Graphic Novel Reviews: Play Ball by Nunzio Defilippis & Christina Weird Published by Oni Press

Play Ball 

(advance reader copy from NetGalley.com)

available for purchase from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Half Price Books.

Written by Nunzio Defilippis & Christina Weir

Artist: Jackie Lewis

Published by Oni Press

I am not regularly interested in reading anything related to sports. It is just not my particular cup of tea. I decided to step outside of my comfortable reading box though and give this a chance. I did this primarily because it was about a female trying to get on a sports team. I find it interesting when people work on going outside of what the world deems appropriate for their gender. This book did not disappoint in that sense either.

The story of "Play Ball" is about Dashiell Brody who has just recently moved to a new school. She hears that the school has a baseball team and immediately is interested in trying out for it. The book shows the struggles that she has to overcome in a male-dominated field, even if it is set in a high school. She has to fight stereotypes that women are simply not as able to play baseball because they are weaker. She has to prove herself at every chance, which isn't easy when even your teammates are telling you that you shouldn't be there. It is an uphill battle that she takes on, but I won't spoil how it ends because this isn't one of those happily ever after tales. This story actually had a rather nice ending that fit for the story. I loved that Defilippis and Weir did not just give us a cookie cutter "she did it" ending. Their ending had depth, which made me enjoy the sports story more than I thought I could. 

The artwork by Jackie Lewis was what one would expect from this type of story. It wasn't breathe-taking in the way that some other more prestigious graphic novels are done (think any marvel or dc book), but the style fits perfectly for the world that Dashiell lives in. It lends a softer tone overall to the feeling of the book, which I think is needed due to the discrimination she faces at the beginning of the story. If the artwork had been harsher it would not have worked on any level. Instead we are able to feel secure that things are going to get better because the artwork isn't making us feel dark or mysterious.

The fun of this book is also in the development of the relationships between people. We see Dashiell's family develop over the entire story. Her sister goes from hater to supporter. Her mother deals with a lot because of what appears to be her ex-husband. The background characters do not remain static, but push Dashiell's story forward in ways that added so many needed layers. Those layers make her so approachable because we feel her emotions. Those emotions are universal, so we can relate our own experiences somewhere to hers. Other characters, like some of her teammates, develop in surprising ways. One in particular moves from a deep hatred of Dashiell to something significantly more meaningful. The way these progressions are presented in the writing makes them feel natural and not out of place, which could have been the place in a less writers hand. I would love to pat these two writers on the back for presenting a story for even the non-sports fan enthusiast. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!!

Graphic Novel Reviews: Courtney Crumrin, Volume 1 by Ted Naifeh

"A dark fantasy world spun for children"

Courtney Crumrin Volume 1: The Night Things

by Ted Naifeh

Published by Oni Press

Free Reading Copy from NetGalley

available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books

This is not a book I would have normally been drawn to if I came across it on a bookshelf, but felt like it would be interesting to go with something outside of my comfort zone for my first comic book review on the site. I am pleasantly shocked with my feelings of this particular volume based on this. Courtney Crumrin has both horror and fantasy undertones, but is also clearly made for a young audience. It feels like it may draw some influence from similar graphic novels like Neil Gaiman's "Coraline". One difference you need to be made aware of though is Courtney Crumrin is darker, especially when you consider Naifeh had a character eaten within it. This doesn't detract from the fact that this is a pleasant read and one that will make you want to have further adventures with the Crumrin family.

The book starts at Courtney's family moving into what can best be described as a haunted mansion with her father's great-uncle to take care of him. It becomes apparent pretty quickly that the uncle is trying to make himself appear to be normal. The stories contained within primarily involve Courtney getting into trouble in the new home because of her lack of knowledge of the witchcraft that it contains. Each story builds nicely upon each other, but each can also be taken separately without losing any of their charm. This is a rare gem when reading a graphic novel since so many creators are desperate to have the entire volume be a gigantic collected work. Naifeh doesn't do this and as a result he creates a truly unique and memorable experience. As a reader you can feel that you can stop at any moment to return later, but you will find yourself not wanting to put it down. The stories are clever and interesting. They are also easy to read, which is important since this feels like a children's series. 

The only gripe I have actually turns out not to be such a gripe. The artwork is done wonderfully, but the way that he draws his people feels a bit rushed. When we compare this to the time spent on backgrounds we can understand that this is a conscious choice made by Naifeh. It makes you focus instead on the content of the story instead of worrying about the character's look. I commend him for this excellent decision that adds a much needed distraction from the normal trappings of other lesser graphic novels. We are able here to focus entirely on Courtney's world and become entrenched in the dark fantasy aspects. We are able to escape and find ourselves wondering what will happen next.

As I mentioned, I am not normally a person that enjoys books, especially comics, with a dark element to them, but this was a fun read. If you want a children's series that has a nice element that isn't dumbed down this, in context of having read only the first book, appears to be a worthwhile series. One that I feel that I might enjoy reading the second volume of in the near future myself. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!