Fallen Son: The Death Of Captain America by Jeph Loeb

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A couple weeks ago, I was looking for something quick to read while I was at the library. As usually happens, I went to the graphic novels to pick up something. I'd read quite a few of the DC GNs they'd had there, so I started looking at the Marvel. When I saw this title, I thought, "You know, I remember hearing about Captain America's death, but I don't know many details. I think I'll pick up this one."

Well, Fallen Son isn't the story of Captain America's death, but the way that his friends deal with the aftermath. I really liked the way that this was written, as each chapter was a different step of dealing with grief. It didn't surprise me much that Wolverine was the one that the denial chapter dealt with, or that Iron Man was the one making deals. Everything in the book fit my (admittedly limited) knowledge of the world.

Reading this made me go back and pick up the Civil War graphic novel to see what lead to the death of Cap. It's gotten me into a whole new world of comics that had never really interested me before. And I'm not regretting a minute of it.



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