(Comic) Non-Compliance....a look at Bitch Planet. (4 issues)

Knowing nothing about this work other than the writer, Kelly Sue DeConnick was a feminist, I went in curious and excited. I'd not read a comic written by a woman before.

Needless to say, it exceeded my expectations (and might I say, my expectations were high,) and left me with a lot to think about.

The story jumps between an earth in the future and a prison planet for non-compliant women. These women do not follow the law of the patriarchy and as such are sent to bitch planet, where they are monitored and manipulated by the government employees who run the prison.

What's really surprising is that we don't see the main character until the end of the first issue. But I won't spoil that for you. Her introduction is arguably the most badass I have ever seen.

The art style makes me think of a mix of the Walking Dead and Invincible with dark gritty characters and backgrounds with brighter colours to make the characters stand out. The shots are dynamic and are visually beautiful to look at.

The audience is thrown into the deep end of a compelling story where it is not the individual that is the issue, it's the system driven by the many that is the problem. Though I've only been introduced to two characters by name, I'm hungry for more.

I'm be proud to say I'm non-compliant.

This comic is like eating your favourite flavour of Pringles. You can't just have one.

Read it. You owe it to yourself.


Edit: As I'd only read the first issue, I'd not realised that this is a fairly new series. There are currently only 4 issues out and they are all exquisite works. 

While I understand that Ms. DeConnick wasn't satisfied with Penny's story, it worked out well and it was great to see a bigger person of colour love herself for who she was. Penny is the embodiment of non-compliance.

Furthermore, the mystery has deepened. Ms. Kogo, our protagonist and a former track star, has gotten roped into playing a violent game called Megaton. It's like American football with more hand to hand combat. 

As I've read on, I see that it not only draws a lot of influence from Orange is the New Black, but the Longest Yard and Even V for Vendetta. 

Even in reading up to the fourth issue, I have only added more questions to my list of many questions. 

What's more, I love the essays at the end and the notes from Kelly Sue. Plus the letters and the final page that shows a bunch of fictional advertisements that look as though they're from the fifties.

This comic is definitely worth the read and warrants 5 stars. 

Thus ends the review. 

Let me know your thoughts and please don't forget to recommend volumes for comics, movies and books! 

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(Comic) Monster Mash....a look at Wayward

For those of you who know me, you know of my love for Japan.

For those of you who know me well, you know of my love for mythical beasts.

So a blend of the two is epic beyond belief.

Rori Lane is a half Irish, half Japanese young woman who is starting her life in Japan. She doesn't exactly fit in, given her short red hair and her capacity to follow supernatural patterns. Rori and the friends she makes end up starting a journey that could change the the fabric of reality.

I've always loved stories about the human world and the one of mythology blending. We get to experience it firsthand from Rori's perspective and witness things of cultural importance, such as the red thread of fate (A belief that two people are connected by a red thread that won't break or knot.)

One of the best things about this comic is how true it stays to Japan. Even in the foreword it's the main thing talked about. Like, when westerners think of Japan, we often think of it like we'd think of Narnia or Middle Earth. Some mystical place we can only travel to in our dreams. Having been to Japan myself, I could imagine myself walking the streets of Ikebukuro or spending time in a high school. This is perhaps because most of the folk who worked on the comic live in Japan.

Story-wise the pacing captures you by showing you the beautiful artworks, then ramps it up really quickly. Near the last 15 pages of this volume I was audibly saying, "WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!"

You got people who eat ghosts, a person who can turn into a horde of cats and a human time bomb (At least that's how he appears.)

The thing is, their appearance is of someone you could meet if you ever went to Japan. It's what made them so likeable and makes you feel for them. They feel real.

Wayward volume one is immersive and treats Japanese culture with respect while also being honest about its often underlying issues within the country.

The yokai, or monsters are beautifully done and recognisable to those who love their mythology.

Wayward feels like the comic equivalent of Avatar. What I mean by this is that it takes anime style and applies a western edge to it, making it that much more natural and vibrant. The colours are vivid and there are kanji or Japanese letters that give a nod to readers who can read the language.

One last thing before I rate this: This comic does have an element of self harm. However, it's used as a form of control/centring, rather than a glorification.

This comic was an excellent read and feels a lot like a manga. I would recommend it for locals of Japan and weeaboos alike.

5 stars.

Thus ends this review!

Agree/disagree? Comment and let me know! Let me know what you'd like me to review next! 

Movie reviews every Wednesday and Comics every Friday.

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(Comic) Nobody is safe...a look at Invincible Vol. 1

While we all know Robert Kirkman thanks to the Walking Dead (both comic and TV series,) his other series are not as common.

One of which, is Invincible.

Mark Grayson is the son of Omni-man and discovers that, like his father, has powers of his own. He can fly, age slower than the average human and is super strong.

Wanting to be like his father, he dons a costume and becomes Invincible.

He joins up with the Teen Team, a minor league superhero group that take down villains in the local area, he and his father go out and perform heroic deeds and he makes a friend in Atom Eve; one of the members of the aforementioned Teen Team. He even stops his science professor from making bombs out of people.

One of the many things I love about this volume is that it's the start of everything. It establishes a world and characters that are likeable, colourful and real. I can imagine meeting the Grayson family and having a meal with them.

In reading the foreword, Kurt Busiek talks about wanting an annual comic on Mark's mother, Debbie. I'm with him. A comic where you witness a conversation about being captured and taken to another dimension and a question about who wants dessert? Heck yes!
#DebbieGraysonisagoddess

The settings don't feel overwhelming in detail and the panels are easy to follow. The art style is nostalgic and down to earth. What I mean by this is that while it looks like a sketch, it feels natural and the style fits the universe we've been introduced to.

The dialogue is filled with dry humour and made me laugh aloud more than once. It's informative without overwhelming you in detail, which I can appreciate. It doesn't play Robin in the whole, "OMIGOD BATMAN! THE OBVIOUS THING IS OBVIOUS!" Never did like that much.

Lastly, my favourite part about this comic is its re-readability. Looking over how much things have changed (I'm hanging out for the latest volume as I write this,) it's nice to relive the moments where Mark is just starting out.

Overall, this comic, particularly this volume, is deceptively simple to follow, easy to immerse yourself and makes you laugh out loud.

While Batman and Iron Man have their tragic backstories, we get to watch and grow with Mark as he learns about his powers and balancing his school life with hero duty.

It feels very real to me and that's why it's worth of the Ravensmark (Picture still pending.). This mark is reserved for those creations that cannot be measured by mere numbers. It holds a special place in this reader's heart.

Thus ends the raven review.

Please feel free to comment, share and retweet this review! I'd love to hear your thoughts and recommendations in the future!

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I'll see you in the next review.

Movie reviews are released every Wednesday and book reviews are released sporadically. Comics are reviewed every Friday. First volumes only.