Actual review to come, but to offer a sense of how much this book means to me �
it inspired HOPE in offering a fresh approach;
it offered AN ENGAGING CActual review to come, but to offer a sense of how much this book means to me �
it inspired HOPE in offering a fresh approach;
it offered AN ENGAGING CURIOSITY as I use the hashtag #makeartaboutit to offer my community a suggestion for processing the chaos of our world and our lives, and I actually stumbled upon this book while exploring other posts that use that hashtag (because Rabbi Adina also uses this hashtag on social media);
it offered VALIDATION as I am a teacher and advocate for the use of art-making as a pivotal option for both coping with the world outside, and for making sense of our inner worlds …a process that is underutilized yet SO EFFECTIVE;
it offered CONNECTION and PRIDE as I’ve always been culturally Jewish (loving the traditions and family gatherings around food and holidays) but never resonated with the religious practice, but this book welcomed me to connect to my Jewishness, in an entirely different way! maybe even in a spiritual way? offering the possibility of connecting the creativity within myself to the notion of a larger all-encompassing story of creation that is both historic and ever-present;
it offered A LOVING INVITATION to consider new ways of using a religious text!! whereas I live in the Biblebelt where religion has been weaponized to play into people’s desperate need to feel morally superior to others, as a means of putting someone in a box labeled “other,� as well as a justification people use to judge others and perpetuate harm;
it offered an exciting POTENTIAL for reaching those whom are practiced in going back to The Original Text (Bible) yet offering an entirely fresh use for that practice!!!! using the vocabulary & stories that are part of their identity, and offering a gentle option beyond the fundamentalism of clinging to a singular Truth, and celebrating a polyvocality that holds the possibility that something could mean multiple things at the same time � a multiplicity of truths that enable an understanding beyond black & white!!!
-;�
I actually read the first half of the book out loud to my partner on a drive home in August 2024 from Nashville to NW Alabama, where we live � it was too good not to share!!!!
I immediately went online and had copies sent to three different friends�
One a friend from my Jewish youth group days, who (like me) has gone on to study and advocate for innovative educational approaches that tap into people’s innate skills and interests to spark their own journeys of learning & self discovery. � She immediately saw the value (and potential!) of this book!
One is my super creative sister-in-law who was raised fundamentalist Christian, and whose family has found a new church community that teaches them to express their Christianity in how they live their life, rather than clinging to a literal singular Truth that defined a distinct right and wrong. � She doesn’t consider herself “a reader� so she started it and keeps meaning to get back into it, but I’m DYING to hear her reaction!
One a friend who, after going thru treatment for addiction herself, has become a leader in our vibrant local Recovery community, and she’s the one who encouraged me to bring my approach (of art-making as a means of social/emotional growth) into Recovery spaces, where I now design art experiences to amplify their learning of things like growth mindset, The Four Agreements, and trauma-informed self-care practices.
-;�
The book resonated so much with this last friend that she is now (Feb 2025) leading our book club/spirit circle of fellow open minded misfits, as we read this book together ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Our assignment for next week is to make ANY medium of art using the Jewish Studio Process and I CAN’T WAIT to see what everyone comes up with!!!!!...more
For years I dreamed of having books like this one that shared fresh adventures of my favorite DC Comics characters, that was age appropriate for my liFor years I dreamed of having books like this one that shared fresh adventures of my favorite DC Comics characters, that was age appropriate for my little nieces! At 12 and 15, they are now a bit too old for this one. But I highly recommend this adorable yet compellingly told story!! Maybe for littles who are 8-10 (or for anyone, really, who might enjoy a new “young Diana� story that IS NOT a rehash of the same old origin story, but is a delightful coming-of-age and testing boundaries within the context of the Amazons we know and love)
It looks like this is going to be a series of stories of young versions of various DC lady characters? There’s a preview of a Zatanna one in the back of this one. If the others are at all as accessible and delightful and as suprisingly meaty as this one � sign me up!! ...more
GET THIS BOOK INTO THE HANDS OF THE CREATIVE 13-yr-olds IN YOUR LIFE!! I mean, I’m 40 and loved it to pieces, so it’s not *limited* to that age group GET THIS BOOK INTO THE HANDS OF THE CREATIVE 13-yr-olds IN YOUR LIFE!! I mean, I’m 40 and loved it to pieces, so it’s not *limited* to that age group by any means!! I’m just imagining that my 13-yr-old self could’ve really benefit from encountering this beautifully told story. And I could’ve especially used the push to be comfortable actively expressing myself (still could!).
The main character/author’s art is a glorious visual representation of the inner process we all go through when trying to negotiate who we are and what we are capable of contributing to the world. The humor and whimsy and creativity expressed by these characters is everything! By example, the characters demonstrate the fruits of engaging with the world with such an embrace for the adventure of it all. I finished the book feeling so inspired and just itching to do something creative. ...more
I LOVE THIS!!!! For years, I've been longing for a book like this to give to my nieces, that celebrates my favorite female DC super heroes (and villainI LOVE THIS!!!! For years, I've been longing for a book like this to give to my nieces, that celebrates my favorite female DC super heroes (and villains), AND in an age appropriate way (they're now 7 and 10, but I suspect they will still flip over this).
The art is so deliciously cute!! I feel like a kid again --- I want all of these dolls. Seriously, young-me would've fallen in love with these characters and their world. Present-day late-30s-me certainly has.
I love seeing who pops up in the story. The high school context provides so many great story opportunities where all of these characters interact. And the nods to their adult characterizations make my heart flutter - Batgirl has an Oracle watch and is the most prepared student in school. Harley's way of talking is so spot on, I imagine the little-girl version of the Harley voice of Batman: the Animated Series. The writer, Shea Fontana, must be a longtime DC Comics reader to have captured so many diverse characters and be so accurate in how their characters would translate into this G-rated high school context.
I *probably* should've waited until I came down from my fangirl post-read high before writing this review, because I can hardly represent the love I have for this book in this blissed out state. But, hey, that's my reaction, so this is my review :)...more
...the DC Comics: Bombshells series is now one of the mosFrom statues...
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to a series of variant covers...
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to a fandom phenomenon...
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...the DC Comics: Bombshells series is now one of the most FUN and exciting and feminist story lines DC has ever produced. Why? Because in the hands of a woman writer and (I think) predominantly female artists, these powerful iconic characters get to live stories that are worthy of them.
The bottom line is that Marguerite Bennet is KILLING IT with this book. The myriad of characters are introduced with rich stories that made me immediately invested. It's a WWII context that is completely fresh, and the stories are woven together in an exciting way that is filled with surprises.
This is a book I can't wait to share with my nieces!!! But moreover, it's a series that I love reading and can't wait to keep reading.
Lady DC readers, between this book and Renae de Liz's The Legend of Wonder Woman, I'm beginning to feel like DC is taking us seriously as readers, and maybe even seeing the tremendous benefit of getting more women creators to come play in their sandbox.
Can I just also express my undying love for the awesome Jewish representation with the badass Ms. Kane and a half-Jewish Zatanna!!!!!! [image] [image]
This is the listing for the digital #1. I just read the first 3 printed issues (which collects the digital versTHIS IS THE BOOK WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
This is the listing for the digital #1. I just read the first 3 printed issues (which collects the digital version's #1-9).
This is the book I've wanted to exist since my niece was born and I began plotting to share with her all of the cool things I love... one of which is Wonder Woman.
But really, the idea of Wonder Woman has always been so much better than the comics have actually achieved in their execution. And who knows if The Legend of Wonder Woman will continue to embody the story that I always wanted to be told. But these first 3 issues made me tear up with how excellent they are so far.
This is all Renae De Liz --- her art, her story. And I can't believe I've gotten this far into this review without mentioning THE ART!!
Seriously, THE ART IS SPECTACULAR!!! If you haven't seen it yet, look at this trailer for the comic and see for yourself... unbelievable.
Thank you, Renae De Liz! You have created something truly worthy of being a Wonder Woman title....more
From the start, this book has got my mind working -- I've been writing the entire time that I read this book: taking notes, jotting down reactions, poFrom the start, this book has got my mind working -- I've been writing the entire time that I read this book: taking notes, jotting down reactions, posing questions for further investigation. This is my first foray into reading scholarly work regarding the intersection of Christianity and homosexuality. An excellent book that was completely accessible to a novice like me, but so richly informed and thoughtfully laid out. I would imagine that this would be a truly effective tool in helping initiate productive dialoguing within the Christian community.
I don't think I've accurately conveyed how important Gushee's perspective is to both sides of the issue. I think I need to let this one percolate a bit before I can really do it justice in a review.
But bottom-line ...this is a book that everyone should read....more
UPDATE: I was going to write a review filled with picI'm calling it: The Badass Feminist Coloring Book has been my best purchase of 2015.
Review to come
UPDATE: I was going to write a review filled with pics of my 'artwork' from the book but I don't want to sully it by coloring on it. It's so wonderfully intersectional in the representation of awesome ladies that it feels strange to literally assign each woman a skin color. I wonder if this tension was part of Oluo's decision to make this a coloring book instead of just a showcase of kickass feminists.
Whether or not I decide to actually color this book, it is such a fun collection of women!! Most I've never heard of, ALL of whom I want to be friends with, or at least follow on twitter.
There are a bunch of essays in the back of the book that provide some quick but rich context. This book embodies an inclusive understanding of feminism that reflects the current vibe of the movement that is so rarely represented in published works and makes this book SO FRESH and vital.
I want to hold this book up and shout, "Forget the baggage associated with The F-word!! THIS is feminism today."...more
In an interview a year or two ago, Kelly Sue DeConnick mentioned a comic she was working on (that would end up being Bitch Planet). A vocal minority oIn an interview a year or two ago, Kelly Sue DeConnick mentioned a comic she was working on (that would end up being Bitch Planet). A vocal minority of critics had been complaining that her reinvented Captain Marvel was too feminist. I'm totally paraphrasing, but she said her reaction to those critics was something along the lines of, You think that's too feminist? I'll show you feminist!
My reaction: YYYYEEEESSSSSSSS!!!! Sign me up. Go, Kelly Sue, go! It is a tragedy that actively identifying as feminist is some kind of radical statement, but it is. In a climate where even the creators working on Wonder Woman are afraid of using the f-word, Kelly Sue declared her intentions, in no uncertain terms.
There's never been so much pressure on a single title to be the embodiment of a full-fledge movement. As an article on vox proclaims as its title, How can you expect a comic book to be the voice for an entire population of female readers who are hungry for something that articulates their frustration? and in a way that is artistically innovative, thoroughly entertaining regardless of its "agenda" (if it must be called that), and triumphantly representative of the diverse experiences of women? The pressure was/is massive, but the crazy exciting thing... so far, BITCH PLANET DELIVERS!!!!!!
Now, wade through all of the hype and go see for yourself if you agree.
I've been collecting the single issues month-to-month as they're released, and there is something about that that heightens the experience of Bitch Planet into the stratosphere. It's one of the only books I’m picking up in single issues because 1st of all, I can’t wait to see what Kelly Sue has got for us each month, and 2nd of all, the extras (feminist essays, letters from Kelly Sue, letters from readers, tweets, pics, back page ads � all them goodies) make every issue feel like a connection. Like there’s this community bubbling under the surface of mainstream comics-reading that has finally been given a voice and the go-ahead to let our feminist freak flags fly. There's an energy that reverberates throughout social media spaces in real time. Essentially, reading Bitch Planet is like no comics-reading experience I’ve ever had.
--- I'm not saying that everyone experiences this series like I do, or that you need to drink the kool aid in order to enjoy it. I'm just mentioning my personal reaction to it, which is admittedly fangirly, but I'd argue, justifiably so. ---
I was deeply concerned that this energy and ethos would be lost to people who are encountering Bitch Planet for the first time in this first collected trade, Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machine. Reading it cover to cover I am thrilled that the story and art alone (without the essays and community building extras) hold their own. I encourage people to go to their local comic book store and pick up the next issue (#6 is slated to come out Jan 6th) to get a taste, or download the single issues digitally going forward.
But as this book demonstrates, Bitch Planet, Vol 1: Extraordinary Machine is itself something special. I loved reading the story again, straight through, all at once. The packaging and the inclusion of the back page ads capture the vibe in a fun way. This is a great "in" for people to give Bitch Planet a try!!...more
How have I not reviewed this yet?! I just did a re-read of the series to gear up for the upcoming Netflix show, Jessica Jones.
This is the final volume How have I not reviewed this yet?! I just did a re-read of the series to gear up for the upcoming Netflix show, Jessica Jones.
This is the final volume of Bendis' Marvel Max series (aka adults only!!) Alias, which follows Jessica Jones, a former B-list superhero, now trying to pull her life together as a private investigator. In this story we learn about the origin of her superpowers and we find out the trauma that ended her days as a hero, and sent her on the path of becoming the totally flawed, complicated character that we have come to love over the course of the series.
Once again the art is amazing, this time heightening the story by switching it up with its retro look for flashbacks of her youth, and the cliched superhero look of her memories of her days as a hero. LOVE! And Mack's cover art for each issue continues its genius artistry in depicting Jessica's inner states.
This volume finishes out the series in a really satisfying way, closing out this part of Jessica's life and setting course for a new chapter. Bendis is masterful in how Alias developed Jessica Jones as a character. The most human portrayal of the Marvel universe I have ever come across.
I feel like this is a hidden gem of a series that's about to explode into the global consciousness because of the Netflix show. I can't imagine how they will capture Jessica's character and the spirit of this book as effectively and endearingly as Bendis did, but I'm remaining optimistic. And, as the tagline of the show goes,
Doing a re-read of Alias, one of my top five favorite series ever, gearing up for the Jessica Jones show on Netflix. These are from the story “The UndDoing a re-read of Alias, one of my top five favorite series ever, gearing up for the Jessica Jones show on Netflix. These are from the story “The Underneath� and are just the tip of the iceberg of what I love about this series� everything from the unbelievable art and cover art, to the phenomenal pacing that is established by the page layout, to the humor and attitude of Ms. Jones herself.
(if these images don't show up well, check out to see them in their full glory)
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There are gpoys all over this book. This is for real how I enter my apartment.
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And if you haven't read Alias yet... I'm jealous that you get to encounter it for the first time. This series was SO crucial in opening my eyes to a broader world of stories being told in comics. Good ones. With stellar female characters. Oh, Jessica, how I do love thee. READ THE ALIAS SERIES BEFORE YOU WATCH THE NEW JESSICA JONES SHOW ON NETFLIX. Just a suggestion. That I feel fairly strongly about. Clearly....more
Saga remains the best comic out there. Masterful storytelling; gorgeous artwork; fascinating characters; social commentaryI love them so mu-huh-huch!!
Saga remains the best comic out there. Masterful storytelling; gorgeous artwork; fascinating characters; social commentary regarding war, class and race; an underlying romance and love for family; diverse cast of characters; excitement and suspense; and perhaps the hottest lead couple to ever grace a page - Marko and Alana.
Can't wait for the next volume!!!
And if you're reading this review and haven't tried Saga yet, do eeet. And start with Saga, Volume 1....more
all the YES for this one!! I will be buying a copy for my niece, as soon as she is old enough to read a book with the word "f#$k" in it.
This was such aall the YES for this one!! I will be buying a copy for my niece, as soon as she is old enough to read a book with the word "f#$k" in it.
This was such a fun read. The writer's page-by-page meta commentary was hilarious. I loved how Alison fundamentally struggles with the role of superheroes, questioning the amount of good they are able to do when their brawls with villains do nothing to alleviate the true hardships of poverty and illness around the world. I enjoyed how the reader gets to jump into her story after her glory days as Mega Girl and I thought it was clever how her character is developed through the conflicts she encounters in her everyday relationships as an "out" super powered former-superhero. The origin story aspect of the book was done so well!! I am fascinated by the faux-historical context in which the superhumans emerged and the reaction of the world. The relationship with Patrick is quite interesting, and he is an interesting character himself, whom I'd like to know more about.
I am so happy that I get to continue reading Alison's story as more of it is posted online as a webcomic.
Full disclosure, I originally heard of this book when I got a free copy of it from NetGalley. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to read it before it expired. But it looked like something I'd enjoy, so I got a copy, read it and loved it :)...more
Meaning is not a destination you can arrive at, like a ferry to Staten Island. It is entirely relative, entirely in flux, and entirely arbitrary.
SomeMeaning is not a destination you can arrive at, like a ferry to Staten Island. It is entirely relative, entirely in flux, and entirely arbitrary.
Some of us are fixated on the process of drawing connections and deriving meaning, and, for a subset of us, the frustration of never arriving at a true meaning (Truth-with-a-capital-T) is something that consumes us. There is no Truth-with-a-capital-T. Yet we pursue it nonetheless.
And these statements are entirely circular, as they are attempts to arrive at meaning with regard to this book.
If you enjoy thinking about Meaning, grab this book, hop on board and shove the skiff away from shore. You might fall as madly in love with this book as I have. To say that it has inspired me is an understatement. I could barely go 3 pages at a time without having to stop and write and write and write about things related and unrelated.
I know that not everyone will have the same reaction to this book as I have, but high-fives all-round to celebrate the power that a book can have for us - to energize and inspire us, to make us think and reflect, to make us empathize, to make us CREATE!
I wish I read this for a college course where we (this imagined collection of engaged readers) could discuss and analyze and fixate on every detail. Message me if you want to discuss!!
EDIT: Ha!! I just checked out the reviews for Satin Island and I might be in the minority in my love for this book. So read it, don't read it, your call. I'm glad I did but you might hate it. :)...more
FUN!! I'm late to the party, as this has been around for awhile. Every time I tap into the indie comic world, the potential of what graphic novels can FUN!! I'm late to the party, as this has been around for awhile. Every time I tap into the indie comic world, the potential of what graphic novels can be seems to open wider and wider. I imagine Hopeless Savages was ahead of its time and, remarkably, Van Meter's voice and style of storytelling feels fresh 15 years later.
My jaded-ass was half-expecting this "punk rock family" story to come off as trite, or done-before. But no, these characters felt authentic, and their stories felt fresh. And fun! A truly great collection.
Another contender for favorite book of 2015... in the Top 10, for sure.
I love what Elizabeth Hand does here in these stories.
She roots every story in Another contender for favorite book of 2015... in the Top 10, for sure.
I love what Elizabeth Hand does here in these stories.
She roots every story in a reality that I'm pretty sure is Reality. I become fascinated by the characters and consumed by their story and her glorious description. And in a couple of the stories in this collection, things happen that bend enough to be outside of Reality, allowing for the possibility of something fantastical to emerge potentially anywhere.
I LOVE this heightened feeling of "this story could go ANYWHERE" and as a reader, I'm being asked to go with it, to open my mind to the possibility of anything happening.
It's a refreshing feeling that piques my own imagination. I find myself bringing that edge of possibility into my world beyond the pages of the book.
I mean, Cleopatra Brimstone!? That opened the book as the first story and just laid it out there... strap in cuz this train could go anywhere!
So different but also triumphant is a story like Pavane for a Prince of the Air that is so filled with genuine emotion as a chronicle of the end of a friend's life. I was moved and enjoyed the window into a truly unique spirituality.
You just never know what you're going to get in this story collection. Some stories feeling full circle, some ending on a curious note. All inspiring the reader to engage his or her own imagination.
I LOVE what she reveals in the Afterward, about an epistolary relationship she has, where they discuss "the nature of writing itself, the mysteries of the creative process and, especially, the relationships between writers and their muses, that shifting border where the real life and the imagined one fleetingly touch and, sometimes, overlap." What a brilliant encapsulation of what I loved about her work and these stories!!
I will definitely be seeking out more Elizabeth Hand!!!!! ...more
This volume was so much better than the typical superhero fare I've encountered coming from DC and Marvel. Maybe you're more tapped into the good stufThis volume was so much better than the typical superhero fare I've encountered coming from DC and Marvel. Maybe you're more tapped into the good stuff than I am, but this volume stands out for me as a solid, cohesive, exciting, thought-provoking work of art.
David Haller's mission: to eradicate mutant-persecution by being covertly pro-active rather than overtly reactive. He sees the X-Men, led by the teachings of his dead father, Charles Xavier, as spandex-clad reactionaries who are ultimately ineffective in the grand scheme.
TOTAL SPOILERS in the "spoiler" tag that follows this paragraph, re: the events in the first 3 issues of this volume. DO NOT READ if you think you might read X-Men Legacy... which you should. I'm just detailing some of the ways David goes about furthering his anti-persecution agenda in this volume (and the issues that arise as a result) because my memory SUCKS and I want to be able to remember the specifics. (view spoiler)[ - Dismantled a hate group of religious fanatics, to eliminate their threat before they acted on their hatred (which David confirmed they longed to do, by looking at their inner fantasies).
- Was going to use his powers to manipulate a mutant boy onto the the path of government leadership, for his own selfish purposes of wanting to jumpstart change through the auspices of a mutant President. But thanks to Ruth/Blindfold, he saw this move as antithetical to his underlying ethos of wanting every person, regardless of gender, race, or mutant status, to be able to utter the words, "I rule me. I rule me." and mean them.
- Is a pre-emptive strike ever acceptable? What if you can see the future and know that death and destruction is imminent if you don't take out the threat before he has a chance to act? Can you ever truly know the future with enough certainty to justify a pre-emptive strike?
Brilliant. Made me think long and hard about our real-world approaches to initiating progress and spreading tolerance. In what ways does David's angle of covert activism make more sense? What issues arise when pursuing this agenda? Real-world efforts obviously don't have David's puppetmaster powers to begin with, but Spurrier raises thought-provoking issues regarding activist strategy, power and its potential abuse.
The second half of Volume 2 is a fantastic story, "Invasive Exotics" involving the idea of a "mutant cure" and ties together stories from this entire Volume, making Volume 2 as a whole a truly cohesive standalone work.
You don't have to read Volume 1 to understand and enjoy Volume 2, as long as you understand the premise: that David Haller had built a prison in his mind to control the multitude of villainous characters that lurk inside his fractured psyche, whose various powers he can pull from and use in the real-world (making him arguably the most powerful mutant on earth). That is, he *had* these multiple personalities under control, until in Volume 1, all hell broke loose and they now run rampant inside his mind.
In my review of Volume 1 I mentioned how the Mike Del Mundo covers for the single issues in this series are what drew my attention to X-Men Legacy to begin with. The covers for the issues in Volume 2 are PHENOMENAL!!!!
I posted these 2 in my review of Volume 1, but they are so awesome that they deserve to be featured again here:
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And the covers for the 3 issues of "Invasive Exotics" tie into the mutant cure storyline in such a brilliant way. I don't want to spoil anything for you, potential reader, so I will just include the first cover of this storyline, Issue #10 (click so you can see the full image in detail! trust.)
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I came for the cover-art, but I'm sticking with this title because of Si Spurrier and the many layers he brings to this character and his story. Well done!...more
A MUST READ, my graphic novel-reading friends :) It will make your heart happy. I laughed a lot while reading this. And it was so spot on in its depictiA MUST READ, my graphic novel-reading friends :) It will make your heart happy. I laughed a lot while reading this. And it was so spot on in its depiction of teen-life and the issues that arise. SO MUCH LOVE for this book!!!! It deserves a much more coherent review, along with some favorite images... which I will have to do when I have time. But in the meantime, I highly highly recommend!
EDIT 7/31/15
GREAT NEWS! You can read lots of this book (if not all) on Jillian Tamaki's site:
So worth it!!
But just in case she takes it offline, below are some of my favorites. I actually have way too many favorites to post here, as this is just the tip of the iceberg of awesomeness...
I could post every Everlasting Boy page because every single one is so good, but you should go explore her site and see for yourself. So I shall just post this one...
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