The Phantom Paragrapher

Review: Author Vs Illustrator - Donald Lemke and Illustrated by Bob Lentz - August 2024 "Author Vs Illustrator," written by Donald Lemke and illustrated by Bob Lentz, is an engaging and hilarious children's book that explores the dynamic and sometimes contentious relationship between an author and an illustrator. Aimed at readers aged 8-12, this book cleverly presents the creative process through a comic format, making it both accessible and entertaining. The story begins at the far reaches of Earth, atop a mountaintop, where a bustling city finds itself under attack by an unexpected menace—a cute little furball. This whimsical twist is far from the "ferocious beast" the author originally envisioned, leading to a comical clash between the author and illustrator. The narrative unfolds as a playful battle of wits and creativity, with each collaborator trying to impose their vision on the story. The author insists on a text-driven tale about a terrifying creature, ...

Review: I Will Judge You By Your BookShelf - Grant Snider - April 2020 As the final day of 2023 unfolds, what better way to bid adieu to the year than with a delightful exploration of bookish culture? Grant Snider, the beloved New York Times illustrator and creator of Incidental Comics, offers readers a whimsical journey into the hearts of book lovers in his latest graphic novel, "I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf." In this enchanting collection of one- and two-page comics, Snider sheds light on the unspoken truth that we are, indeed, judged by our bookshelves. From the moment we learn to read, books become our companions through the various stages of life. However, for some, books are not just a pastime—they are sacred objects, sources of inspiration, and a form of self-expression. Snider, with his signature lighthearted touch, beautifully captures the essence of bibliophilia, bringing to life the quirks and idiosyncrasies of those who surround themselves with books. The ch...

Review: Mind Over Mettle - #Volume 16 Lumberjanes - Various Authors/Illustrators - December 2020 I don't normally read graphic novels, but there is something about the Lumberjanes that I love. The friendship factor, the adventure, and the fun they get into as well as earning their badges and keeping the impression that it's a normal camp. I also loved that in Volume 16, that they have aged the characters nicely as we see the progressions of characters like Ripley, April, Jo, Mal, and  Molly, and yes - she still has her squirrel hat. This book starts with the girls out on one of their adventures as April wants to find someone fun to wrestle with so she can get her wrestling badge. This has Mal feeling uneasy as she is tired of being the "scared" one in the group and so she asks Ripley to help her become fearless. During one of their lessons though, Mal ends up falling through a portal and now the girls have to save Mal from the portal and bring her back to "this...

Review: Mary - The Adventures of Mary Shelley's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Granddaughter - Brea Grant and Yishan Li - October 2020 This graphic novel caught my attention as I liked the aspect of the character being related to Mary Shelley - author of Frankenstein and every now again I do enjoy reading graphic novels. In Mary, we are introduced to Mary who is a high school student and of course related to the famous Mary Shelley. Each of her family members has the skill of writing which is passed down from generation to generation. Mary though finds it hard to stay awake at school and is worried she isn't going to find a passion for writing which is hard when the rest of the female generations are so successful and well-known. It looks as though she has inherited the ability of healing and being a doctor of sorts, which makes sense as her father is a doctor. The thing though is that because she is related to Mary Shelley, she is now being made the Doctor of Supernatural and P...