Dorky Styes from a Parallel Universe - Finally!
597685
Very funny book, with practical tips for beginning quilters who will be relieved that a book allows for human mistakes. There is no perfection in the world of dorky quilts, but as the author, Lisa Boyer, points out, no one has ever cuddled with an heirloom quilt hanging in a gallery or packed away in acid-free tissue. I read this book long ago, and thought of reviewing it only when I referred to it on my Facebook page, Terry's Thoughts and Threads. Join me there - you'll find Daily Tips for quilting and/or writing. No pre-requisite skills required!
2061632
An interesting overlay of modern concepts on old storylines and characters.  I enjoyed trying to indentify the inserts, reminded me a little of Terry Pratchett and his cross references from The Discworld to current events and personalities.  In this book I've seen at least 3 Doctors Who, Steptoe and Son (I think, anyway), Fenner Fashions from The Rag Trade (early 60's English Sitcom) and others too numerous to mention; and I probably missed a lot more than I spotted. Have fun!
4833540
That heading is a little dishonest, this book was actually 'exactly' what I expected it to be, just turns out that I enjoyed that more than I expected too.

What we have here is a reimagining of the "classic" Hanna Barbera cartoon 'Wacky Races' into a modern incarnation for DC comics, one of a new line of books seeking to capitalise on many of mostly dormant IP of Hanna Barbera.

To that end we have a Mad Max inspired post apocalypse setting and as far as "gritty" reimaginings go it is a very familiar one, probably the most obvious given the source material and one DC has also used for one of there other Hanna Barbera reboots: 'Scooby Apocalypse' (perhaps the two books share continuity?).

So with all that background out of the way the (rather short) story itself consists of a handful of mostly self contained adventures with the titular racers competing in various races across the wasteland and an abrupt climax that attempts to tie it all together. Backstory is only really given to the most memorable of the classic cartoon characters, specifically Dick Dastardly and Penelope Pitstop, though given the nature of this story and its climax no one here is clearly positioned as the protagonist.

The climax itself I feel is actually rather clever with how it manages to link so many elements together: The cause of the apocalypse, the origins of many of the racers and the purpose of the race itself. The issue is just how abruptly it comes about. A few more self contained chapters beforehand with more clues leading to the final revelation would have helped with the pacing as well as better established the ensemble nature of the story since the best parts are all in the earlier chapters just seeing the various characters interacting with each other. Seeing them race, fight and throw insults is all very entertaining provided you have any affection for the juvenile sense of humour and "coolness" on display here.

Presentation is where the most praise for this book is deserved, the artwork is excellent and brilliantly conveys the chaotic "wackiness" expected from the premise.
The character and car designs are also imaginatively realised, with alot of effort clearing going into redesigning each character and their corresponding vehicle. All of the original cars and racers from the cartoon are featured in this book and even though some are barely featured on the page they were all given equal care and attention to make them each visually unique and memorable as shown in the bonus concept artwork at the back of the book.
It seems odd that so much effort seems to have be put into creating such a diverse cast of characters and vehicles only to feature them in such a short and ultimately inconsequential story (enjoyable though it is).

If nothing else they would have made for a really cool set of action figures.

Tentatively recommended so long as you know what you're in for.
2333310
OMG! This is one of those series books where playing hooky for a few hours and losing sleep was just so worth it. I really don't know how Ms. Hogarth knew what this science-fiction multicultural loving geek chick needed, but this series has been the panacea for all the huge disappointments (especially in IR) I've come across. And technically, it's not a romance, but a huge sweeping epic of the far-off reaches of the universe, the families we come from and those we make, political and social upheaval, and yes, love in all its myriad forms.

There's an incredible cast of amazing characters who while "alien" perhaps in form, are still quite relatable and even more human than the humans (save for the bad guy dragon-shifters). As much as I adored Reese and Hirianthial (and Hirianthial has just been added to The Fountain Pen Diva's exclusive Book Boyfriend list) my favourite characters were the brother/sister tigraines Sascha and Irine (and I really liked how their social mores while different--and maybe disconcerting for some readers--are treated as a matter of course) and Allacazam the Flitzbe (I want one for my birthday).

Of course, it's of paramount importance that the female characters be assertive, strong yet with flaws and there are plenty of them here. I loved Liolesa, the Eldritch queen, unflappable, savvy and willing to do whatever it took to save her slowly-dying race from extinction, even at the cost of her crown. Moreover, the universe Ms. Hogarth created is multicultural and multispecies, the way our actual future SHOULD look. I am SO DONE with sci-fi, fantasy, urban fantasy and other subgenres whitewashing their worlds then whining when called to the mat for it. Newsflash: PoC read (and write) sci-fi. We love it. We want to be part of it. Get a grip!

And THE COVER! I just can't keep doing happy dances over all three incredible covers! I heart these covers so much that I'd be willing to buy the physical copies of the novels just so I can hold them in my hot little hands. When there is so much whitewashing and fail with covers featuring characters of color, here's the amazing Julie Dillon putting them front and center and heroic as all get-out. Moreover, my girl Reese is dark-skinned and has naturally braided and beaded hair. What a refreshing concept when it seems too many authors are all about cafe au lait, butterscotch, honey or anything lighter than a paper bag with silky flowing locks courtesy of some "Native American" relative, and green/grey eyes. Though they're always built like Nikki Minaj.

What a way to end this awesome series. Holding my breath in hope and horror as a closed and xenophobic world tettered on the brink of destruction and a man, long haunted by duty and guilt finally comes into his own. Character death, violence, rape, the innocent lives lost in war--it's here and while not gratuitous, it's a necessary part of the dangerous and shifting powerplays that held the Eldritch homeworld in precarious balance.

Of course I knew Reese and Hirianthial were going to end up together and by book two Rose Point, the tension between them was killing me. But what a way to go! I cheered and sighed and though definitely not erotic (and here I wouldn't have minded some serious steam between Hirianthial and Reese), it was sweet and sensual, and considering what travails these two people have gone through, they've most certainly earned their happy ending.

Now that I've finished Laisrathera, what the hell am I going to read NOW? The bar has once more been raised.
3496003
The Future Chronicle Series looks like shaping up to be a solid anthology series, first Robot now Alien. Standout offerings from Howey, Wells, Cawdron & Babylon. SF is alive and well, thank you.
2495616
Before I bought these glasses, I thought that 2D images were only something possible in the annals of Science Fiction. Imagine what Michelangelo's David or the Mona Lisa would look like in two dimensions!

If I had to pick only two dimensions in which to choose to experience something, I would choose "depth" and "time." I am pretty sure that if you go to the actual website for these glasses, you can customize the dimensions in this way.

Highly recommended!
4202849
Somehow, thumbing through this comic had never really grabbed my attention - or really turned me off, either. I finally decided to make up my mind one way or the other, and took this first of the collected monthlies home.

And darn well about time, too. Although the premise almost invites bad execution, the stories and artwork both meet very high standards. Artwork by Vess, Bolton, and Kaluta set a high tone, one that the other artists rise to. The stories pull the reader in, too. They draw on the familiar characters of childhood fairy tales, but move them forward in a world of dark forces and dire conflicts. There are no "adult" themes here, but there's still plenty to please a mature and thoughtful reader, and certainly not much for a young child.

I hung back from this title for a long time - well, I've made other mistakes, too. I enjoyed this first collection immensely, and I'm coming back for more.

-- wiredweird
3630130
OK, I bought this to amuse myself because it's close to my vision of The Librarian from Terry Pratchett's Discworld books.  The slight smile, the head scratching hand give him an interesting almost human quality.  As for the figure itself, it is well modeled and painted of solid semi-flexible resin with sculpted fur and a well detailed face.  He has a CE stamp on his bum.  (Do we all?  I must check some time)  I place him on a shelf over my monitor to remind me of the three rules of the Librarians of Time and Space 1. Silence, 2. Books must be returned by or before the date shown, and 3. Never alter the rules of causality.
561429
This calendar is a great departure from the same-old-same-old that Trek can be guilty of at times.  Looking at the pictures within, a whole new dimension to the Star Trek universe opens.  Here you can take a look at the starships in their exotic locations as though you were part of this alternate reality.  What if you had an exclusive look at the National Geographic of the future?  You were browsing ad slicks for the latest-and-greatest in intestellar travel?  Going on vacation?  Here are the pictures from posters promoting intergalactic travel destinations.  And that all-to-great work that graces the binders for megacorporations' annual reports--what would it look like?  What would the Ansel Adams of the future lens?  Take a fresh look at the future with this calendar!
1414868
As usual, great & terribly amateurish art is presented side-by-side.  Which is which may be a matter of personal taste, but I know what I like, and I keep wishing the excellent will one day outnumber the dreadful.
Highlights this volume:  John Blackburn's Coley in "Body Heat", wherein the voodoo bi-boy helps a confused husband come to terms with who he really is;  "Visitation Rites" by Sean, where leather-clad bikers meet (and "meat") campground guys;  "The Sons Of Ramus" by Joe, a dive into Greek mythology with decent art if not very strong visual storytelling; "Link Up" by Kurt Erichsen, a fun story about a computer nerd with some nice cartoony art;  and one-page cartoons by Gerard Donelan.  Blackburn gets to shine IN COLOR on both front and back covers this time, and in fact the back is possibly my very favorite single illo of Coley I've seen to date.  Can you say... "HHHHHOT"??
2500544
One of the most anticipated series I get to review is DC Comics Showcase series.
Where else can you get over 500 pages of a book dedicated to your favorite characters? So, far, DC has 'showcased' Wonder Woman, Batman, the Justice League, Jonah Hex, The Phantom Stranger, The Elongated Man, the Flash, and even the House of Mystery! To paraphrase one of my favorite book titles, all in black and white for under $20!
Showcase: Robin, covers the comic book career of Robin the Boy Wonder from May of 1964 to September of 1975. It may not be a long time period chronologically, but the range of stories in the book spans the Worlds Finest team ups of Robin and Jimmy Olsen, Robin and Batman, Robin and Batgirl, Robin and Superman, and course, Robin and Robin.
 Not only are there outstanding stories in the book, but also outstanding art as well.  Gil Kane, Rich Buckler, Terry Austin, Curt Swan, Sheldon Moldoff, Pete Costanza, Joe Giella, Al Milgrom, Chic Stone, Sid Greene, Ross Andru, Vince Colletta, and Murphy Anderson contribute to the stories.  Mike Friedrich, Leo Dorfman, John Broome, Frank Robbins, Bob Haney, Denny O'Neil, and Gardner Fox pen this Whose Who in the DC universe from 64 to 78.

Older comic readers will remember the stories from the first time they read them.  I know I recognized a few right off the top, but that didn't stop me from sitting down and reading.  Robin appeared in various titles like Detective Comics, Worlds Finest Comics, Jimmy Olsen, Batman, and the Justice League.  My favorite tales include "How Many Ways Can A Robin Die??" by Frank Robbins, "Theater of the Mind" (Friedrich/Buckler), "The New Terrific Team" (Hamilton/Swan/Klein), and "Midnight is the Dying Hour" (O'Neill/Kane/Colletta).  I am perpetually amazed by the volume of work that Gil Kane did for DC in his tenure there and books like this drive that point home every time.
The book cover is interesting.  If we look back in our collections, there is a Murphy Anderson Batman/Robin cover that is almost identical!  Perhaps they took the same cover, and just removed Batman from the mix, or is it even NEW art for just this book?
Enjoy the adventures of Robin, coming soon to a comic store near you.
Www.dccomics.com

Tim Lasiuta
630719
The print looks impressive in many ways. The colors make for great contrast in their shapes/sizes. The material looks & feels of a smooth suede velvety touch. The shadows(this character without bulging muscle) make instead for a 3-d effect that really works with the other textures & colors to create multiple illusions. There're also white slits in the outermost layer of fabric along some seams. It allows the white layer underneath to show thru. These white accents play with the thin material that's at some points transluscent to create even another nice looking feature accross the design. These highlights that change with movement add something special when workng out with the shirt on.
 Another success in an Amazon comic book character shirt! This time the favorite Villian in film history!
2466350
The Mourning Star series was recommended by some glowing reviews in comic review blogs and I have to say I wasn't disappointed in the least. Strzepek balances a flood of imagination, lovable characters in perilous situations, energy and action into his post apocalyptic fantasy tale. If you're more after a straight superheroes or big budget art values, you should maybe look elsewhere. Strzepek writes and draws for those hungering for something strange and new, and 'Mourning Star' delivers on both fronts. I'm hoping this bleak but enchanting world has many volumes to come.

** If you've read and enjoyed the first volume, you won't be disappointed by the second. More weird elements, more background to the setting and it's factions, more development of the main characters and SWORD FIGHTS! >:D
838549
Now this is a great and fun read by Chantal Noordeloos. I'm a fan of steampunky settings and the cover immediately drew me in. When I read it, I really enjoyed the combination of Weird West, Sci-Fi and an alternate world in which aliens visit and sometimes look and act like humans -or not...  Bowler hat off to Coyote, a cool and fun character. I hope to read more about her.
1346752
Considering how much I love Damien Worm's artwork, I had high hopes for this one, and I was NOT let down. If you're a fan of mad scientists, Victorian gothic aesthetic, engaging characters and a neatly linear (though still unique) storyline, you'll want to pick this up. The artwork alone makes it worth it, but in particular I enjoyed how the writing avoided pursuing the cliche of nihilist personalities dropped into an equally dark setting. For all their black wardrobes and monster hunting, this family loves each other dearly, and it shines through in the dialogue. It's a darker, modernized version of the Addams Family with a sprinkling of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 10/10 would recommend!
2672739
This is a cute high quality set where the actual PVC characters look pretty dead-on to how they look in the comic strip.  Don't ya hate it when the characters don't look like the person or object they are designed after?  Well these are the exception.  Very cool!
940072
This is, so far, my favorite issue of the rebooted Weirdbook. It has a wonderfully bizarre cover painting (then again, I am partial to cephalopods), excellent interior art, as always, and a great collection of stories and poems -- a nice variety that includes a fairly generous amount of science fiction among the horror and fantasy material. An excellent issue!