Editorial Review

Believe the hype: the Dark Phoenix saga Read more

Reviews (41)

Good, but my expectations were too high.
As a pretty new comic book reader, I've heard a lot about the Dark Phoenix Saga, but didn't actually read it until recently. Since everyone I heard from raved about how great it was, perhaps my expectations were too high, but I just wasn't thrilled with it. This book is a great, high quality collection of a classic story, but didn't live up to the hype I expected.
Dark Phoenix must pay for the death of the asparagus people
So, here we are two decades down the road after "The Dark Phoenix Saga" played out in the pages of "The Uncanny X-Men" and with the transformation of Jean Grey from Marvel Girl into Phoenix set up by the ending of the movie "X2: X-Men Unlimited."In reading the stories from "X-Men" #129-137 again from this vantage point in the space-time continuum I find it impossible not to think about the original ending that writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne had envisioned for the saga, in which Jean Grey is stripped of her mutant powers and down the road Magneto shows up and offers her the powers of the Phoenix.The intention was for Jean to refuse the powers and to stay an ordinary human being.I always thought that road not taken was a better payoff to "The Dark Phoenix Saga" than her allowing herself to be killed on the moon, but when Dark Phoenix ate the sun around which orbited the planet of the asparagus people, Marvel's editor-in-chief Jim Shooter dictated that Jean Grey had to pay for her life.
X-Men the Dark Phoenix Saga is a great read!
X-Men the Dark Phoenix Saga is a great read! The comic book storyline that started in Uncanncy X-Men#129-137!Tells the story of how Jean Grey turned evil and became Dark Phoenix! Written by X-men writer Chris Claremont with artwork done by John Byrne and Terry Austin! This story tells how the X-Men deal with the fact that The Phoenix has become evil thanks to Sabastian Shaw and the Hellfire Club! The X-Men sarrifice themselves to save Jean Grey!But will the Dark Phoenix Consume Jean Grey forever? This is one of the Unncany X-Men's most exciting and well loved story in the series. Also this storyline has the very first apperance of the White Queen reprinting Uncanny X-Men#131! the book reprints X-Men#129-137 which is also called X-Men: the Dark Phoenix Saga! Highest Possible Recommendation! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Comics & Graphic Novels - Superheroes    3. Fiction - General    4. General    5. Graphic Novels    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Comics & Graphic Novels / General    8. Science fiction   

Editorial Review

For this enchanting novel Brian Jacques has brought to bear theexperience of his eventful and adventuresome life, a life which hastaken him all over the world and seen him variously described as folksinger, playwright, and broadcaster. No doubt his usual writingenvironment--garden in summer, conservatory in winter--provides himwith the ideal theater for observing the wildlife on which the book'sunusual central characters are based. Read more

Reviews (159)

Treacherous Foxes
In His novel of Redwall, Marlfox,Marlfoxes, the treacherous brood of Queen Silth, are lurking in Mossflower Woods. I like this novel because Brain Jacques combines adventure and humor. In this book the marlfoxes steal the great tapestry of Redwall Abbey. Songbreeze, Danflor, Barble and Dippler, young woodland creatures, set out to retrieve it. Along the way they face many dangers while back at the abbey there is trouble. Janglur, Songbreeze's father, slays the Marlfox Ziral. The Marlfox code states blood for blood, which means Janglur must be slain. As the creatures of Redwall fight for freedom at home and abroad friends are slain. By the time the tapestry arrives in Castle Marl, the slaves in Castle Marl are just waiting for freedom.
my review
The author of my book is Brian Jaques and the name of the book is Marlfox (Redwall,) It is a very good fantasy book.The plot of
Marlfox
The title of my book is called Marlfox. The author's name is Brian Jaques. The type of book this is, is fantasy.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animals    4. Animals - General    5. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    7. Children: Grades 4-6    8. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    9. Fantasy fiction    10. Fiction    11. Jacques, Brian    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    14. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Editorial Review

Attention all serious book collectors and fans ofPhilip Pullman'sRead more

Reviews (48)

A Bon Bon for Readers of HIS DARK MATERIALS
It is after the events told in the HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. Lyra Belacqua (now Lyra Silvertongue) is back in the Oxford of her world -- the one with Jordan College and a zeppelin station and personal daemons.
Short and Sweet
It is a condensed version of Lyra's thrill-seeking mannerism. She is still the same girl that was caught in a turmoil caused by her own parents some years back - an aggressive child with a lot of wits about her. The story is simple and there are extra materials that come with the book that will keep a child's curiosity honed and satisfied. Even with a tiny adventure Mr. Pullman succeeds in entering enough trickery to hold his readers' attention. Not including the additional reading material, the book could be finished under three hours. Nevertheless, the narration is still interesting and the book fits in a pocket easily.

can't wait for the book of dust!
until then, this will have to do!the people who complain about it's shortness and the apparant randomness of it's contents need to read the beginning of the book where it is explained that these things may have something to do with things to come.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Oxford (England)    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (3)

the hunt is on
i thoguht that the story in this graphic novel was exceptionally good. it starts out in a bar with logan eating and a women walks in acting she is like a fan of him and the x-men. when she leaves the diner he is in takes heavy fire and he is seriously wounded. he then goes to the house of peter parker and hides there until he is healed. he learns that people from weapon x are looking to kill him with new equipment. there are also appearences by spider-man and daredevil. the artwork in this novel is also very good and there are some funny parts to the story. this one probably has the most action and wolverine dies, don't worry he comes back like a page later.

Fair but could have been much better
it was a fair story story though from the cover i expected more daredevil than the little we seen, he never even gets to do more than throw his stick a couple of times, spidey kind of leaves before the end of the story too. Somebody is seriously hunting down Logan to kill him dead
Wow.There have been lots of changes in the Ultimate version of the Marvel Universe, but one constant has been the back story on Wolverine.He remains a mutant with extraordinary healing capabilities and claws popping out of his hands whose skeleton has been coated with the unbreakable metal adamantium by a covert military group called Weapon X.In the process of creating the ultimate living weapon they also wiped clean his memory.Once known as Logan he is now called Wolverine and has been trying to be a member of the X-Men.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Comics & Graphic Novels - Superheroes    3. Fiction - Fantasy    4. Graphic Novels    5. Graphic Novels - Superheroes    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Comics & Graphic Novels / General   

Reviews (1)

Impressive and Wrenching
"London Calling" is one of the most emotionally wrenching YA books I've had the pleasure to read in the past year.The character of Martin (JMartinC is his IM username) is as real as any kid I've run into recently.Yes, there is time-travel of a sort.Martin is somehow transported to the past through the agency of an ancient Philco Radio, and Jimmy, his raggedy companion in World War II London, is a masterful, albeit tragic, character.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Boys / Men    3. Catholics    4. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Family - General    8. Fiction    9. Horror & Ghost Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Schools    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Social Issues - Death & Dying    14. Time travel    15. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (1)

What? No one's reviewed this yet?
Orihime and Uryu have managed to evade capture for quite some time since their battle with the underhanded Jirobo... of course, that might have something to do with their new duds. One wonders just how long the deception will last.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Cartoons and comics    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Comics & Graphic Novels - Manga    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Graphic Novels - Manga    7. Graphic Novels-Manga    8. Horror & Ghost Stories    9. Horror / Ghost Stories (Young Adult)    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Movie Tie - In    12. Supernatural    13. Comics & Graphic Novels / Graphic Novels / Manga   

Reviews (4)

Worth the price of admission.
Just the fact that this is Bendis and Ultimate Spider-Man means I can't give this any less than 4 stars. I'm not a huge fan of the Carnage storyline, and I felt like they just threw Gwen's death in there for shock value. Unfortunately, I wasn't all that shocked or saddened by it. Still, it's worth the price of admission.
The death of Gwen Stacy in the Ultimate Spider-Man universe
Overall, "Ultimate Spider-Man" is my favorite Spider-Man comic book right now.It has been interesting to see how writer Brian Michael Bendis, penciler Mark Bagley, and inker Scott Hanna has altered familiar plot lines and characters, which is why I think veteran Spider-Man fans get to enjoy these stories more than newbies. "Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 6" collects issues #60-71 of the comic book, which includes the five-part "Carnage" story and its "Detention" epilogue, along with the three pairs of issues making up the "Superstars" collection of stories.
No direction for the stories
I think that most writers have a burnout where they just can't come up with an original story line.I suspect that this is the problem with these stories.After re-inventing Spiderman and his support cast, they ran out of steam.They re-examine the character and his opponents, give a slightly more realist approach to their creation and motivations, and turn them loose.But they're beginning to run out of "new slant on an old face" ideas.Hopefully they will begin to go in their own direction, like the other "Ultimate" story lines have gone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Graphic Novels    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Comics & Graphic Novels - Superheroes    4. General    5. Graphic Novels - Superheroes    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Comics & Graphic Novels / General    8. Fantasy    9. Graphic novels   

Reviews (60)

Pendragon - great summer read
D.J. MacHale delivers another great Pendragon book.Easy to read and entertaining. Leaves you wanting more. Thank goodness book seven "The Quillan Games" is available.

The Most Interesting Yet.
The Rivers of Zadaa is an amazingly good book.In his sixth adventure Bobby Pendragon, (who left his home with his Uncle Press to travel through space and time) has to out smart Saint Dane again.
Pendragon Review
I love to read all of the Pendragon books time and time again. This one is my favorite in the series. After sitting down to read it I immediately knew I wouldn't be able to put it down. If you have read the first 5 in the series, you will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Adventure and adventurers    3. Boys / Men    4. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Diaries    8. Droughts    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General   

Reviews (7)

Rose by Jeff Smith & Charles Vess
IN THE BOOK THERE IS A CHARACTER CALLED THE LORD OF THE LOCUST HOWS TRIEING TO RULL THE WORLD AND FREE THE GIANT LOCUST.
Great book
It's doesn't have the comedy of the other Bone books but fills in a lot of backstory, is beautifully drawn and colored, and is actually quite scary.

Highly Recommended to "Bone" Fans
To anyone who has or is reading the "Bone" series- pick this up!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Comics & Graphic Novels / General    9. Graphic novels   

Reviews (6)

Nostalgia of the Golden and Silver Ages set to real life events
This is the second volume of the DC: The New Frontier TPB and contains issues #4 - 6. It continues Darwyn Cooke's ambitious project to bring back a sense of wonder to DC superheroes and bridge together the DCGolden Age of Comics with the Silver Age and beyond into one comprehensive and cohesive continuity. The first volume covered the years 1945 to 1958, beginning with the final mission of the Losers, detailing the break-up of the JSA and Superman and Wonder Woman's secret roles in the Cold War, and culminating with the advent of the Silver Age heroes.
Superb artwork & drawing
These are my first encounter with Mr Cooke's work. I found the artwork and the drawing style are very unique. I do not find this style of drawing in any other comic books I've read. I like the style, it is superb and it is a feast for my eyes to see this high quality drawing. The colorist also did a great work with the color selection and application on the drawing.
Great, great, great
The second part of Darwyn Cooke's look at the DC universe in the 1960's.Not to be missed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Comics & Graphic Novels - Superheroes    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction - General    5. Graphic Novels    6. Graphic Novels - General    7. Graphic Novels - Superheroes    8. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Fiction / Graphic Novels   

Reviews (1)

Awesome author, can't wait!
I have been eagerly awaiting this book for a long time, and will get it soon. Bryan Davis is an excellent author, and his books are all full of good morals, great themes, and most of all, awesome plots. From what I have heard and previewed of this book, it will be another Davis gem. I can't wait until I recieve Eye of the Oracle. If you are considering buying this book, BUY IT! If not, think again and BUY IT. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Christian life    4. Demonology    5. Dragons    6. Fantasy - Series    7. Fiction    8. Fiction - Fantasy    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Religious - Christian    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Editorial Review

"Her name was Sally Lockhart; and within fifteen minutes, she was goingto kill a man." Philip Pullman begins his Sally Lockhart trilogy with a bang inRead more

Reviews (147)

The Ruby In The Smoke
The Ruby In the Smoke is a good mystery, and exactly what I would expect from Pullman. The characters are intriguing, and the sudden deaths make it very suspenseful. I felt very connected with Jim and Adelaide, as they showed quite a bit of personality. A good book is one in that you can't tell whether or not a person is actually good or will betray sometime.
The Ruby in the Smoke, July 14, 2006
Philip Pullman has created a new character that readers can empathize with and root for during this suspenseful mystery.Sally Lockhart is a sixteen year old orphan girl that receives a strange note about the death of her father.As soon as she begins her investigation, more deaths occur.Sally becomes entangled in a web of mystery involving murder, illegal opium trading, and a stolen ruby.Sally has many nightmares, which she is unable to understand until she uncovers more pieces of the puzzle.The suspense builds as new characters are continually brought into the mystery, making it difficult to know who can be trusted.
Some of the most realistic charcters you will ever have the pleasure of reading about...
I shall admit that upon reading some of these reviews I felt my heart sink, for I believed this book better then those of His Dark Materials - if that is even possible.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Mystery    4. Fiction    5. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    6. Mystery and detective stories    7. Orphans    8. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Reviews (60)

Faeries Forever
If I could give this book 10 stars I would! Brian Frouds'"Faeries" is the most amazing book I have ever read. I found this book when I was young and fell in love with faeries instantly. The illustrations are astonishing for a lack of better word. Alan Lee and Brian Froud not only draw the most realistic and imaginitive faeries, but the stories included in the pagess really makes you believe that faeries are real. Brian Froud is the original faerie author and has influenced an whole new genre with his artwork.

Fair Faeries
This was a gift for a dear friend who is quite Faery-like herself.I've given several of Mr. Froud's faery books to people, and they are inevitably very pleased.Mr. Froud is a sensitive artist and captures the "Shining Folk" or "Lords and Ladies" very impressively, almost as though he were in touch with the Elemental Kingdoms himself, consciously or unconciously.These are splendid gifts for the imaginative, whether child or adult, and I recommend them very highly.

A World In A Book
Faeries is the absolute greatest art book when it comes to fantasy, and that is because of the content, and the artists involved, as well as the quality in which it was printed and published in this, the 25th Anniversary Edition.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fairies    4. Folklore & Mythology - Folklore    5. Individual Artist    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    8. Subjects & Themes - General    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General    10. Monsters & legendary beings    11. Myths & mythology   

Editorial Review

In the city of Aramanth, the mantra is, "Better today than yesterday.Better tomorrow than today." Harder work means the citizens of Aramanth can keepmoving forward to improved life stations--from Gray tenements and Orangeapartments, upwards to glorious mansions of White. Only some families, like theHaths, believe more in ideas and dreams than in endless toil and ratings. WhenKestrel Hath decides she is through with the Aramanth work ethic, she is joinedin her small rebellion by her twin brother Bowman and their friend Mumpo.Together, they set the orderly city on its ear by escaping Aramanth's walls foran adventure that takes them from city sewers to desert sandstorms. Guided by anarchaic map, they know that if they can find the voice of the Wind Singer, anancient and mysterious instrument that stands in the center of Aramanth, theycan save their people from their dreamless existence. But the voice is guardedby the dreaded Morah and its legion of perfect killing machines, the Zars. Arethree ragtag kids any match for an army of darkness? Read more

Reviews (76)

wow!!! really great book!!!
Wow this book is a really great book. If you like a lot of adventure then this book is for you. Well this book is about the Hath family. The hath family lives in a city called Aramath. Aramath is a very complex city. There are levels to which the familys are rated and their homes are placed. The Hath family lives in the orange district which is the third level from from the end. Its not a very good district. Anyway, Kestrel and her twin brother Bowman share the power to communicate with each other using their minds. Their father Hanno Hath is a librarian and he knows everything about the history of aramath and the myths. Ira Hath is a stay at home mom taking care of the baby child Pinto. Now in the middle of Aramath there is a giant statue of the wind singer. The old story of the wind singer goes: "About a hundred years ago, or so, the wind singer used to sing a wonderful song that made everyone forget all of their problems and always be happy. Until the city of Aramath heard that the awfull army of the Zars was coming to attack the city in order to steal the wind singers voice. When the city heard of this great fate the surenderd the voice to the zars and everything cahnged after that." Now the city runs of levels and examination. But that wasnt't the case for Kestrel. She figured that if she could get out of the city then she could find the wind singer's voice and return happiness and peace the the city of Aramath. So she decided to leave the city acomponied by her brother and a tagolong classmate named Mumpo. Once they were on the otherside of the city gates the journy began.
A tad cliche
I read this book quite a while ago and although it is undoubtedly entertaining it has a tendancy to be a bit cliche with the usual story of the world being in danger and the only one who can save it is a child. Snore snore. Also the ending had a feeling that it was being rushed as though the author was bored of the book and just trying to get it finished quickly.

I can't describe how bad this book is
Reading this book is like watching the Brady Bunch, 1984 and the Planet of the Apes all at once. Familiar elements that fit together with all the harmony of claws on a blackboard. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Brothers and sisters    4. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Fantasy    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Twins    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (5)

One of the better Ultimate Spider-Man TPBs
This collects issues #79-85 of the long-running Bendis/Bagley series and includes appearances from Moon Knight, Elektra and the Black Cat.With Kingpin absent, Hammerhead hopes to fill the void left in the city's organized crime structure, forcing villians to choose sides and heroes to evaluate which is the lesser of two evils.

Another great volume!
Having read the whole series up until this point, I have to say that I really enjoyed this chapter.The writing is spot on for the teen-angst pain of a reluctant superhero.The art is crisp, clean and fun.If you've enjoyed the earlier books, this continues the fun.

Another good read, although not the best of the series
This seven-issue story arc (Ultimate Spidey 79-85) tracks the carnage that ensues when The Kingpin's crime cartel comes up for grabs... The prime contender for the throne is the super-gangster Hammerhead, who in his "Ultimate" incarnation is actually one scary dude, ruthlessly violent and coldly calculating, one of the more convincing gang bosses in comicbook history.Hammerhead's gnarly new persona almost -- but not entirely -- makes up for the flat, flimsy characterizations of '70s martial arts heros Shang Chi and Iron Fist, who also appear here, along with Moon Knight, Black Cat and Elektra.It's a major slugfest, with lots of slicing and dicing at the end, a consistently entertaining read, though not quite up to the high standards set by Brian Michael Bendis earlier in the series.If you just want to read a good, fun superhero story, this volume does the job. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Comics & Graphic Novels - Superheroes    3. Graphic Novels    4. Graphic Novels - Superheroes    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Comics & Graphic Novels / General    7. Fantasy   

Editorial Review

Australian poet Alison Croggon brings an eye for sensual detail to this heroic fantasy that follows the genre's familiar formula: A humble person is caught up in extraordinary events and led (or sent) on a journey by a wise figure, only to discover eventually that he/she is destined to save the world in an ultimate confrontation between the powers of good and evil. In this case the young person is sixteen-year-old Maedra, who is rescued from slavery by the Bard Cadvan. They share an exhausting journey toward Innail, one of the Bard schools and strongholds that govern the land, and Maedra grows to trust Cadvan as he reluctantly reveals his magical powers in several ambushes from evil creatures. But under duress she, too, begins to discover that she has a Gift--and more. After she has learned to read, ride a horse, and handle a sword at Innail, they set out on another dangerous trek to the prestigious city of Norloch, where Cadvan hopes to consult with his mentor Nelac to confirm his conviction that Maerad is the One who was Foretold. Many other characters and creatures come into this tale, as well as mystical intimations and dreams, and lavish descriptions of landscape, food, clothes, and room furnishings. In the tradition of Tolkien, a whole history of an ancient language and culture undergirds the story, and Croggon has even provided appendices of that history, a pronunciation guide, and an invented bibliography of her sources. Die-hard fantasy fans who can forgive its slow pace will enjoy this richly imagined story and look forward to its sequel, Read more

Reviews (32)

Little Known But Well Done
Alison Croggon is a little known but acclaimed author of "The Naming"."...An epic fantasy in the Tolkein tradition..." says Tamora Pierce author of Protector of the Small and the Circle Opens quartets, which is small praise for this page turning novel.
The formula for success?
The scenario: An orphaned young protagonist is whisked away from a bleak existence by a mysteriously powerful stranger, introduced to a world of magic and intrigue in which she has by birthright a special place. In addition to her previously undiscovered, unpolished, and innumerable talents that stagger everyone with their power, she also happens to be the Fated One, named in a mysterious prophecy as the hero to bring down a terrible villain so evil he is Nameless.