Madame Xanadu (Vol 4): Extra-Sensory Graphic Novel Review

Madame Xanadu (Vol 4): Extra-SensoryErica gives this comic five starsMadame Xanadu (Vol 4): Extra-Sensory by Matt Wagner
Art: Marley Zarcone, Laurenn McCubbin, Chrissie Zullo, Celia Calle, Marian Churchland, Amy Reeder, Richard Friend, and Guy Major

I appreciated this as the long form of saying goodbye to the Madame Xanadu comic book and Wagner’s time with her. And I can say that I greatly miss his take on her character, especially given how horrible the reboot has been with the magical characters. (It’s not their powers, but their back-stories that make them interesting.)

I enjoyed that the stories varied in how Madame Xanadu could really help these characters. Some needed her to calm their powers. Others needed her to stop the evil around them. Some accepted her guidance and others rejected her or were forces of evil she needed to banish.

Each story really reflected 1963-1966 and the different facets of culture from that time, depending on who you were or where you were. The variety of art was just gorgeous. In a lot of other stories, I might’ve been throw off by the switching artists. But the choices here just enhanced the book. Continue reading “Madame Xanadu (Vol 4): Extra-Sensory Graphic Novel Review”

Halloween Eve Comic Book Review

Halloween EveErica Gives This Comic Four StarsHalloween Eve by Brandon Montclare
Art: Amy Reeder

A very fun comic book. I enjoyed it very much, and I’m very glad that I supported Montclare and Reeder’s Kickstarter for this project. I love magically realistic stories, which in many ways this wants to be. Either magical realism or some kind of dreamland.

Eve is a great character. Reeder takes enormous care to show all there is about her character in how she dresses and poses with Montclare giving her the attitude in her words. I adore the “no” earrings. And her witchy stripes.

The retail store world that they create is perfect too. From the hustle and the bustle around the holiday to the cranky manager Carlos. Same with Bernardo the quiet guy and Ingrid, the cranky and quiet clerk. Not to mention Raymond, who the guy who kind of sweet, but dumb, that always tries to cheer you up on your bad days.

I love that Eve takes time by herself as she cleans up to dress up. Dress up as a witch after being called so. I can totally see a Halloween shop being creepy enough that you’d start thinking you were hearing things. Continue reading “Halloween Eve Comic Book Review”

Madame Xanadu: Broken House of Cards (Vol 3) Graphic Novel Review

Madame Xanadu Vol 3Erica gives this comic five stars

Madame Xanadu: Broken House of Cards (Vol 3) by Matt Wagner
Art: Amy Reeder and Richard Friend

Madame Xanadu was back in form for this volume. Reeder’s art was a re-welcomed addition. She just captures Madame Xanadu and her world so wonderfully. I love the facial expressions and the angles. Friend’s art was also a nice addition to the story.

I loved this 1950s story. It felt right for the era. The focus on the suburban wackiness. The need to have all the newest appliances, the perfect relationships, the dresses, the sexist gender roles, and of course, the casual obsession with Satanism. I adore that Madame Xanadu takes the latter with a grain of salt. She knows this is not “Satan” probably because she doesn’t believe any such creature exists. Continue reading “Madame Xanadu: Broken House of Cards (Vol 3) Graphic Novel Review”