My Rating: 3 Stars I got mixed feelings about this comic. Don’t get me wrong, I love DC comics, their characters and specially their villains, that’s what makes it a bit difficult to write trying not to compare the comic to the recent movie of Suicide Squad. The comic tells the story of a dysfunctional group of mischief villains that comes together for a deadly mission that goes wrong even before it begins. When they are called in to steal something called The Black Vault, they are faced with a super-villain that will take something that has been lacking: teamwork. How to put it off? First things first, the artwork is great; I think it matched the story line just fine. Then we have the story line in itself. I must say I was a bit disappointed, I felt like there was a lack of balance between scenes. Sometimes it felt like everything was happening at the same time, others that there was no action at all. I really enjoyed the backstory of the characters; it’s always nice to know more about the anti-heroes, but then there are characters that I just couldn’t figure out their objective or mission. It wasn’t completely clear for me how they got together. The villains of this comic took me by surprise, I was expecting someone a little more human to balance things a bit. Instead I found a super villain from another planet with a very bad temper and a group of mischiefs that are supposed to mirror the Task Force X. For me, it went a bit overboard. I think the point was to bring something new to the table, something unexpected, but I didn’t see it that way. Even so, the stories got me engaged enough and I couldn't stop reading it. I hope to see something different in the next volume and a better balance and connection between the events in the story and the characters. Overall, a nice read. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher DC Comics and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.
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My Rating: 4 Stars I was a bit reluctant to request this comic. I’m from the 90s and I’ve read my fair share of comics both DC and Marvel but I have to admit that I really enjoyed the dark reality of I Am Gotham. I don’t want to spoiler the story so I’ll try not to reveal too much. When a plane flying over Gotham is suddenly hit by a missile, Batman does everything in his power to save the lives of all its passengers. When hope seems lost, two mysterious heroes show up and save the day. Who are they? Two newbies called Gotham and Gotham girl with good intentions but with lack of experience in the crime-fighting business. The first thing I noticed was the new persona of the Bat. Away with the secretive, cold and seemly detached character to a more openly caring man that has no problem in talking about his troubled past. His relationship with Alfred was always something I appreciated in the previous Batman comics, but on this one I could actually see and feel their unique relationship. It’s impossible not to like Alfred, without him, there would be no Batman for sure. I would have enjoyed seeing more of Hugo Strange and the Psycho Pirate, to get a little more detail on them. I think they are characters that have potential to be something great in the future. Like I mentioned before, I really enjoyed the dark Gotham feel in the comic. It’s just how it’s supposed to be: a city drowning in injustice and corruption where the rich and powerful enjoy breaking the rules and the poor live in fear of tomorrow. The art is incredible: the details, the character’s expressions and the colours bring everything together very nicely. Definitely brought back memories to when I was younger. I really enjoyed this Rebirth comic and I’ll definitely be on the look-out for future volumes, not just of Batman but other heroes as well! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher DC Comics and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars Like all the other great classic adaptations, this one is no exception. Jane Austen is a genius of her time and this manga definitely makes her justice! The storyline of Sense and Sensibility is widely known. A low-class family of three sisters have their lives turned upside down when their father dies prematurely, leaving his fortune to his next male relative. Their story takes place in the 17th century England, where the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, will learn about love, heartbreak, secrets in a time where appearances, fortune and good matches are key for a positive future. This manga is simply beautiful. The adaptation is great, keeping not only the main events of the novel but also details that made me reconnect with these beautiful and courageous women. The drawings are also beautifully made. I could definitely feel the chemistry between Elinor and Edward and Marianne and Mr Willougby and Coronal Brandon. I could see the emotions in each character and for me, they were really nicely represented. The details on the dresses, the carriages and the house interiors were amazing to see and it really helped to get into the story. I have loved every single Manga Classic so far and I’m very excited to see which classic is coming next! Thank you to Udon Entertainment and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 4 Stars I’m not a fan of romantic tragedies but Les Misérables is a classic that needs to be read at least once for the people that studied literature, which was my case. I read it during my bachelor degree and I didn’t like it at all, it was a long, boring read. Still, in the end, I was able to appreciate the magnificent style of one of Victor Hugo’s finest works. Like all the manga classics I’ve read so far edited by Stacy King, I wasn’t disappointed and I was actually able to like the story of Les Misérables. The story is well known if not for the play, for the films. The 19th-century tale, centres on Jean Valjean a peasant released from the galleys after 19 years of imprisonment and his path to becoming a wealthy man and a better person. It’s a story about unconditional love, tragedy, second-chances and redemption. The manga adaptation has a length of 350 pages and the original story is very well adapted just like all the previous ones. For someone that wants to know the story of Les Misérables, I definitely recommend this adaptation. The drawings match perfectly the dark atmosphere of 19th century France with the coldness and cruel reality of the period but also the light that comes with hope and redemption. All the emotions of the original novel are there and for me, it was even more emotional since it’s not just descriptions but illustrations as well. A moving story that shows the dark parts of French society for those that weren’t born with privileges and that suffered the injustice of society and life. Valjean that was arrested for 19 years for stealing bread to feed his family; Francine, abandoned by the man she loved to face the judgement of society for having an illegitimate child, only to die after a battle that she could never win. A beautiful classic adaptation of a classic made simple with all the emotions of its original. I highly recommend it! Thank you to Udon Entertainment and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 4 Stars I keep repeating myself, I’m pretty sure a blogger should get a bit more creative but I think I’m justified in my choice of words. So here goes: Another brilliant adaptation of one of the most famous classics of English literature: Jane Eyre. I’ve read the original once a long time ago and by the time I finished with the manga adaptation I wanted to run and read it again. The novel follows the life of young Jane Eyre, an orphan with a cruel and abused childhood. When she is cast out by her aunt, Jane is sent to a charity school where she receives an education under a very strict regime. Years later, she finds a job as a governess at the Rochester estate. Three months after she starts, Jane meets the cold and mysterious Edward Rochester, the owner of the estate. Slowly they begin to bond but a secret threatens to ruin everything, both the reputation and the life of Miss Eyre. Will she be able to follow her heart and be with the man she loves or will she lose him? This is a story about facing fears and life no matter what comes your way, not letting traumatic experiences define you. It’s about determination, the power to follow dreams and above all, it’s about the courage to face the world and to stay faithful to ourselves under every circumstance. Jane Eyre is a brilliant character, a strong, intelligent woman that knows the boundaries set by her social class but still manages to answer politely, crossing the line with grace and pure wit. The adaptation is once again incredible. The drawings transmit the simplicity of the characters but still manage to convey emotion. Can’t wait to read more! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars A classic represented perfectly in another great manga adaptation. Even though I‘m not a fan of dramas, I read the Scarlet Letter in my Bachelor and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The original novel takes place in Puritan Boston in the 17th century. A young woman, Hester Prynne, stands accused of adultery. Her husband, a scholar much older than her is claimed as dead and while waiting for his return Hester takes a lover and has a child fruit of that affair. Refusing to name the identity of the father, Hester’s punishments are to carry a scarlet letter A on her breast and public shaming. Amongst the crowd, Hester’s missing husband, calling himself Roger Chillingworth, observes and swears to take revenge on the unknown man that ruined both their lives. Once again the artwork is amazing and it represents perfectly the emotions and the meanings of the original novel. The adaptation is perfect, the characters have depth and all the emotions that I felt when I read The Scarlet Letter for the first time, resurfaced. I could practically see the tension between Hester’s husband and lover! Hester proves to be a very strong and passionate female character. She endures her punishment and after she is banished from the Boston community, she makes intelligent and accurate observations on the social behaviour that makes this period of history. Roger Chillingworth is, for me, the villain of this story. His thirst for revenge and his obsession make him a very dangerous character. I think of him as being arrogant and self-absorbed. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Pearl’s father, it’s not the strongest male character. The young theologian is tormented both physically and psychologically by his sin of having an affair with Hester. I really liked the original novel and its depth and this brilliant adaptation deserve all its 5 stars! Can’t wait to read more Manga Classics! Thank you to Udon Entertainment and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 5 Stars I’m going to be honest: I really really don’t like Charles Dickens. There, I’ve said it. I had to read Hard Times and Great Expectations for a university course and, until today, they were probably the two novels that took me the longest to finish. However, I absolutely loved the adaptation to Manga. Congratulations to Stacy King, Nokman Poon and Crystal Chan for another brilliant Manga Classic! Great Expectations tells the story of Pip, a boy from the low class that is given the opportunity to have a better life. With his chance, he discovers that power and money can change a person and is reminded that the past can always come back to haunt you. It’s a timeless tale of opportunities, mystery, love, redemption and second chances. Here is my deal with Charles Dickens: I like the stories but his style of writing is too tedious for me. In this brilliant manga adaption, the story is made simple and very enjoyable. For someone that hasn’t read the novel before the story is very understandable and easy to follow. I’m very glad that there is a limit of pages per adaptation even though the story loses a bit of its depth, but I think the idea is to make the story more accessible to all ages. The art is simply breathtaking. The dress designs are very beautiful and pleasant to look at and the facial expressions of the characters are very well developed. I could feel the emotions of each scene from the drawings and the different atmospheres from the different places in the novel. I especially liked the manor of Miss Havisham and the dusty darkish room she is in, and I think it represents perfectly the state of her life and her unhappiness. My favourite character was and still is Estella. For me, she is the representation of how one is the fruit of their education, of the culture they receive since very young. She was taught how to hide her feelings, to be someone other than who she could become without the toxic influence of Miss Havisham. Pip is also a great character; I like his development as a character. With him, I think the lesson is you should never forget where you come from because those are the first pillars of your character. In the end, he becomes a better person because he remembers that and manages to break free of the culture of appearances of high society. The first adaptation that actually made me appreciate the genius of Charles Dickens! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars Ms Stacy King did it again! A perfect adaptation of the Jane Austen classic Emma. I've read the Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice so far and I'm very glad I get to read other classics of this collection. This manga, even in black and white, shows the liveliness, the humour and the innocence of Emma as she drags her friends into a love-match game! The drawings are beautifully mastered and I particularly liked the dresses and how they flow so nicely in the story. The expressions of the characters are perfectly represented. I think the graphics really match the emotions of the novel. On the contrary of Pride and Prejudice that is set in a more mature and disciplined environment where social rules have to be obeyed, Emma is set in a more innocent and playful way, full of colour, laughter and it portraits perfectly the spirit of young Emma. Fans of Jane Austen, I highly recommend it! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 4 Stars This definitely brought memories! When I was younger I saw all the episodes of the Pink Panther in the special 2-tape VHS collection and I couldn't get enough of it. This trip into the Pink Panther graphic novel was highly enjoyable for me! I really enjoyed this volume, where fourteen story-lines of the Pink Panther will make any day brighter and you'll definitely end up laughing alone! The graphics and the colours are very good and the writing just completes the stories and the humour. A quick, ideal read for a rainy or cold evening! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher American Mythology Productions, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice by Stacy King (Story Adaptation), Po Tse (Art ) & Jane Austen25/11/2016 My Rating: 4 Stars I'm a very fan of Jane Austen and all her novels. When I found this title, I decided to take a chance since it's not every day that you find a classic from the 19th century drawn in Manga. And I must say it was very worth it. The plot of Pride and Prejudice is well known. The story is centred about the second-eldest daughter of a low-class family, Elizabeth in a world where women must marry since they can't heritage their father's fortune. Elizabeth will face love, hatred, lies and the hypocrisy that marks the 19th-century English society. I absolutely fell in love with the drawings. They are very expressive and it's simply beautiful to read. Of course, the story is an adaptation of the original, the characters interact and talk more and I even got to see Mr Darcy embarrassed which was very out-of-character but still very amusing. Even so, I think the adaptation was well made and the flow of story doesn't change at all. A very pleasant read! Thank you, NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. |
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