Shelf Abuse

Storytelling, comic books and self-publishing

Tag: graphic novels

  • Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall Graphic Novel Review

    Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall Graphic Novel Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    2006, DC/Vertigo Writer: Bill Willingham Illustrators: Esao Andrews, Brian Bolland, John Bolton, Mark Buckingham, James Jean, Michael Wm. Kaluta, Derek Kirk Kim, Tara McPherson, Jill Thompson. Charles Vess, Mark Wheatley Fables’ strength has always been that, whether immersed in Bill Willingham’s universe or not, anyone fortunate enough to have survived childhood will be familiar with…

  • Batman: The Long Halloween TPB Review

    Batman: The Long Halloween TPB Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    1996, DC Write: Jeph Loeb Artist: Tim Sale Colours: Gregory Wright Essentially years two and three to Frank Miller’s seminal Batman: Year One, Loeb and Sale’s superhero noir The Long Halloween resumes the Caped Crusaders conflicts with Gotham’s feuding Mafiosos, the Falcone and Maroni families, introduced in Year One, as well as providing an origin…

  • Howard the Duck: Media Duckling TPB Review

    Howard the Duck: Media Duckling TPB Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    2008, Marvel Writers: Ty Templeton, Steve Gerber Pencils: Juan Bobillo, Frank runner, Roger Langridge Inks: Marselo Sosa, Steve Leialoha Colours: Nester Pereyra, J. Brown, Frank Brunner The Duck returns just six years after his last series, which, for a character plagued by numerous legal battles, ownership squabbles and the weight of a rancid Lucas-produced 80s…

  • New Reader’s Guide to Neil Gaiman’s Graphic Novels

    New Reader’s Guide to Neil Gaiman’s Graphic Novels

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    With the success of the movie adaptation Stardust, as well as his novel American Gods, Neil Gaiman’s work is finally getting the mainstream attention it deserves. Though alongside Allen Moore, Gaiman has been one of the few American comic writers to enter popular culture, gathering critical acclaim from outside the comic book sphere, many of…

  • Batman: The Joker’s Last Laugh TPB Review

    Batman: The Joker’s Last Laugh TPB Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    Originally published 2001, DC Writers: Chuck Dixon, Scott Beatty Pencils: Pete Woods, Marcos Martin, Walter McDaniel, Andy Kuhn, Ron Randall, Rick Burchett Inks: Andrew Pepoy, Mark Farmer, Alvaro Lopez, Walter McDaniel, Andy Kuhn, Ron Randall, Mark Lipka, Dan Davis Colours: Tom McCraw Gina Going The Joker has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Escaping high-security prison…

  • Thor vol. 1 (J. Michael Straczynski) TPB Review

    Thor vol. 1 (J. Michael Straczynski) TPB Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    2008, Marvel Story: J. Michael Straczyinski Pencils: Olivier Coipel Inks: Mark Morales Colours: Laura Martin, Paul Mounts In the midst of Civil War, many fans believed that Thor would make a triumphant return, and sway the win for the Registration Act opposition. Unfortunately, the resurrected Son of Odin turned out to be a cybernetic clone,…

  • Jar of Fools Graphic Novel Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    2001, Drawn and Quarterly Story, Art: Jason Lutes Tormented magician Ernie Weiss and his estranged girlfriend Esther separately struggle to get their lives back on track after the death of Weiss’s brother, Howard, whose death during an underwater escape stunt may or may not have been deliberate. Fighting to keep his senile mentor Al Flosso…

  • Un-Men vol. 1: Get your Freak On! TPB Review

    Un-Men vol. 1: Get your Freak On! TPB Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    2008, DC/Vertigo Story: John Whalen Art: Mike Hawthorne, Tomer Hanuka (covers) Colours: Tanya and Richard Horie Creations of mad scientist Anton Arcane, the abominable Un-Men first appeared in the pages of Swamp Thing. They were later re-imagined in the early nineties mini American Freak, the events of which this new incarnation continues a further decade…