Comics Books

i'm very happy ^_^ i managed to get the book with the three characters on front, if your worried by the title and hot it says, pokemon comic series three? just ignore it. the book's the same as the other 4. it was gorgess seeing meousy and all the stuff underwater, a must have...

Well, we've all seen those cute and cuddly little freaks hogging the pages of TIME, and completely obliterating the trading-card market. But even a veteran Pokemon fanatic gets tired of Pokemon's general appearance [cute and child-friendly]. Well, that's where this book comes in. The Pokemon and characters are drawn in a much more manga way, and seem either more silly, serious, or enraged! Whoever this guy is, he needs to start working for Microsoft, because their website needs more than a little work! [visually, that is]

I briefly browsed through this thing in my local Waldenbooks, but I was blown away by the strangely realistic look of Venusaur and Blastoise [in mountain-form, nonetheless!]. Hell, I expected vulgar language and nudity on every other page, that's how Manga it looks!

Although this US version is quite censored, I can recommend it to any Pokemon fan, but it is absolute must have for any Rocketshipper! It is quite Ash-bashing despite the title. And there are also the most beautiful pictures of Jessie and James! The art style is marvelous and Mr.Ono's humour is great, too!!!
I like The Electric Pikachu Boogaloo the best from all 4 manga books by Toshihiro Ono. This series is one of my most favourite mangas (beside Cardcaptor Sakura and Gunsmith Cats).
Read it and you will see why! If you are manga fan and want quality, try this Pokemon manga series. It it not childish, I'm 20 and I enjoyed it very much!

This Pokemon tradepaperback is the best Pokemon item ever made! The stories are more interesting to read especially better than the television series. Once I got the book in my hands I was amazed at Toshihiro Ono's artwork. This guy can draw! I like good american art and more so manga art. Mr. Ono's work is outstanding story and art both. If you are a lover of good art and enjoy Pokemon this is the book to get ( along with all the othe TPs from his other 3 Pokemon books). Hope this review is helpful.

There are two things I somewhat pride myself on not being: 1)The first is a Pokemon fan (Don't get me wrong, I love Nintendo, but I won't be sad when they finally stop producing Pokemon games) 2)The second is a comic book fan. I gave up comic books for many good reasons, the first of which is that I simply couldn't understand the piecemeal plots of the works. Look at it this way: Once a month, you either buy at a store or receive in the mail a small book of approximately 20 or 30 pages with decent art printed on lousy newsprint, it took you approximately 10 or so minutes to read, and then you had to wait a whole month to find out what happens next! That is why I turned to the trade paperback, and then ultimately turned to Manga. Not only did trade paperbacks keep my attention and immerse me in a fictional world for at least 10 minutes, but they usually contained whole stories. I came across Electric Pikachu Boogaloo in the book section of Target, I flipped through the pages and immediately fell in love with Toshihiro Ono's rather interesting take on the Pokemon Omniverse. What really grabbed my attention was the way in which the Pokemon were drawn; they were not quite the cute, cuddly cartoons of the orignal Nintendo games, but were something more: They looked like Animals! Real, living, breathing animals that could very well exist (cases-in-point: Meowth really looks like a cat and Gryados really looks like...well, a Gryados, but still the scariest looking Gryados I'd ever seen). What also made me fall in love with Electric Boogaloo was the story of the Clefairy's Off-world origins, and their effect on an adorable little girl and her pet Jigglypuff. The absolute best illustration in the story is presented to us when the little girl is awakened to the sounds of someone (or something) in the kitchen and creeps downstairs, heart racing. The next panel is possibly the most strangely eerie and yet amazingly alluring illustration I have ever seen: A seemingly innumerable amount of Clefairy all gathered around the refrigerator, foraging for whatever food they can find. I found myself staring at the panel for what seemed like hours as memories of times when comics were actually able to create moments of suspense and were able to pull the reader into a strangely foreign world with an all too haunting familiarity. I also found myself practically on the verge of tearing up during the little girl's monologue to the Clefairy about her long lost mother. And I couldn't help but smile when she first greeted her strange visitors ("Nice ta meetcha!"). Toshihiro Ono is an artistic genius, and of all the books in the series, this stands as the absolute best. Even if you're not a pokemon fan, and especially if you're not a comic book fan, you can find solace in the fact that this book embodies none of the things that make Pokemon or comic books so esoteric, alienating, and generally unenjoyable.

Emma is a masterpiece: It is one of the most original mangas I've ever read in a long time. A breath of fresh air from the shonen fight-to-the-death battles and the shoujo bubble-head romances I've seen and read all too many. It's fresh and simple, romantic yet innocent and incredibly realistic. A Romeo and Juliet from a less dramatic, slice-of-life, point of view.

The art is superb beyond words. It's obvious that Mori has toiled and toiled in the illustration of the book. Every building stands out with detailed windows and rooftops, and the streets are drawn as like photographs of daily Victorian-era life. The characters are brought to life with Mori's gentle touches.

Speaking of character, the character development is incredible. I feel as if I know Emma personally and Edward's situations and strife come alive. Mori has woven an amazing story; with diverse scenarios and believable content. Victorian England has come alive, convincing readers to relish every moment of the rich tapestry of history.

Do not miss this historical masterpiece!

Emma: Volume One, chronicles the meeting of William, the son of a rich merchant (the new upper-class) and Emma, the mild-mannered and charming maid of his retired governess. But rather than the cheesy love-at-first-sight crazy-in-love sort of thing, we get the very well thought out beginnings of romance. The characters both exemplify love and getting-to-know-each-other newness, and show simultaneously as products of their time- and slowly charm in you the process.

Obviously the Britain of Victorian times was researched extensively for this manga- and it shows. We are from the start immersed in their world- which is more exciting than you'd think! Library porn! Elephants!

William and Emma form the core of the volume (with good reason), and given their circumstances, we understand their shy flirtations, which highlight Kaoru Mori's greatest strength- expressive faces. This manga is drawn fairly realistically (no slapstick here), and the characters often do not freely verbalize their thoughts- but Mori clearly displays them in concise strokes. (The retired governess, Kelly Stowner really steals the show in this aspect with her playful faces as she observes the blooming crush between the two leads.)

Highly recommended if you want to read a smart historical manga! (I'll certainly be checking out the next volumes!)

In my manga reading habits, I'm not usually much of a shoujo fan - endless high school romances and magical girl storylines tend to bore me to tears - so I'm far more of a shonen fan. Give me action and explosions. Adventure. Heroism. Daring deeds -- escapism at its best.

But I'm also a reader of historical romances -- Regencies mostly -- so period tales appeal to me too.

I was browsing Amazon one day searching for something 'new' to read (can't camp on the "order now" button for the next "One Piece" volume all the time... heheh) and stumbled across a review for "Emma". Curious and intrigued, I bought the first volume. I'm willing to give most things that pique my interest a try with at least one volume.

Oh my. I devoured it in less than 15 minutes. Then went back and savored it again with a slower, more thorough read. And did that again and again over the next week while I waited (impatiently!) for my copies of volumes 2-3-4-5 to show up.

Gorgeously and subtly rendered art and story. Compared to shonen, this story moves at a snail's pace. But that's part of the charm. It builds. Slow and sure. Lets you become familiar with the people and place and the time. The rich details of daily life (for both upper and lower classes) are astounding. Not boring, but fascinating. So much cleanliness and comfort and convenience that modern, industrialized life renders simple and of little thought to how to it is achieved now, used to be done by laboriously by hand. And in the case of the lifestyles of the wealthy, by many many hands. It took a lot of support to run a mansion. (Which also employed a lot of people!) We've forgotten that. And forgotten that many of the world still live that way - by hand and with support from many others.

The story is just as deeply researched into the ways and mores of that very different time. Mori-sensei tells an engaging and heart-tugging tale within that venue. She's done a fabulous job of re-creating and capturing the tensions, prejudices (spoken and not), class barriers amid the reluctantly (and often painfully) changing culture of Edwardian England.

There are panels without text that still shout so many things at you. Mori-sensei, I bow to you. Your storytelling skills shine in this medium of manga. You are a true master of your craft. I feel your characters boredom as well as their enthusiasm. Their hope and their pain. Grief. Desperation. Joy. Resignation. Without you having to hurl any of those words in my face. They act pained. Or content. Or afraid. Or confused. Or they pretend those things. And I can see it -- or miss it -- just as the people around them in the story do.

This isn't action-adventure or even blatant romance (at first). What it is is a tale of quiet, ordinary heroism. About finding the courage to follow (or even truly understand) one's own heart. And then finding the deeper courage to live one's own heart.

I'm pulling for you Emma and William.

(I'm pulling for you too, Aurelia and Richard! It's never too late!)

Emma is maid to a retired governess; her beauty and grace have attracted many suitors, some beyond her station in life. The story line follows both sides of the romance, giving insights into the vast class differences of the times and setting up what are sure to be difficult social hurtles for Emma and Mr Jones.

If you're a fan of quiet heroins of Jane Austin and the graphic styles of Japanese Manga, I think you'll find this first book appealing.

As a Literature major, I have been force-fed Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and other famous English authors. I didn't really enjoy them (although I love Great Expectations) but that was due to immaturity and being forced to read 100 pages a week along with other piles of homework. When I saw Emma sitting quietly on the shelf, it was calling to the part of me who is a Lit nerd. Emma is amazingly accurate and it grabs your heart and refuses to let go! It should be a boring manga, but it's NOT. You sympathize with the characters and want them to be happy (and together).

As a manga freak who's growing tired of the romance mangas that feature 100 hot girls after a boring guy (known as harem manga/anime), the sappy high school romance manga that has misunderstandings galore with the girl running away crying every 10 pages, and the popular guy/girl meeting an unpopular girl/guy, Emma is a huge breath of fresh air! I normally prefer action/fantasy over romance, but, once again, Emma has me more interested in her struggles with society over a magical girl's struggle with an evil queen. Buy it. Please. The other reviewer put it perfectly: Emma is a winner. Thanks to it, I feel more interested in Jane Austen and the rest of the English authors I will be reading throughout my education in Literature. I hope they release the touching and heartbreaking 'Emma' anime as well....

It's the fourth quarter with nine seconds to go. While in the huddle, your team captain, who resembles the devil himself, tells you, "You better make it to the end zone or else I will kill you," accentuating his point by cocking a handgun that seemed to come out of nowhere. What do you do? Risk getting crushed by the opponent's defensive line, or risk getting shot by your insane team captain? For freshman running back Sena Kobayakawa --known to the football league only by the codename "Eyeshield 21"--, there's only one thing to do. Run as fast as he can. Now, I don't really know much about football, much less football in Japan, but Eyeshield 21 offers an action-packed and often humorous crash course in one of the most popular Japanese high school sports. The entire story is presented in Manga (Japanese Graphic Novel) form.

The story follows the trials and tribulations of Sena Kobayakawa, a freshman at Deimon High School. All of his life, Sena was the target of constant bullying by upperclassmen and even students in his own grade due to his size. The only person who could help him was his childhood friend, a female upperclassman by the name of Mamori Anezaki.

Because he got into Deimon High School by passing the required entrance exam, Sena got the chance to start fresh and makes a vow to stop being a victim. The people he meets, however, have other things planned for him.

The first person who takes interest in Sena's amazing speed and agility is the captain of the Deimon Devil Bats football team, sophomore student Yoichi Hiruma. Hiruma's most outstanding trait is his resemblance to a demon, with his wildly spiked hair, pointed ears, slitted eyes, and unusually sharp teeth. He is also rather manipulative, keeping a small black book chock full of blackmail so that he can force people to play for the Devil Bats whenever a game comes. His violent streak is rather evident whenever he pulls out a weapon with which to intimidate someone. Such occasions include "Recruiting" Sena to become their running back, when Hiruma dangles Sena helplessly from the ceiling while Hiruma opens fire with an assault rifle, intentionally making near misses. During one morning practice, Hiruma uses two rocket launchers as starting pistols for the 40-yard dash drill, where it is discovered that Sena can run the drill in 4.2 seconds, considered top speed even for the NFL. This is a timely discovery, as they have their first game the next day against a team called the Koigahama Cupids, where Eyeshield 21 makes his debut.

Concerned for Sena's safety is his childhood friend Mamori. As a sophomore and a member of the Disciplinary Committee, she takes it upon herself to effectively shield Sena from the more hostile elements of Deimon High, especially Hiruma. However, this effort results in making her look like an absolute mother hen, constantly checking up on Sena, to say everything short of smothering him. Obviously, she is frustrated that Sena ends up getting involved with Hiruma despite her warnings, but is relieved that Sena is "Just the team manager." (At least, that's all she's supposed to know.)

As an Anime and Manga fan, I picked up Eyeshield 21 out of sheer curiosity. I usually never read sports-centric Manga, but Eyeshield 21 is a definite exception. With its wacky cast and absolutely ridiculous situations (Hiruma gets away with stuff that would get him thrown in a federal penitentiary in real life and would most assuredly get him expelled were he a student at any U.S. school), Eyeshield 21 is a page-turning, side-splitting read for anyone who is a Manga fan. Football players would enjoy this too, despite its lack of realism, as it has the basics of football relatively well understood. Taking these factors into account, I give Eyeshield 21 an "A" on the grading scale, and if you read it, I think you'll agree.

i thought this story was gonna be pointless and stupid. oh, how wrong i was. my bro let me borrow the first 4 or so books, and i was addicted to it after the first 2 chapters! and the best part is? you don't have to know squat about football to enjay and laugh at it. about all that i knew about football before i read this was that you take the ball, and run for your life, or you will be doggie-piled. i didn't even know what a quarterback was. now i actually know some stuff. and it's sooo funny. as far as i'm concerned, the devil of a captain is the one who pulled the story together, and made it funny. heck, he recruted the main star by dangling him upside down and purpousfully missing him with a gun! i even got my other bro addicted to this series, and he doesn't even like manga/anime! point is, it is the best sparts manga ever, and is a must buy.

I consider Eyeshield 21 to be the best sports manga I've ever read (even better than Prince of Tennis). Eyeshield 21 has a great cast of characters with very different personalities and skills, and yet they are all connected by their passion for the game of football (even if some characters don't realize yet that they are falling in love with the sport). There is some funny humor, and lots of great football action. If you're a fan of football or sports manga, this is a must-buy.

This manga is one of the best sports manga I had ever seen

First, this one never inspire to play... >=D you need to read to see...

I will say, I love it, Sena is so weak and coward (And cute)... Kurita is a pancake with Budda shape XD... And Himura is the son of the devil... O_o The son?... sorry, HE IS the devil himself...

He even has cerberus n_nUU

I know this one is a manga about american football, but in fact doesn't matters if you want to laugh, all the characters are a little crazy (doesn't count for the captain of the devil bats... Himura is something more than crazy and evil) and at the end of volume one, has nice extras about the characters and other things that you will love.

PD: sorry if my english is bad n_nU

Eyeshield 21 isn't the best sports manga out there--it's the best manga that I've ever, ever, read in my three or four year career as a manga fan. Everything about Eyeshield is so darned perfect--the characters, the art, the story...I can't believe it. I can't see it deserving anything less than 5 stars. I can't imagine how ANYONE can hate Eyeshield 21, for Eyeshield 21 has got something for everyone.

Story: The story for Eyeshield 21 is a little stereotypical; it's basically the same sports manga formula of underdog-team-strives-to-be-the-best--but it's carried out in a serviceable way that doesn't get too annoying. However, Eyeshield has got one thing going for it--it's about FOOTBALL. Not the black-and-white ball, but AMERICAN FOOTBALL. I'm surprised it's even so popular in Japan where American football isn't that popular. A neat thing about Eyeshield 21 is that you don't have to know squat about football to enjoy it.

Characters: This is where Eyeshield 21 REALLY shines--the characters. Seriously, Riichiro Inagaki is a genius. All of the characters have distinct personalities while not being too stereotypical and cliched--Sena's the shy kid who can run really fast because he's spent most of his life running from bullies, Hiruma's the demonic quarterback for the Devil Bats, Kurita's the nice fat guy with a chestnut-shaped head, Monta is like a monkey, etc. etc. Even the "bad guys" are well-thought-out, funny, and original. Honestly, even if you hate football, just read Eyeshield 21 for the characters. What can I say? They're awesome.

Art: Ah, more genius. Yusuke Murata is a genius artist and brings Inagaki's writing to life. I really love how Murata depicts things using visual metaphors--such as Sena visualizing the path he's going to take. The character designs, too, are all unique and distinct and you'd never mistake one character for the other. Eyeshield 21's art is detailed; perhaps a little too detailed, but it's still excellent.

Overall: Like I said before, Eyeshield 21 has something for everyone. Don't like football? Read for the characters. Don't like manga? Read for the football. It's not sugary-sweet and "BELIEVE IN YOURSELF" like so many other sports manga nor is it chock full of bishounen *coughPrinceofTenniscough*, but Eyeshield 21 is still the de facto best sports manga, perhaps even best manga, I have ever read.

The Faceless (the first Terry Sharp tale in a long line I hope) is one of the rarest of all birds these days. A graphic novel that manages to create a solid air of mystery around both the characters and what could happen next. Taking an obvious love of horror films to a new level in comics storytelling, not only is it LIKE the classic Hammer films, it creates something new from that stylized mythos. A character obviously crafted with care, Terry is exactly the kind of guy you would expect to find in the middle of a bizarre conspiracy...but cooler! Blended with just the right sprinkles of cool and confusion-The Faceless leaves the reader wanting more. And you get it with the bonus interview and a short "film" that is worthy of it's heritage with each panel. And the art... Adrian Salmon mixes total stylistic coolness with the rare ability (and attention to) actual SEQUENTIAL STORYTELLING that is lost so often in the "hep" world of graphic (design) novels. Excellent character design that doesn't forget expressiveness in both motion and in simple telling details such as facial expressions, it flows well and compliments the story instead of overpowering it. The coloring is simply peerless as well-instead of candy coloring everything and making it look like everything else on the market these days, the mood is set by the colors and the story flows through the art. Neil Vokes provides the startlingly cinematic backup art, complimented well by the coloring of lead artist Salmon.
Overall, a chance to get something that many comics don't bear out of late-pure graphic satisfaction.

Robert Tinnell is indeed one of us...the lurking faceless hordes of "monster kids" who love classic horror films. That he has parlayed that love into the creation of such an engaging and original character - horror film director by day, occult adventurer by night - is a boon for anyone who loves spooky noir-ish atmosphere, historical background (in this case, Midwich Films as a stand-in for the famous Hammer studios) and hints of mind-numbing horrors just beyond the everyday facade of British civility. These hints are what make one salivate for the next Sharp adventure...that, plus the fact that the character is so much fun! Adrian Salmon's artwork is just fantastic...some of the most imaginative use of color and shadings I've seen.

i picked up the faceless at my local comic shop and couldn't put it down. terry sharp is a old school swashbuckling type hero who you can tottaly enjoy and the story has teh right mixture of british cinema and the supernatural.i can't wait for the next one...no one will regret buying this book.

"You were drafted into a war, Terry. A war against an enemy who is nameless. Faceless. They lay low for years, spinning their webs. Makes one paranoid in time - wondering if you've dreamt it all. And then tonight happens. And you realize it isn't all a dream."

I love that. For me, that passage sums up the mood of THE FACELESS perfectly. Subtle. Secretive. It takes its time to weave its magic spell, much like Bava took his time to work his sorcery with some of his films (KILL BABY KILL being the best example of his slow-burn approach to horror). Terry is a enigma. A womanizer. A creative. Arrogant and full of bluster, it's no surprise he has at least one failed marriage behind him. But you like the guy. He's tough. He doesn't mess around and he doesn't suffer fools. And he's larger-than-life, but if twice-as-ugly, at least the ladies don't care. ("Will you be breaking my heart too, Terry?" "Most likely." "Splendid. . .")

Unanswered questions tantalize us. Who are The Faceless, and what, exactly, were the tragedies that Terry was unfortunate enough to witness which pulled him into this nightmare requiring magical protection to survive? We want to know. Peppered with Hammer Films in jokes, and a very pleasing THE DEVIL'S BRIDE vibe running thru it, I am already thrilling at how the circles of protection in basement rooms and freshly conjured marauding demons would translate to the big screen. Perhaps Terry could even meet the Duc De Richleau? Will the J&B flow freely in YELLOW? *CLINK*

I write a blog all about horror from the '60s-'70s, and I'm here to tell you that FACELESS hits the groovy nail on the head. The story is an absolute treat for Hammer fans. The look is spectacularly reminiscent of the colored-gel lighting techniques of Italian horror masters Mario Bava and Dario Argento. If, like me, you have an overlapping love of Hammer and eurotrash, you'll really be in heaven!

Tinnell knows his Hammer. He doesn't just make references or winks; he creates a whole alternate world where "Midwich Studios" cranks out schlocky cult classics like Baron Frankenstein, Return of Frankenstein, Blood of Frankenstein, and Cult of Dracula. We get stars like "Peter Lingham" selecting eyeballs from glass jars in gruesome close-up. I got so caught up in it, I started to wish there really had been a Midwich Studios, and then I had to remind myself--oh yeah, there was! Satanic cults were probably the top horror staple all through the period, so Tinnell's use of them here just ratchets up the groovy factor that much more.

Art-wise, this is Adrian Salmon's American breakout effort, and he clearly understands the stakes, because he goes for broke. I've already remarked on the eye-popping colors, which are the first thing you'll notice on a casual flip-through. Salmon's drawing is just as arrestingly stylized and non-realistic, and it suits the story to a T.

Then we get a mock retrospective article on Midwich by Mark Clark and Bryan Senn, and a mock interview with one of the actresses by Tom Weaver. The backup feature--scenes from Return of Frankenstein drawn by Neil Vokes--alone is worth the price of admission.

I just can't recommend this highly enough!

I don't know what the people at Marvel did exactly, I guess they went and found a different source from where to film and print, but most of the issues included here look INCREDIBLY better than their poor, xerox-like badly restored Masterworks counterpart.

If you already own the Masterworks for this part of the 4F run, you'll feel cheated and will want to throw them away, believe me, reproduction quality improvement is THAT big.

On the other hand, binding is poor for such a mammoth of a book, and, contrary to popular opinion, I wish size was the same as the original books when they were published for the first time, as it should be for an archival edition.

These are not just the best Fantastic Four stories they are among the best stories ever in the Marvel History. All stories are drawn from Jack Kirby and mostly inked by Joe Sinnott. However, quit possible you already know that. Just the comments of various authors are unnecessary. I am very critical about the printing quality but I can assure you this time the printing is perfect. The book is oversized and the binding is strong and considering the large amount of 840 pages this book can be read easily. It is well worth the money.

Marvel has done an outstanding job in the reproduction of this volume. Kirby's artwork looks terrific, and the slightly-larger-than-Masterworks size really enhances everything. In fact, if you already have the Masterworks editions of these stories, you'll want to sell them because they look so much better here. If you're an FF fan, this volume is a must have. If you're newer to the FF, these are the stories that truly defined this group, epic and operatic, showcasing Stan Lee and Jack Kirby at their very best. And it's a lot of fun to have the letters pages reproduced along with the stories. Some nice essays finish out the package. Highly recommended!

Well, even though I think this summer FF blockbuster is a nice thing to see (well, not high art but I have a good time (despite Jessica Alba's "hairdress" and make-up), the best thing to come from it, it's Marvel publishing this huge and high quality book, containing several of the best stories not just from the Fantastic Four career but the superheroe genre. Mr. Lee and Mr. Kirby were getting warmed up in the first twenty issues of this series and, once the time come, their creativity and imagination explode bringing characters and concepts that push the genre to higher grounds of pure delightfull and subtextual entertainment. From the exotic jungle of Wakanda to the cosmic horizons where the Watcher takes the Human Torch to look for something against Galactus, I think I'm not exaggerating here when I say every story from this hardcover is the very best from Marvel's old times and maybe, ever.

Sorry for my poor english.

This is my second Marvel Omnibus that I bought from Amazon. My first was the Uncanny X-Men Omnibus. The first thing I noticed with this book while flipping through the pages is that it seems to be printed on heavier paper stock than the X-Men Omnibus. This definitely adds to the Quality of the book. Also, the colors are very bright and vivid and look great. Overall, it's very nice to have, especially with the awesome variant cover.

The Millennium Calendar is literally a coffee table book in my house, but we can't wait to read a new one every day - we've each read through the whole thing twice! It's hilarious, and very well put together with all the trivia for the past millennium. Fantastic job! Gary Larson continues his tradition of amusement excellence!

I love anything about the far side and this calender is a winner, but I've misplaced the offer for the video ,that was included in the calender can anyone help,please? E me at michaelkelley@favorites.com

I am a major fan of Gary Larson and his calendars always have me in stiches. This new Millennium calendar has to be his best, and I mean best, yet. I happen to have the calendar on my kitchen counter so that it is easy to look at in those few spare minutes before I leave for work. Let me just tell you this, Gary Larson just brightings up my whole day!

I buy the Far Side calendar every year for the past 7 and I thought I'd be getting tired of them but I ripped open the package, saw the first one and it had me in stitches once again. I love this calendar so much I even devoted a section of my new book to unique ways of using it to be romantic.

Normally I would have bought a Dilbert calendar but I decided to purchase the Far Side calendar and I can't remember laughing that much in a long time (besides Dilbert of course). There are cartoons, witty quotes and even wittier history facts explaining the cartoons.

You can't lose with this calendar, jokes for the light-hearted and notes for the history buffs. Turned out to be a weird but funny combination.

I'm so late to this party - I feel like a complete douche. I enjoyed this so much I couldn't really form rational words to describe, especially since all of the other reviews, at least combined, did such a thorough and accurate job. (except what's up with someone giving it only 4 stars?)

This system needs more stars.

Several people already beat me to this and nailed it. Still, I wanted to write something. So I'll start by confirming what they say is so true.

I wish I would have discovered this sooner and can't wait for more. There was something about The Fart Party, I don't know what... But I read it so fast it was like I absorbed it. I couldn't pull away, meanwhile I have ~3 other books I like a lot but haven't been able to finish in several months.

If anyone is looking for some good clean dirty entertainment this is now my official first suggestion.

Even if Julia did axe the snarky bit about fixed gear bikes in our illustrated interview, the fact that I make a cameo is reason enough to spend your money on this book. And I say that even though I'm not seeing a dime from my image, text or illustrations being published.

Hell, I even paid for my copy (yes, me, the dude who gave Julia permission to reprint the interview). But that's because I'd seen it all before online and it made me laugh, and I like to throw money at people who make me laugh (intentionally) from time to time.

This is a real solid piece of quality work. Funny, well drawn, and thoughtful. Looking forward to more.

Julia Wertz could be called "a fresh new voice on the UG/Indie comic scene" or "a wicked talent to be reckoned with" or "the prom queen of the indie comic sock hop" or a dozen other clever things but none would aptly describe what's going on here.

Yeah, she is a fresh new voice, but her voice has been heard by many already tuned into her via the internet where her comics have a loyal and dedicated following. She's sometimes spiteful, sometimes sweet (often tender, frankly) sometimes self-focused and sometimes offensive but she is always honest and curiously insightful. And funny. Very funny.

Her talent is certainly to be reckoned with because it is obvious with this initial release, she's got much more to say and room to grow in artistic and "literary" terms. And I don't mean this as a criticism.

Indeed, some comic artist/writers might be content with the level and quality of what is presented here, but Wertz is definitely barely hitting her stride. I'd dare others to keep up, because I'd bet a paycheck that she will go further and reach higher than most in her field.

Wertz provides a lot of good stuff here. In addition to dozens of dozens comics (it's not a slim tome, it has considerable heft) we're given the chance to see her style evolve a bit into one that is definitely and recognizable as her own. It's as if we are allowed to see a burgeoning comic artist develop a particular confidence of voice and line that cannot be ignored.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this excellent introduction to "The Fart Party." Keep an eye out for Wertz in the coming years as she continues to present us with her own peculiar view of love, work, play and life. I really can't wait to see what she produces in the years to come, because if this book is any indication, it will be even more amazing.

Buy this book, folks. Now. You'll be glad you weren't late to the party.

Maybe you've been reading [...] for a few years. Maybe you have all of Wertz's minicomics. Maybe you have never even heard of a fartparty. It doesn't really matter, because this book is a must have for all three categories of reader. This is no slim and fast read, but a great chunk of a book that will keep you laughing and sighing until the end. Oh, and Wertz even explains how the name came about in case you were wondering.

This anthology of Wertz's comics start at the very beginning of her foray into the comics medium, but even at the start and without much experience, she proved to have a natural talent for making pictures and words in boxes that pack a punch. Maybe it was her background as a writer or just an inborn wit, but she hit the ground running and has been making great work since the start, and this book covers the first year and a half or so of that process.

Wertz draws in a style that is completely her own and never seems to have fallen into the trap of imitation which many young cartoonists do. Though simple, the strong black and whites express her point of view on the world better than any realist style ever could. Its exciting to see Wertz develop as an artist over the course of the book, but she never loses that edge she has had from the start.

I could go on about the fartparty, talk about the story line that runs throughout the book, or the different characters that we get to know through Wertz's eyes, but that would take away the fun of discovering it for yourself. This book is definitely worth the pricetag, especially since it is a book you can re-read many times without the jokes getting stale. It has a prime spot on my bookshelf and I recommend that you add it to your collection as well.

The very first adventures of the Silver Age FLASH (Barry Allen) are beautifully reproduced in this handsome volume, which is a must-have for fans of the Scarlet Speedster. A nice Foreword recounts his origins and, while it's a nostalgic read for longtime enthusiasts, it's also a great introduction for new fans.

Iris West was awfully nasty to Barry back in those days!

In the latter 1950's I saved a dime and bought my first comic ever -- The Flash, and I was hooked on comics. Now, nearly 50 years later, I began buying the Golden Age Archives (11 so far) because they were the stories I never got to read as a kid, since they were from before I was born. Then it dawned on me, "Wouldn't it be nice to check out the (Silver Age) Flash Archive to re-read those first comic books of my childhood?" So even though it's been out a while, I finally bought Volume 1 of the Flash, and I was delighted to discover that DC had wonderfully linked the last issue of the Golden Age (104) with the first issue of the Silver Age (105), and I also discovered that all the stories in this Archive were missed by me in my youth, coming before I bought that first book! The good memories came back --the really fine artwork by Carmine Infantino -- with characters looking like real people and not like the modern day "steroid pumped" characters. Another aspect of those issues was the desire by DC to put some educational information in the stories --much more so than the Golden Age stories. All in all, The Flash Vol 1, was a great buy, and a wonderful trip down memory lane, leaving me wondering why it took me so long to get this book. I now look forward to buying Vol 2 and to maybe "catching up" to that first issue I bought way back when, when for a kid, summer was fun, parents were always right, and for ten cents an issue, life was good.

Get this book on the stories about this great DC Character;
because it is worth it. Everyone pretty much is really fascinated by the issue that one really deep down inside
wished he or she had super sonic running speed; just like this character; The flash. If the Flash were just a dude with no speed but wearing the costume he would not go far in sales, but this is the core of the flash-that the character is the worlds fastest man on the planet(comic book wise) and that is intrugueing to all kids, even adults[men and women].

To any one
who sprints fast in real life knows what i am talking about.
Recommended comic, unique, get it or else great things such as this are not sold every year nor weekened, and who is to say that once its gone that it will be back[at the stores to sell once more].

That does not happen to much; a fact.I also recommend the action figure to parents, the big version of the flash, a pretty good [handsome]looking guy. Get it for your kids so they can play with it[the toy figure, the big version of him; i have it and he is pretty good(great plastic toy)].

The Flash launched the Silver Age. I read these stories across reprints in those great 100 Pagers and other DC reprint books of the 1970s but to have them all in one volume is a dream come true. Infantino's art is fantastic and the images from the first story will remain in my head forever!!!!

When police scientist (what we'd call forensics or CSI now) Barry Allen is hit by lightning and bathed in chemicals, he discovers he has developed super-speed, much like his fictional comic book hero, the Flash. Taking his cue from the comics, Allen creates a costumed identity as the Flash, and begins a long and successful super-hero career.

I started reading comics after Barry died during "The Crisis on Infinite Earths." So to me, Wally West is THE Flash. That doesn't mean I don't like Barry, especially much of his Silver Age stories, written mainly by Robert Kanigher (Sgt. Rock) and drawn by Carmine Infantino. Indeed, Infantino's name has become synonymous with Barry Allen. His dynamic, crisp and clean artwork made the most of the numerous high-concepts and sci-fi gimmickry that the Flash was built upon. Most importantly, the Flash's immediate popularity birthed a new interest in super-heroes, re-establishing them as a viable genre in the comic book medium.

"The Flash Archives" vol. 1 contains "Flash" #104, the last issue of the Golden Age Flash's series, featuring some of Infantino's early artwork. It then jumps to "Showcase" #4 (the first appearance of Barry Allen), #8, #'s 13-14, and "Flash" #'s 105-108 (the publishers having decided to use the old numbering as a sign of a "strong" book). The creators developed a solid Rogues Gallery quickly, as the Flash battles the Turtle, Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Mr. Element, and Gorilla Grodd. Grodd became Barry's most persistent foe right off the bat, as he schemed to take control of the hidden Gorilla City, home of intelligent apes, with his heightened mental powers. Naturally, he aspired to global conquest, as well.

It's hard to zero in on one story as great. The volume represents such astounding consistency. Everything has a nice, innocent quality, and makes for entertaining reading. .

Granted, given these stories were written in the late 1950s and were aimed at children, the stories are also pretty simplistic: heavy on plot, light on character. Barry's girlfriend, Iris West, is a reporter with the local paper. She constantly laments Barry's slowness, and frequently wonders why Barry can't be more like the Flash. Barry takes it all with a wink and a nod, never letting his duel life get him down.

Barry Allen is one of the few comic book characters to die and (so far) stay dead. While I think bringing him back would be a travesty, it's great to look back at what made him such a fun and enduring character to begin with. It's hard not to read this volume without a big smile on your face.

Jim Davis has once again used his expertise to charm and captivate our minds in his explosive 10th collection of comics. His wit and humor make America's favorite fat cat come to life, now more gluttonous and hilarious than ever before. My only complaint is that the Sunday strips are not printed in color, but overall this is a wonderful arrangement of comics.

Garfield is a puffed up caricature of all cats. They truly believe that the world revolves around them and their food better be there when they want it. Like Garfield, my cat, appropriately named Sassy, wants attention when she wants it and then will bite you when she is done. Yet, like Garfield, she is a lovable creature that would be missed if she was gone. Garfield is funny, a bit demented and always a good read.

My book title is Garfield makes it Big. It is about a fat cat that does not like to do anything. It's a good book because he sleeps all of the time. The mice are his friends. He likes lasagna so every time John cooks it Garfield eats it. The authors name is Jim Davis. I would recommend this book to the people who like comely. My name is Bryant Mathaw Stevens. Hop you like this book.

It is hard for me to pick out a favorite Garfield book because everything Garfield does makes me laugh. "Garfield Makes It Big" is a non-stop laugh riot. One of my personal favorite moments in Garfield history is when Jim Davis used the classic Xmas story "T'was the Night Before Christmas" and just visualized the story using his comic characters. It was both funny and appropriate at the time he did that back in '83. I love Garfield's neverending practical jokes on Jon, like loosening up the top of the salt shaker. And of course I just love it when Nermal comes to visit and manages to make Garfield look bad in front of Jon's eyes. The reader also sees Garfield attempt to mail Nermal to Abu Dhabi for the first time. And of course there are the times that Garfield terrorizes the mailman. I love it when Jon takes Garfield on vacation. The strip where Jon tries to board the plane in peace is hilarious because he doesn't want to be known for having to sit in third class. Whenever I am down, I can always count on Garfield making me laugh.

Everybody out there keep buying Garfield books! They can be worth a lot of money someday and can become collector's items! I'm always going to keep all of mine so when I have kids they can read them!

The Garfield comic strip about a male loser who owns a fat cat and an ignorant, slobbery dog strikes a responsive chord in cat owners everywhere. It is not because they identify with a man who cannot do anything right or recognize their pet dog. It is because Garfield is the exaggerated epitome of a cat whose life revolves around eating, sleeping and getting into things. I have owned approximately ten cats in my life and I recognized a bit of Garfield in every one of them. I enjoyed this book, even though the actions of his owner reach beyond the absurd.

Unfortunatly, this was actually when Garfield books were starting to fall a bit flat on ideas and the 1990's books weren't as good compared to the mid to late 1980's books but this book is still very funny, but overall if you're a Garfield fan, this book is highly recommended.

"Garfield Says a Mouthful, No 21" wasn't the funniest Garfield book I've read, but it's still entertaining. I nice addition to a collection and a must for Garfield fans. I recommend.

Out of all the Garfield books I think I liked this one the most. But still I give all of them 5 big gold stars! -Kacey 5th grade

Everybody out there keep buying Garfield books! They can be worth a lot of money someday and can become collector's items! I'm always going to keep all of mine so when I have kids they can read them!