Comic Crush Saturday: January 11th, 2020

Crushed on by Christy Jane, on January 11, 2020, in Comics/Graphic Novels, Reviews / 1 Comment

Comic Crush Saturday: January 11th, 2020

Welcome to Comic Crush Saturday, our bi-weekly feature focused on the graphic elements of the book world. Comics became a huge part of my life a few years ago when I started reviewing them (and comic related TV shows) on Forever Young Adult. I’ve maintained a pull list through my local comic shop, Isotope Comics, and even got Kelly to start one ;). You’ll find mini-reviews, what we’ve read recently, and more so check it out!

Featured Review(s) of the Week – Wonder Woman Edition

This week brought a double dose of Diana into our lives, with both middle grade and YA readers getting a treat.

Cut off from the rest of the world, Diana had an idyllic childhood on Themyscira. But now 11-years-old, she’s beginning to feel more and more isolated. Though she has many “aunties” and a loving mother, she is an only child. THE only child, in fact.

After an escapade goes wrong, Queen Hippolyta chastises Diana for not living up to the Amazon standard. Diana just can’t seem to measure up, no matter what she does! Literally every other person on the island is an adult proficient in their trade and mighty in body, while she is gangly, sometimes clumsy, and not particularly proficient in anything. She’s not Wonder Woman yet. What Diana needs is a friend; someone her own age whom she can talk to. But when she decides to take matters into her own hands — she may just make a monster instead.

Diana, Princess Of The Amazons by Shannon and Dean Hale, with art by Victoria Ying, is perfect for older elementary and middle school youth who are struggling with transition to being a tween and the separation that naturally occurs from the adults in your life as you get older. It’s perfect for adults to read alongside their kids and open dialogue, something the Hales are long known for.

She will become one of the world’s greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning. Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Leigh Bardugo, this graphic novel adaptation brings to life Diana’s first adventure beyond the hidden shores of Themyscira.

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law–risking exile–to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer–a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies–mortal and divine–determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer, adapted from Leigh Bardugo’s novel by Louise Simonson and Kit Seaton (on the art), is a faithful adaptation of the original story. Having read the source material, I am confident this is one of the best adaptations I’ve read. The plot follows the story, with the art adding to the battle scenes. Fans who find one medium or the other won’t miss anything by choosing one over the other. I actually enjoyed the graphic novel even more than the book!

Goodreads Best Of Graphic Novel Challenge

As you likely know, Goodreads announced the best of pick of 2019 across many categories, including graphic novels. I had already read 7 of the 15 choices that made it to the final round and have decided to read all of the others (provided they are not in the middle of a series I have not started – this leaves 5 off the list).

I kicked off this challenge with Die, Vol 1. Die is meets D&D with a side of Stranger Things. Since then, I’ve also read The Handmaid’s Tale: A Graphic Novel, Book Love, Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations, and Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos. I loved each of them and highly recommend. Handmaid’s is a faithful adaptation that adds the use of color to tell a classic story, Good Talk will have you thinking about it for days after, Book Love is the book every book lover NEEDS in their life, and Kid Gloves is the perfect glimpse in the chaos of parenting that even people who are childfree will find fascinating.

What We Can’t Wait For

“JOIN ME, AND TOGETHER, WE CAN RULE THE GALAXY AS FATHER AND SON!”

In the shattering climax of The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader infamously reveals his true relationship to Luke Skywalker and invites his son to rule the galaxy at his side. But Luke refuses — plunging into the abyss beneath Cloud City rather than turn to the Dark Side. We all remember Luke’s utter horror in this life-altering moment. But what about Vader? In this new epic chapter in the Darth Vader saga, the dark lord grapples with Luke’s unthinkable refusal and embarks on a bloody mission of rage-filled revenge against everything and everyone who had a hand in hiding and corrupting his only son. But even as he uncovers the secrets of Luke’s origins, Vader must face shocking new challenges from his own dark past.

Writer Greg Pak and artist Raffaele Ienco unleash Darth Vader on his dark quest of vengeance and discovery this February! With covers by InHyuk Lee!

It’s no secret that I’m currently Star Wars obsessed and I can’t wait for Greg’s take on Vader!