Graphic Novel Mini-Reviews

 American Vampire (Volume 1)
By Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque and Stephen King

Synopsis: This volume follows two stories: one written by Snyder and one written by King. Snyder's story is set in 1920's LA, we follow Pearl, a young woman who is turned into a vampire and sets out on a path of righteous revenge against the European Vampires who tortured and abused her. This story is paired with King's story, a western about Skinner Sweet, the original American Vampire-- a stronger, faster creature than any vampire ever seen before with rattlesnake fangs and powered by the sun.

My Thoughts: Twists to vampire lore can be done, as this graphic novel demonstrates over and over again. Screw diamond skin and vegetarianism, this graphic novel pits the traditional Euro vamps against the new, brash and a little trashy American breed. They can walk in sunlight, contact crucifixes and are drained of power by no-moon nights. There's raunch, revenge, power struggles and a sweet little writer who struggles to keep up. Plus, you know...Stephen King.

Black Gas
Written by Warren Ellis, illustrated by Max Fiumara and Ryan Waterhouse

Synopsis: A tiny little island off the east coast of America sit on a fault in the underlying tectonic plate. On a night beset by a fierce storm and an earthquake simultaneously, the fault line cracks, releasing something foul from the Earth's guts, blown across the little coastal town of Smoky Island. The only two people on the island who were outside the reach of the black gas are now trapped on a spit of rock with a population that aren't what we'd call "people" anymore. After all, they started eating each other an hour ago... and it's about to get worse.

My Thoughts: Meh. I usually adore Warren Ellis and hold him up as a personal god, but this was completely lacking his sparkling dry and twisted humour. The concept was solid, but the characters were infuriating (especially the girlfriend, oh how I hated her!) and the dialogue completely lack lustre. I really don't know what was going on in this one, but it's low on my list of recommends.

N.
Adapted from a Stephen King short story by Marc Guggenheim, illustrated by Alex Maleev.

Synopsis: There is something unearthly and mysterious deep in Acherman's Field in rural Maine. There is a Stonehenge-like arrangement of seven stones with a horrifying EYE in the center. And whatever dwells there in that strange, windswept setting may have brought about the suicide of one man...and harbor death for the OCD afflicted "N.," whose visits to the field have passed beyond compulsion into the realm of obsession.

My Thoughts: Now this is more like it! Stephen King's short story tackling compulsion and monsters and a stone henge like formation comes to terrifying life in this graphic novel. The illustrations were a bit of a let down at times, but for the most time they did what they were supposed to...emphasise the crap out of the horror story Stephen King spun and make me terrified to turn off my light! A definite must read if you like King, supernatural tales and graphic novels.

Monday Links

*Holy crap. I've been trying to get my boyfriend to buy bowties for, like, forever now, but now he HAS to wear them, or at least this one! By the by, they're for sale and you can buy them! (Via Stitchy Spot)

*2012 marks 100 years since the birth of Australia's first Nobel Literature prize winner, the illustrious Patrick White. Here's a neat little article about him. (Via Ozwords)

*I'm a huge HP fan but for some reason I'm not particularly excited about her new books. If you are though, check out a few of these blog posts for all the details that have just been released:
     -Escape in a book - News: Synopsis for JK Rowlings first adult novel out in the wild.
     -Misprinted Page - Rowling reveals a few details about her upcoming adult novel.

*Pretty minimalist Disney posters. I likey a lot. (Via 9Gag)

*Mandy at Twimom101 has some details about a Hunger Games convention. Damn you Americans and all your close proximity to these things! (Via Twimom101)

Fanart Friday: Dr Seuss

I loved Dr Seuss as a kid. I think we had just about the complete collection of his books, and I was always forcing my parents to read the same few over and over for our bedtime story. The stories and illustrations helped open my imagination to a world that I never would have experienced without his help. Now, as an adult, I can clearly see the impact the books have on the person I am now. I'm unashamedly weird, love blending adult with child (i.e. my ever growing collection of KidRobot Dunny toys) and take a particular pleasure in twisted rhyming schemes, bright colours, moralistic stories and slightly absurd illustrations. It's because of him (and Roald Dahl) that I take so much joy out of the work by Diana Wynne Jones, Neil Gaiman, Tim Burton and Ralph Steadman which also take on realistic situations and twist them into something slightly askew and absolutely magical. So in honour of this wonderful and creative man (I was watching Horton Hears a Who the other night, that's what sparked this choice) here are some wonderful tributes. Be sure to click through the links to take a closer look at these pictures and the rest of the artwork these artists have created.

Dr Seuss' the Lorax by Gaberose

Dr Seuss Sleeve Sketch by Hoviemon

DSC- Dr Seuss by Rkw0021

Last Supper of Dr Seuss by Orange42

Seuss? by Lokiscape