Ultimate Ironman and All-New Guardians of the Galaxy

Ultimate Ironman written by Nathan Edmondson

Art by Matteo Buffagni

Published: 2012, 2013

 

GotG written by Gerry Duggan

Art by Aaron Kuder and Marcus To

Published 2017 

Hennepin County Library paperbacks

Genre: comic book compilations

 

 

I wasn't going to blog these, but decided to do so. I used to *love* comic books and graphic novels. These felt too abrupt and confusing. Perhaps it's because we've been re-watching the Marvel universe movies in chronological order and these don't "fit" for me.

Tony Stark is too independent and loses his beloved Josie when he decides to join his dad's business and do what's expected of him. He battles The Mandarin, which is bigger than anyone realizes.

 

The Guardians of the Galaxy steal a ship from the Raptors, try to steal an egg from the Collector, and get into the middle of things with the Collector and his brother.

 

The artwork (and even the storytelling) are fine. It just wasn't what I wanted to read right now.

Tyrannosaurus Ralph

by Nate Evans and Vince Evans
Hennepin County Library paperback 178 pages
genre: YA graphic novel fantasy

I really enjoyed this! Ralph is afraid of the local bully, but then gets zapped into a T-Rex body to fight for planet Earth. Goofy, action-packed, fun. I got this for a boy at our church, but read it myself first!

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

by Marjane Satrapi
Scott County Library paperback 153 pages
genre: graphic novel, memoir

This was intense! I'm so glad for the author's note at the start, but I still struggle to understand the complexities of Iran's history and politics. At the end of the book, I wanted to know what happened to her parents. I did a little looking online, but almost everything is about her. I am surprised that she returned to Iran! I want to read Persepolis II. In terms of graphic novels, not one that I adore. In terms of graphic non-fiction (I'm assuming she is telling her story as it happened, to the best of her memory), it's fabulous. I'm glad I read this! I'm also curious to check out some of her children's books to get a better sense of her voice.

(Okay, part of my brain is super irritated that I'm labeling this as both graphic *novel* and *memoir* . . . if you are particular about specific designations like that, please leave a comment for me! I welcome a little sharpening of my lazy intellect.)

Sunny Side Up

by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
PRMS hardcover 216 pages
genre: YA graphic novel realistic fiction

I keep forgetting that the author/illustrator team are siblings and not husband and wife! I love that they took a painful part of their own past (a relative with an addiction) and turned it into an accessible story. Sunny (Sunshine) is ten years old and looking forward to a fun summer. But when her parents send her to Florida to spend the summer with her grandfather, she has an entirely different experience than she expected. Through flashbacks, we learn about events leading up to her trip, with her older brother Dale making bad choices about alcohol, friends, and drugs. This is a very well-told story with believable events and emotions shown all too clearly on Sunny's face.

The Nameless City

by Faith Erin Hicks
PRMS paperback 232 pages
genre: YA fiction graphic novel

I love this!

Wonderful story of Kaidu (Dao boy warrior) and street girl Rat. It's a Nameless City because each conqueror gives it a new name and none of the names are meaningful to the people who live there. Joah, the monk, cares for Rat. There action, friendship, dilemmas, and the wonderful artwork Hicks continues to produce. I can hardly wait for the next book!

Roller Girl

by Victoria Jamieson
Hennepin County Library paperback 240 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, realistic

I loved this! What an amazing book with excellent middle school characters, storyline, art, etc. This is a must-buy for my collection. Twelve-year-olds Astrid and Nicole have been BFFs throughout elementary school. But the summer before junior high brings some challenges and changes to their friendship. Astrid gets excited to go to roller derby camp, but Nicole chooses dance camp instead. Astrid gets to know herself better as she explores her interests, new friendships (especially with Zoe), and her feelings. I love Rainbow Bite as a role model for Astrid and their exchanges of locker letters. Fantastic book!

F-Stop: A Love Story in Pictures

by Antony Johnston and Matthew Loux
Hennepin County Library paperback 167 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, realistic

Although this is marketed to teens, I see the target audience as 20-somethings. The main character, Nick Stoppard, is a college graduate trying to make a living as a photographer (though he isn't a good one, with his degree in English and a lack of training). He meets a model and gets thrust into the high-fashion world with his "new" style (various body parts) and a fear of being found a fraud. Nice story. I enjoyed the story more than the art (very angular). I definitely wouldn't buy it for my middle school collection, but it is a nice story about being true to yourself and your friends.

Ms. Marvel

story by Willow Wilson
art by Adrian Alphona and Jacob Wyatt
Hennepin County Library hardcover unpaged
genre: YA superhero graphic novel

At first, I didn't care for this book. But it quickly became a story I couldn't put down and decided I *must* buy for my school. Sixteen-year-old Kamala Khan sees herself as a Jersey City girl, not a Pakistani who does what her parents want. She loves superheros, gaming, and being independent. When she becomes Ms. Marvel and tries to do the right thing, she has some classic coming-of-age moments in the midst of the action adventure against "The Inventor" (aka Birdman). Great story!