Comic Crush Saturday: June 2, 2019

Crushed on by Christy Jane, on June 1, 2019, in Comics/Graphic Novels / 0 Comments

Comic Crush Saturday: June 2, 2019

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 pulllist 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 Book of the Week

Review

Bless this heartwarming story. I first learned of this story at WonderCon, during a Manga for American Comics fans panel. I immediately put it on hold at the library and couldn’t wait to pick it up.

I had no idea how much I would love it.

This is the slowest burn romance I have ever read, featuring a boy who is hard of hearing and another boy who becomes his notetaker. Koehi and Taichi’s characters slowly unfold over several stories, with each chapter giving you just enough to keep you interested.

I loved seeing a realistic portrayal Koehi, a character who is slowly losing their hearing – and how that changes his interaction with the world. I also appreciated Taichi’s lack of awareness (because it felt realistic).

I hope we get more in this world!

Event Recap: FanimeCon 2019

FanimeCon 2019 was my very first Fanime and I am SO GLAD I went. It was one of the most fun and varied con I’ve been to. There were so many things to do (it’s a 24 hour con, 4 days long but stuff also starts on Thursday!); I spent my time:

At dance lessons, preparing for the ball. Fanime hosts a decompression dance (informal) and a formal ball during the weekend. In case you have no ability to dance (like me), they give group and private lessons. I did both and learned the basics for west coast swing, east coast swing, american rumba, and the tokyo polka!
Watching anime. There are something like 6 rooms playing old school and newer animes 24 hours a day. Unfortunately everything I landed in was subbed and I prefer to watch dubbed anime.
In panels. Unlike other big cons, Fanime isn’t focused on the celebrity aspect of the fandom. We attended panels put on by fans, which was fun. I’d love to be part of one some day!
At the ball. A formal ball! How often do we get to do that as adults?
Admiring goods in the dealer’s room. There were so many manga I wanted to buy.
At cosplay gatherings. What I love about Fanime is all of the cosplay gatherings! I planned my cosplay around what was happening on which day. It was cool to reenact scenes and just be with other people who love a certain fandom as much as you. Check out the gatherings I was part of below!

Marvel Cosplay Gathering

My Hero Academia Cosplay Gathering

She-Ra Cosplay Gathering

The FanimeCon Ball

You don’t HAVE to cosplay for the ball but you do have to wear formal attire. We decided to take the challenge and try for both! Chris and I went as Ash and Pikachu and Andie and Kristian went as Diana and Bruce (from Wonder Woman – that blue dress scene!). We had fun dancing (poorly). Definitely a highlight of the weekend!

What We Can’t Wait For

Usually we use this section to talk about what comic/graphic novel/manga we can’t wait for but I am expanding it because sometimes the thing I can’t wait for is an anime or animated show or even an event! (but this time it’s a graphic novel LOL).

I’ve listened to several fictional YA novels about American concentration camps during WWII and am interested in more actual accounts. Graphic novels are a great medium for historical memoirs – and They Called Us the Enemy is no exception. You can see some interior art here!

They Called Us Enemy

by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, Harmony Becker
Published by: Top Shelf Productions
on July 16, 2019
Pages: 192
Goodreads

A stunning graphic memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II. Experience the forces that shaped an American icon -- and America itself -- in this gripping tale of courage, country, loyalty, and love.

George Takei has captured hearts and minds worldwide with his captivating stage presence and outspoken commitment to equal rights. But long before he braved new frontiers in Star Trek, he woke up as a four-year-old boy to find his own birth country at war with his father's -- and their entire family forced from their home into an uncertain future.

In 1942, at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was rounded up and shipped to one of ten "relocation centers," hundreds or thousands of miles from home, where they would be held for years under armed guard.

They Called Us Enemy is Takei's firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the joys and terrors of growing up under legalized racism, his mother's hard choices, his father's faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future.

What is American? Who gets to decide? When the world is against you, what can one person do? To answer these questions, George Takei joins co-writers Justin Eisinger & Steven Scott and artist Harmony Becker for the journey of a lifetime.

Best News of the Week

Exclusive: Captain Marvel becomes a bodega Avenger in a new series from IDW. https://t.co/CKrDGUoE40 pic.twitter.com/W5ayC5DtYt
— io9 (@io9) May 23, 2019

I am here for all things Captain Marvel and OMG look at that art.

Finally Announced!

The White Trees: A Blacksand Tale@zdarsky @COLORnMATT and I are back together for a 2 oversized issue mini series through Image, coming out this August pic.twitter.com/EWsef0bNud
— Ser Kristafer . Warden of Thirst (@kristaferanka) May 23, 2019