Fantasy Books - Page 6

Jack of Fables, Vol. 3: The Bad Prince

Bill Willingham, Matt Sturges

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Vertigo Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $7.92

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Fantasy
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> General
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A brilliant continuation of the Fables' Universe 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Even though Jack is perhaps my least favorite Fable in the wonderful imaginative universe that Bill Willingham has created, I once again have been completely blown away by one of his collections. This addition to the sequence features some truly wonderful twists. There are also a number of additions to the overall Jack narrative that significantly increases the complexity of the tale.

The big surprise is that the revelation that Jack is the not the original of the Jack/John stories, but the copy. If you've read any studies dealing with European folktales, you have undoubtedly encountered the idea of Jack stories (very similar in Native American folklore concerning Coyote stories). There are a host of stories centered on this character, more of a type than a specific individual. Here the idea is introduced that through the Powers that Be, Jack was a copy of John, insted of the other way around. The stories were actually about John, whose memories Jack has been provided.

The real meat of the story, however, lies elsewhere, as we learn a great deal more about Mr. Revise and hints about the particular kind of being that he is, as well as the revelation that there are others like him. I am not buying the individual issues of this series as they come out so I have not checked to verify this, but I suspect that the next group of issues focus on this. Suffice it to say that this book is crucial in introducing essential plot twists to come.

The book also ties in rather nicely with Volume 10 of the FABLES story, in a couple of ways. First, this volume is entitled JACK OF THE FABLES 3: THE BAD PRINCE, while the other is FABLES 10: THE GOOD PRINCE. Second, in the Jack volume a sword is rammed through his chest by someone who appears to be Merlin. In the FABLES volume we learn that the sword may have resulted from more than just that.

All in all, another great addition to one of the best ongoing comics series around. If you love comics, you should definitely add this to your collection, but only after you've added the previous FABLES and JACK releases.

Jack Kirby's The Demon

Jack Kirby

Amazon Price: $31.49 List Price: $49.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DC Comics Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $24.98

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Fantasy
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Horror
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Superheroes

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The Demon is a Bargain 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

The Demon is an entertaining comic by Jack Kirby. Like many of his DC creations, it never finds a firm footing: its neither a super hero comic or a horror comic. There are no sub-plots that join issue to issue, a device Stan Lee used to enhance the reading experience, and sales. That being said, its still pure entertainment as a quick read, and features some stunning art.

There are two types of fans of "collected editions" like the Demon: people who collect them for their own sake, and readers nostalgic for the original comics.

Collected edition fans often judge these books by their production values - including paper choice. A few reviewers in this camp claim the paper used in these volumes is not durable, a curious claim considering there is no evidence to support it. At $2 and issue, this volume is certainly far more economical than a new comic at $3 - plus its hard bound. Case in point: Demon comics from the 70's can still be bought almost newstand fresh on eBay, and this paper is of a far higher quality - though similar in presentation.

Nostalgic fans generally prefer DC's paper choice as its far closer to the medium used to print the original comic. I fall into this camp because I believe the artists knew they were working with newsprint, and tailored their work to it.

Collected editions often replicate the coloring of the original books -- isn't it kind of a wasted effort to use paper that makes it looks totally different?

World of Warcraft

Walter Simonson

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: WildStorm Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $9.28

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Popular Culture
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Comics & Graphic Novels
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

From PC to paper, does it translate? 3 out of 5 stars.
10 of 16 people found this review helpful.

I am a longtime fan of the Warcraft game series going all the way back to Warcraft: Orcs & Humans the first PC title.

I have been buying this comic since the first issue came out and by issue 10 I have yet to be totally impressed. First off don't be fooled by the cover art of this trade collection, neither Samewise nor Metzen (the usual Warcraft artists) contribute art to the inside of this book. The art's not bad it's just nothing like what we're used to seeing over the years. The story is a rather blandly told romp of a cast of characters that begins similarly to the movie Gladiator. The story centers on an amnesic Human Warrior, a Blood Elf and a Night Elf Druid who must band together to rise through the ranks of arena fights and ultimately overthrow their Orc master and discover the true destiny of said amnesic human. Would you believe that destiny might involve becoming a noble warrior and hero of the land? I guess you'll have to read to find out but let's just say this book is filled with a fair amount of clichés.

The story telling isn't horrible for a comic book I have just read better in the likes of books likes Batman: The Long Halloween or Ultimate Spider-Man. The book's mythology does seem to get deeper with each issue and the universe they live in doesn't seem too dissimilar to me from the like of Gargoyles the animated series during the flashbacks. In fact the book at time seems to employ Saturday-morning-cartoon-like plot devices from time to time.

If you are coming in as a fan of the series you need to know that familiar characters from the game seldom make an appearance. By issue10 we've seen Jaina Proudmoore but there are few other references the make this comic familiar to fans of the PC world. I personally think there have been missed opportunities to show characters like Cairne Bloodhoof in the issue features Tauren or to even showcase Tharall in some of the more Orc-centric locations. Actually, quite a few of the characters in this comic have been adapted from the current line of DC Direct World of Warcraft Action figures. The first issue alone features 3 characters from wave 1 and 2 of the toyline with 2 more toy personalities showing up relatively soon thereafter.

Bottom line is, if you're a real fan of Warcraft there is the potential for entertainment to be had with this series. However, if you're a casual fan of the franchise and are hoping this comic will give you some extra insight in the world you love know you're better of pickup of the actual Warcraft Novels or just run through the campaign modes of all three original games again.

The Sandman: Endless Nights

Neil Gaiman

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Vertigo Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $7.92

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> Graphic Design -> General AAS
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Characters -> Sandman
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Comic Strips -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

More Sandman Generally Means Happiness 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This collection of short stories, each one featuring one of the Endless, was worth the attempt. I consider myself a fan of the Sandman (I believe the regular run to be one of the greatest comics, ever, and near the top of all literature). I like anything that will allow for more authentic adventure in this world that Neil Gaiman has created.

I am happy to have it.

That said, the execution of this particular volume is inconsistent. Instead of making them all conventional short stories, Gaiman decided to be daring and make a couple of them rather surreal. I admire his daring, though not everyone will be satisfied with, say, Delirium's tale which is fairly hard to follow.

Personally, I loved the Despair feature (which cannot really be called a story)--small vignettes of people in Despair, or reflections on her nature.

Of the more traditional stories, the book starts strongly with Death and Desire but finishes kind of weakly with Destruction's and Destiny's. Destruction is a wonderful character, and I was hoping to get something that used him to more effect, but he is hardly there in his tale (indeed, Delirium gets more dialogue and time), and Destiny simply doesn't make a very compelling protagonist (and so Gaiman doesn't give him a story, just kind of talks about Destiny).

The show-stealer, as though there could be any doubt, is Dream's tale, which gives us insight into all of the Endless in the long ago (back to a time when Destruction still wore his mantle, Delirium was Delight and Dream and Desire were the best of friends... kind of).

Sandman fans will appreciate this collection, though it is unlikely that every one will like every tale. Still, as much as I love the universe, these characters, and the author behind it all, I am happy that Mr. Gaiman continues to make his particular brand of art.

Editorial Review:

Featuring the popular characters from the award-winning Sandman series by Neil Caiman, THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS reveals the legend of the Endless, a family of magical and mythical beings who exist and interact in the real world. Born at the beginning of time, Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delirium, and Destruction are seven brothers and sisters who each lord over their respective realms. In this highly imaginative book that boasts a diverse styles of breathtaking art, these seven peculiar and powerful siblings each reveal more about their true being as they star in their own tales of curiosity and wonder. THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS was the first comic graphic novel to be listed on the "NY Times Best-seller list. SUGGESTED FOR MATURE READERS.

Immortal Iron Fist, Vol. 2: The Seven Capital Cities of Heaven (v. 2)

Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction

Amazon Price: $12.23 List Price: $17.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Marvel Comics Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $9.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Fantasy
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Superheroes
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Once a generation, the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven align on a plane far beyond the ken of mortal men. It is here that these cities send their Immortal Warriors to compete against one another in a combat tournament to end all tournaments, and it is here that Daniel Rand was spirited to in his darkest hour. Generations of mystical war traditions await their chance to prove they have the greatest kung-fu - to the Immortal Iron Fist! Plus: The Book of Iron Fist, written on parchment made from the dragon scales of Shou-Lao the Undying, tells the life stories and kung-fu secrets of every man and woman ever to hold the mantle of the Immortal Iron Fist - except two. One, Danny Rand, the current Iron Fist and the possessor of this most remarkable book. The other was Orson Randall, the Golden Age Iron Fist, and he died as he lived: trying to outrun the Iron Fist legacy. And if Danny hopes to escape a similar fate, he'll have to track down Orson's long-lost story and learn the mysteries within before it's too late. Collects Immortal Iron Fist #8-14 and Annual #1.

Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall

Bill Willingham

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Vertigo Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $6.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Fantasy
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> General
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Eisner Award-winning graphic novel is now available in trade paperback.

In this original tale set in the early days of Fabletown, long before the FABLES series began, Snow White travels to Arabia an ambassador from the exiled Fables community, only to be captured by the sultan, who wants to marry her (and then kill her). But the clever Snow charms the sultan by playing Scheherazade, telling him fantastic tales for 1001 nights.

Running the gamut from uncomfortable horror to dark intrigue to mercurial coming-of-age, 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL reveals the secret histories of the FABLES cast through a series of compelling tales. Writer Bill Willingham is joined by an all-star roster of artists including Charles Vess, Brian Bolland, John Bolton, Michael Wm. Kaluta, James Jean, Tara McPherson, Derek Kirk Kim, Esao Andrews, Mark Buckingham, Mark Wheatley and Jill Thompson. FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL is both a welcome entry point to the critically acclaimed series and an essential part of Willingham's growing FABLES mythos.

Hellboy, Vol. 8: Darkness Calls

Mike Mignola, Duncan Fegredo, Dave Stewart

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dark Horse Comics Amazon Marketplace: 61 new & used starting at $8.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Characters -> Hellboy
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Fantasy
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Horror

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Close-Read This One 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I won't go into the plot much here, but I'll say this: close-read this one. Don't be surprised if you finish it quickly, only to find yourself missing a thing or two. Read it over a second time, taking it in slowly, and it should all fall into place.

That would be my main criticism, actually: Fegredo doesn't have the same sort of "leading" style that Mignola does, so it can be a challenge to know where the artist wants you to look. That interferes with the flow of the comic a little, and makes the circumstances of the initial conflict a little confusing.

Also, as much as Hellboy hates it, his adversaries usually talk more! The Council of Witches don't explicitly state what their problem is, and Gruagach (Hellboy: The Corpse) is vague as can be about what he's lugging around in that box. It's a little reminiscent of a short-lived Guy Davis project, the noir-superheroic "Nevermen", in that you have to read very closely, and even then, you have to infer some details.

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour through Russian history, though, and Mignola indulges us with a fight scene that, reminiscent of "The Wolves of Saint August" from The Chained Coffin and Other Stories (vol. 3), takes many pages indeed to come to a proper resolution. It's worth it, though: we get a stronger sense of the forces at work, and, as always, we see mythological figures taking themselves way too seriously. A delight!

Editorial Review:

Hellboy has finally returned from his adventures at sea, but no sooner has he settled on land than a conclave of witches drags him from his respite and into the heart of Russian folklore, where he becomes the quarry of the powerful and bloodthirsty witch Baba Yaga. Bent on revenge for the eye she had lost to Hellboy, Baba Yaga has enlisted the aid of a deathless warrior who will stop at nothing to destroy Hellboy. Creator Mike Mignola turns over drawing duties to Duncan Fegredo (Enigma, Ultimate Adventures) for a new chapter in the life of the World's Greatest Paranormal Investigator. Hellboy: Darkness Calls collects the entire six-issue miniseries, along with two new epilogues-one drawn by Mignola, and one by Fegredo-and an extensive sketchbook section from both artists and includes many plot elements from the major motion picture, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, directed by Academy Award winner, Guillermo del Toro and slated for release in July 2008!

The Savage Sword of Conan, Vol. 1 (v. 1)

Roy Thomas

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dark Horse Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $8.68

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Comic Strips -> General
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Comic Strips -> General AAS
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Fantasy

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 35 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great book in small doses 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Basically, Savage Sword of Conan is a great read, as long as you only read one or two stories, put the book down, go do something else for two weeks, come back, and read a couple more.

Don't get me wrong, most of the stories are downright fantastic! I'm particularly fond of the Barry Windsor Smith stuff at the begining, especially "Red Nails" which is an incredibly good read with excellent visual storytelling.

But the problem is all the stories are out of order chronologically, and they basically repeat the same patterns: Conan meets hot chick (usually a different one every time) who doesn't like Conan at first, fights some monsters or warriors or wizard bent on destruction, hot chick is captured, Conan defeats evil and saves hot chick, hot chick falls head over heels for our beefy warlord, and like James Bond, the story closes with them about to do the nasty. Oh, and there's an occassional magical relic.

Therefore, the stories can get very formulatic and its difficult to get excited from one story to the next if you read a lot of them at once. There is barely any character development with Conan, and with no continuing storylines, there are no other characters to care about.

In closing, this book is very good in small spurts.

Editorial Review:

In the mid 1970s following the colossal success of Conan the Barbarian, Roy Thomas helped expand the universe of Conan to showcase further stories and the talents of some of the comics industry's best with the equally popular Savage Sword of Conan magazine. Now, for the first time in over thirty years, these primal tales, featuring Robert E. Howard's most popular character, are available in this, the first in a series of massive trade paperbacks, collecting all Savage Sword Conan stories beginning with issue one. Included in this volume are tales by Roy Thomas, featuring the breathtaking art of such legends as Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, Alfredo Alcala, Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom, Pablo Marcos, Walter Simonson and more. But that's not all. Also included in this tome are Conan's few appearances in the title Savage Tales - for the complete Conan collection!

The Dream Hunters (Sandman, Book 11)

Neil Gaiman, Yoshitaka Amano

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Vertigo Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $7.98

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Characters -> Sandman
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Fantasy
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Science Fiction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 53 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Awesome~ 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Easily one of my favorites with Amano's art, a beautiful but sad tale with Amano's incredible art to bring the mythical tale to life~ Five Stars and worth your money.

Very Different, Very Cool 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I love Gaiman, and especially his Sandman work, so I decided to check this book out. I discovered it to be something entirely different from his other work. Wheras the other Sandman literature is in the form of comics and graphic novels, this one is more like an illustrated story. And instead of taking place in North America and Europe like the other works, this one takes place in Japan and draws upon Japanese mythology and folklore for the story. It is a wonderful tale, though, and the artwork is amazing. Fans of Sandman might really like this, although some may feel somewhat misled because of how different it is. I enjoyed it thoughourally.

Editorial Review:

Sandman: The Dream Hunters won the 1999 Bram Stoker Award for Best Comic Book, Graphic Novel, or Other Illustrative Narrative as well as the 2000 Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book. Sandman: The Dream Hunters was also nominated for the 1999 Hugo Award for Best Related Book.

Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 4

Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Bill Crabtree

List Price: $34.99 By: Image Comics Amazon Marketplace: 2 new & used starting at $22.09

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> Graphic Design -> Commercial -> Illustration
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Fantasy
Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Graphic Novels -> Superheroes

Editorial Review:

Witness Invincible's transition from new hero just starting out to an established superhero! This volume collects Invincible's violent battle with the villainous Reanimen, the invasion attempt by the Sequis from Mars, and the introduction of the Viltrumite agent, Anissa.