Welcome back to Independent Comic Spotlight! It’s that time of year, kiddos, and whether you’re a student, a teacher, an adjunct professor, or Matthew McConaughey’s character from Dazed and Confused, you’ve been looking forward to (or dreading) this time of year since you went on summer break. That’s right. It’s back to school time! So here are some of the leftovers or recent additions to my library thanks to a bunch of up-and-coming and a few already-there comic book superstar creators. Here are my reviews:
Fertility – Gosia Herba, Mikolaj Pasinski
* It is very difficult to pull off a “silent” comic nowadays, let alone an entire graphic novel, but this one does so quite well, focusing on the more supernatural elements of fertility and one couple’s desire to have a child.
My Rating: 3/5
Forest Beekeeper and the Treasure of Puschcha – Tomasz Samojlik
* A fun little fantasy tale in the form of this writer/artist’s graphic novel is reminiscent of some of the TV shows I watched as a child.
My Rating: 3/5
Moscow – Ida Neverdahl, Oystein Runde
* Social justice, in the form of a graphic novel, poking fun at the current issues surrounding Putin’s regime in Russia.
My Rating: 3/5
Friends – Jan Soeken
* The true story of two German policemen who join the Ku Klux Klan in search of friendship and the antics they face in the midst of initiation are presented in this dark comedy graphic novel.
My Rating: 3/5
Secret Coders – Gene Luen Yang, Mike Holmes
* Gene Luen Yang can do no wrong, and with great art from Mike Holmes, this graphic novel is yet another fun read for kids and adults of all ages and interests, with a special bonus for those into computers and the newest forms of technology.
My Rating: 5/5
Seven Years in Dog-Land – Johnny Tay
* A popular web comic finally gets the print treatment in this epic tale of what it would be like if dogs inherited the Earth, literally.
My Rating: 3/5
So there you have it. Some must-haves and some sure to be classics. As always, thank you to the creators who have sent me their work. And for those of you who wish to be recognized or spotlighted yourself, please feel free to contact me at JeffHill@ComicBooked.com and I’ll get you into the rotation. Have a great school year everyone!
