Category Archives: Comic book reviews

Off the Shelf — Gotham Academy Volume 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell: Gorgeous art and a fresh YA spin give Welcome to Gotham Academy a new take on a well-worn mythology. Though a little too dependent on manga tropes to be truly original, with tie-ins to other series in the Batman … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf – Batgirl Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell:  Another excellent revamp from the “New 52”, this time re-imagining “Babs” Gordon as a grad student.  Stewart and Fletcher’s savvy GenY spin on the story + Tarr’s beautiful art (love Batgirl’s leather jacket!) = a playful, but still butt-kicking, … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf — Batman Detective Comics Volume 6: Icarus

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell:  Think of this as Law & Order: Gotham Division. Batman heads out to squash the bad guys that have killed someone who was trying to make Gotham a better place.  Gritty art gives it a suitable Noir feel, but … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf — Batman/Superman Vol. 3: Second Chance

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell: Second Chance is the story arc Little Kid Me always wanted to read; what happens if Batman and Superman forget who they’re supposed to be?  Pak delivers a page-turner of a story, and the covers — including variants — … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf — Rat Queens Vol. 2: The Far Reaching Tentacles Of N’Rygoth

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell:  Put NC-17 Golden Girls sass, D&D campaigning, and every single drug you can possibly think of, into a blender.  Voila — Rat Queens!  That’s high praise from me.  Loved Volume 1, and Volume 2 is just as high(-octane).  Strong … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf — Batman Vol. 6: Graveyard Shift

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell: A great series of stand-alone stories that are hamstringed by a strange shuffle of continuity, and my inability to connect issues with stories.  Could be my bad, but this TPB doesn’t make it easy either.  N00bs, be prepared to … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf — Harley Quinn Volume 2: Power Outage

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell:  I said I’d happily read 200 pages of Harley Quinn.  DC delivered.  I’m still happy.  Conner and Palmiotti deliver the goofy goods, keeping this series from a sophomore slump by pushing the envelope and then ripping it apart.  Gorgeous … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf: Madame Frankenstein

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell: Madame Frankenstein is an interesting take on the usual Frankenstein myth.  There are no true good guys; everyone is a shade of grey that seem almost one-dimensional in their drive for vengeance/truth.  Looking forward to how these shades warp … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf: The Divine

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell:  Beautifully drawn, and a definite think-piece.  Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but it doesn’t need to; it’s themes will haunt readers long after the small hiccups of characterization and pacing subside into distant memory.  Plus, dragon.  Big, … Continue reading →

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Off the Shelf — Outcast Volume 1: A Darkness Surrounds Him

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Denise

Nutshell: If you think Robert Kirkman does a great job with characters and storytelling in The Walking Dead, Outcast will top those expectations.  Perhaps a little bit too much string spooled out in the telling, but that could be because … Continue reading →

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