Saturday Issue (24): Borderlands: Origins by Mikey Nuemann

I created The Saturday Issue to in order to feature the comic books that I read, and I have revamped the feature in order to include volumes instead of single issues.

Source: Netgalley/IDW – I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation.
Publisher: IDW
Edition: EGalley, 104
Genre: Video Game Graphic Novel
Purchase: Amazon/Barnes & Noble / Book Depository*
*I receive a small monetary kickback from Amazon purchases
Rating: 3.5/5

For the millions and millions of fans of the smash-hit video game Borderlands, a lingering question exists: how did the Vault Hunters get on the bus with Marcus in the first place? Find out how Roland got on the bus with Mordecai, Lilith, and Brick in this exciting look at the soldiers of the Crimson Lance and what made him leave their ranks and search for the Vault.

Being a fan of the game, Borderlands I immediately scooped this one up when IDW placed it on Netgalley. The game is a ton of fun and really witty, but you don’t get a lot of back story about the characters you can play as, so I was anxious to see exactly how our Vault Hunters came to be on Marcus’ crappy bus to begin with. I wasn’t disappointed but at the same time I wanted more.

We get to see how each Vault Hunter is perceived by others and we get some good glimpses about their personalities as well…you know other than the one liners we get when were’ blasting skags sky high (“It’s like Christmas!”). I personally think that Roland and Brick get the really good stories in this one, we get to see the exact reason Roland left the Crimson Lance and Brick’s real colors are shown. Lilth’s story was good as well and as my preferred character I wanted to see more of her (*hint* I would be willing to buy graphic novels about their individual adventures before or after the game). We get a bit more info on what a Siren is and just how lonely it is to be a part of something that only allows 6 at one time. I think Mordecai’s story was the one that fell a bit flat for me, it didn’t really tell me what he was doing on Pandora before the event that leads to him getting on the bus. Well I guess it did tell me but I kind of wanted to see a bit of it for myself.

The art is surprisingly not cell shaded like the game, and I think I”m actually a bit thank for that…I’m not sure it would have worked. It’s consistent and I think that Agustin Padilla did a pretty good job with it.

I think it’s a great companion piece for those who really loved the game and the characters, and if IDW decides to put out more like this I would certainly seek them out.

I received this in exchange for an honest review.

 

Review: Blaze by Laurie Boyle Crompton

Source: Won from Sourcebooks Fire
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Edition: Paperback, 309 pages
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Purchase: Amazon/ Barnes & Noble / Book Depository*
*I receive a small monetary kickback from Amazon purchases
Rating: 5/5

Blaze is tired of spending her life on the sidelines, drawing comics and feeling invisible. She’s desperate for soccer star Mark to notice her. And when her BFF texts Mark a photo of Blaze in sexy lingerie, it definitely gets his attention. After a hot date in the back of her minivan, Blaze is flying high, but suddenly Mark’s feelings seem to have been blasted by a freeze-ray gun, and he dumps her. Blaze gets her revenge by posting a comic strip featuring uber-villain Mark the Shark. Mark then retaliates by posting her “sext” photo, and, overnight, Blaze goes from Super Virgin Girl to Super Slut. That life on the sidelines is looking pretty good right about now…

Be still my geeky heart! Blaze is the best anti-love story I’ve ever read…it’s also the only one I’ve ever read, but I’m positive that it would still remain among the top 3 even if I had read others. It’s not often that a book boasts having a legitametly geeky main character and Blaze definitely manages to pull it off.

Blaze is an artistic high school girl who loves comic books and has a serious thing for Mark, who she goes to school with and also coaches her younger brother’s soccer team. He seems nice and swoon worthy, but after a few moments of chemistry everything goes a bit wrong. The story starts from the beginning and we get to see how Blaze navigates through the things mentioned in the blurb, and don’t worry even though a good portion of the plot is mentioned above it doesn’t really spoil the actual story.

It was such a joy to see a girl main character who loves comics and has a connection the superheroes in them, even as the geeky world grows it still seems a bit rare to have one in the forefront in books. Blaze  has a great sense of humor and the way she describes things really shows off her quirky personality, and shows her ability to hope for the best even when things don’t seem to be in her favor. Her journey from being a slightly lovesick teen to a woman who can honestly say that she’s happy no matter what people may say about her is one that I was fully invested in and I couldn’t help but root for her. I loved the younger brother, Josh, and his group of friends. It’s really awesome that Blaze and her brother have such a great relationship and I adored the fact that she really took the time to be in his life. They had a really awesome dynamic.

As fun as this novel is it does touch on some serious topics that I feel are addressed in a real way that everyone can recognize. The biggest is bullying both in person and on social media, and just what effect that I can have on a young persons life. It’s not something that should be taken lightly and definitely shouldn’t be ignore, and I think that Compton really touched on it in a great way.

This is one of my favorites for the year and has earned a permanent place on my bookshelf.