billyjepma's reviews
526 reviews
Catwoman: Lonely City, by Cliff Chiang
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I went into this with some trepidation because, despite my affection for Chiang's art, I wasn't sure how he'd manage a Catwoman story, especially under the premium Black Label format, which has been incredibly inconsistent at best. But lemme tell ya, he killed it. After the visually appealing but narratively predictable first issue, things picked up in all the ways that count. Chiang settles into a unique vibe that plays like a weird and delightful mixture of golden-age comics and an HBO drama. His storytelling isn't remarkable, necessarily, and Chiang's plotting can be a little clunky and/or crowded. But I'm pretty forgiving with the plot when the character work is this strong, with only minor a few minor exceptions.
I don't think Chiang's interpretation of these characters is all that surprising, but I consider that a positive, especially considering how many of these Black Label miniseries' have struggled. Having four issues to work with versus the usual three also helps and should definitely be the standard the label uses moving forward. I respect that Chiang kept his iterations subtler, as it allows him to piggyback off what we know of these characters, which also helps his characterizations feel more organic. That's a lot of words to say that I loved a lot of what Chiang did here.
His art is also reliably excellent, the coloring especially. His illustrations strike a good balance between playful and mature, but the colors make the book's visuals soar. There's so much volume to the pages Chiang turns out, from the vibrantly dense environments to the specific expressions of the characters—this is a gorgeous book. Consider this a 4.5-star book and one I can absolutely see myself revisiting.
I don't think Chiang's interpretation of these characters is all that surprising, but I consider that a positive, especially considering how many of these Black Label miniseries' have struggled. Having four issues to work with versus the usual three also helps and should definitely be the standard the label uses moving forward. I respect that Chiang kept his iterations subtler, as it allows him to piggyback off what we know of these characters, which also helps his characterizations feel more organic. That's a lot of words to say that I loved a lot of what Chiang did here.
His art is also reliably excellent, the coloring especially. His illustrations strike a good balance between playful and mature, but the colors make the book's visuals soar. There's so much volume to the pages Chiang turns out, from the vibrantly dense environments to the specific expressions of the characters—this is a gorgeous book. Consider this a 4.5-star book and one I can absolutely see myself revisiting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Police brutality, Violence, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Far from the Light of Heaven, by Tade Thompson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I struggled to get into this at first and found myself bristling at how little the story prepared me for its version of space travel, alien worlds, and technology. On one hand, I admired the in media res approach, but on the other, I felt like it kept me at arm’s length from the characters and the mystery they find themselves in. And then, right around the halfway point, something in me or the book clicked into place, and I tore through the remaining 150+ pages in one sitting. All those wrinkles I initially saw as obstacles unfolded and played out in immensely satisfying, exciting ways. I still think that the first half is a little rough, and there are areas I found to be slightly underbaked, but I can’t argue with the results. Once things got going, I was all in and then some.
The very concept of a single-location murder mystery in a spaceship is enough of a hook to get me. If you’re willing to be patient, Thompson’s storytelling delivers on and exceeds the expectations of that initial conceit. I love the themes stitched into the plot, appreciate how they exist analogously to the story, and pay off in simultaneously rewarding and frustrating ways. Which is a good thing in my book because the themes Thompson introduces are too big and, in some ways, too abstract to have a proper resolution. I appreciate that he lets his characters (and, by extension, his reader) sit in that vaguely uncomfortable space. Take away the headiness, though, and you still have a simmering thriller that feels like the twisted love child of Seven, The Martian, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, with some tasteful hints of a Hercule Poirot caper mixed in for good measure.
The very concept of a single-location murder mystery in a spaceship is enough of a hook to get me. If you’re willing to be patient, Thompson’s storytelling delivers on and exceeds the expectations of that initial conceit. I love the themes stitched into the plot, appreciate how they exist analogously to the story, and pay off in simultaneously rewarding and frustrating ways. Which is a good thing in my book because the themes Thompson introduces are too big and, in some ways, too abstract to have a proper resolution. I appreciate that he lets his characters (and, by extension, his reader) sit in that vaguely uncomfortable space. Take away the headiness, though, and you still have a simmering thriller that feels like the twisted love child of Seven, The Martian, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, with some tasteful hints of a Hercule Poirot caper mixed in for good measure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Death, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, Cursing, and Medical content
Minor: Child death, Colonisation, Classism, Racial slurs, and Cannibalism
Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book One, by Alan Moore
Alright, I think I finally understand why so many people are obsessed with Swamp Thing. I love reading Alan Moore because it feels like reading a classic gothic novel nobody talks about. He’s weird, creative, not afraid to be mean, and has an inescapable empathy that keeps his stories somehow hopeful despite the darker pessimism he seems drawn toward. He finds humanity in monsters, monsters in humanity, and watching him explore the fragile lines between the two in these stories was a treat. I had to pace myself because of how strong of a punch each issue hit me with.
And there’s that art—moody, gorgeous, grotesque, romantic, deliriously vibrant. It’s unreal how impressive just about every page and panel are. Some of the “action” scenes, if you can call them that, aren’t always easy to follow, but that’s a minor thing when so much of the comic feels like a psychedelic, phantasmagorical art piece. I can’t wait to read the rest of this run.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
”He’s just a ghost. A ghost dressed in weeds.”
Alright, I think I finally understand why so many people are obsessed with Swamp Thing. I love reading Alan Moore because it feels like reading a classic gothic novel nobody talks about. He’s weird, creative, not afraid to be mean, and has an inescapable empathy that keeps his stories somehow hopeful despite the darker pessimism he seems drawn toward. He finds humanity in monsters, monsters in humanity, and watching him explore the fragile lines between the two in these stories was a treat. I had to pace myself because of how strong of a punch each issue hit me with.
And there’s that art—moody, gorgeous, grotesque, romantic, deliriously vibrant. It’s unreal how impressive just about every page and panel are. Some of the “action” scenes, if you can call them that, aren’t always easy to follow, but that’s a minor thing when so much of the comic feels like a psychedelic, phantasmagorical art piece. I can’t wait to read the rest of this run.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Mental illness, Death, Alcoholism, Blood, and Car accident
Minor: Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death of parent
Kaya, Book One, by Wes Craig
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
3.5
This gets a very solid 3.5 stars from me. I love the art and general design of the world Craig is developing, and would probably be happy to continue reading even if that was all there was to the series. But the story he’s setting up is also interesting, even if it is pretty thin right now. The ideas and teases he gives us for where the story might go are great, so I’m willing to be patient with the slower pacing and choppy characterizations of this introductory outing. I do want to see the storytelling kick into higher gear in the next story arc, though.
The Dawn of Yangchen, by F.C. Yee
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’ll never get tired of spending more time in this world, but this was a pretty mid-tier story, overall. There’s some good stuff in here—I’m always going to love seeing the politics of a fantasy world play out—it’s just the character work that’s lacking for me. Yangchen has some compelling interior conflict, but we don’t see enough of it to make her feel as fleshed-out a protagonist as even Kyoshi was in Yee’s duology about her. We get more development with one of Yangchen’s kinda-sorta allies than we do with her, which leaves the narrative feeling a little confused, like it can’t decide on who the story is about.
The setup we get is interesting, though, and the book ends on a note I’m eager to see continued in the next book. Yee may have gotten off to a more sluggish start with this, but I’m confident it’ll pick up.
The setup we get is interesting, though, and the book ends on a note I’m eager to see continued in the next book. Yee may have gotten off to a more sluggish start with this, but I’m confident it’ll pick up.
Batman: One Bad Day: The Riddler, by Tom King
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
haha holy shit, man
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Injury/injury detail, and Self harm
Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, Infidelity, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Nightwing, Vol. 2: Get Grayson, by Tom Taylor
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This really is the platonic ideal of a Nightwing comic—playful, endlessly charming, wholesome to a fault. There are very few stakes to speak of, and none of the tension lands, but it's such a breezy collection of superhero adventures with pitch-perfect character writing that it's nothing less than a delight to read. Taylor's villains are still lackluster, so don't expect that to change. The series' success thus far is entirely due to how perfectly Taylor gets Dick Grayson's character. I hope there's some meatier development or conflict for him to deal with at some point, but until then, it's not like I'm opposed to seeing Nightwing take down street-level baddies and hang out with his friends.
The other star of the series is Bruno Redondo, who is just killing it on the art front with the book. The much-talked-about "one-take" issue is one of the funniest single issues of a comic I've read in ages. Redondo's art is spectacular, and the full-page spreads are a glorious showcase of all his best qualities as an artist. The momentum, energy, colors—the whole issue is a rush of vibrant personality. Even the final issues with guest artist Geraldo Borges are fun and maintain the same vibrancy and character that Redondo has so effectively developed for the series.
A banger of a comic with some of the best "Saturday Morning Cartoon" vibes out there.
The other star of the series is Bruno Redondo, who is just killing it on the art front with the book. The much-talked-about "one-take" issue is one of the funniest single issues of a comic I've read in ages. Redondo's art is spectacular, and the full-page spreads are a glorious showcase of all his best qualities as an artist. The momentum, energy, colors—the whole issue is a rush of vibrant personality. Even the final issues with guest artist Geraldo Borges are fun and maintain the same vibrancy and character that Redondo has so effectively developed for the series.
A banger of a comic with some of the best "Saturday Morning Cartoon" vibes out there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent and Animal cruelty
Mister Impossible, by Maggie Stiefvater
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Another tepid 3.5 stars, which is annoying because it feels like Stiefvater is on the edge of doing something really big and exciting with this series without fully committing. But what she does here is still a lot of fun, and you can tell she cares deeply for this world. Granted, her fondness for her story is a two-edged sword because I think that’s what’s preventing her from making this trilogy into something bigger.
I continue to be annoyed with Ronan as a protagonist, and this book didn’t change that. He’s interesting, but only as a blunt instrument, and his motivations are too flimsy to carry the dramatic weight I need from them. He feels stuck in place for most of this book (and the last one), which means he’s once again outclassed by the supporting cast—except for Bryde, who is a shallow and tedious character, tbh. Declan, Matthew, Jordan (the love of my life), and Hennessy continue to steal the show and speak to the bigger ideas Stiefvater is playing with. Whenever they’re in the driver's seat, I’m eagerly buckled in.
The stuff I like here I love, so whenever I encounter something I don’t vibe with, it bums me out, so don’t take my complaints as condemnation because they’re not. There are some spectacular moments of imaginative (and sometimes frightening) spectacle that got my heart pumping. Even when the story started to lose me, it didn’t take long to win me back. However, I will say that the ending does not inspire much confidence in me about the final book. It throws a wrench into things that could lead to something genuinely surprising, but if it sticks to the tempo of the trilogy so far, I don’t know if it’ll resonate with me. I guess we’ll find out!
I continue to be annoyed with Ronan as a protagonist, and this book didn’t change that. He’s interesting, but only as a blunt instrument, and his motivations are too flimsy to carry the dramatic weight I need from them. He feels stuck in place for most of this book (and the last one), which means he’s once again outclassed by the supporting cast—except for Bryde, who is a shallow and tedious character, tbh. Declan, Matthew, Jordan (the love of my life), and Hennessy continue to steal the show and speak to the bigger ideas Stiefvater is playing with. Whenever they’re in the driver's seat, I’m eagerly buckled in.
The stuff I like here I love, so whenever I encounter something I don’t vibe with, it bums me out, so don’t take my complaints as condemnation because they’re not. There are some spectacular moments of imaginative (and sometimes frightening) spectacle that got my heart pumping. Even when the story started to lose me, it didn’t take long to win me back. However, I will say that the ending does not inspire much confidence in me about the final book. It throws a wrench into things that could lead to something genuinely surprising, but if it sticks to the tempo of the trilogy so far, I don’t know if it’ll resonate with me. I guess we’ll find out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Blood, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Car accident
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, Vol. 3, by Daniel José Older
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Mighty Valkyries, by Torunn Gronbekkk, Mattia de Iulis, Jason Aaron
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I’m a sucker for any Jane Foster Adventure™️, so I enjoyed this. As much as I like her role as Valkyrie, it still feels a little half-baked, at least in comparison to her time as Thor. And that stays true here, where we start things off on a really promising note that gradually starts to unspool as it goes. There’s too much going on and not enough space to let it breathe. If this were the start of an ongoing series, I’d be considerably higher on it, but as a standalone/epilogue/interstitial, it feels at least a little incomplete. Still, there is some great stuff here—both in the art and the storytelling—and I hope to see it and Jane continue in some form. There’s too much potential here, and I’d hate to see it disappear.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Alcohol