Comic Corner Roundup: January
Comic Corner Roundup is a bi-monthly segment that compiles mini-reviews of comics, graphic novels, and manga that I’ve read recently. Here are my reviews for the month of January which include an urban legend, amateur ghost hunters, and a dragon on the hunt for real estate.
Fly By Night by Tara O’ Connor (2020)
Fly by Night tells the story of Dee, who suspects a magical creature may be responsible for her sister’s mysterious disappearance. But in her investigation, she discovers that the culprit may be less supernatural than she fears.
Review:
This is an interesting and unique mystery graphic novel that puts a different spin on urban legends. What if a creature that was rumored to be lurking in the woods came to be true? Dee finds out firsthand as she tries to piece together the clues for her sister’s disappearance. I loved the thriller aspects in this story which kept me guessing and weary of characters that I deemed as suspicious. I wasn’t sure who to believe and the overall suspense aspects kept me entertained.
It’s hard to talk about this graphic novel without giving too much away, but I will say that it took me by surprise. I think if the story was longer we could have gone into depth about some of the characters’ backstories. Other than that, I have no big complaints about the novel. The reveal at the end of the story caught me off guard which I like. I love the supernatural aspects of this novel and some of the fantasy elements it includes.
Final Verdict:
Spector Inspectors #1 by Bowen McCurdy and Kaitlyn Musto (2021)
True believer Noa, her cynical little sibling Gus, credulous cameraman Ko, and skeptical Astrid head to one of the most haunted towns in America to prove that ghosts exist, for all the social media likes!
The investigations of hauntings uncover something more devilish than just a couple of ghosts, something that will put Noa and Astrid’s relationship to the test… and reveal the centuries-old sinister secrets of the town itself.
Review: I love a good Scooby-Doo-style story of a gang of friends trying to investigate a mystery. And Spector Inspectors delivers on that. In Issue One, we spend most of the time setting up the characters and their relationships as they investigate a supposed “haunted” location. But they end up more than they bargained for. It definitely got my interest piqued even though I’ve only read one issue. It’s fact-packed, spooky, and light-hearted (it’s aimed at a younger audience). I can’t say too much about this series just yet, but I am interested to see what secrets will be revealed as our ghostly crew unravels the mysteries of a town that won’t let them leave.
Final Verdict:
Letty is not very good at being a dragon. Actually, he’s so terrible at it that his dad went and kicked him out of the house! What’s a skittish monster of myth to do in a world where everyone sees him as material for their next suit of armor? Why, find a safe place to call home, of course. With the help of a slightly evil elvish architect, Letty’s quest for the ultimate draconic domicile begins!
Review: If you’re looking for a manga series that is pure fun and whimsical, this one is it. This series caught my eye due to its recent anime adaptation, and I decided to pick up Volume One of manga. Though wacky at first glance (or read), I can tell that Dragon Goes House-Hunting has a lot of heart in its narrative. It follows the story of a dragon that feels like an outcast and is trying to find a new place where he can truly call home. With a fearful dragon and a worldly elf, the journey of real estate begins.
With each chapter, I could tell just how vast the lands are in Letty’s world. There are places full of ghouls, goblins, mermaids, and more. Some of the magical creatures are new and some turn over their traditional tropes. Among the surprises along the way, this is a story about someone trying to find their sense of purpose. I’m curious to see how Letty’s quest will turn out and how his newfound friendship with his architect will turn out. I can’t wait to read Volume Two.
Final Verdict:
What comics, graphic novels, or manga have you read lately? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have any recommendations feel free to share those as well.
The volume of Kare Kano that I just finished was just fascinating but, ironically, not because of the story, but because someone had diligently torn out little sections of it here and there (the romance plot, not the family plot) and I was just riveted by trying to figure out what I was missing and what they had loved so much that they literally tore it from the library book to keep for themselves!
Noooo! That would actually make me so upset. *sobs* Especially if I couldn’t make out the plot. I feel like I’m triggered by this since it was one of my pet peeves when I worked at the library. But I’m glad you were still able to enjoy it.
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Thank you! 🙂