Comic Corner Roundup: November
“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 November which include some 80s nostalgia, tales of the supernatural in LA, and a wandering traveler.
Ghosted in LA #1 by Sina Grace (Author), Siobhan Keenan (Illustrator)
Synopsis: Daphne Walters moves to Los Angeles and finds that the only ones who can help her find love and live life to the fullest are the ghosts of her new home! In Los Angeles, finding an apartment is killer—unless you live with the dead…
Review: I was intrigued by this new series when I saw a review of it on another blog. I couldn’t my hands on the full first volume, but I was able to snag a copy of the first issue. The first installment is enough to get the reader hooked with it’s aspects of fantasy, the paranormal, romance, and overall sense of adventure. Daphne’s story is a fish out-of-water tale since she travels to LA (knowing no one) only for her boyfriend to dump her.
It’s a new school environment and she struggles to make new friends. I liked the concept of having a mansion full of ghosts that Daphne will befriend and I’m curious to learn about their backstories. While the story is short is just enough of a snippet to make you want to read more!
Final Verdict:
Misfit City #1 by (2017) by Kurt Lustgarten, Kirsten Smith (Authors), Naomi Franquiz (Illustrator)
Synopsis: Nothing’s happened in Wilder’s hometown since they filmed that cult kids’ adventure movie there in the 80s…but that’s ancient history. Until one day, she and her friends come upon a centuries-old pirate map drawn by someone named Black Mary…and find out there might be some REAL adventure in their tiny town after all!
Review: Not going to lie, but the lure of this comic was a spoof of/modern day reboot of the 80s classic movie The Goonies. Cannon Cove sounds like a really dreary town, but I like how the writers made it into a tourist trap with hidden secrets. I love adventure stories and so far the fact that this has a secret map, pirates, and hidden treasure to be found are intriguing. It’s giving me all The Goonies feels but with a more modern twist as this has a mainly female and more diverse cast.
The artwork seems very familiar to me (I think I’ve seen this artist’s work in something else I read). The friendship aspect of the story reminds of the Lumberjanes. It’s a modern story with an old school feel and I think the nostalgic factor will grab readers. I can’t wait to see what the lore is behind Cannon Cove and getting to know our main characters.
Final Verdict:
Hillbilly Vol.1 by Eric Powell (2017)
Synopsis: Eric Powell’s Appalachian Mountain fantasy epic that tells the story of Rondel. A lonely figure who wanders the wooded hills among witches and magical creatures as a folktale hero to those who dwell in this gritty dream world.
Review: This was a series that was gifted to me. It’s cover art is a bit intimating and I thought it would be a bit strange, but I ended up loving it! You’ve got a wandering traveler, magical creatures, witches, and danger around every corner. All of this adds up to one exciting adventure. I really enjoyed the world building in the first volume and how Powell takes a Appalachian setting and thrusts readers into a fantasy world.
Each new character villain that is introduced is so intriguing and their own lore. I was in complete awe of the artwork and the immense detail in each panel (I wonder how long it took to draw). It definitely helps to immerse you into the story and make fantasy became real. It’s creepy, entertaining, and has an heightened sense of adventure. I wonder what Rondel will encounter next in his journeys.
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.
