Aside from the written chapters at the end, I mostly enjoyed this installment. So, usually, I'm one of the few that actually enjoys those written chapAside from the written chapters at the end, I mostly enjoyed this installment. So, usually, I'm one of the few that actually enjoys those written chapters in the back. I love all allusions to literature. This time, I didn't feel the wit or all the allusions I normally enjoyed, but a drab chore to get through. This might have been tempered because of my mixed feelings about the ending. So our updated LXG crew gets a story that spans a century, thus the title. I loved the adaptations and costumes and mannerisms for all the characters for each time period. But I was disappointed by the lack of thorough fullfillment of the Nautilus story line. At the end, a true mission of the Nautilus is alluded to, but unless they were just dropped something off for one of the LXG members, that mission was not realized. Will there be another volume? I doubt it. So, story-wise, there is a major ball dropped; or, if that story was fullfilled, then it was too weak to justify the inclusion, while neat, at all.
I was. however, tickled by the update to the references throughout the book. As the story progressed towards modern times, more and more allusions to (mostly) British TV and movies. Here's what I found: Several Harry Potter references - at first, slight, then pivotal to the plot. A reference to Lost! - through Drive Shaft. Westwing and 24. Transmetropolitan! I loved the Spider Jerusalem references. Thick of It Doctor Who (so obvious that I wouldn't be surprised if a TARDIS is hidden in one of the panels that I missed). Mary friggin' Poppins! And quite possibly, Lion King? Anyone else get Lion King vibes at the end?
Upon a reread, I'm sure I'll catch even more pop culture references. ...more
This series is Morrison's answer/rebuttal to Alan Moore's The Watchmen. Once I finish the series, if it's worth it, I'll share my thoughts. This series is Morrison's answer/rebuttal to Alan Moore's The Watchmen. Once I finish the series, if it's worth it, I'll share my thoughts. ...more
I went into this book reluctantly. I think I'm getting burnt out on McCaffrey. But this one? This one I liked! Basically, it's about why corrupt and sI went into this book reluctantly. I think I'm getting burnt out on McCaffrey. But this one? This one I liked! Basically, it's about why corrupt and selfish a-holes shouldn't be leaders. Even more relevant is the connection to the current pandemic and how some people in leadership positions do not understand science and facts and its their people who suffer. ...more
The first time I read this was online through the Marvel website. I loved it, so naturally, I needed to have it on my shelf. My only complaint has to The first time I read this was online through the Marvel website. I loved it, so naturally, I needed to have it on my shelf. My only complaint has to do with the ordering of the issues. While the main story line is in order, all the adjacent stories that continue in other titles were all in the back, after the main plotline. When I initially read it online, it was woven into the issue order ...more
As brilliant as the Discworld series is, this book (and I guess the others in this specific series), stands apart and stands on its own brilliance. ThAs brilliant as the Discworld series is, this book (and I guess the others in this specific series), stands apart and stands on its own brilliance. This is another story that I'm sharing and rereading with my daughter, and like Fearless, we are both engaged and love the strong and young central female character, Tiffany Aching. The loose connections to the Discworld series doesn't detract nor distract from the story and the book can stand alone without having to have any knowledge of Pratchett. I especially enjoyed the written out Scottish accent. Whether reading silently or reading aloud, the thick Scot's accent is heard and provides much of the humor of the story. This is another adventure of a young girl learning that her own wits are worthy and make up what the simpletons' would interpret as "magic," as her quest is also a quest of her maturing into a witch. ...more
I met Peter David at a comic book convention, getting him to autograph some stuff for me. While chatting with him, I mentioned my daughter, and he hanI met Peter David at a comic book convention, getting him to autograph some stuff for me. While chatting with him, I mentioned my daughter, and he handing me this book (autographed for my daughter) that he wrote together with his daughter. My daughter and I both loved it! It's a story a runaway imagination, both figuratively and literally. What makes this story stand out are the characters and their growth, which did make me think of Wizard of Oz as they joined together in a quest. Each character had a flaw that they had to overcome. What's different is the type of flaws. First, the main character, is missing a limb, not by accident, but simply by birth and the story handles this missing limb not as a handicap or disability, but as a completely normal and non-stigmatizing character description. So this isn't the flaw; the flaw is how to combine her fearlessness with wisdom. Another character, like a Wizard of Oz character, has no emotion. While that's the basic description, the character reads as being on the spectrum. And the book deals with the stimatization this character deals with. And more! The story itself is fantastic. The main character's best friend suddenly loses her imagination, so the story is a quest to find where it had run off to and why. The style did have tones of Terry Pratchett, and really, how can that ever be a bad thing. Brilliantly executed. I loved it. My nine year old daughter loved it....more
I'm enjoying the Discworld series more and more. A great take on religious interpretation and manipulation, all while laughing. I think it would go wiI'm enjoying the Discworld series more and more. A great take on religious interpretation and manipulation, all while laughing. I think it would go without saying that this would make a good companion reading to Gaiman's American Gods. ...more
A solid conclusion to the Buffy/Angel stories. I liked seeing the weaving between the two stories, but would have liked more. It would have been nice A solid conclusion to the Buffy/Angel stories. I liked seeing the weaving between the two stories, but would have liked more. It would have been nice for the Big Bad to at least make an appearance in Angel & Faith (I get why not, but still), instead of a red herring. While the red herring story line was good, considering it started in the Buffy books, I would have appreciated a bigger connection between the ongoing story lines. Still, it ended better than I expected. The character arcs and development made sense. Plus, seeing Xander get swoll and have purpose, while Dawn actually does something was fantastic. ...more
With the game-changing events of Buffy, I'm glad to see the Angel storyline tying into it. Somewhat. In a completely different way. But I'm eager to sWith the game-changing events of Buffy, I'm glad to see the Angel storyline tying into it. Somewhat. In a completely different way. But I'm eager to see where this goes. ...more