Graphic Novel Review: Storm Born Issues 1 and 2 by Richelle Mead

Dark Swan - Storm Born Volumes 1&2
~Richelle Mead

From Goodreads:
Richelle Mead's Dark Swan (Storm Born) Graphic Novel will be out on the bookshelves in September of this year. For those interested in getting the comic issues, the first issue will be out on May 18th.

Description:
Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she’s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures.  When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld’s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past…

When I accepted the invitation to review the Storm Born graphic novel, I hadn't read the book yet.  It's been sitting on my TBR shelf for ages, and other things kept coming up.  I decided I didn't want to review the graphic novel without reading the book first.  I ended up loving the book (4 stars) and as soon as I finished I went to my computer and pulled up the first comic issue.

A very brief book synopsis:  Eugenie is a shaman - she battles fairies (gentry) and spirits and either sends them back to the Otherworld or into the land of death.  She gets a call from a man whose sister has been taken into the Otherworld, and Eugenie agrees to try and go get her.  In her journey she meets many fairies, a fairy king, and other spirits/beings.  She learns things about herself and her family she never would have dreamed of, and in addition to trying to save the girl she ends up on a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Now, on to the comics:
It's obvious the writers and illustrators read the book and paid attention; Eugenie's tattoos and jewelry (which are important in the book) are there, the characters fit the descriptions, and the story follows the book closely.  I like the artwork, and they do a good job of showing the reader what's going on. 

As a fan, I was taken by the first page and enjoyed the whole thing:  the first issue has most of the set-up to the eventual storyline and Eugenie has just met a potential love-interest.  That being said, I don't know if there was enough going on that I would have been interested in continuing the series if I hadn't read the book already.  By the second issue, however, things started to get more interesting and I think even people who haven't read the book will want the story to keep going; I know I did!

I would say to Dark Swan fans - if you like graphic novels, you'll love this, and to comic fans who haven't read the Eugenie books, keep with it - you'll be happy you did.
 
I cannot wait to for the next two issues: Issue 3 will be released in July, and Issue 4 in August:

I will definitely be buying the hardcover when it comes out on September 20.

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Here's a great link to an MTV interview with Richelle Mead - see how she feels about people saying the main character looks like her, lol.

My Rating:

These comics were provided to me by the pubisher in exchange for an honest review.

Promo: Dark Swan Graphic Novel (Richelle Mead)

I love Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy and Succubus series. I haven't read her Dark Swan series yet but I bought the first book and am planning to read it soon. I've also found that I'm gaining an appreciation for graphic novels - I bought The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel and Black Wade in the last few months and loved them both. So I'm super excited about this:


Sea Lion Books has released the first five pages of the Dark Swan graphic novel, and it looks good:





According to the publicist, there will be four comic book issues, the first issue releases May 18 and the other comics will come out every month thereafter. The graphic novel, which is the hardcover will be out in September. Richelle Mead posts about it here.

Dark Swan (Graphic Novel)

Hardcover: 120 pages
Publisher: Sea Lion Books
Publish Date: September 20, 2011
ISBN-10: 0982818645
ISBN-13: 978-0982818640

Product description from Amazon:
Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she''s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld''s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past...

I think I'm going to need a separate shelf for my growing Graphic Novel collection!!

M/M Month Review: Black Wade by Franze and Andaerle

Black Wade
~Franze and Andaerle
Hardcover: 80 pages
Publisher: Bruno Gmunder Verlag Gmbh
Publish Date: August 2009
ISBN-10: 3867870365
ISBN-13: 978-3867870368

From the Publisher's website:
The rough and merciless pirate Black Wade and his band are the scare of the seven seas. And just like his greed for gold is insatiable, his sexual craving knows no boundaries as well: When they board a British ship, Wade takes Lieutenant Jack Wilkins as a prisoner to satisfy his lust. At first Wilkins struggles with all his might, but soon he has to acknowledge that he actually has pleasure in the eager sexual encounters with the handsome pirate. In the meantime his fiancée Annabeth is waiting wistfully for the return of Jack, not knowing if he’s still alive. And on the pirate ship emotions are running high as well: Buccaneer Marak keeps a jealous watch over the prisoner Jack. He would love to polish Wade’s gun barrel himself. Due to the rising nervousness Wade realizes that he cannot allow himself the tender feelings he begins to have for Jack. To prove how merciless he is, he maroons Jack on a raft and relinquishes him to the forces of the wide ocean. But that’s nowhere near the end of the story…

When I first decided to review Black Wade for M/M Romance Month, I thought, "ha - a graphic novel - easy!" I could not have been more wrong!

Where do I begin? I should say first that if you're not a fan of the "rape turns to love" storyline you won't like this book. The actual story itself is short - Lieutenant Jack Wilkins is captured at sea by the infamous pirate, Black Wade. Black Wade has certain well-known "preferences" as far as his sexual partners go, and he rapes Jack. From the excellent illustrations we already know Jack has thoughts of manlove, and although he doesn't acknowledge it yet, he likes Black Wade's "visits". As they develop feelings for each other, the crew grows restless and Black Wade must set Jack adrift at sea to prove his ruthlessness. Jack manages to get home to England and his fiancee, but he can't stop thinking about Black Wade. When the English capture Black Wade, Jack must make a choice...

As I mention above, the story is short, but the illustrations are fabulous. You can't get the story without admiring the fantastic artwork that accompanies it. For a vanilla housewife like me - is it naughty? Yes. Did I hide it from hubs and kids? Yes. Did I love it? Yes!!

I must confess this is the first graphic novel I've read. Black Wade gives a whole new meaning (to me at least) to the term "Graphic Novel"!

My Rating: