Attack on Titan Volume 4

Bought at Double Midnight Comics in Manchester NH USA.

Title: Attack on Titan
Issue: Volume 4
Date: 2013
Publisher: Kodansha
Creator: Hajime Isayama
Letterer: Steve Wands

Volume 4 of this series resolves the cliffhanger from the third volume as humanity gains its first, very costly, victory over the Titans. From there, the story flashes back to Eren in training.

A lot of new characters are introduced here, and there is the potential for lots of really fun interactions as the story moves forward. There were also some good insights into the training process and the dynamic between the recruits. Most of the best recruits want military police duty, which means the fighters most capable of bringing down titans are the least likely to face them.

Armin is a major part of the opening scene, but he and Mikasa fade into the background a bit as the new characters get the spotlight. There were places where it was a little bit hard to keep straight who everyone was, but the new characters had enough interesting details and quirks that this should become easier as the story progresses.

Rating: 6.5/10

Spy Family Volume 3

Read at the Merrimack NH Public Library.

Title: Spy Family
Issue: Volume 3
Publisher: Viz Media
Date: January, 2020
Writer: Tatsuya Endo
Artist: Tatsuya Endo

This starts with the surprise visit from Yor's brother Yuri, who is, well, something of a mess, especially considering he is a highly competent member of the Secret Police. Yuri's plan to expose Loid by getting him drunk goes south quickly, and the scene just gets increasingly awkward when Yuri insists that Loid and Yor kiss.

In school, Anya plays dodgeball with the rumor that a coveted honors star is on the line. She later tries her hand at some community service.

Bonus story has Yor and Loid on a date night while Yor is trying to conceal a somewhat embarrassing injury.

The pacing in a few places in this volume felt weird, with scenes being dragged out, possibly in the case of the opening scene just to intentionally prolong the awkwardness. The result was that it didn't feel like all that much happened, although there was some good setup for future plot developments.

Rating: 6/10

Spy Family Volume 2

Read at the Merrimack NH Public Library.

Title: Spy Family
Issue: Volume 2
Publisher: Viz Media
Date: October, 2019
Writer: Tatsuya Endo
Artist: Tatsuya Endo

After some initial hurdles, Anya has secured a place at the high-prestige Eden Academy, but now there is additional pressure. In order to make a connection with Twilight's target, Anya needs to either befriend the target's son, or earn a place in the school's honors program. When she punches the bratty son in the face on orientation day, it begins to look like neither of those prospects are very likely.

A further complication is introduced when Yor's brother enters the story. And just like Twilight, Anya, and Yor, the brother has his own secret that further jeopardizes Twilight's mission.

The second volume did a nice job of expanding the story, adding new characters and new complications, and giving some additional character development, especially for Anya and Yor.

This continues to be goofy absurd fun.

Rating: 7/10

Spy Family Volume 1

I Read this at the Merrimack NH public library.

Title: Spy Family
Issue: Volume 1
Publisher: Viz Media
Date: July, 2019
Writer: Tatsuya Endo
Artist: Tatsuya Endo

In a fictional-Eastern-European setting, two rival nations are locked in a cold war. Master spy Twilight has a new mission, and in order to get close to his target he needs to have a wife and a child. And he's given a week to come up with those on his own.

The woman he marries turns out to be an assassin. The child he adopts is a telepath.

The whole premise is utterly absurd, but in the most delightful of ways. The story builds a subtle emotional connection between the three main characters, keeps its internal logic reasonably well, and does a nice job of making fun of the espionage genre and high society in general.

The plot develops a bit slowly once the three main characters are together, and their primary objective is not quite fully resolved by the end of this volume, but it's a very enjoyable ride getting there. The artwork is equally effective in action scenes and in the more tender moments.

Rating: 7.5/10

Keep the Home Fries Burning: A For Better or For Worse Collection

From the bookshelf at my mother-in-law's house.

Title: Keep the Home Fries Burning: A For Better or For Worse Collection
Date: June, 1989
Publisher: Andrews McMeel
Writer: Lynn Johnston
Artist: Lynn Johnston

This collection covers about a year in the lives of the Patterson family, as Elly's best friend Connie moves to another city while in the midst of relationship drama. The move also results in Michael getting separated from his best friend. Over the course of the year, there are new friends and neighbors, a Halloween dance, a new baby among the Pattersons' friends circle, and the possible beginning of a writing career for Elly.

I love the pacing of For Better or For Worse. The stories always feel very real and very grounded, and the author does a great job with putting low-key but effective punchlines in to end each newspaper strip installment while still building multiple long-term storylines.

There were some really genuinely funny gags sprinkled among a lot of excellent storytelling and good character work. The art style is delightful, with enough realism to make the character come to life while still keeping things simple.

Rating: 8.5/10