COMIC REVIEW: Howliday Inn the Graphic Novel

HOWLIDAY INN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL
by James Howe and Andrew Donkin; illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Available now

If you grew up around the time I did, James and Deborah Howe's Bunnicula novels were mainstays of school story time. Given the longevity of the series itself, as well as spinoffs and adaptations, I imagine it's a familiar series for multiple generations. And yet, I was unaware until just recently that there was a Bunnicula graphic novel adaptation underway. Fortunately, I got on board with the second one, Howliday Inn, and it's safe to say this version hits just right: a satisfying blend of faithful adaptation and visual nostalgia.

If you're new to the series, let's get you caught up. Harold the dog is our narrator, accompanied on his misadventures by Chester the cat. Their comfy nuclear family home has been invaded by Bunnicula: a rabbit who drains the juice from vegetables vampire-style with his pointy little fangs and prefers to sleep during the day. Chester is convinced Bunnicula is a legitimate paranormal threat and wants nothing more than to get rid of the interloper. As Howliday Inn, the second story in the series, begins, all three pets are boarded as their family goes on vacation. There, they meet other dogs and cats (including three dogs in a complicated love triangle), and Chester becomes convinced that werewolves are on the prowl. As their stay goes on, boarders begin to disappear, including Chester, and Harold must crack the case before whatever is lurking comes for him, too.

Stephen Gilpin's art has a very 70s/80s comic vibe to it, and I love how unique each character looks. My only quibble is Chester; there's something about his face that veers a little too close to human, a la early movie Sonic the Hedgehog designs. But everyone else looks fantastic, humans and animals both. Bunnicula in particular looks spot on, vampiric but still plausibly just a little guy. It makes me wish we'd gotten to see a little more of him, though we do at least get a very cute Bunnicula face to close out each chapter.

What I liked most, though, is that it's a very active adaptation that understands it's a comic book and plays with that. Harold and Chester have quibbles with the artist, including a few pages where Gilpin closes up shop for the weekend and very nearly leaves them on a blank page. The self-awareness, combined with dialogue that gives young readers credit for being intelligent enough to follow it, reminds me a lot of the indie comics and graphic novels I'd read in my tweens and teens. The book closes out with a brief Sherlock Holmes tribute, starring Chester as a feline version of the great detective and Harold as his Watson.

Will kids love this new Bunnicula treatment? I can see myself as a kid loving this, so sure. Will grownups who grew up reading the original stories enjoy these comics? Without question. This is a massive nostalgia bomb, faithful without being precious, and I'm hopeful that the adaptations will continue.

TEA PAIRING: Secrets in the Garden
While the "bungalows" our heroes stay in during their time away were pens rather than holiday houses, the beginning and end of the book definitely put one in a vacation mood. This watermelon lime green tea feels like just the sort of thing the Monroes might enjoy during their trip. Best of all, it's great iced! Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

COMIC REVIEW: Godzilla vs. America

GODZILLA VS. AMERICA: BOSTON, CHICAGO, KANSAS CITY, LOS ANGELES
by Tim Seeley, Caroline Cash, Gabriel Hardman, Dave Baker and Jesse Lonergan
Available now

There are lots of different Godzilla comics out there, but this latest anthology is built on one very clear, very true point: it's super fun to watch the King of the Monsters wreck your city.

This anthology collects stories from the first four cities in Godzilla's American tour: Chicago, LA, Boston, and Kansas City. The short subjects range from funny to sentimental to action-packed, weaving the essence of each locale into its story.

Kicking off the volume is a short piece starring a Svengoolie-coded fan man with the keys to Mecha-Godzilla. After being accused of ruining a game for the fans, he decides to set up a situation in which he can "save" the crowd from the mechanical beast... but then the real Godzilla shows up. Other stories across the volume (and across cities) include slow-burn romances on the train, guides for how to use public transportation to escape monsters, a tour guide's second chance at movie stardom, a 19th century sailors' legend, and two stories about monsters made of Kansas City barbecue sauce.

Like any anthology, the style and quality vary across each installment. But the volume is united on one important front: these are all personal stories, written by people who know and love their hometowns inside and out. And like all the best kaiju stories, they're human at their core: love, politics, revenge, and the all-important question of whether you can barbecue kaiju meat. It's a great concept realized wonderfully, and fortunately it seems there's more to come.

TEA PAIRING: Spice Chai Mélange
A very spicy, but still caffeine free, rooibos chai that's as fiery as Godzilla's atomic breath (in the good way). Inspired by Dune, this blend fits perfectly with more earthbound giant creatures, too. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other literary-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

COMIC REVIEW: Huge Detective

HUGE DETECTIVE
by Adam Rose; illustrated by Magenta King
Available now

There's nothing quite like an odd couple solving crimes, and I will always be here for it. I could go into the deeper symbolism of these two at-odds personalities joining forces and finding understanding to solve a crime, but that's a dissertation for another day. Right now, we have Huge Detective: a comic that takes place in an alternate world where giants live in Australia and there are huge fossils on the moon.

Human detective Tamaki and huge detective Gyant have an odd case on their hands: a human ("doll" in huge slang) who believes he's one of the big people. But his point of view and unconventional background might be just what this team needs to get to the bottom of their current case. As they dig deeper, though, they discover a scheme that could shake the very foundations the human/huge truce is built on.

The worldbuilding of Huge Detective is fantastic, with each chapter including a file offering more background into the world of the comic. This feels like a world that exists and is lived in, not just a concept created to support a conceit. Best of all, it explores concerns that could arise in such a society: industry, societal norms, even the shape that microaggressions take in both directions. The story is great; the art equally so. But it matters that it lives in a world that feels alive.

TEA PAIRING: Picnic at Pemberley
I like to think our detectives would have better luck with this jasmine green tea blend than the tea they're served later in the book. It's one of my favorite blends, perfect for unwinding after a rainy day spent solving crimes. Use my code KARA15 to save 15% on this and other tea blends from Chapters Tea & Co.!

COMIC REVIEW: Before We Sail

BEFORE WE SAIL
by Carlos Yacolca, illustrated by Michelle Lino
Available now

Digital publishing will always be a double-edged sword; but, more than anything, it's a promising tool to help new voices get their work out there. V for Vendetta co-creator David Lloyd uses this to good advantage in his digital magazine Aces Weekly, presenting serialized fiction and comics for a low weekly price. Among the recent stories to appear in its metaphorical pages is Before We Sail, the inaugural work of writer Carlos Yacolca. And this apocalyptic one-shot packs a punch.

The comic follows Jonathan and Kath, two survivors of a globe-spanning apocalypse. Their best hope for survival is to escape Lima and take to the seas. Together, the pair brave pirates, monsters, and (chiefly) their own trauma. Because even if they do make it to safety, is there really a point to it all when the world is falling apart? The story takes place alongside Jonathan's own letters as he ponders this exact question.

As someone who began my tenure as Sci Fi Magazine's book reviewer right in the thick of lockdown, I have read a lot of "COVID Narratives." So I come from a time professionally when zombie and plague metaphors were thick on the ground and, by and large, got very samey. But Before We Sail dodges this in two important ways. First, it's a localized story: while our heroes may be escaping Peru, it's still rooted there - in a place where, frankly, I haven't seen a lot of stories told in English.

Secondly, and most importantly, Before We Sail is timeless. There will always be something happening in the world, and nowadays it feels more than ever like the world is falling apart. But Jonathan and Kath's story never feels like a "period piece" that echoes one tragedy too much. Rather, it looks inward to the effects of those tragedies. Sadly, depression and hopelessness will always be with us. And no matter what we face down, we will always wonder if there's a point to going on. Before We Sail examines those feelings unflinchingly, but it also comes away with an answer of sorts.

Stories like these are why amplifying indie art is so important. Before We Sail will reach you no matter what you're afraid of or what you're going through.

TEA PAIRING: A Dream Within a Dream
There's really not a tea that goes with the end of the world, but this sleepytime blend is very helpful when you need to calm down at the end of a difficult day. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

COMIC REVIEW: Godzilla Legends - Mothra: Queen of the Monsters

GODZILLA LEGENDS - MOTHRA: QUEEN OF THE MONSTERS
by Sophie Campbell and Matt Frank
Available now

You may have noticed the sheer number of new Godzilla comics hitting the shelves, in part because I've been reviewing (and will continue to review) quite a few of them. But as much as I love the King of the Monsters, my heart will always belong to the Queen. And fortunately for myself and fellow fans, Mothra has her own new comic that's as exciting to read as it is beautiful to look at.

First things first, this comic has a dream team in charge. Sophie Campbell, whose comic credits include writing and art for Jem and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is in the writer's chair for this one. Penning the art is Matt Frank, whose name should be extremely well known to kaiju fans. (I discovered him through his recent Gojiham collab artwork and have loved everything else I've seen him do.) The result is a story that treads new ground while still being evocative of classic Mothra stories.

The story takes place after the fall of Mothra in a battle against Antra, a fearsome new foe. As humanity struggles to survive, Mira discovers that there may be hope when her twin sister Emi, whom she believed to be dead, returns with news. Together, the two may have the power to bring Mothra back. But they'll have to work together, which isn't easy considering the literal and personal distance that has grown between the two.

Mothra: Queen of the Monsters is a beautiful story of the bonds of family, but also a good old-fashioned epic kaiju fight. If the names attached to this title have gotten your hopes up, good: they both deliver. This is an absolutely gorgeous comic, and a worthy story for the Queen of the Monsters.

TEA PAIRING: Radiate Positivity
Training to resurrect Mothra and save the human race takes a lot of energy. This wellness blend, featuring yerba mate and ginseng, might just help you get on track to conquer your own monsters. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other blends from Chapters Tea & Co.!

COMIC REVIEW: Godzilla: Heist

GODZILLA: HEIST
by Van Jensen and Kelsey Ramsay
Available January 13

One of my favorite things about Godzilla (and kaiju in general) in modern comics has been reinvention. The best new stories understand that giant monsters are less about their own lore and more about serving as a backdrop for human stories. Godzilla in particular is emblematic of everything from war to environmental issues, depending on who's steering the story. Seeing new stories comprehend this and run with it is super rewarding.

Doubly rewarding if, for instance, the story Godzilla is appearing in is a cool London-based heist.

Godzilla: Heist is exactly what it says on the tin, at least at first. The story follows Jai, who has a very special ability: he knows how to summon Godzilla. This is especially handy if you need some kind of major cover for, say, a heist. Everyone will have eyes on the monster, rather than what you're doing. And who's going to suspect someone of orchestrating a kaiju attack?

Well, someone has noticed, putting Jai in a sticky situation. But he has one last heist to pull off: the biggest yet. And once it becomes apparent what Jai is after, long-time fans of the Godzilla films will be equal parts surprised and delighted.

Artistically speaking, Kelsey Ramsay does a great job melding a rough-and-tumble art style with a really well drawn 'zilla. Neither feels out of place with the other. And as much as I'd like to compliment a very specific artistic rendering in the comic, that's a huge spoiler. So suffice to say there's something else fans will love later on.

Godzilla: Heist strikes a balance between being a good Godzilla story and being a compelling human story. Without the latter, you've just got a disaster movie. Which is fine, but it's so much better to see new generations of writers and artists place the King of the Monsters at the center of evolving stories.

TEA PAIRING: Poet's Study
A big heist needs a strong drink beforehand, and Poet's Study is that. This is my absolute favorite Earl Grey, with plenty of bergamot for those of you who like it super-strong. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and more teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

COMIC REVIEW: The Savage Sword of Conan: Reforged #1

THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN: REFORGED #1
Various contributors
Available October 22

The new Savage Sword of Conan comics from Titan have been a delight to read, and a wonderful on-ramp for new readers. But there's nothing like revisiting the classics, and now the publisher is releasing upgraded — "reforged" — versions of classic comics from yesteryear.

This first issue kicks off with two essential stories in the Cimmerian's lore: "The Frost Giant's Daughter" and "Tower of the Elephant." Whether you're familiar with these classic tales or just now encountering them, this is a fantastic way to see them.

The restorations of the stories are vivid and gorgeous. Atali, the dangerous beauty from whom "The Frost Giant's Daughter" gets its name, bears a striking similarity to Jeanne in Kuni Fukai's Belladonna of Sadness layouts (with the former predating the latter by two years). "The Tower of the Elephant" shows its retro beauty in a different way, evoking a sci-fantasy that will embed (and certainly has embedded) itself deep in the minds of fantasy gamers and writers. Both are very different in style, but vividly restored in a way that preserves rather than attempting to "improve."

Between the two stories are two bonuses. First, Patrick Zircher muses on the appeal of Conan the Barbarian and its adjacency to the hobby of tabletop gaming. These prose musings in various Conan editions from Titan have always been a favorite inclusion of mine, bringing more context to these long-lived stories.

After this comes a lushly illustrated interpretation of Robert E. Howard's poem "Cimmeria." The dark and stormy colors, coupled with a straightforward battle scene, evoke that "land of darkness and the night" described.

While it's always great to see new additions to and interpretations of the canon, we're very fortunate to get these restorations. Thanks to the Reforged edition, new fans can experience that vibrant, in-the-moment excitement decades later. I'm very hopeful about future issues and collected volumes.

TEA PAIRING: Serene Sage

Don't let the name fool you: this earthy, herby tea is a perfect match for the Cimmerian's adventures. Use my code KARA15 for 15% of this and other teas from Chapters!

COMIC REVIEW: The Loose End Vol. 1

THE LOOSE END Vol. 1
by Dave Dwonch and Travis Hymel
Available now 

One thing I learned in my time writing for Sci Fi Magazine is that scriptwriters tend to go very unnoticed. Landing an interview with a writer or a director was always a series of insane checks and balances, usually with an agent or studio rep listening in to make sure you were toeing the line. But ask to interview a writer? Besides some studios not being sure what to do about it, the writers themselves were overjoyed. I've never written for screen myself, but I am a writer in other genres, and I'll always be a proponent of screenwriters getting their flowers.

That's just one of many reasons I fell straight into Volume 1 of The Loose End, which centers on scriptwriter Steven Hollis as he finds himself up to his neck in action. When he racks up an impressive gambling debt, he's made an offer he can't refuse: pay it all off in one fell swoop during an upcoming bachelor weekend. All he has to do is kill a high-powered Hollywood player — retribution for a previous crime.

But the party, made up of names and faces from all across the silver screen, goes even further off the rails. Drug deals, shootouts, and police chases overshadow Steven's allegedly simple job. Never mind his debt... he'll be lucky to make it home alive.

I'm new to The Loose End, but I'm not new to Titan's Hard Case Crime line. This imprint feeds my need for action and mystery, and The Loose End in particular has an irresistible Hollywood flavor. I am, frankly, shocked this wasn't a movie tie-in for how cinematic it feels. It's as immersive and fun as a Saturday afternoon action matinee.

As an extra bonus, the alternate covers depict parodies of other legendary film titles, action and otherwise. As ever, Titan packs its final pages with fantastic bonus art.

This 112-page volume collects issues 1-4.

TEA PAIRING: While The Loose End doesn't exactly fall under the "cozy" heading, the energizing vibes of Radiate Positivity would just about give Steven and the gang the get-up-and-go they need to navigate their circumstances. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off your purchase!