Book Number 34: Next book: The Walking Dead Volume 3: Safety Behind Bars by Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard

Last of the year…

Next book: The Walking Dead Volume 3: Safety Behind Bars by Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard

139 pages
Genre Fiction (Graphic Novel – Horror)
Wednesday 24th December – Friday 26th December (3 days)
2 afternoon, 1 evening.

Hot on the heels of the last volume, I picked up this one… we see the group move away from the farm after the disastrous events of the last volume, and stumble upon a prison. The group start to make their way through, clearing each block and securing, in the hope that this is the perfect place for them to settle, and Lori to have her baby.

However, as you would expect, things don’t go according to plan, and the group find some surviving prisoners who are not all as innocent as you would expect… things start going horribly wrong, and the group also discover that whether you die at the hands of a zombie or not, you still turn…

Again, another great instalment of the series, perfectly timed and tense, with a great look into human nature and how we act when faced with disaster. Artwork was amazing again as well!

Book Number 21: Fables Volume 7: Arabian Nights (and Days) by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Jim Fern, Jimmy Palmiotti and Andrew Pepoy

Some fairy tale magic…

Fables Volume 7: Arabian Nights (and Days) by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Jim Fern, Jimmy Palmiotti and Andrew Pepoy

144 pages
Genre Fiction (Graphic Novel – Fantasy)
Monday 9th June – Tuesday 10th June (2 days)
1 morning, 1 afternoon, 1 evening.

Next in the series, following the story of Sinbad and the fables from Arabian Nights. Charming is struggling with his duties as Mayor and has to call King Cole in for help, Mowgli is still tracking Bigby, and Rose Red and Snow White are living on the farm raising Snow’s cub-children.

We also find out about two wooden soldiers who become human and move to our word, and the price they had to pay to become flesh…

I enjoyed this instalment, it was interesting meeting new fables and the Djinn, and seeing King Cole come back into the story. It is good to see Charming struggling – he is not the most likeable character… and seeing him get his comeuppance is good. But the best bit of this volume has to be the story of the wooden soldiers. Not only was it an interesting idea, the idea of wooden puppet soldiers fighting the war, and how they ‘live’ and what they do, but also seeing them evolve to have feelings, and what they end up doing to become real humans, the sacrifices they have to make.

I enjoyed this volume and I’m keen to get hold of the ned one to find out more about these two, and I want to see more about Bigby too! This series is improving again, I’m glad I didn’t give up on it.

Next book: Visual Aid by Draught Associates

Book Number 9: Y: The Last Man – Whys and Wherefores by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and José Marzán Jr

Last collection in the series…

Y: The Last Man – Whys and Wherefores by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and José Marzán Jr

166 pages
Genre Fiction (Graphic Novel – Sci-Fi)
Sunday 3rd March – Sunday 10th March (1 days)
1 afternoon

The final instalment of the Y: The Last Man series. Do not go any further if you don’t want spoilers!

I have really enjoyed the series and this finally instalment was not a disappointment. Still no actual definitive reason for the plague, although there are many theories brought forward and discussed within the series, my favourite being the theory that the Y chromosome became obsolete as nature decided it was no longer needed once human cloning had been perfected. However, we are presented with many other theories throughout the series, the rapture, an amulet, government conspiracies… All the characters seem to have complicated far-reaching stories of how they ended up where they are, and all the theories seem to be linked to one or other of the main characters.

There were strong female characters – especially Agent 355, and the ending between Beth and Yorrick was much better than I expected – no happy endings, no living happily ever after, a more realistic end to the story instead which is much more enjoyable. We never really find out the cause of the plague, but it doesn’t matter – the journey was much more important and interesting than the ending. Yorrick remained a likeable character throughout the book, and I found myself on his side for most of the books.

The first series of graphic novels that I have read, and very good – I will be searching for more Vertigo comics in the future.

Next book: Alex’s Adventures in Numberland by Alex Bellos

Book Number 5: Y: The Last Man – Motherland by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Goran Sudžuka and Jose Marzan Jr

Sunday morning lie-in…

Y: The Last Man – Motherland by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Goran Sudžuka and Jose Marzan Jr

143 pages
Genre Fiction (Graphic Novel – Scifi)
Saturday 27th January (1 days)
1 morning

The penultimate in the series, things are coming together now… We meet a few new characters, some of whom help to explain what happened to all the men, before trying to kill Yorick (poor man can’t catch a break!) We discover a possible cause behind the plague that wipes out all men, and who was behind it, and Ampersand’s immunity. We also discover what needs to be done to create more men and bring back the equilibrium.

Another great book in the series, I have enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to the last one to finish the series. I like the pseudo-science, and the look into different theories into why the plague hit and why all the men died. It’s also an interesting look into a world without men, and a world full of women…

Next book: Basics Design: Layout by Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris

Book Number 24: Y: The Last Man – Ring of Truth by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan Jr

Back to the Y: The Last Man series…

Y: The Last Man – Ring of Truth by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan Jr

Page Count: 189 Genre: Fiction (Graphic Novel – SciFi) Time taken: 1 day (Tue 12/06/12) Sessions: 1 afternoon, 1 evening.

The next in the series, in this issue we see Yorick lose the ring he intended to propose to Beth with. This coincides with him falling ill with Botulism, and Dr Mann and agent 355 panic and think the ring may have been what was keeping him alive.

After finding the ring, and finding out that Yorick is not dying, Dr Mann discovers that it is something to do with Ampersand – Yorick’s male monkey, not Yorick himself that holds the key to them both still being alive. The fecal matter from Ampersand has made it’s way into Yorick’s system, making him immune too.

Yorick is also reunited with his sister Hero, who seems to have renounced her Amazon ways, and wants to help. However, Dr Mann’s laboratory is destroyed and a female ninja steals Ampersand…

I am enjoying these, and can easily sit and devour one in a sitting. I’ll be getting the next few issues soon…

Next on the list: The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson.

Book Number 17: Y: The Last Man – Safeword by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr

Y: The Last Man – Safeword by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr

Page Count: 142 Genre: Fiction (Graphic Novel – Scifi) Time taken:  1 day (Mon 07/05/12) Sessions: 1 evening.

In this volume, we see Yorick left with a friend and colleague of 355, to be kept safe, whilst 355 and Dr Mann go off to try and find a way round a blockade cutting off Eastern USA to Western USA.

There is a strong sexual theme here, as we explore Yorick’s sexual past, his feelings towards sex and why he hasn’t slept with a single woman since the plague hit. There’s also the usual government conspiracy storyline (I love this sort of thing) and we find out a little more about Dr Mann and what she was really up to before all the men died.

I am really enjoying these books, and I’m trying to save them for when I have a whole day off to myself, as it’s easy to sit down for an hour or two and read straight through!

Next on the list: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Book Number 10: American Vampire by Scott Snyder, Stephen King & Rafael Albuquerque

A birthday present:

American Vampire by Stephen King, Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque

Page Count: 200 Genre: Fiction (Fantasy) Time taken: 3 days (Mon 19/03/12 – Wed 21/03/12) Sessions: 3 morning, 1 afternoon, 1 night.

Only my second ever Graphic Novel – a birthday present. The story tells of Vampires in America, in particular an aspiring actress in 1925 in L.A. called Pearl. She has been turned into a vampire by Skinner Sweet. Skinner was turned into a vampire by an old Vampire banker, who then buried him underwater for years. He is now seeking revenge, and is a new breed of vampire who can walk in the light.

The stories are written by Scott Snyder and Stephen King and drawn by Rafael Albuquerque. The drawings are awesome, really good, some of them are beautiful, and the vampires are brilliant, really angry looking demon-like monsters, not sparkly sex symbols… I’m looking forward to the next one!

Next on the list: Y: The Last Man – Cycles by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr