Review of "Fairy Tale Comics," edited by Chris Duffy

Review of

Fairy Tale Comics, edited by Chris Duffy ISBN 9781626725065


Five out of five stars

 In this book, highly rated cartoonists retell some of the classic fairy tales. Many will be familiar to the general audience, for example there are expressions of “Hansel and Gretel,” “Puss in Boots,” “Snow White,” and “Rapunzel.” Lesser known tales such as the Japanese, “The Boy Who Drew Cats,” the Russian “Baba Yaga,” and the Italian “Azzolino’s Story Without End” are also included.

 Since a different artist drew each story, the artwork varies widely. However, while the differences are clear, the fundamental structure of the stories comes through. It is interesting to compare artistic styles from one story to the next.

 This is a book to be recommended for several features. The primary one is that it contains graphic renditions of several international fairy tale stories. They are educational, as one can learn a great deal about a culture by reading their ancient fairy tales. Presenting them in graphic form makes it much easier for the reader to read and comprehend the stories.

Review of "Insectlopedia: Poems and Paintings," by Douglas Florian

Review of

Insectlopedia: Poems and Paintings, by Douglas Florian ISBN 0152013067


Five out of five stars

 The structure of this book is a collection of short pieces of prose on one side and a caricature-style image on the other. Both relate to a specific type of insect, from spiders to moths to ticks and mayflies. The pictures appear to be watercolors, and while there is no precise detail, there is enough for the experienced reader to recognize the insect.

 Some of the insects have facial expressions, which will delight the young reader that pays close attention. The text rhymes and is written at the level of the late elementary school student. A fun book that is also educational, it is a worthy addition to personal and educational libraries.

Review of "Discovering Nature’s Alphabets," by Krystina Castella and Brian Boyl

Review of

Discovering Nature’s Alphabets, by Krystina Castella and Brian Boyl ISBN 159714021x


Five out of five stars

 This book is a primer on what is a great hiking game, looking for the letters of the Latin alphabet in natural formations. The letters can be made from rocks, trees, animals, sticks or anything else one could see while hiking a nature trail.

 At least one image of every letter in the alphabet appears in the book. While all are clear to see, there are some that require a little bit of imagination to discern. After reading this book, I spent a few minutes looking out the window at the trees budding out for the Spring. I found a few letters, it is necessary to keep your imagination in check a little bit, for it is easy to be a little too creative in spotting patterns when they are only hinted.

 A great primer for a scout hike or any other excursion in the wild, this book is a great way to prepare before you take your first steps.

Review of "Tuva or Bust!" By Ralph Leighton

Review of

Tuva or Bust! By Ralph Leighton

ISBN 0393029530


Three out of five stars

 I have read some of the books written by physicist Richard Feynman and he is an entertaining writer. A Nobel Laurette in physics, he was always willing to explore new things, from playing the bongo drums to doing artwork to attempting to raise his consciousness. He truly was a curious character, always willing to try new things.

 His most shining moment was when he served on the Rogers Commission investigating why the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. He single-handedly drove the commission to the truth by performing a single, public experiment with a glass of ice water and a gasket of the type that failed on the shuttle.

 This book is about a lengthy attempt by a group of scientists to visit the former country of Tannu Tuva. When he was young, Feynman collected stamps and he acquired some from Tannu Tuva. It was between Mongolia and the Soviet Union and disappeared after the Second World War, becoming another province of the USSR.

There is unfortunately not much of the impish Feynman in this book, it is a chronicle of navigating the bureaucracy of several countries as the group tries to find a way to visit Kyzl, the capital of Tannu Tuva. That makes this a dull book, it is generally impossible to make fighting with slow and intransigent government officials interesting.

 It is too bad that Richard Feynman succumbed to cancer before he was able to travel to Tannu Tuva. It would have been an adventure to read about. It is guaranteed that Feynman would have done something unusual and worthy of a classic adventure story.  

Review of "Betty Page Confidential," by Bunny Yeager

Review of

Betty Page Confidential, by Bunny Yeager ISBN 0312109407


Five out of five stars

 One of the most incredible statistics I have ever read is about Betty Page and is “As estimated half a million pictures were taken of her by almost every professional and amateur photographer in New York.” This was not over the course of a lifetime but done in less than a decade.  One universal comment about Page was that she was tireless in front of the camera, never losing that sexy glow, even after hours of being relentlessly photographed. She was a true professional that never lost her poise, even when naked or engaged in the production of media featuring bondage.

 She was truly the queen of the pinup, and this book describes her professional life, very little is known of what she did after she quit the model business. The photographer that worked with her most was Bunny Yeager and she took the photos in this book. From those images it is clear why Betty was so popular. Her body and skin were as perfect as it can get and her face and smile dazzle, even when she is holding a fishing rod. Her sensuality never wavers based on the amount of clothing she has on.

 Although Betty Page was a voluntary flame out in the area of fame, her legacy remains as one of the most beautiful women ever and one that was a true professional in front of the camera. Some of these photos had to have been taken after she spent hours on camera and yet she never seems to have wilted a bit.

Review of "Bettie Page: Queen of the Nile," by Jim Silke

Review of

Bettie Page: Queen of the Nile, by Jim Silke ISBN 1569714738


Five out of five stars

 To appreciate this graphic novel, you must know some history of the subject matter, specifically Bettie Page. In the fifties, she was the undisputed queen of the pinup image, often appearing semi-naked in now classic T & A style. She had both the face and the body for it. After falling into a hole of obscurity, she enjoyed a resurgence of interest in her later years, this book is one of the consequences.

 The story involves a machine that transports Bettie to another time and place on Earth, quite naturally when it acts on her, it strips her naked. She first lands in a primitive culture where she is a slave and then ends up in ancient Egypt in the time of Caesar and Cleopatra. Since she is packed with feminine charm and generally scantily dressed, Bettie competes for the power of royalty. In a twist of modernity, Bettie is assisted by a personal rocket pack and a powerful sidearm. The most amusing caption is when she gives Cleopatra a powerful spanking on her bare butt for trying to kill her.

 This is an odd, yet entertaining graphic novel. Bettie Page was the queen of the nude pinup and this story follows that tradition. There is bondage, nudity and an absurd story that provides the context and means for those features.

Review of "Pro Coach," by Joe Archibald

Review of

Pro Coach, by Joe Archibald


Four out of five stars

 The opening premise of this book shows that some aspects of sports have stayed constant for many decades. Walt Harper is a football coach and when the story opens, he is coaching college football powerhouse Southern Tech. His teams have been very successful over the years and Harper is often criticized that his success causes the best players to come to Southern Tech, the standard argument of success breeding success. Furthermore, some of his players openly admit that they are at Southern Tech to play football, classwork is generally secondary. Finally, there is a scandal where it is revealed that some of the players were given illegal assistance by wealthy alumni. All of this is familiar to modern followers of college football.

 Even though Harper is absolved of any blame in the scandal, he leaves his position as coach of Southern Tech. He then accepts the head coach position of the Boston Pilgrims professional football team in the AFL. The performance of the team has been dismal of late, so it is Harper’s chance to prove that he can mold a team from players not of the highest caliber.

 The story progresses in a predictable manner, after several initial problems, the team starts to solidify, and the Pilgrims begin winning. Their season ends when the book does, but there is genuine confidence when the members of the Pilgrim organization state the old sports refrain, “What till next year!”

 In typical Archibald style, the story is a solid one. However, there is no scene that one would be tempted to read several times in order to re-experience the tenseness and excitement of the moment. There is also no underlying theme of a deep moral to the story.