Thor Mighty Avenger vs. The Tiny Titans, Aw yeaaaaa!!!!!

Hi all,
Well I'm back with another couple of good reads that happen to be two Graphic Novels this go round. So read on and maybe try to get a hold of these most excellent reads.

 

Thor, The Mighty Avenger - Volume 1 by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee - This is really a great reboot for Thor that has a great story to tell, well scripted characters and amazing artwork. Thor finds himself booted out of Asgard by his father Odin and is not in the best of moods. Fortunately for him he runs across Jane Foster, who works at a local museum, and takes him under her wing after he has a terrific battle with Mr. Hyde. He pretty much gets the stuffing beat out of him by Hyde, but Jane takes him to her home and helps him heal. In round 2 with Mr. Hyde Thor prevails and starts to wonder why he has been exiled from his home (he cannot remember). In his next adventure, his evil half brother Loki, puts a spell on Thor where he sees Frost Giants everywhere. To make matters worse Ant-Man shows up and enlarges his size until Thor truly believes he is a Frost Giant. Along with these stories there is one additional where some old pals of Thor show up to have a night on the town and end up mixing it up with Captain Britain. Best of all Thor's first adventures are reprinted from Journey Into Mystery by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Really great stuff recommended for those 9 and up.

Tiny Titans: Field Trippin' by Art Baltzar and Franco - Aw yeaaaa, the Tiny Titans are back in their newest Graphic Novel and they don't need no stink'in Permission Slips. In this installment of Tiny Titan coolness Trigon thinks Kid Devil is a baby and pays the price; ouch and double ouch. Thanks to Kid Flash the Titans are also getting bushy hairdos thanks to his super speed. Evil Brainiacs and Tiny Legion of Super Heroes from the future coming visiting and much, much more. Not to be be missed by any age who likes to laugh allot. This Graphic Novel Series rocks!!!!!!!

Until next time all peace,

Library Ninja Bill

Hades Lord of The Dead Meets Diary of A Wimpy Kid!!!!

Hi all you groovy travelers through the world of blog, I have come across some really out of sight reads that I just need to share. Remember, you to can also contribute to the cause through commenting on something you read and liked and I will get it posted. Far out man!!!!! Well on to good reads eh?

The Olympians, Hades Lord of The Dead by George O'Connor - This Graphic Novel focuses on Zeus's brother Hades who gets , unfairly, a bad rap most of the time. If you have yet to read any of the Graphic Novels in the Olymians' Series that have come out so far (click on the titles to check out my reviews of Athena, Grey-Eyed Goddess,  Hera, The Goddess and Her Glory and one done by Iron Carl for The Boys Rule, Boys Read Blog. Zeus,King of The Gods) by George O'Connor get ahold of them as soon as you can. In this well written and drawn Graphic Novel we learn more about Hades (also known by such names such as "Pluton - The Wealthy One," "Zeus Cythonios - Zeus of The Underworld" and many more as people do not like to use the name Hades in fear of attracting his attention) and the Underworld he rules. Of course the Underworld is populated by many known and not so familiar denizens as Cerberus - the giant three headed dog that guards the Underworld, Charon -the ferryman who will take the recently departed across the river Styx (for a cost), Shades of The Dead, The Mortal Half of Heracles who did not ascend to Olympus upon his death to become a god, The Titans who ruled all of existence before the Olympians defeated them among many, many more famous and not quite as famous. The story of the abduction of Kore, the daughter of Demeter (Goddess of Agriculture), is featured prominently in this Graphic Novel (GN) for without giving to much away she marries Hades and become Persephone (Goddess of The Underworld and Spring Growth). Without Persephone we would not have the changing of the seasons --- read the GN. Much more is included in this GN and Mr. O'Connor has done his homework well to put together a terrific read!!! As with the other Olypians' books included with the story are Author's Notes, Bios on key individuals and other beings in the story, Greek Notes about certain sections of the book to give more clarity, Discussion Questions, a wonderful Bibliography of books and web sites where the author obtained the information to tell the story and a further Recommended Reading List about the story he has spun. This is really a great GN and I can't wait to see what Greek Myth Mr. O'Connor will provide to us next!!!!!! Recommended for those ages 9 and up. 

I know I'm late on the next one and probably everybody except me has already read it, but here goes:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney - What can I say about this book that I have not already said about the previous books in this series? They are too funny and every guy out there has a little (or allot of Greg Heffeley) in them. What really impresses me about this book and the series is they continue to be topnotch in comedic value and maintain an originality that all the other books inspired by the series can't come close to matching. Examples of comic genius from this book:

1) Greg and his brother Roderick picking up an elderly woman walking to the grocery store she knows is nearby, but deciding she is confused and taking her to one miles away. Only to find out a new grocery store had opened right around the corner she lives at; rushing back to get her only to have her refuse to ride with them and having a news report come on television that night about teens kidnapping elderly people and dropping them off at strange locations.

2) Greg and Rowley setting up a dunking both to make money and not realizing the person being dunked should be protected from the baseballs being thrown at the cage (ouch).

3) Read and laugh! The book ends way to fast because of the pace you will be reading and laughing.

Let's hope there is a knew one out soon. Recommended for those ages 9 and up. 

Well that's all I got for now guys.

Later,

Library Ninja Bill
  

Good Graphic Novel Reads!

Hello again residence of the "Land of Blog." Sorry it has been awhile since my last post but a Library Ninjas Job can be very time consuming. Here are some of the things I have been up to since my last post for example:

Defending myself from "The Evil Squirrel League of Ninja Assassins." Let me tell you something, these guys may be small but their vicious!!!!!!

You would be surprised about how upset some people become when they can't find the book they want at the library!!!!

And finally finding a new hobby while not being an ultra violent Library Ninja.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well enough about my daily trials and tribulations, let's talk about some cool Graphic Novels I have read lately:

 

 

Olympians: Athena, Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O'Connor - If you like Greek Myths and the Greek Gods and Heroes, this GN is definitely for you. This is the second GN in The Olympians series (the first being Zeus - King of The Gods). This is a wonderfully illustrated and well-spun tale about Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, War, Strategy, Crafts and Cities. It tells of how she was born and came into the world by bursting out of her father's head (that would be Zeus), helped save Mount Olympus and the Gods by battling and defeating Pallas, leader of a race of Stone Giants called the Gigantomachy, helping Peruses (along with Hermes) in defeating Medusa and much more. I really learned a great deal about Athena that I did not know and enjoyed this GN very much!!!!!!!




For older readers (13 an up) you may want to check out this really great GN:

Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson - At first glance Burden Hill looks like an idyllic community and area, but underneath the surface evil abounds. With the human residences being blissfully unaware, its up to a brave crew of dogs and a cat to deal with what is wrong in and around Burden Hill. Pugs, Ace, Jack, Whitey, Red and the Orphan (the cat) are just some of the crew that are fighting the good fight against such things as witch covens, animal zombies, demonic frogs, evil mystical rats, the undead, werewolves and more. This is really an original concept that is extremely well written along with being graced with the awesome art of Jill Thompson. Highly recommended!!!!!!





Well that's all for now all. Being talking at you again soon,

Bill

 



Scott Pilgrim and the need for nerdiness

A few months ago I picked up a book that had been staring me in the face at the library for as long as I can remember. That book was Scott Pilgrim Vol. 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life and my good friend looks at me and says, "I can't believe you haven't read those books, you are those books." And so she was right.

I read through the first book and quickly devoured the rest of the series that has been published at that time. The final book had yet to come out so I had about a month before I could see how it was all going to end. The added bonus is that once I read the final book I was able to watch the movie that is just as awesome.

The series that is great for adult and teen guys, follows Scott Pilgrim's love and band lives. Lives he is happy to try and coast through. He learns that to get what he really wants he actually has to get off his butt and do it. Of course getting off his butt causes quite a bit of hilarity. Along with Scott, the supporting cast is well developed and are good stories in their own right.

The video game references will be enjoyed by old school and newer gamers. Also, classic comic book allusions show off O'Malley's influences in an entertaining way. I'm happy that there we now live in a world where we an let our nerd flags fly with pride.

So, if you have been putting off this series, just do yourself a favor and read the books, and then see the movie.