Mangaman
by Barry Lyga
illustrated by Colleen Doran
Ryoko, a manga character from a manga world, falls through the Rip into the
“real” world—the western world—and tries to survive as the ultimate outsider at
a typical American high school.
When Ryoko falls in love with Marissa
Montaigne, the most beautiful girl in the school, his eyes turn to hearts and
comic tension tightens as his way of being drawn and expressing himself clashes
with this different Western world in which he is stuck in. “Panel-holed” for
being different, Ryoko has to figure out how to get back to his manga world,
back through the Rip . . . all while he has hearts for eyes for a girl from the
wrong kind of comic book. (description from Amazon.com)
This was actually a really difficult read for me. I sort-of enjoyed the plot and felt that the concept of the two styles of graphic novels colliding was cool...but, *sigh*. I never really got into it.
I had a hard time with the American style graphic novel drawings. Stylistically, I actually enjoyed the Japananese manga-style drawings a lot more, but they also looked somewhat ridiculous next to the more western style.
As I said, conceptually, I thought the book was great. In actuality, I didn't really enjoy reading it. I'm glad I did and I can say I have, but I would not pick it up again.
Paige Turner has just moved to New York with her family, and she's having some
trouble adjusting to the big city. In the pages of her sketchbook, she tries to
make sense of her new life, including trying out her secret identity: artist. As
she makes friends and starts to explore the city, she slowly brings her secret
identity out into the open, a process that is equal parts terrifying and
rewarding. (description from Amazon.com)
I really enjoyed this book. I related well to the character, I thought the drawings were beautifully done, and it had a great plotline. The conceptual artwork here really is stellar...check out this example:
So far, I think this is one of the best graphic novels I've ever read!
Freshman: Tales of 9th Grade Obsessions, Revelations, and Other Nonsense
by Corinne Mucha
Annie has just started high school and she’s a mess. Her older brother has told
her that her freshman year will strongly affect the rest of her life, and if
that’s true her future is looking grim: She’s a loser at sports, is jealous of
everyone, and has totally fallen in love with her best friend’s older brother.
When she gets cast as a moaning, hunched-over old lady in the school play, she
starts to forget about the rest of her life. Now she just wants to make it
through freshman year. (description from Amazon.com)
As much as I liked the story concept for this book, it felt disjointed to me. I also really disliked the artwork. It felt really juvenile and well, messy... Check it out:
Overall, this was not the graphic novel for me.
Soulless: The Manga
by Gail Carriger and Rem
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First,
she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead.
Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social
etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia
accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud,
messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With
unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems
to believe Alexia responsible.
Can she figure out what is actually happening to
London's high society? Or will her soulless ability to negate supernatural
powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy,
and do they have treacle tart? (description from Amazon.com)
Okay, aside from the fact that I love this novel series, this was just a fun, fun read. The illustrations were well done and matched the characters:
The characters, of course, were just as I remembered from the books that I love. Full of humor, snarkiness, and of course vampires, werewolves, and stuffy society matrons. All in all I cannot wait until the next one comes out!!
