Tag Archives: north atlantic books

Review: The Diary of a Teenage Girl

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THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL

As a father of teenage girls, I’m often at a loss to being empathetic to them at certain points of their lives. I’m the parent of the opposite sex and can only hope to connect to them in a way which is both meaningful and long-lasting. Their connection with their mother is a guiding light to what they can expect as they grow into womanhood. Despite this fact, my need to comprehend what their lives are, the struggles they deal with, and their hope and dreams, is central to my love for them.

When I was a teenager, I often tried to understand the opposite sex, whether it be how to get their attention or why I could not get the attention of the ones I did like. As I got older, I often found this to be a more difficult quandary to disentangle. Each woman I encountered were different from the other. The mystery remains to this day for me as the women I meet are just as enigmatic and my teenage daughters even more so. In Phoebe Gloeckner’s The Diary Of A Teenage Girl, the author gives readers a chronicle of how it was for one teenager and most assuredly for many young women.

We are taken to 1976 San Francisco, where we meet our protagonist, Minnie Goetze. It was a time when the counterculture went from flower power to the early inklings of punk rock. She’s a young woman whose sexual awakening leaves her confused, amazed, tantalized, and at every turn unsure of herself. She lacks the self-confidence most teenagers exhibit at some point. As her curiosity surrounding the act of sex becomes increasingly restless, her interest in her mother’s boyfriend, Monroe, becomes fevered. She eventually asks him to “ deflower” her, an act that she would repeat several times, and in some strange way, gives her agency over her sexuality, her need to be noticed, and to be loved. As she would ultimately move on from Monroe, but her promiscuity and her abuse of habitual substances spiral into one would see as a call for help as the two sins will lead her to some very harmful situations. Situations that she merely sees as rites of passage and as her mother discovers what her offspring encounters she is more paralyzed by what her daughter would think if she knew that her mother knew what was happening.

Overall, a tender, heartbreaking, and at times, cringe-worthy book that gives readers a raw unfettered look at the struggles of growing up as a teenage girl. The story by Gloeckner is honest, intense, and unflinching. The art by Gloeckner is unique and awe-inspiring. Altogether, a story that will affect each reader differently, but will ultimately have you root for Minnie.

Story: Phoebe Gloeckner Art: Phoebe Gloeckner
Story: 10 Art: 9.7 Overall: 9.7 Recommendation: Buy

Review: The Satsuma Rebellion

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When it comes to beacons of bravery the most used comparison is “knight.” These men usually were considered some the bravest men in the world. Though this comparison, seems one dimensional, it is far from complete, as other parts of the world also featured men and sometimes women who exemplified this momentous attribute. They were not called knights. In Africa, the Dahomey Warriors were an all women army in the kingdom of Dahomey which now sits between he countries of Benin and Togo. In the movie and comic book, Black Panther the Dora Milaje were based on these warriors. In Japan they had Samurai who some may some are even more romanticized than the European concept of “the knight.”

These men of valor, much like knights, belonged to individual lords and barons and served their families for the rest of their days. Though they were in service to these houses they commanded respect wherever they went as they represented their masters and carried themselves with honor. As all things must come to an end so did their presence by forced modernization. In Sean Michael Wilson and Akiko Shimojima’s The Satsuma Rebellion, their final days and ultimate defeat is chronicled in an epic sweeping bow of a story.

During Meiji Era in Japan, the modernization and treaties with foreign powers lead to changing of Japanese culture, one which made Japanese residents do away with most traditions, including the class system which propelled the Samurai as an honorable and well-paid profession. Saigo Takamuri, one of the leaders in Satsuma, a key figure in the government, saw that with modernization, came corruption, thus he resigned , and started an academy which  trained all of these unemployed Samurai, and became the first version of military contractors, and made Satsuma so powerful, it seceded from the rest of Japan. This caused Meiji government concern, and lead to a warship to their artillery school, which heightened tensions and lead to open rebellion, one which lead to 50 students attacking a government arsenal and stockpiling their weapons and Saigo to come out of retirement. This lead to the siege of Kumamato Castle and a battle in Tabaruzaka, ones where Saigo and his men took heavy losses due to the sheer number of troops and weapons held by the Imperial government.In a final skirmish, The Battle of Shiroyama,  lead to the end of rebellion and the death of Saigo, as well as the end of the Samurai.

Overall, an excellent graphic novel which covers widely unknown part of history here in the West and does it masterfully. The story as told by Wilson is epic, smart, and action packed. The art by Shimojima is gorgeous. Altogether, a great graphic novel that gives the reader an excellent retelling of Japanese history in what feels like a powerfully entertaining story than real antiquity.

Story: Sean Michael Wilson Art: Akiko Shimojima
Story: 10 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.4 Recommendation: Buy

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Rasputin07_CoverWednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Brett

Southern Bastards #10 (Image Comics) – One of the, if not the, best comic out there right now. It’s usually a slow burn, but each issue has more character insights than many comics have in a year. This Southern noir is fantastic on every level.

Captain Canuck #3 (Chapter House Publishing) – Some times you want your heroes to lose the gritty aspect, and just be heroes. This series gets back to that courtesy of some talented Canadian creators. Fun action, that’s entertaining and loses the cynicism of today’s superhero comics.

Invisible Republic #5 (Image Comics) – An amazing series that definitely doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It involves a reporter digging into the revolutionaries that took over a planet, and digs up a bit of dirt. An amazing focus on history being used as propaganda.

Princeless: Be Yourself #2 (Action Lab Entertainment) – The new series hasn’t missed a beat and continues the fun fantasy adventure with a bit of girl power mixed in.

Rasputin #7 (Image Comics) – The first arc focusing on the historical figure was interesting. Flash forward 100 years, and not only is he alive, he’s also advising a Presidential candidate. Now you have my undivided attention.

 

Edward

Top Pick: Hacktivist Vol. 2 #1 (BOOM! Studios) –  The second series dealing with the group of hackers follows on the plot from the first series, and tries to answer some unresolved questions.

Batgirl Annual #3 (DC Comics) – Kind of a catch-all for Batgirl, as she faces off against Helena Bertinelli, a former Batgirl (from No Man’s Land) and Dick Grayson (her pre-new 52 romantic interest).  Throw in a visit to Gotham Academy and this sounds pretty fun.

He-Man: Eternity War #8 (DC Comics) – There has been no missteps in this entire series as the creative team has pushed the envelope of what defines the core group of characters.  This is not your childhood’s He-Man.

Jem and the Holograms #5 (IDW Publishing) – This series has been nothing but fun since its launch.  It doesn’t look likely to stop any time soon either.  One can only hope that the suggested food fight from the cover gets realized inside.

Lazarus #18 (Image Comics) – Lazarus goes to Duluth to win the war, as different plot lines begin to intersect.

 

Elana

Top Pick: Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight: Trade Paperback Vol 3: Slay Ride and Blood Lagoon (Dark Horse) – “Books like ‘Grindhouse’ were the reason the Comics Code was invented.” – creator Alex De Campi.

That’s a promise and a warning. De Campi absolutely delivers on grindhouse cinema gratification in comic book form– even better, it comes from a frankly female perspective on the genre. This series is messed up in all the RIGHT ways.

Each trade contains self-contained story arcs so you can pick up volume 3 even if you’ve never read the series before. In Volume 3 my entirely fictional girlfriend, Deputy Garcia is back with her motorcycle and eyepatch. I can’t wait!

Series creator Alex de Campi is our podcast guest next week!

Batgirl Annual #3 (DC Comics) – Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher art by Bengal, David Lafuente, Mingjue Helen Chen, Ming Doyle…. Look at that list of awesome writers and artists! Not only do we get Babs catching up with Dick Grayson but we also see her meet with Batwoman and the Gotham Academy kids! These are all of my favorite things in one place! It is a standalone story you can read even if you aren’t reading the new Batgirl series. But after reading this I’m sure you’ll want to.

Phoebe Gloeckner: Diary of a Teenage Girl (North Atlantic Books) – Considered one of the best graphic novels of last decade it’s probably time that you (and I) finally read it! Plus there’s a movie of it coming out soon and you don’t want to be called a “poser”, right? The book is a combination of prose and illustration reads like autobiography. The press release calls it “a dark story of sex and drugs in the life of a 1970s teenage girl.” You should read Sean T Collins review because I can’t do it justice till I read the book.

1602 Witch Hunter Angela #2 (Marvel) – This is the funniest series in Secret Wars and the prettiest too. Last issue we met Shakespeare, Marlowe and King James (Logan Howlett aka Wolverine) and other Faustians (aka people with superpowers). This issue Angela and Sera will meet “Ye Olde Guardians of the Galaxy.”

 

Mr. H

Top Pick: Thors #2 (Marvel Comics) – The case is heating up as the murder mystery of the Gods continues. Blood, Hammers, and Justice shalt be served!

Daredevil #17 (Marvel Comics) – The last days of The Man Without Fear? Could be. This creative team has been white hot so I know Matt is in good hands, but I want to see the payoff.

Red Sonja Vol.2 #17 (Dynamite Entertainment) – Red hot chick swinging a sword, as usual all over this one. The 1973 one shot gave me a rejuvenation for this title. Hope the momentum doesn’t wane.

Superman #42 (DC Comics) – I am actually enjoying the prelude to the “Truth” storyline a lot more than the actual crossover. I’m interested to see just what it was that made Lois out Clark’s ID to the world? This intrepid reporter needs some answers. By Rao, I need them now!

TMNT Ongoing #48 (IDW Publishing) – The Stockman Swarm, The Shredder and Karai all move in for the kill. How could this not be good?

 

Paul

Top Pick: Thors #2 (Marvel) – the first issue of this story was fantastic; a crime story following the ‘police’ of Battleworld, the Thors.  Law and Order meets Asgardian officers, working on the orders of Lord Doom to keep the peace, and the foundation of Battleworld, in one piece.  Excited for what happens next.

Top Pick: X-Men ’92 #2 (Marvel) – the first issue totally brought me back to Saturday mornings, watching Marvel’s merry mutants as most of us remember them, complete with colourful costumes and Wolverine and Cyclops sniping at each other.  I am looking forward to see more from Cassandra Nova and what her rehabilitation facility for mutants is really all about.

1602 Witch Hunter Angela #2 (Marvel) – This was a very interesting first issue, following Angela hunting ‘witchbreed’, which turns out to be mutants.  The second issue puts Angela on the path to see dire omens not come to pass, and also introduces use to “Ye olde Guardians of the Galaxy”.  Looking forward to this.

S.H.I.E.L.D. #8 (Marvel) – I am a huge fan of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. tv show, and just as big a fan of the comic book treatment of the show.  It’s fun to see the tv agents paired up with various heroes from the Marvel universe an work together to solve the problem of the issue.  This issue has Agent May and Mockingbird setting out to kick some ass….sign me up!

 

Steven Attewell

Batgirl #42 (DC Comics) – despite not being remotely in the target demographic for this book, I’ve been enjoying the hell out of this series’ exploration of fame and identity.

Conan the Avenger #16 (Dark Horse) – Dark Horse’s Conan run has been one of the most consistently enjoyable comics for me in recent years (with the exception of that odd bit where Belit went to Cimmeria), so if given an option I’ll always pick one up.

Copperhead #9 (Image Comics) – Read the first trade of this unusual space-western/single-mom comic and really enjoyed the strange little world that Jay Faerber and Scott Godlewski have thrown together, so I’ll keep following this story.

Rasputin #7 (Image Comics) – A really strange little gem, this series posits a revisionist history of the infamous Russian mystic in which Grigori Rasputin’s powers not only are quite real and extend to genuine resurrection and clairvoyancy, but he’s also secretly a prince in communion with the forces of Russian folklore.

Southern Bastards #10 (Image Comics) – having really enjoyed Scalped, I eagerly anticipated Jason Aaron’s new series. Took me a while to get into the first trade – something about the way Jason Latour draws mouths threw me off until I got used to it – but the second trade’s revelation of Coach Boss’ backstory was mesmerizing and made this a must-read for me.