Graphic Novel Books

This was an awesome book. I normally don't read many comics, but I enjoyed this one. Kudos to Alan Moore!
(And, it's going to be a movie soon, I can't wait to see it!)

The layers of storytelling make this book worth reading more than once. I really enjoyed this book in a way that I haven't enjoyed any others in a long time.

I was excited about reading this novel because I'd heard such wonderful things about it. However, my enthusiasm waned as I began to feel it was needlessly graphic and gory without having a "point." I complained to a friend, who recommended I finish it despite my objections.

I'm so glad I did! Every bit of what I had complained about had a point in the overarching storyline, and it all came into focus by the end. I'm very pleased with the novel, and I would recommend it to anyone who can stand a little graphic gore in the name of a good story.

I started Watchmen having no idea what it was about and I think that is probably the best way to read it: no preconceived notions on what you think it should be. Just sit back and read it and go along for a spectacular ride with extremely in depth character analysis. I'd recomend Watchmen to anyone and everyone.

I, like many others, had no intention of seeking out or reading this book up until about 3 months ago. When the movie was announced and the trailer hit I was stoked. Picked up a copy of the Graphic Novel and drove right in.

This is really pretty heavy stuff; layered story telling, profound philosophical musings from some offbeat yet familiar heroes. The story offers a little something for everyone, intrigue and mystery on the surface, eye opening concepts about existence, strong character drama, gore, and a good old fashion comic story.

There is a multitude of different approaches one can take when reading this story and that in itself sets it apart from nearly every other story I have read recently. Whether the film adaptation can live up to the promise of the novel is a mystery, but if it does....move over Dark Knight because this could be the single greatest comic story ever written.

As a side note, I don't know whether I got a special edition or not, but my copy had small supplemental chapters in between each chapter. These extra pages really enlighten key points of the story as you move along and are a great companion piece.

This is absolutely recommended.

With only the acclaimed Watchmen as a peer, this is a must-read for any Batman fan. Miller's artwork takes some getting used to, but he can sure tell a story well. The only drawback is that some knowledge of the Batman universe is required going into the comic, so first-time comic book readers would be better served picking up Watchmen. That's not to say TDKR is a bad comic - far from it, it's one of the best ever. But not for first-timers.

Let me begin by saying that I'm not a dedicated reader of comics. After seeing Sin City and 300 I gained an interest in Frank Miller so I decided to check out some of his work. I just read 300 and really enjoyed it, but I was not a fan of the Batman: TDK Returns.

My biggest complaint was a cause of constant annoyance while reading the series; the style. It is often difficult to follow the story because it skips around so much and because the animation is often incomprehensible. Some of the slang used throughout the story also makes it unnecessarily difficult to follow. There were several times where it was difficult for me to distinguish what was happening in the story. The story itself is decent enough, but nothing special. I enjoyed a bit of the political commentary, but it was a bit over the top.



I also didn't really like the fact that the reason given for Batman retiring a decade ago was because of Robin dying, but then accepts a 13-year old girl to be his new Robin with barely no explanation. This may just be ignorance on my part since she may be a character from earlier in the series or something (never read any other Batman comics), but I'm assuming since he retired 10 years ago and she is only like 13 that this is not the case. At several times throughout the story Batman also uses guns and rockets, but then preaches to the Sons of Batman group that he leads at the end that they shouldn't use guns.



Batman is a complete hypocrite throughout the story, but it does not seem to be intended. To me, this signifies poor writing. Some of the dialogue is all right, and I did enjoy some of the Frank Miller style narration, but other than that there isn't much I enjoyed about it.

Blood and Rain
Blood for the Masses

Originally published by SavageNight Ezine

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
By Frank Miller

Intro- Alan Moore

Reviewed by
B.L.Morgan

4 Stars

According to the introduction by Alan Moore at the time when Frank Miller reintroduced Batman in its softcover form, the general audience still perceived him like Adam West had portrayed Batman in his TV series; That of an almost comical, certainly a camp representation of a comic book hero.

It was time for a change.

Frank Miller created a huge change in character and tone for the Caped Crusader, one closer to the movie versions that came later but darker than had ever been seen before The Dark Knight Returns.

Batman comes out of a ten year retirement as a middle-aged man. He tires quicker that he'd like in fights, gets sore and gets beat up. But through grit and determination and ingenuity he makes it through. Frank Miller's Batman is also slightly psychotic. The criminals have changed in his absence. They are meaner and more bloodthirsty. Batman goes after them with a vengeance.

Sometimes he's more bloodthirsty than they are.

A lot of social commentary takes place during the four stories that make up The Dark Knight Returns. The copyright on this book was 1986. It surprised me how little the attitudes expressed in this Batman book have changed.

The police are frequently handcuffed by the very laws they are supposed to uphold and are prevented from being effective crime fighters. All too often the victims of crime are treated worse that the criminals by the media and court systems.

My, how times flies. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The artwork in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns was for the most part just average. Moody, but average. Where Miller really shined was in his storytelling ability. This was a story on an epic scale that had a personal feel to it. Batman became a living breathing person during The Return Of The Dark Knight.

Batman: The Return Of The Dark Knight comes highly recommended. Check it out. You won't be sorry.

I got the four part series several years ago before I sold off all my comics in the late 80's. I recently decided to renew my aquaintance with the series upon seeing Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight".

It is sometime in a dystopian future. Batman has disappeared. Batgirl is in a wheelchair somewhere. Robin is dead. Superman defends a corrupt government.

In book I 50 something Bruce Wayne is disturbed by what he sees happening in Gotham City and decides to resurrect The Batman to combat Punk street gangs who have taked over the streets. In the course of fighting he is rescued by Geek Girl Carey Kelley Who becomes the new Robin. In the end he is victorius and finds many imitators among former gang members.

In Book II Harvey Dent is released from Arkham Asylym. Supposably he is cured and has had plastic surgery to restore his face. In the end of what is a great psychological tour de force he reverts to being two face.

In book III The Joker is cured and released from Arkham and his appearance on a certain late night talk show might presage what Leno has in mind for its host. We see retired Selina Kyle put in danger in this one and Batman and the Joker have their final confrontation.

In book IV Batman and Green Arrow team to fight Superman and a corrupt US Government(since this was the late 80's it is Reagan but we're used to comics only showing GOP administrations as corrupt). In the end he loses or does he????

This is a fine set of stories and I agree with someone who said earlier it is like Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven". I could sorta see Clint play the part if it was made into a movie.

I'd reccomend it for batman and Frank Miller fans.

Frank Miller returned Batman to his gritty glory with this piece. For so long in the 60's and 70's the Batman had become tame and cartoony. However Batman returned to his dark roots, and Gotham became the concrete jungle it should've been once more. This story also re-defines the relationship between Batman and Superman. The World's Finest Superheroes would never really get along in real life, and this story brought that out in wonderful fashion.

This is definately a graphic novel worth purchasing. The art is wonderfully done, and the story leaps off of the page. Joker origins have been done before, but never as beautifully as this one. If you consider yourself a Batman fan, then this is a product that you'll want to have in your collection forever!

The Joker is by far my favorite villan. I love this take on him and love the artwork.

One of the best graphic novels of all time. I Had to purchase it again after giving it away as a gift. The artwork is superb, as is the story. I recommend the hardcover edition for the collectors.

This is a simple, to-the-point review of what happens in this comic book. Tagged for SPOILERS because it is the story in a nutshell, hence the title of this review.

Batman goes to visit Joker in Arkham Asylum but it isn't really Joker so Batman is MAD and ANGRY and Joker buys a circus and has some flashbacks and shoots Barbara and steals an old man and has creepy circus midgets be mean to him and then Batman comes and he and Joker fight so Joker makes sad puppy eyes but they fight some more and then Batman wants to make everything better so Joker tells a joke and it's funny and they laugh THE END.

I don't normally write such long, gramatically incorrect sentances like this, but I honestly couldn't think of a better way to express my glee. This is a beautiful comic to read over and over, and not just for the artwork. The writing is well thought-out, and while it does have some classic comic book clichés, they don't jump off the page and stab you in the face - and they aren't overused. I'd definitely recommend it to Batman and Joker fans alike.

Now that everyone has seen the Dark Knight, Twice. For those interested in comics I would recommend checking the graphic novel out. It is a look inside the mind of the joker. Crazy, demented and twisted mind. This is not a comic for kids. It is more adult oriented and shows how a real joker would react in a world like Gotham. It is a good launching pad for understanding or at least getting an idea for what Heath Ledger portrayed in his performance in The Dark Knight. All in all if you're a huge comic fan you probably already have this, if you're just getting into or want something related to a comic movie this is a good start.

This comic was pretty good. It focuses on Batmans methods as he first becomes a crime fighter also introduces catwoman(this time she is black and she is a dominatrix hooker hmmmm) The art is maybe and acquired taste. A good read especially if you are truly a comic book fan

Frank Miller put together the best re-telling of the beginnings of Batman. From the death of Bruce Wayne's parents, all the way through his first tenuous year as a crime fighter. You can see where a lot of Batman Begins was inspired by this piece of work. It's the first graphic novel I was ever given, and would make a valuable addition to your collection.

Many "Classic" Batman stories don't live up to the hype and Frank Miller's work is not always 100%, but this tale definitely is.

I don't see it as a re-telling of the Batman origin as it is often touted to be, since the story mostly focuses on Jim Gordon and his introduction into the world of the GCPD. Batman is only seen in brief glimpses.

Miller's often extreme tendencies are toned down a bit in this book, although it still has plenty fo rough edges and he does a good job of non-chalantly mixing in recognizable characters with new plot points.

Definitely worth a read, it's just too bad it seems so short. Although the sign of a good book is when it leaves you wanting more, so I guess that means they did their job!

This provides an interesting take on the origins of Batman, but it is equally (if not more) about Lieutenant Gordon's beginnings in Gotham City, which I didn't expect, but also didn't mind. I did enjoy the art and style, and much of the color was particularly impressive to me.

You do get to see a bit of an amateur and clumsy Batman, but I was far more intrigued by Gordon; his various conflicts seemed to hold a stronger influence throughout. If you're looking for a more comprehensive and in-depth portrayal of the origins of Batman himself then I would recommend Batman Begins, which seemed to be strongly influences by this series.

Overall, it was quite good but not great. If you're a fan of Batman or Miller then it's well worth the price.

I was excited to read this graphic novel since it is considered to be one of the top Batman stories to be printed. However, when I finally got to read it, the story felt rushed, and the whole thing seemed to be from Sparknotes rather than the actual text. With a day being one panel on a page, I began to find myself wishing I could see more of what happened. Especially towards the end, everything seemed to fall into place too easily. The friendship between Batman and Gordon seemed to pull a 180 between the two last pages.

Even though the story had it's problems, I enjoyed that we got to see both Batman and Gordon start their careers, and both of their hardships and emotional strain that each of them go through. We finally get to see the Gotham Police truly corrupt, rather than simply being told. This is the only part of the story Miller shows us what is needed to make a great story.

Check it out or borrow it from a friend, it may grow on you. It was a quick read, had good writing, nice artwork, decent, but known story, and never really quite fit all into a nice little package for me.

Batman: Arkham Asylum, written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dave McKean, was originally published in 1989. The fifteenth anniversary edition also contains Morrison's original script and storyboards. The inmates of Arkham Asylum have taken over the institution, and will only release their hostages if Batman comes inside. Batman deals with his own sanity as he confronts the usual crowd of villains.

Dave McKean's art is dark and atmospheric, and it fits the book perfectly. However, it's often so dark that it's difficult to tell what's going on, and a look at Morrison's script shows that the art doesn't incorporate half the imagery Morrison was going for (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).

Morrison goes for image overload here. Christian, pagan and mystic imagery are through the roof. Morrison throws all of it into the pot with the pretentious treatments of Freud, Jung and psychology in general, and what we get just isn't very good. There are other problems. Batman seems poorly characterized here, particularly at the beginning. He's chatty, out of control of his emotions, and publicly vulnerable.

The jacket to Arkham Asylum trumpets that it is "the most successful graphic novel of all time". I can't imagine why. Ultimately, Arkham Asylum just isn't compelling.

Wow what can I say about this graphic novel... I honestly didn't like this book, but just because I didn't like this book doesn't mean I can give it a 1 star. It was a book, it had color and technically it was completed. After reading this book I felt like the author's just wanted to shock me. It didn't feel like a true batman story, and the ending was a joke. I don't want to give anything away, but the way they made Harvey look in this book was horrible. Took his coin away and moved him Tarot cards, give me a break.

On the extra content, it's nice to have, but it's completely unneccesary. Infact after reading through it I was certian that the author was just trying for the shock and aww effect.

This is a pretty good Batman story, but has a few problems. First I'll start with the good. Personally I really liked the art work here. It's not the traditional comic book art work (which might bother some), but I think it fits the story they're trying to tell here. I like the theme and ideas of the book. It's easy to imagine with all the criminal master minds in Arkham that they would be able to take over the place (they seem to escape from there easy enough). Also, drawing comparisons between Batman and the crazies he's always battling against. Finally, I like this type of characterization of the Joker where her is a crazy kind of scary.

Now, for the not so good. Frankly I thought it was kind of short. I like my graphic novels to be lengthy and take some time to read. I blew right through this one. The other thing that I found kind of lacking was not a whole lot actually happened. I mean the themes were good, and I like what they did with them but I think they could have expanded on it a bit more.

One last note I rather enjoyed that in the 15th Anniversary edition after the story itself they have the script from the story along with notes from Grant Morrison which I found pretty interesting. Though I my opinion that kind of thing is just a nice bonus rather than a reason to buy a graphic novel.

For any beginning comic reader, and even more so for anyone else, "Arkham Asylum" is essential. Claimed by DC to be the best-selling graphic novel of all time, "Arkham Asylum" is deep, psychological, terrifying, and as dark as any comic I've ever read. Grant Morrison writes with an explorative and bleak psychology reminescent of Alan Moore -- but Moore's own darkly contemplative and psychological Batman work, 1988's "Batman: The Killing Joke," was never this ghastly. Thanks to Dave McKean's beautiful and utterly horrific artwork, which is really the embodiment of the word "nightmarish," "Arkham Asylum" is like venturing into the depths of madness itself. The book personifies "Arkham Asylum," comparing it to a living creature. When Arkham is taken over by its inmates, Batman must enter the mouth of the beast. What are the chances it won't swallow him whole?

That's the central point of the comic: how is Batman any different from these freaks he's captured? Just as the Joker dresses himself up like a clown and terrorizes those he thinks should laugh a little more, Batman dresses up like a bat and terrorizes those he sees as evildoers. It seems like he should be locked up in Arkham too. Batman is forced to confront this fact as he crawls deeper and deeper into the black heart of the asylum, in the process revealing a vulnerable humanity that we don't often see in Batman comics.

It feels like we've seen little of this before -- and what little we have seen has never looked like this. McKean's artwork is just stupendous. It is absolutely the reason for the ghastliness of the book. With another artist, Morrison's script could have produced an excellent book that would probably wind up frightening, but McKean's art makes that excellent book truly horrifying. The sudden introduction of the Joker almost made me shout. This is not the wisecracking and sadistic clown of other comics. This man is a monster, a "special case" even by Arkham's standards, and he looks every bit as shocking and chilling as he should. As do the rest of the Rogues Gallery. They're all here, and they're all every bit as freaky as they were meant to be.

But if McKean's artwork steals the book, it's built upon Morrison's script -- a sturdy foundation indeed. Morrison's writing is laden with symbolism which is quite likely to slip past the reader on the first few reads. That makes "Arkham Asylum" one of the most interesting comics to re-visit, because one notices something new with each read. Additionally, Morrison's script poses a number of fascinating questions, chiefly about Batman himself. Does Batman truly save the world from these monsters, or has Bruce Wayne created the worst monster himself? Does Batman's existence create these freaks? They're fascinating questions, and as with most fascinating questions, the answers are not easy, may not even exist, and if one does happen across them, they will shock you to the core.

There's far more to "Arkham Asylum" than pure shock value, though. Ripe with symbolism, full of challenging and deep questions for which there may be no answers, expertly crafted, this is an essential comic for any reader new or old. Add in some of the finest artwork in the history of the medium and you have a masterwork, one that will chill you long after you've set it down and whipped out some of the old Golden Age comics in the vain hope that they'll rid you of the ghastly images in your head. They won't. There's no escaping the Asylum.

The only way I'm willing to pay this much for a graphic novel is to know that it is good and long and will take me a few weeks to go through it a few pages at a time.

Arkham Asylum is far too short with most of the novel being taken up by extra materials, sketches, essays, and other worthless crap. The story is also not all that interesting. Like many others I am sure I hold every batman story up against Frank Miller's work, and that isn't always a fair comparison. With this, however, I got a short graphic novel with a story that was ho-hum at best.

I do not recommend it.

With Marjane Satrapi's animated film playing in theatres and available on disc, I almost jumped at the chance to read her book, the part-comic/part-memoir of Satrapi's childhood in Tehran, Iran.

To avoid confusion with more current events, `Marji' (as she was called as a child) recalls her upbringing in a Marxist family, the fall of the last Shah regime, the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and Iran's war against Iraq in the 80's. While Satrapi's words are powerful enough to get in your head and stay there, her simple black-and-white drawing style captures the laughter, the tears, and the raw emotion felt throughout the story. Though only an individual account, the story itself is quite vivid in describing how Iran had left a world of tyranny and chaos--only to wind up in another. Though controversial in its own right, "Persepolis" is still a riveting book for those seeking intelligent reading.

This comic is unrated: Violence, Adult Language, Adult Situations.

I feel I learned more about the history of Iran through the eyes of a little girl who was practically forced to become an adult by the age of 14 than most textbooks. Marjane Satrapi, or "Marji" captured my attention, thanks to the successful marriage of her "crudely-drawn" panels and approachable narrative. While I have yet to read the sequel, I feel I know this individual on a personal level as the book fills us in on her deepest fears and hopes and conflicts.

Although this book is written like a comic book, don't take it lightly. The story is a deep and meaningful one. It is a pretty fast read but not as fast as you'd think...I highly recommend it!

This book was a very easy read. Unfortunately, the plot was a little too easy to follow, and certain parts have nothing to do with the rest of the book. The illustrations, however, have a quirky charm, and the story telling is sweet and entertaining.

Our local community college is using this book as a common book experience for all incoming freshmen. It's a good choice for three reasons: 1) the subject matter (a young girl's experiences in revolutionary Iran) is timely and meaningful for coming-of-age college freshmen trying "to find themselves" 2) the graphic novel format is immediately engaging and easy to digest, and 3) the protagonist's story lends itself to myriad thematic explorations. In all, I was interested in and satisfied with this book. In fact, I couldn't put it down--I read it in an hour and a half. Apparently, there's a movie, too. That's next on my list.

We read this book as a family. My youngest son hates to read but with this story he was the first to ask if we could read each night. Great visualizations and illustrations for the reader.

When I first picked up this book I knew I was holding something special. "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is a story told not only through words, but also through a series of pictures (like watching an animated feature), but furthermore through the physical object of the book itself.

Mr. Selznick has created a one-of-a-kind entity that just so happens to fit on a library shelf, but that acts as so much more than a book. In general, authors tell their stories through words and filmmakers through pictures. Selznick has combined the two and come up with something that is more than just the sum of the parts.

I have a feeling we're going to see a slew of copy-cat books trying to replicate the magic that Selznick created in this "invention" of his, but my guess is that most of them will fall flat without the brilliant interplay of subject matter and form that comprise this masterpiece.

This is a book full of mystery and suspense, and keeps you rooting for Hugo and wanting to enter deeper into his world. It was truly a joy to turn each page, and as I closed the back cover, it left me with an immense smile of satisfaction on my face.

I highly recommend this as a book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from younger children to teens and adults. A brilliant invention!

I so enjoyed this book. The story line was interesting and the sketches worked so well at telling the story. It is like a picture book for the YA crowd. I must confess that my husband and I enjoyed it as much as our 14 year old!

I have not read this book myself, but gave it as a birthday gift to an 11-year-old. I chose it based on Amazon reviews. His mother reports that he LOVED the book and asked her if it is "okay to read a book twice?"

This is one of those books that was purchased for my 12 year old daughter that I ended up liking as much as she. The pictures tell the story as well as the words. The cutting back and forth between the two make it fun for children and adults. Besides, it is just a good story.

I was expecting the Long Halloween to be great like Dark Knight Returns or Year One, but it didn't come close to measuring up. It was definitely solid, just not in the same ballpark. Sale's art is cool, and the coloring is beautiful, but some of the characters are a bit over-exaggerated for my taste. The Joker in particular was way overdone, and Batman himself was too muscled out. The Scarecrow and Catwoman were both very well done. Loeb's writing was decent, but nothing to get too excited about. There were some twists that I didn't see coming, but the dialog was a little mundane. Overall it was a solid book, and worth the price for sure. I will definitely check out their other collaborations (Dark Victory, When In Rome, etc.).

The Batman Universe has always had a film-noir feel, and never more so or to better advantage than in Loeb & Sale's epic urban nightmare, The Long Halloween. A new supervillain has emerged from the underbelly of Gotham, a villain who strikes on each of the major holidays. The killer's motives are as dark and complicated as the streets of Gotham, is he in league with the crime families of Gotham or against them? Is there a method in his madness? The artwork is stellar as usual, and the storyline is as strong and intricate as anything by the great mystery writers like Hammett or Chandler.

I had never read this book before, but had heard somany good things about it. I picked it up and read the whole thing in one sitting. An excellent story on Batman taking on organized crime in the early part of his crime fighting carrer. I read this stoy in one sitting. A very enjoyable story.
Interesting to note how the mob seems to feel threatened by the new breed of criminals starting to take over Gotham(like The Joker, Riddler, Poinson Ivy, and such). Or as The Mob call them "Freaks".
I do recommend this book, as I myself really enjoyed it.

The debate rages on between Batman fans as to who is the better Batman writer: Frank Miller or Jeph Loeb. Miller tends to focus more on the psychology of the character, where Loeb focuses more on his skills as a troubled detective. Loeb's first seminal Batman work, following a successful stint on the "Legends of the Dark Knight" series, was "Batman: The Long Halloween," published in 13 issues from late 1996 to late 1997. "The Long Halloween" picks up after Miller's "Batman: Year One." Someone is murdering prominent Gotham citizens on holidays. At the end of each month, Batman races to discover the identity of the killer, nicknamed "Holiday," and to stop him or her. Aiding him is Lieutenant Jim Gordon and spunky District Attorney Harvey Dent. Those familiar with the Batman mythos know where this is headed.

"The Long Halloween" was heavily influenced by film noir, as well as "The Godfather." The "Godfather" influence is clear in its depiction of the Falcone family, and its noir influences are clear throughout the story, especially in its depiction of Selina Kyle, who is given the femme fatale status she so deserves. There's plenty of substance to go with that style. Loeb can certainly craft a story. "The Long Halloween" is a delightful mystery, shifting the focus from just how messed up Bruce Wayne to Batman's detective skills. This is Batman as he was originally written. We see Bruce Wayne, disturbed and haunted billionaire. We see more of Batman, dark detective, prowling the tops of Gotham's skyscrapers, hiding in shadows, beating up thugs to know what he needs to know. Surprisingly, Loeb even creates a killer whose identity will keep readers guessing until the end -- and maybe even after that. To this day, the revelation still leaves people pondering.

Loeb's world is added dimension by Tim Sale's terrific artwork. Sale is such a wonderful artist. His work is some of the most distinctive and recognizable in the industry, alongside and yet vastly different from visionairies like Alex Ross or Frank Miller. Sale's artwork can be beautiful, gothic, chilling, grand, or gritty. It could even be all those things at once. But while Sale really hits the noir depiction of Selina Kyle, the way he draws her makes her seem kind of trashy to me, for lack of a better word. He did a much, much better job with her in the sequel, "Batman: Dark Victory." In every other way, though, Sale's artwork is wonderful.

Also wonderful is Loeb's focus on the friendship between Jim Gordon, Harvey Dent, and Batman/Bruce Wayne. He emphasizes the tragic angle of their friendship and the result, especially its result on Bruce Wayne. Loeb's depiction of their friendship may have influenced Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight." Screenwriter David S. Goyer has said that "The Long Halloween" was one of the three chief influences for "Batman Begins." Additionally, IGN Comics named "The Long Halloween" the fifth greatest Batman story in the history of the character. It was the only Batman story of the last 15 years to crack the top five.

For making a sixty-year-old character seem completely fresh and new, for crafting a very original and very engrossing mystery, and for making one of the best comics in recent years, Sale and Loeb deserve a lot of credit. "Batman: The Long Halloween" is one of the finest Batman stories, and a must-read for fans or casual readers looking to become acquainted even loosely with the world of comics.

This is probably one of the first stories that really showed Harvey Dent as a tragic figure in the Batman universe rather than some demented villain with a duel identity issue. The Long Halloween probably did the best of showing the relationship of Batman, Jim Gordon, and Gotham's DA Dent. That is of course until The Dark Knight came in theaters. However you can see where pieces of this story inspired the feature film.

I like Dean Koontz very much and his story in comic form is a well done approach. I like it very much and I am looking forward to further issuse form Odd...

I really enjoyed "In Odd We Trust!" It was so interesting to "see" Odd and Stormie as they solved the case and caught the "butcher." I would recommend it to everyone. It really doesn't read like a "funny book" as we used to call comics, or that style. It was a real page turner as are all of Dean's wonderful, sometimes terrifying tales.

Missed the "graphic-novel debut" in the editorial description so wasn't expecting a cartoon.I don't mind 'balloon type text' found in short cartoon clips,but an entire novel was almost unbearable.Since everyone has a different image of Odd and the other characters,I found looking at 'graphic- Odd' distracting. Mr. Koontz should have left him to the imagination of his readers. Thumbs-down on this one.

Dean Koontz is a name you would not expect in illustrated fiction. "In Odd We Trust" is an exciting excursion into extrasensory realms.
Odd Thomas lives in the small community of Pico Mundo. Like any teenager, he has a job at a local eatery. For Odd, his specialty is out of this world pancakes with exotic toppings and ingredients. His girlfriend, Stormy, and orphanage mate, Sherry are drawn into the murder of a small boy by mysterious letters addressed.
Now, this might sound like a kid turned sleuth mystery novel, but there is more. Odd can see dead people. Elvis routinely walks with Odd through the streets. A famous ex-president moons him on occasion. And the murdered boy, Joey, finds vindication through a spirit connection to Odd.
I was very impressed with "In Odd We Trust". Not only is it intelligent, but also extremely well drawn. Viewed differently, it could even be a storyboard for a film. But, as it is, this is a stunning graphic novel. Koontz and Queenie Chan handle the ghostly and `real' interactions well, adding humour, and a bit of the disbelief that must certainly follow. As with any stellar fiction, all is not as it seems, and the surprising end really does that.
For older readers, this just might be the Kolchak of their time, the Matlock for their generation, and the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys of the supernatural.
Five ghostly thumbs up.
Tim Lasiuta
www.delreybooks.com

Then this is a satisfying ending for you. Odd Thomas was a great first book, and I was excited to see and read the sequel. The third was also grabbed up with great eagerness. I was a bit disappointed in the ending of the first book, but it felt right. This graphic novel was a good way to carry Odd to a wider market.

This book was one of the most interesting and unique books that I have ever read. It was given to me as a gift and I honestly didn't think that I'd like it. I was a bit put off by the comic book style, but it read just like a regular book. The comic strip part only enhanced it. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!

I got this book as a gift. Honestly, I wasn't so sure at first. It is written like a comic book. But as I read it, I realized that it reads just like any book and that the comic pictures make it that much more interesting and unique. I learned a lot from this book, too. I would recommend it to anyone.

saw the movie, had to buy the book. thank you for making such a great film! It inspires on so many levels. dont miss this film, it speaks for all cultures and all people

This is my first Graphic Novel, but not my last. I loved the story and I felt that the book had a really nice flow. Marjane Satrapi as an exceptional story teller and has a very strong voice. I read this shortly after seeing the movie, and though I loved the movie, I felt that it left alot of important stuff out. The book really helped fill in some of the gaps, and you also got to see Satrapi's personality a bit more. I look forward to reading her other works. If you have never read a Graphic Novel, this is a great place to start.

I was surprised to find it was in comic strip format, but I enjoyed the lite reading.