Book Description

Set in the same rich universe as Blizzard's upcoming Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game World of Warcraft, Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy is a fresh take on the Warcraft universe using original characters and storylines. The three manga volumes follow the adventures of Kalec, a blue dragon who has taken human form to escape the forces that seek to destroy his race, and Anveena, a maiden with secrets of her own. What starts as a flight for survival turns into a quest to save the entire High Elven Kingdom from the forces of the Undead Scourge.

- From the artist of the best-selling King of Hell, cover art by Charles Park (Street Fighter, Robotech, X-men)
- Written by Richard Knaak, the New York Times best-selling author of Warcraft, Diablo, Dragonlance and English adaptor of Ragnarok
- Since the debut of Warcraft in 1994, it has sold more than 14 million copies of various iterations of the popular PC game
- Check-out the World of Warcraft game and Blizzard's website, battle.net ... Read more

Reviews (4)

STRONG START TO THE TRILOGY
Based upon the enormously popular PC, video, and role-playing games comes this first part in the Warcraft graphic novel "Sunwell Trilogy" from TokyoPop."Dragonhunt" opens with a prologue detailing the rich history of the Warcraft universe in which the Titans go about creating worlds and breathing life into them throughout the universe.They create the Well of Eternity upon the world of Azeroth, leaving flights of dragons to protect their creation.Azeroth soon becomes a battle ground as the Titans former champion, the Dark Titan Sargeras, corrupted by evil and with hordes of orcs led by the Lich King, seeks the Well for his own.The cataclysmic battle sunders the world into fragmented landmasses.The story begins as the Lich King, Arthas seeks to rebuild his citadel and humans and orcs enter join in an uneasy alliance to battle Arthas' undead Scourge.

An injured blue dragon, Kalec, now in human form is assisted by a young girl Anveena to escape those who are hunting him.Kalec explains that the dragons are seeking a great source of power and he was sent by Malygos, the Lord of the Blue Dragons, to find this power.But he's not the only one searching for it.An evil elf, Dar'khan, servant of the Lich King is also seeking the power which he reveals as the Sunwell, source of elven power, created out of the destruction of the Well of Eternity.Dar'khan captures Kalec and Anveena and only the intervention of another blue dragon, Kalec's mate Tyrygosa, allows them to escape.They soon learn that Anveena's home houses a secret...an egg which a tiny dragon hatches from.Could this be the source of the power that everyone is searching for?Where will their journey lead them from here?

Dragonhunt was an outstanding start to this trilogy.Having not been overly familiar with the Warcraft Universe, I found the history rich, colorful and detailed.There certainly seems to be some Tolkien influence, particularly in the prologue, but it still cuts a nice, unique world, all its own.A lot of action was tossed at you very fast and there wasn't a great deal of character development so hopefully we will delve into these various characters in the succeeding volumes.It's interesting to see the blend of heroic fantasy done with a Manga style.Since Warcraft is a known commodity with legions of fans, people may be predisposed of how it should look, but I thought the art of Jae-Hwan Kim was superb and fit very well.Kim is one of the best artists in Manga today, having worked on the terrific "King of Hell" series, also from TokyoPop.He's got a clean, yet very detailed style and handles action sequences deftly.

The story was written by Richard Knaak, one of the tops in the heroic fantasy genre.Knaak has written such huge hits as "The Legend of Huma" and The Minotaur Wars, set in the Dragonlance world, as well as Warcraft novels "Day of the Dragon" and "The Well of Eternity." In addition to Warcraft, Knaak has also written novels based on the "Diablo" PC game so he has a strong background in adapting gaming environments to novels.Knaak and Kim have succeeded in creating not only a gorgeous graphic novel, but a marvelous heroic fantasy story, with lively characters and an intriguing plotline.A must for fans of Manga, Warcraft, or heroic fantasy!

BRILLIANT
I finished reading the Warcraft Vol. 1 manga only last night, and I cannot wait for volume 2 to come out.First of all, the story is a classic, and an original.Esentially what you need to know to understand the story is that there is a well of energy called the Sunwell, which was destroyed during a war.Dragons, the most supreme and powerful beings on the planet, are drawn to the energy, although the exact location of it is unknown.Kalec, a blue dragon, is seeking to discover more on the sunwell, and reveal some of its secrets.However, he is being pursued, by others after the exact same thing.He meets two beautiful women along the way, one of them a fellow blue dragon, and the other frees him from a trap in the beginning of the story.I won't tell any more about the story- I'm afraid I may have revealed too much already!The artwork is magnificent.It is, by far, the best drawing of ANY manga or graphic novel I've ever read- the details draw you into the situation as a reader.This comes from the same animator as 'King of Hell', another superb series.Richard Knaak, a New York Times Bestselling author, wrote the introduction, which initially engulfs you into the story, as well as the dialogue.It's worth WAY more than ten bucks of your money.If you love fantasy or have an obsession with dragons, this is a must-have.I'm already addicted beyond hope.

Just set-up, no resolution
While the story in Dragon Hunt held my interest for the twenty minutes it took me to read the manga I can't help but feel that the story falls a bit on the simplistic end of the stick, which is disappointing coming from Richard Knaak who was so successful with Day of the Dragon, the first of the WarCraft novels, in providing a twisty, multi-layered mystery that kept the reader engaged through the book’s near four hundred pages. In terms of story, Dragon Hunt provides no pay-off–that will come, no doubt, in the final volume of the trilogy. In terms of characterization, our main characters--Kalec the Blue-Dragon and Anveena the maiden--aren't well drawn and have little discernable personality beyond the cardboard. As far as Jae-Hwan Kim's artwork is concerned, Dragon Hunt doesn't strike me as having a manga feel and instead reminds me of Prince Valiant which, given the subject matter of a fantasy-drawn world, seems entirely appropriate.

What Dragon Hunt feels like is 150 pages of set-up for the next three hundred--to introduce the characters, provide some challenges, and throw the characters together to set them on their way. There's nothing wrong with this, but it means that Dragon Hunt isn't a complete read in and of itself--if you start this you'll need to read the next two volumes to make any semblence out what you read here.

Intense but Good
I picked up this manga because it has dragons in it and it sounded interesting. It did not disappoint!

Set in the online world of Warcraft, the story follows a young blue dragon named Kalec who was sent to seek out the source of a strange power. When he is wounded on the way and forced to take a human form, he is found and helped by a human woman named Anveena. Tied together by fate and force, the two and their fellow companions journey to find the Sunwell, a powerful magic force that will help to rid them of the evil that rules their lands.

I was surprised with the way the manga was drawn: the characters look much more life-like in this manga than in others. The drawings are really detailed and the dragons are drawn really well! The only thing I dont like is that its only going to be a trilogy, wish there was going to be more. I cant wait for vol 2! ... Read more

Book Description

For 25 years, award-winning cartoonist Lynn Johnston has attracted new readers and intrigued longtime fans with her uniquely humorous stories and drawings in For Better or For Worse. During that time, more than 30 books based on the daily comic strip have sold in excess of 1.6 million copies. Striking a Chord continues that impressive record, delivering the latest For Better or For Worse collection just in time for spring. Johnston's acclaimed strip centers on the everyday life of a Canadian family, humorously portraying both the good and the not-so-good events that are shared by the Patterson clan and their extended family of friends and neighbors. Parents Elly and John; children Michael and his wife, Deanna, Elizabeth, and April; Grandpa Jim; and dogs Edgar and Dixie all live out the joys and complexities of modern life. From parents apprehensively facing their fifties and a young couple tackling new parenthood to a young woman confronting career choices and a girl's loss of a beloved pet, Striking a Chord brings compassion, understanding, and a lighthearted touch to every human interaction. This collection includes cartoons from November 2002 through July 2003.

Reviews (2)

Another winner
I am such a huge fan of the For Better of For Worse cartoons. Lynn Johnston always does such a wonderful job of bringing everyday family life into focus while maintaining some degree of "funny".

This little book is no exception. Featuring all of the members of the family, this book is a wonderful look at the more recent strips.Even a little look at Farley and Mr. B. (which kind of still brought tears to my eyes).

The only comment I have that is negative is that these books are so small, only takes about 30 minutes to go through it.I feel as though I just start it and poof its finished.

Still, the quality is there.

Fantastic as usual
This book is fantastic as is all of her fborfw books. highly recommended. No complaints. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This cartoon is getting too hip-hop and too political
Sure, being political and hip-hop has always been the standard of The Boondocks, but when it gets so extremely focused on the outside world of black celebrities and politicians it just gets boring.
There's very few times when the reader actually gets to know the characters' personalities becuase they're always talking about black actors, rappers, or the Bush administration. There are hardly ever any moments with plots involving the characters themselves in personal situations, so when do we really get to know them?
I'm a liberal who has some pretty good knowledge of hip-hop culture, but I still find that The Boondocks has just become very one sided by showing things from the single point of perspective of a left-wing African American.

Excellent comic
I am wild about Aaron McGruder. He captures the very essence of political satire with his adorable characters in the Boondocks.I have watched him on Bill Maher and can certainly see why he has remained so popular.Huey and Cesar often ponder a world in which the Democrats regained control of the country, but realize that Kerry was just a punk.Grandad's crusty ways make me laugh every morning on the way to work, and Riley's thug attitude brings it all back to Earth, proving that even the most serious political pundit can have a sense of humor and still get his point across.I also think Aaron McGruder is hot. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A comic book about comic books. McCloud, in an incredibly accessible style, explains the details of how comics work: how they're composed, read and understood. More than just a book about comics, this gets to the heart of how we deal with visual languages in general. "The potential of comics is limitless and exciting!" writes McCloud. This should be required reading for every school teacher. Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman says, "The most intelligent comics I've seen in a long time." ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Perhaps ever so slightly overrated...
I appreciate the innovation of writing a book about comics in comic-book style. It's a clever, winning idea. Perhaps it would have worked a bit better if McCloud himself were a better draftsman, or if there had been more (and better-quality) reproductions of other artists' work.

The writing here is uneven. Some chapters, including "Blood in the gutter" and "Time Frames," are very effective and very specific, with strong insights into the nuts-and-bolts of comic techniques. Another chapter, "The Vocabulary of Comics" -- which uses a big triangle graph to encompass the whole of range of comics art -- is quite insightful but, at the same time, oversimplifies a bit, I fear. I'm not saying McCloud's assertions aren't necessarily true, but he might have put himself on surer ground with some of the language/symbol ideas by getting more heavily into semiotics theory, etc. And maybe here is where the light-hearted tone and comic-book style starts to undercut his intellectual accomplishment. I understand the book isn't meant to be a doctoral thesis, but still, it has high ambitions, and the structure of the book must be subordinated to the loftiness of its aspirations. Chapter 7, which attempts to relate all of artistic achievement into a unified whole, is one of the least satisfying, because it is frankly pretentious and rather gooey, non-specific, in its assertions.

Don't get me wrong. There is a lot of good insight in "Understanding Comics," and I wouldn't debate that it's an essential read for anyone interested in the topic. But it also feels like sort of a primer, a survey. Each one of the chapters could itself be the subject of a whole book. In other words, "Understanding Comics" has impressive breadth but not as much depth as one might want.

More people should read this!
Scott McCloud does a fantastic job explaining the history, potential, and inner workings of comics as a medium. I was especially impressed with his concise descriptions of visual theory and its particular applications to comics. Occasionally I felt that McCloud's treatment of a topic could have been more fleshed-out (the chapter on color, for example, or his concluding idea of comics as a particularly good form of communication) or that he made some unnecessary generalizations (his definition of art was a bit trite and even misleading). On the whole, though, McCloud's ideas are sophisticated and he is able to communicate them with surprising eloquence to both the art historian and the general public. In fact, though I am an art historian, I learned a good deal from this book.

McCloud's decision to use the comic format to present his ideas is ingenious, and I doubt that prose alone would have been able to deliver his messages with such clarity. The one drawback to the format is that I fear it will only appeal to those who already value comics, and that as a result those who most need to hear what McCloud has to say never will!

The Comic as both Art and Science
Disregard the Sanchez Review. If it is not fiction, Mr. Sanchez has no interest in it. This is a most interesting book that adds to the legitimacy of the comic book as literature and an art/science. A plus to collectors and readers.

The best text book on comics around.
This was required reading in the cartooning program at the School of Visual Arts and with good reason. Clear, informative and never dry, McCloud provides the best reference to understanding the principals of constructing comics without delving into drawing lessons, an area already sufficiently covered.

An Enlightening Read
Even as a lifelong reader of many types of comics (superheroes, Asterix, underground, manga, etc.) this book was a revelation. McCloud has a gife for explaining the why's and how's of sequential art in a way that kept my attention through the whole book. As a professional artist and multimedia developer, the concepts McCloud puts forth regarding human perception of two-dimensional sequential art have helped bring me to a new level and I have recommended this book to others in my field who have found it equally useful and fascinating.

And if any of you comic readers know people who mercilessly rag on you for being a geek, this book just might shut them up. ... Read more

Book Description

A bizarre occurrence brings Spider-Man and Wolverine together for the weirdest team-up in super-hero history! As the two struggle to get to the bottom of this mystery, their lives literally unravel. Why are both heroes too concerned with their own lives to work together? Strap yourself in, True Believer; it's all part of the ride you get when you buy a ticket for the team-up for people who hate team-ups!Plus: Johnny Storm realizes that despite his new flame powers and fame on the horizon, he still doesn't have a high-school diploma. And where does the young New Yorker enroll? Why, none other than a certain Queens high school that also counts one Peter Parker - Spider-Man - as a student. And what's up between Johnny and sweet Liz Allen? Watch the sparks fly! ... Read more

Book Description

Two feudal kingdoms, Midland and Chuder, battle for supremacy in what will become the final clash in a century-long struggle. Spearheading the Midland forces is the Band of the Hawk, a legendary cadre of elite mercenaries led by the charismatic Griffith and with the fearless Guts as its berserker champion. The Hawks' ferocity, courage, and fearsome skills - not to mention Guts' enormous broadsword - are just what Midland needs to turn the bloody tide, but during the fray, Guts and Griffith's most trusted lieutenant, Casca, fall together from a cliff into a raging river. Miraculously, both barely survive, and Guts tends to Casca's wounds as she tells of having her life saved by Griffith, her induction into the Band of the Hawk, and her deep feelings toward Griffith. She even seems to finally be warming up to the grim Guts. But this greeting-card moment won't last long, for Chuder warriors are on the prowl, and the only greetings they carry are on the points of their spears! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great manga
Berserk (both anime and manga) put me off at first, I didn't think that I would like it; from what pictures I had seen it looked to be a very violent and bloody manga, not that I'm bothered by those things, but I really prefer a good story.

Truth be told Berserk IS quite violent and bloody, but that is where it catches you off guard; hidden beneath all of the blood an gore is a great story that really draws you in with characters that are deep and have convincing relationships.

If you're looking for a lighthearted adventure Berserk isn't for you, but if you want a great story and don't mind violence and endings that don't necessarily turn out happily ever after definately check it out, you can't help but become engrossed in the story and it's characters. ... Read more

Book Description

Follow Matt Murdock through a story that literally spans the entire history of the Marvel Universe! Who was the Kingpin before the Kingpin, and what was his relationship to Matt? Collects Daredevil #66-70. ... Read more

Book Description

Tohru Honda was an orphan when one day fate kicked her out of the house and on to land belonging to the mysterious Sohma family. After stumbling upon the teenage squatter, the Sohmas invite Tohru to stay in their house in exchange for cooking and cleaning. Everything goes well until she discovers the Sohma family's secret, when hugged by members of the opposite sex, they turn into their Chinese Zodiac animal! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Truly amazing. Needent I say more. :P
Fruits Basket (or Furuba as it's known to many fans) is a truly amazing manga.

From the title of it, you would expect it to be very hentai-ish, but it's not. In my opinion it has to be the cleanest manga that one can possibly stand. (IE it's not so clean and happy go lucky as Hamtaro *shudders* Hamataro is evil, pure evil). Well I got off track. This review has spoilers abound so beware if you haven't read the manga (or seen the anime).

Fruits Basket is about a girl name Tohru Honda a girl with a heart of gold and truly a wonderful person, whoes father died when she was very young. She is now 16, her mother had just died in a car wreck, and she went to live with her grandpa on her fathers side. (Because her mother and she were not exactly on speaking terms with her mothers side of the family). Her grandfather has to get his house remoldeld for some distant relatives on his side of the family so Tohru has to move out for a while. He told her to find some friends to stay with.

Not wanting to be a burden to any of her friends Tohru decides to rough it, and she finds a tent and campsout for about a week, on the Sohma familys property (not knowing of course). One day while walking to school she comes across the Sohma family household. She looks around in it for a while and comes across some stones with the Chinese Zodiac on it. Than she run's into Shigura (who is the year of the dog) and Yuki (her high-schools "Prince" He is the year of the rat) Later on in the story we are introduced to Kyou (the year of the cat, who is not in the zodiac because he was betrayed by rat). And this is where the trouble starts.

The Sohma family is cursed and therefore whenever they are touced or huged by a member of the opiset sex of someone NOT in there family, they turn into the animal that they are the year of. Tohru finds out this secret, and therefore she might have to have her memories erased from her. What will become of our poor Tohru? Find out when you read the manga! And belive me, you will. It is a must read.

Now I odviously left out a lot of details from this manga, but I didn't want to give away the whole storyline, that would be quite dumb wouldn't it?

Also this manga is printed in the original left to right reading format, therfore preserving the original artwork and sound-effects. It makes it even more enjoyable. All in all this manga is a must read. It's kinda of a comedy/romance, kind of. And it's shojo, so it's more or less going to be apealing to the femail gender a little bit more. That's not to say that a guy wouldn't like it. It has quite a bit of action in it (not like Trigun action) more martial arts action. But it is a must read. And I really hope my review helped. Do you believe it was written by a 16 year old? The reveiw I mean.

Just thought I'd mention this
I was depressed for several days, then I went to Border's and bought some manga, one of them Fruits Basket #3. I swear, I felt so... happy afterwards! I'm serious, every time I read Fruits Basket, it just puts me in such a good mood... it's full of hope and compassion without seeming forced or sappy. Natsuki Takaya really has a talent for this! In this volume, after Momiji was talking about "The Most Foolish Traveler in the World" story in the "funny" stories book, and how he related it to Tohru, I actually cried, and I rarely cry over manga! XD Most of my favorite mangas are the more serious or sinister kind for older audiences, such as Confidential Confessions, Petshop of Horrors, Uzumaki, etc. and I'd never thought I'd enjoy a series like this. But I love it and it's one of my favorites... even though it sounds a little rediculous in its description (turning into animals when hugging the opposite sex ^^;) when you actually read it, it's really enjoyable, touching, and funny, and the characters all have deep personalities. I highly reccommend Fruits Basket!!

Great!!!!!!
I love this manga!!!!

Clean and sweet, without being sappy, Fruits Basket is a really cute story about a sixteen year old orphan named Honda Tohru. One day when walking through the woods, she discovers a strange house. Under further investigation, she finds that the house happens to be the home of none other than the prince of her school, Sohma Yuki. When Yuki and his cousin Shigure find out that Tohru had been living in a tent, they immediately take her in. However, Tohru soon discovers their family secret. The Sohmas are the bearers of the "juunishi" (zodiac) curse. When their bodies grow weak, or when they are embraced by a member of the opposite sex, they transform into their designated animal of the Chinese zodiac, or in Kyo's case the outcast aka the cat.

I have only read two volumes of the manga, but I own all four anime dvds and love them. It starts out sweet and gentle, but the end, of the anime at least, is dark, depressing and to use a word I hate a real "tear-jerker." I cried. A lot. Even so, it was wonderful. Don't not buy it now because you think it to be dark and full of pain and misery. It's not. Every {good} story needs some dark pasts, mental scars, and evils. Otherwise, how did the villian become a villian, why is the good guy good? There would be no motivation. GO buy the manga. NOW.

Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket in general is a touching series that really makes you look at yourself--when you see what these people go through, and see that they can still smile, you'll wonder if crying was/is ever worth it in the first place.(But of course, we all don't have a cute little bordering house-maid to give us the wisdom we need in those times.)

Anyways.

The book can be described in a few words; really sweet. In this book we meet a new character, Hatsuharu Sohma(though you may have seen a little of him in number 2), who has a 2 sided personality. That's all I know--I have yet to buy the book.

But if *I* like it so much without even having seen it, then who says YOU won't like it either?

Fruits Basket just have something special about it. It's like a parasite--it weasels into you and embeds itself into your heart. I think everyone can find something they like about it, even male otakus(otaku=anime fans, though not all are pale-faced doughballs)...

Now. Go. Now. Grab all the money you have and waste it(heh) on Furuba(Fruits Basket) stuff. OR YOU SHALL DIE WITH THE HAUNTING KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU MISSED OUT ON SOMETHING GREAT. Heh-heh-heh. Bye. ^^;

fRUITS bASKET
The book starts out with a young girl,Tohru, who with the death of her mother is living alone in a tent. She then meets the Sohma family who is suprised to hear that she lives near by, because all the land in the area is owned by them.
She goes to school with her new found friend Yuki who is the popular handsome guy of the school. Later you find that for some reason Yuki hates cats as they walk together. Yuki and Tohru go their seperate ways, but later that night Yuki finds Tohru living in a tent and he takes her in because she dosn't look well.
In return Tohru cleans the house to earn her keep. Then a boy named kyo challenges Yuki to a fight. As they fight Tohru falls and keeps her balance by hugging Kyo. Kyo then transforms into a cat.
Thoru freaks out and then everyone else in the family transforms into a different animal.
They explain that their family is cursed wwith the spirts of the Chinese Zodiac. Each family member is possesed by a different animal spirit and when under great stress or embraced by a member of the oppisit sex they transform.
This first book takes you through the events of the first 5 episodes of the anime.
This first book is awsome and is followed up by more just as good! ... Read more

Book Description

At 592 pages, Blankets may well be the single largest graphic novel ever published without being serialized first. Wrapped in the landscape of a blustery Wisconsin winter, Blankets explores the sibling rivalry of two brothers growing up in the isolated country, and the budding romance of two coming-of-age lovers. A tale of security and discovery, of playfulness and tragedy, of a fall from grace and the origins of faith. A profound and utterly beautiful work from Craig Thompson. The New Printing corrects 3 small typos, widening the spine graphics, but otherwise is identical to the first printing. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Brilliant "Blankets" A Must-Read
At long last, Craig Thompson returns and it was worth the wait. After wowing the comics world with his "Goodbye Chunky Rice" Thompson left us all wanting more. 'Rice' was a beautiful tale, a poignant little love story and one you could read over and over again and always find something new. It was cute and grotesque, charming and bittersweet, layered and fullfilling. A tough act to follow it would seem. But after devouring his latest (and prolific) illustrated novel "Blankets", we see that 'Rice' was just the tip of the iceburg.

For "Blankets" is everything it should be and then some. Thompson's storytelling skills have skyrocketed to amazing new heights. His drawing skills, brilliant from the begining, continue to amaze and fascinate. Facial expressions, body gestures and scenery are beautifully crafted into each meticulously designed page. The narrative and dialogue are naturalistic and without the usual hint of drama that comes along with these types of stories. From all these somewhat technical aspects of the book, Thompson is no doubt in top form and at the top of his game. There is little to criticize here. He has, no doubt, transcended the genre while at the same time lifting it up to new heights.

But what is most impressive here is the heart of this tale. Thompson isn't telling us a brand new story. On a very basic level, this is an angst teen romance. But how he tells it is key. He wraps his love story in memories of his childhood, his religious beliefs, his family. This, we come to see, is a love story about love. It is about first love. It is about brotherly love. It is about spiritual love. It is about all the complexities and nuances that come with all the different ways in which we love. Thompson avoids using his tale as a soap box to eloquently voice his hatred of the "popular kids". Nor does he candy-coat his childhood memories. Like so much of Thompsons work, it is a mix of joy and darkness. He never overstates to make a point. Such restraint is what sets his work miles apart from any other comic artist/storyteller out there. In one memorable scene, the two young brothers see static electricity in the blankets of the bed they share. These three pages (250-252) sum up the brilliance of this book and capture it's heart so perfectly. These are the passages that make you stop and think. To read over them too quickly would be cheating yourself of the full impact of this book. Like 'Rice' before it, "Blankets" demands to be read more than once. But I'll be happy if everyone read it at least once.

a beautiful work of art
Craig Thompson's drawings are infused with emotion. Where other graphic novelists have experimented with changing visual styles based on the characters' emotions, Thompson's world flows and swirls with feeling. From time to time, it feels nearly psychedelic -- and i mean that in the most positive possible way. Senses are blurred as joy becomes visual, or terror more visceral. I couldn't put this book down, as it's a joy to read, and fascinating for the story as well as for the artful way that it is told. Thompson has lead an interesting life.

A Truly Amazing Experience
This is going to be brief because I'm in agreement with most of the others here. It should be known that I never write reviews here on amazon, I've only written one before.

Secondly, I rarely read, and when I do, it's hard for me to read for very long even if I enjoy it. Call it ADD, call it someone having trouble sitting in one place for too long, call it whatever you want. But I picked up this book and read it in one sitting. I've never done that.

Third, I don't like the majority of comic books out there. I find most of the writing to be corny, forced, and just plain laughable. The dialogue here flows naturally and feels entirely genuine. Beyond the writing, the art is some of the best I've ever seen. It's simple, but incredibly expressive and unique. Craig Thompson is also very gifted when he frames (or composes) his scenes. It's almost like watching a film. He's got the pacing, editing, directing, and quality of "photography" down brilliantly.

I really had no idea there were comics (or "graphic novels") like this. I can't recommend this high enough. I will be lending the book to my friends and buying an extra copy for my library. Everyone should read this book. As well, I will be checking out the rest of the quality graphics novels ("Box Office Poison" and "Goodbye, Chunky Rice" for example) that I've missed. Thank you Craig Thompson for this book. I envy you for you have made a brilliant piece of work that will be remembered fondly by many. You can rest easy now!

such amazing honesty and emotion
Today I read "Blankets" by Craig Thompson, a nearly 600 page illustrated work aka comic. It's only been a few hours and I can't yet entirely put into words how and why it resonated with me. It is almost perfect, and maybe that imperfection at the end just makes it more so. It's hands down the best depiction of Christian teens dating that I've ever come across, in any medium. And it is so much more than that. The protagonist's relationship with Raina, their different worlds... it was intensely real and bittersweet. I lived some of these scenes, and others which at first seemed extreme and foreign I soon realized were not so far from my experiences growing up. There are little things that I now realize must be universal among guys like me, like tucking the girl's hair behind her ear as she lays there because you can't bring yourself to do more but you have to touch her. The "psalm" in appreciation of, and thankfulness for, her creation is sublime. This book has rocked me.

A glorious book.
The day this arrived, I figured I'd be able to ration it out,a few hundred pages a day. This book must be read in one sitting, as I soon found out. I stayed up late into the night, and it was well worth it. This book will make your heart cry softly, and get warm fuzzies, sometimes all at once. The artwork only helps to bring this story to life even more. ... Read more

Book Description

March 6, 2035. Motoko Aramaki is a hyper-advanced cyborg, a counter-terrorist net security expert heading the investigative department of the giant multi-national, Poseidon Industrial. Partly transcending the physical world and existing in a virtual world of networks, Motoko is a fusion of multiple entities and identities, deploying remotely controlled prosthetic humanoid surrogates around the globe to solve a series of bizarre crimes. Meanwhile, Tamaki Tamai, a psychic investigator from the Channeling Agency, has been commissioned to investigate strange changes in the temporal universe,brought about by two forces, one represented by the teachings of a professor named Rahampol, and the other by the complex, evolving Motoko entity. What unfolds will be all in a day's work...a day that will change everything, forever. ... Read more

Book Description

Throughout his adventures across the mythic Hyperborean world, the barbarian called Conan crosses swords with many colorful and dangerous characters, somehow always finding himself on the wrong end of a wizard's wrath, or staring down the hungry jaws of a nightmarish beast. Proving himself more than a match for whatever came his way, Conan has become one of the most enduring and strangely endearing characters in all of popular culture. The stories in this edition feature more tales of thrilling adventure and chilling betrayal as only writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema could deliver. ... Read more

Book Description

The misunderstood monster's earliest adventures continue as Robert Bruce Banner's rampaging alter ego clashes with Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers! He fights his share of super-villains, too - including Maximus the Mad, the Glob, the Leader, the Rhino, the Absorbing Man, Night-Crawler, Tyrannus, the Mole Man, Hydra, the Abomination and the Sandman! Featuring the almost-wedding of Bruce and Betty Ross! Collects Incredible Hulk #118-142, Captain Marvel #20-21, and Avengers #88 ... Read more

Book Description

The Jedi are taught to use the Force for good; to avail themselves only to the light side. But the dark side can be a dangerous temptation to even the strongest Jedi. Set against the backdrop of the Clone Wars, this novel-length adventure is filled with espionage, betrayal, and amazing lightsaber battles. It all begins with a dangerous undercover assignment that leads to...well, we dare not reveal the shocking ending! A story that is sure to have Star Wars fans talking - and wondering whether the fate of the Jedi lies in the light, or the dark. ... Read more

Book Description

Get Fuzzy collections are flying off the shelves: More than 500,000 copies have been sold to date. And Bucky Katt's Big Book of Fun, the second full-color treasury of the outrageous antics featuring Bucky, Satchel, and Rob, is sure to attract more readers of the strip voted Best Comic Strip of 2002 by the National Cartoonists Society.Behold the world of Get Fuzzy. Meet Bucky Katt, the Siamese smart-ass who coexists under protest with Satchel Pooch, the sweet-tempered shar-pei/Lab mix, and Rob Wilco, the human who keeps the refrigerator stocked. Each day in 400 newspapers around the world readers visit the place where cats, dogs, and humans meet and learn a little bit more about each other-not necessarily by choice. By turns hilarious, poignant, and even human, Get Fuzzy is the smartest, funniest comic strip in newspapers today. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Get Fuzzy: Simply The Best Strip Currently Running
I have loved 'Get Fuzzy' from the first time I saw it. This is a compilation of some of Darby Conley's best strips; they are a joy to read and bring laughter into a frazzled day. The interaction of Rob, Satchel, and Bucky is a national treasure.

I particularly appreciate the tone of the strip in addressing social ills without being preachy, while still honoring the good things in America. Particularly noteworthy is the honor Mr. Conley bestows on the NYPD, EMS, and fire fighters throughout his strips, particularly post-9/11. I also appreciate his sensitivity in honoring the passing of truly significant people such as Douglas Adams (the '42' strip is wonderful), and Fred Rogers.

This is one of the most entertaining books on my bookshelf, and I treasure it. I could not recommend a book of comic strips more highly. Buy it: it'll make your day!

Compilation book.
I wish I'd known in advance that this is a compilation of the last two compilation books--The Get Fuzzy Experience and Blueprint for Disaster, both of which I already own! That being said, if you haven't read these already, they are hilarious, as all of the Get Fuzzy books are.

Sorry about the confusion
get fuzzy is the greatest comic stript that is not the greatest.
the coolicity factor of this book is high

Funny.
I really like Get Fuzzy. It's my second favorite pet strip behind Pooch Cafe.

I just loved this book
Another addition to my Get Fuzzy collection. These are books I am sure I will read over and over again.

This (and the other get fuzzy books) are perfect for people who love dogs and cats. :D ... Read more

Book Description

Dr. Strange. Namor. The Hulk. The Silver Surfer. Set apart from others by nature and choice, this team of Marvel's mightiest loners embarked a string of strange adventures rarely equaled since - joined by some of the most off-kilter heroes of their time. Sorcery! Super-science! The war of the super-heroes! Learn how the "non-team" got its non-start in this multi-title compilation! Collects Dr. Strange #183, Sub-Mariner #22 and 34-35, Incredible Hulk #126, Marvel Feature #1-3, Defenders #1-14, and Avengers #115-118. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"A is for Amy who fell down the stairs. B is for Basil assaulted by bears. C is for Clara who wasted away. D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh..." The rhyming couplets of this grim abecedarian are familiar, of course, to devotees of macabre humor, but the darkly crosshatched drawings are (as Poe put it) "the soul of the plot." Several years went by during which The Gashlycrumb Tinies: Or, After the Outing was not available in a small hardcover edition like this one, which is the true format for Edward Gorey's specialty, the adult picture book. (For those who wish to share the gloom there's a 10-copy assortment with The Curious Sofa.) ... Read more

Reviews (66)

"N is for Neville who died of ennui"
But you will not die of ennui if you open this book. It illustrates the misfortunes of 26 children with names A-Z to a ghoulishly humorous rhyme. The cover image of the umbrella wielding symbol of death and his doomed "tinies" is one of the most famous artwork out there; especially in the gothic world. Inside are drawings of the children before or after their sudden deaths. My favorite is "H is for Hector done in by a thug" with a drawing of an innocent schoolboy and two arms holding a long piece of cloth in the background. No doubt this scene was inspired by the barbaric cult that practiced ritual strangulation known as the "Thuggies." The most gruesome drawing is "K is for Kate who was struck with an axe" the rest are more witty than grisly. Like the title, this book is tiny in size as well but big on macabre humor!

DARK FUN
Edward Gorey's illustrations, those spindly, dark and often macabre etchings of pen and ink, are instantly evocative - they place you in a dark, vampire-ish Victorian-era place, where behind every curtain lurks another pair of hands with a scarf, ready to choke you. This truly inspired, and hilarious, collection of drawings and their accompanying poem, detail the ghastly deaths of 26 children, one by one, through the alphabet. Whether you are a fan of Gorey's large paperback compilations, or of his spectacular set designs (Dracula), or not, this book is strictly for those with a twisted sense of humor. And if yours is, you will love it. Since I first read this 20 years ago, friends still quote it - "A is for Amy who fell down the stairs...."

Drop-Dead Humor from A to Z
Edward Gorey's dark subversion of children's alphabet books is a tiny book guaranteed to bring a sinister smile to the face of every one with a twisted sense of humor. Opening with "A is for Amy who fell down the stairs" and running all the way to "Z is for Zilla who drank too much gin," the simple but inspired rhymes combine with Gorey's pseudo-Victorian Gothic crosshatch illustrations to wickedly funny effect.

Although his disaster-specific illustrations (such as "R is Rhoda consumed by a fire") are macabrely witty, Gorey is really at his best when he leaves the most to your imagination. Consequently, it is really his illustrations of impending doom ("P is for Prue trampled flat in a brawl") or the shocking aftermath of an unknown circumstance ("K is for Kate who was struck with an ax") that are most likely to inspire a mischievous grin.

Although you might not want to give this to your anxiety-prone niece or your traumatized stepson as a Christmas stocking stuffer unless you wish to make them worry about your intent, older children will likely find it every bit as comical as adults--but adults are the real audience here, much more likely to catch the drop-dead humor involved. Wickedly amusing and sinisterly charming in every way.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Cute and Creepy
This is for anyone with that sense of humor that most people just don't seem to get. A genuis dark twist on teaching the ABC's... very delightful.
~CS112_tih2

A cool little book
I'm so surprised to find this book here! I actually have this one! My cousin bought it for me, knowing my morbid sense of humor. It's pretty funny if you have my kind of humor. ... Read more

Book Description

The New York Times best-selling series continues!

The Complete Peanuts will run 25 volumes, collecting two years chronologically at a rate of two a year for twelve years. Each volume is designed by the award-winning cartoonist Seth (It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken) and features impeccable production values; every single strip from Charles M. Schulz's 50-year American classic is reproduced better than ever before. ... Read more