It's a Bird

Rating:
Summary: Impact with accessibility
Review: I have an affection for comic books but haven't kept up with the various graphic novels. I heard a radio spot on this book and was intrigued. The story has a real emotional kick that I suspect will be relevant for many people. I read it for Father's Day and couldn't help but reflect on the message that this has about the decision to have children as well as the many other thoughts that are expressed about how we choose to live our lives. Variously introspective and contemplative about the world condition, the book grabs our interest with both ideas and art. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Impact with accessibility
Review: I have an affection for comic books but haven't kept up with the various graphic novels. I heard a radio spot on this book and was intrigued. The story has a real emotional kick that I suspect will be relevant for many people. I read it for Father's Day and couldn't help but reflect on the message that this has about the decision to have children as well as the many other thoughts that are expressed about how we choose to live our lives. Variously introspective and contemplative about the world condition, the book grabs our interest with both ideas and art. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Non-Comic Book People
Review: If you haven't tried a graphic novel yet, this one should get you on board with this awesome genre of lit. The story is powerful and very cleverly told, and the art is spectacular. I think it was actually painted with watercolors and oils. I tend toward superhero material and while this has Supes in it I was surprised to find a really sophisticated story with a hero in it that is also intellectually challenging. Maybe this book signals a new direction to relieve some of the exhaustion that old school comics storylines are facing.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely and Moving
Review: This is an elegant and refreshing book that is extremely accessible, especially for non- "comic book people" (of which I am one). If you have not ventured into graphic novel territory before but are comics-curious, this is a superb book for you because it illustrates the depth of writing in comics today as well as the incredible power of illustration as a storytelling device beyond the children's lit section.

Rating:
Summary: Man Vs. Superman
Review: This is the autobiographical story of writer Steven T. Seagle's struggle with an offer to write one of the monthly Superman comics. Why the struggle? Seagle has associated Superman with a disease that runs in his family. He resents Superman's perfection in relation to the slow, nasty death he fears awaits him. Despite being annoyed by the patent irrationality of resenting a fictional character, and the self pity about possibly dying of this disease (few folks' death is actually pleasant, after all), I found myself respecting the book for the skill with which the story was told. It's not easy to get inside a character's head the way this book does. Seagle's words are honest, and the art work is very expressive.

Rating:
Summary: Man Vs. Superman
Review: This is the autobiographical story of writer Steven T. Seagle's struggle with an offer to write one of the monthly Superman comics. Why the struggle? Seagle has associated Superman with a disease that runs in his family. He resents Superman's perfection in relation to the slow, nasty death he fears awaits him. Despite being annoyed by the patent irrationality of resenting a fictional character, and the self pity about possibly dying of this disease (few folks' death is actually pleasant, after all), I found myself respecting the book for the skill with which the story was told. It's not easy to get inside a character's head the way this book does. Seagle's words are honest, and the art work is very expressive.