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Rating: 
Summary: Neither Love Nor Rockets
Review: As a huge fan of Jaime Hernandez's work, I never really 'got' that of his brother Gilbert, and generally ignored his sections in the comics. The artwork seemed sloppy and unattractive, the stories seemed a touch sophomoric - relentlessly and earnestly beating us over the head with obvious truths in P.C.-themed narratives. Perhaps all that could be forgiven if there was some warmth or humor at the core of Gilbert's world, but there seems instead to be an atmosphere of nastiness. He loves to use (and show) brutality to make a point, and the characters don't have any empathy with each other. In summary, avoid and concentrate instead on the awesome stuff from Jaime.
Rating: 
Summary: Probably the best Love and Rockets collection
Review: Gilbert Hernandez began to significantly surpass the work his brother Jaime in Blood of Palomar, and his star continues to rise as the series continues. The quality of the art and story here is absolutely amazing. New readers, don't start on this book, because up to this point there are many mysteries built up about Luba's past, and they are revealed here. I was at first disapointed when I bought this book that it was about Luba's past and not a continuation of the very exciting Maricella storyline that left off in Love and Rockets X, but I was quickly captivated by the depth of Luba's mysteries. The continuity in the entire Palomar series is truly amazing. The dresses you see Luba wearing in a flashback in book 3 are worn in Poison River. Truly, Gilbert must have planned the entire thing out to the tiniest detail before he put a pen to paper. The story of Luba's past is flawlessly consistant with the rest of the work. It also provides unsurpassed characterization of the present Luba. When I look at a picture of Luba now, I know her whole life, all her secrets, all her mistakes, and she feels like my child. I want to hold her in my arms and help her shoulder her burden.
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best Love and Rockets collection
Review: Gilbert Hernandez began to significantly surpass the work his brother Jaime in Blood of Palomar, and his star continues to rise as the series continues. The quality of the art and story here is absolutely amazing. New readers, don't start on this book, because up to this point there are many mysteries built up about Luba's past, and they are revealed here. I was at first disapointed when I bought this book that it was about Luba's past and not a continuation of the very exciting Maricella storyline that left off in Love and Rockets X, but I was quickly captivated by the depth of Luba's mysteries. The continuity in the entire Palomar series is truly amazing. The dresses you see Luba wearing in a flashback in book 3 are worn in Poison River. Truly, Gilbert must have planned the entire thing out to the tiniest detail before he put a pen to paper. The story of Luba's past is flawlessly consistant with the rest of the work. It also provides unsurpassed characterization of the present Luba. When I look at a picture of Luba now, I know her whole life, all her secrets, all her mistakes, and she feels like my child. I want to hold her in my arms and help her shoulder her burden.
Rating:
Summary: please...
Review: I am really tired of the Gilbert vs. Jaimie debate. When i was younger I prefereed Jaimie because I was a punk and his art looked cooler. But that was it. Jaimie is certainly one of the most incredible artists ever to work in comics, and his stories have been wonderful as well. However, I can't believe people would say Gilbert is a poor artist! He has a distinctly different style that is distinctly different. It is expressive and emotive and powerful and is used with great skill in Poison River. Drawing on folk art and underground artists from Robert Crumb to Jim Woodring, his work is fresh and exciting. Gilbert has spent way too much time in his brothers shadow, and deserves credit for the quality of his art. His skill at storytelling has been critically acclaimed enough that I needen't belabour the point, Poison River is an epic and fascinating tale of sex, politics, violence, family and love.
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