Graphic Novels
RSS
Elementary and Middle School BRUBAKER, Jason. reMIND. Vol 1. illus. by author. 152p. 2011. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-0-9831149-0-1. LC 2011901038. CHANTLER, Scott. The Sign of the Black Rock. Bk. 2. illus. by author. 112p. (The Three Thieves Series). CIP. Kids Can. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-416-6; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-417-3. LC C2011-900091-1. COUDRAY, Philippe. Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking. tr. from French by Leigh Stein. illus. by author. ISBN 978-1-935179-12-2. LC 2011000801. DÁVILA, Claudia. Luz Sees the Light. Bk. 1. illus. by author. 96p. (The Future According to Luz). Kids Can. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-581-1; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-766-2. LC number unavailable. DICKENS, Charles. Great Expectations. ISBN 978-0-237-53622-0. HELFAND, Lewis. Conquering Everest: The Lives of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. illus. by Amit Tayal. 96p. (Campfire Biography). glossary. Campfire. 2011. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-93-80741-24-6. LC number unavailable. HELFAND, Lewis. The Wright Brothers. illus. by Sankha Banerjee. 72p. (Campfire Biography). Campfire. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-93-80028-46-0. LC number unavailable. HIKOKUBO, Masahiro. Yusei, Turbo Duelist!! Vol. 1. illus. by Masashi Sato. unpaged. (5-D’s Yu-Gi-Oh!™ Series). Viz Media. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-3963-8. LC number unavailable. MCGUINESS, Dan. Pilot & Huxley: The Next Adventure. Bk. 2. illus. by author. 64p. (Pilot & Huxley Series). Scholastic/Graphix. 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-545-26845-5. LC number unavailable. MACHEROT, R. Sibyl-Anne vs. Ratticus. tr. from French by Kim Thompson. illus. by author. 64p. Fantagraphics. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-160699-452-8. LC number unavailable. ROBBINS, Trina. Lily Renée, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer. illus. by Anne Timmons and Mo Oh. 96p. photos. CIP. Lerner/Graphic Universe. Nov. 2011. PLB $29.27. ISBN 978-0-7613-6010-0; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-8114-3; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-7962-1. LC 2011001084. SLAVIN, Bill & Esperança Melo. Big City Otto. Bk. 1. illus. by author. 80p. (Elephants Never Forget). CIP. Kids Can. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-476-0. LC C2011-900761-4. SPIRES, Ashley. Binky Under Pressure. Bk. 3. 64p. (A Binky Adventure). Kids Can. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-504-0; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-767-9. LC C2011-901071-2. TILLIEUX, M. Murder by High Tide: Gil Jordan, Private Eye. tr. from French by Jenna Allen. illus. by author. 92p. Fantagraphics. 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-160699-451-1. LC number unavailable. VARON, Sara. Bake Sale. illus. by author. 158p. First Second. 2011. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-740-1; pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-419-6. LC number unavailable. High School GEARY, Rick. The Lives of Sacco & Vanzetti. illus. by author. unpaged. (A Treasury of 20th Century Murder Series). maps. bibliog. NBM/ComicsLit. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-56163-605-1. LC 2011927818. HOLKINS, Jerry & Mike Krahulik. Be Good, Little Puppy. Bk. 7. unpaged. (Penny Arcade Book). Random. 2011. pap. $15. ISBN 978-0-345-51228-4. LC number unavailable. PASTIS, Stephan. Pearls Blows Up. illus. by author. 256p. (A Pearls Before Swine Treasury). Andrews McMeel. 2011. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4494-0106-1. LC 2010930547. SNYDER, Scott. American Vampire. Vol. 2. illus. by Rafael Albuquerque & Mateus Santolouco. 169p. CIP. Vertigo. 2011. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-3069-2. LC 2011008934.
Gr 7 Up–Sonia and her cat live in the quiet coastal town of Cripple Peaks, which is most famous for being the home of the “lizard man,” a legendary creature that her father claimed to have seen in 1974. She spends most of her time maintaining the equipment in the lighthouse and avoiding the tourists. One day Victuals disappears, and as the days pass Sonia loses hope for his return. Then a week later the feline suddenly comes back, but with two alarming changes: there are stitches in his head, and now he can talk. Brubaker’s artwork will definitely pull readers into this unusual story and keep them there. The illustrations are colorful and expressive, combining cartoon line drawings with jewel-toned paintings. The cat, the lizard man, and Sonia’s love for her father are woven into an amazing tapestry that is sure to capture readers’ imaginations and keep them turning the pages.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Gr 5 Up–Having escaped from hanging in Tower of Treasure (Kids Can, 2010), Dessa, Topper, and Fisk hide from the queen’s guard at the Black Rock Inn, where their safety is threatened by a money-grubbing innkeeper and some smugglers. While the first volume was mostly about establishing stakes and camaraderie, this one does little to continue the main plot of Dessa trying to locate her missing twin brother and his abductor. In fact, it primarily centers around the innkeep and his nefarious activities. His story, and his relationship with his wife, provides the heart of the book, which makes it an effective stand-alone volume. The artwork is clean, with mostly muted colors, making the colorful skin, hair, and tabards of the main characters and their nemeses pop out with dramatic importance. The faces are simple, but emotive, and the detailed line work in the backgrounds and costumes helps considerably in giving the fantastic world a believable dimension. The book has gentle slapstick moments, which add to its appeal. While slightly disappointing to have the overarching plot advanced so little, the story is heartfelt and moving, and helps readers become invested in the characters.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
KNIGHT, Hilary & Steven Kroll. Nina in That Makes Me Mad! illus. by Hilary Knight. ISBN 978-1-935179-10-8. LC 2011000802.
ea vol: 32p. CIP. Toon Bks. 2011. Tr $12.99.
K-Gr 3–Benjamin always seems to be in the right place to assist a friend, as when he and Rabbit are stuck in a snowstorm and Rabbit is happy to take shelter underneath his sizable belly, making the bear a living snowdrift. The overlying theme through all of the single-page vignettes is Benjamin’s willingness to help his pals. His laugh-out-loud antics are brilliantly displayed in easy-to-follow, colorful panels. Able to leap great ravines, find his way out of a maze, and walk on the ocean floor, he is a character that kids will enjoy spending time with. Each spread in Nina shows a scenario in which the child is angry. She is frustrated “when you don’t let me help…” and proves to her mother that she really can change the baby’s diaper. She is annoyed when “You don’t know what I like.” (“I hate fish!”) Of course, it’s not her fault she can’t get her clothes on fast and correctly. It’s not her fault that mom forgets her promises. It’s not her fault that her parents make her go to bed so early she can’t see the show she wants to. If only parents realized how hard it is to be a kid. Knight’s charming illustrations evoke the plethora of emotions Nina endures as she tries to get her parents’ attention. In the end, though, her mother comes through. Nina’s strong and lovable personality is reminiscent of Eloise (also illustrated by Knight), Ramona, and Judy Moody.–Carol Hirsche, Provo City Library, UT
Gr 3-5–Everyday scenarios teach Luz how to live with less impact on the environment. Her neighborhood experiences blackouts due to excessive electricity use, gas prices are so high that her family has to ride bikes to the mall, and her mother buys local foods at the supermarket to save money. Eventually, the 12-year-old is inspired to turn a vacant lot into a community garden. Though the story is a little didactic, Luz and her friends are an engaging and diverse group (Luz is Latina and her best friend is African American), and the cartoon-style illustrations are drawn with humor. The plain palette of black and paper-bag brown reflects the story’s environmental message. This book is a good transitional reader for children interested in activism or the environment.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
–––– . Oliver Twist. ISBN 978-0-237-53654-1.
ea vol: retold by Hilary Burningham. illus. by Chris Rowlatt. 72p. (Graphic Dickens Series). Evans. 2011. pap. $12.99. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-8–A graphic retelling of the classic, Great Expectations is rushed, confusing, and an unpleasant read. At times it is difficult to tell the characters apart, mainly because of the lack of depth in the secondary players, and because the artwork is flat and impassive. The plot is without focus, so struggling readers will have an issue with continuity. Oliver Twist has similar problems. The flow is choppy, characterization is nonexistent, and the compression of the story line adds to the confusion. The artwork, black-and-white rough sketching, is inconsistent. Panels range from clean and distinct to dark and busy. As in the first book, some characters are indistinguishable from page to page. The combination of story and artwork will not create new fans of graphic novels.–Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL
Gr 3-6–As the men prepare to climb Everest in 1953, they reminisce about their lives and how they arrived at this point. They tell about their personal growth and misadventures, and the allure and challenges of the great peaks of the world. Lacking in any bibliographic reference, the narration and dialogue need to be kept in proper perspective. That said, the first-person accounts make the story of each man personal and help reinforce the fact that neither of them could have ascended alone, and that their teamwork was fortunate. The perils of the climb and of like activities are given due coverage, and the risks taken help give the book some gravity and suspense. The artwork uses photographic references for the mountain vistas, and the writing and layout feature them effectively, highlighting moments of fantastic achievement with appropriate scale and scope. The book closes with a brief summary of Everest’s recent young climbers, helping to make the topic relevant and current. This detailed account is delivered with a balanced view of the importance of will combined with circumstance.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Gr 3-6–This biography extends from the brothers’ early days in Dayton, OH, to Orville’s final years fighting for his reputation with the Smithsonian. Drawn in a realistic, computer-aided penciled style, with the narration taking place mostly in expository captions, the book concentrates on two aspects of the Wright brothers’ story: that aeronautics was not their initial focus, and that their path to success was arduous and required starting over more than once. However, the men never emerge as unique characters with a sense of individual personalities, and a significant portion of the book is presented as dialogue, which can be an iffy proposition in terms of sourcing and accuracy. The artwork is functional but fails to capture some of the awe and glory remarked upon in the text. Still, the narrative is both conversational and informative and thereby manages to create a fun, compelling read, and the art provides a catalogue of the variety of contemporary flying machines, the evolution of the Wright model, and the look and fashion of the period. The result is a fine example of the sheer amount of dedication and work behind any “overnight success” and an effective collection of personal and technical detail that will satisfy readers.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Gr 5 Up–Based on both the popular card game and a Japanese cartoon series by the same name, this book continues the story of dueling Yu-Gi-Oh! players. Yusei, one of the toughest Turbo Duelers in the Satellite District, fights while riding a Duel Runner motorcycle. Unlike in the game, the cards the characters play summon the monsters into the real world to battle one another. The community of Turbo Duelers believes that, when summoned, the Skeleton Knight will come to life and grant a player a special card. After Yusei beats his friend Sect in the arena, Sect summons the Skeleton Knight. This terrifying character refuses to grant the wish of a “loser” and prepares to take Sect’s life. Yusei steps in and offers himself, instead. The Knight and Yusei duel while Yusei’s soul stands in the balance. Jack Atlas, The King, and Akiza, The Queen of Queens, who has only been defeated once…by The King, wish to duel Yusei and see him compete in a City Turbo Duel Tournament. The illustrations are standard manga fare, but the pages are almost overwhelmed with images to match the duels, the monsters, and the characters’ emotions. As this book is part of a lengthy series, it’s worth purchasing only where there is an existing Yu-Gi-Oh! fan base.–Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA
Gr 3-5–By turns funny, sarcastic, and downright bizarre, this book will pull in as many readers as it turns off. After vanquishing the bad guys the last time out, Pilot and Huxley find themselves transported to Limbo. They try to get home, but it is more difficult than it appears. They visit an alternate universe dedicated to different holidays, only to find themselves thrown into a gladiator battle in a Christmas-themed coliseum. Although the boys escape, they end up transported to the middle of a war in the year 3047, ensuring that the adventure will continue. The plot is largely secondary, as jokes and insults flow freely. It should be noted, however, that this humor is exactly what will hook reluctant readers. The cartoon style of the full-color artwork is purposefully simplistic, yet always functional. The panel layout is clear and easy to follow. Not an essential addition, but likely a popular one.–Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI
Gr 5 Up–This collection of comics, originally published in Spirou magazine in 1966 and 1967, contains several stories in which the mouse Sibyl-Anne and her friends fight back the greedy villain Ratticus. This is the first time that American audiences will be able to appreciate this story arc from the golden age of Franco-Belgian comics. Ratticus, who inexplicably wears (only) a bow tie and carries a walking stick, is thrown out of his home by a human and wanders through the countryside looking to take advantage of the woodland animals he meets along the way. He encounters several creatures with entertaining names like Mister Floozemaker (a crow) and Sergeant Verboten (a porcupine), and he has to use more and more ridiculous efforts to trick them and steal their food. What follows are lighthearted and sometimes surreal adventures that use an artistic style reminiscent of classic comics such as Blondie or Pogo. The colors are bright and the creatures are adorable, although modern readers might find Ratticus more interesting than all of his cute and fluffy counterparts. An enjoyable read for kids, teens, and even adults.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Gr 6-9–Like the comic books that Lily Renée Wilheim drew in the 1940s as a pioneer woman in a male-dominated industry, this biography is a tale of peril and suspense. Lily, an affluent Austrian Jewish girl, was one of the last children to be transported safely to England in 1939. After a few years with a sponsor family, she got a series of jobs caring for children and in a maternity hospital. After England entered the war, she lost contact with her parents and was later classified as an enemy alien. The tale of her reconciliation with her family in America and subsequent success as a graphic artist is classically upbeat. The book is drawn in a style that seems to imitate Wilheim’s wartime comics–gestures and expressions are stylized and formal; characters stand or move stiffly. Think Brenda Starr, Girl Reporter. Add to this drawing style a tendency toward melodrama and few named characters except the subject and this book might be a tough sell. Improving its odds is back matter that includes a gallery of photographs of the charismatic Lily and brief essays on subjects as diverse as the British monetary system and the Automat.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD
Gr 2-4–Otto the elephant and Crackers the parrot leave their forest home in Africa to find their missing friend George, a monkey. They end up in the big city, where poor Otto attempts to squeeze through a subway turnstile and literally “catches” a cab with his trunk. The travelers encounter a host of animal characters on their adventure, including an alligator named Cajun Joe, who guides them toward their next trip, in volume two, to the bayou. Drawn in a colorful cartoon style, with plenty of corny jokes and visual gags, this is a gentle, humorous adventure that children should enjoy.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
K-Gr 4–Another winning entry in the series. In this installment, a new character enters Binky’s well-regulated space station. While Gracie poses as a foster cat competing for his humans’ affections, Binky soon realizes that she is in fact a captain in F.U.R.S.T. (Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel), and she has come to evaluate the performance of his space-cat duties. He struggles at first with the trials she sets before him, but when a real danger emerges, he and Gracie work together to protect their home from insect invaders. The story is cinematically told; Spires pulls into close-ups at key moments and shifts fluidly between the vantage points of her two main characters. Pages are well laid out; while the placement and shape of panels vary, they always guide readers’ eyes easily through the action, and flashback and fantasy are easily distinguished from real-time events through the use of wavy panel boundaries. As always, the story is infused with laugh-out-loud moments aimed both at kids (Binky’s recurring bouts of space gas) and at adults (annoyed at Gracie, Binky thinks, “If this is what girls are like, he’s glad he’s fixed”). The addition of Gracie gives the story a stronger conflict and greater dramatic heft than was found in the previous books, capped by a satisfying resolution that sets the stage for the space cat’s next escapade. Sure to be a hit with graphic-novel fans and cat lovers.–Kate Hewitt, Far Brook School, Short Hills, NJ TENNAPEL, Doug. Bad Island. illus. by author. 224p. Scholastic/Graphix. 2011. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-545-31479-4; pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-31480-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5 Up–One glance at the cover depicting ominous clouds overhead and a landmass with a glaring red eye informs readers that the author of Ghostopolis (Scholastic, 2010) has created another exploration of the bizarre. Dad has decided to take Reese, who is too cool for family outings, and his sister, Janine, on a fishing trip. The vacation takes an unexpected turn when their boat capsizes during a storm and they find themselves marooned on a strange island. To their horror, the family slowly realizes that the island is the submerged body of a giant creature, escaped from another world. The story alternates between the shipwreck survivors and the faraway world that created this “island.” Both stories feature conflict between an adolescent son and his father. Clever touches highlight the dawning pubescence of both son and monster: small whiskers sprouting on the giant monster, Reese’s flippant response when his mother wonders about his ability to make her nervous. “No problem mom. It’s a gift.” Ultimately, both rebellious adolescents grow up and find their place as young men. The vibrant color palette used in the family’s story contrasts with the grays and browns of the monster world. Both places are punctuated with red, yellow, and black to emphasize the scenes of conflict, while silhouettes add a striking visual touch. Expressive wide-eyed faces perfectly capture emotions while the effective use of humor (a dead pet snake plays an important role) keeps the tension from becoming overwhelming. TenNapel has crafted another rip-roaring adventure with wide audience appeal. –Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
Gr 7 Up–This collection, originally published in Spirou magazine between 1958 and 1960, contains several stories in which private detective Gil Jordan solves bewildering cases with the help of his assistant, Crackerjack, and his friend, Inspector Crouton. The stories are rich with cultural references that will be strangely entertaining to American audiences, like Parisian characters making disparaging remarks about English food and a scrap of a Camembert cheese wrapper providing a vital clue to a villain’s identity. The bright, cartoon artwork (think Tintin or Asterisk), and the fact that Gil looks to be about 15 years old, belies the sometimes-serious nature of the stories. The cases include murders, and there are car chases and fistfights galore. Some of the plots may stretch readers’ credulity to its breaking point, but overall these are unusual and enjoyable stories.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Gr 2-6–Cupcake, a cupcake that owns a bakery in Brooklyn, is in a band with his best friend, an eggplant. When he finds out that Eggplant is going to be seeing Cupcake’s idol, the pastry chef Turkish Delight, in Istanbul, he tries a series of new projects and ways to sell baked goods in order to buy a plane ticket to join him. His efforts reinvigorate his excitement for creative baking, but they keep him from playing in the band. It’s difficult to guess what readers will think of a book that both stars foodstuffs and yet is about the consumption of food. Cupcake doesn’t seem at all conflicted about being friends with an anthropomorphic carrot while also chopping one up to make carrot cake, but some kids might find it confusing and distracting. The book is filled with details, labels, and readable actions, which makes it nicely interactive. The friendship between Cupcake and Eggplant is interestingly complex, with a great dream sequence spelling some of it out. Gentle, domestic, and with a plethora of particulars and seven recipes at the back that are featured in the story line, this book has a will-o’-the-wisp charm and a distinctive, quirky voice.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Gr 9 Up–Geary works his magic once again, this time with a graphic novel about one of the most controversial court cases of the 20th century. In the town of South Braintree, MA, in 1920, several men committed a payroll robbery in broad daylight in front of witnesses. The criminals escaped, and the paymaster and the guard whom they shot during the robbery both died. Two Italian immigrants with anarchist sympathies but no criminal records, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were accused of the theft. Geary tells the story of the crime, gives background on the two men, and explores the court case that inspired headlines and protests around the world. By the time he walks readers through all of the problems with the witnesses, the evidence, and the judge’s prejudices, they will fully understand why so many people believe to this day that Sacco and Vanzetti were unfairly convicted. Geary’s black-and-white drawings show amazing attention to detail, whether he is depicting bullets, cars, buildings, or the faces of the condemned men. This would be an excellent choice for schools and libraries looking for literary graphic novels, for teachers who want to spark discussion of the case, and for any teens looking for an enthralling nonfiction read.–Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library
Gr 11 Up–Penny Arcade is an extremely popular and raucously funny webcomic. Holkins and Krahulik examine the minutiae of life as seen through their alter egos, gamers named John “Gabe” Gabriel and Tycho Brahe. Done predominately in a three-panel format, the comic strip features expressive, full-color artwork. The book includes every strip from 2006 and is accompanied by the creators’ clever commentary, which offers readers insight into the craft of cartooning and writing, and reveals inspirations from their own experiences. They also explain jargon such as “gold-farming” and “horse armor.” This view of gamer subculture is as sharp as it is hilarious. The edgy humor can range from silly to satirical. In the “Armadeaddon” story line, the creators state that the whole idea “was to see precisely how much fanservice we could compress into each panel”; this is when the Fruit F**ker brand juicing gadget attacks the hoards of zombies. Females are nicely represented, avoiding stereotypes as depicted in many video games. Not to be confused with teen-friendly webcomics such as Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim, Penny Arcade is for older readers. The violence, crude humor, and foul language are similar to R-rated movies. Libraries owning the previous volumes should purchase if demand warrants. For new readers, this is an optional purchase as the collected strips are more than five years old, and the current webcomics are available free online (www.penny-arcade.com).–June Shimonishi, Torrance Public Library, CA LYGA, Barry. Mangaman. illus. by Colleen Doran. 126p. Houghton Harcourt. Nov. 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-547-42315-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Graphic-novel tropes are turned on their heads in this fish-out-of-water story. Beautiful yet misunderstood Marissa Montaigne finds herself attracted to the new boy in town–who, in this case, happens to be from another dimension where life resembles a Japanese comic book. Ryoko is straight out of a 1970s shoujo manga, complete with wavy hair and enormous shimmering eyes rimmed with luxurious lashes, and inexplicably has a name commonly used for girls. Visual gags such as speed lines and Dragonball hair may go over the heads of readers not into graphic novels, but dedicated fans of the format will revel in Lyga’s self-referential humor. A subtle exploration of racism adds depth to the action-packed plot, as Western-style characters react with fear and distrust to Ryoko’s foreignness. Esteemed artist Doran juggles manga and Western illustration styles effortlessly, capturing their defining characteristics with pitch-perfect accuracy. Even the page layouts are marked by appropriate stylistic differences; the Western-style pages follow a boxy, linear progression, while the manga-style layouts flow freely. A brief sexual situation–quickly turned humorous by poking fun at Japanese censorship–may make this title most appropriate for high school audiences. Although manga fans might need convincing to pick up a graphic novel that is drawn mostly in a gritty Western style, they will be rewarded with a story full of clever humor and human emotions. –Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA
Gr 9 Up–A treasury from the popularly syndicated comic strip, this collection is mostly filled with three-section panels that consist of the complicated daily lives of Rat, Pig, Zebra, Goat, and the Crocs. Zebra tries not to get eaten by the Crocs; Pig, who can be simple and sweet, tries not to be humiliated by Rat, who can be cruel and nasty. A majority of panels have commentary underneath, and the artwork is done in clean, simple lines. The characters are cute and may seem to be targeted for a younger crowd, but the content is full of dark adult humor, random acts of violence, slight profanity, and references to drugs, drinking, and war/terrorism. All is done in jest, and most readers will take it for what it is, humor poking fun at all aspects of life. In all, this is a compilation that many teens will enjoy flipping through.–Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL
Gr 10 Up–It’s the 1930s, Las Vegas is becoming “Sin City,” and the American vampire, a new breed born in the Wild West, is at the heart of it all. Vampires are feuding over investments in the dam being built that will bring Vegas to life, and the human population is caught in the crossfire. With complex, conflicted characters, fast action, and bloody vampire fights, this noirish series entry, inked in dark, moody tones, is a gripping read. Because it includes sex, nudity, and violence, this title is best suited for older readers.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
