BEST OF THE MONTH
GRIZZLYSHARK by Ryan Ottley (Story and Art)
Ryan will probably be forever known as a co-creater of Image comic's Invincible (now a successful show on Amazon Prime), but I seriously doubt he will ever do something more fun than Grizzlyshark. It's exactly what it sounds like. It's over-the-top with both gore and comedy. Absurd humor at its best!
WORST OF THE MONTH
FILTH by Irvine Welsh
I saw this one on a "most disturbing novels" list and my library had a copy, so I couldn't resist. The story isn't so bad: A misanthropic cop doing terrible things. I tired of the slow-moving plot and barely comprehensible dialogue. I know he wrote Trainspotting. Maybe that one is better.
The rest:
God is Wearing Black by Kelby Losack (collection). The high point of this collection is the fact that Kelby has a very distinct voice, which is the thing most writers don't have. Uneven quality on the stories though. Grade: C
Burn by Patrick Ness. YA dragon story. I'm surprised this isn't a bigger thing. Is everyone tired of dragons? Grade: B
999 edited by Al Sarrantonio (anthology). Revered horror anthology. Loved some stories, hated others. Grade: C
Ghosts of East Baltimore by David Simmons. Another writer with a great voice. One of the rare stories where I liked the first two acts more than the third. Grade: C
Greatest Hits by Harlan Ellison. I don't know what to think about Ellison (many don't). When he is good, he is possibly the best. But some stories I just don't care about at all. Grade: C
The Amityville Bukkake by Ed Lee/Judith Sonnet/RJ Benetti. Not quite as fun as the title may suggest. Grade: D
Dead Mall by Cesare/Stoll (graphic novel). Not bad, but I like the clown books more. Grade: C
Writhe by Summers/Wohl. Extreme horror. I got through it, but found myself unattached to the characters. Grade: D
Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo. Author of Warhorse. Excellent middle-grade novella. Grade: B
Hell on High by Michael Clark. Great idea. Maybe a tad too long? Grade: D
Cold Spots by Bunn/Torres (graphic novel). Good ghost story comic. Bunn has done better stuff though. Grade: C
City of Dreams by Don Winslow. I'm so sad there is only one more Danny Ryan book to read. Grade: B
Dark Ark by Bunn/Doe (graphic novel). High concept (gothic retelling of Noah's Ark), good art, but I lost interest in the story halfway. Grade: D
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto. A fun, wholesome young adult murder mystery. Grade: B
The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey. The Anthony Award nominee. Although not one of my favorites from her, she is always good. Grade: B
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. I'm expecting it to win some awards, because the concept is amazing. Something about his writing style doesn't vibe with me though. Grade: C
My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr. Non-fiction about an amazing cat. Grade: B
See ya next month!
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
GRIZZLYSHARK by Ryan Ottley (Story and Art)
Ryan will probably be forever known as a co-creater of Image comic's Invincible (now a successful show on Amazon Prime), but I seriously doubt he will ever do something more fun than Grizzlyshark. It's exactly what it sounds like. It's over-the-top with both gore and comedy. Absurd humor at its best!
WORST OF THE MONTH
FILTH by Irvine Welsh
I saw this one on a "most disturbing novels" list and my library had a copy, so I couldn't resist. The story isn't so bad: A misanthropic cop doing terrible things. I tired of the slow-moving plot and barely comprehensible dialogue. I know he wrote Trainspotting. Maybe that one is better.
The rest:God is Wearing Black by Kelby Losack (collection). The high point of this collection is the fact that Kelby has a very distinct voice, which is the thing most writers don't have. Uneven quality on the stories though. Grade: C
Burn by Patrick Ness. YA dragon story. I'm surprised this isn't a bigger thing. Is everyone tired of dragons? Grade: B
999 edited by Al Sarrantonio (anthology). Revered horror anthology. Loved some stories, hated others. Grade: C
Ghosts of East Baltimore by David Simmons. Another writer with a great voice. One of the rare stories where I liked the first two acts more than the third. Grade: C
Greatest Hits by Harlan Ellison. I don't know what to think about Ellison (many don't). When he is good, he is possibly the best. But some stories I just don't care about at all. Grade: C
The Amityville Bukkake by Ed Lee/Judith Sonnet/RJ Benetti. Not quite as fun as the title may suggest. Grade: D
Dead Mall by Cesare/Stoll (graphic novel). Not bad, but I like the clown books more. Grade: C
Writhe by Summers/Wohl. Extreme horror. I got through it, but found myself unattached to the characters. Grade: D
Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo. Author of Warhorse. Excellent middle-grade novella. Grade: B
Hell on High by Michael Clark. Great idea. Maybe a tad too long? Grade: D
Cold Spots by Bunn/Torres (graphic novel). Good ghost story comic. Bunn has done better stuff though. Grade: C
City of Dreams by Don Winslow. I'm so sad there is only one more Danny Ryan book to read. Grade: B
Dark Ark by Bunn/Doe (graphic novel). High concept (gothic retelling of Noah's Ark), good art, but I lost interest in the story halfway. Grade: D
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto. A fun, wholesome young adult murder mystery. Grade: B
The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey. The Anthony Award nominee. Although not one of my favorites from her, she is always good. Grade: B
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. I'm expecting it to win some awards, because the concept is amazing. Something about his writing style doesn't vibe with me though. Grade: C
My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr. Non-fiction about an amazing cat. Grade: B
See ya next month!
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
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