Tag: DC Icons

REVIEW: Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen

REVIEW: Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Between Harley’s own experiences of abuse and misogyny and what happens to her friend, Bernice, at a frat party, Harley’s decided she’s not going to take it any more.

Her retaliation against Bernice’s attacker catches some attention, and other girls come forward wanting to punish some of the more egregious examples of sexism and abuse on campus. Together they become The Reckoning.

But when members of The Reckoning are targeted, including Bernice, who has become something more than just a friend, Harley is desperate to find out what is happening to the people who have become like family to her and protect them.

Review

Harley is not a character in the DC Universe I’ve read a lot about. I have mostly a passing familiarity with her. But I have enjoyed this DC Icons series for years, so of course I picked up the latest addition.

The author does an amazing job with teasing out Harley’s darkness while still keeping her endearing. You are rooting for her – to triumph over her family and living situation, to get to pursue her dreams. But at the same time you cringe at revenge (real or imagined) taken too far. I found myself torn between the visceral desire to see the misogynists and abusers brought low and the line between right and wrong in the eyes of the law. There’s a lot said here about what it’s like for women in STEM for readers to consider as well.

All of the things I know about Harley from previous encounters – her brilliance, her fascination with the Joker, her own penchant for violence, her sexuality, her interest in psychology – are all tucked into this story. Again, the author does this in such a natural way while still telling her own story. It’s really well done. My only complaint is that I feel the timeline could have been more clear. The book starts in one place, then jumps back in time, and then jumps a couple more times. Hopefully this will be more clear in the final published version of the story.

I didn’t realize until the end that this is launching a trilogy of books. I have my fingers crossed about the next subject after a teaser in the book. I’m not sure if “trilogy” means they will all focus on Harley, or if it is more of a Sirens trilogy – but I’m here for it no matter what. HQ fans and DC fans should be sure to pick this one up. (Some language, reference to sexual assault/child abuse and neglect/emotional abuse, grief and loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir

REVIEW: Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a print copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The heroes of Gotham’s past are dead and buried. The Court of Owls reigns with ruthless oppression, especially over women and girls. They are forced to follow a strict public dress code, and they are barred from college and from various occupations. They aren’t even allowed to sing or play sports.

But Dinah Lane once heard a girl sing, and she’s never gotten it out of her mind. No one else believes her, but she knows what she heard. It’s what drove her into the overgrown park to find the old opera house. Rumors say there’s a hidden vault there of recorded voices. Dinah wants it. The Owls want to destroy it.

The Owls are watching Dinah since that night in the park. They find her secret stash of contraband, and she’s routinely searched. But if they discover what else she’s capable of, they will do everything in their power to destroy her.

Review

This was a fun version of the Black Canary/Green Arrow origin story. I was fascinated by the oppressive system that has taken over Gotham. I would have liked a stronger explanation of how the Silencing worked – why only singing and not also speaking voices, why was the loss of singing/music such a big deal? It sounds cheesy when you try to explain it to someone who hasn’t read the book, but the metaphor is clear and it works in the story.

There’s not a ton of character development. But I enjoyed the main characters. The villains – and their mouth pieces and minions – were as awful as you’d expect. There’s a bit more blood and violence than I was expecting, but it fit with the darkness of the Owls.

Fans of the DC Icons series – Wonder Woman: Warbringer (prose – ♥♥♥♥ and graphic novel), Batman: Nightwalker (prose and graphic novel), Catwoman: Soul Stealer (prose; GN releasing soon), Superman: Dawnbreaker (prose only – ♥♥♥) – should definitely pick this up to continue the line. All of the books stand alone, so new readers can start here and go back and pick up the rest of the series. I have thoroughly enjoyed these stories (well, the Superman book was a disappointment) and characters, and I’d love to see more in the future. (Violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Wonder Woman: Warbringer (Graphic Novel) by Leigh Bardugo

REVIEW: Wonder Woman: Warbringer (Graphic Novel) by Leigh Bardugo

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgally and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, fashioned a daughter out of clay, and the goddesses gave the girl life and many powers. Some of the Amazons don’t trust Diana, or what her existence might mean for the the island and their people. But Diana is determined to prove herself to everyone – the doubters, her mother and herself – by winning an epic race.

An accident occurs during the race, and Diana breaks one of the most basic rules of Themyscira – she rescues a human named Alia and brings her to the island. This sets off a chain reaction that endangers Diana’s home and all who live there. The girl she saved is a Warbringer, a young woman like Helen of Troy who leaves war and destruction in her wake simply by existing. If Diana lets the girl die, Themyscira will go back to normal. But Diana is determined to save everyone – her family AND Alia. Which means she must make a quest to the human world to overcome Alia’s destiny as a Warbringer.

Review

This was terrific! I think this format worked for the story even better than the full prose novel which published in 2017, the first of the DC Icons books. While I enjoyed the full novel (♥♥♥♥), it felt long at times. I enjoyed the graphic novel format for this so much. This has a Percy Jackson feel with the gods and goddesses, an oracle, and a quest to fight monsters and save the world. I loved the contrast of the Themyscira stories and New York stories when Diana and Alia go to the human world. The art in this is incredibly well done, and it was easy to follow the characters and the story.

I enjoyed the identity pieces of this story. All of the teens in this are dealing with identity issues in and around the quest to save Alia and the world, Their personal quests dovetailed nicely into the larger story and gave this a deeper plot in that way.

This is a rich and meaty story that moves quickly in the graphic novel format. I highly recommend this for Wonder Woman fans, DC fans, graphic novel fans, and readers who enjoyed the original book. While I have not personally clicked with the DC movie universe, their recent novels and graphic novels have been really well done!

DC very generously shared some of the interior art for the book. Here are a few sample pages of what you can expect when you pick up this terrific story!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Books from DC Comics

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Books from DC Comics

Posted on by Jaymie

Superhero stories – and villain stories – are all the rage these days. Marvel has had a HUGE year at the box office while I feel like DC has done a better job with their print offerings. My emphasis for this post is on prose books and graphic novels that are original in that form, rather than graphic novels that are collections of comic books. You can read some of my reviews of DC books here. But there are other DC books I have enjoyed that I haven’t given a full review. Read about some of those books below as well as some things DC will be publishing in the coming months.

DC Backstories

I loved this line of books that gave the backstories for these DC superheroes (as well as Superman and Supergirl).
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Super Hero High

I did a full review of the Batgirl story from this series, but I have read all of these. I am missing two books in the series to read – Harley Quinn and Bumblebee. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Middle Grade Books

Flash: Hocus Pocus – I loved the first book in this Flash series! I haven’t kept up with the books (and now there is a new crossover series starting), but I liked how this one tied into the TV show, but was from a different timeline where Barry hadn’t gone back in time to change things (creating a slew of problems). The villain in this was legitimate and made for a very suspenseful story. Fans of the TV show should definitely check this series out. Rating: ♥♥♥♥ There’s also a Supergirl series like this, but I haven’t read any of those. Book one is called Age of Atlantis.

Study Hall of Justice – The first  Secret Hero Society book was fun. They are set up like the Jedi Academy books with comic panels, journal entries, etc. I did not like the art style for the first book, so I didn’t keep with it, but it looks like they changed artists with book 4, so I might have to try them again. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

DC Icons

I loved the idea of these DC Icons books – prose novels about the “heroes” as teens – so I read all four of them even though I have only posted a full review for Batman: Nightwalker. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wonder Woman story (Rating: ♥♥♥♥) and the Catwoman story (Rating: ♥♥♥♥), but the Superman book was a disappointment (Rating: ♥♥♥). The WW and Batman stories are being turned into graphic novels.

Early Readers/Chapter Books – Coming Soon

DC Super Hero Adventures – Four books release February 1, 2020 from DC including these two titles. It looks like these will be chapter books rather than graphic novels. I’m excited to see that!
DC Super Hero Girls at Metropolis High  – A new Super Hero Girls iteration launches on October 15, 2019. A second graphic novel in the series will release in spring 2020.
Winner Takes All – A chapter book starring Wonder Woman in Metropolis. Releases November 19, 2019. There may be a second book in the series releasing the same day.

Middle Grade – Coming Soon

Batman: Overdrive – Middle grade graphic novel releasing in March 2020.
Black Canary: Ignite (Dinah Lance) – Graphic novel, releasing October 29, 2019
Diana Princess of the Amazons – New graphic novel from the fantastic Shannon Hale releases in January 2020.
Field Trip Disaster – Book 5 in the Secret Hero Society series. Releases October 1, 2019.
Green Lantern: Legacy – New graphic novel releases in January 2020.
Super Sons: The Foxglove Mission – Book 2 in the Super Sons series releases on October 29, 2019
Zatanna and the House of Secrets – Middle grade graphic novel releasing in February 2020.

Teens – Coming Soon

Batman: Nightwalker Graphic Novel – Releases October 1, 2019
Gotham High (Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, Jack Napier) – Graphic novel, releasing April 2020
The Oracle Code (Barbara Gordon) – Graphic novel, releasing March 2020
Shadow of the Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) – Graphic novel, releasing February 2020
Wonder Woman: Warbringer Graphic Novel – Releases in January 2020

REVIEW: Catwoman Soul Stealer by Sarah J. Maas

REVIEW: Catwoman Soul Stealer by Sarah J. Maas

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Selina Kyle is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her younger sister, Maggie. At first that means fighting for Carmine Falcone as a Leopard – part of a girl gang. Selina is smart and skilled. She’s undefeated in the fight circuit.

But when Selina is arrested for fighting with the police who come to put her and Maggie into foster homes, she’s in no position to protect anyone anymore. Talia al Ghūl makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Talia will clean up Selina’s arrest record and make sure Maggie gets into a safe situation where her significant medical needs can be addressed, and Selina will join the League of Assassins.

Two years later, Selina is back in Gotham as socialite Holly Vanderhees. No one knows Holly is also the new criminal, Catwoman, who is robbing the Gotham high society folks blind. Not even Holly’s new neighbor, Luke Fox, knows what she does in her free time. But that’s okay. Holly/Selina doesn’t know Luke is Batwing, determined to protect Gotham from any threat – including Catwoman.

Review

This was terrific! This is the third DC Icons book after Wonder Woman Warbringer and Batman Nightwalker. I have enjoyed all three books, and I’m usually not a DC fan.

This one had a different feel to it as Catwoman is not the “hero” so to speak. She hooks up with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy to rob the city blind and cause plenty of chaos. But Catowman is a likable villain. She contrasts well with the ruthless, bomb trigger-happy Harley Quinn. Selina is more strategic than Harley and she’s as bright as Poison Ivy which makes them great as a pair. Ivy’s unrequited crush on Harley complicates the affinity she has with Catwoman. Her loyalty is always in flux, which made for a fun dynamic.

Poor Batwing can’t catch a break. Batman’s out of town but still manages to keep tabs on Gotham news and call Luke to ask if he’s up to the task of keeping the city safe. Neither man is aware of the world of hurt about to descend on Gotham.

This was a delight to read. Complicated characters, secret identities, and romantic chemistry between “Holly” and Luke as well as Catwoman and Batwing. And then the mystery of Catwoman’s plan for Gotham and all the things that have to happen for her to achieve it. Completely satisfying!

Book four, Superman Dawnbreaker  (spring 2019) goes back to highlighting the heroes. These are standalone stories and can be read in any order (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

REVIEW: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Bruce Wayne is about to turn 18 and inherit a fortune and take over the family business. But one choice on a dark night changes his course in a way he doesn’t expect.

After an argument with a “friend,” Bruce drives off to clear his head. In a custom Aston Martin built for speed, Bruce drives around Gotham to process his thoughts. Sirens and curiosity lead Bruce into a police situation and a high speed chase. (Hey, the Aston Martin could keep up better than what the police were driving!) While he ultimately helped catch the criminal, he’s a civilian interfering in police business. So Bruce earns community service. At Arkham Asylum.

The Nightwalkers are a new, dangerous criminal element in Gotham. They target the rich and drain their bank accounts. They use the money to commit acts of terrorism and then kill their victims. One of the Nightwalkers is in Arkham, and she takes a liking to Bruce. She refuses to talk to anyone else, and the police need her talking. But she is more dangerous than Bruce can imagine.

Review

I have mixed feelings about the DC Universe in general, which I have mentioned before. And I’m not usually a big fan of Batman. But I love the whole idea of this DC Icons series. I have Wonder Woman Warbringer already, and Catwoman: Soul Stealer is on my wish list for August. Both the Wonder Woman book and this one about Batman have exceeded my expectations!

There are plenty of nods to the Batman cannon – probably more than I caught as I read this. I could see the hints of the hero/vigilante yet to come in Bruce’s thinking and drive. His choices here as a young man felt consistent with what I’ve seen of Batman in other venues over the years.

This story was terrific. Madeleine is a fascinating character full of secrets and lies. She is complex and nuanced. A perfect foil for Bruce Wayne. The Nightwalker situation was a great way to build tension and suspense. I was supremely happy with how all the pieces clicked together. I hope there will be more Batman books by Marie Lu! This was a joy to read.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥