Monster on the Hill

Monster on the Hill Rob Harrell 4 / 5	Published 2013
Publisher's Description: In a fantastical 1860s England, every quiet little township is terrorized by a ferocious monster--much to the townsfolk's delight! Each town's unique monster is a source of local pride, not to mention tourism.  Each town, that is...except for one.  Unfortunately, for the people of Stoker-on-Avon, their monster isn't quite as impressive. In fact, he's a little down in the dumps. Can the morose Rayburn get a monstrous makeover and become a proper horror? It's up to the eccentric Dr. Charles Wilkie and plucky street urchin Timothy to get him up to snuff, before a greater threat turns the whole town to kindling.  Monsters of all ages are sure to enjoy this tale about life's challenges, the power of friendship, and creative redemption, packed with epic battles and plenty of wild beasts!
Dear Reader, As the publisher's description notes, this graphic novel was perhaps written for children, but can easily be enjoyed by any reader.  My boyfriend and I both devoured the book in one sitting, and we thought it was really well done.  The concept itself was so unique: a Victorian England where each town has its own monster, which is not scary but rather their claim to fame - as well as a strong source of tourist revenue.  So Stoker-on-Avon is disappointed to have a very ineffective monster, and they decide something must be done about it.  A disgraced doctor and a vagabond boy are roped into looking into the situation, and the story unfolds from there.  What I loved most (besides the great illustrations) were all of the little asides and sarcastic comments which peppered the story - things that could almost go unnoticed without a sharp eye.  The illustrations only add to the reader's enjoyment.  The story is definitely one of learning to be happy with oneself, and to own and make the most of what you have to offer.  But it's certainly done quite differently this time!  Who would've thought of using town monsters and their self-esteem to teach such a lesson? This book was recommended by a co-worker with excellent taste, and I will continue to follow her recommendations if all of them are as good as this one! Yours, Arianna

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Monsters! & Other Stories

Monsters! & Other Stories Gustavo Duarte 4.5/5	Will be Published Jan. 28th 2014 No First Sentence "This is a wordless comic."
Publisher's Description: Newcomer Gustavo Duarte spins wordless tales brimming with humor, charm, and delightfully twisted horror! In Monsters!, oversized beasts wreak havoc on cities in the tradition of Godzilla and King Kong. In Có!, an alien abduction disarms a gentle farmer, and in Birds, two business partners run from fate only to find themselves hopelessly unable to change the future. Beautifully illustrated and wonderfully evocative storytelling fills every page of Duarte's unforgettable collection, Monsters! & Other Stories.
Dear Reader, NetGalley and Dark Horse Comics gave me this wonderful opportunity to view and rate this unique comic. Can you even call it a comic? I think it should be in a genre of it's own, combine comics with silent film and you might get something closer to what you'll find in Monsters! Gustavo Duarte has split this into three miniature stories that are told without words. Each story is unique and quirky, with a little humor mixed in with a few grotesque but playful images. I find this reminds me very much of those "Spy vs. Spy" comics I used to read growing up. "Spy vs. Spy" was created by Cuban artist, Antonio Prohias. Gustavo Duarte is Brazilian, so maybe it's a cultural stylistic thing? All I know is that I wish we had more! Each page is clean, crisp and full of detail. Details such as the picture frame or penguin that shows up in the background throughout each story. Although the stories are separate, you almost feel that maybe these characters might be related somehow. I didn't ponder too much into this but I appreciate when an Author/Artist adds those little things that make it special. I'm torn between the first story and the last one as to which I would pick as a favorite. I fell in love with the pig loving aliens but I'm also a sucker for cartoon monsters. The second story was interesting but didn't really make me laugh as much as the other two. All in all, this is an artist to watch! I'm excited Dark Horse is taking this on, I'm loving the change in the comic world that has more graphic novels and indie art related comics coming to focus. The demand is there and I implore you all to pick up a few unusual ones, especially if you never thought of yourself as a comic person, this one would be a perfect one to start with. Happy Reading, AmberBug

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