by Lucy Softich

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.

For fans of the Bowler Hat book reviews, the good news just keeps getting better. As some of you know, our reviews are written by interns and volunteers for the press. To date, these reviewers have remained by and large nameless. But due to popular request, we’re changing this with our newest reviewer. Allow me to introduce Lucy Softich, the newest book reviewer for Bowler Hat Comics!

Over the course of the next several months, Lucy will be the primary reviewer of the books you find in our “Have You Read … ?” feature. Having a sense of what she has in store for you, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! To welcome Lucy into the fold, we’ll launch her reviews this friday with a double feature. Stay ‘tooned!

As before, our comment section continues to be closed, although we are considering opening them for future reviews. In the meantime, feel free to drop us a line with your feedback and suggestions. What books would you like to see reviewed? What reviews motivated you to read something new? How has this feature changed your life for the better?

Drop us a line; let us know what you think.

Fall of Cthulhu: Godwar, by Michael Alan Nelson

Plot

As three Old Gods wrestle to claim the world for their own, a trio of unlikely companions tries to save humanity from certain destruction. Sure it’s generic, but the story also features an octopus man, which is definitely worth the price of admission.

First Impressions

The first few pages set up the surreal nature of this graphic novel. The intricately drawn beasts (as well as a charmingly revolting, green-skinned monster lady) are a clear counterpoint to the cartoonish artwork of the human characters. This contrast does a good job mirroring the dreamlike quality of the narration.

Lasting Impressions

Tentacles abound in this expansion of the Lovecraft mythos. Because the story is set in purposefully mind-expanding world, the plot becomes somewhat convoluted due to the invisible forces at work. Fortunately, the creepy crawlies  are able to hold the reader’s interest throughout the comic.

Behind the Scenes

Featured content is kept to a minimum, save for the superb illustrations of the various Gods and their servants that are used to seperate the chapters.

Audience

This release is definitely geared for teenage boys in search of a good monster comic. It would also appeal to lovers of all things Lovecraft.

Last Reign: Kings of War, by Walt Becker

Plot

Far in the future, well after humanity has destroyed itself, the last vestiges of civilization are thrown back into a feudal society. From these last remnants, the kings possess armor that has been handed down from before the fall.

First Impressions

The first few pages introduce the comic’s mix of sword, sorcery, and technology. The action scenes start right from the beginning and are the highlight of the comic.

Lasting Impressions

The plot is a good vs. evil story in the same vein as Star Wars with horses. It even has lightsabers. This isn’t Shakespeare. Remember to leave your brain at the door and you’ll have a good time.

Behind the Scenes

The last section of the graphic novel is a compilation of the comic’s different covers.

Audience

The style is an old school throwback similar to the Masters of the Universe comic during the 80s. The story of good vs. evil will appeal to young teen boys who are looking for an action fix.

Starting this week our reviews section will be changing its look. Love it or hate it? Let us know what you think!

En Garde Fencing proudly presents the first annual Kid Beowulf Open–a graphic novel fencing tournament! Saturday, June 12, cartoonist Alexis E. Fajardo will bring his all-ages graphic novel series, Kid Beowulf, to the En Garde Fencing Club in Santa Rosa, California. The event begins at noon and club owner and fencing instructor Jim Liebich will be conducting a free class for all attendees.

“I’m very excited,” says Jim. ”Kid Beowulf is a great story, and hosting this fencing tournament is going to be so much fun.” En Garde Fencing marked its one year anniversary in its new location in May and continues to bring the sought after Olympic sport of fencing to the North Bay. The club features a wide range of students and fencing prowess; girls and boys, all ages and every level from beginner to seasoned amateur. It’s a diverse group of swash and buckle!

Among those fencers is cartoonist Alexis Fajardo, creator of the graphic novel series Kid Beowulf, which features it’s own brand of swords and sorcery. Inspired by the epic poem BEOWULF, Kid Beowulf follows the journey of 12-year-old twin brothers Beowulf and Grendel as they travel to distant lands and meet fellow epic heroes therein. Published through Bowler Hat Comics, book one Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath debuted in 2008 and this spring marks the release of book two, Kid Beowulf and the Song of Roland–which features fencing.

“Part of the story for the second book is Beowulf learning how to swing a blade, so I incorporated some fencing into the book,” states Fajardo. “I’ve been fencing almost as long as I’ve been drawing Kid Beowulf, in fact I based one of the lead characters in the new book on my old fencing instructor and I’ve also got a few well-placed cameos of my fencing buddies from the club here. It seemed like a great way to cross-promote the club and the books. I’m looking forward to the event!”

The Kid Beowulf Open takes place Saturday, June 12 from noon to 1:30pm at 917 Piner Road in Santa Rosa. The event is free and open to the public. Fajardo will be sharing his work with attendees, signing books and doing sketches, while Moniteur Jim Liebich will conduct a free class for all attendees. And winners of the beginner tournament might just walk away with the much sought after Kid Beowulf Open Trophy!

For more information please visit www.kidbeowulf.com or www.egfencing.comor call: 415.613.3110

Download Press Release

Fathom, by Michael Turner

This compiled bible of a book is huge, spanning 455 pages of undersea adventure. The story is kinda like if Jonny Quest and Al Gore had a baby. It deals with the adventures of Aspen, an amnesiac girl found in the middle of the ocean. All grown up, she becomes a marine biologist working in a US-Japanese research lab at the bottom of the sea. It’s there that she quickly finds herself in the middle of a struggle between humanity and the beings that live in the deep. The first couple of pages hit you like a dream sequence–sort of a recap of the story thus far. This is a good summary of the first couple of sections. It takes a little while for the action to pick up. It can be a bit annoying, but the pretty pictures do a lot to make up for this interlude. Oh by the way, the pictures are gorgeous. The intricacies of the underwater vistas are truly breathtaking. Soon the explosions start occurring regularly. You’d be surprised to find how many things are able to blow up underwater. Each “chapter” of this collection begins with a foreword describing what the author sets out to accomplish during the following pages. The last 50 pages of the book is a collection of fantastic covers that spans the life of the comic book. Well worth checking out this book just in order to skim them. Teenage boys will come for the action and stay for the women in bikinis. Fans of comic books will appreciate the comic’s throwback 80’s sensibilities. Environmentalists will empathize with the plight of the oceans. Captain Planet Combine!

This comic is recommended for a TEEN audience, ages 16 and up.

Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection, by Don Roff

In the style of The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity comes this “found” birding journal/record of the zombie holocaust, written by Dr. Robert Twombly. This comic novel documents his attempt to survive in the midst of a world thrown into chaos, and zombies. Each entry is paired with a sketch of pertinent information, which can include anything from the observed zombie decomposition to other survivors that he runs into. In this way, there are fewer drawings than in a straight up comic book, but their dark-even crude-style makes this whole field guide seem very authentic. Special attention has been paid to show the unfolding global holocaust from one small vantage point. The reader sees the world from only the doctor’s eyes, which makes those dark places all the more sinister.

This comic is recommended for a MATURE audience, AGE 18 AND UP.

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Much like the story’s namesake, Welcome to Lovecraft tells the story of ordinary people who are confronted by situations that threaten to take their lives or their sanity, whichever one comes first. After the murder of Nina’s husband by a deranged student, she takes her family to live in the family’s ramshackle homestead in the heart of New England in order to start over again. Yet not everything is at it seems in Lovecraft, Massachusetts. An unseen force that’s trapped at the bottom of a well wants something from the youngest child, and won’t stop terrorizing the family until it gets it. The story excels at building suspense, which reaches its apex during the bloody climax of the tale. The artwork is also memorable, featuring a modern gothic vibe that is very easy to get lost in. If you enjoy your comics with thrills and chills (and a couple of psychopath killers for good measure), check this one out.

This comic is recommended for MATURE readers, ages 18 and up.

Hack/Slash, by Tim Seeley

Hmmm … Where to start … Oh well, might as well say it. Hack/Slash is about undead zombie midgets dressed as The Wizard of Oz characters stabbing bare-chested goth girls. In other words, it ranks up there with Shakespeare.

Hack/Slash is a great guilty pleasure purely for an adult audience. In fact, I can’t think of any other legitimate comic book that is also partnered with an adult website. But there you have it. This comic book doesn’t try to be something that it’s not. It’s pure junk food. The story loosely follows the adventures of Cassie Hack as she travels across the country with her Franken-friend in order to put killers in their place–six feet under. For all you fans of schlock cinema, watch for a special appearance by the Re-Animator. The full-color panels leave nothing to the imagination, depicting all kinds of T, A, and B. In addition, the last section features cover drawings, slasher fact sheets, and sketchbook pages. You’ll either love it or hate it. But hey, why not take a walk on the wild side?

This comic is recommended for MATURE audiences, ages 18 and up.