#castle in the stars

[balu8]

Alex Alice

[chronivore]

Cutaway illustration of the "Schwanstern", 1870, an aether ship featured in Castle in the Stars by Alex Alice

[irradiate-space]

Packige

Is this Dinotopia but in space with Frenchmen? To be determined!

[trashland-llamas]

Nov Wrap Up

[Note; I now have a bookstagram. If you'd like to check it out, can be found here]

U - Machiko Kyou [2.5 stars]

You ever finish reading a book and go, 'I guess?' Cause that's how I felt after reading this. Like it has the exact same brand of absurdity that the video game Plug & Play had. Like the art style of this manga felt very reminiscent of it, at least. The concept was interesting but couldn't really keep up with all the tongue swapping. Just cause at one point, Yuu's copy clotheslines Ai who is original! Yuu's twin. So right there, you have three characters who look the exact same.

Castle in the Stars; A Frenchman on Mars - Alex Alice [2.75 stars]

I liked this one better than the last one I read in the series. The art style still does the heavy lifting but there was more plot. There's also enough members in the cast to where things are actually interesting this time around as there's some conflict. Even when it's two children childishly bickering back and forth. Granted I don't really get the whole 'you're no longer children' bit at the end cause while yes, they're now involved with the politics of the time, they are still very much children. Like besides the redhead shooting a Martian, nothing's happened to indicate a loss of childhood.

The Mystery of Exploding Teeth and other Curiosities from the History of Medicine - Thomas Morris [3.0 stars]

Fulfills the itch that is my passing interest in medicine and medical oddities. That said, by the cases that were picked, you're never allowed to forget that the author is male. But I will say, the author's interjections on the cases were similar to my own reactions for the most part, but with more British snark to them. Furthermore, the cases covered took place between the 17th-19th centuries and were more on the tall-tale/hearsay side of things.

As in there's nothing to back them up except for what was written in the medical publications at the time and tended to have little to no explanation behind them. The lack of explanation was rather disappointing to me but I did get to learn a bunch of new medical vocabulary that I'll never have usage for except a fun fact here and there. That and it was interesting to see how the approaches to medicine have changed throughout the centuries.

Morpho: Hands and Feet: Anatomy for Artists [3.25 stars]

Kill Joy - Holly Jackson [3.75 stars]

It's been a while since I've read a book all in one sitting without any breaks, felt nice. Checked out this book after watching Natalie Hoover's video Random Wheel Chooses what I read for a week, but otherwise haven't read any of the original trilogy. Natalie had said in her video that it gives a lot of hints as to who the murderer in AGGGTM is and I will admit, I do have a few guesses. Also will probably end up checking out the original trilogy as I really liked the pacing and Pip's inner monologue.

Teen Titans: Earth One, Vol 1 - Jeff Lemire [3.75 stars]

Shadow of the Batgirl [4.0 stars]

Nomads: The Sky Kingdom [4.25 stars]

Rogue & Gambit: Ring of Fire [4.5 stars]

Batgirl Vol 3; Mindfields - Brenden Fletcher & Cameron Stewart [4.5 stars]

I really like Babs Tarr's illustration work from what I've seen so far. Also I'm a sucker for conversations about how adaptive tech like the one in Barbara's neck that allows her to walk can be hacked into. Or used as a means of surveillance among a population but not so much in the Black Mirror way. The only other story I've seen technology be similarly used is the Netflix show Bodies. But with that one, the character has a brother who also can't walk that chooses not to get the technology implemented with his views being that it takes away his freedom/autonomy.

That and this has been the 1st comic I've read so far that focuses more on a female team of superheroes/vigilantes and I do think I prefer it majorly to the stuff that focuses more on male characters. Like it actually felt like the characters within Barbara's group genuinely cared for one another. Even if they haven't known each other for a long time like Stephanie/Spoiler.

Solo Leveling Vol. 2 [4.5 stars]

I had listened to the audiobook version of volume one which I quickly found out covered all the chapters in this volume as well. The audiobook covers roughly chapters 1-6. Say roughly as there's still one to two more chapters from the audiobook and then the two versions are caught up/at the same spot iirc. That said, this version of the volume made Jinwoo more likable because after recovering in the hospital, he just sounded like a douche.

So yea, less douchey and it makes the miscommunication that occurs because of his hidden system better in terms of tone. That and the fight between him and the strike group was definitely better visually compared to audibly. There was more dynamic contrast but the audio version is clearer in terms of how exactly Jinwoo takes each of them out. Oddly enough, neither version is gorier than the other.

The Well - Jacob Wyatt [5.0 stars]

While I'm certain that the whole stealing from a wishing well and then sent on a quest/journey has been done a lot, this is the first book I've come across with it. And it's definitely a new favorite. Especially with the journey Lizzy goes on also being that of someone grieving people she never got the chance to know. Was really heartfelt and wholesome despite the angst.

[tashisha]

So I was finally able to get my hands on the full series of "château dans les étoiles" (castle in the stars) in Spanish. Castle in the Stars is a Jules Verne inspired fantasy space adventure set during the Belle Epoque, it also kinda has studio Ghibli vibes.

The comic is French and I'm pretty happy I found it in Spanish, because as far as I'm aware the full series was never translated into English. The art is absolutely stunning, each page is illustrated in full color watercolors, and I love the Belle Epoque period so I'm really enjoying it, maybe I'll write a review once I finish it. If you're a fan of Belle Epoque stuff, Jules Verne and studio Ghibli you'll like this series.

[mochipong]

Oh, starboy

[twinkpoll]

✨TWINK POLL GRAND FINAL✨

Howl Jenkins Pendragon (Howl's Moving Castle) vs Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)

IT'S FINALLY HERE, GANG! You know who they are, you have your biases, you have your propaganda ready...

VOTE FOR THE ULTIMATE TUMBLR TWINK!

[illustratus]

[auraofluckybluesmith555]

[webdiggerxxx]

꧁★꧂

[cak31ssuperi04]

Barbie protagonists but make it My Scene

[balu8]

Alex Alice

[elbydraws]

Sophie from ‘Howl’s moving castle’

[ghost-of-tk]

made this awhile ago but have since made several amendments.

[trashland-llamas]

Oct Wrap Up

[Didn't really do that many reviews beyond the star system value]

Castle in the Stars; The Moon-King [2.25 stars]

The art style definitely did the heavy lifting in establishing the ethereal atmosphere of the moon. I don't know what's missing from this book but there's something. Cause it has a good plot going for it but there's not really much to keep me invested. Not even the eventual conflict between the professor and the king. And with all the scientific jargon, I can't really pinpoint what age group it was targeted at. I guess it all just seems formulaic in a way.

Witchlight [3.25 stars]

The Battle of the Labyrinth; The Graphic Novel [4.0 stars]

A.X.E Judgement Companion [4.75 stars]

Lunar Boy [5.0 stars]

[thatssojeff]

Things I Learned Selling Smutty Fan Art At A Comic Convention

The overwhelming majority of women at comic conventions are into smut.

They all feel free to be excited about seeing smut around their friends, but they sneak away from the group 20 minutes later to actually buy it.

The majority of men are horrified by the sight of a guy with his shirt off.

Something can be so gay that homophobes can’t linger long enough to spout their bigoted views, lest they be seen standing near gay stuff.

Tween girls LOVE offensive stickers. LOVE. THEM.

Dads will reluctantly buy tween daughters almost anything they want.

Those dads draw the line at stickers that say “fuck me like the government.”

I knew anime was huge, but Jesus Christ, I was the only person in a Star Trek uniform at a COMIC CONVENTION. It was like 70% anime cosplay.

For all the shit people talk online, Star Wars is still huuuuuge. The day I went as Obi-Wan I was stoically told “May the force be with you” all day long by fellow Jedi.

When your friend says “if you’re going as Obi-Wan, I’m going as a sexy Anakin” you are apparently not allowed to ask “Hayden Christensen or Jake Lloyd?”