Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Omnibus Volume 1 (by various authors)
$24.95 (new)

Plot
This part of the comic takes places before the events of the hit tv show of the same name. The premise, if you’ve missed out, is this: every generation, one girl is given enhanced abilities (by The Powers That Be), to fight vampires and other nasty critters. The most recent “chosen one” is named Buffy, a peppy cheerleader of the ’90s (with hair and wardrobe to match). This volume follows Buffy first awakening to her mission. It includes an adaptation of Joss Whedon’s original script for the movie which predated the tv show, and then follows Buffy’s life between realizing she’s the Slayer, and making her way to Sunnydale, the locale of the tv show.

First Impressions
I bought this comic in a fit of Buffy withdrawal, but didn’t have very high hopes for it. After all, it’s not cannon, and most of it isn’t even written by Joss Whedon–though I believe he did approve most of it. But after watching the Buffy movie, I was really intrigued to see the original script adapted as a comic.

For some reason I don’t understand, the book opens, not with Buffy, but with a one-shot story following Spike and Drusilla. Maybe if this story was setting up the baddies for the rest of the volume, I could have understood it’s purpose, but as far as I could tell it wasn’t. Granted, it was nice to see Spike and Dru, but why start with them? It would have made more sense to tack this story on at the end of the volume, as a kind of extra, than to begin the entire comic series with it.

Lasting Impressions
Like so many American comics, this series suffers from inconsistent artwork. I’ve always hated ongoing series which have a different styles for each chapter, but it’s profoundly annoying when compiled into a large volume like this. However, that’s a rant for a different day, and, at least for this volume, the art is all actually good (or at least not bad). And the cover art is very good and actually looks like Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Overall, the book was about what I expected. It was much more satisfying than the movie (we finally get to see that flaming gym Buffy talks so much about in the series), but most of the stories were kind of blah or actually oddly inaccurate (side note: Spike can’t actually speak Chinese). I did really enjoy the story about Dawn and the demonic teddy bear. I may read the rest of the comics simply to see how Dawn figures in to the early plot. That and it may forestall my withdrawal pains.

Audience

This book is clearly written for the fans, not for a new audience. It’s not the best introduction to the series, and it definately expects you to know these characters already (there are a few things revealed in this book that don’t get revealed until later in the series, so the pacing is a bit different). Fans of Buffy will find this volume interesting in that it answers some questions about Buffy’s pre-Sunnydale life, but the inaccuracies may drive you a bit crazy.

If the book does sound interesting, and you’re new to Buffy, I highly recommend you start with the tv series. It is actually a well-written and well-developed show, despite the bad rep it gets sometimes. Granted, it’s has its moments of fluff, but the strength of the show is in the characters. It does take a bit to get going, though. The first season is very ’90s and not that good, but it gets so much better. If you haven’t been exposed to the series yet, I believe it’s all currently on Netflix’s instant-watch list.

by Lucy Softich
Scott Pilgrim v. The World, directed by Edgar Wright

Plot
Just like the comic series of the same name, Scott Pilgrim v. The World is about geeky 20-something Scott Pilgrim, who, in order to date the punky Ramona Flowers, must first defeat her seven evil exes. He also plays bass in a kind of sucky band, and has a selective memory when it comes to girls.

First Impressions
From the very opening of the movie, when the Universal logo appeared in pixel art accompanied by video game music, I knew I was going to love this movie.

Lasting Impressions
It does the comic justice, and is a thoroughly enjoyable ride even if you’ve never read the books. For the most part, the movie is true to the comic, although it omits and changes some things (especially toward the end). Instead of taking place over months, like in the books, the movie seems to take place in a matter of weeks or even days. Overall, though, the changes made it a stronger movie, and the best moments were left in.

All the characters were spot-on, and the movie had a wonderful balance of jokes, action, and emotional plot. I was a little worried about Michael Cera as Scott, but he did wonderfully. All the actors did wonderfully, and I can’t wait to buy the movie on DVD. In the meantime, however, I’ll settle for seeing it another five times in theaters.

Audience
Anyone who loves the series should see the movie of course, but non-fans will find it amazing as well. It’s very high on the visuals though, which are weaved throughout as if they movie were a living comic book itself, so if you’re not into that, you may find the on-screen sound-effects and captions a little annoying. Definitely a movie for geeks, and really anyone who’s grown up anywhere near video games or those who love them.

by Lucy Softich
Scott Pilgrim Volume 1: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life, by Bryan Lee O’Malley
$11.99 (new)

Plot

Scott’s life is complicated. First he dates a younger girl (only 17!), and then he cheats on her with the girl of, literally, his dreams. But it doesn’t end there. His dream-girl, Ramona, comes with some fine print: in order to date her, he’ll have to defeat her Seven Evil Exes. And they’re lining up fast.

First Impressions
Is it possible for a book to be your soul mate? I may have found mine. Awesome art, hilarious writing.

Lasting Impressions
I was serious about the soul-mate thing. This is one awesome book. Scott lives in a world that is just the other side of reality, where fight scenes have bouncy background tracks and bad-guys combust into change. He manages to be a complete loser and amazingly cool, all at the same time. And it just keeps getting better. Even the side characters are awesome.

Audience
This book is truly for the geeky among us, who grew up on video games and power-ups. A perfect book for anyone who’s ever wished that life came with save points.

Next week, I’ll be indulging my obsession by seeing the Scott Pilgrim movie, and I’ll have a full report up next Friday!

by Lucy Softich

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga
$8.99 (new)

Plot
Fanboy has it hard. Girls flinch away from him, boys beat him up in gym, and he only has one friend. That is, until Goth Girl shoves her way into his life. She’s got issues of her own, but she also has the uncanny ability to make him tell the truth. And soon his secret is out: the graphic novel he’s slaving over, his key to fame and fortune and a new life. But, nothing is ever that easy.

First Impressions
Love the title, and the first few pages drew me in almost instantly. Very strong voice.

Lasting Impressions
It definately feels like a “first novel,” but it’s not bad. The first half is a bit slow, but around midway through it picks up a lot. After that, I literally couldn’t put it down, and finished it that night (much to the sorrow of my sleep cycle). The main characters are well-developed, but neither is really unexpected or surprising. But Fanboy has a really strong voice, and I especially like his perspective on the comics industry, graphic novels as literature, and the stigma of superheros. It can get a bit preachy at times, but it’s full of references any comic geek will love, and it’ll be an enjoyable read ever for the non-geeks of the world.

Audience
Geeks will get the most out of this book, particularly boys.

Fat Kid Rules the World, by K. L. Going
$6.99 (new)

Plot

This is the story of Troy, an overweight teen who’s ready to end it all, and Curt, a semi-homeless boy who’s determined to make Troy his new drummer–despite the fact that Troy can’t play the drums. As their friendship grows, Troy and Curt undergo a lot of stuff together, from gross to embarassing to downright sappy, and the story has a great pace to it.

First Impressions

It starts out intense, with Troy about to step off in front of a subway, and it just gets better from there.

Lasting Impressions

I had high hopes for this book, and I wasn’t disappointed. It has a great pace to it, and I swear I read it in a day, I was so into it. It made me want to go out and find a drum set. The characters are great, the story is great and keeps you engaging from the very first word to the very last.

Audience

This is definately a book for teenage boys (there are some huge gross-out moments), but it’s also a great buddy-book, and I think most teenagers would enjoy it. Aimed at later teens, 15-year-olds and up.

Japan Ai: A tall girl’s adventures in Japan, by Aimee Major Steinberger
$9.95

Plot
Six-foot-tall self-proclaimed geek, Aimee, takes her dream trip to Japan, and immortalizes it in this illustrated journal and guide. She visits Tokyo, Kyoto, a stunning Onsen (hotsprings), and has the ultimate fangirl experience: Harajuku, Tokyo Tower, ball-jointed dolls, Lolita, and a host of adventures.

First Impressions
There are way more illustrations and way less text than I had expected, but the drawings are very charming

Lasting Impressions
This is an adorable book, and very entertaining. I went to Japan myself in high school, and some of Aimee’s experiences are so close to my own that it was almost scary (are there hidden cameras somewhere?). The book is also rife with very accurate and concise cultural information, and her insights are both hilarious and spot-on.

Behind the Scenes
There’s a full glossary in the back of the book detailing any possibly unfamiliar term that comes up, and there’s even a list of the stores she mentions, complete with links to their websites. There are also a number of maps sprinkled throughout the book, mostly of shopping districts in Tokyo.

Audience
This book is a must-have for any anime/manga/Lolita fan, but also great for anyone studying the language or planning to visit Japan. There were a lot of terms in here I remember learning in high school and college Japanese, so students will really enjoy it.

Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld, illus. by Keith Thompson
$13.95

Plot

In an alternate history of World War I, Europe is divided into Clankers, countries who are technologically driven and control huge machines, and Darwinists, countries who breed animal ships and symbiodic creatures. Leviathan follows Prince Aleksander of Austria-Hungary, a Clanker nation, and Deryn Sharp, a girl masquerading as a boy to be part of Brittan Darwinist air force.

First Impressions
Lovely art, and the story starts us right off in the mist of action and intrigue, as Alexsander is sneaking out with his instructors for a secret midnight training session.

Lasting Impressions
I’m infamously bad at history, but this book made me want to read up on WWI. The characters are well-developed and easy to like, the plot help my interest to the end, and the illustrations are breathtaking.

Behind the Scenes
There’s an Afterward where the author has a brief summary of what  really happened leading up to WWI, and explains the changes he made and why.

Audience
This book will probably appeal to more boys than girls, but anyone who likes mechanics, fascinating creatures, and exciting military adventures, will really enjoy this book. Aimed at ages 9-13, but an older audience will also get a lot out of it.

Wet Moon, Book 1: Feeble Wanderings, by Ross Campbell
$14.95

Plot

Set in the southern town of Wet Moon, the story follows Cleo and her band of friends as they begin college. Cleo tries to adjust to her dorm room, her new roommates, and the sad slipping feeling of her friends slowly drifting in different directions.

First Impressions
Nice art, slow pacing. We don’t get much of an introduction to the story, we’re kind of thrown into it. The characters and plot unfold slowly on their own.

Lasting Impressions
It’s a very slow, quiet book, told most often in facial expressions and actions instead of dialogue or narration. The mood is thick, the art is beautiful, and the characters are intriguing and more realistic than I’m used to seeing in graphic novels. They’re beautiful and quirky and fascinating.

Behind the Scenes
At the end of this first volume, we get to see some old artwork for the story, including the first five pages of an earlier version of the comic. It’s nice to see how the artist’s artwork, and take on the characters, evolved over time.

Audience
I think Wet Moon will appeal most to a slightly “alternative,” female readership. It reminds me a lot of so many of my friends in high school. However, I think it has universal appeal for anyone in the last few years of high school, or the beginning of college.