Title: Walking Dead
Author: Robert Kirkman
Comment: Zombies seem to be hot stuff right now but have always seemed unimaginative to me, lumbering hordes moaning while getting mowed down, shot etc... Robert Kirkman has created an ongoing series in which the zombies are a force of nature like a hurricane or an earthquake. The real drama is in the human survivors and how they react to this cold new world, some cling to old rules, some try to create new societies while the worst allow their ids to run wild, using others for their own gratification now the rules of society when had kept them in check are no longer there. After the carnage of the last volume it was hard to imagine where Kirkman would take his series but the latest volume keeps the grand tradition of strong writing, solid but stark art and characters you feel you know personally.
Rating: 5 stars [best]

—Posted by Darren Jones at Wed, 04-08-2009 00:09

Title: Skim
Author: Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki
Comment: A powerful and evocative story of a Canadian high school girl and her struggle to find a niche for herself; almost as unique and genuine a teenage voice as you'll ever hear.
Rating: 5 stars [best]

—Posted by Karen at Wed, 04-08-2009 16:26

Title: Super Spy
Author: Matt Kindt
Comment: Engaging, heart wrenching stories of spies and their daily lives.
Rating: 5 stars [best]

—Posted by Traci at Wed, 04-08-2009 17:12

Title: Rapunzel's Revenge
Author: Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale
Comment: In this fantastic graphic novel, Rapunzel takes her destiny into her own hands. When Mother Gothel imprisons her in an isolated tree tower, Rapunzel escapes using her hair (and her lassoing skills) to swing across to a neighboring tree and down – safely – to the ground. She makes her way into town and meets “Jack,” a thief about her own age, who immediately gets her into trouble. Together they face bandits and brigands, plan and execute a daring rescue, and eventually make their way back to the Gothel mines to free Rapunzel’s real mother and end Mother Gothel’s magical control over all the plant life in the land. Rapunzel is a great character. She’s self-motivated, independent, smart, brave, and focused. She knows what she wants and she can figure out how to achieve it. This Rapunzel has been outfitted wild west style – she’s all decked out like a cowboy (once Jack finds her some decent threads) – and she and Jack race around on horseback through dusty frontier towns. The idea that Rapunzel’s hair can be used to her own advantage and in an active way is particularly nice. She’s able to whip, lasso, and tie up the bad guys with her long auburn braids. And she keeps them nicely organized and quick to hand on dual hooks at the side of her belt – hair holsters, if you will. There’s some fractured fairytale humor as well – Jack is the notorious beanstalk Jack (he’s got the bean to prove it) and his companion, Goldy the goose, is the goose that lays the golden eggs. This was funny, suspenseful, and smart. Kids and teens familiar with these fairytales should enjoy this new take on Rapunzel.
Rating: 5 stars [best]

—Posted by Karin Thogersen at Wed, 04-08-2009 18:31

Title: 30 Days of Night
Author: Steve Niles, Ben Templesmith
Comment: Great premise, gorgeous artwork (though the copy-paste got a little too repetitive), but flat handling of the story and poorly-written characters. We never connect to anyone, and so we don't really care whether they survive or are killed... the narration of the finale slows the scene and exists only to take us out of the action. You know something is poorly written when a main character has to voice the gaping plot hole in a sarcastic manner ("You, defeat -me-?!) just so we know the writer is aware of it.
Rating: 3 stars

—Posted by Niki Smith at Thu, 04-09-2009 18:58

Title: Big Plans (1-3)
Author: Aron Nels Steinke
Comment: Steinke's work has a heartfelt touch that makes what could have been a collection of mundane stories a hilarious and endearing triumph. Well worth the $5 spent per issue, and entertaining enough to read over and over again.
Rating: 5 stars [best]

—Posted by Rachel Dukes (rachel@poseurink.com) at Wed, 04-22-2009 16:45

Title: Queens
Author: Sung-Hyen Ha
Comment: An entertaining manwha about a pretty boy who wants to be more manly.
Rating: 3 stars

—Posted by Ricki at Wed, 04-22-2009 17:35

Title: Notes for a War Story
Author: Gipi
Comment: It's not grabbing me right away the way Garage Band did, but I'm still intrigued enough to keep reading.
Rating: 3 stars

—Posted by Sarah Stevenson at Wed, 04-22-2009 20:20

Title: Indian by Choice
Author: Amit Dasgupta
Comment: It's a unique graphic novel — colourful and vibrant that captures the metamorphosis of a second generation non resident Indian based in Chicago. Through various experiences during his visit to India, his motherland that he initially abhors,he reconciles to and accepts his true identity.
Rating: 5 stars [best]

—Posted by priyanka nandy at Mon, 05-04-2009 06:35

Title: A Really Super Book About Squirrels
Author: Graham Roumieu & Graham Taylor
Comment: This really is a really super book about squirrels. The man (possibly Graham or Graham) wonders endlessly about the squirrel he sees outside his house. Why does he bury nuts in the ground, what is he thinking when he stops in the middle of the road in front of oncoming traffic, why is he trying to get into the attic? The squirrel has no response to these questions. It goes about its business as usual. The man imagines its thoughts, actions, and antics (and the blossoming of their friendship) through simple line-drawn, color-washed illustrations. Hysterical. Excerpt: Squirrel, can I come over to your house today? You seem to visit me a lot. I figure it is time to be as kind. We could play board games and listen to the music you like. Where do you live? Is it nearby? Is it hard to get to? Maybe you’re just afraid your house isn’t clean enough to have guests over? I don’t think you should worry, I’m not too picky. And anyways, I’ll give you an hours notice starting now. I’ll be waiting on the big branch. More information about the squirrel: Little is known about “Jimmy the Squirrel” as he is a squirrel and is unable to talk. Through a series of squeaks and chirps he seemed to express that he is excited about having a book written about him and he urges kids to stay in school.
Rating: 4 stars

—Posted by Karin Thogersen at Thu, 05-07-2009 13:57