2.5 stars. Not the best story, but it certainly sticks true to what’s been established about this character through her novel. It’s hard to keep readi2.5 stars. Not the best story, but it certainly sticks true to what’s been established about this character through her novel. It’s hard to keep reading stories like these when Phasma is woefully underutilized in the movies. She’s really in business for herself, and I wish we could see this Phasma in the movies. ...more
The most important part of this book is that Doom is the real MVP (and got trolled by Thor's hammer).The most important part of this book is that Doom is the real MVP (and got trolled by Thor's hammer)....more
This is sort of a slice of life police procedural. I've always wondered how the Gotham City P.D. feel about Batman. I mean, I know there's tension theThis is sort of a slice of life police procedural. I've always wondered how the Gotham City P.D. feel about Batman. I mean, I know there's tension there, and it's been shown in the comics. But sometimes I wonder how a typical day, a typical case, is like for them. I wasn't disappointed by what I read. Gotham's finest are presented here as dedicated (or the ones that have appeared so far).
They try to deal with a city where they're ill-prepared to deal with someone like Mister Freeze, where they feel they want to take care of things, to be the one who brings these lunatics in, but in reality, they know that, sometimes, they're resigned to Batman's help. They want to serve and protect. They do serve and protect. They're not bumbling. They may not be on Batman's level, but they're not incapable. Despite Batman making many high profile busts, they still have small victories with "lesser" criminals and crimes, but feel eclipsed by Batman's deeds. And in their own way, they want to impress Batman just like Batman's little family does. They want to show him they're competent, and they want him to acknowledge the work they do. Batman can't be everywhere after all. They have such a thankless job. ...more
Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Following the events of the first book, the womenFull Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Following the events of the first book, the women are now seen as heroes and the overlords of Palisades would like to keep it that way through–what else–throwing large sums of money at them for their help. However, there is still a menace lurking in Palisade and Dee’s religious and personal life catches up to her in this latest volume as they once again find themselves being the good guys. First, let me say: T E N T A C L E S! YES!
This book delved a little more into the personal lives of the Queens, specifically Violet, Dee, and Hannah. I’m starting to think that Betty just fell from a happy pagan tree screaming, “Give me candy!” and there’s not a thing more to her than that (right now). I still love her, though. She’s double comedy relief, and I imagine her to be a female Ryback. FEED ME! FEED ME MORE! (Wrestling joke. Leave me alone, okay.)
Hannah’s story still left so much mystery to her character while being telling all at the same time. I really look forward to reading more about her, especially after she revealed a piece of herself that she never meant to because of the implications that doing so would mean something monumental in terms of that particular relationship, and she showed how vulnerable and scared doing so made her. There was just the right amount of telling and pulling back with Hannah.
I was really glad to know a little more about Dee’s religious background as well as her personal background. In the last book while everyone else was getting their freak on Dee shied away from any interest shown in her, and you sort of find out why that is in this book. She also struggles more with her faith and what she believes before deciding what’s truly right for her as far as her faith goes.
Violet’s personal story left me a little on the fence. On one hand, I thought it was really great, but on another hand, bits of it felt more shallow than I was expecting from her story. No, shallow isn’t the right word. It’s was more like they condensed it so much that some of the important bits felt missing like, as a reader, I could feel something more was going on there, but then, it managed to move on to parts that felt smaller than what they were really trying to get across with Violet. I still enjoyed it, though. Especially this scene where Vi asked another lady dwarf why she shaved her beard:
I absolutely adored this book much like the last one. The ending was a little more hurried than I would’ve liked, but I anxiously await more on these ladies’ adventures.
Also, I have to end this with Gary because nobody wants to be Gary.
Note: I listened to the GraphicAudio version of this while using the comic for visuals.
I’m a big fan of GraphicAudio‘s audiobook productions, and I have reviewed a few for this site–Marvel: Civil War by Stuart Moore, Marvel: The Death of Captain America by Larry Hama, and Disarmed & Dangerous by Tim Waggoner. I’m continuously impressed with the production value of these books. They’re always full cast no matter the length with high quality sound effects. You’d think the audiobook format wouldn’t fit something as visual as comics, but the comics play out like radio/podcast dramas.
No Normal is an origin story. Kamala Khan is a typical girl trying to survive the grind of being a teenager and all the drama and insecurities that come along with it. One night after defying her strict parents, Kamala sneaks out of her house to attend a party. After leaving the party in frustration, Kamala’s powers emerge and she manages to save one of her classmates from drowning. Now she’s on a quest to learn to control her powers while learning to accept that her differences are what makes her powerful.
Kamala has a couple of things that stand out in this comic. Her family is Muslim, and while her parents aren’t overbearing, they are strict. Their rigidity is something Kamala rebels against because she feels if she were a boy the rules wouldn’t apply to her. Because of her religion, Kamala suffers from teasing from her classmates who make jokes about honor killings and Kamala smelling like curry. Despite this ridicule, Kamala still wants to be like them. She wishes she was the blonde-haired blue-eyed girl that seems to have everything going for her. This was fitting as people of color often struggle with race and religion when everything around them tells them that the norm is pretty white people. Readers/listeners get to experience this through Kamala.
Kamala’s religion plays a strong part in her life. I think listening to this as I read made scenes such as Kamala having a visual of the Faith appearing as Iron Man, Captain America, and Captain Marvel, much more poignant. (The Faith appeared that way because they can take the form that appeals to the person, and Kamala is a huge Avengers fan to the point that she writes fanfiction.) The audiobook employed the use of prayer in the background during these scenes. If there’s one criticism I think I can level at this it would be that it feels like Wilson was a bit stereotypical in her presentation of Muslims. However, perhaps she was trying to be straightforward for readers who wouldn’t be familiar with the faith.
I did have the comic on hand when I was listening to this, and that made the experience much richer since the dialogue is taken from the book line by line while adding depth of detail for the audio format. I’ve been enjoying the art for the Marvel titles that are geared more toward Young Adults. They’ve managed to be fun, lighthearted, and vibrant much like the characters they follow. Listening to this book affirmed one thing for me. We need a Ms. Marvel cartoon or animated movie. Her story lends itself so well to the idea.
Narrator: Full Cast | Length: 1 hr and 30 mins | Audiobook Publisher: GraphicAudio (August 17, 2015) | Whispersync Ready: No
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