Midwest Book Review

August 2009

The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers.


Batcave Companion SCThe Batcave Companion
Michael Eury & Michael Kronenberg
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
1893905780, $26.95 www.twomorrows.com

On the brink of cancellation in 1963, Batman was rescued by a comic book artist who gave the caped crusader a new look and multimedia stardom. The stories behind Batman's rise, fall, and resurrection are told in THE BATCAVE COMPANION, with essays, issue-by-issue indexes, and commentary by two artists responsible for Batman's fame and fortunes making for an outstanding survey for any graphic novel or cartoon history collection. Black and white illustrations throughout bring the Batman history to life.


My Bad: A Zits TreasuryMy Bad
Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
Andrews McMeel 300 W. 57th St., New York NY 10019
0740780905, $16.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Black and white and color panels from the Zits cartoon strip offer a few new gathering of strips and images in book format, charting the ongoing and dubious interactions between Jeremy and his family and friends. From a Father's Day admonition to 'live like a teenager' to funny friends, MY BAD is a compelling and fine gathering for any general library with Zits cartoon fans.


Modern Masters Vol. 19 Mike Ploog ScModern Masters Volume 19: Mike Ploog
Roger Ash & Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing 10407 Bedfordtown Dr, Raleigh, NC 27614
1605490075, $14.95 www.twomorrows.com

In the 1970s horror comics were big and Mike Ploog drew them better than anyone else. His artwork continues to adorn comics and this collection pairs a coverage of his life and achievements with a running interview and black and white cartoon examples and strips throughout. Any fan of fantasy art will readily recognize Ploog's name and will welcome this insightful coverage.


Collected Jack Kirby Collector Volume 7Collected Jack Kirby Collector, volume seven
Jack Kirby TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490120, $29.95 www.twomorrows.com

Any fan of comic book art knows about Jack Kirby - and this amazing seventh volume in the series offers a powerful set of black and white cartoon images from Kirby's vast works to supplement even more interviews and insights. Serious, all-encompassing comic libraries need this addition to an astoundingly complex series of achievements that are Jack Kirby's legacy.


Dilbert TPB Freedom Is Just Another WordDilbert TPB Freedom Is Just Another Word
Andrews McMeel 300 W. 57th St., New York NY 10019
www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Scott Adam's FREEDOM'S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR PEOPLE FINDING OUT YOU'RE USELESS (0740778153, $12.99) provides another fine collection of Dilbert strips that cover business angst from red tape to new technologies. Dilbert appears in over 2,000 newspapers around the world: this collection is in color throughout and is a fine gathering of Dilbert's best new columns. Sandy Gingras' LESSONS OF A TURTLE (THE LITTLE BOOK OF LIFE) (0740778757, $9.99) provides a small book of cute little turtle drawings paired with 'life lessons', making for a fun gift. Where other affirmation books are serious, the whimsical little cartoon turtles invite rather than dictate, making this an excellent gift.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review 278 Orchard Drive Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review