The Literary Lucy

This has been on my list to read for forever now.  Again, I didn't grow up reading comics but I have really enjoyed the Deadpool movies.  This collects Deadpool #1-12, Thunderbolts #130-131, and Wolverine:  Origins #21-25 in one convenient package. Our favorite anti-hero goes up against Wolverine, a Skrull army, Norman Osbourne, Hawkeye/Bullseye, and more in an effort to cause some mayhem and maybe eventually get paid.  There is violence and bloodshed aplenty along with the signature Wade Wilson smart mouth attitude. It's funny and gory and there are even a couple of genuinely moving moments.  It's not quite as accessible as it maybe could have been since Deadpool was kind of backdoor'd in (hey-ooooo) as a character but he's become such a pop culture fixture thanks to Ryan Reynolds' performance, even a total newbie like myself could enjoy the various character interactions.   If you're looking to get into Deadpool from the very beginning, th...

The Symphony of Ages series rolls on in book four!  Once again, we follow our intrepid heroine Rhapsody as she tries to bring peace to the fractured Cymrian peoples.  Achmed, the Bolg king, is busy working on a brand new device using panes of colored glass, searching far and wide for the best artisans the continent has to offer, but maybe also inviting a serpent into his house.  In the neighboring land of Sorbold, a new power is rising built on the backs of slave labor and the undermining of sacred relics.  If that weren't enough, one of Rhapsody's old enemies has learned of her survival and is bringing his F'dor-touched presence to the shores of Roland. Personally, I found that last subplot an annoying waste but it does serve to set up books five and six.  One of the really nice things about this series is how absolutely nothing is left adrift.  Everything connects and informs on everything else, truly weaving a tapestry of stories that feel like ...

  I think this is the first graphic novel I've ever reviewed.  I never grew up reading comic books so I don't have the depth of background knowledge others might.  This is a first collection, however, so I'm going to jump right in. Catwoman, fresh from a huge influx of cash, buys a hideout in Gotham and moves in with her two foes turned pals Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy.  Previously, the villain Hush had taken over the identity of Bruce Wayne, a fact unknown to Harley Quinn, who rescues the billionaire from some bad guys in an attempt to sway him on her next parole board hearing only to find herself in real danger.  Meanwhile, the Riddler is attempting to go straight, working as a PI to find a serial assassin alongside his old nemesis, Batman.  Poison Ivy wonders how much humanity she has left and how much she wants to have and Catwoman is trying to deal with her past traumas and reconcile with how they've changed her. The art design does focus a lot on ...

This is book three in the Symphony of Ages series.   At last, the identity of the F'dor host is revealed, but not until about 2/3 of the way through the novel. Rhapsody has sought out the mad prophetess (aren't they all?) Manwyn to learn the identities of children spawned from the demon's evil minion then tracked them across the continent in the hopes of extracting the essence of the F'dor from their blood.  Meanwhile, Achmed continues to strengthen his hold over the kingdom of Ylorc in the face of possible incursion from a rival nation and while attempting to discover the parties from within who are selling proprietary secrets to neighboring countries.   This is my least favorite of the series.  The action feels more rushed, and yet over by the 2/3 mark.  The last section tries to shoehorn in a different incident which feels unnecessary and overstuffed (but will be relevant in the subsequent novels) for the sake of ending on the restoration of Rhap...

This is book three of the Green Rider series, which you really should be reading if you haven't already.  Again, there might be some spoilers if you're not caught up. Karigan G'ladheon bought some time for her fellow Green Riders by sending the spirit of evil Mornhaven the Black into the future, but how far no one knows.  King Zachary has sent Riders out to scour the world for ancient knowledge of how to repair the magical wall around Blackveil Forest before Mornhaven can rise again, but so far those efforts have proven in vain.  Meanwhile, a shadow group of descendants of Mornhaven's original followers calling themselves Second Empire, have carefully initiated a plan to destroy what they feel are usurpers of their destiny.  Karigan must utilize all the magic and wits at her disposal to protect her king and country from these multiple dangers. This is a fun, fast-paced series that only gets more interesting as they go on.  Kristen Britain expands the wo...

This is book two of the Symphony of Ages series.  There are some possible spoilers ahead for those who haven't read book one.  You have been warned. The evil F'dor's host identity still eludes the three travelers.  Rhapsody struggles with her increasing importance in the politics of the realm while Achmed settles in as King of Ylorc, the ancestral home of the Borg.  All is not grim and hopeless, however, as Rhapsody deepens her relationship with the mysterious dragonkin Ashe and makes new friends in her travels across the globe.  When she learns of a conspiracy to kill the Patriarch, one of the two major heads of religion, she must embrace her destiny as a warrior to protect him. Book two does feel like a stepping stone to book three and I can't lie, I find the character Jo to be extremely irritating.  Achmed remains (for me) the most relatable character in the series.  Good and evil are very clearly drawn here, which might be a negative f...