Book Review, Graphic Novel: NANCY DREW AND THE CLUE CREW #1: SMALL VOLCANOES

This new graphic novel series from publisher Papercutz turns back the clock and modernizes Nancy Drew and her friends by setting them in a modern setting as elementary school students. In this story, Nancy and the Clue Crew (her friends Bess Marvin & George Fayne) want to build a grand science project for the science fair. However, before their project can even be finished, all of the other projects at the school disappear and it’s left to Nancy and the Clue Crew to figure out who did it.  The illustrations are drawn in a style similar to comics such as “Archie.” Graphic novels like this are usually aimed at younger boys. NANCY DREW AND THE CLUE CREW #1: SMALL VOLCANOES is aimed at young girls. The story isn’t as interesting as the original Nancy Drew books, but it might inspire really young female readers to seek out the original series.

Book Review, Graphic Novel: THE BOOK OF REVELATION

I have read the Book of Revelation more times than any other book in the Bible; I’ve read it over thirty times. Even though it is a book I am quite familiar, much of the text remains as enigmatic as the first time I read it; prophecy can be rather ambiguous. Therefore, when I had the opportunity to read this graphic novel adaptation of the Book of Revelation, I couldn’t pass it up.

This book, THE BOOK OF REVELATION is an adaptation by Matt Dorff of an original translation by the Greek Orthodox priests Father Mark Arey & Philemon Sevastiades. The illustrations are done by Chris Koelle. The text is taken directly from the translation done by Fathers Arey & Sevastiades. Unlike some Bibles, this is an actual translation of the original work and not a modern translation (e.g. The Message). Each chapter and verse of Revelation can be found in this book. In fact, the chapters in THE BOOK OF REVELATION are divided according to the actual chapters in the Bible. The verses aren’t numbered like the chapters, but they are there. As the illustrator, Chris Koelle, points out in his note at the end of the book, he made his images based upon the perspective of the Apostle John. The images that are seen are representations of what John might have seen as he was transposing the original text. There can be disagreement over the interpretation of certain passages of text, but the translator, adapter, and illustrator have remained faithful to the text.

Like much of the Bible, there is a great deal in THE BOOK OF REVELATION that is violent and explicit. Koelle doesn’t shy away from this in his illustrations. However, he does refrain from making them over-the-top or campy. Destruction is wrought, blood flows, and people die, but it’s shown as the Bible says. Younger children might be frightened by some of the images and rightly so. However, I don’t think that’s enough to prevent a young reader from reading this book. Caution should be used, but it should be according to the maturity of each child.

Revelation is one of the books from the Bible that have inspired artists for several centuries and some of the images and phrases from the book are a part of the common lexicon (e.g. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Armageddon, etc.). Even if you are not a Christian, one cannot deny that the book has had an impact and influence upon our culture. THE BOOK OF REVELATION provides a visual reference outside one’s mind’s eye that can illuminate Revelation for both believer and nonbeliever, child and adult alike.

Book Review, Graphic Novel: ERNEST & REBECCA #3: GRANDPA BUG

ERNEST & REBECCA #3: GRANDPA BUG is the third volume in the series of graphic novels aimed at children about a six-year-old girl named Rebecca and her best friend, a germ named Ernest. In this volume, Rebecca and her sister, Coralie, are sent to their grandparent’s house. Their mother believes the country air will do Rebecca’s health good. Rebecca’s grandpa is called Grandpa Bug (the origins of the name are revealed in the story) and he spends a great amount of time doing things with Rebecca. However, while at her grandparent’s house, Ernest disappears and Rebecca is saddened at his disappearance and attempts to find him. Along the way, Rebecca meets a trio of friends led by a kid named Chris. Also, Coralie attempts to figure out if her boyfriend, Freddy, is interested in her anymore.

Although there were parts of the story that I found trite, overall I enjoyed ERNEST & REBECCA #3: GRANDPA BUG. Other than Rebecca’s bright pink hair and Coralie’s vivid purple hair, the illustrations remind me of cartoons from the mid-1980s that I used to watch as a youngster on television (such as THE LITTLES). It’s a style that you don’t see very much in animation anymore, let alone in illustrated works. If all the books in the series are like this, they could easily be turned into an animated series. The book has a strong appeal for young girls, but also for any child whose parents are in the midst of a divorce.

Book Review, Graphic Novel: POWER RANGERS SUPER SAMURAI #2: TERRIBLE TOYS

In this story, the Power Rangers Super Samurai are faced with a foe that initially seems quite easy to conquer: a bunch of toys. The Rangers soon discover things aren’t as they seem as the toys are actually nighlok in miniature form. The Ranger learn a lesson in mathematics as the toys exponentially multiply the closer they get to the source. The illustrations are colorful and rather simplistic. However, the panels aren’t always ordered sequentially, so they story can be difficult to follow at times. Also, unless you are a fan of the series, you probably won’t like the story with its mix of Asian spiritual themes and anime-inspired violence. Overall, this book is strictly for those who are fans of Power Rangers Super Samurai.

2013 Graphic Novel Challenge

Do you like to read graphic novels? Are the only books you read the ones with pictures? Then, perhaps, you should check out the 2013 Graphic Novel Challenge. I'm an avid reader and there are all kinds of reading challenges out there, but the only one I've ever participated in is the Graphic Novel Challenge. It's really quite easy to do and is one of the easier reading challenges promoted on many book blogs. Take a gander over the website and if it piques your interest, sign up.

2012 Graphic Novel Challenge

Last year I completed the 2012 Graphic Novel Challenge. Below are the list of the graphic novels I read in regards to the challenge. Not all of these were books that I reviewed last year, however.

1.  The Carl Banks Big Book of Barney Bear  Ed. Craig Yoe
2.  Spy Vs. Spy: The Top Secret Files   by Peter Kuper
3.  King Lear: The Graphic Novel   by Gareth Hinds & William Shakespeare
4.  Around the World   by Matt Phelan
5.  American Vampire, Vol. 1  by Scott Snyder & Stephen King
6.  Zig & Wikki in the Cow  by  Nadja Spiegelman & Trade Loeffler
7.  Batman: The Black Mirror  by Scott Snyder
8.  Dante's Inferno: The Graphic Novel   by Joseph Lanzara
9.  Excalibur: The Legend of King Arthur  by Tony Lee & Sam Hart
10. The Walking Dead, Vol. 5: The Best Defense  Robert Kirkman
11. Jurassic Park: Redemption   by Bob Schreck, et al.
12. Smurfs #8: The Smurf Apprentice  by Peyo
13. The Shark King   by R. Kikuo Johnson
14. Eyewitness: Unknown God   by Robert Luedke
15. American Vampire, Vol. 3  by Scott Snyder
16. Smurfs #10: The Return of Smurfette   by Peyo
17. Animal Man, Vol. 1: The Hunt   by Jeff Lemire, et al.
18. Smurfs #11: The Smurf Olympics   by Peyo
19. Revolver   by Matt Kindt
20. Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls  by Scott Snyder, et al.
21. Tron: Betrayal   by Jai Nitz, et al.
22. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1: Change Is Constant   by Kevin Eastman, et al.
23. Zombies   Ed. Craig Yoe & Steve Banes
24. Green Arrow, Vol. 1:  The Midas Touch   by J.T. Kraul
25. Jurassic Park: Dangerous Games   by Greg & Erik Bean
26. Maya Makes a Mess   by Rutu Modan
27. Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Vol. 1: The War of Monsters   by Jeff Lemire
28. Benny & Penny in Lights Out!   by Geoffrey Hayes
29. The Secret of the Stone Frog   by David Nytra
30. Ernest & Rebecca 3: Grandpa Bug    by Guillaume Bianco & Antonelio Dalena
31. Power Rangers Super Samurai: Terrible Toys   by Stefan Petrucha & Paulo Henriques
32. Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew #1: Small Volcanoes   by Sarah Kinney & Stefan Petrucha 

The Price of Gasoline at the Pump Vs. The Price of Oil

Wrestling With George Bailey and Not So Suddenly Single

From the time I was a child, I have really only had two deep desires of my heart. The first is that I’ve always wanted to make a living as an entertainer. That hasn’t happened, yet. I’m an entertainer, but have earned very little money from it. About ten years ago, I was supposed to move to L.A. and attend a graduate film program I had been accepted into. I chose, instead, to return to school and get a teaching certificate. What should have been a year and a half in school for my teaching certificate turned into almost three years of more schooling. Even after I had my teaching certificate, I spent two years substitute teaching before I found a teaching position. The year I was a regular full-time teacher turned into one series of unfortunate events after another; it was not pretty and instead of accepting another contract to return, I resigned. I don’t have many regrets in life, but of late I’ve found myself seriously questioning my choice to give up film school and pursue teaching. I did learn from the whole experience how much I enjoy performing (I missed it terribly when I was teaching) and being involved in the entertainment business and that’s where my true passion lies. However, by not leaving for L.A. when I did, did I blow my one chance to make it as a professional?

The second deep desire of my heart is that I want to be married and have a family. Sometimes this desire seems to come into conflict with the other. For instance, one of the major reasons I even started looking into returning to school for a teaching certificate was because of the influence of a woman I was madly in love with. There were other factors, but it was because of comments made by this lady that initially spurned me into even investigating the possibility. I was willing to forgo the one thing I have always wanted to do since I was child for the possibility of eventually having a more “normal life” with her. Of course, it all came to naught. The woman broke my heart (months before I made the final decision to turn down film school for teaching) and I discovered that, like several other women I have been attracted to, she was just leading me along and taking advantage of my sweetness and good nature for her own selfish ego.

Recently that second deep desire of my heart (to be married and have a family) has really been nagging me. Every single woman I knew or was even remotely attracted to in high school and college are married and most have children. The circle of life has continued and I’ve been left out. You have no idea how depressing that is, even if I am a real life Charlie Brown.

It’s not like I’ve set out to be single. I’m attracted to females just as much as any other red-blooded American male. I’ve been on dates and have tried, unsuccessfully to pursue romantic relationships. But, I respect women too much to play around with their emotions. I don’t want to be toyed with and treated as a game and, despite what has happened to me, I don’t think women want to be treated that way, either. I’m not a playboy or philanderer. In fact, I’m the opposite. I treat women with the utmost respect. I’m usually the perfect gentleman. Lately I’ve questioned if, perhaps, that’s the problem. Am I too nice? I’ve asked a couple of friends about it and they assure me that’s not the case. Even if it is, I don’t think I can change; it’s not really in my nature to be a cad. Yet, here I am, good sweet, nice, compassionate me and I’m still alone. My pursuit at romantic interests is not pretty. I think the score is about “World: 15, Tom: 0.”

As I’ve pondered all of this and several other aspects of my life, I’ve been feeling a lot like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life lately. In that classic film, George dreams of leaving Bedford Falls, going to college, and seeing the world. However, he consistently gives up the dream. He gives it up so his brother can go to college and become more successful than he ever dreamed. He gives it up to save the small Building and Loan in Bedford Falls that his father built. He gives it up to save the town from utter ruin by the evil Mr. Potter. After years of doing this, George reaches the end of his rope and, at the end, he has to have his life taken away to realize exactly how much he has.

I can relate to George in some ways. It seems that all the plans I’ve ever had, no matter how well thought-out, prayed over, dedicated, and seemingly divinely ordained have all come to naught. At one point in It’s a Wonderful Life, George gives up his dream because his father passes away and he stays to save the family business. A few years ago, I did something similar. After that first teaching assignment turned sour, I began planning and preparing for a move to California once again. That year teaching was a dark time for me, but afterwards, I began to hope again. I got an office job, started saving a little money, and started acting again. Things started looking up. Then, on the night of my theatrical directing debut, my father died unexpectedly. I lost not only my Dad, but my theatrical directing debut, too. What, at the time, should have been one of the grandest nights of my life was turned into a massive tragedy in one fell swoop. I stayed home to help my Mom. Six months after that, I was released from my job and spent over fourteen months without consistent employment. My savings, what little of it there was, evaporated. I’ve been working consistently now for over a year and a half, but I’m still nowhere close to where I was before all of this happened. I feel like I’m running around in a circle in a hole deep in the ground and no matter what I do, I can’t get out of the track I’m struck running in, let alone out of the hole I’m in, too.

George Bailey struggled a lot, too. But, George Bailey got the girl. He got married to the woman he loved, restored an old home, and started a family. I don’t have any of that.

I want to be hopeful. I do. As Red says in the old Shawshank, hope is a good thing, one of the best of things. I cling to hope. Yet, hope is fragile and is sometimes fleeting. Like happiness, it doesn’t always stick around for long. So, here I sit wrestling with George Bailey and not so suddenly single and wondering if I’m ever going to get my break. I hope so. I really do.

Crying at a Cartoon

Recently I saw the new animated movie from Disney, WRECK-IT RALPH. I really enjoyed it. I have to admit, though, I cried a few tears a few times in the movie. I don't want to give anything away, but there are some very poignant moments in the movie, when, even though you know in your mind everything is going to work out alright, the sadness eeking out of the screen yanks on the strings of one's emotions like whiplash in a major car crash. I can't deny it, tears often come to my eyes when watching animated films. I cried the first time I ever saw MONSTERS, INC. because the relationship between Sulley and Boo reminded me of my own life and this little girl in the preschool class I taught. I cried several times during FINDING NEMO, sometimes just because I could relate to Marlin's frustration in trying to find Nemo and also the Biblical parallelism between Marlin's search to find Nemo and God's search to reach us. I cry every time I see UP. The first ten minutes of that movie is one of the most perfectly shot pieces of animation ever. I cried when watching it because though I'm not married, I have been in love and long for the love that Karl and Ellie shared. I cried at the end of UP, too because of Russell's abandonment and Karl becoming a hero and a better man by standing in the gap to fill the place of Russell's absent father. I'm not sure what it is about animated movies, (and particular Disney and Pixar films; I guess that's why they are the animation kings) but they seem to have the potential to affect me in ways that other movies don't. With that said, WRECK-IT RALPH is a great animated film. Kids will like it, but it's really an adult movie draped in nostalgia so it appears to be a kid movie. I think it might make my top ten list of the year.

Disney Takes Over the World

So, it's official now. Disney now owns over a fourth of the world. There isn't an entertainment company on the planet that comes close. After what Disney did to children's radio back in the 1990s, I shouldn't have been surprised, but I honestly had no clue that George Lucas would sell out to the Mouse House. Lucas still retains a major shareholder stake and just earned himself 4.5 billion dollars. You've always been a better businessman than a filmmaker, George. But why the Mouse? Why not Fox or Universal or Paramount?