Title: Life Sucks
Author: Jessica Abel
Comment: Dave works the night shift at the Last Stop convenience store. His boss, Radu (actually, Lord Arisztidescu) is a capitalist vampire who emigrated to America from Eastern Europe. He made Dave into a vampire when he hired him on at the store, which has seriously messed up Dave’s life. He’s a “vegetarian” – he won’t kill anyone or feed on living victims (he gets his sustenance from blood banks and plasma packs – stocked by Radu), which means that he also doesn’t get any of the special powers that come with being a vampire. Bummer. Dave meets a cute goth girl, Rosa, while he’s working, and they become friends. Unfortunately, Dave’s *brother* vampire (same master), Wes, wants the same girl. They get into an argument about her, and Dave ends up betting Wes that he can’t “get the girl” without using his vampire powers. It turns out that he can. Easily (he’s rich, gorgeous, powerful – pretty much irresistible). But, just as easily, Wes screws things up and Rosa turns to Dave for comfort. She gets suspicious, however, when Dave can never take her out during the day (“I work nights!” he argues), and that’s when Dave’s roommate (Carl) reveals Dave’s secret. Rosa, being a good goth chick, has always wanted to be a vampire and considers it a huge betrayal that Dave kept his vampirism a secret from her – not to mention his refusal to turn her. He tries to explain the reality of his existence – it’s really not the glamorous lifestyle she thinks, and immortality is hell when your life stretches out for infinity in front of you and your only prospects are managing a convenience store. Rosa can’t or won’t hear this and goes back to Wes, who turns her immediately. That’s when the horror of her new existence becomes clear to her. Wes is abusive and crazy and has killed all of his previous vampire mistresses. Rosa’s slated to become yesterday’s news until Radu interferes. Life Sucks reads like Clerks (the movie), but with vampire protagonists. Dave has to work all the time, other people always call in and leave him with their shifts, customers are jerks, his boss is always on his case, and he’s stuck in this dead-end monotonous existence FOR ETERNITY. It was funny and entertaining – it even has a few really gruesome moments when Wes decapitates his vampire honeys. Vampire-crazed teen readers should get a kick out of this full-color graphic novel.
Rating: 4 stars

—Posted by Karin Thogersen at Fri, 03-13-2009 11:33

Title: An Underground Jewell
Author: Sylvia Ramsey
Comment: This is a well developed novel with exciting twists without sex and violence. A true mystery in a futuristic setting. Once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Recently, the newspapers had a number of new politically correct words and phrases to go with the Obama presidency. This novel shows the dangers of language manipulation and double speak to our freedom.
Rating: 5 stars [best]

—Posted by C. T. Rezner, Ph.D. at Sun, 03-15-2009 11:50

Title: Nightmares and Fairytales: 1140 Rue Royale
Author: Serena Valentino, Crab Scrambly
Comment: Valentino's third edition of Nightmares and Fairytales, this time drawn by Crab Scrambly, is, IMHO, the best so far. The story of a young girl who travels to New Orleans to repossess a haunted house is far darker than Valentino's Gloom Cookie series. Although the ending felt a little rushed, and the dark artwork made it difficult to determine exactly what was going on, I enjoyed this comic immensely.
Rating: 4 stars

—Posted by Jenn Armistead at Thu, 03-19-2009 13:12

Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol.1
Author: Alan Moore
Comment: Just slightly disappointed with this . . . was expecting something up to standerd with 'Watchmen' . . still, fun to read and the art is pretty cool besides that.
Rating: 4 stars

—Posted by aine at Sat, 04-04-2009 15:46

Title: Fables Vol 11 War and Pieces
Author: Bill Willingham
Comment: This volume ties up the war between the Fables and the Adversary. I heard some bad reviews for this one, but I didn't really see what they were talking about. I thought the story flowed pretty well and the ending fit. I can't wait for Vol 12 Dark Ages.
Rating: 5 stars [best]

—Posted by Al Brittain at Mon, 04-06-2009 19:47