Tag Archives: tao te ching

Pharoah Miles’ Favorite Comics of 2018

Vietnamese Memories

Vietnamese Memories – This series by Clement Baloup is not only timely but tells stories that rarely get the time of day, even in comics

Tao Te Ching – The creative team behind this book does more than an adaptation of this important tome, they make it understandable to every reader

The Prince and The Dressmaker – In probably one of the most heartfelt stories I have read this year, Jen Wang, proves to be a master storyteller in story and art, in a story that proves that people are more than meets the eye

X-Men: Grand Design - Second Genesis

X-Men: Grand Design – Ed Piskor has proven himself to be one today’s premiere creators with his Hip Hop Family Tree series, and he shows his love for the X-Men in this series that packs so much in in one panel, it puts most creators to shame.

Old Man Hawkeye – Although this series is meant to be a precursor to Old Man Logan, I found this story to be even more compelling than the story that follows this, as we meet many old faces, as well as new ones, giving fans a dystopian world very much like Walking Dead, but with superheroes.

How To Read Nancy – Paul Karasik and Mark Newgarden give comic book fans a treasure trove of information in what really is a textbook but also a graphic novel, as this book both entertains and educates fans on the history of this comic strip and how one should deconstruct a comic strip in the first place.

Abbott

Abbott – In what is part thriller/ supernatural romance, we get a tale of an investigative reporter in Detroit searching for the truth about some ghastly unsolved murders that the police have ignored, one of them being the death of her husband.

Sleepless – As a fan of historical medieval stories, like The Tudors and The Borgias (both series) this series begins with heartbreak as the protagonist, Lady Pyppenia, is the sole heir to the throne, one currently occupied by her uncle, who sees her as a threat, as the series antes up on “ palace intrigue” as she navigates the scary waters of being a royal, as well as romance, as she starts to fall for her guard, the Sleepless Knight, Cyrenic.

Shards Volume 2 – As one of the best upcoming comic studios in the past few years, we get another collection from this talented collective, with their wide array of stories and characters that leave readers engrossed in these worlds, leaving nothing to chance.

Power& Magic: Immortal Souls – In an excellent collection from this small press company out of Oregon, we get a second volume of stories about witches who just so happen to be LGBTQ or POC or both, in what is a pure joy to read from such interesting voices

Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation

Destiny, New York Volume 2 – In the continuation of this excellent series, we drop back into the world of Logan and Lilith, and the mysterious magical underworld that lies in plain view, as they face controversy , secrets and ultimately, loss.

Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation – In this fantastic adaptation, we finally get to see Anne in all her complexities, as the heartbreak will get the reader even if you know what will happen

Advance Review: Tao Te Ching

Within some of the greatest religious texts that have ever been produced throughout the world, one fundamental underlying theme usually inhabits them all, truth. I remember the first time I read the Quran, and I came across the verse:

“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between your affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought.”

This was one lesson I never heeded or understood until I was a full-grown adult. In my younger years, I never looked for a partner but girlfriend. It wasn’t until I got married and found what being in a marriage was supposed to be. I saw it eventually in other marriages including my parents, the balance suggested this Quranic verse. Needless to say, just about every religious text contains “pearls of wisdom” that we can use to guide our everyday lives. In the latest and most easily understood version of the Tao Te Ching, the average reader gets a vast, thorough, and accessible version of this great Buddhist text.

The book quickly dives into humans need to categorize and separate one thing from the other, giving readers both a simplistic and contemporary comparison. This goes for every concept contained within the text, as the reader is never talked down to, but does what every great graphic novel, it makes the concepts visceral. One of the best explanations is contained in “Heaven is forever; earth is ages old,” which dives into the materialism that plagues most of society, and how the enrichment of the soul is more important. In the verse “The soft and weak will be victorious over the hard and strong,” they go over how often strength is confused with durability when being soft is confused with unreliability. Another interesting verse is “The softest in the world dominate the hardest just as you would whip forward a horse,” which reinforces the saying “the meek shall inherit the earth.” In the verse “The Way is the storehouse and kitchen of the Ten Thousand Things,” it speaks to the fact that no one gets anywhere alone in life but is helped by many on their journey. In the last verse that I will highlight is “The Way of heaven does not engage in nepotism,” it talks about how society eventually goes the way of the man that is good, even though those who usually get away with things, only seem victorious in the long run.

Overall, the graphic novel is an extensive explanation of this important religious text which both forms the basis of Buddhism but also has contributed to worldwide philosophy. The presentation by Sean Michael Wilson is engaging, well researched, and very relatable. The translation by William Scott Wilson is thorough. The art by Scott Kwok is alluring and vivid. Altogether, the creative team has made this essential text even more compelling not only for those interested in theology but also philosophy.

Story: Sean Michael Wilson Translation: William Scott Wilson Art: Scott Kwok
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Graphic Policy was provided with a FREE copy for review