Graphic Novel Review - 'Batwoman: Haunted Tides' by J.H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman, Amy Reeder, Trevor McCarthy

It was about time I owned a 'Batwoman' comic. A prominent mainstream LBGTQ superheroine like Batwoman deserves as much recognition and praise as possible (I also like the TV series - more rep like in that, please!). She deserves her iconic status. Something like 'Haunted Tides' seemed like a good place to start my education. I'll get to another 'Batwoman' book once it arrives at my doorstep.

I really enjoyed reading this one. I enjoyed the characters and their individual arcs, the action, the mystery, the plot, the structure, the pace, and, surprisingly, the horror and violence (it is quite graphic, be warned). It is very "dark and edgy" and OTT, but there is still a lot of care put into telling the story, with interesting and sympathetic characters. Oddly enough, they do feel human and hopeful, amidst all the tragedy, chaos, blood, dismemberments, supernatural shit, and child death (yes, there's instances of that as well; again, be warned).

'Batwoman: Haunted Tides', collecting the first two volumes of J.H. Williams III's original run, is not bad for a New 52 title, and wow does that feel like such a long time ago; it's practically ancient history now.

It can be a bit crowded, with a lot going on as the series progresses. It also takes place after Batwoman/Kate Kane's origin story, and after a crucial, defining tragic event in her life, despite this supposedly being a "reboot". This is one of the many common problems that the New 52 comics had - DC didn't reboot its superheroes for new audiences, it lazily, vaguely retreaded old stories, sometimes skipping them altogether, and expected its audience to already be aware of them, if in passing. Not so fresh, is it?

Similar to the more recent 'Batgirl' comics, particularly in the New 52 (and in the New 52 overall, let's be honest), after reading this comic I'm left wondering if Batwoman had actually achieved anything by the end. She's very cool and capable, but how often is she allowed to get the big jobs done? She isn't an antiheroine, and even then that shouldn't be warped into incompetence! It might be because this is a continuous story run, but DC, please, I'm begging you: let superheroes succeed in saving people and stopping evil plots already! Let them be, you know, heroes! Otherwise what are they doing? Why are they here? What is the point?

This run of 'Batwoman' has well written relationship drama - such as Kate Kane with her lover Detective Maggie Sawyer, and Kate with her family and the devastatingly complicated issues there - however. Personal/civilian baggage works just as well as the super heroics in 'Haunted Tides', if not more so.

Additionally, DC BUT ESPECIALLY IN ITS NEW 52 RUN is too obsessed with Batman. He doesn't have to appear in every DC comic, even ones featuring Bat-Family members. Give Bruce a break, for the love of Diana! (not in that way, dear frak no) He's had more comics, TV shows, films, video games and fan works, official and unofficial, to his name than every fictional character ever, I swear. He is the ultimate Mary Sue, at this point.

But 'Batwoman: Haunted Tides' is fun, for its edgelordy storyline. The queer rep is solid - strong stuff - and the POC rep is... passable, I think, at this moment in time. The POC characters do seem to be relegated to either victims or villains, though.

The artwork is awesome, bold, exceptionally detailed, and sometimes effectively stylistic. There is nary a fanservice panel in sight; whenever nude women are drawn while they are undressing, it is done tastefully, at least by the standards of the New 52 and DC comics in general - a cesspool environment of toxic masculinity that it is, or was. Even that one lesbian sex scene in the first volume isn't explicit; it's drawn in very light colours, mostly white, with the bedcovers over the two women. It is contrasted with a plot-relevant, raw and bloody fight scene, which it overlaps: it conveys very well the heroes' personal life pleasures and escape vs their neglecting their duties and inadvertently letting loved ones nearly get killed.

So give it a chance, give it a go. I can't wait to read another 'Batwoman' title - a more classic, turning point comic, next time.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Tea Dragon Tapestry' by Kay O'Neill

I have waited for well over a year, but I finally got it.

'The Tea Dragon Tapestry' - a lovely sequel and conclusion to 'The Tea Dragon' trilogy - a trilogy of breathtakingly gorgeous and wholesome fantasy comics.

'The Tea Dragon Tapestry' is about grief, growing up, finding oneself again, finding that passions and purposes never disappear, finding that past memories are never truly lost, family connections, found families, friendship, generational connections and peace, and upholding traditions and crafts - while making something your own and being true to yourself. And helping loved ones deal with their own matters - self-care and caring for others are equally important.

Above all, I think it is about patience. Healing - from any kind of pain, trauma, and emotional distress and confusion - takes time, and is not instantaneous. Space is also needed, and love and comfort when it is ready to be received.

Greta and Minette each grow and develop in their own individual ways, on their own individual paths. To see them grow physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually into passionate, hardworking and aspiring young women is amazing. The other fantastic characters, like Hesekiel and Erik, and Greta's parents (yes she has a father!), share the spotlight in a bountiful substance. Rinn and Aedan from 'The Tea Dragon Festival' show up as well! I'd hoped to see them again and I was not disappointed in their awesome appearance and contribution to the story!

A new character is the old blacksmith Kleitos, who is a giant anthropomorphic cow/bull creature, and an impressive, larger-than-life badass on every page, every panel, he appears in (I love the creative and often fantastical designs of every character! They are each diverse, in the many, many different forms that that word's meaning can take! Kay O'Neill is a genius). Kleitos is a friend of Hesekiel and Erik's, and is on his own personal journey of trying to find his lost passion and place in the world again; to simply remember. Greta could help rekindle that remembered love for the old soul. She will be going places working as his apprentice, that's for sure.

Everyone is growing up and gaining new experiences and memories, exploring things all the time; whilst never forgetting their roots, their old friends and family.

The art is as beautiful as ever, as is the dialogue; too many precious examples of which to list here.

However, as good as it is, 'The Tea Dragon Tapestry', in my opinion, can come across as a bit underwhelming and meandering for a final book in such a spectacular series. Shockingly, I didn't care a large amount for the Tea Dragons themselves this time round. They don't contribute much to the story, or they receive little page time. I guess I couldn't feel the grief that the characters felt, when the reader never gets to know at all the people who were lost - it's a slight disconnect. Don't expect there to be any actual festival in the book, either, like the cover suggests. Any celebration that happens is very humble and downplayed (at least there is a tapestry of sorts in the story, both literally and metaphorically).

And maybe I was expecting too much of Greta and Minette being together: they spend the majority of the book apart, dealing with things in their own lives. Though when they are together it is absolutely adorable and beyond nice. They support and care for each other profoundly. But there isn't much indication that they are a romantic pair, or that they will become one in the future, similar to their mentors Hesekiel and Erik. It would have worked as an old-moving-on-to-the-new-generation parallel. It would have made the series even more poetic and flowing.

Oh well. After waiting for so long and worrying that the comic will never be released, perhaps I'd let my expectations rise too high, over an extended period of time. I'd ended up anticipating falsely what I was sure would be set in stone. Of course I'd set myself up for a tiny spec of disappointment.

Or are Greta and Minette yet another example of queerbaiting in the media? But the 'Tea Dragon' series has excellent LBGTQ rep otherwise (and nonbinary rep in Rinn, and their platonic bond with Aedan), which is completely, wholesomely, wholeheartedly normalised. And deep, loving relationships between women, platonic or not, are important to portray in anything.

I still adore 'The Tea Dragon Tapestry'. Read my reviews of the previous 'Tea Dragon' books below for more:


'The Tea Dragon Society'


'The Tea Dragon Festival'



Plus, for more of my thoughts on Kay O'Neill's work, read my reviews of these:


'Princess Princess Ever After'


'Aquicorn Cove'



Thank you, Kay O'Neill, for this beautiful, lovable, uplifting, life affirming coming-of-age journey.

Final Score: 4/5

Book Review - 'Julia's House for Lost Creatures' by Ben Hatke

'Julia's House for Lost Creatures' is a sweet and simple little children's fantasy picture book, that is perhaps more complex than it appears.

It may perhaps incorporate issues such as: loneliness, as you move from place to place, and keep meeting new people, throughout your life; not to mention how so many different people living together - who have been made homeless and have nowhere else to go - can contribute to certain housekeeping tasks and chores, and earn their keep. All for a sustainable, clean, tidy, warm, happy home and environment for everyone. Adaptability, change, pragmatism, using your strengths, working together and asking for help are good things. Life isn't so empty and hollow if you care enough to work together selflessly on what needs to be done, and to get along.

Or it could be that it really is just a book about a girl who lives in a moving house on a giant tortoise, who invites lost and homeless patched up kitties, trolls, folletti (specifically gnome-like people), goblins, dragons, ghosts, giant snails, mermaids, fairies, Pokémon designs, crows, ducks, clockwork people, and other Miyazaki creatures to live with her. Everything works out through a plan and hard work.

Julia is adorable. She is such a smart, pragmatic and caring person. She loves reading, listening to music, and making signs. While there is no chore and task she cannot complete, she enjoys the cosy life, if not always the quiet and loneliness. She is reliable in sorting out a problem, and is great at being in charge.

But I wonder, who is Julia? Where did she come from? How old is she? She looks very young to be living on her own to begin with. Has she always lived in the moving house? Has she always been like a house mother? Does she take care of the giant tortoise as well as the other creatures? Are the lovely pictures and other bric-a-brac in her living room - quaintly representing different historical eras - signs of her past? Her family? Do her beloved record player and vinyl records have anything to do with them? Wait, signs? She makes signs (also a postbox with her name on it) for the outside of her house - are the details inside her house the more subtle signs of her past? Wait, wait, is she a time traveller? A collector? Is Julia really as normal as she appears?

From what I've read of the sequels, it seems that none of these questions will be answered remotely. The other books will be more or less the same as this one. Very ambiguous.

Or am I wrong? Feel free to correct me if I am.

'Julia's House for Lost Creatures' - cute, lovely, cosy and quaint, though it does end sorta abruptly in its short length. It truly is fit to be adapted and expanded into a Miyazaki film.

Final Score: 4/5

May 2021 Update

Not much to report this month. Personally it's all been kind of a mess, but at the same time slow, steady, orderly and according to plan. May wasn't as bad as I'd thought it was, looking back, is what I mean. In between my work hours I got a lot of rereading done, for better or worse, with little telly and film time.

I saw five more Barbie movies - six if you count the freaking inane, fanfiction-y, nonstory and noncharacter nothing that is the 1987 Barbie and the Rockers special (ahh nostalgia, the ultimate betrayer). Then there's The Shape of Water, a few bad animated films on YouTube out of curiosity, all of Samurai Jack, and Dora and the Lost City of Gold. In the end, nothing much to write home about, or was quite disappointing, in my opinion, but I'm glad of the experiences - lost or newfound.

Book rereads:

A Monster Calls - Read review here.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate - Read review here.

Akata Witch - Read review here.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - Read review here.

Gregor the Overlander - Read review here.

The Little Shop of Happy Ever After - Read review here.

Captain Marvel: Higher, Further, Faster - Read review here.

Another positive I can share about my life is that this is the month I got a new double bed! It's awesome! It barely fits in my small bedroom but I love it! I've always needed a better night's sleep! I also went to my local library for the first time in months.

That is all from me, for now. Always and continue to stay safe, careful, happy, kind, caring and compassionate.

Book Review - 'She Drives Me Crazy' by Kelly Quindlen

2023 REREAD: It's cute, but wow is Scottie mean and nasty. The things she says, thinks and does are manipulative and malicious. Borderline abusive, even. Holy moly, does she never realise how much worse she is than Irene supposedly is? Than even Tally, her superficial and insecure ex, is? Scottie's blatant hypocrisy on a bigger scale isn't called out on; in fact, a lot of the vitriol she spews, and the deathly and narrow-minded judgemental thoughts she aims, at innocent people is forgotten about and never called out on. We are meant to like her, the underdog with serious issues and complexes who gets everything she wants at the end. And her taste in movies, in rom coms, is awful, I'm sorry. No wonder she's so dramatic, impulsive, petty, thoughtless and scheming. Therein the book contains contrived BS, too, typical of any rom com.

Also, Scottie, what does being gay have to do with missing out on being a girl? On knowing "Girl World" and "to be like any other girl" and "moving through both worlds"? (page 76) Are only straight girls supposed to know about putting on make-up and doing hair?

At least 'She Drives Me Crazy' is somewhat of a cute lesbian high school rom com. To be read in the winter season, for example. It is filled with an armada of diverse female characters. And basketball and cheerleading, things I am interested in but have never had the chance to play.

Alas, it is no longer for me. Maybe I am too old for some YA.

Final Score: 3/5





Original Review:



Simply put, 'She Drives Me Crazy' is a lesbian high school romance comedy drama, about the hate-to-love, fake-dating-to-real-dating relationship between Scottie Zajac, a redheaded basketball player, and Irene Abraham, an Indian American cheerleader and queen bee of the school. It pays homage to various eighties chick flicks, and is set in a small US town (called Grandma Earl - aww!) where apparently its most popular (and possibly only) movie theatre is one that only plays eighties chick flicks. It is chaotic and messy, with barely a strong enough plot to stretch out for a longish story, but that is the way of the rom com, right? A lot of the characters, notably the protagonist, say and do horrible and manipulative things, but that's part of the rom com formula too, so... homage? And that makes it ok?

But 'She Drives Me Crazy' is charming and funny, and self-aware enough to know about some of the problematic issues in existent eighties rom coms, like 'Say Anything...' and 'Sixteen Candles' (not nearly enough examples get the criticism they deserve, however). At least it knows it's cheesy and ridiculous, and it knows when to celebrate and incorporate traditional rom com tropes in the appropriate context. It isn't realistic, but it's fun and romantic - I'm not always a cynic!

The book spends a lot of time exploring the characters' feelings and emotional baggage and trauma, and it deftly captures the slow and painful healing process of breaking up with a first love, so it is not light on substance. It does criticise and subvert toxic relationships and behaviour.

Teaching teens to be their happy and authentic selves is extremely important. Huge props for that moral.

'She Drives Me Crazy' really is like reading a novel version of one of those types of eighties-nineties movies - it is ripe for the (olive branch) picking for a film adaptation. It has the nostalgia for and the zeitgeist of the classics, mixed with the modern LBGTQ and POC rep and wokeness, in its favour!

The characters are unforgettable, dynamic and often adorable, even when they do mean and/or stupid things, and when they're either cartoonishly evil or cartoonishly good (one character is actually named Honey-Belle). Some are exemplarily smarter than they are given credit for by their peers.

'She Drives Me Crazy' is zany yet oddly relatable, fast paced, cute, diverse (though it could have used some bisexual visibility as well as the acknowledgment of other sexualities existing than gay), addictive and OTT to the max. It can be breezed through in a full day's worth of reading. I recommend it for readers who like contemporary LBGTQ YA fiction such as 'The Henna Wars', 'Our Own Private Universe', and most Becky Albertalli titles.

The fact that I've always had a fondness for cheerleading (I never was one, sadly, and it is nowhere near being a thing in the UK as it is in the US) also endears me to it. I might buy an outfit and pom-poms for fun now! I agree with Irene and other decent people with brains that it is a legitimate sport, to be taken seriously. The confident, hardworking, energetic and brave cheerleaders do it more for themselves - and for the hype of the crowds - than anyone else. Fuck sexism.

One nitpick which isn't the book's fault: The protagonist Scottie's eye colour is said to be brown; yet on the awesome cover, which features her and her enemy-to-lover Irene starting to hold hands, she has green eyes, as is typical in redheads in fiction. Oops.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon: The Graphic Novel' by Random House Disney

2023 EDIT:

Reread: No, sorry, not feeling it this time. It starts strong, then it quickly reveals what a rushed comic adaptation it is, with important parts and details from the movie skipped, and the narration boxes more often than not are an intrusion, and they explain the skipped action, and skipped plot and character development, to the readers. Show, don't tell! It's too short, too abridged, not satisfying at all.

I expect better, Disney.

The art is nice, at least.

Final Score: 3/5





Original Review:



A beautifully drawn short comic adaptation of the film. Some key features in the story are notably absent (not to be revealed here due to spoilers), but it's a good story in its own right as well.

Disney's version of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is a wonderful female-led tale. The fantasy, the mythology, the culture, the designs of the female characters - including the dragons - are rich and spectacular.

Like it or not, Raya is a Disney Princess, and that doesn't diminish her warrior-adventurer character in any way. Sisu is similar to a female Genie and I am here for it.

Plus, screw Disney - Raya and Namaari are a chaotic love story about redemption, forgiveness, trust, and eventual courting retribution. Everyone can see it, even if Disney refuses to, in their stubborn, cowardly tenacity in queerbaiting and erasure in their films (as I also say in a blogpost: I swear Disney is actively trying to erase any hint of queer subtext in their films at this point. Why do I keep giving them money? Why does anyone? Their overall behaviour has been appalling this past year). And heaven help us all, they are continuing to take over and own everything in film and TV culture.

We can only hope that 'Raya and the Last Dragon' will represent a step, no matter how small, towards a worldwide shifting change. This can be achieved on a grand scale when initiated by the biggest company on earth. Until then, we will have to take whatever crumbs of representation we can scavenge.

Final Score: 4/

Graphic Novel Review - 'Heartstopper Volume Four' by Alice Oseman

If it's even possible, this series keeps getting better and better.

Another early UK release that I was actively looking for in my local bookshop, and was so happy to spot - just as it was being shelved, in fact - and buy.

'Heartstopper' is beyond sweet, adorable, charming and wholesome, but it also sensitively and tastefully deals with very heavy issues. Volume Four delves deeper than before into mental illness - in this instance, an eating disorder is one of the symptoms, as are depression, self-harm, and OCD - and it can be seriously helpful to people who are dealing with these issues, and to people who want to help their loved ones who are struggling in silence, alone. It is absolutely heartwrenching, and hopeful. It is not all snuggles and cuddles and being two bugs in a bed (or in jumpers) (though that can help) in Alice Oseman's masterpiece comic series.

The coming out issues (in terms of being queer, and having an eating disorder and summoning up the courage to seek help) are not over yet. Nick - beautiful, precious Nick - is too good for this world, and so is Charlie. Neither are perfect (they are so young and scared!), and they are perfect for each other.

Sometimes just being there for the person you love whom you know is suffering internally, and comforting them whenever you can, is enough. But co-dependency can turn into its own worst enemy. It takes more than one person to help solve another person's problems. A whole loving community of friends and family is a big step towards change and a possible recovery. No "cure" can happen instantly when it comes to mental illnesses. Unlike what the movies have been telling us for forever, the power of love alone can't fix everything. These issues take time and patience; they may never go away completely, they may always be lurking, ready to pounce, in the dark corners of the fragile and unpredictable human mind. But they can be made manageable through compassion and as much help as possible; given as quickly as possible. This is why a better healthcare system is vital.

Nick's brother David is a shit, though.

I love Tori. She's a star.

Speaking of Tori, Michael from 'Solitaire' makes a cameo in this. I hope he's more likeable and stable than he was in 'Solitaire' (maybe Alice Oseman really has learned a lot since writing her debut novel as a teenager, and so downplayed his eccentricities), and I hope there really isn't a romance happening between him and Tori, who is awesome as a lone asexual warrior in her own right.

And Nick's new puppy Henry IS THE CUTEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!!!! I'm not even a dog person, but I might be now, so I can cuddle and kiss that universe's prize in adorableness forever!

Nearly every character is still LBGTQ AF. Trans rep is still here. Charlie's Hispanic roots and Nick's French roots are highlighted. Abusive families is another issue that's in the background but is nonetheless talked about in Volume Four.

Satisfying and perfect, I love Volume Four.


Read my review of the webcomic here.

Read my review of Volume One here.

Read my review of Volume Two here.

Read my review of Volume Three here.


Final Score: 5/5