The Eternal Smile - Three Stories by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim

Comic: The Eternal Smile - Three Stories
Release date: May 2009
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Derek Kirk Kim
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Cover: full-color
Interior: full-color
Synopsis: The story of a prince who defeats his greatest enemy only to discover that maybe his world is not what it had seemed. 
The story of a frog who finds that just being a frog might be the way to go.
The story of a women who receives an e-mail from Prince Henry of Nigeria asking for a loan to help save his family – and gives it to him.  

The Deal

After having bought 'Missouri Boy' by the same publisher (and really liking it) I didn't think too hard about it when I saw this graphic novel in the sales section of a book store in England (for the life of me I can't remember what store it came from). I've never read the well known story of 'American Born Chinese' by Gene Luen Yang and 'Same Difference' by Derek Kirk Kim but I've read great reviews about those two stories. It felt like I was buying a book with a dream-team partnership. 

The Feel

I can almost copy and paste this section from my earlier review of Missouri Boy, also a 'First Second' graphic novel. I've since seen a couple more and it seems all their books are designed to the same specifications and probably printed by the same Chinese printer. 
Both the front and back cover have an inside flap and are made of thick sturdy paper that will keep your book in perfect condition. Unfortunately in my copy the glued part of the the front and back cover part has come loose from the interior pages. The perfect binding is still holding all the pages together but I have to wonder how long that will last if I keep reading the stories. But perhaps that's why it was in the sales section of the store? The interior pages are made up of full color printed bleached matte paper. The pages in my copy were cut perfectly straight and kept together with perfect binding. The front and back cover have been UV-spot coated on top of the typography and most of the artwork.

The Stories and the Look

Three stories with three completely different but very impressive drawing styles. The three stories are about the reality we live in and the reality we perceive. They're all stories with a twist, I won't delve into the details too deep so I'll give it away.

Duncan's Kingdom
The princess wants her favorite knight to kill the Frog King who killed her father. Will he succeed and what else will he find?
A story of reality and the power of a guilty conscience. The story follows through quickly. I thought it was nice but did see the twist coming so wasn't surprised at the ending. Did find that everything was explained at the end and it all fitted properly in the story. The people and their surroundings were realistically drawn. If you put the first and the last picture of this story next to each other you can fill in the story in between in many different ways. If I was a teacher I'd give these two pages to students and ask them to make the story in between. To me it felt like a classic reality story that felt re-hashed. I found nothing new or surprising in the story as it was told. I did however really like the artwork. It fitted the story, colors were dark and gloomy where they were supposed to be and happy and colorful where it fitted. Well done Derek Kirk Kim.

Gran'pa Greenbax and The Eternal Smile
I loved the artwork from the first page, like it came straight from a 60's comic. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Story wise it started out good and I was wondering what would happen, but the middle just got a bit crazy for me and I started to wonder where it was going. The ending came as a surprise but did make me think of The Truman Show a bit too much. 

Urgent Request
Janet meets an on-line Nigerian prince who promises to send her money if she'll let him use her bank account. I think we've all heard stories of what happens next.
The artwork is so completely different from the other two stories it looks like it's made by a different artist. The art is soft and has no hard edges. I like the changes between the colors of her real life and the fantasy she's living. I like how all the text and text balloons are outside the panels so they don't interfere with the artwork. The story was set up very nicely. I really felt for Janet at her office and felt for her as she sent out the first e-mail to her new Nigerian friend. I know these things happen with people who fall for these kinds of things hook, line and sinker. I thought it ended in the middle of the story, there could be so much more than this. I guess that's the only disappointment I have with this story. The art is beautiful, the story is nice and sometimes a bit crazy. 

The Conclusion

I feel conflicted about this graphic novel. It contains three stories and all of them have their good points but as a whole it's not quite where it could be. I liked 'Urgent Request' the most although I think there could be so much more to the story. It feels unfinished somehow. The three artistic styles drawn by Derek Kirk Kim are amazingly beautiful and very different from each other. 

How to get a copy

I found my copy on sale and got it for 4,99 GBP. I Googled the title and found it on a couple of websites, the cheapest was on Amazon USA. It was no longer available from 'First Second' publishers so your best bet might be to get it from a second hand store. 

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Missouri Boy by Leland Myrick

Comic: Missouri Boy
Release date: September 2006
Writer and artist: Leland Myrick
Publisher: First Second ':01'
Cover: full-color
Interior: full-color
Synopsis: Happiness alternates with tragedy in these snapshots of Myrick's own Missouri childhood. Filled with startling and at times achingly beautiful images -- from a perfect paper airplane flying in the autumn sky to visits to the "underwear pond" to a solitary cross-country motorcycle trip -- Myrick has created a graphic poem that brings together the experiences that formed his character, for better and for worse. 

The Deal

I often visit 'Het Boekenfestijn' which is a book wholesaler that sells books (new), graphic novels (new) and comics (new and 2nd hand) at very low prices. They pop up in big venues all around the Netherlands and Belgium every couple of weeks. They usually have two large rows with tables filled with comics, TPB and HC's. That's where I found Missouri Boy. The cover intrigued me, but I wasn't completely sold on it when I flipped through the inner pages,. The way the faces and especially the lips, were drawn didn't speak to me at all, but it had planted a seed in my head that grew and made me come back to flip through it a couple more times. I really wanted to like it. At the end of the day I finally took it home with me. 

The Feel

The book is beautifully made, both the front and back cover have an inside flap and are made of thick sturdy paper which will last you for years even if you read the book over and over again. The interior pages are made up of full color printed bleached matte paper. The whole book is kept together with perfect binding and it looks and feels very good in your hands. All the pages in my copy were perfectly cut and bound with perfect binding. The overall matte colors on the interior pages were printed to perfection and the whole book feels very professionally made. The typography and the floating leaves on the cover have been UV spot coated.

The Story

This autobiographic graphic novel reads like a collection of poems. The single chapters are a collection of snippets from Myricks life. If you're looking for a book with a plot, a clear beginning and and end, this is not the one for you. 
Myrick starts at the beginning, literary, at his and his twin-brothers birth. A beautiful story of the cycle of life which is followed by ten chapters filled with some of the memories of his life as he grows up in Missouri. The memories aren't all happy ones. He shows us his older brother as he gets sentenced to ten years imprisonment and gets bullied by his friends and even his twin. They're counter weighed by happy memories. The ones that stuck with me the most were "Paper Airplane" and "Underwear Pond". Each chapter is a new memory, a new year, a new feeling and perspective of the world. It's the poetry of life.

The Look

When I first saw the book I was drawn to it because of the beautiful bright orange colours on the cover. I flipped through the inner pages and just wasn't sure if I should buy it. I liked everything about the artwork except for the way Myrick draws the lined lips. Weird how something so small can have such an impact. That being said I also realize it's the whole book that does it for me, the snippets, the artwork and especially the colors make this book. It's Myricks life and his drawings as he sees his memories. The predominant colours are brown, green and blue matte. I like how the snippets of Myricks life all have a title and a chapter page with the year of when the memory took place. It gives you time to say goodbye to the last memory before beginning a new one. 

The Conclusion

Especially after thinking so hard about getting/not getting this graphic novel I'm now so happy to have it in my bookcase. The chapters are really nice and the autobiographical nature just make you think of your own childhood. I think most readers that are older than thirty-five can relate to one or more of these stories. You will better understand it when you're a certain age, because your own memories will fit his more then when you've been born twenty years later. I do think the original price of 16,95 USD is a bit steep, I would probably not have bought it at it's original price.  

How to get a copy

I can't find it up on the First Second website any more but that's not strange for a book from 2006. You can still find it on Amazon USA or else you'll most likely find it at a 2nd hand (online) book store (ISBN 1-59643-110-5). 

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TRS-80 Computer Whiz Kids written by Paul Kupperberg, art by Dick Ayers and Chic Stone

Comic: TRS-80 Computer Whiz Kids
Release date: 1984
Writer: Paul Kuppenberg
Artists: Dick Ayers, Chic Stone
Cover: full-color
Interior: full-color
Synopsis: Archie comics made this comic to be used as a promotional device for Radio Shack Division of the Tandy Corporation. The comic is partly a step by step guide on how to use the TSR-80 model 12 computer and partly an adventure where Alec and Shanna prevent terrorism. 

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Chimichanga by Eric Powell, Part 2 of 3

Comic: Chimichanga, Part 2 of 3
Release date: may 2010
Writer and artist: Eric Powell
Cover: full-color
Interior: black/gray on white paper
Synopsis: This is about a little bearded girl and her escapades with a slightly less than extraordinary traveling circus.

The Deal

After finding the first issue by accident I put the other two issues on my wish list. Low and behold on one of the next Boekenfestijn (Bookfestival, a wholesale bookseller in the Netherlands and Belgium that rents big venues by the weekend to sell millions of books and boxes filled with comics at highly discounted prices). They pop up now and again in my neck of the woods and I have no choice but to go. I found this second issue on one of my consecutive visits and was very elated. 

The Feel

Most likely printed by the same printer because it has exactly the same specifications as the first issue. The cover has full-color artwork printed on shiny stock paper. The interior pages are bleached white, they have the feel of thick newspaper stock and it brings out Powells grey/black artwork perfectly. I can't find any printing mistakes, every page is straight and cut to perfection with two saddle stitches holding all the pages together.

The Story

An evil corporation needs the little bearded girl for her chin whiskers which hold a special medicine that can make them a lot of money. From there things go very bad for the little bearded girl and Chimichanga. Once again it ends in a cliffhanger. I love the panel with all the acts in the circus and what they do in it. It's not a laugh out loud comic, it's just a very refined and nice story about a girl and her 'beast'. Children will most likely find this second part the most exiting one because a lot of things happen and really none of them are good. The cliffhanger is also a good one. You can almost hear the voice straight out of the old Batman tv-series go: "Will she survive?", "Will little bearded girl and Chimichanga ever be together again?" etc... 

The Look

The emphasis of the artwork is definitely on the characters. The backgrounds are often vague or not there at all, except when it serves the story, then suddenly you get to see in full glory what Powell can do with his pencils. I like his style. He shows what's important and leaves out what's not. Keeping the focus on what the artist wants you to see and what's important for the story line, where many artists get lost in the details.  

The Conclusion

Again I can continue on from the comments I left for the first issue. It's a lovely all-age story with brilliant and beautifully drawn characters, wonderful artwork by Eric Powell. I've since looked up Powell and found that he's worked on some other of the comic books that are among of my favorites. Maybe that's why I immediately put the comic in my cart in the first place.  

How to get a copy

You can get the three single black/grey issues that make up the full story or you can get the full-color 104-page hardcover produced by Dark Horse Comics. I think it all comes down to your personal taste. The single issue series was made in 2009 and the full-color series in 2011 so your best bet would be your local comics store if it has back issues or a website like Ebay or Amazon. You can find more art from Eric Powells website. 

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Chimichanga by Eric Powell, Part 1 of 3

Comic: Chimichanga, Part 1
Release date: december 2009
Writer and artist: Eric Powell
Cover: full-color
Interior: black/white
Synopsis: This is about a little bearded girl and her escapades with a slightly less than extraordinary traveling circus.

The Deal

Every couple of weeks there's a 'Boekenfestijn' (Bookfestival) somewhere in the Netherlands or Belgium. They have rows and rows of comic storage boxes filled with (usually) bagged comics which they sell for 0,99 euro a piece. So you can imagine me and my friends are all over those boxes. On one of my visits I found Chimichanga and the cover grabbed my attention immediately. I flipped trough the inside and though I usually go for full-color I couldn't take my eyes of the artwork. A no brainer for the 0,99 euro.

The Feel

The cover has full-color artwork printed on shiny stock paper. The interior pages are bleached, they have the feel of thick newspaper stock and that brings out Powells grey/black artwork perfectly. I can't find any printing mistakes, every page has been  printed straight and cut to perfection with two evenly placed saddle stitches holding all the pages together.

The Story

A little bearded girl from 'Wrinkles Traveling Circus' trades a couple of her chin whiskers for a shiny rock. And so she had a new friend. This first part of this three part series is very sweet. It's definitely an all-age comic. The little bearded girl will steal your heart the first time you stare down the pits of her endlessly black eyes. I also like evil witches that you can feel will fail (and will always fail, like Gargamel). 
The story builds straight from the first moment we meet our very charming little girl as she comes in contact with her new friend. It never feels too slow or rushed. This first part does end in a cliffhanger so you'll want to make sure you have the 2nd and even 3rd issue ready to continue reading. I don't think it's high literature, but I do think it's a very nice story and really for all-ages. I have an eight year old son and I'm always glad when I find a real all-age comic. The girl is cute, Chimichanga is a nice monster and the witch is a real witch, it all just sounds like a fairy tale. 

The Look

The cover depicts a beautiful subtle colored little bearded girl holding the pinkie finger of the Chimichanga. Often covers don't represent the artwork of the interior pages, but in this case it does exactly that. The artwork inside the comic is the same style as the cover, only in black/grey. I love being able to see every stroke made. Every panel has been well thought out and it looks great. The little bearded girl looks so sweet. I think it's great that Powell can draw a little girl that looks so lovely with a beard and deep black eyes. The 'monster' Chimichanga that looks like a googley-eyed troll creature is also different from any troll or monster type creature that I've ever seen and all the other figures from the circus have their own oddities. Artistically it's beautiful and I'm happy I found it among all the other comics in the boxes.  

The Conclusion

It's a lovely all-age story, no violence, brilliant characters, wonderful art. If you'd like me to say something bad about it then I can. It's in black/grey, I'd love to see it in full-color, but you can relax because in their unlimited wisdom 'Black Horse Comics' decided in 2011 to release this three part series as an HC of 104-pages and it's in full-color!

How to get a copy

Like I said, you can get the three single black/grey issues that make up the full story or you can get the full-color 104-page hardcover produced by Dark Horse Comics. I think it all comes down to your personal taste. The single issue series was made in 2009 and the full-color series in 2011 so your best bet would be your local comics store if it has back issues or a website like Ebay or Amazon. You can find more art from Eric Powells website. 

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Trollords, issue no.2 by Scott Beaderstadt and Paul Fricke

Comic: Trollords, issue no.2
Release date: May 1986
Writer: Scott Beaderstadt and Paul Fricke
Artist: Scott Beaderstadt and Paul Fricke
Publisher: Tru Studios
Cover: full color
Interior: pen drawings (black on white paper)
Synopsis: When their cave home is destroyed by flood waters, the trolls find themselves literally facing death!
Rejecting the 'Final Option', the trolls return to earth and life. Resolved to find meaning in their renewed existence, our heroes get their chance when they save the lovely and disturbed Kelly Nugrowski.
Draw away from her shortly thereafter, they find that it's not so easy to escape death... and now they are...

The Deal

It's very rare that I find an English comic when I go to car boot sale in my native country but last Sunday I did. Lucky me! Now I've known the guy that I bought it off from when I still owned an on-line store, but he didn't recognize me. Not a problem, but I got his whole b*s routine about how this comic is worth quite the figure. If he'd recognized me from before he wouldn't have bothered. I bought the comic for € 1,50.

The Feel

Everything about this comic screams mid 1980's printer. From the newsprint paper interior to the slightly heavier glossy coated full color cover. I love it, nothing but nostalgia here. 

The Story

It's a continuing story about the Trollords. Even though I don't have, and have never read, the first issue there's an explanation of the trolls first issue on the first page (see the synopsis at the top of this page) which really helps you to get into the story. Though I can only comment on this issue, I can see a really good story development here and I find myself looking out for more issues. There is mention of suicide in this issue, so I wouldn't give it to younger children even though they look like they might be for all ages, the story isn't. 
So much pulp was made in the 80's and 90's it's good to find a decent story, it even made me laugh on several pages.

The Look

The drawings were made with black pen and they've been finished to a high standard. The trolls anatomy seems correct and realistic. The layout of the panes on the pages, compliments the story line and is different on every page. 

The Conclusion

They're well drawn, have a plot and it keeps you on your toes and it's funny to read. What's not to like? If you don't mind going old-school then this is for you. Only problem is that one issue isn't going to get you very far in the story line. I'd suggest you try to get some more to really enjoy the Trollords.  

How to get a copy?

Well that might not be all that difficult. I found quite a few of them on eBay. You can get them anywhere from 1,00 GBP all the way to crazy. As far as I could find there are eighteen Trollords issues in existence, some were published by 'Tru Studios' and some by 'Apple Comics' both publishers started with issue #1 so take a close look before buying so you don't mix up your issues.  Even though the comics are from the 1980's the three Trollords are still alive and well and living on this facebookpage. There's even mention of digitizing the first eight issues. 

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