Comic Books Books

A second book in what will hopefully be an extended series. Rabbi Harvey Rides Again will delight readers of all ages with its wit, humor, and engaging stories. Sheinkin's artistic ability has grown tremendously since his first book, and it shows, particularly on the last page with a beautiful snowy woodland scene. Everyone knows someone who will love this book - buy one for yourself and one for them!

I enjoyed this sequel even more than the original. The clean style of illustrations, combined with wit and wisdom, make these book(s) enjoyable and rewarding for children as well as adults.

Yipee-Ki-Yay, Stephen Sheinkin and Rabbi Harvey.

No need to have read the first book (also superb) to understand this one, which teaches lessons without being heavy handed. Kids and grown ups of all religions will love these funny, intelligent stories that show how Rabbi Harvey gets out of sticky situations using only his wits. I hope there are many more Rabbi Harvey books to come!

I really enjoyed the predecessor book, The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey, so I was thrilled to see another installment. This is another unique-looking graphic novel, and it extends the dry, gentle wit of the original. The book is a series of detective stories, with the scuffling Rabbi Harvey, a kind of sagebrush Solomon, using only his wits to unmask frontier fraudsters and defeat outlaws. At the same time, it's replete with throw- away one liners right out of a Lower East Side deli. In Harvey's domain, the worst and best of human nature are on raw display as the assortment of sodbusters and merchants try to scratch out a living. But in the end, meh, nobody takes themselves too seriously.

A strange way of moonlighting - serving as both a Rabbi and a Sheriff and mixing both freely and skillfully, Rabbi Harvey is an intriguing character indeed. "Rabbi Harvey Rides Again: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Folktales Let Loose in the Wild West" is a compilation of tales following this Rabbi Sheriff as he dispenses both justice and Talmudic wisdom onto the other various characters he encounters in his travel. A deftly mixed graphic novel consisting of the ingredients of old world religion, American and Jewish Folktales, and witty creativity, "Rabbi Harvey Rides Again: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Folktales" is highly recommended for community library graphic novel collections and for any reader who wants a bit of an offbeat blend.

I didn't know what to expect when I ordered this. All I knew what that I knew nothing about radio. This little comic has changed that however. With its easy to read format and great illustrations I was able to understand the fundamentals of radio production in about an hour. I'm not going to be producing any award winning series anytime soon but I will be able to mumble an 'affirmative' grunt here and there should the topic ever arise in a conversation. Overall, it was worth the money. I gave it a 4 star rating rather than a 5 only because I wish there was more of it. If you want to know the absolute basics of production then buy it.

Jessica Abel and Ira Glass have done an admirable job of explaining the basics of what it takes to do radio reportage and story telling in a novel format, mainly that of a comic. Inexpensive, easy to read and even easier to understand, the book gave me a clearer idea of what it talks to engage in this field and how to do it properly. While it is by no means a substitute for hands-on or field experience, I was able to glean enough from this to know that I would like to do this full time!

The team at "This American Life" tell stories as well as anyone in the media. This book was recommended to me during a seminar on multimedia storytelling for photographers, so its value is not limited to those who only want to do radio. It's a comic book, but not shallow. Anything but. Ira Glass and his team at Chicago Public Radio go through how a particular week's show, Do-Gooders, was produced as well as basic tip for anyone wanting to do documentary audio work. This is a little gem.

Having read "Radio", I can say it is packed with information not only on the production, but on how to tell a story. My son is a natural conversationalist, I asked him how does he put together his stories. He said he didn't know and I suggested wouldn't it be cool to understand how the dynamics/mechanics of storytelling work. He simply shrugged his shoulders and said, "I dunno". He works for me in the summer and I told him I would pay him to read this book in lieu of working. He liked that idea. He read the story in about an hour. Now he has the rhyme to the reason. This comic is a great read and should be required for any collegiate types.

To anyone who has ever listened to This American Life and thought "I have a good story to tell", this is the book to read. "Thank you!" to Ira Glass for sharing his knowledge on how to write for radio. This book is easy to read and fun. So if you have a dream of hearing your story on NPR, get this book!

This is the first Ranma 1/2 I read, and it's the best! Humorous; keeps you laughing even when you're alone. Although it may have some weird concepts (a boy turning into a girl), the overall idea is brilliant!

I won't detail the storyline for this book since others have told you. I will however, comment on this bizarre mistake in my copy. One and a half chapters of the Picolet story suddenly appear in the middle of the Nabiki=fiancee' story, messing them up. But the dislocated chapters are also printed correctly earlier in the book! So, I am reading the same stuff just in a different (and wrong) place. But other than that, I have enjoyed this section of the story. And I want to think that this odd quirk will make my copy more valuable in the future.

I LOVE RANMA....well not literally but i mean the books...ALL of Rumiko Takahashi's books are good. If you put me on the couch and give me one of her books i won't get up until i am done! Her books are sooooo good! if you haven't read any of the books i encourage you to read 'em!

While Ranma remains stuck with his girly-girlie curse, he faces still another amorous martial artist - this time he's a dapperly young Frenchman! After tea ceremonies, circus acts, and Hawaiian surf-up, Ranma engages into a painfully rigorous training with REFINED ETIQUETTE FOR GOURMET DINING. However, even with all such savory French delicacies right under his young button nose, Ranma still ends up being sent to bed hungry. And, Picolet's really BIZARRE hereditary gives him a great advantage over all the speed-eating contests, so...Ranma has to find ANOTHER way quickly or he would be doomed to wear the tightly-laced iron corset so ruthlessly forced onto his nubile young girl's body AND eventually become Picolet's bride! And one of Akane's sisters, Nabiki is finally given the new role as a main character in the second story. So a sibling rivalry suddenly crackles in the air and Ranma finds himself with a SWITCHED fiancee...none other than Nabiki herself! Now all the lovestruck rivals had caught the wind of it, so poor Ranma is forced to shield the coy-faced young Nabiki from being viciously attacked. And what's more, Nabiki uses her subtle, catty ways to make some dough right off her new fiance as well as to get back at her easily-ruffled little sister! Aw, JUST PICK UP A COPY AND READ ALL ABOUT IT!

This volume contains one of my favorite storylines in the entire series, "Nabiki becomes Ranma's fiancee!" I'm a big sucker for anime romances, and the romance between Ranma and Akane is my absolute favorite. Engaged by meddling parents to carry on their families' martial arts style, they eventually fall in love without even knowing it, and their unspoken love is put to the test time after time by incredibly weird and hilarious situations. In this volume, Akane gets angry at Ranma for saving her sister Nabiki from a fall, instead of Akane. Sneaky and conniving Nabiki takes advantage of the situation by taking up Akane on her rash remark that Ranma should become Nabiki's fiancee. Akane soon regrets her remark, not to mention Ranma, who ends up being Nabiki's pawn in a number of money-making schemes. But will these two ever get over their pride and embarrassment before Nabiki makes a ton of money out of the situation? Check out this volume for an incredibly sweet, cute, and hilarious story!

well ya see I haven't really red the 9th book yet but, here's what I have to say any way>>>>>
I think this will be just as amazing as all of the other books the other books that Rumiko has writen and i most likely believe that this book will be just as good possiblely even better than the rest. (is it even possible?)><><><><><><><(who knows!)
I truly believe that Rumiko has one of the best writing styles and the art work is just absolutly stunning!
From mewme( yes it's my nick name and yes it's umm_different)

Hey, I could look through all my Ranma 1/2 books and based off the summary given above, determine which volume it is, or if I don't have this volume. But I'll trust the reviewer above that this is Volume 9. Which, like all the Ranma manga, is terrific. Anyway, Amazon.com and sellers aren't getting any money on the three Ranma 1/2 books I want cause I can't tell which ones they are, so I'm going elsewhere to make a purchase.

I loved this book. Even if it's not my favorite one in the series, Its still an awesoime read!! i highly reccommend this to anyone who like action/comedy/romance(a little).... And if you like "Inu-Yasha" too... Well, befroe you read this, you should read volumes 1-7, or you'll be completely lost! LOL! Yours truly, *~*Gen*~*

And why does she look so familiar? Yoiko is a perky little girl who introduces herself as Ryoga's little sister. Her story is somewhat plausible, given that he finds her living in his house. As for how he could have not known about her--his whole family has the weird direction disability, and since he's been away so long, he might not have known about her. Or it could be something else.

Everyone knows that Ranma has more fiancees than any five men, but now it is Ukyo's turn to get an admirer--and it is not Ranma. Tsubasa Kurenai likes to play dress-up; a tree, a mailbox, even a one-eyed mushroom!

And how will Ranma react to getting another admirer?

In the last book, Ranma disguised herself as Ryoga's fiancee--now, she's his little sister Yoiko. Both times she did this to come between Ryoga and Akane. Maybe Ranma has feelings for Akane after all...

And we get to meet a very interesting person who has a connection to Ukyo. Who--or what--is this Tsubasa Kurenai? And what is the connection to the okonomiyaki chef?

I liked this book, but I found the story with Tsubasa hard to understand. I can't explain why I was confused without giving away vital secrets..

But don't let my easily confused tendencies keep you from enjoying anotehr fun installment of the Ranmaverse!

I admit, Ryoichi Ikegami's art caught my eye when I say this book, but he doesn't write the stories. The synopsis on the back cover of volume one had me very interested.

The story starts off well, about two young men in two very different worlds, one in the Yukuza (Japanaese triad) and the other aiming to be a politician, who collaborate to create an ambitious vision.

Towards the end, the story becomes a bit too convoluted, however overall it is a good story, amd well worth the read.

But that's not what this is about. It's the steamy world of politics and scandal. An excellent story with excellent art. I cried at the end and I never cry at the end of anything. The characters are awesome and devious. Read it.

This is a story of two people who set out to change japan (and to some extent, the world) by unwaveringly sticking to their principles, using both Japanese politics and its underworld.

The plot details the intricate maneuverings of the two; there is little violence. Their opponents are not weak (mentally, in power, or in integrity), and their friends sometimes carry liabilities. The characters are as believable as those in any of the best western novels (the plot is far more western than eastern); this seems more like a novel that just happened to be drafted in graphic form.

Unfortunately, westerners should be cautioned that manga often contains graphic depictions of rape, which is usually treated in a humorous light. This book should be docked for that, but I'll leave it be.

The only other manga I've read is Crying Freeman, so I'm not very biased towards manga.

I'm new to manga and while I was initially attracted to Ikegami's art (art that still gives me pause it's so beautiful)the story really, really captured me. It was like a history lesson in Japanese politics and the mob (the Yakuza). All the characters were so interwoven and yes you do have to pay attention because there are twists and turns all the time. The nine volumes that it takes to tell this story never becomes dull.
The story drives all the time and is never ever predictable. The writing is exceptional. I highly recommend this series to the mature reader who appreciates not only great art but great intricate storytelling.

This is the first of a nine volume series about two young men (30) who set about changing Japan (and the world) one from above (politics) and one from below (organized crime).

The premise is very interesting but extremely complex. I have all 9 volumes and have given this a go about three times but have never been able to move past volume 5 because of the way the story is set up. I got the feeling that you need to know how the Yakuza (the Japanese mob) is set up, as well as the geography of Japan to follow the story well. For example I have no idea what the Kanto region is. There seem to be several different factions of the Yakuza and among those factions they are again fragmented into different parties. It is hard to follow who is on whose side and who isn't on whose side and why is that person going after that person. Phew! You practically need a score card to keep up with the story!

I prefered to focus on the main characters Hojo and Asami. Two very unique men with unshakable faith and confidence in themselves that has nothing to do with arrogance. That is the reason I keep picking up the books again and again. I can not help but idolize them particularly Hojo. Here is a man who will go after what he wants without hesitation. But at the same time he has a great deal of loyalty and kindness to those he loves and likes.

Of course there is Ikegami's art work. He can easily be described as the Michelangelo of the manga world. Because of his clean and expressive drawings. You find that you can see how a character functions simply by the way that he has him/her stand. Or tilt his head. It really is phenominal.

But like another reviewer said this book has to be seriously docked for the casual and capricious dipiction of rape. It was horrible and disgusting and took away from the story.

I would recommend Sanctuary to those who are looking for an in depth manga story that will make you pay attention.

I grew up on Daredevil in the 1980's. Miller, Mazzucchelli, Romita Jr. But, being the collector I was, I went back and bought up all the old books as well. Even then, as a young teenager, I was really impressed with the artwork in those old books. I had looked at other old comics and was never pulled in. The artwork always seemed so..."old". Gene's work never did. Sure, it was different than the newer books, but it still had a freshness and energy that most of the other old books lacked. So, yeah I've been a fan of Gene's Daredevil work for a long time.

It wasn't however, until I read this book that I truly had a deep appreciation for the work. Gene is a living legend, and deservedly so. Buy this book. Not only is it a testament to Gene, it give the reader a good look behind the scenes of how hard it was for comic artists before the dawning of "Image Comics".

I also HIGHLY recommend you check out Gene's website ([...]) He's still turning out AMAZING artwork. Many of his recent commissions are far and away nicer than most anything being published today.

I have very little to add to what the other reviewers have already said. If you're a fan of Gene Colan, this book is a must-have. Even if you're not a big Colan fan, you'll learn a lot about the business of comics and how personalities and personal relationships affected the comics we grew up with. It's well written, well documented and contains a tremendous amount of research and (of course) lots of great art. (And if the author happens to read this, that very first New York comic convention was the SCARP Con in 1968 -- I, a geeky 17 year old, attended and met the gracious Mr. Colan who did a sketch of Iron Man for me, and drew dozens of sketches for other fans.) Highly recommended!

A genuine great book,long awaited, about that somehow underated
cool gentleman of the sixties and seventies...but I long for more !
somehing perhaps like "Bernie Wrightson, a look back", or ... "The Gene Colan Collector" ???
And of course good editions of his masterworks.
Aniway, I'm happy for the moment !

This piece covers the life-span career of GENE "THE DEAN" COLAN. From early drawings he did in his boyhood until his recent commissions. Lots of rare never seen before fotos and original art. From the early days at Timely and Atlas (later known as Marvel Comics), DC (Hopalong Cassidy), Marvel again with SUB-MARINER, IRON MAN, CAPTAIN MARVEL, DAREDEVIL, and of course TOMB OF DRACULA and HOWARD THE DUCK. Conversations with Gene and his collegues Tom Palmer, Marv Wolfman, his wife Adrienne and many others. Even Jim Shooter about the conflicts that lead Gene Colan to leave Marvel for DC, where he did BATMAN and some other series starring WONDER WOMAN and SUPERMAN. What else can I say? If you like superhero comics and want to learn more about the persons behind them, buy this book, read and enjoy! This one is unique. Hopefully publisher TwoMorrows and author Tom Field will continue this with other great comic artist...

Two characters come to mind when I think of Gene Colan...Doctor Strange and Dracula. They were two of my favorites when I began reading comics in the mid-1970's. I was fortunate to have two stores close to me that sold old back issues of comic books. I was able to put together quite a collection of silver age comics. Among my favorite comics was Gene's run on the original Doctor Strange series beginning with #169. These atmospheric, psychedelic stories were unlike anything I had ever seen. I had sold my collection in the 1980's but recently picked up that complete run all over again because I was still enchanted by the great Colan work on those books.

Secrets in the Shadows is a combination biography and tribute to one of the all-time great comic artists, Gene Colan. Author Tom Field takes on a guided tour through Gene's life, beginning with his upbringing in New York and his first comic book work for Fiction House. Gene tells a story similar to many of his contemporaries such as John Buscema and John Romita, and their mass dismissal from Timely Comics. Gene would go on to DC and then back to what was now Atlas Comics. Atlas would then implode leaving Gene again out of work in the late 1950's and with a lifelong feeling of insecurity about the comic book business. As Gene explains this was a difficult time in his life as he was not only out of a job, but also had just gone through a divorce with his first wife.

Stan Lee would come beckoning again in the early 1960's as the Marvel Age was off and running. Gene quickly became one of Marvel's top artists and perhaps the only one whose style was so unique that he was not asked to pencil over Jack Kirby's layouts the way many other artists were. Field presents several conversations in the book between Gene and some of the people he worked with at Marvel. The first is a lengthy conversation from 2004 between Gene and Stan Lee. They talk about their first meeting at Timely in the 1940's. Gene mentions that Stan was wearing a beanie cap with a propeller...now that's something I'd love to see! They also discuss their creative process and how books were plotted and finished. Other conversations include Gene talking with his long-time inker Tom Palmer with whom he worked on so many great books over the years, and with Steve Gerber, the writer on Howard the Duck.

Gene worked on numerous titles at Marvel over the years, Daredevil, The Avengers, Captain America...But perhaps the title most associated with him was Dracula which had a remarkable 70 issue run in the 1970's. Colan's Dracula was dark and grim and his incredible use of light and shading gave the book a true horrific feel.

Gene would eventually leave Marvel in the early 1980's after several run-ins with then Editor-in-Chief, Jim Shooter. Shooter's tenure was marred by one controversy after another including his shameful treatment of Jack Kirby. Shooter was highly critical of Gene's work and harassed him with constant demands of changes. Gene would migrate to DC along with many other former Marvel staffers who had grown tired of Shooter including Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman. To be fair, Tom Field presents both sides in the Colan/Shooter situation. He allows Shooter to give his side of the story in which he feels he was doing what was right for the company and felt Gene was cutting corners with his work. Unfortunately Shooter's credibility is almost nil due to his run-ins with so many other artists and writers.
At DC Gene would work on Batman, Wonder Woman, Detective, and new projects such as Night Force and Nathaniel Dusk. Gene would find himself under attack again for his art, this time by John Byrne who was highly critical of Gene in a Comics Journal interview in 1982. Byrne would basically call Gene a cheat and say that 90% of the time you could not tell what was happening on the page. I credit Field for including this in the book. I would guess he knew that rather than be any kind of indictment against Gene, that it would make Byrne look like a jerk for making an unwarranted attack on a true legend. Cheat? Byrne is still giving every character that same weird looking, rectangular mouth for twenty-five years!

Gene would leave DC some years later after similar criticisms by then Editor Dick Giordano. Gene would strictly freelance from now on and even go back to work at Marvel (shooter has since been broomed himself). Today, Gene has found many new outlets for his work thanks to the internet. He's busy doing commissions for fans who truly appreciate his work.

Tom Field presents a portrait of a man who fits the nickname of "Gentleman Gene". Colan's volume of work over the last sixty years is awe-inspiring. It's great to see Gene finally getting the tribute he so justly deserves.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

I'd like to point out that the two stories in this book are not all of the Shmoo stories; there were at least a half dozen more.

Pity no one thought to put all of them in a book.

The book does justice to combine two previous books THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE SHMOO and RETURN OF THE SHMOO. Both have been out of print for decades.

Pity about Harlan Ellison's over blown introduction. He can't stick to the subject.

It's good to see this great part of the Li'l Abner comic strip is once again available. I takes me back to when I was 14 and in High School.Not only did Al Capp give us the wonderful Shmoos;but also Sadie Hawkins Day and all the fun we had with that.
This story of the Shmoo came out in the daily Comic Strips but it also was published in Paperbook form in 1948 and 1949.I still have my copy from those days and wrote a review on it on November 27,2007.
It has the title,"The Life and Times of the Shmoo",by Al Capp.
One thing worth mentioning is the high level of artwork that the cartoonists like Al Capp,Walt Kelley and Chester Gould gave us,and it was so good that it still remains the standard for cartoon art to aspire even today.

Grew up reading this series. Now I have a permanent copy of my own. Good price and great product for comics junkies.

When I was 5 I would love to have my father read Pogo, Dagwood and Blondie, and Li'l Abner to me from the daily and Sunday newspapers. When I was 7 years old, I loved reading them by myself and about this time, 1958, the Shmoo became a major theme in the Li'l Abner series. I could not wait for the paper to arrive so I could read the latest adventures of these Shmmos that were so accommodating to meet almost all human needs. Yet even then, at age 7, I began to "get" the message behind the series. This is wonderful social commentary on the limits of capitalism and the limits government will go to ensure that capitalism remains our economic model. However for captitalism to work, there has to be need or the threat of need which creates demand which stimulates supply, and I am sure you know the rest of this formula. If the basic needs of labor are met, they won't work, and thus the costs of labor goes up and the profits go down. Al Capp was brilliant to bring this message into America's homes soon after the McCarthy Anti-American hearings in Washington. Capp, like the Shmoo, is subversive in such a clever endearing entertaining way that when I saw this book I had to re-read the scripts to see what I may have remembered from so many years ago.

The book contains the original Shmoo characters and script from 1948-49 and the return of the Shmoo in 1958. If I was ever to teach High School Seniors in an Economics class, I would have them read this book along with their text, maybe not to strengthen the neurons but to lighten them.

Capp's other Dogpatch hillbilly characters and story lines are also delightful. Li'l Abner, Daisy Mae, Ma and Pa Yokum, and Sadie Hawkings are all here!

This was more amusing that I expected. I hadn't read much of "Li'l Abner" and was surprised. However, I have two objections to this book. First, the original strips seem a bit truncated. Surely, they could have gotten more of the dailies in this book than they did. And second, the awful introduction by Harlan Ellison. He seems to be in love with the sound of his voice and not necessarily a Li'l Abner fan. The Schmoo seems to have been a craze like the "Pet Rock." More information about that and less about Ellison's advertures in New York City would have been welcomed.

I read tons of manga. This has to be one of the all time best stories. The emotions that the characters experience are spot on. There has yet to be one page where you think that a character has done something that does not ring true. I have read all of the volumes in print so far, and can not get enough. Several of the volumes have be re-read more than others. This series will make you laugh, smile, and cry. There is a good mix of different aged people in this series which I think goes to make a more realistic "world". If you are looking for a great series, with several "bishie" boys, give this one a try. I unlike one of the other reviews think that the men in this series are very sexy. One of the villains in this series is so super cute, that it makes it hard to hate this twisted character.

when a great art join a funny characters the story always be good.

Sho Fuwa decided to go to Tokyo to be a "Celebrity" and he asked his childhood friend whom often stays at his family house Kyoko Mogami to come with him, and she accepted since he chosed her among all people, after moving to Tokyo Sho is getting "famous" slowly and he is getting more sullen everyday, Kyoko trying to support him and to understand him since the road to be a star is hard, but once she heard sho talking to other celeb girl and she heard him says that he just sees her as maid and thinks she is ugly and booring and of course she will move her butt to support him since he is the famous Sho Fuwa, she decided to stop beeing with him and otherwise she wanted to beat sho and be a greater star than him, so he beg for mercy someday, she changed her look (its amazing how do girls change their look!) and she started her way to get revange from sho.

its very good story but the guys has very long faces which I hate, otherwise everything is cool, Kyokos revange will need too much work and its seems very hopless, and another character appears Ren is a famous actress that is even sho cant be more cool than him, that Ren works at the same place where Kyoko went to so she got another long face guy to beat

I have been reading this serie way before it was licensed here. I begun reading the Japanese version when volume 7 was just released in Japan, and now there are 14 volumes out so far! I bought them all! So happy. The English version is not, but there are a few error here and there, but still worth purchasing. If you like this work, you might like her other work : Tokyo Crazy Paradise where there are 19 volumes in total. Hopefully that serie gets licensed. While waiting, I am planning to buy the Japanese version.

Also you might like "The Wallflower" (A.k.A Shichi Henge or Perfect Girl Evolution) by Yamato Nadeshiko.

Where to even start? How about with THIS MANGA IS AWESOME! Skip Beat! Volume 1 kicks off a great start to what promises to be an addictive series.

At first, I wasn't sure on buying this manga because of the whole "girl followed childhood friend turned star--childhood friend turned star just using girl--girl finds out and wants to now make it into show biz just to extract her revenge on him." It sounded like a typical and predictable manga plot of revenge that I really had to toy with the idea of buying it on a whim.

But boy, am I glad that I did! It may have the used and reused revenge plot line, but Yoskihi Nakamura makes this plot idea completly atypical!

This manga grabs you with its off beat style and humor, the only complaint I have about it is the way the two lead males are drawn. It's either their faces are too narrow, or that their necks are just too thick. It takes a little getting used to, but Skip Beat! is worth it!

I bought "Skip Beat" after reading a preview chapter in Shojo Beat magazine. I liked the plot and the humor, so I bought it when it came out.

I was expecting plenty of humor, but I got a lot more than that. Kyoko's quest for vengence is hilarious indeed, but the best thing about it is how easy it is to relate. In fact, this is probably why the humor is so good in the first place. It's great to watch Kyoko obsess over getting even because we've all been there. Who hasn't ever wanted to prove her worth to some stupid jerk? And Kyoko's moments of glory are extrememly satisfying. It's like when you argue with someone and can't think of anything brilliant to say until much later. Well, Kyoko gets some really killer lines in at just the right moment. I often find myself laughing maniacally right along with her while I'm reading (which earns me some curious glances from my roommate).

The characters make this manga, especially Kyoko. You can admire her devotion to Sho in the beginning, misguided though it is, and you really sympathize with her anger after she finds out she's been duped. She's strong-willed. She's not perfect and forgiving, and she doesn't go around feeling sorry for herself either. And I also like Ren Tsugara, the biggest celebrity around who has a secret mean streak.

The art is nothing special, but it's appropriate somehow. Kyoko's not especially glamorous, and the guys, though not pretty like in most shojo manga, are tall and dark. I thought the characters' designs all fit their personalities very well.

"Skip Beat" has become one of my favorite manga. A must-read for anyone who has ever been put down, made a fool of, or just wanted to get even.

The illustrations here are nicely done, but the story is a bit thin, even for 3-4 year olds. Another problem is that the paper stock used for the book's pages is very thin, and not very sturdy. This is a big problem for younger readers, since the book has one page that has a lift-up flap (a door that Loris is behind), and another page that folds out to reveal a larger scene. Because the paper is so lightweight, it is VERY EASY for kids to accidentally tear the door or the foldout page. (I have the paperback edition, so perhaps this is not the case with the hardback edition.)

I took a chance on ordering this in part because it was so inexpensive through Amazon (around $7 when I ordered it). After seeing how thin the book and the pages are, though, I don't think it's worth the money.

I recommend Deacon's other book, Beegu, which our children love very much. Beegu has better illustrations, and the book itself is of much sturdier construction. (I have the hardback version, but it only cost about $3 more than the softcover of Slow Loris.)

We purchased this book to read to our daughter(s) and found it to be an instant success. Sometimes, the book reading requests from the youngsters get a little bit repetitive. This book, however, we were happy to read over and over again. The story is just long enough to engage the mind, but not too long to be tedious at bedtime. The illustrations are great, too. With all the animals of the zoo represented at various times, it's a fun way to start reinforcing the names of the animals by identifying them at the Slow Loris' nightly gatherings.

I fell in love with a slow loris at the zoo as it fell in love with the wide-eyed glassy stare of my almighty cutest stuffed raver elephant pet Akookie... I immediately had to learn all I could about the adorable lor-able, and as a present for dearest Akookie (and Ak's doting human parents) bought Slow Loris... So beautiful and funny and somehow reminiscent of my deranged circle of friends and their amassed collection of hats. *blink blink* The Loris loves you. Prepared to be Awwwwwww-ed.

My family got a big giggle out of the "slow" loris having a wild time after dark, wearing crazy hats and carrying on. It puts a new slant on why the animals you see in zoos are always asleep.

This illustration style doesn't always work for me, but it does here.

cute and funny story about 'slow' loris who is slow during the day for good reason. the drawings are dark and sleepy, a perfect accompaniment for the story which is written in text that makes you feel as slow as loris is.

as the story unravels, the mystery of slow loris is revealed. when she comes out of the nighttime blackness wearing a fiesta hat i had to laugh out loud. truly a delightful children's story. highly recommended. plenty of other zoo animals are involved in the story as well.

This book is a work of obscene art, naughty and brilliant. And though straight, I'd almost instantly fall in love with Shaalis.

Many of my favorite comix share the quality of appearing to be self-contained artifacts dropped in from a different world, like the encyclopedia volume in Borges' "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius." They create little worlds with a totally persuasive ecology and aesthetic. Some examples of this have been THB #1 by Paul Pope, Louis by Metaphrog, New Hat by Tom Hart, and Cave-In by Brian Ralph (only the last of those is available through Amazon, unfortunately).

The Spider Garden and its sequel, Hydrophidian, overflow with this quality. Drawing on Japanese woodblock prints and Cyberpunk science fiction, Manning creates an engrossing world of intrigue and decadence.

It's worth emphasizing that Spider Garden is also extremely kinky and explicit fetish porn. It's rare that someone creates a work of artistically ambitions erotica where the sexual heat is not stifled by the author's pretentions, but here the intricate and subtle plot and the extensive sex scenes achieve a symbiotic relationship that increases the power of both.

Manning has only begun to explore the world he suggests in these books, and his output is notoriously slow. I hope to see many more volumes of this story before he ends the series.

Note: Unfortunately, like so many NBM books, the binding is lousy. The content bears repeated re-readings, but the spine does not.

Not as strong as his later book Transeptor, but Spider Garden is a cool dream world of bondage and domination. Buy it for the art...and you'll be taken to places that will fill your dreams for years to come.

There are only three graphic artists that I will collect every single thing they draw - Erich von Gotha, Xavier Duvet, and Michael Manning.

His art has a style like no other. Hard lines, and soft curves. Beautiful figures, voluptuous and enticing. Clad in leather and latex, corsets and boots. A cross between traditional Japanese woodcut style with a post modern gothic flair. It's wicked and decadent, and at the same time a little tragic. Even in the most depraved acts, you have to marvel at the simple beauty of the work.

There is a little something to entice the darkdreams in us all. A must for any collector.

the fetishism isn't cheesy. the sex isn't cheesy. the storyline is engaging and artwork is absolutely beautiful. it left me wanting more . . . and within two minutes of me showing my copies to various friends they were shoving money into my hands, begging me to order them their own books.