Action-packed manga-inspired mysteries.
A collection of illustrated supernatural adventures.
The titular Yellow Stringer is a gossipy tabloid that reports on strange, often otherworldly happenings in town. Most people think it’s a gimmick, but seasoned journalist Naomi, who writes for the paper, knows that everything they cover is real. As this work opens, she’s just gotten a new partner—Tony, an ex-cop who quit the force for reasons he won’t readily divulge. For their first assignment together, they’re off to investigate an ancient Egyptian artifact stolen from the local museum. It belonged to Pharaoh Rehema Abayomi II; she was said to command armies of the undead using an emerald. While Tony’s a skeptic, Naomi believes this theft has triggered a curse and has something to do with rumors floating around about zombies appearing in the area. In another section, Naomi and Tony investigate murders in the Grey Heights Cemetery. Later, Naomi confronts the Abyss Demon of Choice, who has Tony under its thrall. This volume utilizes grayscale, manga-style illustrations in flashy, dynamic panels to collect several loosely related adventures featuring the Yellow Stringer reporters. Often a bit over-the-top and sometimes tropey, these journeys will nevertheless bring readers lots of fun. Naomi and Tony have light skin and black hair; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast.
Action-packed manga-inspired mysteries. (Manga. 16-adult)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-7603-7690-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Rockport Publishers
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced...
A pairing of the text of the Scottish Play with a filmed performance, designed with the Shakespeare novice in mind.
The left side of the screen of this enhanced e-book contains a full version of Macbeth, while the right side includes a performance of the dialogue shown (approximately 20 lines’ worth per page). This granular focus allows newcomers to experience the nuances of the play, which is rich in irony, hidden intentions and sudden shifts in emotional temperature. The set and costuming are deliberately simple: The background is white, and Macbeth’s “armor” is a leather jacket. But nobody’s dumbing down their performances. Francesca Faridany is particularly good as a tightly coiled Lady Macbeth; Raphael Nash-Thompson gives his roles as the drunken porter and a witch a garrulousness that carries an entertainingly sinister edge. The presentation is not without its hiccups. Matching the video on the right with the text on the left means routinely cutting off dramatic moments; at one point, users have to swipe to see and read the second half of a scene’s closing couplet—presumably an easy fix. A “tap to translate” button on each page puts the text into plain English, but the pop-up text covers up Shakespeare’s original, denying any attempts at comparison; moreover, the translation mainly redefines more obscure words, suggesting that smaller pop-ups for individual terms might be more meaningful.
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced e-book makes the play appealing and graspable to students . (Enhanced e-book. 12 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: The New Book Press LLC
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013
Another page-turning volume with intriguing character development.
The stakes skyrocket in this thrilling series continuation.
John, the school zero, finds himself growing closer to the boy who’s his polar opposite in their private school’s social hierarchy—but Arlo’s intentions may not be as pure as John’s. While John genuinely wants to befriend him, Arlo might be more interested in pushing John’s buttons in order to see whether he’s really as powerless as he claims. While John ultimately makes an irreversible decision, Seraphina makes her own momentous choice: She’s done being controlled by her family, and her friendship with John motivates her to follow through and persist until she’s free. Though they have an emotional, much-anticipated reunion, going back to school might not be so easy now that Seraphina is being targeted by a mysterious group who pose a serious threat to her life. The higher-ups in the school hierarchy start to suspect that there’s more to the militia group EMBER, who are targeting superheroes, than the press lets on. The complex characters are neither clearly good nor unambiguously evil, and their problems and the dangers they face escalate in this volume as relationships become more strained and complicated, bringing people to their breaking points. The bright, colorful illustrations bring to life this intense story, which features exciting pursuits and even more thrilling fight scenes. The art strongly expresses characters’ emotions, particularly during battles.
Another page-turning volume with intriguing character development. (extras) (Graphic adventure. 14-18)Pub Date: July 2, 2024
ISBN: 9780358521228
Page Count: 320
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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