Saints

Bought at Garden Books, Shanghai, China.

Title: Saints
Date: 2013
Publisher: First Second Books
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Art: Gene Luen Yang
Colorist: Lark Pien

Saints is the companion piece to Gene Luen Yang's Boxers (reviewed here), telling the story of the China's Boxer Rebellion, this time from the point of view of a Christian woman whose visions of Joan of Arc lead her into the conflict. The main character in this story appears briefly, but significantly, at two points in Boxers, and Saints brings her story to life.

Vibiana was called "Four Girl" growing up in a household that considered her to be cursed with bad fortune. She finds her refuge and her new name among the Chinese Christian community, and she struggles to understand the visions she has received even as the world around her descends into war.

While the ultimate direction of this volume is as violent and tragic as Boxers was, the beginning has a more witty and sarcastic tone, even as it deals with serious issues of abuse and family.

There is less sweeping story here, but it is more focused and personal.

It does significantly alter the resolution of Boxers, but it does it in a way that I thought added to the story rather than negating aspects of it.

The use of Joan of Arc comes off as odd choice in some ways, and the author has do dance a bit around the issue that she had not actually been canonized at the time the story was set. That being said, the character of Joan is handled well, and the artwork on her scenes is especially good.

This did a nice job of expanding the world of Boxers and deepening the story.

Rating 8.5/10

Spill Zone Book 1

Bought at a book fair at my school in Shanghai, China.

Title: Spill Zone
Issue: Book 1
Date: 2018
Publisher: First Second Books
Writer: Scott Westerfeld
Art: Alex Puvilland
Colorist: Hilary Sycamore

Set in the aftermath of an unexplained incident that has destroyed the city of (lovely) Poughkeepsie, New York, and left it a wasteland ofinexplicable phenomena, the story follows former resident Addison, who lost her parents in the disaster, and whose younger sister has not spoken in the three years since that night.

Addison leads a dangerous life on the outskirts of the Spill Zone, sneaking inside to take photos that she sells to black-market collectors. But her biggest customer has now approached her with an offer too good to pass up, one that will take her right into the heart of the madness.

Meanwhile, the only arrival of a second spill incident, this one in North Korea, has arrived in New York with a mission of his own.

This was a great blend of SF, fantasy, and horror that tells a fast-paced story without giving too much away. Addison is tough, resourceful, and possibly in over her head, but her grief for the loss of her parents and her love for her sister guide her actions. Meanwhile younger sister Lexa has a wonderfully creepy ongoing silent interaction with a ragdoll named Vespertine that is definitely more than it appears.

Bonus story reveals now Lexa and Vespertine survived Spill Night.

In terms of the main plot, not a ton is resolved, but this opening volume still felt satisfying while leaving tons of room for exploration as the story continues.

Rating: 8.5/10

Boxers

 Bought at Garden Books, Shanghai, China.

Title: Boxers
Date: 2013
Publisher: First Second Books
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Art: Gene Luen Yang
Colorist: Lark Pien

Tragic and intense story of China's Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Little Bao witnesses the injustices of the foreigners who have been bullying the common folk of China, and he begins the practice of Kung Fu, as the conflicts escalate. Soon, Bao is being led into a crusade against the invaders by the Opera Gods, who inspire Bao and the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fist. As the violence of the conflict escalates, Bao finds himself caught up in a conflict that he no longer has the power to control.

The working of Chinese mythology into the story provided some beautiful visual elements, but the story and the art do not shy away from the horrors of the conflict, and the mythical elements do not overshadow the human drama of the story.

I look forward to reading the companion volume, Saints, which tells the story from the other side of the conflict.

Rating: 9/10

The Prince and the Dressmaker

Bought over Christmas break in the USA and read in one sitting on the flight back to Shanghai. This is my first review of 2019.

Title: The Prince and the Dressmaker
Date: 2018
Publisher: First Second Books
Writer: Jen Wang
Artist: Jen Wang

Set in Paris at "the dawn of the modern age", a young seamstress is recruited to work for the Prince of Belgium, and she is soon let in on the secret that he keeps from his royal parents: Prince Sebastian loves to wear dresses, and he soon recruits Frances into helping him establish an alternate identity as the flamboyant Lady Crystallia.

As the King puts pressure on his son to marry, and Frances' designs begin to gain popularity, the secrets they have been living with start to unravel, threatening their friendship and their futures.

This is a beautiful story with a lovely art style, some clever plot twists and a great ending. The setting and flavor of Paris are brought to vivid life, and the characters are wonderfully expressive.

This was a good choice to start the year with.

Rating: 9.5/10