Quick aside before we get to the meat of the book itself: being one of the few Malaysian American book critics in the industry sometimes makes it extra hilarious when I read claims like Arvind Ethan David’s in his opening dedication, where he says that elc International School is Malaysia’s “preeminent private school”. Insert me …
Category: Graphic Novels
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/06/12/raymond-chandlers-trouble-is-my-business-by-arvind-ethan-david-ilias-kyriazis-cris-peter/
Jun 09 2025
Redcoat, Volume 1: Einstein & The Immortal by Geoff Johns & Bryan Hitch
With a tagline like “Immortal. Mercenary. Kind of a tool” this is the kind of book that is usually pure catnip to me. Tho I have to admit that by the fourth or fifth issue opener of “My name is Simon. Simon Pure. Though I’m anything BUT”, I was ready to cheerfully strangle someone, character, …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/06/09/redcoat-volume-1-einstein-the-immortal-by-geoff-johns-bryan-hitch/
Jun 05 2025
Fishflies by Jeff Lemire
w a terrific guest chapter by Shawn Kuruneru that really exemplifies the benefit of having someone else come in and contribute their entirely different style to your already well-told story. Three boys are walking to the convenience store one night during fishfly season, when the titular insects rise in swarms off of the nearby lakes …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/06/05/fishflies-by-jeff-lemire/
May 28 2025
Convert by John Arcudi & Savannah Finley
I can’t be the only person who picked up this title thinking that there’d be a religious subtext here. And perhaps there is, but the creators chose a much more interesting way to use the title word in this graphic novel, that collects the first (?) four books of the series. Science Officer Orrin Kutela …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/28/convert-by-john-arcudi-savannah-finley/
May 22 2025
Evil Eyes Sea by Ozge Samanci
What a terrific murder mystery graphic novel! I read a lot of both, and know how difficult it can be to perfectly encapsulate a crime novel — and one that involves not only a murder but political intrigue, as well — into graphic format. Ozge Samanci has managed that in this compelling tale, that’s rightfully …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/22/evil-eyes-sea-by-ozge-samanci/
May 20 2025
Grown-up Graphic Novels to Seek Out!
Even for the decidedly bookish, it can be tough to stay current with new grown-up graphic narratives from small publishers! Here are four gems out this season that are worth having on your radar. Checked Out by Katie Fricas is out today, May 20th; Second Shift by Kit Anderson, and George Takai’s next graphic memoir …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/20/grown-up-graphic-novels-to-seek-out/
May 12 2025
Good Luck To Us All by Karen Vermeulen
subtitled A Graphic Memoir of Sorts. First, big thanks to Doug and Emily for holding down the fort while I went on what I thought was going to be a working holiday… that turned into a mostly devices-free holiday. It was thus a delight to come back to work, and read and laugh and cry …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/12/good-luck-to-us-all-by-karen-vermeulen/
May 01 2025
Bring Me The Head Of Susan Lomond by Connor B
subtitled A High School Story. Ever since Susan Lomond beat Monroe Poole to the top of the Highwater High School Proficiency Listings, Monroe has been obsessed with taking her new rival down. It’s bad enough that Susan is the school’s star quarterback, someone so popular with her classmates that she’s just been elected prom queen …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/01/bring-me-the-head-of-susan-lomond-by-connor-b/
Apr 28 2025
Three Thieves, Vol. 1: Tower of Treasure by Scott Chantler
What a terrific way to kick off a Middle Grade fantasy adventure comic series! Dessa Redd is a circus acrobat whose two closest friends are likely her co-workers: the juggler (and thief) Topper and the one-headed giant and strongman Fisk. Their circus isn’t super successful, barely scraping by with enough for all the hands to …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/04/28/three-thieves-vol-1-tower-of-treasure-by-scott-chantler/
Apr 22 2025
The Power Fantasy Volume 1: The Superpowers by Kieron Gillen & Caspar Wijngaard
with Clayton Cowles and Rian Hughes on letters and design. Am I getting jaded? I love mythologies and the ways that comic books spin up brand new gods and pantheons and legends and dramas, but reading this book — that feels very much like a cross between Kieron Gillen’s prior The Wicked + The Divine …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/04/22/the-power-fantasy-volume-1-the-superpowers-by-kieron-gillen-caspar-wijngaard/