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Dover Publications is mostly known for two things: papercraft books (including coloring books back before they were cool), and reprinting lost literary treasures, mostly in the public domain. That reprint model changed a few years ago, when Drew Ford, then an editor at Dover, started a graphic novel line, reprinting many forgotten classics from the […]

By Harper Harris

Although Scott McCloud has worked on fiction comics before, it’s been a while. He wrote and drew his fantastically unique superhero series Zot! in the mid-eighties, and since then the only major return was writing a few issues of Superman Adventures in 1996 and The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln in 1998. What he’s most famous for is his work within comics theory, in the form of the seminal Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics, and finally Making Comics. These are highly regarded works amongst the comics community; reading the first often marks the beginning of a true devotee to sequential storytelling, acting as a kind of benchmark in fandom. McCloud set a pretty high bar for himself with this series when he set out to return to comics fiction with his massive new graphic novel, The Sculptor, and luckily for him, it mostly holds up to the sort of scrutiny that he brought to the comics world with his analytic books.

The Sculptor revolves around the life of David Smith, a young artist who we find at his lowest: the acclaim surrounding his earlier work has faded away, he has no family left, and he’s spending his last few bucks on a cheap diner meal for his twenty sixth birthday. The inciting action of the book is a Faustian deal with death: David agrees that for the power to create great art, he will only live for 200 more days. Although his new found powers–the ability to sculpt any material with just his bare hands–grants him artistic ability, he still struggles to deal with the fickle art world and most importantly, the fact that he may have met the love of his life with just a few months to live.

The writing is quite strong. David, while not the most likeable guy in every circumstance, is relatable and familiar, especially if you’ve ever known a fine artist. He’s frustrating but inspiring, and his struggles, both existential and tangible, hit a lot of the right emotional beats. It’s a massive graphic novel at just under 500 pages, but for the majority of the book it is a page turner; I found myself not knowing where things were going, in a very exciting way. McCloud throws in many different conflicts, from a breakdown in communication with a loved one to the inability to make art that is both crowd-pleasing and truly great. Perhaps most noteworthy is his portrayal of depression, which comes across as refreshingly true-to-life, not using it as a plot device but rather making it a crucial part of character development.

The art, too, is perhaps McCloud’s best. There’s an excellent sense of pacing that subtly draws you into the perspective of David, with things moving along quickly with smaller gutter space when he’s excited or scared. The book is two-toned, being in black and white with blue shading, and it looks fantastic. McCloud’s cartooning is pretty phenomenal, capturing the moods of each of the characters often with only a look, and particularly important to the book is his rendering of the actual sculptures, which are visually interesting and feel true to both real life abstract sculpture and David’s character. The Sculptor subtly plays with storytelling techniques that are exciting and fresh, crafted with the ambition of a young artist but the forethought of a cartooning master.

My biggest issue with the book comes with the last act, as David’s life is winding down. Things take a narrative twist at this point, and while I wasn’t wholly against the twist, it loses a lot of the “down to earth-ness” that it had up until that point. There are moments when it truly shines–a life flashing before your eyes sequence with literally hundreds of panels over ten pages stands out–but the book loses a lot of momentum and latches onto some unfortunate narrative cliches. The ending is not a mess, but it feels rushed and a bit of a misstep compared to the rest of the book, which is plotted with a lot of care and subtlety and has a unique unpredictability.

That said, the book tackles some fascinating themes. The Sculptor captures what it is to be a frustrated artist better than most stories, and does it in a way that is visually gorgeous, especially if you’re a fan of black and white cartooning. Throughout the bulk of the book, it brings in characters, ideas, and narrative devices that are distinctive and oftentimes quite beautiful. The way in which death is portrayed and explained, for example, and how he shows David the afterlife as a terrifyingly blank page are worth a lot of rumination, and while they reference earlier works (The Seventh Seal in particular), McCloud brings his own visual language to the whole concept.

Although the last bit left me a bit less than 100% engaged, the majority of the book had me cancelling plans so I could continue reading. Overall, it’s a major graphic accomplishment, one that is both a compelling page-turner and a relevant meditation on life, art, and love, presented by one of the most important cartoonists of our time. It’s certain to be the start of many best of 2015 lists, and despite my issues with it, I can’t say I wouldn’t consider it among the better graphic novels in the last several years. The Sculptor‘s careful storytelling and alluring art far outweigh the narrative problems that slowly creep in towards the last part, and in the end, it’s a book I would strongly recommend with just a few qualifiers.

The Sculptor releases on February 3rd. If you act fast, you can still order signed copies through Barnes and Noble. See ScottMcCloud.com for details on the book tour.

War Is Boring by David Axe and Matt Bors

Review by Chris Singer

About the author and illustrator:

David Axe is a military correspondent living in Columbia, South Carolina. Since 2005 he has reported from the U.K., Iraq, Lebanon, Japan, East Timor, Afghanistan, Somalia, Chad, Nicaragua, Kenya, Gabon, Congo and other countries. He is a regular contributor to Voice of America, C-SPAN, Wired and many others. David can be reached at david_axe-at-hotmail.com.

Matt Bors is a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist and illustrator based in Portland, OR. His work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country, including The Nation, The Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice, The Stranger and The Boston Phoenix. He also contributes local cartoons to The Oregonian.

About the book:

Street battles with spears and arrows in sweltering East Timor. Bone- jarring artillery duels in Afghanistan's mountains. Long patrols on the sandy wastes of southern Iraq. For four years, war was life for David Axe. He was alternately bored out of his mind and completely terrified. It was strangely addictive.

As a correspondent for The Washington Times, C-SPAN and BBC Radio, Axe flew from conflict to conflict, reveling in death, danger, and destruction abroad while, back in D.C., his apartment gathered dust, his plants died, and his relationships withered. War reporting was physically, emotionally, and financially draining-and disillusioning. Loosely based on the web comic of the same name, with extensive new material, War Is Boring takes us to Lebanon and Somalia; to arms bazaars across the United States; to Detroit, as David tries to reconnect with his family-and to Chad, as David attempts to bring attention to the Darfur genocide.

My take on the book:

It's only been over the last few years that I've developed a new appreciation for the graphic novel. Reading Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 got me hooked into reading more graphic novels, and I have learned they are a fantastic medium for non-fiction as well, with Greg Neri's Yummy being one of the best I've ever read.

For David Axe, the author of War Is Boring, war was his life. For four years he covered military conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Somalia, Chad and Lebanon. During that time as a correspondent for The Washington Times, C-SPAN and BBC Radio, David flew from war zone to war zone, getting to the story about the true victims of the world's conflicts.

If you're looking solely for the gritty details from someone up close and in the midst of real life combat situations, you're going to be a bit disappointed. While there is some of that, this graphic novel is mostly about Axe's inner conflict between what he describes as being "alternatively bored out of [his] mind, and completely terrified. It was strangely addictive."

What gets shared in War Is Boring, is very similar to the soldier memoirs I have read. Axe gets an exhilarating rush from surviving artillery duels and the like just as many combat soldiers do. The longer he covers conflicts, the more his personal relationships deteriorate, and he seems lost and drained when he's back stateside trying to reconnect with friends and family. When the phone rings with an assignment, Axe is almost relieved to be leaving his family and to be off chasing another dangerous story abroad.

The narrative is very compelling and jarring in a manner I didn't expect it to be. Instead of being shaken by the details of the conflicts Axe

Lately I’ve been reading a bunch of Graphic novels and really enjoying that storytelling medium. I was not much of a comics kid growing up though I do remember reading my cousin’s Richie Rich comics when we would come to visit. It wasn’t until well into adulthood that I got a hold of a series of comics and really connected with the genre. Recently I was sent a couple of books from No Starch Press to have a look at and it seemed to go right along with my new found appreciation of graphic novels and comics. The books were The Manga Guide To The Universe and The Manga Guide To Physics. Manga was a genre that I had not really had a chance to explore and these books were an interesting introduction to the Japanese comic style.

The Manga Guide To The Universe combines comics, explanatory paragraphs and diagrams, and even a little history of Japanesse culture using a couple of High School characters to guide us through. Answering questions like “Is Earth the center of the universe?” and “What’s it like at the edge of the universe?” with graphic story telling and in-depth explanations. I liked how the comics lead you into a subject and then the more technical part came at the end. There was almost a softening up and easing into new subjects before getting into the meat of the information.

The Manga Guide To Physics uses the same format of comics and paragraphs but this time we are reading about Megumi, an all-star athlete that needs a little help with her Physics. The law of action and reaction, force and motion, momentum, and energy is covered but through story. There are even lab exercises in the book for the reader to put what they are learning into action. This seems like a great book for those students taking physics right now as well as those that just want a refresher course on the basics. Having not taken Physics myself it was kind of fun to dig into the subject right along with Megumi.

I don’t know that I am a big Manga fan and I think that you should be to fully appreciate these books. While the subject matter is great I think that a familiarity with the comic style would help. If you like Manga already or know someone that does then these are the books for them. They deal with complex subjects in a fun narrative way. There are Manga titles on a wide range of subjects at the No Starch website so if Physics and the Universe don’t grab your attention maybe Statistics, Calculus, or Relativity will. Check the wide range of titles at the site and start learning a new subject or catch up with one you may have forgotten.

Amulet (Book 4: The Last Council) by Kazu Kibuishi

Review by Chris Singer

About the author:

Kazu Kibuishi is the founder and editor of the Flight Anthologies, a critically acclaimed comics series, as well as the creator of Daisy Kutter: The Last Train, a winner of the YALSA Best Books for Young Adults Award.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Kazu moved to the U.S. with his mother and brother when he was a child. He graduated from Film Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He currently works as a full-time comic book artist.

About the book:

Kazu Kibuishi’s thrilling, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series continues!

Emily and her friends think they’ll find the help they need in Cielis, but something isn’t right. Streets that were once busy are deserted, and the townspeople who are left live in fear. Emily is soon escorted to the Academy, where she’s expected to compete for a spot on the Guardian Coucil, a group of the most powerful Stonekeepers. But as the number of competitors gets smaller and smaller, an awful secret is slowly uncovered – a secret that, if left buried, means the certain destruction of everything Emily fights for.

Book Trailer:

My take on the book:

This was my first introduction to Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series and I really was quite impressed. I actually wanted to get my hands on the first three books before reading this one, but all of those copies at my local library were either checked out or already on reserve (a good sign I would think).

Since I couldn’t get any of the previous books in the series I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t have a clue about what was going on in the story. I was relieved to see that I was able to follow the story and that it didn’t take me long to pick up on what was going on.

It also was pretty easy to see why this series was so popular. Kids enjoy stories with heroes and The Last Council is definitely reminiscent of classical tales of good versus evil. Kibuishi’s illustrations are fantastic and the story is action-packed as well. Middle readers, especially those interested in fantasy/science fiction, will particular enjoy this book.

I’m planning on checking out and reviewing the first three in the series. Be sure to show your readers the book trailer above. It’s very well-done and will definitely spark their interest.

Giveaway:

Two winners

Slog’s Dad by David Almond (Illustrated by Dave McKean)

Review by: Chris Singer

About the author:

David Almond is the acclaimed author of Skellig, winner of the Whitbread Children’s Award and the Carnegie Medal; Kit’s Wilderness, winner of the Smarties Award Silver Medal, Highly Commended for the Carnegie Medal, and shortlisted for the Guardian Award; and The Fire-Eaters, winner of the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Gold Award and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. He lives in Northumberland.

About the illustrator:

Dave McKean’s distinctive illustrations have graced several children’s books including The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish and The Wolves in the Walls (New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year and shortlisted for the 2006 Kate Greenaway Medal) by Neil Gaiman. Dave also provided the unique covers for Neil Gaiman’s World Fantasy Award-winning comic series The Sandman. He lives in Kent.

About the book:

Part story, part graphic novel – a tender slice of life and death from the creators of “The Savage”. Do you believe there’s life after death? Slog does. He reckons that the scruffy bloke sitting outside the pork shop is his dad come back to visit him for one last time – just like he’d said he would, just before he died. Slog’s mate Davie isn’t convinced. But how does this man know everything Slog’s dad would know? Because Slog says it really is his dad, that’s how.

My take on the book:

Slog’s Dad is a haunting yet surprisingly beautiful story told both through thoughtful prose and touching illustrations. Through the narration of Slog’s friend, Davie, we get a glimpse into Slog’s state of mind and see how truly devastating the loss of his father has been for him. Although Davie is skeptical the scruffy bloke is Slog’s father returned, he wants to believe it is him, just as we do while reading.

This is quite a short read (about 55 pages), so I don’t want to share too much about the narrative. I’ve read and re-read this three times now. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and although it’s a very melancholy story, I’m fascinated with how McKean and Almond have weaved this complex tale.

The book purposely alternates between prose and illustrations, and both uniquely reveal different parts of the same story. McKean’s illustrations are stunning and put us inside Slog’s head, showing us how he’s been coping with the enormous loss of his father. Almond’s prose fills us in on the details prior to and after Slog’s dad’s passing.

This is my first experience reading Almond and McKean. I’m interested in checking out their previous work. I’m not sure if this book is meant as a kid’s book. I saw where it was recommended on Amazon for kids ages 4-8. Not that it can’t be shared with kids that age, I just don’t think they’ll understand it. I could be wrong though. My first guess would

Resistance (Book 1) by Carla Jablonski (Illustrated by Leland Purvis)

Review by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Carla Jablonski is a novelist, performer, and playwright. She has written dozens of best-selling books for teenage and middle-grade readers.Her fiction has been translated into ten languages, and her plays have been performed in New York, Philadelphia, and Edinburgh, Scotland.  Her most recent books Thicker than Water and Silent Echoes were selected for the New York Public Llibraries “Books for the Teen Age” list.

About the illustrator:

Leland Purvis is a self-taught comics artist and writer. His major works include the anthology VOX, a creator-owned series called PUBO, and a graphic-novel biography of physicist Niels Bohr, Suspended In Language, written by Jim Ottaviani. Recent works include graphic novels in the Turning Points series from Simon & Schuster. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife, a cat, and a turtle.

About the book:

Fighting on a secret front of World War II, Paul and Marie’s bucolic French country town is almost untouched by the ravages of WWII, but the siblings still live in the shadow of war. Their father is a Prisoner of War, kept hostage by the Germans. When their friend Henri’s parents disappear and Henri goes into hiding because of his Jewish ancestry, Paul and Marie realize they must take a stand. But how can they convince the French Resistance that even children can help in their fight against injustice?

Resistance is the first voulme of a trilogy written by acclaimed teen author Carla Jablonski and illustrated by Leland Purvis.

My take on the book:

This is a really good introduction for middle school readers about life during the Nazi occupation of France. The beauty of the story is Jablonski’s choice to tell the story from the point-of-view of children. She does an excellent job of portraying the characters of Paul, Marie and Henri. Though often brave in their participation with the Resistance, you also see them squabble, bicker, complain and cry — just like your average kid. It’s the realistic portrayal of the children which I really appreciated. Although the children become part of the Resistance and are taking part in dangerous activities, you don’t see them acting like mini-adults. You see their weaknesses but also see the skills they bring to the Resistance (For example, Marie has an excellent memory and is very observant while Paul is a talented artist).

Jablonski also does an excellent job of portraying the underlying tensions of life under occupation, where you’re never exactly sure who you can trust and once-trusted friends may now be your enemy. This aspect of the book is particularly compelling and I think a really good introduction for students about the idea of what exactly living under occupation is and how different lif

Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Ray Bradbury (Illustrated by Tim Hamilton)

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Ray Bradbury is one of those rare individuals whose writing has changed the way people think. His more than five hundred published works — short stories, novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts, and verse — exemplify the American imagination at its most creative.

Once read, his words are never forgotten. His best-known and most beloved books, THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN, FAHRENHEIT 451 and SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, are masterworks that readers carry with them over a lifetime. His timeless, constant appeal to audiences young and old has proven him to be one of the truly classic authors of the 20th Century — and the 21st.

In recognition of his stature in the world of literature and the impact he has had on so many for so many years, Bradbury was awarded the National Book Foundation’s 2000 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, an the National Medal of Arts in 2004.

About the illustrator:

Tim Hamilton has produced art for The New York Times Book Review, Cicada magazine, King Features, BOOM Studios, Mad Magazine, and ACT-I-VATE. He most recently adapted Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island into a graphic novel for Puffin Graphics.

About the book:

“Monday burn Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn ’em to ashes, then burn the ashes.” For Guy Montag, a career fireman for whom kerosene is perfume, this is not just an official slogan. It is a mantra, a duty, a way of life in a tightly monitored world where thinking is dangerous and books are forbidden.

In 1953, Ray Bradbury envisioned one of the world’s most unforgettable dystopian futures, and in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, the artist Tim Hamilton translates this frightening modern masterpiece into a gorgeously imagined graphic novel. As could only occur with Bradbury’s full cooperation in this authorized adaptation, Hamilton has created a striking work of art that uniquely captures Montag’s awakening to the evil of government-controlled thought and the inestimable value of philosophy, theology, and literature.

Including an original foreword by Ray Bradbury and fully depicting the brilliance and force of his canonic and beloved masterwork, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is an exceptional, haunting work of graphic literature.

My take on the book:

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is one of my favorite books and when I saw there was a graphic novel version I wanted to review it here on Book Dads.

I don’t think it matters if this is your first introduction to 451 or if you’re already a fan of the novel. Either way, you’re going to really enjoy this adaptation. For those familiar with the story, the adaptation stays

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the author and illustrator of several picture books and middle grade graphic novels. His work has been short-listed by Newsweek, USA Today, The Boston Globe and The New York Times, among many others. Jarrett’s Punk Farm and Lunch Lady series are both currently in development as feature films.

About the series:

Serving justice . . . and lunch!

Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she isn’t dishing out the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have a lot of cats at home? Little do they know, Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve sloppy joes—she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, it’s no match for LUNCH LADY!

About the book:

(For ages 8-12) Something just didn’t seem right about the new substitute teacher, Mr. Pasteur. Why didn’t he eat any of the Lunch Lady’s famous French Toast sticks? And why did his name sound so familiar? Betty and the Lunch Lady are hot on the case!

My take on the book:

My first encounter with a book by Jarrett Krosoczka was Punk Farm on Tour. I was hooked after the reading Punk Farm’s version of Wheels on the Van! After visiting Jarrett’s terrific website and signing up to participate in the 2011 Graphic Novel Challenge, I decided to read the first book in the Lunch Lady series: Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute.

I have to admit I decided to read and review Lunch Lady based solely on the fact that the series is about a lunch lady who is an undercover superhero. I was rewarded with a fun and quick-paced read that I’m almost 100% positive can get even the most reluctant reader hooked in the first few pages.

The Lunch Lady is a wonderfully designed character who not only is adept in the kitchen, but is also skilled in the use of specially designed food and kitchen gadgets like her Fishstick Nunchucks, Chicken Nugget Bombs and Spatu-Copter.

Like all superheroes, Lunch Lady has a sidekick named Betty. Betty also works in the cafeteria and is a more behind-the-scenes type of sidekick. She does a lot of the super gadget work in a hidden room under the kitchen. She reminded me of Batman’s Alfred or even James Bond’s tech guru Q.

Kids are going to have a blast reading this book and will want to scoop up the rest of the Lunch Lady series. Dads, you’ll enjoy reading these with your kids as well and will be rewarded with their excitement for more.

I will be reviewing the rest of the series over the next month. A new book in the series is coming in early September. There’s

If you like graphic novels, and are looking for new ones to pick up, you’re in luck; BookReporter.com is launching a new site–GraphicNovelReporter.com. It will feature reviews, interviews, news, opinions, blogs, bestseller and “Best of” lists as well as Books Into Movies and Books Into Movies on DVD features. They will include reviews of children’s, teen, and adult graphic novels, so you’re likely to find something you enjoy.

The site goes live later this month. You can sign up for their newsletter if you want to know exactly when the site launches (just go to GraphicNovelReporter.com and you’ll see the sign up page.

Thanks to ShelfAwareness for the info.