Smile

We bought a boxed set of Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels at the Eslite main store, Taipei's famous 24-hour bookstore. This book was required summer reading for the Kiddo, and I read it with him.

Title: Smile
Publisher: Scholastic / Graphix
Date: 2010
Writer: Raina Telgemeier
Artist: Raina Telgemeier
Colorist: Stephanie Yue
Editor: Cassandra Pelham

Sixth grader Raina is worried about getting braces, but the situation gets a lot worse when she breaks two teeth in an accident. The story, a memoir of the author's childhood in late 80s/early 90s San Francisco, takes place over the following four years of dental procedures interspersed with middle and high school social drama.

This was a charming story with a very sympathetic main character, tons of insightful details, and a sprinkling of history and nostalgia. Raina is easy to cheer for, and her experiences felt very real.

I also learned quite a bit about dentistry through this, and it resonated with my own orthodontic adventures as a teenager, which like Raina's were of above-average complexity (hers were certainly more extreme than mine, though!).

This is a story that leaves a good feeling but has enough depth to get you thinking a bit.

Rating: 8.5/10

Healed #5

From the Random Stack of Unread Comics. Purchased directly from the creators (and signed) in 2012.

Title: Healed
Issue: #5
Date: 2012
Publisher: Homeless Comics
Writer: George O'Connor
Artist: Griffin, S.
Editor: Tracy O'Connor

Reviews of previous issues: Issue #1, Issue #2, Issue #3, Issue #4.

Fifth and final issue in a series that examines the effect of a mysterious event that heals all human disease and effectively eliminates death from natural causes.

The writing and creativity in this issue were excellent, but the lack of resolution with this being the final issue was disappointing.

As with previous issues, this contained three stories. Two were seemingly self-contained. One of those examined the question of what happens to prisoners sentenced to life behind bars when life could now mean an eternity. The other standalone story focused on a disabled man who was somehow passed over in the Healing.

The main ongoing story hinted at big revelations, but nothing really came of it, which was frustrating because the slow-burn pacing of this series had been a strong point, so to see it end here left a ton of unfulfilled potential.

Still, the work that the series did up to this point with its fascinating concept was quite intriguing. If they ever do decide to continue the series, I would be eager to read more.

Rating: 5/10

Healed #4

Gynn bought this back in 2011 at Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE). I read the first three issues of this series, but issues #4 and #5 got lost in the Random Stack of Unread Comics... Until now!

Title: Healed
Issue: #4
Date: 2011
Publisher: Homeless Comics
Writer: George O'Connor
Artist: Griffin, S.
Editor: Tracy O'Connor

The fourth chapter in George O'Connor and S. Griffin's anti-apocalyptic story of a mysterious event that cures all diseases and eliminates all death by natural causes. It's been a while since I last visited this series, but you can find my reviews of previous issues here: Issue #1, Issue #2, Issue #3.

Pharmaceutical executive Donna Gibbs recruits for her team investigating the Healing, and locates the body of the only person to die a natural death in the ten days since the event.

Meanwhile, a members of a small-town therapy group are faced with the realization that their mental illnesses seem to have been unaffected by the rest of the world's miracle.

This series continues to do a nice job of slowly unraveling its central mystery while presenting interesting and creative implications of a world suddenly without natural death.

Rating: 8/10

Tragedy At Farstation Prota

From the Random Stack of Unread Comics. No idea where I got this one.

Title: Tragedy at Farstation Prota
Publisher: Jerel Dye
Writer: Jerel Dye
Artist: Jerel Dye

A space station suffers a catastrophic malfunction, and only one crewman has enough warning to flee to an escape pod. Told in single-page wordless panels, this tale of space disaster features beautifully detailed artwork, with better print quality and paper stock than you see in most minicomics.

Terrible in the scope of the destruction, with lots to absorb on every page.

Rating: 8.5/10

Dark Red #2

Back from an amazing vacation in Taipei and Palau, and back the Random Stack of Unread Comics!

Title: Dark Read
Issue: 2
Date: 2008
Publisher: Dark Red Comics
Writer: Lynn French
Artist: Lynn French
Letterer: Joanna McKenzie
Editor: Joanna McKenzie

Sarah MacAllister's introduction to the supernatural side of the city continues at a rapid pace as it turns out that a woman she's known since her childhood is deeply connected to the city's mystics.

Meanwhile forces are conspiring to release a plague of demons on the city, and the first attacks on the city's protectors have begun.

This issue really ups the complexity of the story, introducing new villains and new supporting characters, and extending the story beyond Sarah's personal experiences. By the end, there is a good established direction to the action, and the plot feels less scattered than at the start of the issue.

The photo-based artwork continues to be a visual treat, and I'm enjoying the worldbuilding.

Rating 7/10