William Shakespeare's Jedi the Last: Star Wars' Part the Eighth (William Shakespeare's Star Wars, #8)

William Shakespeare's Jedi the Last: Star Wars' Part the Eighth by Ian Doescher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I admit I do not know all the pros and official structure of Shakespeare, but I did recognized some of the lines and more famous passages that had been re-purposed, and they fit perfectly into this story.

Like the Empire Strikes Back I think this book and Rogue One, are the best candidates for the Shakespeare treatment. The dark themes really do come out here. I really like the "asides" in this story, these were spot on in getting the characters across for me.

Ian Doescher did a great job on this conversion, however you have to be in the Star Wars fans side that already liked The Last Jedi, This will not do much to convert people that did not like the movie. For me I agree with Ian's assessment in the acknowledgement page. One of the things we both loved about the Last Jedi, was it would get to a point I was sure was going to be the cliffhanger ending but it just kept going, and getting better. Even knowing what was going the happen I still got goosebumps on these parts of the book. I loved the illustrations in the book as well. Like any book book it enhanced my experience. Also I think fans of Shakespeare will love this finding easter eggs of his hidden lines, there are also these for Star Wars fans.

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Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons series)

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SJM writing Catwoman what could be more awesome? Was expecting this book to be great and it was better than anything I could have though it would be. This incarnation of Selina Kyle is brilliant. I just have one complaint/request can SJM please write a Batman book!!!! Please!!! All the elements I love of the Batman character including his will, intelligence, toughness, use of identities, tactics and all round bad@$$ery are present in Catwoman. Every chapter I read in this book I could not wait to see what happen next and the last 60 pages I just could not put the book down.

Street fighter Selina Kyle was force to leave what little she had left in Gotham City. Now she is back older wiser, deadlier and with a purpose. Nothing in this book is there just to fill space, everything links together. I also like the way the relationships between the characters developed. The book is fast paced but definitely not rushed. I also like the conflict in Selina, though she did had not love for the richer citizens of Gotham, some earned her respect with the genuine good they had done, making her think about what she was doing.

SJM not only did a great job on Catwoman/Selina/Holly but used other classic Gotham villains and side characters perfectly. She also used the new member of the Bat-family brilliantly. I think having Catwoman running circles around the new kid of the Bat family was a great idea, as we Batman fans know this would never happen to the man himself. Who is on a private mission during this book that we are not told about really. The perfect setup for another book right? Hint hint.

This is a great book. This is definitely the best of the DC Icons books so far, and I cannot think of a better incarnation of Catwoman. I would give this 10 stars if I could. After she finishes the Throne of Glass series can someone please get SJM to write Batman.

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Mazahl's Ascent

Mazahl's Ascent by S.V. Atla
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I have no conection to S. V. Atla.

I would have rates this book 3.5 stars simply as it took me so long to get I to it. It was the last 25% of the book that pushed this to round up. The story highlights the dark side of Saudi Arabia. Even today or especially today many if these issues are prominent. The discrimination faced by women, treatment of expatriates, and the poorer classes in general. There is a lot of darkness in this book so if you are offended by real world issues you probably will not enjoy this book.

After finishing the book I can see why it was more slow moving at the beginning, as Atla was developing Mazahl's character and "powers" slowly. I can understand and appreciate this though I was a bit too slow for me. The only other complaint I had about the book is almost in the same paragraph I was reading from one characters perceptive, then almost on the next line it changed to another characters perspective. I did get used to the the more of the book I read.

A good book full of not so hidden real world issues. One of the things I am glad Atla does point out in the later chapters is the issues are based on culture not religion. Even though religion is what is blamed or misquoted/twisted for bad people to justify the evil things the do. This book is more for people who do not mind controversial and dark themes in their books.

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The Ghost of Crow Cavern

The Ghost of Crow Cavern by Norman Mounter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have no connection to Norman Mounter or John Wedlake.

Forget about the picture of the cute squirrel at the front, and forget length of this book. Beyond the cute and fuzzy creature stars of the book where lies an (George Orwell) Animal Farm style story. The book features mythologies from the Nazi, and tactics used by many dictators today. Also brutal revenge and reprisals.

A good but short story, despite appearances this is not a children's book. It contains brutal deaths and adult themes. Even though there is a reckoning in this story I am sure there is more to come.

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Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II by James Tynion IV
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I a huge fan of both Batman and the TMNT so I knew I was either going to love it for doing everything right or hate it fit the errors. I loved it. I think the artwork suits the story and characters brilliantly. The story is also great. There are a few more fights then the fist book I would not have minded a few more.

I also like that they made one of the Turtles less of a warrior then the others. That is not the turtle o would have chosen as the weakest, but with his other skill I can see why he was the choice for the role.

If I had one criticism it is simply Damian was featured more than Batman. However it did work for the story.

All in an excellent continuation of the last story arc, and respected the history of both Batman and TMNT. Love the cover gallery and sketches at the end of the book. Excellent, with a hint of more to come.

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Doctor Strange: Damnation The Complete Collection

Doctor Strange: Damnation The Complete Collection by Donny Cates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good mini series, the companions issues not so much. I have to agree with Elsa

"I am not seeing what a bunch of monsters, a psychopath, a Kung Fu guy and a frankly useless useless vampire slayer are going to do?"

This statement more of less sums up the use most of these characters were in this story. I mean He could have chosen and random heroes from the marvel universe, and they are would have been as good/bad a job as these guys.

The Damnation mini series and the Dr Strange regular issues I would have rated 5 stars. They were great. I quite like the like the price of magic despite the motives. Many saying like the "road to hell is paved with good intentions", or "no good deed goes unpunished" come to mind. I like the change that they made in Steven Strange's character his arrogance from is early pre-magical life is more apparent.

The Ghost Rider oneshot I though would have been a good ending (4 stars), but the other part like Iron Fist 78 - 80, when did this happen? I know there was a "time difference", but it added nothing to the main story, I might have done something for Iron Fist story but it was useless mini series.3 stars.

The Scarlet Spider 15 - 17. That was the point of this? I much prefered Kane as the Scarlet Spider and seeing this version of Ben Reilly in action just confirms my opinion. 2 Stars.

Another thing I did not like about this book is a the beginning the writers went to the trouble of writing a chronology of where each comic fits into the timeline. As this is the complete collection I do not thing it would have been such a big ask to format the book so the issues were in this chronological order with Ghost Rider at the end so the big plan was not given away, but no the lazy formatting was the issues 1-4 of Damnation, Dr Strange 386 - 389, Ghost Rider One shot, Iron Fist 7 - 80, and finally Scarlet Spider 15 -17. This is just a lack of effort and nothing else. It is a shame as the Mini series itself was very good the last two companions just let it down. The is a cover gallery with the variant covers of the Damnation mini series. If you are a Dr Strange or Ghost Rider fan this will be an enjoyable collection the other midnight sons are just useless. I still have no idea why the Scarlet Spider was included he has no connection to magic or the darkness. I would have rated this 3.5 stars but the strength of the main story along with Dr Strange and Ghost Rider rounded it up for me.

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Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance

Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance by Scott Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great companion to Dark Nights Metal. These stories take place around the issues of the the main Metal story line. The Nightmare Batman have been unleashed, each Batman destroyed their worlds Justice League, now all seven of them are here to take out our world Justice League.

The first 4 issues (Teen Titans #12, Nightwing #29, Suicide Squad #26, and Green Arrow#32), take place right after Batman's disappearance/transformation. Damian, Nighwing, Green Arrow with a couple of unlikely Gotamites form the Resistance taking on powerful version of Batman's rouge gallery. However that is not even the real threat.

Batman: Lost #1. A good story of the mental manipulations out Bruce is going through. His mind is still fighting, but in the face of such powerful enemies and the physical drain it could be just a matter of time. This issues also ties a couple of loose threads left over from the Final Crisis story line.

Bats out of hell, (The Flash #33, Justice League #32 & 33, and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #32). This is take place during Superman's rescue attempt. This is the actual clashes between the League and the Nightmares. Good issues, good art work, and a good story coming to a tipping point for the main Metal series.

Hawkman: Found #1. Similar to Batman: Lost this Carter Hall's experience of loss, manipulation, and corruption. Another very good story.

A very good companion that fill in the blanks of the main series allowing the other characters more of the spotlight. Easy issue starts with the main issue cover the cover gallery is a full page spread of the variant covers available. A very good series straight after reading it I wanted to read Metal again as the blanks were filled in.



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