Street Wolf - a Blackthorne Publishing comic mini-series

The year was 1986, and I had been reading and collecting comics for just seven years.  I had only discovered the joy of comic book stores a few years prior, having spent my early years of collecting buying comics off the spinner racks at local convenience stores or on the magazine shelves in Waldenbooks and B. Dalton in the mall.  My fascination with direct market books (those comics marketed solely to comic stores and not sold in regular stores, by independent companies such as Pacific Comics, Eclipse Comics, First Comics, and countless others) was growing, and I was picking up any number of books from these companies that caught my eye.  I can remember seeing this particular book on the shelf, but as it did not have a female lead (of which nearly all the books I was buying had), I passed on it.  Besides, at the time, I had never heard of Blackthorne Publishing, and I was nor sure about the quality of their books.

 

Fast-forward nearly 40 years later (I cannot believe I'm actually writing that!!!!), and while on vacation recently, I happened across all three issues of the Street Wolf mini-series for just fifty cents each - so I said, what the heck. By this time, I was aware that Blackthorne Publishing was a small company that tried to fill the gap when Pacific Comics went under; however, Blackthorne was known more for their newspaper strip reprints, as well as their countless licensed 3-D books moreso than any original material.  Street Wolf is one of their few original series published, and after reading it now, I have to wonder if they might have survived had they published more quality work such as this.

 

Street Wolf is the name given to Nathan Blackhorse, who is a vigilante of sorts, waging a one-man war against crime in a "violent city" (unnamed in the three-issue series).  Writer Mark Wayne Harris does not open up with any origin story, and in fact, over the course of the three issues, readers learn very little about Blackhorse.  We see that he is an expert in martial arts and that he is well-versed in hand-to-hand combat.  We also discover that his mother passed away, but he refuses to talk about his father.  Other than that, Blackhorse is a mystery, which gives the character and the stories a certain mystique that leaves you wanting for more.  In the first two pages of the first issues, we are not only introduced to Street Wolf himself, but also to Joyce Prescott, a newspaper reporter intent on writing a story about the famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) local hero.  Prescott quickly learns that Blackhorse has no interest in glory or fame, and he does what he does for the sole purpose of helping others.  In fact, she learns this first hand by the end of page five after he rescues her from being attacked by some thugs.  

 

The story follows Prescott as she pursues Blackhorse, her goal changing from getting a story to simply getting to know the man.  This is where we learn about his mother dying while he was just a young child, and he reveals to her (and the readers) that he was adopted by a woman named "Rose Tyler."  Now, I have to stop for a moment here, because when I read that name, I chuckled, since "Rose Tyler" was the name of the first companion Doctor Who encountered when the British television series started up again back in 2005 (nearly 20 years after this book was published!).  That's a funny coincidence - unless Russell T. Davies happened to read this comic and was inspired to name his first companion after Street Wolf's adopted mother!  (Yeah, I know, the likelihood of that are ... well, next to nothing!)

 

Harris did not shy away from writing about very controversial and sensitive topics when he wrote this series.  The stories address child prostitution, drugs, street gangs, and corrupt men who will kill to keep their power.  There are some horrific moments in the series (such as when a young boy who witnesses a crime is murdered by one of the gang members in order to prevent him from going to the police!), and there are no punches pulled.  In this aspect, the series reminds me a lot of Max Allan Collins' Ms. Tree series, which ran from 1981 to 1993 through four different publishers - but which was never afraid to tackle some of the most topical issues of that day.  Thus, Street Wolf could easily be considered a contemporary of Ms. Tree, addressing a lot of the same issues and not shying away from the gruesome nature of the real world.

 

The villains in these stories are true nasty pieces of work, and with the exception of one, they all get their just desserts in the end (although not always by Blackhorse's hand).  The one villain who does not face justice is one that has a direct connection to one of the main character - a rather shocking connection, I might add, that sadly never gets a follow-up.  Perhaps if the series had come back for a second run, we might have gotten to see how the characters would have reacted when faced with this villain's true identity - but, alas, we never got that chance.

 

The art and cover for the books are provided by Dennis Francis.  Francis seems to have had much more of a career in comics than Harris, having worked at Continuity Comics, DC Comics, Eclipse Comics, Valiant Comics, and, of course, Blackthorne Publishing.  Francis' work on Street Wolf is outstanding - the black and white art in the book is not extremely detailed, such as George Perez' or Phil Jimenez' work, but it is gritty and fits the mood of the book perfectly.  Francis also did work on a number of 3-D books for Blackthorne, as well as his own created comic, Starlight Squadron.  

 

It's a shame Harris and Francis were never able to continue this series.  I think it gave readers a nice break from all the typical super-hero fare of the day, and it provided engaging stories with characters who felt real and for whom you immediately developed an affinity.  But, as with so many comics from the '80s and '90s, Street Wolf had its five minutes of fame and is now relegated to the fifty-cent and dollar back issue bins at comic shops and comic conventions.

 

RATING:  8 bouncing basketballs out of 10 for a comic filled with hard-hitting stories and heart-wrenching moments, and a lead character that outshines the likes of Marvel's Punisher and DC's Vigilante.

Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files - Bigfoot

Author Jim Butcher seemed to take FOREVER between books 15 (published in 2014) and 16 (published in 2020), those six years being the longest gaps between any of his books since he published the first one all those years ago.  Then, book 17 came out just months after book 16, mainly because the two books told one great big (and devastating!!!!) story.  Since that time, I've been waiting patiently to hear news of the next book and when we might expect to see it.  Butcher's website lists the title as Twelve Months, but there is no indication of when it will be published - it simply says Butcher "has started writing" the next book.  Thus, the only thing I have had to fill my Dresden Files need is the graphic novel published by Dynamite Entertainment, which was published over a year ago.  I've been holding on, waiting to read it, because I know once I do, that's the last Dresden I will get until the next book is finally written.  But I could wait no longer.

Bigfoot, as it turns out, is a comic book adaptation of three short stories Butcher wrote involving Dresden helping out Strength of a River in His Shoulders, a real, honest-to-goodness sasquatch ... yeti ... or, as they are commonly called, a bigfoot.  I was not aware when I bought it that this was an adaptation of already written short stories - I thought this was going to be new material.  So, when I started reading it, my mind kept telling me that this story felt awfully familiar.  The more I read, the more deja vu I felt, and when I realized I knew what was happening and how the story would end, it dawned on me that these were short stories I had previously read in the collection of short stories, Brief Cases (published back in 2018).  But, honestly, I didn't mind - first, it was rather cool seeing the stories in full color images, and second, Butcher provided some framing sequences that involved Dresden visiting the son of Strength of a River in His Shoulders, who is basically the focus of all three short tales (he he he - "short" tales for a "tall" son of a yeti!).

The framing sequences find Dresden helping Irwin (yes, that's the son's name) and his girlfriend, Connie, move into a new apartment.  When Connie learns that Dresden has known her man since he was a "pup," she wants to hear all about it.  So, without further ado, Dresden begins to share some of the stories .. and those stories happen to be the tales previously told in prose form.

The first story relates how Dresden first met Irwin's father, who asked Dresden to look after his son, who is being bullied at school.  Of course, there are some other supernatural beings involved, and Dresden has to be careful how he intervenes, otherwise it could create a deadly war between unseemly creatures!  The second story is a few years later, as Irwin's father once again asks for Dresden's help, because Irwin has become ill while at a boarding school, and no one seems to know why.  Needless to say, Dresden uncovers the supernatural source and puts a stop to it.  The third, and final, tale jumps ahead again, and Dresden is called in to help with Irwin, only now he is in college.  Dresden discovers his girlfriend is a vampire of the White Court (which means she feeds on sexual energy - and yes, this is the same girlfriend with whom Irwin now lives!), but the only problem is, young Connie has no idea what she is!  This one results in a huge battle between Dresden and vampires, when Irwin's father finally steps in to help save his son.

It was fun revisiting these stories, and it was actually rather creative tying them all together with the trip down memory lane.  Reading all three stories together like this,you realize just how cohesive they are (and really, let's face it, Butcher has done an unbelievable job of keeping all of his continuity between the books, short stories, and even the original comic book stories all on point).  In this way, the reader gets to see young Irwin go from an awkward "pup" to a confident college jock - and after all of the events of the last two books, it's rather nice to see that even with this supernatural characters, there is still some bright, everyday moments that can inspire hope for the future.

And now, I must sit back and patiently wait for Butcher to finish the next novel (as I have seen nothing in a while solicited from Dynamite, which makes me think they may have lost the license to do more comics based on the Dresden Files) ... at least while I wait, I have PLENTY of other books to read and keep my mind busy until the next Dresden finally appears!

RATING:  10 black magic shrines out of 10 for keeping the magic alive!

Holiday Heroine - Book Six of the Heroine Complex

Well, six years ago I picked up the first book in this series, thinking it was just a one-off book - but I liked the premise and the cover, so I bought it, I read it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Then a second book came out, and I was over the moon.  And then a third.  And a fourth.  And a fifth!  And now I have read the sixth book in the series, but am saddened over the fact that this is the final book in the "Heroine" series by Sarah Kuhn.  I have grown to love these characters - Bea Tanaka, her sister Evie Tanaka, and their "sister" (friend) Aveda Jupiter - as well as all of the assorted supporting characters, love interests, frenemies, and family members.  Kuhn truly did create a huge family over the course of these six books, and it's a shame to have to say goodbye (although, admittedly, there is one thing about the series I won't miss - more on that later....)

Holiday Heroine is the final journey of Bea Tanaka (and no, before you get worried, that is not referring to a death by any means!).  Bea was first introduced simply as Evie's younger sister, who Evie basically had to raise after their mother died and their father took off.  Bea was viewed as a bit of a trouble maker, and it was Evie's job to take care of her and see to it that Bea stayed out of trouble.  In Heroine's Journey, the third book in this series, Bea's powers were tested by a malevolent force, and she nearly turned completely to the "dark side," all with the idea that she was going to be reunited with her mother.  Now, here we are three books later, and Bea has grown up - and in this book, she is determined to prove to everyone - her sister, her co-workers, and her boyfriend (Sam) that she truly is grown up and can keep her powers under control.

But the real question is - can she?

Kuhn provides readers with a holiday-centric story as Bea is prepared to celebrate the Christmas holidays in the middle of summer with her family - Evie and Aveda are coming for a visit, along with Nate and .. uhm ... Sam - which could be kind of awkward, since Bea and Sam sort of broke up.  The only problem is, Bea doesn't remember the break up.  She also doesn't remember spending the afternoon at her office in Maui completing reports.  Nor does she remember cleaning up her tiny apartment in Hawaii and charging her phone.  Either Bea is having black-outs, or something crazy is going on.  When she comes across a picture of her and Pika with ice cream - something that wasn't going to happen until Friday - does it dawn on Bea what is really going on.  Bea Tanaka is time-traveling!

With all of the other crazy things that have happened in this series - demons, other dimensions, ghosts, vampires, and such - why should time travel be so out of the ordinary?  Bea is both excited and frightened at the prospect of traveling through time.  And just like all of the movies she has seen, she must avoid doing anything that could potentially alter the timeline.  This is what she tells herself to excuse the fact that she doesn't say anything to Team Evie/Aveda about the time-traveling.  Instead, she decides to show everyone just how grown up she is and figure it out herself.  If only she could figure out how to control when it happens and to what time she goes.  But things go crazy (as if they weren't crazy enough!) when she wakes up and discovers that Sam is no longer in the timeline - it's as if he never existed at all!  So, she does what any normal person does and goes back to try to correct that mistake.  But in so doing, she erases her sister from the timeline!

And if all of these things weren't bad enough, Nate's evil mom, Shasta, is back on the scene, working overtime to convince Bea that she must sacrifice Evie's soon-to-be-born baby in order to save all of humanity!

There are plenty of twists and turns, and lots and LOTS of angst (a lot of which would probably have been completely unnecessary had Bea simply told Evie, Aveda, Nate, Scott, and the rest of the team what was going on from the very beginning!) - but there are also plenty of fun scenes wit the time-traveling element.  We get to see more of Sam's family.  We get to see Nate and Evie as doting parents.  We get to see a wild beach battle against a gigantic sea monster.  We even get a talking chicken!  (Yeah, trust me, it's a bit weird at first, but you just go with it....)

The one thing I could have done without in this book (and this has been actually building in the last couple of books) is the whole "white people are stereotyping and discriminating against people of color, and therefore white people are bad" sentiments scattered throughout the story.  Yes, I'm not oblivious to the fact that there are still people out there who discriminate, and yes, I do understand that racism can have an impact on people in different ways.  But when I'm reading fictional stories for enjoyment, I don't need those kind of things shoved down my throat when they add nothing crucial to the story.  The first three books in this series barely touched on those issues - they focused on the characters, their coming to terms with their powers and their family around them, and their battles against the demons coming through from the other dimension.  I thought that was the focus of this series.  But starting with Haunted Heroine, moreso in Hollywood Heroine, and now much more in Holiday Heroine, it's almost as if Kuhn feels it necessary to push this sentiment into the story, despite it lacking any substantive purpose for the story.

But I was able to look beyond that to the story as a whole, which I enjoyed overall.  Evie, Aveda, and now Bea have all managed to find their balance (and their husbands/boyfriends), and I can see them having their happily ever afters.  I'll miss these characters, but it's satisfying to know that their family has finally been firmly established, and whatever happens in their futures, they will face them as more than a team - but as a family!

RATING:  8 canoes toppling to the ground out of 10 for bringing the story of this terrific trio of super-powered ladies to a satisfying and happy conclusion!

Hollywood Heroine - Book Five of the Heroine Complex

The superhero duo of the century return in their fifth adventure, as author Sarah Kuhn brings fans the latest tale of the mighty Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka - along with their rag-tag team of spouses, sisters, friends, and assistants!  I never imagined when I picked up and read the first book, Heroine Complex, that this would become an ongoing series, let alone that I would get so caught up in these characters that I would anxiously wait for each book to come out (and before you ask, yes, I've already checked, and there is a sixth book on the schedule!).  And one of the things that I have been enjoying about the series is that the books rotate the main character - first it was Evie, then Aveda, then Bea - then it returned to Evie, and with this book, Aveda, and the next book will once again spotlight Bea.  This provides Kuhn with the opportunity to not only spotlight different characters in the "family," but it also gives her the opportunity to present each book with a different style and feel.  And this latest entry in the series is no different.

Hollywood Heroine finds Aveda and Evie heading to Hollywood to watch the development and filming of the new television series based on their adventures as the superheros of San Francisco!  And when they meet the actresses who will be portraying them, they are surprised to discover just how much alike the women are to themselves.  The director, though, is a whole 'nother story!  The man has his own strange visions for the show, including the idea of having a vampire written into the story (which, as readers who have been following the series, have never been in any of the dynamic duo's adventures).  Aveda and Evie are put off by the man's attitude and his revision to their adventures - and when the man portraying the vampire takes his method acting a bit too far and actually bites the actress portraying Aveda Jupiter ... well, there's no hesitation that the real Aveda Jupiter is going to jump in and save the day!  Only - no one asked her to, and no one wanted her to, and her actions result in Aveda and Evie being thrown off the set and barred from watching future filming!  Something is definitely not right here, but is it supernatural in nature or just the way of Hollywood film makers?

Aveda is determined to get to the bottom of it, but also finds herself dealing with a plethora of other problems as well.  Scott (her scrumptious husband) has come out to Los Angeles with them to look into starting a surf club for teens there locally.  It is  dream come true for him, and Aveda wants nothing more than for her husband to follow his dreams. But does that dream also have to include the Magnificent Mercedes f/k/a Mercedes McClain?  Mercedes was a friend of Aveda's when she first began doing the hero thing - but it turned into a competition, and Mercedes had no problem taking credit for Aveda's heroics, stealing the limelight while trying to remind Aveda on a daily basis the only reason she got as far as she did was because of her race!  Now, years later, Mercedes has made a name for herself as Los Angeles' local hero, and she seems to have set her sights on Scott.  And if that weren't enough, Pippa, the Jupiter/Tanaka team's latest assistant, seems to be having issues with her best friend Shelby ghosting her (which is probably easy to do, since Shelby is an actual ghost!), and Aveda feels she has to help her by involving her in this latest adventure.  And there's also the odd issue of her mother sending her pictures of oranges, then containers, and then the weird phone calls to check in (which her mother never does).  With so much going on, so many problems to solve, Aveda Jupiter is pushing herself to the very edge...

Which is exactly what someone is wanting to happen!

Yes, if Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka are involved, you know the adventure is going to involve supernatural hi-jinks of some kind. Is it still that demon Shasta, bound and determined to get Evie's baby?  Or is it real vampires that have invaded Hollywood?  Or is it something else entirely?  Whatever it is, Aveda is on the case - but she's concerned that Evie does not seem overly interested in investigating; rather, she's more interested in taking in the sights and checking out the local food fare!  After all, this trip to Hollywood was supposed to be a vacation.  Is Evie slowly pulling away from the team, now that she is having a baby?  Will she and Nate move away and give up the hero job altogether?  Bea already moved to Hawaii, and Lucy and Rose had moved out of the headquarters, so was her team/family slowly falling apart, leaving Aveda all alone?  Was this what her future held?   Kuhn puts poor Aveda through the ringer as not only must she deal with the very real threat of the vampires in the city, but she must also figure out how not to push her husband away, deal with Evie's pregnancy and desire to step away from the heroing, her sister's absence, her weapons and tactical expert no longer on site and readily available, and her new assistant's self-esteem issues.  Oh, and what happens when Aveda realizes that she is .... nah, I can't say that, it would give away a huge part of the story!

This one has it all!  Secret underground tunnels, searches for the elusive tome, vampire bats, steamy dreams, huge supernatural battles, internal conflict, relationship problems, and a new, energetic assistant who is such a bundle of energy, for me, she personally stole a lot of the limelight away from Aveda - I absolutely LOVE Pippa and hope that Kuhn will eventually give her a book of her own (hint! hint!).  But on top of this, it also has something that feels very much like a soap box and less like a true story element - yes, I'm aware discrimination still occurs, particularly in Hollywood and more particularly when it comes to women of color.  And while that element certainly plays a part of this story, there are times where it feels less like the story and more like the author simply ranting about it, which became distracting after a while.  There were times where it flowed naturally into the story, and there were times where it simply read like a rant aimed at the readers.

But, aside from that, Kuhn does provide an amazingly fun story to read, and I still find myself thoroughly engaged with each of the characters.  Looking forward to the trip to Hawaii in the next book so we can see Bea shine!

RATING:  8 cheeseburger potstickers out of 10 for some fabulous Hollywood supernatural mayhem and the guts to even mention a weremervampire!!!

Battle Ground - A Novel of the Dresden Files (Book 17)

What better way to celebrate my 600th blog posting than to review a book that has to one of the most exciting, heart-breaking, powerful, energy-filled, suspenseful, and outright FANTASTIC books that I have read in a while.  As I told a friend recently, reading this book was like watching the second half of the Avengers: Endgame movie.  When the blurb on the back of the book says that by the end of this novel, Harry, Chicago, and the whole world will be changed forever - it definitely means it!  I mean, quite literally, the only three words I can think to describe this book as I was reading it are:  OH MY GOD!

Battle Ground is the seventeenth novel of the Dresden Files, the series that stars Harry Dresden, a down-to-earth, every-day man who happens to be a wizard who lives in Chicago and puts his life on the line time and time again to save his family, his friends, and his city.  Jim Butcher went several years without a new Dresden Files novel, and book 16 (Peace Talks) and this book came out pretty much one right after another - and considering how interwoven they are, I can see why.  While Peace Talks was the set up and the warning of what was to come (much as Infinity War was for the Avengers), Battle Ground is, from page one, non-stop action.  Literally.  Picking up exactly where the previous book left off, Dresden, Murphy, Lara, and Freydis have left the island where Dresden buried his brother to protect (and hopefully one day save) him and are heading back to Chicago to prepare for the coming war with the Titan, Ethniu. And, as with everything else in Dresden's life, even that short trip across the lake can't be easy...

Butcher holds back no punches in this book.  Right off the bat, Dresden and gang find themselves fighting a kraken before they can even make it to the Chicago shore line.  Already weary and worn down, Dresden still fights with everything he has, alongside the vampire queen of the Red Court and the Valkyrie and the cop.  But just when all seems lost, unexpected help arrives from Dresden's own padawan - he has definitely taught her well!  Molly Carpenter my be the Winter Lady now, but she is still Dresden's friend first and foremost, so when he's in trouble, she'll be there!  And this first fight sets the stage for the 500+ pages of story to come, as all kinds of nightmarish creatures begin swarming the streets of Chicago.  So many, in fact, that the members of the Accord are not able to contain them and keep the regular humans from seeing what is going on.  Thus, change #1 - the mundane human world is about to discover the supernatural world exists right alongside them, and it will forever change the landscape of Chicago!

Amidst all of the fighting, though, Dresden begins to discover things about himself, as well as about the White Council.  There are still secrets, and Dresden does not like the idea that the Council is keeping things from him - particularly when it seems they are bound and determined to undermine his new role as the White Knight for Mab.  But Dresden does what Dresden always does - he looks out for his family and friends, and the for the city around him that cannot defend itself from the nightmare about to be unleashed by a destructive Titan, and the Council and their rules be damned.  Of course, Dresden has been gradually building up his own army who will stand with him no matter what - Murphy, who may be human, but she is one heck of a fighter; the werewolves, who call anytime they are needed; Butters, who now wields the Sword of Faith; Toot-Toot and his guard of little folk, who can be quite formidable when they need to be; and Michael Carpenter, who still believes in his friend and will stand by him to the very end.  But this Titan is something more powerful than any of them have ever faced, and with its coming comes change #2 - the city of Chicago is more than half demolished, as the Titan destroys building after building, reducing the city skyline with a mere thought!

One thing I definitely have to mention here - from the very beginning of the series, Dresden has had a little Volkswagon Beetle that he referred to as "Blue Beetle," which I always assumed was because it was painted blue.  I mean, let's face it - a big-time author like this could not be referring to the old Charlton/DC comic book hero, could he?  Well, in this book, Butcher answers that question once and for all.  When Murphy shows up to rescue a wounded Dresden, he climbs onto the back of her motorcycle and says, "This is Valkyrie.  I've got Booster Gold" (p. 207).  A simple, throw-away line, and yet those seven words (eight, if you count "I've" as "I have") answer everything!  Because as any DC Comics fan knows, Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are BFFs that were the comic relief of the Justice League for many years, and even today, they are the Laurel and Hardy of DC Comics.  So, for Butcher to finally acknowledge this comic book reference - well, it made the geek in me totally geek out and cheer when I read the line!

But the joy doesn't last long, as the battle gets more intense, more fierce, and more deadly - and one of Dresden's closest allies is taken out.  And when I say taken out, I don't mean knocked out, injured severely, or maimed.  I mean TAKEN OUT.  Someone dies.  Someone close to Dresden, someone I thought Butcher would never, ever write out of the series.  It's a meaningful death, as it very nearly breaks Dresden and opens him to the full fury of the Winter Knight burning with him.  But it's also a tragic death, as it is not a nightmarish creature of the Never-Never that kills this person.  No, it's another human that has become so unhinged by everything happening in Chicago right now that he can't make sense of anything and ends up shooting this person without warning.  So, yes, it is the villainous Titan and her group of baddies that cause the death, but the tool is a simply human being who is brought to madness by the sight of everything that is happening.  Which makes the death more real, more sad, and more devastating to Dresden and to the reader.  This is most definitely, without a doubt, one of the biggest changes in the series (we'll call it Change #3 with a capital "c").

Oh, but it doesn't end there.  The battle is huge, and the members of the Accord have a plan to stop the Titan before she can obliterate Chicago and move on to the world.  And wouldn't you know it, Harry Dresden is smack dab in the middle of that plan - in fact, the most important part of the plan.  Because he is the only one who can actually trap the Titan.  Because you can't actually kill the Titan (none of them have that kind of power, even combined), but the Titan can be contained.  And by the end of the battle, there are a number of revelations that come to light that basically show us change #4 as it relates to "Gentleman" John Marcone, change #5 as it pertains to the White Council's decision about Dresden after everything is over, and change #6 as it concerns Dresden's marital status (yeah, you don't really think I'm going to spoil THAT one, do you?).

There is so much that happens in this book, there is no possible way I could go into all of it.  I will say it was well worth the read and well worth the wait.  Now comes the impossible task of waiting for book 18 (tentatively titled Twelve Months) and book 19 (set to be called Mirror, Mirror).  Here's hoping there's not as much a delay here as there was between books 15 and 16!

 

EXTRA - this book also contained a short story at the end titled "Christmas Eve," which is clearly set after the events of this book.  It's a touching little story that reminds readers of exactly what, and who, Dresden is fighting for in his battle against the supernatural baddies!

RATING:  10 unassembled bicycles out of 10 for giving readers the payoff they deserve with this climactic battle that is unparalleled in scope and suspense!

Haunted Heroine - Book Four of the Heroine Complex

When Sarah Kuhn began this series, it was the story of Evie Tanaka and how she came to terms with becoming a superhero.  When the second book came out (which was a surprise, since I didn't realize this was going to be a series when I bought the first one!), Kuhn shared the story of Aveda Jupiter, Evie's best friend and crime-fighting partner.  Then, when the third book came out (which, needless to say, had me over-the-moon excited), Kuhn gave us the chance to get to know Evie's kid sister, Bea Tanaka, as she faced some of her own demons.  Now, as we settle in to Kuhn's fourth book in this wonderful series, Team Tanaka/Jupiter faces a whole bunch of new unknowns from both the present and the past!

Haunted Heroine brings Evie back to a college life she thought she left behind years ago.  But when she gets invited to visit the college she dropped out of so many years ago, Aveda sees this as the break Evie needs from everything going on in her life - in particular, her pregnancy!  With the tension growing between Evie and Nate (her husband and father to her child), Evie agrees, even though she is curious as to why she got invited back to a college from which she did not graduate.  Before she gets the chance to find out, though, a ghost attacks a student, and Evie steps in to save the day!  The provost of the college then reveals to Evie and Aveda that this is not the first supernatural attack on campus, and knowing of their recent triumphs against the demons popping up all over San Francisco, she asks the two of them to go undercover to protect the students and perhaps find the source of the supernatural attacks.  An opportunity to live out the college days they never had, plus solve a supernatural mystery?  How could they pass this up?!

I have to give Kuhn credit - each of her books is fresh and unique.  Even though the characters and some of the underlying plotlines are ongoing, each book manages to have not only its own individual story, but also its own "feel," for lack of a better word.  From self-discovery in the first book, to realization in the second book, to recovery in the third book, now we get some plain, good old-fashioned supernatural mystery fun.  Who are the ghosts haunted the halls of Morgan College?  Why are the haunting the school?  And what has caused them to go from merely roaming the halls to actually interacting with the students, sometimes in the most aggressive of ways?  Are they truly ghosts, or could they be demons that have somehow found a new portal across the bay from San Francisco?  Aveda can't wait to find out, but Evie is more concerned about how she is going to deal with the fact she must face the professor that she had a teacher/student affair with all those years ago - a man who made her feel less than what she was while taking advantage of her the whole time.

Kuhn introduces a whole new world of characters at Morgan College - Julie, Pippa, Shelby, Tess, Jocelyn, Victoria, Miriam, Lenora, Richard, Gloria, not to mention Madeline, Clementine, and the perky little bartender at the college party!  Each and every one of them breathe so much life into the story, it's not hard at all to get caught up in the drama that is their lives.  The problem is, each of them is harboring secrets - things they don't want others to know.  And as Evie and Aveda (or Eliza and Angelica, Teachers' Assistants, as they are known to the students at the college) dig deeper into what is going on at the school, they find that all of those secrets lead to some very deadly plans and a few unexpected surprises for both our superhero pair and the reader!

Now, I'm going to say up front there was one aspect of the book that annoyed me a little bit - not going to go into detail, but let's just say that it felt a bit like pandering to some current events in the real world today (and at times, it caused a bit of confusion to me as the reader).  However, that small tidbit certainly did not take away any of my enjoyment of the story.  Kuhn has a superb way of making her characters real - their dialogue, their actions, their responses and feelings - they all weave together to make believable characters that you can easily identify with in a very unbelievable world that you only wish you could live in!

And the only reason I'm still so excited after having finished this fourth Heroine novel is because I've already seen on Amazon that a fifth book is on its way!  Already counting the days...

RATING:  8 cups of supernaturally spiked punch out of 10 for giving us a superhero soap opera with a fun supernatural mystery to spice things up!

Peace Talks - A Novel of the Dresden Files (Book 16)

When I picked up Storm Front and Fool Moon, the first two novels in the Dresden Files series way back in 2001 (both of which were first printings, as Storm Front had come out in 2000, while Fool Moon was a new release in 2001), I certainly never expected that I would be here, 20 years later, still following this series of a wizard living in Chicago in the present day, trying to stop the supernatural world from taking over this one.  I will be the first one to say that, for me, I definitely judge a book by its cover.  Those first printings of Storm Front and Fool Moon had some great, stylistic covers with art that quickly drew you into the scene.  The fact that the stories involved vampires and werewolves only cinched the deal for me, having always been a huge fan of the supernatural worlds since watching my first episode of Dark Shadows back in the day.  Over the years, Jim Butcher's Dresden Files has expanded and evolved - starting out as only paperbacks, but eventually changing into hardcover editions first, with paperback versions being published a year later (which annoyed me at first, since that meant I had to wait nearly two years between Blood Rites and Dead Beat to read the next book...); going from covers that never featured the lead character to covers that focused solely on Dresden in his beat up coat and staff; expanding into comic book stories, collections of short stories, and even a one-season long television show.  It's clear that author Jim Butcher created a character that resonated with tons and tons of fans (and having met Butcher multiple times at DragonCon in Atlanta, I can attest to the enormous fan-following this author and series has!).  However, after Skin Games came out back in 2014, Butcher took a break.  And that break continued ... and continued ... to the point where six years passed with absolutely no Dresden book being published! There were a couple of comic book series published by Dynamite Entertainment that helped soothe fans' need for more Dresden, but quite frankly, I was beginning to give up.

Then came Peace Talks in 2020 (a year when we definitely needed something good to happen!).  And if that weren't enough, a few months after Peace Talks came out in hardback, it was followed up by Battle Ground!  After such a long gap, I was overjoyed to see not one, but two new books come out in the same year!  Of course, both came out in hardback, and being the cheapskate that I am, I was willing to wait for paperback versions.  And Peace Talks finally made its paperback appearance last month, so I snagged it the first day it was on the shelves.  Normally, I put my new books on a shelf in the order that I buy them so that I can read those books I bought previously - but with Dresden, I couldn't wait, so he immediately moved to the top of the stack!

Peace Talks picks up a bit after Dresden's gang descended into Hades' vault to steal the Holy Grail.  Karin Murphy is still recovering from the severe injuries she received during that heist, and Dresden is coming to terms with all of the changes in his life - he is now the Winter Knight; Molly is the Winter Lady; Karin is gravely injured, likely to never fully recover; Butters is a Knight of the Cross; his basement apartment is destroyed; his Blue Beetle is gone, replaced with a hearse; he has a brother who is a vampire in the White Court; and probably the biggest of all of his changes is the fact that he is the father of a little girl, for whom he will do just about anything to protect.  Dresden is hoping for just a little bit of down time, but of course, we all know that will never happen!

This book brings together the various factions of the supernatural world at a summit for the Accords, in which the various supernatural nations hope to reach and agreement for peace.  Dresden is called in by the Council to help provide security for the Accords, which doesn't sound too difficult.  Until his brother breaks into the svartalf embassy in Chicago (which happens to be where Harry and his daughter are living to keep her protected) and kills on of the svartalf guards.  One who was very important to the svartalf royalty.  And this places Dresden in a very precarious position.  The svartalf laws dictate that Thomas be put to death for his crime.  But Thomas is Dresden's brother.  He can't just let him die.  But if he takes action to rescue him, he could place himself at odds with not only the svartalf nation, but with the wizarding council as well, and he could destroy any chance the Accords have of brokering peace.  Just another typical Tuesday in the life of Harry Dresden!

It was such a true joy to fall back into the world of Harry Dresden - just like catching up with old friends that you haven't seen in a while.  The sarcasm, the tricks, the determination, the battles, the surprises, the plots, the villains, the twists, the allies, the enemies, and the sexual tension... wait, what? Sexual tension?  Since when did the Dresden Files heat up like that? I can honestly say the amount of sex and sexual tension in this book eclipses that of all the previous books combined!  Obviously, I never though Harry Dresden was celibate, but man - my friends and I wondered if perhaps Butcher was going through a dry spell in his life and compensated by releasing all that pent-up energy through Dresden in this book.  While none of it is explicit, it definitely heats up quite often in the book, leaving the reader rather ... uhm ... exhilarated? ... by the end of the book.  (Oh, and in this context, let's just say that Butters finally gets his due in this aspect - you'll definitely have to read the book to see what I'm talking about here!)

The battle between Dresden and McCoy has been a long time coming, and it was actually good to see that finally come to head in this book.  And I'm glad that Butcher has kept Dresden true to his nature by doing whatever it takes to protect his family, while juggling the Accords, the Council, and the city of Chicago (not to mention, the world!) at the same time.  If anyone can manage it, it's Dresden, and his multi-tasking capabilities and tactical planning really shine through in this book.  There are quite the number of subplots building in this book, and considering the cliffhanger at the end, I have no doubt many of them will get resolved (or at the very least, moved forward considerably) in Battle Ground. 

I also like the direction Dresden and Murphy's relationship is going.  That has been building for 20 years, and it's about darned time they started to build something.  And I absolutely love the fact that Murphy has no problems standing up to Dresden and the supernatural ilk of his world (including a Valkyrie that Murphy actually outsmarts and defeats!), proving that even a normal human being can have what it takes to defeat otherworldly creatures.

Overall a very satisfying read and a more-then-welcome return to the Dresden Files.  The only drawback to the book is that I managed to read all 455 pages in just a few days, leaving me now without a Dresden Files book to read until Battle Ground comes out in paperback!  ARGH!!!!

RATING:  10 pancakes made from scratch out of 10 for satisfying the Dresden-craving that has been growing for the past seven years with a spectacular new tale filled with more danger and disaster than every before!

Mad Dogs - an Eclipse Comics mini-series

I picked up this three-issue mini-series recently for two reasons: (1) back in the day Eclipse Comics put out some pretty good titles (after all, they were the first ones to publish Ms. Tree); and (2) it is written by Chuck Dixon, who has written some great comics over the years (including Evangeline and the initial Birds of Prey stories for DC). Therefore, I figured this had to have two things going for it right off the bat!  Plus, it was only three issues, at less than $2 per issue, so I figured even if it weren't the greatest comic ever written, I wouldn't be out much money. Now, having read it, I'd have to say I'm on the fence...

Mad Dogs is the tale of former police officers (and one former sheriff) who no longer serve due to their inability to adhere to the rules, their brutality, their fatal tactics, and their refusal to place procedure above justice. They have tried to settle into civilian life as much as possible, but when an Assistant District Attorney comes to Guy Brennan and offers him a chance to create a team of covert operatives that would operate outside the standard police force in an effort to clean up the city, Brennan jumps at the chance – as do the men and one woman that he chooses as a part of his “mad dog” team.

While the covers are full color, the interior pages are black and white, which probably works better for this story of urban violence and corruption.  The art, by Victor Toppi, is in a lot of places a bit rough, and his faces sometimes come across rather cartoonish and comical.  At this point in his career, he was clearly not proficient with facial expressions. I am unfamiliar with Toppi, and don’t believe I have ever seen any work by him before or after this series.  Yet, despite his less-than-stellar faces, he does a pretty good job with the backgrounds and shadows, which set the mood for the story more often than not.

Dixon’s story focuses on the team trying to take down a drug dealer who is working overtime to take over the entire trade in the area, creating turf wars and fights with the local mobsters. The entire first issue is devoted to Brennan assembling his team, with each member getting a flashback “origin” story as to what they did that resulted in their removal from the force.  In each instance, they sought justice, but the means they utilized were definitely not within the confines of the law.  Dixon’s use of flashbacks and action sequences to introduce the characters, rather than extensive dialogue, draws the reader in and gives you a sense of who these people are – they aren’t necessarily bad cops, and in nearly all of the cases, their action appears justified.  But it is rather surprising (for the time) that Dixon would devote the entire first issue to introducing the characters, with very little space given to the actual story that will encompass the next two issues.  (Of course, that one issue is nothing compared to today’s stories – if this same comic were published today, it would likely be a 12-issue series, with one entire issue devoted to each of the character’s backstory…)

Once we get into the meat of the story with the second issue, Dixon doesn’t hold anything back.  Brennan and his mad dogs will stop at nothing to bring down the drug dealer – and from this point forward, it is a standard tough-cops-versus-bad-guys story, with plenty of shooting, fighting, roughing-up, and even a couple of deaths – without giving away too much, not every member of the mad dog team makes it out of this mini-series alive.  Dixon uses a number of storytelling clichés, as well as some typical stereotypes (this was the early ‘90s, so the whole politically correct phase hadn’t even begun yet), but they don’t overpower the story, and ultimately, the 3-issues are a fairly interesting read.  Definitely not your standard superhero fare that was being vomited out by everyone and their kid brother back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, so in that aspect, it offers a somewhat fresh read.

Whether I would recommend this to other comic book fans, well, let’s say that if you love movies with the hard-nosed ex-cop who’s trying to redeem himself, then you’ll no doubt like this comic; otherwise, I’d probably say this one is a pass…

RATING:  5 two-bedroom condos on Locust out of 10 for experimenting with a different type of comic at a time when superheroes were all the rage!

Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files - Brief Cases

Ah, Harry Dresden, Wizard Extraordinaire - oh, how I miss thee! It's been way too long since Jim Butcher gave us a full length novel. He's allowed a few comic book mini-series from Dynamite Entertainment to be published, and he's written a short story here and there over the past few years. Thankfully, his recent short stories have been collected into a large volume titled Brief Cases, and it has sustained my love for the character and need for more stories!

With 12 stories, Brief Cases covered a lot of different times (at various points in Dresden's history - between books, during books, and even after the last book). This provides fans with the opportunity to see the characters at various points in their history. And I specifically say "characters" because Butcher treats us to stories of not just Dresden, but also tales from the point of view of Molly Carpenter (Dresden's apprentice) and Marcone (the mob boss) and, my personal favorite, Waldo Butters (the coroner). In addition, the final story, which, quite frankly, was the least of my favorite of the 12 short tales, features not one, not two, but three different view points...but more on that later.

First, let's discuss those three tales with bigfoot. As Butcher indicates in his introduction to the first tale, bigfoot is a character he never has touched upon in the ongoing series, so it was a nice change of pace to see him integrate the character into Dresden's world. It was also fun to see that bigfoot was not only NOT a villain by any means, but that he had an offspring by a rather imposing woman - an offspring that Dresden finds himself helping not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions throughout the young bigfoot's life. All three stories are unique and stand on their own, but when taken together, they create an amazing tale of parental love, sacrifice, and reunion. Of all the stories in this anthology, I would have to say that these three are my favorite Dresden tales.

With regard to Molly - when her character was first introduced into the series, I wasn't overly impressed. She seemed to be the stereotypical rebellious teenager. No big deal. But then she started using magic. And then she got in trouble - big time trouble! Then Dresden bailed her out and took her on as his apprentice. And then ... well, for those who may not have read all the books in the series yet, I won't spoil it. But she does manage to get two stories in this book, and both of them are quite powerful. Once is set just after Changes, when everyone is mourning Dresden's death. The other deals with Molly's new role following the unspoken change to her life mentioned (or rather, not mentioned) above. In both stories, she proves herself to be a true protege of Harry Dresden, acting just like him in so many ways. The second story, however, is a very tough pill to swallow, as Molly learns a lesson the hard way, at the cost of quite a few lives...

The story about John Marcone was interesting - we've never really seen anything from his point of view before. And to see how he deals with supernatural threats ... how he uses what he has learned from Dresden over the years ... and how he is able to discern the truth from subterfuge within the supernatural community ... well, it shows just how devious, conniving, and downright dirty he can be.

Now, my favorite of all the stories in this book has to be the story about Waldo Butters. Butcher admits in the preface to the story that Butters was originally just a throw-away character. But over the years, he has grown into something much more than that - a likable geek who has been thrown into a world he doesn't truly understand, yet one that he accepts and willingly throws himself into whenever someone is in need. And now, as the chosen keep of the Sword of Faith, he has even more responsibility than ever. In this story, Butters gets his first "call," and his faith is put to the test when he goes toe-to-toe with a deadly supernatural creature. He must have faith in himself, in his calling, and in his righteous mission in order to defeat the creature and save the soul of the man he and Michael found on the bench...

And the last story. Dresden takes a trip to the zoo. With his daughter. And his dog. And what should be an uneventful family outing turns into three separate battles! Dresden takes on a warlock with newfound powers - - Maggie takes on some ghouls in children's clothing - - and Mouse takes on a shadowy villain.  The same story, told from three different perspectives, fighting three different villains totally unbeknownst to the other two. Truly an ingenious idea, and while it was cute, it just did not have the Dresden feel that the other stories did. Maybe it was too light-hearted, or maybe it was too family oriented, I'm not sure. But, while it wasn't bad, it was not the best either.  Then again, when you have a book of 12 stories, they can't all be the best, can they?

Overall, the book is another win for Butcher in his Dresden universe and satiates the Dresden craving we fans have until he finally gets around to writing and publishing the next novel.

RATING:  10 giant oyster shell bombs out of 10 for feeding the Dresden fix for all of us fans going into withdrawals!

Heroine's Journey - Book Three of the Heroine Complex

Heroine Complex, Book 3
Heroine's Journey
Publisher:  DAW
Publication Date (July 2018)
ISBN 10 - 075641445
ISBN 13 - 978-0756414412
373 pages of story

For a book that I never thought would have one sequel, let alone two, I am amazed at the journey these characters have taken (no pun intended). Heroine Complex saw the rise of Evie Tanaka as a superhero. Heroine Worship saw the humbling of Aveda Jupiter. Now, in this third book of the series, Evie's younger sister, Beatrice ("Bea") takes the spotlight as she begins her own journey into becoming a superhero - if she can only figure out how to get out of her own head...

Each of these books has been from a different point of view. The first was Evie's, the second was Aveda's, and now with Heroine's Journey, readers get an inside look at the thoughts of Bea Tanaka, who is still finding the limits to her power of emotional projection. As the back of the book says, Bea's life is full of "should haves." She should have been taken seriously as a powerful hero. She should have been allowed to come on missions with Evie and Aveda. She should have been free to use her powers to save others on a daily basis. But, in Bea's eyes, she is being held back.

So, when a strange new creature nearly takes out Evie and Aveda, and Bea steps in to save the day, she thinks this is the turning point in her life. Evie has finally agreed to let her become a part of the super team on a trial basis. Bea also discovers that she not only can project emotions, but she is able to actually implant thoughts into other's minds, in effect, "suggesting" what they should say or do. But even more important than all of that - the mother she thought had died of cancer years ago could quite possibly be alive, trapped in a demon dimension, calling out to her for help. What else should a super hero do, but help those in need? Right?

While I have to say, the first third of this book is a bit difficult to get through (I mean, Bea's incessant whining about not being allowed to be a full super hero, not being given more freedom, blah, blah, blah) gets a little tired of reading over and over. But starting with the second/third of the book, author Sarah Kuhn picks up the pace, and the story, and it begins to draw you in - particularly as you realize that Bea is developing new aspects to her power, and using those new abilities could very well lead her down a path that will put her at odds with her own sister. And just how far would she be willing to go in order to bring her mother back? That's a tough question, because anyone who has lost a parent will know that you'd do pretty much anything just to have another chance to be with him or her!

Once again, while there are definite heroics and some pretty funny epic battles, at the heart of this book (as with the previous books) is soul-searching and growth, and Bea definitely does a lot of both. And, as with the previous books, there is romance that blossoms, as Bea finds a man of her own in this book - meaning all three heroes now have their very own sweethearts (and it's interesting to note that it is the women who are the strong heroic ones, while the men play more of a supporting, Lois Lane-type role). Kuhn definitely flips the table on the typical hero/love interest story.

I see on Amazon that a fourth book in the series is forthcoming, so I now have something else to look forward to!

RATING:  8 amusement park rides that come to life out of 10 for sharing the human side of heroics, along with the temptations these heroes face to use their powers for selfish gain!

Heroine Worship - Book Two of the Heroine Complex

The one book I never thought would have a sequel, but which I desperately wanted a sequel - well, it actually got a sequel!  Heroine Complex was a fantastic, fun read with a unique spin on the whole super hero genre and with two Asian women as the lead characters.  Aveda Jupiter (also known as Annie Chang to her friends) and Evie Tanaka are back - the only problem is, the demon problem in San Francisco has been cured, and the city no longer needs any super heroes to protect it.

So what's a girl to do?

This is where Heroine Worship picks up, as author Sarah Kuhn brings back Aveda and Evie, along with all of their friends, to face a new and possibly more frightening adventure - Evie's wedding to Nate!  Okay, based on the cover, this story is not quite the "adventure" that I was expecting.  Even the back of the book with its synopsis made it sound like it was going to have a big mystery and another big baddie on the loose in San Francisco.

Instead, Kuhn gives readers page after page of Aveda bemoaning the fact that San Francisco doesn't need her and whining about the fact that the city has come to love Evie and her fire-throwing power far more than they ever did her non-powered antics.  In fact, as the story progresses, it becomes apparent that this book (which, by the way, is told from Aveda's point of view, rather than Evie's like the first book) is one huge identity crisis as Aveda tries to come to terms with the idea that she is no longer the top dog and tries to figure out how to be a better friend to Evie, who is no longer her assistant, but also her friend and co-super hero.

The whining and self-doubt goes on and on ad nauseam, and quite frankly, I was about ready to put the book down after the first hundred pages or so, when there was nothing really interesting happening.  Sure, there were hints of a possible demon still hanging around the city, and yes, Kuhn provides a few scenes of character development with Aveda, Evie, Nate, Lucy, Bea, and Scott.  But the whole "no one like Aveda any more and everyone thinks she's an attention-starved diva" got a bit old when it was repeated over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Then there was the fight at the wedding dress pavilion in the fashion market.  Okay, that caught a bit of my interest.  Then there was the crazed bride-to-be at the cake shop.  Definitely a pattern developing.  Then the mystery comes to light - just how is this demon controlling people - is it in the air?  Is it in the clothing?  Is it in the undergarments?  There are several viable suspects in the story, and by the second half of the book, I became hooked again, and I couldn't wait to tear through the pages to find out not only how Aveda and Evie were going to stop this new demon, but also who was the human counterpart helping it.  And I'll graciously admit - the person I had pegged as the human culprit was not the one.  So kudos to Kuhn for making the reveal a big surprise (and once it is revealed, the reader will see that the clues were there all along).

There's definitely romance in this one - Aveda does finally break down and admit her feelings for Scott.  The author throws in a couple of rather racy scenes of the two of them getting down and dirty, but it's not too blunt, thankfully.  And Kuhn provides more back story on Aveda (since this is her story, just as the first book was Evie's story).

So, while the book has a slow and rather ambivalent start, it definitely picks up after the half-way mark and makes it well worth the read.  As good as the first book - probably not.  But good enough that I'd buy a third one if Kuhn writes one?  Yes, definitely.

RATING: 7 demon-infested wedding gowns out of 10 for proving that super heroes do not need to be dark and gritty to still be good and enjoyable to read about.

We Can Never Go Home, Volume One - What We Do Is Secret

Last year at DragonCon, I was browsing artist alley, as I always do at the comic conventions, as I usually will find some really great stuff.  I was actually browsing at another table, when I happened to glance over and see the title of the graphic novel lying on the next table - We Can Never Go Home.  Curious, I picked it up and browsed through it, as the artist, Josh Hood, told me a little bit about the book. Two teenagers with super powers, a  gun, and each other.  It was certainly a different concept, so I picked it up.

Now, nearly a year later, I finally have gotten around to reading it.  Whoa!!!  This is one helluva story, let me tell you!

We Can Never Go Home is the story of Duncan and Madison, two deceivingly average teens in small town America.  Only, each of them harbors a secret.  Madison is super strong and pretty much invulnerable when she becomes agitated or angry.  Duncan can kill people with a thought.  Or, so he tells Madison.  His real secret is something far worse...

Writers Matthew Rosenberg and Patrick Kindlon, along with artists John Hood and Brian Level, tell a magnificent, somewhat dark urban tale of two teenagers on the run, thrown together by circumstance, but staying together through need and a sense of loyalty, for when it comes down to it, the only ones they can can on are each other.  Until, that is, Duncan's real secret comes out.

The story has violence, no doubt about it - but it's not gratuitous, nor flashy.  It's a part of the tale that defines both Duncan and Madison.  It's part of what makes them who they are and who they become by the end of this first graphic novel.  There's also a limited amount of nudity (surprisingly male, not female), but again - it's brief, but necessary, as it moves the story and pushes the characters further down their road of self-destruction.

What would a teenager in the real world do if they had super powers?  What would a teenager in the real world do if he or she met a fellow teen with super powers?  How far would you be willing to go to prove yourself?  To be that "knight in shining armor"?  Rosenberg and Kindlon answer that question with their first graphic novel.  And let me say, they are able to write some truly believable characters.  I easily got caught up in the story, and in the lives of both Duncan and Madison.  And there is no black and white in this story - no literal good or literal bad - instead, both characters have their good and bad traits, just like the rest of us.  The interaction feels natural, and their reactions and choices all have consequences.

I do hope that there are more stories of Duncan and Madison in the future, as the ending definitely left me a bit sad, a bit upset, and a lot wanting more.  Besides, these guys still have to answer the question of where Madison got her powers - why the government is after her - what really happened to Duncan's mother - and where do these two teens go from here?

This is definitely a graphic novel that I would place high on my recommendation list for anyone wanting a really good read!

RATING:  10 hot mix tapes out of 10 for making me really care about some teenagers who aren't exactly lovable, but who could be any of us at any time!

Heroine Complex - "I Am Not A Superhero"

Being a superheroine is hard.
Working for one is even harder.

The tagline on the back cover of Heroine Complex probably describes the story of Evie Tanaka better than any words I could say. Author Sarah Kuhn has written a fun superhero romp through the streets of San Francisco, telling the story of Evie Tanaka, personal assistant to San Francisco's premier (and only) super hero, Aveda Jupiter - better known to Evie as Annie Chang, her childhood friend with whom she grew up. Evie does everything for Aveda: she documents her adventures, she cleans up after Aveda's adventures (making sure Aveda's outfits are stylish and spotless), and she puts up with her boss's tirade of temper tantrums behind closed doors. And she does all of it with a smile on her face, because handling all of this helps her keep a check on her own problem - Aveda isn't the only one in town with super powers.

Kuhn opens the book right in the middle of all the action. Aveda is fighting demon-possessed cupcakes (yes, you read that right!) in a local cupcake store in San Francisco. Evie is present, doing a live video feed of all the action for Aveda's countless fans. Also present is Lucy Valdez, Aveda's bodyguard and personal trainer (as well as weapons expert). Kunh provides plenty of action in that first chapter, but at the same time, readers get a bit of the history that has led to this moment - the fact that portals from the Otherworld have been opening lately throughout San Francisco, and the demons that come through basically take an imprint of the first thing they see, then legions of that particular item, demon-possessed, suddenly start attacking. To date, Aveda Jupiter has been able to handle each and every portal attack with precision and crowd adoration - until today, when the filming of her adventure reveals a horrifying secret - Aveda Jupiter has a zit!

And that pretty much sets the tone for the book - there's plenty of humor, but a good mix of drama and super-heroics as well. Kuhn gives readers a well-rounded group of characters - and while some are more or less background supporting cast (such as Lucy, as well as Evie's sister Bea and Evie and Aveda's longtime friend, Scott), readers get a great deal of background on Aveda and Evie, as well as eventually Nate (the group's resident scientist). There is some unresolved tension and issues between Bea and Evie ... Between Scott and Aveda ... between Evie and Nate ... and even some unspoken tension building between Evie and Aveda - - and when Evie is forced to assume Aveda's identity and pretend to be the superhero that everyone adores, all of the stress and tension that Evie has kept under wraps and in control for so many years comes to the front - and literally explodes in a ball of fire!

While the demon-fighting and the in-house squabbles certainly stays to the forefront, there is an underlying mystery of who is opening those portals, what do the mysterious stones they keep finding after the portals close mean, and how in the world can they get rid of that annoying blogger, Maisy Kane, who claims to be Aveda's biggest fan and "best friend," yet seems to always cause them more problems with each blog post? And, of course, we can't forget the boiling (literally!) love story that blooms between Evie and Nate - who make a good pair, by the way - and how that is impacted when Nate's past comes back to haunt him.

Of course, as well with any good book, the resolution not only brings out the identity of the one who has been opening portals (and it's not at all who you would suspect!), but it also sees Evie come to terms with who she is and how she interacts with the people around her and opens the door for a world of new adventures for Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka!

As you can see, this book has a lot of story packed into its 376 pages, and it's definitely well worth the read.  I am normally a fan of series books, not single, one-offers - but this one caught my eye on the shelf, and after passing it by several times, I finally picked it up with a coupon I had, and boy, am I glad I did.  A part of my hopes Kuhn eventually does a sequel to this; but, if she doesn't, it's still one book that will stay in my collection.

RATING:  10 bowls of Lucky Charms (without the purple marshmallows) out of 10 for giving readers a book that has it all - super-heroics, adventure, sci-fi, romance, mystery, and demon-possessed cupcakes, statues, and movie screens!

Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files - Wild Card

Harry Dresden, Chicago's resident Wizard, is back in an all-new story, written by creator Jim Butcher, with the assistance of Mark Powers.  The characters and story are brought to life with the wonderful art of Carlos Gomez.  Wild Card is a new tale that takes place after the last comic mini-series, Down Town, and before the novel, Small Favor.

As with any Dresden story, poor Harry gets caught up in yet another battle - only this time, nothing is exactly what it seems.  Two girls end up dead, and it appears they were killed by Marcone's forces.  The girls were of the White Court, who wants revenge.  Meanwhile, Marcone thinks the cops have taken out some of his men, so he is looking for payback.  And the Chicago PD has seen one of their own killed and another injured, and they want someone to punish for it.  It's a three-way war that is brewing, ready to do God-only-knows how much damage to the city.  And, as usual, Harry is the only one that can see through all the nonsense to know that someone is setting everyone up.  Who benefits from a total chaos war like this?

While I love seeing Dresden brought to life (I still miss the old Sci-Fi television series), I will admit that I don't necessarily like having my own visuals of these characters taken from me.  Dresden and Murphy aren't really too much off from what I had imagined in my mind; other characters...well, they are nothing like I imagined.  Butters (the coroner), for example.  The glasses are spot on, but I for some reason imagined him as a short, geeky guy with red hair (for the life of me, I can't recall if they ever give his hair color in the books).  Perhaps I've always seen him that way, as I see a lot of myself in him.  And Molly.  Well, I expected Molly to be a lot more "goth" than how she is depicted in the comics.  Then there's Leanansidhe.  Harry's faerie godmother.  She was nothing like I envisioned.  A lot more sexier, a lot more faerie-like, and a lot meaner is what I had always imagined.

Now, Harry's brother Thomas - there's not too many ways you can mess up tall, dark-haired, and sexy.  Gomez got this Adonis pretty much dead-on!

With Butcher's involvement, the characters remain consistent with the books, and the stories build on the books, filling in gaps and providing some great life-threatening, world-endangering battles that further test Harry and his friends.  This time around, we get to see how Harry fares against a demon powerful enough to do damage to his faerie godmother, someone Harry had always thought to be all-powerful and unstoppable.  But this new threat (Puck) turns out to be something entirely new - everything he does, every life he destroys, every destruction he causes - it's all out of boredom.  He simply does it for fun, for something to do.

I have to say, the manner in which Dresden comes up with to put an end to Puck's shenanigans is pretty ingenious and most definitely pure Dresden-style.  It brought a smile to my face, and I cheered inside (just like I do with pretty much every Dresden story when he wins in the end).

Now, when exactly is Butcher going to sit down and write the next Dresden novel????  His website lists the 16th book, Peace Talks, but still no word on its release.  UGH!!!!!

RATING:  10 full houses out of 10 for giving Dresden a true "wild card" of a villain, one that could be a worthy nemesis for our favorite wizard!

Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files - Down Town

And speaking of The Dresden Files...

Since Butcher seems to be taking a rather lengthy break from Dresden while he writes some other novels, I'm thrilled that Dynamite Comics is still putting out mini-series with new original stories, written by Jim Butcher, in conjunction with Mark Powers (and very beautifully drawn by Carlos Gomez).

As I've read the 15 books in the Dresden Files series, I've created my own images of the characters in my mind.  When Sci-Fi channel put out the Dresden Files television show a few years back (starring Paul Blackthorne, who now plays Detective Lance on the CW's Arrow), my mind sort of starting picturing the actors from that show in the roles.  Now, though, Carlos Gomez has captured these characters so perfectly, it's easy to see them now as the way he draws them.  Dresden, Molly.  Karen.  Tomas.  Even Mouse and Bob.

This latest adventure, Down Town, is set just after Proven Guilty and White Knight in the book series.  Dresden is training Molly in the user of her magical gifts, when a mysterious creature (who turns out to be a Golem) begins killing - first a pawn shop owner, then the owner of a laundromat.  There doesn't seem to be any apparent connection - until Marcone shows up at the end of the first issue.

Fans of the books will be very pleased with the comic stories, as not only are they a part of the official Dresden canon, but they flow seamlessly into the realm of the books.  The characterization is spot-on, and the stories have the same flavor and action.  Harry is once again on a mission to save innocent lives, Marcone is up to his usual tricks with his own agenda, and there's an evil villain on the loose, using magic to destroy and create chaos.

I love how involved Molly is in this story.  She hasn't been involved in the comics up to this point, so to now see her brought to life (so to speak) and watch as she practices with her new-found abilities is a lot of fun.  It's also great to see Mouse in action as well (as he plays a pretty good role in this story).

Where many comics today feel padded with long, drawn-out stories just to pad a story into six-issues or so to fill a trade paperback, this story does not.  Each page is packed with story, and every panel, every word balloon is imperative to the tale.  And there are not a lot of splash pages just to show off the flashy art (in hopes of distracting from the weak story).  No need for that here.  This is just good, old-fashioned Dresden.

Definitely looking forward to the next mini-series, whether it's a comic-adaptation of one of the books (so far, they've done Storm Front and Fool Moon) or a new original story, either way, I'll be there!

RATING:  10 fiery fuego blasts out of 10 for staying true to The Dresden Files and keeping my thirst for more Dresden stories quenched for the time being.