Harley and Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica by Paul Dini & Marc Andreyko
Dini and Andreyko’s Harley and Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica brings the gals of Gotham to Riverdale when Poison Ivy learns that Mr Lodge plans to destroy the Sweetwater Marsh and put a fancy strip mall and ‘college’ on the land. Sweetwater is home to many rare plants and animals. The pair arrive in time to crash Lodge’s halloween gala, going as… themselves. A magical accident switches Ronnie and Betty’s consciousness with Ivy and Harley’s, leaving each pair to live the life of the other until they can get it reversed. Hilarity ensues as they get the hang of their new lives. Can Ivy get the mall plans scrapped? Can she and Harley get their own bodies back? Can they even survive a day in high school??
I love the Archie comics, having gotten hooked on them by my mother when I was growing up. This was a pretty fun crossover. I really wasn’t sure how it was going to work, but it turned out great! The Archie & co in this comic follow the art/world of the more modern Riverdale series. I haven’t watched that yet, but reading this gave me a good idea of the personalities of these versions of the characters. Recommended for those that love either of these shows.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and DC Entertainment for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide to the World by Dylan Thuras & Rosemary Mosco
In Thuras and Mosco’s Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide to the World there are 30 different country/states with two special sites given for each. From Iceland to Venezuela, Zambia to Cambodia, and all the places in between, there are wondrous locations just waiting for you to discover them. Some locations are natural- Iceland’s blue whale migration spots, Mexico’s Chicxulub Crater, and Antarctica’s Blood Falls. Other points of interest are more man-made- there is Pripyat in the Ukraine, New Zealand’s Spacecraft Cemetery, and Wyoming’s Smith Mansion. Yet others blend natural and man-made for truly unique wonders such as the Korowai Treehouses of Indonesia, Peru’s Nazca Lines, and Japan’s Aogashima Island, better known as Cat Island. Each country has introductory information such as location, and one or two interesting facts, and each location has specific map coordinates for the intrepid explorer to visit these places in their own if they wish. The second site of each country segues seamlessly into the first site of the next country. Root bridges in India lead to grass bridges in Peru. Peru’s Nazca lines resemble giant glyphs in Australia, and so on. This a fun read. I subscribe to Atlas Obscura, and always enjoy the strange and unusual information provided in the emails. This is a perfect addition to any fan of Atlas Obscura, or for the young explorer. Highly recommended
***Many thanks to Netgalley and Workman Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Monsters of the Week by Zack Handlen & Todd VanDerWerff
Handlen and VanDerWerff’s Monsters of the Week takes the reader on a whirlwind review of every single episode from all 11 seasons, as well as looking at the two feature-length films. This was an interesting read, to be sure. I’m already a huge fan, so there were no spoilers for me, but those new to the series should watch the episodes before reading about them, both to avoid spoilers, and to avoid going in with preconceived notions picked up from the essayists that may colour the viewing. Each author offered unique opinions, sometimes flattering, and at other times decidedly not, so don’t go in expecting a rave fest for how great a show it is. Much of the information was old hat, but I did learn a few new things! Perfect for X-Philes of any flavour.
***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Abrams Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Nameless City #3: The Divided Earth by Faith Erin Hicks
The Divided Earth is third in Hick’s trilogy The Nameless City, continuing the tale of a besieged city trapped between armies, with traitors on both sides. Erzi, a rogue Dao, still controls the Nameless City. Having uncovered the buried secrets of the ancestors, Erzi creates napatha. This deadly weapon seems a sure thing to secure victory. As Kai and Rat play a cat and mouse game to steal the napatha formula from Erzi, the city is infiltrated by a joint contingent of Yisun and Dao. The final battle for the Nameless City has arrived.
Truth: it didn’t register that this was a sequel. When I first read it, I was so confused. After I realised it was the final book in a trilogy, I read the others then skimmed through it again. Things made far more sense after that. I did feel the action jumped back and forth without clear delineation. This caused some confusion at times. I really enjoyed the artwork, and I loved the ancient Chinese feel to the story and characters.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and First Second Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
