January 2024 MBR The Graphic Novel Shelf

The Graphic Novel Shelf

Red Harvest
Michael Cherkas
NBM Publishing
www.nbmpub.com
9781681123202, $19.99, HC, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Red-Harvest-Graphic-Terror-Ukraine/dp/1681123207

Synopsis: Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin waged a brutal war against the Soviet peasantry leading to the Holodomor, the terror-famine that killed at least 4 million Ukrainians during the fall and winter of 1932-33.

"Red Harvest: A Graphic Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine" is a graphic novel by Michael Cherkas that is based on the tragic events that took place in Soviet Ukraine and other parts of the Soviet Union from 1929 to 1933.

Stalin and the ruling Communist Party began their program of forced large-scale collectivization of individual farms and farmers, including the seizure of livestock, farm implements, crops, seed stock, and other property.

Although "Red Harvest" is the fictional story, it is also historically accurate and based on true stories as related to the Ukranian-Canadian author, of Mykola Kovalenko, a Ukrainian immigrant to Canada, who was the only member of his family to have survived the famine. Through his memories, we witness the horrors of what happened to his family and fellow villagers in the "breadbasket of Europe" as they struggled not only to make sense of the war that was being waged against them -- but, ultimately, to survive.

Critique: A simply riveting read from start to finish, "Red Harvest: A Graphic Novel of the Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine" raises the medium of the graphic novel to a peerless level of literary excellence. The visual imagery is memorably and effective rendered in black-and-white. "Red Harvest" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted that "Red Harvest" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99) as well.

Editorial Note: Michael Cherkas (https://canadianaci.ca/Encyclopedia/cherkas-michael) was born in Oshawa, Ontario in 1954 from Ukrainian roots. He has worked for over 30 years as a graphic designer, art director, cartoonist and illustrator. He still enjoys using non-repro blue pencils, brush, India ink and paper when making comics. His other graphic novels include the critically praised The Silent Invasion.

Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind
Bruce Dickinson, et al.
Z2 Comics
https://z2comics.com
9781954928268, $39.99, HC, 120pp

https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Maiden-Piece-Bruce-Dickinson/dp/1954928262

Synopsis: 40 years have passed since the release of "Piece of Mind" by the heavy metal rock band Iron Maiden. More than just an album, it was a thunderous statement of intent by a band whose meteoric rise from the East End of London would propel them to the world stage, thrusting them into the realms of legend.

In the format of a graphic novel, "Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind" is commemorative tome, containing comics, art, and remembrances from acclaimed writers, artists, musicians and storytellers, is a powerful celebration of the unparalleled vision which inspired them -- the living legend that is IRON MAIDEN.

Critique: An absolute 'must' for the legions of heavy metal fans in general, and Iron Maiden fans in particular, "Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university Rock Music graphic novel collections.

Editorial Note: Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most of the band's history has consisted of Harris, lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers. As pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, Iron Maiden released a series of UK and US Platinum and Gold albums, including 1980's debut album, 1981's Killers, and 1982's The Number of the Beast - its first album with Bruce Dickinson, who replaced Paul Di'Anno as lead singer. The addition of Dickinson was a turning point in their career, establishing them as one of heavy metal's most important bands. The Number of the Beast is among the most popular heavy metal albums of all time, having sold almost 20 million copies worldwide.

Zombillenium, Vols. 5-6: Black Friday/Sabbath Grand Derby
Arthur de Pins, author
NBM Publishing
www.nbmpub.com
9781681123172, $24.99, HC, 96pp

https://www.amazon.com/Zombillenium-Vols-5-6-Friday-Sabbath/dp/1681123177

Synopsis: The day after "Black Friday" at Zombillenium, the employees have carte blanche to devour the visitors, encouraged by management who intends to profit from these gains in new souls.

To thwart Charlotte and Aurelian's sinister plans with her resistance network, Gretchen must first settle accounts with her past. And in the last culminating episode, The Zombillenium amusement park, which still keeps dozens of visitors prisoner, is coveted by many demons, each eager to become a majority shareholder.

The only method of arbitration accepted by all: the Sabbath Grand Derby, a sporting event as violent as it is inventive in which five witches compete against each other and will be fed to visitors to the park... Among the candidates, a certain Gretchen, determined to play her best...

The spectators of the Sabbath Grand Derby, broadcast like an ordinary reality TV program, will get an eyeful! As for Gretchen, she is facing a handful! The most spectacular of the Zombillenium volumes "Zombillenium, Vols. 5-6: Black Friday/Sabbath Grand Derby" for an true apotheosis of a finale!

Critique: This large format (9 x 0.5 x 12 inches, 1.53 pounds) hardcover edition of Arthur de Pins' superbly original graphic novel series from NBM Publishing, "Zombillenium, Vols. 5-6: Black Friday/Sabbath Grand Derby" is a fun read from start to finish and will prove to be of particular interest to fans of humor laced fantasy fiction. While highly recommended for personal and community library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted that "Zombillenium, Vols. 5-6: Black Friday/Sabbath Grand Derby" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.

Editorial Note: French artist and author Arthur de Pins was born in Brittany in 1977. He got his start as a professional comics creator with the magazine Fluide Glacial, and the series P ch s mignons (published by Fluide Glamour), starting in 2006. In 2010, de Pins debuted a new series, the black comedy Zombillenium (Dupuis; NBM/Europe Comics in English). The success of the series led to the release of a feature-length animated film in 2017, and which was co-written and co-directed by de Pins.

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