Reviews (4)

This book am so funny me cried.
This is the sequel to the Bizarro Comics anthology from a few years ago.Like that book, this one features "alternative comics" types doing their versions of DC superhero comics.There are some great comics here, and also some not-so-great comics.But almost all of the comics are at least interesting.One thing I have to say is that you really need to be a fan of DC comics in order to understand the references in many of these stories.I don't think someone who is not into superheroes will get very much out of this book.But for those of us who do like superheroes, it's a lot of fun.

This book rocks!
Man, I am glad I picked this one up! I bought the first Bizarro book in softback format, and so I figured I'd order this one when it came out, and it is every bit as good as the first one IF NOT BETTER!

It's really well produced book, nice thick pages and good color.
As far as stories and art goes, DC again paired up underground/alternative cartoonists with each otther (one writing and one drawing) to hilarious and/or strange outcomes. But it works, though!

I think the best story in the book is either Batman & Monkey by M. Wartella, or Tony Millionaire's Batman. I guess it looks like I'm biased towards Batman, but I'm not. I like Wonder Woman best of all. But back to Bizarro World... other notable sections of the book were drawn by James Kochalka, Jason Paulus, Bagge/Hernandez, Rick Altergott, and Evin Dorkin.

Some things I DIDN't like about this book: The cover pales in comparison to Groening's on Vol.1. and some of the art is actually piss-poor (notably Kyle Baker, Brian Ralph, Michael Kupperman, and Scott Morse), looking like the artists spent, like, one hungover morning working on the art and just rushed it in.

Actually, there are a few other good stories
worth mentioning by Hunt Emerson, Ellen Forney, Tim Laine, & Danny Hellman. And how can I not mention excellents scripts by Peter Bagge, Harvey Pekar, Evan Dorkin (+++),uh... and others I can't seem to locate write now.

Oh, one other thing. Notably absent are these people who appeared in the first anthology and for some reason (idiocy?) were not in this vol.2:Stephen DeStephano, Bill Wray, Ariel Bordeaux, and, as I mentioned earlier, Matt Groening!

OK, so that's enough of my yappin'. BUY THIS NOOK!

Less than the first but still great
Bizarro World had a lot to live up to following in the footsteps of the award winning Bizarro released several years ago and well... it fell short. The new Bizarro book is excellent but just not as memorable as the original. The Bizarro books (can it now be called a series?) use popular alternative cartoonists to create short stories featuring characters from the DC universe from icons like Superman to obscure characters like Kamandi.

Here are some of my favorite stories from Bizarro World.

In "The Wonder of it All" a high school aged Wonder Woman learns that using her new Golden Lasso to force her friends to give their honest opinions about her nets her more information than she wanted.

The Spectre/Jim Corrigan unleashes his ghostly vengeance on his fellow officers at the police station for such minor infractions as hogging the copy machine. It's actually pretty funny.

Green Lantern has a revelation about his weakness to the color yellow in "It's not Easy Being Green". The story seems like a homage to the old EC Mad magazine comics.

In "The Power of Positive Batman" Bruce Wayne finally resolves his issues with the murder of his parents and decides to retire and sail around the world. Clark Kent decides to join him and the two sail off.

Aquaman decides to attend open mic night and sing a song about his relationship with Mera. Like a lot of the stories this one is just sort of a slice of life tale showing the private lives of superheroes.

Tony Millionaire returns with another strange Batman story. His art has a very old gothic style to it as if the story were something dug up from the 40's rather than a brand new tale.

In "Personal Shopper", Alfred is out describing, to a mechanic, the specifications for a car he wants to purchase. You know, bulletproof, 200 MPH, space for rocket launchers, huge bat like fins on the rear. Wonder who that might be for?

There are also some clunkers in the batch. Lantern Sentai in particular seemed pointless besides showing the Lantern Corps as Manga. In "Jing Kal-El" the Superman origin is rewritten with Kal landing at the North Pole and taking on the mantle of Santa Claus. I just couldn't figure out why. Some of the stories just stopped as if they're meant to be continued in another edition of Bizarro. "Bizarro Schmizarro", for instance has Luthor change Bizarro no. 1024 into a normal looking Superman (save for the Question mark on his chest) and then the story stops with a promise of more to come.

Bizarro World is sometimes great and sometimes not so great. It's less than the original book but I still recommend it. The Bizarro series has a long way to fall before it can be considered average.

Better than the first!!!! Me am like!!!
This second collection of stories (the first being Bizarro Comics) again turns DCs icons over to some of today's best alternate cartoonists and is a very enjoyable romp through the DC Universe. Take underground comics, your favoite DC comics, old Mad Magazines and your favorite strips from your local alternate newspaper, blend and this is what you get.

The framing sequence with Bizarro was more enjoyable to me than in the first one and seemed to blend in better with the rest of the volume.

The book seemed a little heavy on Batman stories, but don't worry there are a broad range of characters that get the "Bizarro treatment". The tales ranged from homage, to parody, to satire to dope dreams to slice of life pieces that would almost (heavy on that word) be welcome in a regular DC comic or annual.

Particular standouts were:

Tony Millionaire taking on Batman again in a story thatevokes a 1930's Batman feel.

A Legion of Super-Heroes tale where a corporation driven Brainiac Five drives the Legion to rebellion. The story and art makes you think Kurt Swan and Shooter could have drawn and written this on some crazy rainy night.

Evan Dorkins and John Krewson turn Kamandi into a slacker who'd rather veg out than help talking tigers, and lions and apes (oh my!).

This volume was fun. The hits far outweighed the misses. If you did not like one story don't worry the next one will be along soon.

Well worth it. ... Read more

Book Description

In Spring City, where super-heroes blur the lines between law enforcement and celebrity, Pearl Penalosa, a.k.a. Ultra, is a workaholic. At the prestigious agency, Heroine Inc., she has earned a legion of fans, a nomination for "Best Heroine of the Year" and a perfect life. Well, almost perfect. A chance encounter with a mysterious fortune teller prophesizes true love for Pearl within seven days. ... Read more

Book Description

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is the seminal tale of the Star Wars mythos, unlocking the history and events that laid the foundation for the Rebel Alliance`s epic struggle against the Empire as chronicled in the original Star Wars film trilogy. Featuring familiar characters as never before seen and introducing new players destined to become Star Wars icons, Episode I is a must-see film experience, and this comics adaptation is a must-read for all Star Wars enthusiasts. Adapted by Henry Gilroy from the original screenplay by master filmmaker George Lucas and illustrated by Rodolfo Damaggio and comics legend Al Williamson. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Artful Jedi Knights
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace translates quite well, from feature film, to comic book. Despite the fact that, the movie had its share of problems, from a story standpoint. Not to mention, very static direction by George Lucas, the Dark Horse Graphic Novel still manages to come out on top.

THE STORY: Writer Henry Gilroy (who would also go on to adapt Attack Of The Clones) makes good use of a limited amount of space. He successfully takes the film's script, gives readers an edited version of it, without making it seem edited. It never seems rushed and none of the scope of the film is lost in the process. Adapting a film for the comics is never easy, but in Gilroy's hands it would seem that way.

THE ART: The team of Rodolfo Damaggio, and Star Wars Comics' veteran Al Williamsom are great together. Their work creates a visual feast, and is at times, stunning. It's very detailed, for the most part, with very few exceptions. The charcters and situations mirror their cinema counterparts to a tee. The artwork is a major reason to own this in first place--it's that good. My favorite artwork in the book is the depiction of the climactic lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Sith Darth Maul

As a bonus the 112 page book includes a cover gallery of the artwork of cover illustrator of Hugh Flemming, who worked on all four single issue covers, for the newstand version of the story. The graphic novel trade paperback is recommended

An excellant comic book- graphic novel fans should enjoy it
The graphic novelization of Episode I is very well done- the storyline is good, and the artwork is great. My only complaint is the change of artwork styles at the end. The lightsabers are writen very true-to-life during most of the comic book. During the final battle, however, the blades suddenly become rods of pure color. The white center to the lightsaber blade is gone. This gives the most exciting part of the movie a cheap look. Other than that, it's a good read.

Easy to read, beautifully illustrated comic
This is a review of Episode 1 TPM Dark horse comic. This comic can never replace the imagery created by the movie. Produced in may, 1999 this TPB comic uses reproduction techniques that create a visually beautiful comic.

The main reason I bought the comic version of a movie is that it gives me book with pictures to read with my children that tell a story that will hold their attention. This comic succeeds on that level. But the comic is an abridged version of the movie, and may not be your cup of tea.
The artwork is about average (3.5 stars of 5). The black page background provides richness to the look. Flemings cover art is 4 of 5.

The binding on THIS comic is superior. One of my frustrations with dark horse is the extremely poor quality of their new binding of TPB's. Dark Horse went to the bother of upgrading their artwork, pencils and inking, yet they are producing comics that fall apart in your hands! This comic was made in Canada. The new comics are now made in China. It is a darn shame because just as they start producing some truly awesome looking comics, they seriously diminish the quality of the binding.

Awesome Graphic Novel!
This book is the graphic novel (comic book) of The Phantom Menace. It's a great book and I've read it thousands of times. The illustrations are great and and no characters are out of place. I think that the authors did a great job with Qui-Gon Jinn especially. And all of the other characters were great. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Star Wars. This is definently a Star Wars book to add to your collection.

Pick up the novel instead...
First, let me say that I am not a comic book expert. I haven't read that many recently, so I don't have a wealth of knowledge to compare this graphic novel against

That being said, I still feel able to judge the Graphic Novel for Star Wars: Episode One against my general Star Wars knowledge. Jar Jar haters will be pleased that his role was reduced a little, and that he doesn't come off as goofy as he does in the movie.

This is graphic novel is fairly true to the spirit of the movie. In places, the dialogue has been shortened, or a scene shortened, but for the most part, the book covers the movie.

However, there are places that if you did not know the story from the movie, you might get a little lost. For instance, the battle between the Gungans and the Droid Army. All of a sudden, the droid infantry just shows up with no real explanation that they were deployed from the troop carriers.

In other places, the novel fails to capture the drama, adventure, or feel of the movie. This is most apparent during the Pod Race. None of the speed, danger, or implications of the race are apparent. If this weren't a novelization of a movie, one would have to wonder why it was even included.

Overall, it is still a fun read, and a nice visual reference to the movie. Some additional narrative comments between panels to direct the action would have made up for some of the deficiencies, and the art could have been more inspiring. It'll stay in my collection as a reference, but it probably won't be reread much. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Transmet screams a message we all need to hear...
It is truly a shame that Transmetropolitan is a comic book as it will be dismissed by most as just that. Ellis has beautifully illustrated the average American's attitude towards government and politics. Our protagonist, Spider Jerusalem, exposes government corruption in "The City" through his column "I Hate It Here." The people love him for it, but they never take a proactive role in changing the system; rather, they continue their lives as normal. This is so reflective of American culture that it is down right scary. Ellis deals with many other social issues as well and every time he is right on the money. EVERY American should read this book and take it's message to heart.

Additionally, no review of Transmetropolitan would be complete without praise for Robertson's art work. He does some of the best work out there today and is a perfect compliment to Ellis' writing!

Transmet is a frightening look into our future.
What an amazing glance into the future society is creating for itself. Transmetropolitan delivers a brutal, scary and amazingly well crafted story accompanied by fabulous art. Warren Ellis' gritty style of writing shines in this book about a journalist (Spider Jerusalem) who is forced out of hiding in the mountains to come down to his former home - a wretched city full of drug addicted household appliances, mutated house pets and people who turn themselves into aliens.

Quite Possibly The Most Important Comic Ever
Transmetropolitan combines politics, philosophy and twisted humor in an insane, futuristic world to comment on the very real trends and events we see playing out on the world stage today. Warren Ellis is trying to get us to think about what we're doing (or perhaps what we're not doing). Are we analyzing and thinking about things critically? Are we being politcally active? Are we the sheep contributing to the problem or are we trying to be part of the solution? I recommend this series to anyone interested in politics, journalism, comic fans or fans of good writing/story in general.

As for the trade paperbacks themselves, they are excellent quality. Good color and well bound. Get the entire run!!!

Imaginative!
To see what will happen in the future, scientists usually assume that current trends will continue in the way they have until now. That is exactly what Warren Ellis has done. In the twisted future you see in Transmetropolitan, using makeup to change the look of your skin is for babys; everyone else changes not the look of their skin but their actual skin into looking like aliens from space! There are lots of people looking partly human, partly alien, permanently! Why? Because it's cool! Any use for it? Nope!

There are lots of other wacky stuff in the world of Transmetropolitan, but why would I want to spoil the surprise?

The start of something wonderful
As a voracious reader, and a journalism student, I've come across lots of stories about reporters (from Complicity by Iain Banks to Superman and Ditko's Mr. A and the Question), but I've never seen something like this.
A lot of people think Spider IS Hunter S. Thompson, but they're wrong. He's definitely in there, but there's so much more. Ellis combines political satire, political science fiction, transhumanism, and sick humor to create something unique in the world of comics.
He stacks the book with interesting characters, draws you through a fascinating world, and makes you care about all of it.
It all starts here. A bit prescient, too. ... Read more

Book Description

The most intimate look yet into the life and mind of the bestselling author and creator of The Sandman.

Neil Gaiman is one of the most successful and versatile writers working today. He has become renowned not only for the consistently high quality of his writing but for his mastery of many media. He is an award-winning comic book writer (Sandman), novelist (American Gods), children's book author (The Wolves in the Walls), and television screenwriter (Neverwhere). Yet with all the fans hungry to know more about his work, there has not yet been a single major nonfiction book covering Gaiman's entire creative output. Until now.

Hanging Out With the Dream King: Conversations With Neil Gaiman and His Collaborators presents a thorough look at Gaiman's work not only through his eyes, but through the eyes of his many collaborators. Artists, writers, editors, musicians—over two-dozen creators share their thoughts on working with Gaiman and present a unique mosaic portrait of the writer whose name has become synonymous with modern fantasy.

Although the book's scope is not limited to Gaiman's best-selling comic book creation The Sandman, Hanging Out With the Dream King features comprehensive interviews with all of the major Sandman artists, including Charles Vess, P. Craig Russell, Bryan Talbot, and Jill Thompson, as well as well as rare and exclusive interviews with Sandman co-creators Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg.

And, much as Gaiman has done throughout his career, Hanging Out With the Dream King breaks down the walls of media and genre, presenting those who may have discovered the writer's work through one storytelling medium with doors through which they may find his other prodigious creations. Thus, admirers of Gaiman's children's books with Dave McKean will discover his adult work with Gene Wolfe and Terry Pratchett; fans of his novels will discover his comics; and everyone will have the chance to meet Gaiman's folk-rock bands—the Flash Girls and Folk Underground. Musicians Alice Cooper and Tori Amos are also interviewed.

Illustrated with many unpublished photos and comic pages, this is the book Gaiman's fans have been waiting for. B/w illustrated (with 16 pp. in color). ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Ultimate Spider-Man versus the Ultimate Green Goblin
"Legacy" collects issues #22-26 of "Ultimate Spider-Man" and continues the "re-imagining" of the character in the capable hands of writer Brian Michael Bendis. These trade paperbacks are thematic collections, which explains why the number of issues included each time varies. "Legacy" is about the new and evolved Green Golbin and the question of Peter Parker's secret identity. It is the latter that is becoming one of the defining features of "Ultimate Spider-Man."

The recreation of the Green Goblin in the mode of the Hulk makes sense to me; I always had a bit of a problem with the idea that insanity and a costume could allow the Goblin to slug it out toe-to-toe with Spidey (note the armor upgrade of the Goblin's costume in the blockbuster film version). But even more impressive is the way Bendis reworks the whole secret identity issue between the two; a lot of super villains have found out the secret identity of their arch enemy, which almost always involves an attempt to kill the superhero in question. However, the Goblin has a different plan, of sorts, for Peter. At the end of "Double Trouble," the Volume 3 collection, Spider-Man actually enjoyed a moment of glory. Of course it is all going to get dashed big time in this collection.

As is the case with the previous collections in this series, "Legacy" plays off of our knowledge of what happened in the first ten years or so of "The Amazing Spider-Man." The result is what might be the biggest shock he is ever going to throw our way and if you every think Bendis has gone too far this may well be the point. While your jaw is dropping at that point do not neglect to pay attention to the double look at a pivotal conversation between Spider-Man and the Green Golbin that Bendis creates; that was a nice little replay he threw into the mix.

Mark Bagley continues to provide the distinctive pencils for the series with Art Thibert's inks; hopefully this partnership with last longer than the original Stan Lee/Steve Ditko partnership. For those of us who have a comprehensive understanding of the Spider-Man mythos it is impossible for "Ultimate Spider-Man" to really stand on its own terms because we can also see the additions, deletions, and alterations. But if your familiarity of the good old days comes mainly from the movie, then I can certainly see where you could enjoy this all at face value.

At this point in the series Peter has told Mary Jane Watson that he is Spider-Man, but Norman Osborn knows the big secret, the Kingpin and Electro have seen Spider-Man unmasked, and Doctor Octopus is mumbling Peter Parker's name in his unconscious state. In "Legacy" we discover that somebody else knows the secret as well and that this has some rather significant implications for our hero when he turns eighteen (Peter is still about sixteen at this point). One thing you have to say for the story Bendis is spinning here is that he is always on the edge in terms of his re-imaginings. You might accuse him of going too far, but you cannot dismiss this series as a pedestrian reinterpretation of the Spider-Man saga. To date, I like it a lot.

Maximum Ultimate
The action is picking up with this collection of issues 22-27 of the Ultimate Spiderman, and shows no signs of slowing down.

Things go from bad to worse for Peter Parker, who has just finished battling both Doc Octopus and Kraven the Hunter, only to find that Green Goblin is back from the dead.

Green Goblin's character is much improved from Ultimate Spiderman's first story arc. The grunting and growling is gone, replaced with the very sadistic persona of Norman Osborn. Of course, Osborn's first priority after coming back from the dead is to completely wreck Spiderman's life. Naturally.

Brian Michael Bendis' work on this title is really extraordinary, he has such a grasp and feeling for these characters. The talent Bendis shows for dialogue is really out of this world and adds such a natural feel to his stories. Time has made Bendis very familiar with these characters and it shows.

Over time, Mark Bagley has gone from the weak link of this title to an integral contributor. I just love his pencils in this one, but I think some of his success comes from Art Thibert, the inker. Something has changed about the art in this title. I'm not sure which of these guys is responsible, but I love it.

Ultimate Spiderman is top-notch, have no doubts about it. Bendis isn't doing anything that hasn't been done before, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better written superhero story written in this day and age.

Great Goblin Grapple
The green gobin is back and he knows peters secret and he wants peter to kill for him and he is willing to destroy peters family to get it. This has one of the best fight s in the series.

BEST SPIDER-MAN BOOK EVER
I'm not really a huge fan of spider-man, but a friend introduced me to the ultimate universe. The first couple volumes of ultimate spider-man were really good, but Legacy has to be by far the best one. I cannot begin to explain to you how great this is.... WOW!. This book definetly goes down in my list of favorites. The characters written are so well developed and in some parts you just want to scream in excitment. During one scene of the story my jaw acctually dropped and I could not turn the page for a couple of minutes in the shock of what was happening. Bendis just [does awesome]in this book. Peter Parker is just amazingly well done. I think the reader acctually begins to fall in love with Mary Jane while all at the same time hating Norman Osborn. WOW! Read this book, it doesnt matter how just read this book. Even if its just for the well drawn art, read this book!

What can I say about this book than...
WOW! It was awsome! This is the best Ultimate Spiderman thus far. I really like how they showed just how insane Norman Osbourne aka the Green Goblin has become. But I don't want to spoil too much for you. All I can say is get this book and enjoy it, I know you will! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Major chaos in the lives with the Titans
I've collected and read every story with the Teen Titans, New Titans, Team Titans, ect. but this story line is most felt by all Titans fans. The emotions felt by the characters is also felt by the readers...the art work is superb in itself. Plenty of times the world thought that the Titans were a knockoff of the X-men but they have proven time and time again that they are in a league of their own. Especially with this storyline with Trigon, a creature of almost limitless power, whos daughter is a member of a team who opposes him.
To show the extremity of the situation they show that even Superman,Batman (who usually can figure a solution to anything), and the entire Justice League couldn't stop him.
The creative minds of Wolfman, Perez (both my favorite), and the others brought out our own fears when they had the Titans go through theirs. The most horrifying was a tie between Nightwing and Changeling.
I was hoping that they would make an animated movie with this storyline (not with the current Teen Titans cartoon).
The cover of this paperback is the only thing I disagree with.
It's a minor glich with Cyborg when they should show the Nightmarish Cyborg without the cybornetic implants.
To make this story more monumental they should have it with crossovers with the other DC titles to show the sitiuations during the storyline.

Terriffic!!!
Now, i read this collection some years ago, perhaps as many as four years ago, but every single time i re-read it, it is no less effective in its original goal, which was no doubt to bring a fresh, slightly skewed perspective to comic storytelling. More often than not, by mainstream America, comic books are seen as mere children's entertainment, as they've been viewed since their strange conception. This read was one of the very first(alongside Mr. Warren Ellis's works, Mr. Clarmont's tales, and Mr. Moore's yarns)character driven comic tales i'd ever read in which the character's motives and actions actually mattered. You could see the emotion in the drawings. You could feel every sharp taunt, every shocking revelation, every crass word, every desperate betrayel, and what's more, you knew how the characters felt upon the terrible devestation visited upon New York, and more to the point, their team. Their family. Nightwing. Evolution. Starfire. Emotion in it's most pure, achingly honest form. Cyborg. Hope, strength and insecurity unified. Kid Flash. Extremely human. Changeling. A Normal eye into the terror of the situation. Wonder Girl. Morality and Honesty personified.Team Heart. Raven. Terrifying. You felt the hopelessness of the team's situation, you actually felt their love for each other. Outside of X-men and The Avengers, you don't feel that kind of thing anymore. Or rarely, if so, thanks to Mr. Morrisson, Mr. Johns, Mr. Winnick, among others, though few they be. More than any other comic, which, because books like this one, are now being viewed as a slightly more adult format of mature, meaningful storytelling, this book, The New Teen Titans, allowed me to see just how real these paper and ink characters could be. To this day, i compare every other work i read, as far as character driven tales and interesting interaction, to this book, in it's heyday. Wolfman & Perez, what can i say? They sit upon the nigh unattainably high crest of storytelling greatness alongside Claremont & Byrne, Moore & Curtis, Moore & Veldt, Millar & Hitch, Ellis & Hitch...this is a read that i reccommend to anyone willing to see comics as they truly are in the 21st century....extremely intelligent, innovative, very creative and thoughtprovoking.
Adult.
Hawksmoor..From The Bleed
All Things Serve The Beam

A comic classic!
I just picked up my copy of this trade and reread it as I have countless times since the story's original run in the summer of 1984 prior to starting high school. As always, I was THOROUGHLY entertained! George Perez is the MASTER artist and it shows throughout the story. The high points of his art are the first two parts inked by himself and the staggering amount of detail he always throws in. Look at the "spires" twisting through the city and you'll know what I mean. I just wish he could've inked his pencils through the entire story although Romeo Tanghal backs him up quite well in parts 3 thru 5. Marv Wolfman expertly handles the execution of the subplot he and George had set up since the very beginning in 1980...Raven walking her father's road. I don't find it derivative of X-Men's Phoenix as implied by others since this subplot was around since the first story arc in '80. The subplot of the Titans each facing their fears and evil selves is effectively chilling. Just check this book out along with The Judas Contract. You don't find many stories like these in comics OR in most novels these days. Enjoy!

Not what I expected...
I ordered this because I thought it was a reprint of Teen Titans 1-5 (1980), which I read as a child. Actually, it's a reprint of 1-5 of the "2nd spin" of the title-circa 1985. To add to the confusion, both sets of issues (1-5) featured a Trigon storyline !

Anyway, the art by George Perez is gorgeous-some of his best ever. The writing is ok too, but the storyline is nothing new: kind of derivative of the X-men (Raven ~Phoenix becomes corrupted by her darker nature and goes bad.) Now as an adult, I prefer more sophisticated fare... I guess nostalgia only goes so far. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cuteness abounds with this series
As with the first two books, the sweet and cute factor is off the charts with this book. But what can you expect of a shojo series where the characters are named after food and their base is a pastry cafe shaped like a giant wedding cake?

This is a wonderful series, but it is not for boys or those that like violence, gore, and karate-style action. It is for fans of shows like Sailor Moon.

KAWAII KAWAII KAWAII SHOUJO MANGA!
I loved the first two Tokyo Mew Mews(even though those darn cliffhangers got on my nerves...) and this one only increased my love for the manga!

very kawaii
This installment of Tokyo mew mew, is very cute and well done. Things start making a little more sense (kish, mew aquas etc,) has more suspense (will Ichigo turn into a cat permenently?) and what a cliff hanger! To sum up... if you like really cute, if not slightly fluffy, shojo manga this is for you! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the Finest Archives so far...
Wow.
i was waiting and hoping that someday DC would do right for this character and these stories and they have.
i first ran into Infantino stories from reprints in late 60s/early seventies Strange Adventures.
i used to buy beat up copies at the local flea market on the cheap purely for reading material and became hooked by Infantino's slick, fine lined, modernistic style- which for once perfectly complements the characters and milieu, as well as for the tight, fast paced, and very creative scripting.
i quickly realized that Adam Strange stories were just plain fun to read with oodles of wit and a refreshing lack of the usual cheese found in DCs pre-Denny O'Neil/"relevant" work.
While a good chunk of the book (the first 87 pages) features the first stories illustrated by Mike Sekowsky, the Sekowsky on display here looks a little more refined than the Sekowsky that i know from Justice League.
he seems to be operating in a Ross Andru/Al Toth mode, and his page breakdowns look a tad more sophisticated, and his anatomy less clunky.
not bad, but once the Infantino work kicks in the book really soars.
i've purchased about 10 of the archives so far- there is a ton of great work reprinted in these from Jack Cole to Joe Kubert, CC Beck to Gil Kane, Reed Crandell, Jack Burnley, etc but the work here- both story and art, puts this book at the top of the heap for me.
i agree- Vol 2 can't come soon enough!!!!!

just one request, if anyone from DC is listening- how about collecting the Gil Kane Batgirl back-ups form the late 60s/early 70s Detective Comics?
great work in there, would be a shame to let them gather dust in the vaults.

One of the Best Archives so far!
Of all the characters in the DC Mythos, Adam Strange is one of the most endearing. He has no super powers, yet he is a super hero. He has a combination of Jet Rocket flying (like Commando Cody); teleportation to his work site via Zeta Beam (like John Carter to Barsoom); and lots of cleverness and brains to work through those everyday drab problems that menace his planet (smarts like Batman). He has a REAL girlfriend (dare I say 'lover'?) as an equal in every adventure, so there is a romantic twist in every story.

What more could you want?

Well, there is a LOT more. The stories, for the most part, are fantasticly scripted by that master Gardner Fox. And the artwork-- ah yes, the artwork! As the series evolved so did the art! It started with covers by Gil Kane and interior pencils and inks by Sachs and Sekowsky, (later of Justice League of America fame). Then in came Carmine Infantino. While this improved the artwork immensely while his pencils were being inked by Joe Giella and sometime Bernie Sachs, it was when the brilliant Murphy Anderson stepped in to embellish the flamboyish Infantino that comic book art hit it's zenith. Once those two also started doing the covers, Adam Strange adventures became something to treasure whenever they hit the comic book racks. It was, and is to this day, inspirational.

This first archive of Adam Strange starts with his appearances in Showcase, and then his evolution as the recurring and starring character in Mystery in Space. For the most part in this archive, all of the stories are about nine pages in length, so there are a LOT of stories here. Gardner Fox practically drove many youngsters to desire previous issues they may have missed, because it would seem that each story had at least ONE back reference to a previously published story; and if you missed it, you were not getting the entire idea of what was going on! This only made us youngsters collect every Adam Strange story they could, and may have been the start of the comic-collecting days in our society!! So to have these first stories collected in one place is like finishing a puzzle you put down 40 years ago because you lost a few pieces. Very satisfying.

Towards the end of the archive you will see Adam Strange as what he will be remembered as; heroic, brave, smart, well-drawn, and always under control. Not one of those 'retcon' figures.

Here's hoping that the DC Archives publishes volume two soon! Many of us have been waiting YEARS just for this one; don't make us wait too much longer for the next one!!!

Out of this World Archive Edition
One of the best Archive Editions of DC's secondary characters. Rereading these wonderful stories starting in 1958 Showcase and moving into a long run in Mystery in Space brings a real appreciaton for the creative team of Julie Schwartz, Gardner Fox, and Carmine Infantino. Adam had no superpowers other than a cool jetpack and raygun. He generally overcame the threats to his adopted home of Rann by outhinking his opponents in clever and unusual scripts by Fox. The relationship with Alanna is unique because she is an equal partner with him in his battles-way ahead of the 1960s womens lib movement.Their relationship is integral to the stories and always bittersweet because Adam inevitably returns to earth when the Zeta-beam wears off. Infatino's artwork is elegant and lyrical with beautiful futuristic cities and alien landscapes. This book shows the effect of different inking styles on Infantino's pencils with Murphey Anderson stealing the show. Even though Adam owes his heritage to Buck Rodgers and Flash Gordon, there is a unique cold war post-sputnik tinge to these stories that is interesting to ponder from the vantage of 2004. Quirky, wonderful scripts, art by Infantino at his best, and one of the best Silver Age love stories ever-Please get volume 2 out fast! ... Read more

Book Description

Bear witness to teenager Buffy Summers`s transformation from simple high school student to super Vampire Slayer! Follow Buffy`s trials and tribulations as she comes to accept her destined role to thwart the legions of the undead from spreading their veil of evil across Los Angeles. Adapted from creator Joss Whedon`s original screenplay from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer feature film, The Origin updates the material to match the tone and characters of the hit television series, making this the official Buffy launching pad! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Buffy's beginnings as a slayer told as intended
There are two reasons that this graphic comic retelling of Buffy's beginnings as a Slayer: 1) it is based pretty strictly on Joss Whedon's original screenplay that the Buffy movie was based on, and 2) it is one of a number of superb Buffy graphic tales from Dark Horse Comics. For those who have exhausted all the Buffy and Angel episodes, and desirous of new sources of Buffyverse adventures, one can't do better than these comics. Many of them are scripted by Buffy screenwriters such as Jane Espenson. They aren't cynical and cheap attempts to rip off unsuspecting fans, but excellent stories in their own right.

Some people read THE ORIGIN and see a story remarkably similar to the movie, and others see enormous divergence. I see less difference in story than in tone, though there are a couple of hugely important differences. The two best known are the death of Merrick and the burning of the school gym, the latter referred to in the TV show and which appeared in Whedon's original script, but which was cut out for the shooting script.

The one difference in plot--and it is important one--that is more subtle is the frequent dreams that Buffy has of previous Slayers. In this story, Merrick has some trouble convincing Buffy that she is the Slayer until he mentions her dreams. Dreams play a gigantic role in the Buffy television series. In fact, the first time we ever see Buffy is in a dream she is having. Very nearly every episode has at least one dream sequence, and sometimes more than one, and the final episode of Season Four is almost all dreams. The brilliant thing about the dreams in THE ORIGIN is that it both contrasts Buffy with her predecessors and ties her into a long decision. She may be the Slayer, but she is not the only Slayer there has ever been. Also, by stressing the brute fact of being a Slayer--that you only become her as the result of another's death, and you will be the Slayer until your own--a sense of doom and foreboding permeates the story. Interestingly, we are not shown the moment when Buffy becomes the Slayer. I have always wanted Whedon to address that, explaining who the Slayer immediately before Buffy was. Also, I'd like to know why Buffy, who obviously was a potential for many years, had not been located before she had actually become the Slayer, and in fact was the Slayer before she was contacted.

The greatest difference between THE ORIGIN and the Buffy movie is tone and atmosphere. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, the movie, was a summer teen comedy. It overstressed the silliness of having a vampire slayer named Buffy, and focused entirely on the comic aspects of the story. The TV series was the genre-buster extraordinaire, being comedy, drama, horror, action, and soap opera all at once. The movie, however, is all comedy against a backdrop of horror. The graphic comic hints at the multilayered product the movie might have been had the studio and producers signed onto Whedon's vision. Instead of something unique and original, it was just another teen comedy with the quirk that the heroine was a bimbo cheerleader. Fortunately, Whedon was given the opportunity to correct a series of wrongs, with spectacular results for seven years.

Buffy Revisited
Christy Swanson was fine in the BTVS movie, but I'm so used to Sarah Michelle that it would be almost painful to watch the film after all this time. I like Buffy just the way she is now. So when I saw that Dark Horse Comics was bringing out a graphic novel version of the original story I decided to live dangerously and purchase my first Buffy 'comic.' I've stayed away from graphic novels, not because I don't like them, but because they are expensive for the amount of story one gets. But this looked like a good time to make an exception.

I'm not going to spend anytime elaborating on the plot. If any readers do not know the story of Buffy's entry into Slayerhood, suffice it to say that Valley Girl meets Watcher, discovers vampires, and kills same. With increasing aplomb. Buffy as Valley Girl is a bit more irritatingly mindless than Buffy as Slayer, but it's all in good fun. And, as all of us know, when Buffy grows up, she is as bad as they come.

Christopher Golden and Daniel Brereton have done a masterful job of the conversion of the original story line, with plenty of sarcasm, dry wit, and sight gags. And the art work is simply superb. If the comics of my jaded youth were as good I would probably never have switched to reading books. Joel Bennet is the penciller, and Rick Ketcham has completed the work beautifully with the help or Randy Emberlin and J. Jadson. The images are clear and crisp with a great deal of expression. Good stuff all around.

I still have a problem with sticker shock when looking at graphic novels but I have agree that the end product can often be worth it. Given what it sets out to be, this is a great gift or collector's item for the Buffy nut of your choice. Even if that nut happens to be yourself!

Not what I hoped
This book was described as the pre-series beginning story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the story of the movie, but with the tone (and characters) of the series. Not so!

My first problem with this book was when I read further and found that it is a comic. (OK so honestly I didn't even see that part until after I checked out this book in person, so I'm warning other people who may not notice.) I would have loved a good novel about this, but it's not.

This Buffy character, and her friends, are hate-able. She was somewhat immature and that California-90s-ditzy, but she wasn't as bad as in this book.

I could only stand reading it for a short while, because of it being a comic, and all the things I found annoying.

One other thing is that her parents were together, they got divorced in a short time. There may be a lot of things I would find irritating in it like that.

To sum up; if you're a huge fan of the series (and you want to find good reads to soothe your addiction), this may not be for you. If you don't mind the movie (and, certainly, if you like comics), then go for it. Most other people liked it. If you're still interested, read the other reviews!

Liked it in spite of myself
First a confession--this is the first graphic novel I have ever read. As a Buffy fan in withdrawal, I picked it up at the local library. After all, there are no new episodes coming of either "Buffy" or "Angel." That said, I was favorably impressed by the novel. The style is very different from the Silver Age DC stuff I read as a child, but it certainly conveys a punch. I won't compare the graphic novel with the movie, although the general fannish concensus is that the novel is closer to the spirit of the series. At any rate, the switches between drama and comedy that characterize the series are here in the novel, although in abbreviated form (that goes with the genre), as are the power fighting scenes. The drawings have a terseness (the unfinished faces, for instance), but they get the message across. Buffy's transformation from airhead to Slayer, her jerk of a boyfriend, the shallowness of her girlfriends, and the impact of Merrick's sacrifice on her are well-portrayed. This may be the first graphic novel I've read, but it won't be the last.

forget the movie, this is the true origin for Buffy
"The Origin" is a graphic novel which focuses on, not surprisingly, the origin of how Buffy Summers became a slayer. This is something that was first covered in the feature film version of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", but that film was a complete disappointment and is much different in tone and style than the later, successful, television program of the same name. "The Origin" follows creator Joss Whedon's original script and it better matches the tone of the later series.

Buffy Summers is a freshman in high school and is the average popular student (think Cordelia in the first season of "Buffy"). She is self absorbed and does not truly think of others. This changes when one day an older man comes to her and tells Buffy that she has a destiny, that she is the chosen one, the one girl in all the world called to protect the world, to fight and stop vampires. In short, Buffy Summers is the Slayer. We follow Buffy as she encounters her first vampire, tries to deny what she is, and eventually come to begin to accept that she is, in fact, The Slayer. We see events that are spoken about in the first season of "Buffy".

If you want to see the true first chapter in the story of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", this is the place to start. Ignore the awful, awful movie with Kristy Swanson in the title role, this is the true origin of Buffy and it is much more faithful to Joss Whedon's vision and it matches the tone and style of the television series. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

A Great Start to a Great Series
What happens when one of comicdom's greatest writers creates a story in an alternative Victorian-era England, with famous literary characters as super-heroes? Alan Moore's "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," part homage to 19th-Century literature, part unconventional superhero story, and an introduction to a new, periodical series from Moore and artist Kevin O'Neil. In less-capable hands, such a project would be doomed to failure from the start, but Moore's writing and O'Neil's Manga-influenced comic art make "League" a triumphant piece of literature.

In the soot-choked London of "League," where giant cranes construct gothic bridges and dirigibles are as commonplace as hansom cabs, Mina Murray, former wife of Jonathan Harker and object of Dracula's affection, is recruited by a Mr. Bond for an unusual mission. Mr. Bond's supervisor, "M", wants Murray to team up with Captain Nemo and his Nautilus submarine to track down Allan Quatermain in Egypt. Once they force his opium addiction into remission, the team recruits Mr. Edward Hyde, and his meek alter-ego Dr. Jeckyll, and a Mr. Griffin, better known as The Invisible Man, who is creating a series of "miraculous" pregnancies at a school for delinquent girls.

Once the team unites, "M" gives them their first mission: to investigate a Chinese gang ruled by a criminal mastermind, who has stolen a device that allows massive ships to fly. There is concern that the gang leader will create a giant airship that will allow him to bomb and destroy any part of London he desires - which would be disastrous for the Crown. While investigating, the League discovers that things aren't quite as they appear, which leads to a final showdown with a famous literary villain.

Moore's writing and O'Neil's art save what could have been a trite story and make it not only passable, but enjoyable and fun. It lacks the literary and philosophical depth of Moore's other works, like "Watchmen" or "From Hell," but "League" isn't really designed to offer some genre-shattering thesis. It's just good fun, especially for those who have read some late 19th-Century literature. Don't overanalyze it, enjoy it, and you can't go wrong with "League."

Final Grade: B

dark, delightful graphic novel
I used to read comic books a lot when I was younger and recently, having heard good things about graphic novels, decided to check out some of the highly rated ones. I was certainly not disappointed by this extraordinary tale with its fantastical characters and settings.

In this story, the mysterious Mr. M has commissioned Wilhelmina Harker Murray (from Bram Stoker's Dracula) to gather a league of adventurers who will perform extraordinary tasks when the need arises. The first part of the story is devoted to the formidable Miss Murray's finding and assembling her group: Allan Quatermain, H. Rider Haggard's hero; Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's tale; Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll (and his counterpart Mr. Edward Hyde); and Hawley Griffin, from H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man. Along the way they are assisted by Auguste Dupin, literature's first detective, and threatened by Fu Manchu. There are lots of other literary references and these are fun, but you can easily enjoy this fine graphic novel without catching them.

Throughout the book, in editorial notes, author blurbs, etc, the conceit is maintained that this tale was written and published in the 19th century. Also included is a heavily-illustrated prose tale, 'Allan and the Sundered Veil'.

Caveat: If you are a parent buying for children, you might want to find something else -- there is a lot of graphic violence and coercive [explicits].

great story but where's Dorian Gray?
I got this graphic novel after I collected all the books on the chracters in the movie League of Extraordinary Gentleman, And it was great, but I kept wondering where Dorian Gray was. You see his portrait on the front cover, but he's not in the book. You would think since this stroy is based in 19th centry England he would be in this stroy, but no. Anyway this is a great novel to have. It has great graphics, great story, great chracters too. But there are somethings I wish theyed put in there, like how miss Murry is, and I'd wish you could see more of Nemo's crew. One of the many cool things in this book is if you look in some pages there are news papers that say Mars is Volcanic(guess who's gonna drop to earth in the next stroy). Another cool thing in this stroy is when someone is talking to someone in another launge it's written in that launge like Aribic, and Chinese. This is a great novel to add to your collection.

Fun
This was the first Alan Moore comic I read, and I could tell right off the bat why comic fans always speak so reverentially about the man. After reading just a few panels, it was clear that Moore is someone concerned about the texture of language, the subtext of character, and nuance of meaning.

I had heard this one wasn't Moore's best effort, but I wanted to read it before I saw the Sean Connery movie based on it. I was still highly impressed, however, and thought it was one of the best written comic I'd ever read. But after just recently finishing Moore's mesmerizing FROM HELL, I can see that by comparison, LEAGUE is a slightly inferior work. But that's just because FROM HELL is hands-down the most amazingly complex and well written comic novel I've ever read.

Still, LEAGUE, a high concept literary action hero romp is a lot of fun, and if it's not quite the toure-de-force that Moore achieved with FROM HELL, it's still a thrilling story.

Crazy fun
This 'graphic novel' by Alan Moore is filled with fascinating characters, literary references, and very dry humor. It's a hundred times smarter than the movie that came out last summer under the same title.

This tells the story of five famous characters from Victorian literature who join forces in a 'league of extraordinary gentlemen' to save the world. Allan Quatermain from 'King Solomon's Mines', Mina Murray from 'Dracula', Dr. Jekyll and his Hyde counterpart, the invisible man and Captain Nemo from '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' come together, bantering over cups of tea(...).

The graphic element of this graphic novel is absolutely stunning. The artist O'Neill assembles crowded street scenes in Paris and London with a few quick strokes of his brush, and lovingly creates detailed images of the macabre and sometimes perverse world Moore has created in words. Take a look at the all girls 'school' the characters visit while recruiting the invisible man. Whew.

The action is fast paced, the dialogue is biting and believable, and the characters are great fun. Overall, a good, smart story.(...)Enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

Hellsing continues with more blood, guts, ghouls, and gothic murder. Created by Kohta Hirano, and making its way into an incredibly popular anime, Hellsing pushes the boundary of horror, yet looks so visually stunning and graphically cool that instead of being scary, it's super fun. Certainly not intended for younger readers, this series follows the Hellsing Organization, an old institution created by English royalty to squash the ghoulish undead of the world, as they face an insurgence of murderous monsters running rampant across the isles, fueled by...could it be...Nazi's? Watch the dark story unravel as Dark Horse Manga presents Hellsing volume 2. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Beautiful Art with an Original Storyline!
I first came along Hellsing in the anime series, and I absolutely loved it. It was interesting and original, with wonderful animation and drawings. So, naturally, when I heard that the anime was once first a manga, I went out and bought it. The money was well spent. The manga goes a little differently than the anime, but if you've never seen the anime, then there's no problem. Basically, if you like vampires, guns, and cold-hard fighting with no romance, this is definitely for you. It's fast-paced with an interesting storyline, so get comfy and enjoy.

If you liked the anime...
I saw the anime series recently,and liked it.BESIDES THE FACT I ORDERED A ---NEW--- BOX SET FROM THIS SITE AND THE DISKS CAME SCRATCHED UP,LOOSE,AND OBVIOUSLY USED.Thanks alot, Amazon. -_-0 Anyway,I decided to get the manga after listening to some of the interviews on a DVD.quite frankly,I like the manga as much as the anime.It lacks the character development of the anime,but it never takes itself too seriously.It has some details that the anime never goes into,such as what determines who's turned into a ghoul or vampire.
There's a neat bonus comic that's amusing in its own right.And the note from the author's kinda funny too.(cosmo guns that hold a billion rounds...)Nice job,Dark Horse.

Hellsing - a winner
HEllsing was the first anime video that I saw, it was the gateway to my anime viewing experience. Once I finished the series on DVD I was looking around for a "season 2" when I found out that there series was based on comic books. I went to a store and bought vol 1 and read through it really fast. It draws you in and entertains you, and keeps you in suspence with its great illustrations and dialog. The irish and germans in the story are noticed as their accents just jump of the page at you. COnsequently I bought vol 2 + 3 and I am eagerly waiting for volumes 4, 5,6 and however more there might be in the works

If you are new to manga comics this might be a bit of a learning curve (as it was for me) but I did not mind as I was quite entertained.

Kudos to the author and the team that brought it to us in english!

This series is great
When I first saw the Hellsing Anime I just had to get the Manga.
Boy was I right. The Manga is 100 times better then the anime and more violent too I might add.

I'm in love with this series. It's got action with style and of course, VAMPIRES! Alucard Rules!

This is one of those mangas that I'll probably read more then 3 times. This series is awesome.

Check it out.....

But first, the manga!
At first, I saw the Hellsing series on DVD. But when I heard it had originated from a mamga, I knew I'd be in for something good. And here's the first volume. It is a combination of funny, witty, bloody and definitely cool. I could stop talkin about it for weeks. Definetly one to buy. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

More than the name implies
The first part of this book is exactly what the name implies. A wake for the great Dream of the endless. This is actually pretty boring. The latter half is really excellent. The first story is one of depression over a lost friend. The second, "Exiles", is a wonderful story of a man exiled in a desert, who gets lost. He is in fact in one of the "soft places", and meets both reditions of Dream. The art work and writing are beautiful. The story is sad, and so stylized as to seem like ancient legend. Gaiman is a great surrealist, and this story is his greatest example of this. The book concludes with a story of the death of Shakespeare. This, too, is a melancholy story, where Dream explains what would have happened had Dream not given him his special gift. This seems like the perfect way to end the series, Shakespeare died--the greatest dreamweaver of them all.

Plotless fluff, but really good plotless fluff!
A connundrum here. This book really doesn't tell a great or ingenious story, as other Sandman collections often do. But it remains good. It can be divided, basically, into three parts.

The first part is the story of the wake. It is brilliantly illustrated, done entirely in pencil. Not much happens in it, but we get some nice insights into various characters from accross the series, as each of them makes their own comments on the death of Dream. This part also contains a story about Hob, which is, again, not brilliantly original, but still a nice piece of work.

The next one is an experiment that doesn't quite do anything. It tries to be a sparse rendition of a Chinese poem, and suceeds, but seems somewhat empty, and unrelated to the rest of the story. The only real justification I can see for why it had to be part of _The Wake_ is that it includes Daniel, but still, it seems like it should have happened earlier in the story. It's a sequal to an earlier story, "Soft Places," which was a good story, but hardly one of the best in the series.

The last part of the story is "The Tempest," a sequal to the acclaimed "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It is differant, in many ways, than it's predicessor. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was the story of a performance. This is the story of a writing. It is, in many ways, a fitting end to the story, with quite a bit of fun symbolism.

But despite the cleverness of its parts, _The Wake_ is somehow lacking much of the spark that has always been so clear in _The Sandman._

Sandman's long epilogue
Throughout the course of his acclaimed comic book saga, Sandman, Neil Gaiman always worked at his own pace. Thus, it is no surprise that the falling action that follows The Kindly Ones, the grand finale of the series, should last six issues and be a story arc onto itself. No matter, though. Gaiman possesses an immaculate sense of precision and rarely did any part of his saga stretch on longer than it had to. With The Wake, Sandman's long epilogue, Gaiman continues to dazzle readers with his beautifully surreal people and places and his inspiring deliberations on life, death, family and the significance of storytelling.

Sandman features a family of Greek God-like entities called The Endless, each of which have some sort of responsibility in regulating the conscious experience of mortals. In The Wake, the remaining members of the clan, Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair and Delirium hold a wake and funeral for Dream (Sandman's protagonist more often than not), who died in The Kindly Ones. Almost every character that played a part in the series attends. Meanwhile, Daniel, the child who inherited the mantle of the Dream King, prepares to meet his new family. There is a certain grace, warmth and thoroughness with which Gaiman addresses death, mourning and the welcoming of a new family member that makes this tale sure to cause readers to reflect on his or her own experiences with the aforesaid. Michael Zulli is the most grand and majestic illustrator to ever grace the pages of Sandman and his style certainly works for the story. Truly, the memorial services for Dream make-up one of the best pieces of the Sandman saga.

That story only lasts for first three issues, though. The remaining three of this volume are single-issue stories. "Sunday Morning" revisits one of the series' most interesting characters, the immortal Hob Gadling. In "Exiles" a banished Chinese wise man embarks on a strange path that leads into Dream's realm. The issue, which is told in Analect-ish verse, has little to do with the greater story, yet it is always delightful to see Gaiman mesh Sandman with indigenous story-telling traditions. "The Tempest," the series' final issue, revisits William Shakespeare, whose employment under Dream was chronicled in early issues. This tale elaborates on the dream king's need of the dramatist as he writes his final play. The Kindly Ones was Sandman's riveting climax and the first three issues of The Wake are the place to say goodbye to the main characters, but as far as giving the final word on what is perhaps the most important theme of Sandman, the importance of stories and their telling, "The Tempest" is its true conclusion.

A sad (but entirely appropriate) ending to an epic story
Wow. This makes the third time I've read this series from beginning to end, and each time, I fall deeper and deeper under its spell.

First of all, this is the final book in the 10 volume Sandman saga. Although the back of each book says that you can read them in any order, I would recommend that you at least read volume 9 (The Kindly Ones) before attempting to understand what is happening in this one. Better still would be to read the entire 10 volume series from beginning to end. Lots of loose ends are tied up with this book, and you'll find it far more enjoyable if you understand the subtle way that Gaiman connects everything together.

Having said that, I'll say that the chapters in this volume will touch you like nothing else you've ever read. With the Sandman's death in the previous volume, those left behind must find their own path into the future. Indeed, Gaiman seems to use this volume to showcase various opinions about what happens to people after they lose a loved one. And he does this on a grand scale.

Not content to merely use the characters we've grown familiar with in previous volumes, Gaiman takes every person in the entire world (including you, the reader!) into a sadly poignant dream. In this dream, the Sandman has died, and you (and everyone else) are mourners at his wake. People mill about waiting for the service to begin, talking of small and petty things, all the while wondering why they have been summoned to this location. As the wake and funeral unfold, we are treated to a unique view of how Sandman's death affects the acquaintances he has made over the years. We see happiness, sadness, confusion, disbelief, and anger, just like we would see at a real funeral. For me, however, seeing queens of fairieworld, gods and goddesses, witches, and other fantastic characters deal with their grief (or lack thereof) makes for an incredibly touching experience. It's almost as if you come to realize that yes, even the most magical amazing creatures in existence can feel emotion over the death of someone close to them.

In juxtaposition to this scene, Gaiman gives us glimpses of the new Sandman trying to adjust to his new position. He's caught in a difficult situation. On the one hand, he has to take over where his predecessor left off. On the other hand, he has to deal with people and creatures who haven't quite decided to accept him. I found this a great contrast to the funeral scene. Rather than people learning to say goodbye to someone, we see everyone trying to say hello to someone new.

After the funeral, my favorite chapter in the entire series takes place. Hob Gadling and his girlfriend attend a renaissance festival. Long ago, Hob was given eternal life by the Sandman, and over the centuries, the two became friends. So while attending the festival, Hob is given the choice by Sandman's sister to give up his eternal life. Hob thinks about it, realizes that he still wants to live, and says no thanks to the offer. I think I like this chapter because it shows someone who seems to be tired of everything life has to offer, yet who still wants to live, if for no other reason, than to see what comes next.

The final two chapters almost seems like addendums, but they work as closing chapters as well. In their own way, these final two stories are also about endings and goodbyes. The final one, showing Shakespeare putting down his writing pen for good, seems to represent Gaiman, who became involved in a long commitment to write a series of stories, then found he couldn't stop till he had reached the end of the tale.

So, do I recommend this volume of Sandman?

After reading the above, do you really have to ask?

A Final Farewell
With appearances by most of the characters that have appeared in this series, this is a fitting epilogue to one of the greatest stories ever told in this medium. While the new personification of The Sandman waits, his family performs the final ceremony for their departed sibling. Like all wakes, it is a time for stories, for people to renew lost acquaintances, and to say goodbye. Michael Zulli's wonderful art gives the reader a clear picture of the events and Gaiman's final farewell to the character is most appropriate. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A Great Finish to a Great Series
Preacher is a comic that is aimed at those who don't mind gore, sex and religion all being tossed to create one hell of a ride. This comic is bound to piss everybody off in some way whether your a student of a preacher. However, that is part of the magic of this comic, it gives you a glimpse into something that our society deems unspeakable.
Now on to the this comic book. The final comic in the series and it was well worth the wait. Every plot line is finshed and done so well. There are a few twists and some points were you are just awed. By the end God, Cassidy, Starr, Custer, Tulip, and the Saint of Killers are awarded an ending that is fit to each but there are some surprises their.
I feel Garth Ennis did a great job with the comic series giving a good intricate plot, plenty of twist, believable characters, and overall a great story that never slows, never quits, and has an ending that fits.
I also feel that the artwork should be talked about too. The artist of the series (except for Book 4) makes the words and characters come alive. He is able to throw splashes of grey and black into this comic that fits the mood. It is excellant artwork.
Overall, Preacher rocks and is a comic book worthy of praise. Just remember, its fiction.

Glorious, Profane, Sacreligious, Thought-Provoking, and Fun
Lordy! I just had time to read the entire collected "Preacher" series in one sitting, and what a great time I had doing it. This is one of the few "adult" comic series that actually gives you some real meat to chew on. It calls into question every dogma, motiviation, desire, and belief one drags along with oneself into adulthood, along with the very nature of the divine and ridiculous. Garth Ennis et al never miss a chance to poke fun at themselves, keeping the book from veering into that sort of moroseness and gloom that seems to pervade the comics industry lately, yet all the while manage to convey an air of deadly seriousness to the quest that Reverend Custer and Tulip find themselves thrust into: confronting a god who's quit heaven in fear of the powerful offspring of a demon and an angel who's escaped and taken root in Jesse Custer in order to gain a will to direct its terrible power. An absolute must for any and everyone who's ever wondered "Who's up there, and why has he made such a terrible mess?" Compelling, gritty, violent, profane, sacreligious, thought-provoking, and fun as hell. Ride on, Reverend!

the end.......BANG!
the cool lines,the action,the gore,the blasphemy,the eye patch and the (suggested for mature readers)tag on the back of this book,makes it simply, irresistable.
this is the conclusion,here you'll learn what will happen,to the runaway zeus like god,his cowboy angel of death,the antichrist lookalike crusader,the irish vampire and the eyepached preacher's quest for vengeance.
and not forgeting arseface.all in a hell of a twister cult story
if you are a church goer -or a mosque goer in my case-and marilyn manson doesn't offend you,but makes you laugh sometimes,then buy this book.
if he does offend you ,you better look away.
some reader complain about the ending ,well ,as arseface said
"WUHL..BUGUHZ CUHND BUH CHUZUHZ!"

Well...
A slightly contrived conclusion to an otherwise (with the exception of 'Dixie Fried') first-rate series. If you've got this far you're going to buy it anyway regardless, and I recommend you do, but I couldn't help feeling a little ripped-off. I grew to dislike Jesse Custer somewhat after his abhorrent actions near the end of 'Salvation', and by this book I couldn't care less whether the mongrel lived or died. Asides from that, this volume contains more of the solid writing sharp dialogue we've come to love, and the art is top notch as always.

The awesome finale for one of the best comics of the 90's
For five and a half years it has led up to this. Jesse Custer's confrontation with God is coming full circle, as is the fates of all the characters who have gone through more character development in that aforementioned span than some comic characters go through in a decade. All the oddly written characters we have grown to love and hate like Jesse, Tulip, Cassidy, Herr Starr, The Saint of Killers, and Arseface meet their respective fates in big ways; ranging from Starr seeking his revenge on Jesse, to Jesse's showdown with Cassidy, to The Saint of Killers' war on heaven, and everything in between. By the end of Alamo, long time readers of the series will feel satisfied of most of the outcomes, and even though it is sad to see the Preacher series come to an end, it is good to know that the series didn't re-hash itself every twenty four issues and kept the storyline on one true track during the entire run. Let it also be noted that Preacher creators; writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, stayed on for the entire Preacher run. That in itself is an accomplishment in the comic industry as they brought readers some of the most unforgettable characters and one of the most engrossing sagas in the modern comic age. Rumor has it (straight out of Wizard Magazine) that a Preacher re-launch is in the works, but time will tell. I also strongly suggest Ennis and Dillon's Punisher TPB for Marvel Comics; even if you've never had an interest in that character you should read the re-invention of him by the Preacher duo, it is pure genius. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Very Touching Volume in an Excellent Series
The fifth collected-edition of "Fables" is a much more subdued affair than "March of the Wooden Soldiers".It c