Unfortunately, I've been so busy lately that I haven't really gotten a good chance to write a solid review, even though I've read some real cracker-jack comics. That sucks! So follow along below and I'll give you a quick guide to some of the books I've been lost in.
In the past few years, vampires have been more popular than ever, with a never ending stream of books, movies, and tv shows emerging to capture the hearts of all types of vamp lovers, from swooning teenaged girls to hardcore horror fans. In such an era, it it genuinely rare for a vampire story to arise different enough to catch me off guard. American Vampire is one such story. Swinging back and forth from the old west to 1920s Hollywood, AV captures the imagination with rough riding desperados and sleek starlets. Scott Snyder is great, and it doesn't hurt that Stephen King is on board either! It's crunchy, and doesn't bull any punches. AV (volume 1) is a great set up for an exciting ongoing story line.
A story about the intricate nature of patriotism from the point-of-view of a man who should know: Uncle Sam, the physical embodiment of the American spirit. Unfortunately, things for Sam aren't all apple pies and Fourth of July. He finds himself in a delirious state, wandering the streets of modern America, and haunted by the sins of his past. In the midst of a crumbling system, Sam slowly recovers his memory of his country's shameful past and is brought to a cross roads: to allow himself and all he is meant to stand for to fade away, or to stand and fight against the moral decay of modern America. It is, of course, accompanied by the beautiful artwork of Alex Ross, a favorite of mine.
A fascinatingly personal look into the life of Laika, the dog who became the first living being in space, Laika does an amazing job of of giving an inner view of the people directly involved in the arms race of the Cold War. Intertwining real life documentation of Laika's life and vivid imagination, Nick Abadzis presents a lovingly created tragedy. Although this book is indeed a tearjerker, it can sometimes come off a little too dry and can be reminiscent of a history lesson. And I warn you, if you aren't already a student of history, that a happy ending is not in store (something I knew going in). Laika's one great success is giving a face to the Russians of the Cold War Era. Too often I think, when we are taught history, we are taught of great leaders, who hold all of the blame or triumph within themselves, and too little about the actual people who made these things happen. Laika presents these people in a realistic light, not monsters, just normal people caught up in a conflict that they didn't choose.
Alright kids, that's it for now! Hope you're enjoying our month's break and that I see you all very soon at our next meeting (August 13th, 6:30)! Happy reading!
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