My introduction to Nausicaä was the 1984 Studio Ghibli film of the same name. I didn’t see the film until about ten years ago when I began collecting all the films of Hayao Miyazaki. My daughter and I enjoy watching Miyazaki stories, and I have an appreciation for his strong female characters. I had no idea that the movie was only a fraction (about two chapters) fo the story and world of the Valley of the Wind. I purchased this two-volume case-bound collection on a whim – our local […]
So how do the robots eat or drink anyway? HOW DO THEY KISS WITH NO MOUTHS.
It says something about this series that this heart-wrenching volume of storytelling is a relief after the last one. Oy, that last one was rough. But this was one was more bittersweet than bitter. Something that I have always appreciated about this series is its tone. Like real life, everything isn’t all bad or all good all the time. Real life is messy, and you can feel many things at once. Real life has hills and valleys, and flat plains. One of the reasons I […]
Lumberjanes is always a delight
How does Lumberjanes get and stay SO GOOD?! Let me correct myself slightly: of course I always knew Lumberjanes would be good: Noelle Stevenson has always been great, and upon first reading about the plot, I was sure she’d make something wonderful. Yet Lumberjanes consistently goes beyond my wildest imaginations. It’s not just silly, it’s also clever. It’s not just full of heart, it has important messages to tell us without bashing us over the head with them. It’s not just full of girl power, […]
Sweet, and a Little Spooky
Not all spirits are bad, and not all spirits are good, but how do you tell when they have your best intentions in mind? (Sounds kind of like any other friendship, huh?) Anya’s Ghost is a graphic novel that features a short little story about a teenage girl named Anya, who moved to America from Russia at a young age. She isn’t doing great in school, and doesn’t feel like she truly fits in: she has one close friend named Siobhan, who isn’t really all that […]