Eat the Rich #5 - Quick Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #5

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

'TIL DEATH DO US PART! Astor finally proposes but the cost of marrying into the 1% is too terrible for Joey to even contemplate. Too bad saying no isn't an option if she wants to get out of Crestfall Bluffs in one piece! With the horrible truth fully revealed, can Joey escape a proposal much too rich for her blood, or will she get eaten alive by the secrets of the rich and powerful?

What did I think of it:

After the absurd turn in #4 things get back on track in this issue. 

It's the last, so the story reaches a cool and satisfying climax. I was surprised by the ending, but in a good way. I will most certainly reread the whole series in one go to get everything that's going on in one sitting, and might even get myself the bundled series in print.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool Horror Comic

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Eat the Rich #4 - Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #4

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

Even as Joey struggles to make sense of everything she's seen, what role her beloved Astor has in it, and what it means for her relationship with him, Crestfall Bluffs is a flurry of activity preparing for the Thistleburn Unveiling Gala Party. When Joey intervenes in a situation she doesn't fully understand, it will bring everything to a head in the most unexpected way!

What did I think of it:

Things are getting absurd in this issue.

I liked the start, the story seemed to take a turn I was hoping for, but then things got weird... Maybe it's just me, and others might find it suspenseful or scary, but it felt almost like slapstick to me at times.

Still I'm curious how this all will end, so I'll get my trotters on the last issue for sure.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun horroresque comic

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Eat the Rich #3 - Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #3

by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak (Illustrator)

What is it about:

Still uncertain about what she saw in Pip's office, Joey confides in Kitty... but Kitty's response only confuses her more, leaving Joey with no choice but to play along with the family. Until Fourth of July, when at a party Joey suspects what she thought she saw then is happening again. Can Joey come to terms with what is really happening in Crestfall Bluffs... and can she still walk away alive?

What did I think of it:

This issue takes the story in a direction I did not see coming. I expected there to be an acceleration of the violence from the first issue, but instead there's more revelations, and Joey does things I hadn't thought she would do.

I can't say I minded, I was intrigued by the unrolling events, and I'm eager for the next issue to see where this all will lead to. You bet I'll get my trotters on the next issue once it releases.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool and suspenseful horror story.

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Cyberpunk 2077, Vol. 1: Trauma Team - Book Review

 

Cyberpunk 2077, Vol. 1: Trauma Team - (Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team #1-4)

by Cullen Bunn and Miguel Valderrama (Illustrator)

What is it about:

Dive deeper into the world of Cyberpunk 2077!

Nadia, an assistant EMT for a privately-owned business known as Trauma Team International, is the sole survivor of a failed rescue mission turned shootout.

After she agrees to continue work for an upcoming extraction mission, Nadia discovers that her new extraction subject is Apex--the man who's responsible for Nadia's former team members' deaths. A hundred floors high in a skyscraper filled with members of Apex's rival gang, Nadia and her team must complete the extraction.

Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, Uncanny X-Men) and Christopher Mooneyham (Predator, Nightwing) introduce an all-original series based on CD Projekt Red's brand-new game Cyberpunk 2077!

Collects Cyberpunk 2077 #1-4.

What did I think of it:

My love for the game Cyberpunk 2077 is still going strong, so I got my trotters on the 3 issues of Trauma Team I hadn't read yet. I reread the first issue and then read the others. Note that I am reviewing them as a whole and link to the bundled issues instead of the separate issues here. If you do buy them in digital format it might be wise to get them all separately though, it might be cheaper.

I liked the artwork in this comic. It's not too polished and fits the atmosphere of the story and world.

The story itself is told out of order, alternating between flashbacks and the 'now'. And I think that might be what made this story lose power for me. Nadia is back at work after losing her entire team on an earlier mission. Although we get to see what happened early on in the story, extra information about Nadia's connection to her team is kept for later. If the story was told chronologically this might have made me feel more for Nadia, now to me it came across as a badly used plot device instead of making me bond with the story and Nadia. 

That aside I had fun with this comic. There was action, drama, and it expanded my understanding of the Cyberpunk 2077 world. All in all worth a read for fans of the game.

Why should you read it:

It's an entertaining read set in the Cyberpunk 2077 world.

buy from Amazon

Eat the Rich - Comic Book Review

Eat the Rich (Eat the Rich, #1)

by Sarah Gailey, Pius Bak (Illustrator), Roman Titov (Illustrator), and Cardinal Rae (Illustrator)

What is it about:

What unspeakable horror eats away at the heart of Crestfall Bluffs?

With law school and her whole life ahead of her, Joey plans to summer with her boyfriend Astor in his seemingly perfect hometown of Crestfall Bluffs.

It's a chance to finally meet Astor's family and childhood friends, all while enjoying a vacation with every need attended to by servants.

But beneath the affluent perfection lies a dark, deadly rot... will Joey discover the truth before it's too late, and if she does, can she survive to tell the tale?

What did I think of it:

Apart from one short story that just wasn't for me, I've loved everything by Gailey that I've read. So you bet I got my greedy trotters on this comic. 

The art-style isn't my favorite, but it works good enough. It reminded me of some of the Sandman comics in tone and style. If you get this comic in print there are several covers you can choose from, and I can tell you that I would totally have chosen one of the other covers if that had been possible for the digital version.

As for the story:

I very much enjoyed the story and how it is set up. It's not very subtle in my opinion, and telegraphs the horrors to come from Joey's boyfriend telling he started drinking at 12, to other even more obvious chilling remarks.

But this is a horror story after all, so I didn't mind at all. Instead I was eager to see where the story would lead.

This being issue 1 of a 5-issue series it does end just as things begin to unravel, leaving you hungry for more. You bet I'll be getting my trotters on issue 2 when it releases.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool horror comic

buy from amazon

 

Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team #1 - Book Review

 

Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team #1 (Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team #1)

by Cullen Bunn, Miguel Valderrama (Cover Art), and Jason Wordie (Colorist)

What is it about:

New series based on the highly anticipated game! Nadia, an assistant EMT for a privately-owned business known as Trauma Team International, is the sole survivor of a failed rescue mission turned shootout. After she agrees to continue work for an upcoming extraction mission, Nadia and her new team find themselves in an even more dangerous and life-threatening situation.

What did I think of it:

I'm loving Cyberpunk 2077, so I decided to give this comic a try.

And it's a nice comic. The artwork isn't as slick and lifeless as most superhero comics, and I loved looking at the panels. The story however didn't really grab me, and it felt very short. Now this is the first part of a four part story, so I might be a bit harsh here. I might wait until all four parts are released together in a print bundle and then give it a second try.

Why should you read it:

It's a nice and cool looking comic.

buy from amazon

Hopcross Jilly - Book Review

Hopcross Jilly
(Mercedes Thompson Graphic Novels)
by Patricia Briggs, Rik Hoskin (Artist), Tom Garcia (Artist)

What is it about:
Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote and honorary member of the Tri-Cities werewolf pack. When the pack stumbles upon the buried bones of numerous dead children, she shapeshifts into a mystery of the legendary fae - a mystery that draws Mercy's stepdaughter Jesse into the fray! The supernatural romance series Mercy Thompson continues in this all-new, original story by New York Times bestselling author, Patricia Briggs, exclusively created for the comic book medium!

This 168 page hardcover collects the six-issue Mercy Thompson comic book series by PATRICIA BRIGGS, RIK HOSKIN, and TOM GARCIA aand features the original script and line art to issue #1, along with character designs and sketches by Tom Garcia.

What did I think of it:
I have a confession to make.

I love graphic novels and comics. I love the Mercy Thompson series. What I do not love: Graphic Novels that tie in with a book series.

Come on! I've read tons of books in this series and have my own idea how everyone looks, and then suddenly their looks are forced upon me by a graphic novel?! And I wouldn't mind that if this story was also available as a novella or something, but no: this story is only available as a graphic novel. So if it wasn't for the fact that my best friend bought this book and let me borrow it, I wouldn't have read it.

That rant over with:

This is a decent graphic novel with a cool story.

The artwork is pretty standard, but nice enough. The story is compelling, although not very surprising. (And I will keep my grumbling on the implied visual detail that goth/alternative = evil confined to this sentence.)

All in all a nice addition to the Mercyverse, although I'd have preferred a short story or novella in text form.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool story that give a bit more insight in the fae.


Buy from bookdepository

Sunstone - Comic Book Review

Sunstone (Sunstone #1/#4)
by Stjepan Šejić

What is it about:
Two women deal with modern themes of sex, relationships, and fetishism in this erotic romantic comedy. So beware all who enter, because, to quote a few hundred thousand readers on DeviantArt: "I'm not into BDSM...but this story...I get it."

What did I think of it:
Looking at the artwork it's clear that Šejić has also worked on Witchblade for Top Cow. Sunstone has the same typical color scheme and style as Witchblade and other big name comics.

Not that this is a bad thing: it's very prettily drawn and although the coloring could have been a bit less glossy in my opinion, it's a standard most comic book readers seem to enjoy.

It's the story however that makes this comic series stand above the rest though.

Lisa and Ally meet online, and when they get to know and like each other they decide to meet, as they both are into BDSM and are looking for someone to share this interest with. Together they indulge in their passion, and become friends with benefits, or is it maybe more than that?

There's a lot of skimpily dressed women in this comic as you might have guessed, and a lot about BDSM and exploring your sexuality. Still Šejić keeps this series from becoming tawdry, letting sensual scenes between Lisa and Ally fade to black before they become too explicit.

And the story: I loved how much playfulness, humor and warmth there is in this story. At one point Lisa describes BDSM people as sexual nerds, and although I dare say this isn't true for all BDSM people, it sure is true for Lisa and Ally, making this a fun and lighthearted story. Not to say there aren't darker and more distressing moments, but the overall tone keeps this story from diving into darkness.

As this story is told by Lisa after the facts, you already get glimpses of the final outcome, but volume 4 ends at quite the cliffhanger. I borrowed these comics from a friend and you can be sure I'll be investigating if she's planning on getting the next volume once it releases, otherwise I might be tempted to buy it myself. (I might have to do that anyway, because there's only so many times you can borrow the same book from a friend before they get annoyed.)

Why should you read it:
It's a prettily drawn, beautiful BDSM Romance

Rombies

Today I got this comic in the mail, send to me by Velvet from vvB32 Reads. As it got zombies I read it straight away and I'll give you a short review of it:

Rombies by Tom Taylor and Skye Ogden

What is it about:
For a gladiator a fight is usually over when his opponent dies.
Today: Not so much!

What did I think of it:
Nicely drawn and full of zombie mayhem! It's a short story, but very entertaining. And it has zombie lions!! What more could you want from a zombie story set in Roman times?! All in all a very satisfying read.

Why should you read it:
It has zombie gladiators and zombie lions!

The Drained Brains Caper - Early Book Review

*
The Drained Brains Caper (Chicagoland Detective Agency #1) by Trina Robbins, illustrated by Tyler Page

What is it about:
Raf knows Megan is trouble from the moment she steps into his mom's pet food store asking for a tarantula. But there's one thing you can count on in Chicagoland: weird things happen several times a day.
Megan is a vegetarian, manga-reading haiku writer. She definitely doesn't fit in at Stepford Academy, her new summer school. The other students are happy to be in class. Too happy. And everyone looks and acts exactly alike. That's weird.
Megan is determined to dig into Stepford's secrets, but soon she's in way too deep. Raf may be the only human being she knows who can help. But with zombified students, very mad scientists, and the school psychiatrist on their trail, they're going to need a whole lot more help.
We did say that Chicagoland is weird...

What did I think of it:
This is a comic meant for ages 9-14, which is clear from the straightforward storyline, but it's certainly funny enough that it's entertaining for older age groups too. I really liked Megan, she's a quirky character and shares my love for Haiku. I did have a small problem with the drawing style. In some things it resembles Manga, but in others it is very lifelike and that didn't fit together in my opinion. Megan's head for example is drawn in a Manga style and I would have expected a small (unrealistic) body to go with it, but instead the body had normal human proportions which made it feel weird for me.

Why should you read it:
If you like reading Manga-like comics you might enjoy this.

The Drained Brains Caper (Chicagoland Detective Agency #1) will be released on September 1st

* I got this book for review from the publisher through Netgalley