Wendy's Book Haul: Santa!

Parents who stress over Christmas like I did last year might be a little envious of this week's book haul. This represents the the last of my Christmas shopping for my daughters. Six gorgeous hard cover books! My eight year old will love them, and while the five year old isn't so big on reading, the Elements of Harmony My Little Pony book will give her lots to look over while she watches her favourite show.

Yeah okay... I did grab a few digital and audiobook titles for myself too... damn Amazon sales...

Comic Review Bites: The NetGalley Haul

With thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read advanced copies of these graphic novels in exchange for honest reviews.

Spera vol.3 by Josh Tierney: Spera began as an online comic that is now on its third volume. It tells the story of two exiled princesses, Lono and Pira, who've escaped into the world of Spera. Working as adventurers, the friends and their companions, a cat, a fire spirit and Adel, go where adventure takes them! Adventure involves being trailed by members of Lono's court who blame her for betraying and abandoning her people in the face of war, and later, in trying to reignite a fire spirit.

The princesses initially seem like the typical princess and the princess who wants to defy the princess stereotypes, but there is so much more to them. My daughters and I were smitten/grossed out when the princesses attempted to eat bugs and anything else they could find like proper adventurers. Their quests play on RPGs and the entire main story is filled with a lot of quirkiness and heart. The artwork is also really impressive, particularly since there is a different artist for each section. The girls and I really enjoyed reading this and think this would make a fascinating cartoon.

My Little Pony - Pony Tales: I did say I wanted more Pinkie Pie and I definitely got lots with an entire story dedicated just to her - along with stories spotlighting each of the mane (lol) team. The moral of each story comes down to friendship, as per the apparent requirements of a series with "friendship is magic" as the subtitle. Unlike the other MLP comics I've read with the girls, the ponies don't use magical friendship to solve these problems. They use actual friendship, from Rarity helping out the hippies to Twilight Sparkle inspiring a recluse.

Once again a fun time spent reading this with my daughters. The MLP comics have proven to be fun for all three of us.

Cyborg 009: This is a re-imagining of Shotaro Ishinomori's original manga classic. I have not read the original, but this re-imagining seems to hold to the simplistic roots, while updating the story with more modern and mature art. This is about a cyborg named Joe to find his body worked over with technology and no memories of his past. His first test is to kill his predecessors, 001 through 008, but they have plans of their own and take him along on their escape from the evil company seeking to dominate the world with cyborg super soldiers.

This was a good introduction to the major players and plot of good versus evil, adding a bit of emotion and motivation by way of Joe pursuing his life after his memories return. It sets up for a promising story, while paying homage to its source.

Bandette vol.1: Presto by Paul Tobin: Bandette is a fun, charming Robin Hood-esque criminal who is as much a bane to the police as to the criminals she sometimes helps them apprehend. Bandette is a cat burglar with a love for art and literature but her heart lies with her "urchins," various groups of young people within the city whom she can summon to her aid as the perfect distractions. Everyone but the bad guys and the inspector she continuously foils loves Bandette, including the handsome Danny, whom she elegantly strings along.

This was a cute and campy read that continuously brought a smile to my face. Her banter was cute and I especially appreciated the technical pages at the end describing the process from word to image.

East of West vol.1: The Promise by Jonathan Hickman: The horsemen of the apocalypse are reborn only to find that one of their number is missing. Where oh where could Death be? Well, he's busy wreaking unholy vengeance on those who wronged him of course! But this isn't simply a tale of brutal violence. Death has a very valid purpose to his onslaught, and the revelation and the heights that revelation takes the story to is one of the amazing things about this graphic novel. Meanwhile, the remaining horsemen, in the form of very frightening children, are searching for him, and the Chosen are working to bring about the end of the world, as promised in The Message.

This is an alternate history that deviates 'round about the US civil war because of The Message and its contents. Initially, things are wonderfully unclear, with the mystery slowly teased out with some truly shocking reveals, none of which I could possibly expect. Needless to say, I am in definite need of more...

Graphic Novel Review: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic vol.2 by Heather Nuhfer

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Volume 2 by Heather Nuhfer

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

With thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

If you're new to the new My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, or are disturbed by all that talk of bronies, check out my review of volume one for an explanation of why you should be watching and/or reading this.

Volume two of the comic book series does not pick up where the last volume left off. Much like the show, the volumes contain completely separate story arcs, however, like the show, they do build on the overall lore being formed within the series.

In this case, the powers of Nightmare we met in season one are back, attacking Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy in their dreams by presenting them with their greatest fears. Rarity succumbs to her fear and is kidnapped to the moon.

Princess Celestia and her sister Luna, come to Ponyville to help stop the bad guys, but Luna, formerly known as Nightmare Moon who destroyed Ponyville under the influence of Nightmare, is very uncertain about her contribution to the efforts. But true to form, the ponies put their faith in her and show her that friendship truly is magic as they set out to save Rarity.

Pinkie Pie by OcarniaofTimeLord

I really enjoy reading MLP to my daughters (7 and 5) because I love doing the voices and they love hearing it. They both gave this volume two thumbs and two big toes up, however, I didn't find this one quite as memorable as the previous volume, which the girls still quote regularly. There wasn't quite enough of the ponies doing their thing, or maybe there just wasn't enough Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie is like cowbell. You can never have enough.

Spike did get more airtime, though, since it is his beloved Rarity that's been kidnapped and he must use his wits to rescue her and the other ponies. Meanwhile, Luna has to learn to forgive herself and accept the friendship of the others, rather than let Nightmare intimidate and guilt trip her.

My five year old has had trouble with nightmares, lately, so this was a perfectly timed encouragement for the "nightmares aren't real," mantra we've been working on.

4 of 5 stars

Graphic Novel Review: My Little Pony vol. 1 by Katie Cook and Andy Price

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Volume 1 by Katie Cook and Andy Price

If you have not yet come to understand the hype behind the current incarnation of My Little Pony, then I will explain it briefly: MLP has changed significantly from its days of rainbows and unicorns. It now has plot and character development driving episodes that deal with all sorts of relevant topics, including prejudice, compromise, overcoming fears, self confidence, perseverance and more in a manner that treats kids like they have actual brains in their little heads.

The six main characters are all females, as is the MLP standard, however, they aren't nearly as "girly" as they used to be and the ones that are more "girly" are respectfully so. They each have defining traits and they also have defining flaws. Unlike previous incarnations, there are also clearly male ponies in the herd and, while they don't feature prominently, they do serve purpose. The show goes a long way to breaking gender stereotypes, and I love the fact that grown men have come to like the show. However, since gender stereotyping and prejudice still exists so heavily in our society, these "Bronies" feel compelled to justify their appreciation of a show that really is simply great for everypony. Er. Everyone.

The overall theme in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is - wait for it - the magic of friendship! This theme continues in volume one of the comic where Queen Chrysalis, who first appeared in the season two finale, has attacked Ponyville. Her changeling minions have taken over and kidnapped the young Cutie Mark Crusaders (CMC). Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy head off on a quest to get the three young ponies back. Queen Chrysalis has given them three days to make the journey, but Twilight Sparkle realizes that, in three days, the Secretariat Comet will be passing through the Horsehead Nebula and will greatly amplify magic in all of Equestria.

The quest becomes a typical test of wits against the dangers of the land, but the friends also have to deal with problems with their friendship when the conniving changelings trick them into breaking up the fillyship.

There are a lot of running gags, such as the CMC's obsession with obtaining their cutie marks and, well, anything that crazy Pinkie Pie does. The many internet-based memes have also made their way into the show and comic, adding to the laughs. There were also a few tidbits of interesting facts and information.

I enjoy when children's entertainment includes appropriate levels of humour to make it enjoyable for adults as well. It encourages the adults to participate more with their children - something that is becoming less and less of a priority for many for various reasons. This is something that the current My Little Pony does so well - more so because they still include the kids on the grown-up jokes by making a lot of them visual. Kids might not understand the context, but they can appreciate the imagery at their level. For my girls, it was an added bonus because we've made a point of introducing them to a lot of the things we loved when we were growing up. We shared a mighty laugh over the giant marshmallow attacking Manehattan!

I had a great time reading this comic to my daughters, age seven and five, and they enjoyed listening. We will definitely be adding this series to our collection.

5 of 5 stars