“Saga #1” By Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples & Fonografiks Review

Y: THE LAST MAN writer BRIAN K. VAUGHAN returns to comics with red-hot artist FIONA STAPLES for an all-new ONGOING SERIES! Star Wars-style action collides with Game of Thrones-esque drama in this original sci-fi/fantasy epic for mature readers, as new parents Marko and Alana risk everything to raise their child amidst a never-ending galactic war. 

This comic book is widely celebrated for its inventive storytelling and stunning artwork.

This comic book opens with the birth of Hazel, the child of two star-crossed lovers from opposing sides of a galactic war. The narrative in this comic book tries to blend elements of fantasy and science fiction, creating an expansive universe filled with diverse species and complex politics. However I personally found the world-building overwhelming, with too much information introduced too quickly, making it difficult to become fully immersed in the story.

The character development in this comic book, particularly of the protagonists Alana and Marko, is central to the narrative. While this comic book tries to portray them as deeply complex and relatable, some might find their personalities and motivations underexplored in this comic book. The dialogue, though often praised for its wit and realism, might come across as forced or lacking depth for those who prefer more gradual character development.

The artwork itself in this comic book is undeniably striking, capturing the vastness and diversity of the “Saga” universe with detailed character designs. However, the visual style may not appeal to everyone. At times I found the aesthetics too unconventional or the character designs too abstract, which can detract from their engagement with the story.

The pacing of this comic book is another potential sticking point. This comic book moves quickly, jumping between intense action sequences and quieter, character-driven moments. While this dynamic pacing keeps the narrative lively, it has left me personally feeling disoriented or disconnected from the storyline, craving a more linear or focused approach.

One of the strengths of this comic book is its exploration of mature themes such as love, family, and conflict. Yet, this very aspect might not resonate with all audiences. The inclusion of explicit content and adult themes could be off-putting to me personally because I personally prefer traditional storytelling without such elements.

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“Nailbiter #1” By Joshua Williamson & Mike Henderson & Adam Guzowski Review

Buckaroo, Oregon has given birth to sixteen of the vilest serial killers in the world. An obsessed FBI profiler investigating the town has suddenly gone missing, and now an NSA Agent must work with the notorious serial killer Edward “Nailbiter” Warren to find his friend and solve the mystery of “Where do serial killers come from?”

This comic book introduces a chilling premise but struggles in execution. While the concept in this comic book of a town that produces serial killers is intriguing, this comic book falls short in several critical areas.

The story in this comic book is set in Buckaroo, Oregon, notorious for being the birthplace of 16 of the world’s most infamous serial killers. The narrative follows Nicholas Finch, a disgraced NSA agent, who is drawn to the town by a friend’s mysterious disappearance. The creators of this comic book tries to create a compelling mystery, but the plot feels disjointed and lacks a clear direction, making it difficult for me personally to become truly invested in the unfolding events.

The character development in this comic book is one of the major weaknesses of this comic book. Finch, the protagonist, is introduced with minimal backstory, leaving his motivations and personality underexplored. This lack of depth makes it challenging for me personally to connect with him or care about his journey. Similarly, the supporting characters are introduced without much context, feeling more like plot devices than fully realized individuals.

The dialogues in this comic book often feels stilted and unnatural, failing to convey the tension and emotion necessary for a horror narrative. Conversations between characters lack the nuance needed to build suspense or deepen relationships, contributing to the overall flatness of the story.

The artwork itself in this comic book, while competent, cannot fully compensate for the narrative shortcomings. The illustrations capture the dark and eerie atmosphere of Buckaroo, but the art alone isn’t enough to elevate the story. Character designs are standard and lack the distinctiveness needed to make them memorable or impactful.

The pacing of this comic book is pretty uneven, with scenes that either drag without building tension or rush through potentially engaging moments. This inconsistency prevents the narrative from developing momentum or holding my interest in this comic book. Key plot points are introduced abruptly, making it difficult to fully grasp the stakes or significance of the events unfolding.

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“Nizu: Friends” By Leen iO Review

Nizu and Erin are shocked by the loud commotion coming from their classroom. Two of their classmates are the cause of the chaos. A girl is hopping from desk to desk in an attempt to evade a guy who is apparently desperate to retrieve something important that she has taken from him.

This comic book presents an intriguing premise but ultimately fails to deliver a cohesive and engaging narrative. While the concept behind this comic book hints at potential, the execution is marred by issues in storytelling and character development.

The story in this comic book revolves around the titular character, Nizu, and his interactions with a group of friends. The setup suggests a focus on friendship and personal growth, but the narrative lacks clarity and direction. The plot feels disjointed, with scenes that transition abruptly and fail to build on each other, which has left me personally confused and disconnected.

The character development in this comic book is very minimal, with Nizu and his friends coming across as one-dimensional. The lack of depth and personality makes it difficult to invest in their journey or care about their interactions. Dialogue often feels stilted and unnatural, missing the emotional nuance needed to convey genuine relationships.

The artwork itself in this comic book, while stylistically unique, cannot compensate for the narrative shortcomings. The illustrations are colorful and expressive, capturing the potential vibrancy of the characters’ world. However, the art sometimes feels inconsistent, with varying quality that detracts from the overall experience. While the visual elements have charm, they do little to enhance the weak storytelling.

The pacing of this comic book is pretty problematic, with scenes that either drag without purpose or rush through important events. This inconsistency prevents the narrative from building momentum or emotional resonance. Key moments that should carry weight are glossed over, which has left me personally without a sense of engagement or investment.

Despite its flaws, the concept behind this comic book of exploring friendship dynamics in a visually appealing world holds potential. With more focused storytelling and deeper character exploration, future comic book could develop these themes effectively. However, as it stands, the execution falls short, offering little in terms of innovation or emotional impact.

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“Vampire Cheerleaders in Space…and Time?!” By Adam Arnold & Shiei & Michael Shelfer Review

Monster hunter Stephanie Kane is missing, spirited away to parts unknown by the mysterious Mothmen to be their new queen. Her werewolf kid sister Katie Kane teams up with former vampire thrall and geek-supreme Leonard Duvall, not to mention bat-brained vampire cheerleader Suki Taft, as they hurtle through the very time stream itself on a quest to save Stephanie Kane. Witness as the past, present, future, and the entire spacetime continuum become the Vampire Cheerleaders’ cosmic playground in a finale of epic proportions!

This comic book tries to deliver a quirky blend of supernatural elements and science fiction, but unfortunately falls short. At the same time despite its intriguing title, the execution lacks depth and cohesion, resulting in a confusing and unsatisfying read.

The story in this comic book follows a group of vampire cheerleaders who find themselves embroiled in an adventure that spans both space and time. While the premise suggests potential for humor and creativity, the narrative is plagued by a lack of clear direction. The plot jumps between scenes without sufficient context, making it difficult for me personally to engage with the story or understand the stakes involved.

The character development is very minimal in this comic book, with the protagonists remaining one-dimensional throughout the issue. The cheerleaders, despite their supernatural twist, are not given distinct personalities or motivations, making it hard to invest in their journey. The supporting cast fares no better, often appearing as mere plot devices rather than fully realized characters.

The writing itself in this comic book struggles to find a consistent tone. The dialogue often feels forced and lacks the wit or charm needed to capture my interest. Attempts at humor fall flat, and the story’s pacing issues further exacerbate the problem, leading to a narrative that feels rushed and disjointed.

The artwork itself in this comic book, while competent, cannot compensate for the weak storytelling. The illustrations capture the vibrant and fantastical elements of the setting, but lack the dynamic energy needed to elevate the narrative. The character designs are standard and fail to leave a lasting impression, contributing to the overall lack of engagement.

Despite its shortcomings, the concept of combining vampires, cheerleaders, and sci-fi elements holds potential for creativity. However, the execution needs refinement to fully capture the essence of what could be a fun and engaging story. More focus on character development and narrative clarity could elevate future comic books in this series.

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“Dracula Everlasting Vol. 3” By Nunzio DeFilippis & Christina Weir & Rhea Silvan Review

Dark Lord Triumphant! Nicholas Harker is no more. His identity is now fully subsumed by Dracula. The one thorn in his side, Jill Hawthorne, has been effectively removed. Finally, the lord of all vampires and his Renfield are ascendant! The vengeful wiccan Cate, however, has plans of her own-to assemble a team of vampire slayers. Together with the broken-hearted Jill and Detective Murphy, and a new player on the stage who has every reason to seek vengeance, a final battle looms. Yet Dracula grows stronger by day and night, as he amasses a small army of brides from the dead. Is it too late to destroy him? Find out in this thrilling conclusion to the Dracula Everlasting trilogy!

This comic book unfortunately misses the mark. At the same time this comic book tries to wrap up the series with a climactic conclusion, but falters in execution, which has left me personally with an unsatisfying experience.

The story in this comic book centers around the final clash between the protagonist, Christopher, and the forces of darkness led by the resurrected Dracula. While the premise holds potential for an epic showdown, the narrative suffers from pacing issues and a lack of cohesive storytelling. Key plot points are rushed, resulting in a disjointed flow that makes it difficult for me personally to fully engage with the unfolding events.

The character development in this comic book, a crucial element in any narrative, is particularly lacking in this volume. Christopher, who should be the emotional anchor of the story, remains underdeveloped, with motivations that feel surface-level and uninspired. The supporting cast fares no better, serving primarily as plot devices rather than fully realized characters. This lack of depth diminishes the emotional impact of the story and makes it challenging for me personally to connect with the characters’ struggles.

The dialogues throughout this comic book often feels stilted and unnatural. The interactions between characters lack the nuance needed to convey their relationships and conflicts effectively. This comic book further detracts from the overall narrative, preventing key moments from resonating with the emotional weight they deserve.

The artwork in this comic book while competent, cannot fully compensate for the narrative shortcomings. The illustrations capture the gothic atmosphere of the story, but lack the dynamic energy needed to elevate the action sequences. Character designs are adequate but not particularly memorable, contributing to the sense that the visual storytelling is not living up to its potential.

Despite its shortcomings, this comic book does attempt to explore themes such as power, redemption, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. However, these themes are not woven into the narrative with enough depth or sophistication to make a meaningful impact. The story misses opportunities to delve deeper into these concepts, resulting in a superficial exploration that lacks substance.

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“Vampire Cheerleaders/Paranormal Mystery Squad Vol. 2” By Adam Arnold & Shiei & Ian Cang Review

The campy supernatural double feature continues, from the author of Aoi House! After months of hard work and practice, the vampire cheerleaders of Bakertown High travel to Las Vegas where they hope to win the national cheerleading championships. But things quickly go awry when team captain Lori Thurston turns up missing after a wild night on the town with her teammates. With no time to find their missing captain, the vampire cheerleaders must restructure their routine before the tournament begins. But a grim fate awaits Lori at the hands of a mysterious and deadly foe. Vampire High Stakes is the lead story from Aoi House creative team Adam Arnold and Shiei.

This comic book struggles to deliver a compelling narrative. At the same time this comic book tries to blend supernatural elements with high school drama, but falls short in execution, which has left me personally with an unsatisfying experience.

The story in this comic book centers around a group of cheerleaders who are secretly vampires, coupled with a paranormal investigation squad dealing with various supernatural threats. While the premise offers potential for an engaging mix of humor and horror, the narrative lacks coherence and depth. The plot feels disjointed, jumping from one scenario to another without adequate development or transitions.

The character development in this comic book is very minimal, with the protagonists lacking distinct personalities or motivations. The cheerleaders, despite their supernatural twist, come across as stereotypical and one-dimensional. The paranormal squad fares no better, serving more as plot devices than fully realized characters. This lack of depth makes it difficult for me personally  to connect with the story or care about the characters’ fates.

The writing itself in this comic book tries to infuse humor and wit, but often falls flat. The dialogue is clichéd and fails to capture the nuances needed to make the interactions engaging or believable. The humor feels forced, relying on tired tropes rather than original or clever insights.

The artwork itself in this comic book, while competent, cannot compensate for the weak storytelling. The character designs and settings are adequate but lack the dynamic flair needed to elevate the narrative. The illustrations do not fully capture the potential energy of the supernatural and high school settings, resulting in visuals that feel static and uninspired.

One of the few positives of this comic book is the potential for genre-blending, combining elements of supernatural mystery and high school drama. However, the execution lacks the necessary balance and finesse to make these elements work together harmoniously. The story misses opportunities to explore interesting themes or character dynamics that could have added depth and intrigue.

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“Exodus” By Peter F. Hamilton Review

Forty thousand years ago, humanity fled a dying Earth. Traveling in massive arkships, these brave pioneers spread out across the galaxy to find a new home. After traveling thousands of light-years, one fleet of arkships arrived at Centauri, a dense cluster of stars with a vast array of potentially habitable planets. The survivors of Earth signaled to the remaining arkships that humanity had finally found its new home among the stars.

Ive heard a lot of good things about this book on the internet, which was the main reason why I have chosen to buy and reading this book, I gotta admit that this book is one of those way too overhyped books which I regret reading. 

The plot in this book had a lot of potential to actually being good. But in my opinion this book has way too events and characters to keep track of which made it very confusing to me personally. Because the author just bombards us with a truck load of information and characters at once. In my opinion it would have been better if the author tried to ease us as readers to all of the information which is relevant to this book rather than just throw all of those informations at once at us. 

The plot in this book was very predictable and contained a lot of generic SCI-FI jargon which didn’t let the plot anywhere, which really made this book disappointed by this book. Because the plot in this book had a fair share of potential which apparently the author decided to trash instead of use in this book.

The characters in this book are pretty shallow. There are too many characters which we get their point of few from, which means we don’t spend a lot of time with each of the characters in this book. Which means we don’t get a lot of sense of the personalities and quirks each character has, which made them seem very shallow and boring to be very honest here. At the same time the different point of views we get in this book, makes it seem like the author couldn’t decide who was the main character in this book and which character weren’t as relevant to the story as others. 

All of the characters in this book have the same pattern of thinking and doing things on, which made me constantly question which point of view we are currently following in this book. Which also made it very hard for me personally telling the characters apart in this book because they all seemed the same to me personally. Because there was nothing making the characters standout from each other and actually be likable in ay way.

A lot of the chapters in this book start off with describing different environments to just switch it without a warning to a character minding their own business and going to talk to someone else. Which made me question why the lengthy descriptions at the beginning of most chapters were even there if they weren’t that relevant in this book.

The writing style in this book was very generic in this book but also very high school textbook like. Which made me think that the author didn’t care about this book to actually make it fun to read. 

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“Warlock: Introduction” By Nick Lyons & Jacob Bear Review

A new story from the cult film WARLOCK from Lionsgate. The Warlock is on a mission to destroy a book that contains a spell which imprisoned six other Warlocks. If the book manages to be destroyed, the dangerous Warlocks would be released back into the world free to cause chaos and destruction. It’s up to a rag-tag group of people to prevent the Warlock from carrying out his plan.

Let me start this review by saying that this one is just a preview for the entire comic book. And I read it because I wanted to see if the full comic book was worth the money and time I would spend on it. And I’m gonna give you the answer for that at the end of this review.

This preview unfortunately misses the mark. At the same time this preview attempts to introduce us as readers to a new fantasy world filled with magic and intrigue, but it struggles to deliver a cohesive or engaging story.

The narrative in this preview follows a protagonist who is thrust into a world of sorcery and conflict. While the premise has potential, the execution is lacking. The plot is disjointed, jumping from scene to scene without clear transitions. This lack of cohesion makes it difficult for me personally to follow the story or become invested in the characters’ journeys.

The character development is one of the preview’s weakest points. The protagonist is presented without much depth or backstory, making it hard for me personally to connect with or care about their fate. Supporting characters are similarly underdeveloped, serving more as plot devices than fully realized individuals. As a result, the emotional impact of the story is minimal.

The artwork in this preview, although competent in places, fails to consistently enhance the narrative. The illustrations often lack detail and dynamism, with some panels appearing rushed or unfinished. This inconsistency in the art further detracts from the overall reading experience. While there are occasional glimpses of creativity in the character designs, they are not enough to elevate the visual storytelling.

Dialogues in this preview tends to be clunky and clichéd, lacking the nuance needed to bring the characters and their interactions to life. Conversations often feel forced and do little to advance the plot or develop relationships. This stilted dialogue further alienates with us as readers, making it difficult to engage with the story.

The pacing is another significant issue I had with this preview. This preview rushes through key plot points without giving them the necessary space to breathe. This rapid progression leaves little room for world-building or character exploration, both of which are crucial for a fantasy story to succeed. As a result, the world of “Warlock” feels shallow and underdeveloped.

Despite its shortcomings, this preview does hint at potential. The basic concept of a magical world filled with conflict and intrigue could provide a rich foundation for storytelling. However, significant improvements in narrative structure, character development, and visual execution are needed to realize this potential.

So will I buy and read the full version of this comic book ? I don’t think I will. The main reason behind this is how poorly this preview was very uninteresting for me personally.

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“The Night House” By Jo Nesbø Review

In the wake of his parents’ tragic deaths in a house fire, fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote, insular town of Ballantyne. Richard quickly earns a reputation as an outcast, and when a classmate named Tom goes missing, everyone suspects the new, angry boy is responsible for his disappearance. No one believes him when he says the telephone booth out by the edge of the woods sucked Tom into the receiver like something out of a horror movie. No one, that is, except Karen, a beguiling fellow outsider who encourages Richard to pursue clues the police refuse to investigate. He traces the number that Tom prank called from the phone booth to an abandoned house in the Black Mirror Wood. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices begin to whisper in his ear.

I need to admit that this book was pretty much a disaster, it had some good scenes spread out throughout this book. But other than that, I got an impression of this book that Jo Nesbø was a mix between “The institute” by Stephen King and “It” by Stephen King.

The plot in this book was all over the place. The plot in this book felt like it had too many ideas added to it in such a way that made me feel like the author was trying to get too many different readers to read this book, to actually work for any of them. At the same time all of those ideas which were thrown into the plot felt unfinished and unexplored in this book because the plot in this book tried to go into many different directions and because of it, the plot didn’t go actually anywhere meaningful.

As I’ve said above in the intro, the overall plot of this book reminded me of a heavy mix of “The institute” by Stephen King and “it” by stepping king. Because the overall premise of this book was pretty much the same, because there are those kids in a institute in a way and they are trying to get out because the “ghost” or the bad guy in this book is treating to kill someone the main character really cares about.

The characters in this book, are pretty flat and shallow. I personally had a very hard time trying to tell the characters apart in this book, which really made it confusing for me personally. All of the characters in this book lack personalities or something that would make them standout for themselves from the rest of the characters in this book.

The main character in this book is very annoying and frustrating. Because he acts like a spoiled 9-year-old and he is the main reason why I hate this book as much as I do.

The writing itself in this book was very basic. It almost felt like YA-ish writing style which again comes back to the author trying to appeal this book to as many people as possible with this book. 

This book was very disappointing for me personally because I’m a huge fan of the “harry hole” series which this author has written. So I expected this book to be as good as the Harry Hole series which of course it wasn’t.

I Give This Book 1 / 5

“Alchemised” By SenLinYu Review

In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy—and the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.

I need to admit here that this book is the most overhyped book of 2025 and probably the most overhyped book of the 2020s. Now that I have read this book I need to be honest and say that this book is very very bad and it doesn’t deserve the hype and praises it gets because there is nothing good about this book.

The plot in this book started off very well because it was intriguing and interesting. But the deeper I got into this book the plot started getting more and more boring. This book tries way too hard to be a mix of fantasy and romance, which had really put me off because it was trying too hard to be something it wasn’t. I have also noticed that the plot was trying to be very similar and take a lot of hints from the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series which I personally loved a lot. But this book is trying to copy A Court of Thorns and Roses Series a lot which has really put the author of this book in a very bad light for me personally.

Reading this book was like reading a very gruesome history book, because the whole plot of this book was apparently all about the bad stuff that has happened to the main character and which kept happening to her. 

The plot in this book is also very repetitive which in my opinion makes it very annoying and boring. I lost count of how many times I read in this book about the main character walking down to the courtyard or touring around the house. Every time I read either of those things this book made me want to throw this book into the fireplace I don’t have.

The plot in this book also dumps too much information on us as readers which really made me very confused and annoyed. Because the majority of the information which is dumped onto us at any given time isn’t relevant to what is happening currently in the book. 

The characters in this book were trying very hard to be relatable and to me very much like the characters from A Court of Thorns and Roses Series. All the characters we got in this book had some form of personalities, but other than that I had very hard time trying to tell the characters apart from each other. Because all of the characters in this book seemed like the same person to me because their personalities were pretty much the same.

This book is also extremely long (over 1000 pages) which makes everything in this book drag on and on without an end. I personally think that this book would have done so much better if this book were 300 pages long. Because my main issue with this book is that it drags out everything that happens in this book, this book would have done so much better without the dragging out everything.

The writing itself in this book is very torturous in my opinion. Because it tries very hard to please both fantasy readers and the young adult readers, which gave me personally mixed signals about who exactly this book was for because it tried to please too many people to actually have a clear audience in my opinion. The writing style also reads like the a history book, which didn’t help me liking this book any more than I already did.

I Give This Book 1 / 5