Comic Review 236 // Marvel Action Spider-man: New Beginnings

You must love the library and all the great finds you can discover! This week's discovery is a Marvel Action Comic titled Spider-man: New Beginnings. Long a standing fan of the 90's cartoon, I have been trying to get into the new Spider-man series as my son loves them, so maybe the new beginning title will assist?

Title: Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Vol. 1: New Beginnings

Author: Delilah S. Dawson

Illustrator: Fico Ossio

Blurb:

A Marvelous new era begins here! Readers of all ages can get tangled up in these all new adventures of Spider-Man and his astonishing friends!

Peter Parker has thrown down with deadly villains and legendary heroes, but high school life might be his greatest challenge yet. Luckily, he has a shot at making the grade with a little help from his new friends... Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy!

Collects issues #1-3 of the comic series.

Format: 80 Pages (Buy via Amazon.ca)

Review

New beginnings were a great starting point for retraining my brain! It collects the first three issues of the series. It was also seemingly aimed at teens, so it wasn't overly simplified, which is nice. We join a Sixteen-year-old Peter Parker, who has secured an internship at 'Daily Bugle.' We discover that Peter wasn't the only one chosen, and with a room full of competition, Peter will have to bring his A-game to secure the Prize of interviewing Iron Man! After a rough introduction to the Bugle, Peter is teamed up with two other interns, Miles and Gwen. 

Now, of course, the city comes under threat, all three make reasons to leave, and soon a new Spidey team is forming! The story is rather good and enjoyable. With this being the beginning, the story is left open for me to find Volume 2. Though they seemingly found an excellent spot to stop at, you are left feeling fulfilled while needing more! I enjoy a less dark tale, and though it was aimed at teens, it was childish or brain-dulling.

Overall a terrific tale.

Comic Review 230 // Thor and the Warriors Four

I struggle with Thor in the same way, that I struggle with Superman. They lack threat. They are demi-gods and can withstand most things a villain can throw at them unless it is a God-level villain. This is why I am drawn in more by Iron Man, Spiderman or Batman. They are ultimately human and can be easily put down by the bad guy if they are not careful. But the kids enjoy Avengers, and Thor is a part of that, so we had to grab at least one book with him.

Title: Thor and the Warriors Four (collects Thor and the Warriors Four #1-4)

Author: Alex Zalben

Art: Gurihiru, Colleen Coover

Blurb: It's Power Pack's biggest adventure ever as they desperately search for the only other person who can save the life of their grandmother--THE MIGHTY THOR! But first, they're going to need to get to Asgard, and that means joining forces with Frog Thor...And THE PET AVENGERS! This is a journey into mystery that will leave Power Pack changed--forever! COLLECTING: Thor and the Warriors Four #1-4

Buy Now on Amazon

Format: 104 pages, Paperback Library.

Review

Okay, this was a cute, fun read. Very easy to follow along and read, especially for younger kids. You also find yourself grinning away as you read it. So a bit of a win for me. 

But ultimately, it is like many books in this style. We have a quest to save the day/someone. As they travel, they meet friends and overcome obstacles. Gaining life lessons and learning new skills along the way. This can get a bit repetitive but I get it. Talking repetitively the kid called Alex, really started to annoy me with the whole - "This can be explained by Science", you live in a world of Superheroes! Why can't magic exist? The humour is easygoing and childish which is funny at times and the pet avengers were a highlight.

Got kids? Read this to them, enjoy it for the evening and move along. Love silly Thor stories add it to the collection, it is a worthwhile read.

Comic Review 228 // Spider-man Bad Luck

What is with me? I love reading these young marvel comics! I know it's great to read to the kids, but I am actively seeking them out currently!! I think I am broken, haha.

Title: Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Vol. 3: Bad Luck

Author: Delilah S. Dawson

Art: Fico Ossio

Blurb: Peter, Gwen, and Miles have learned to work together, but a sinister new enemy is about to tear them apart!

After a devastating encounter with the Black Cat and her bad luck powers, the Spidey team is down on their luck and at each other's throats. Will Peter, Miles, and Gwen learn to overcome their bad luck and work together again, or is this the end of the line for the Marvelous Spider-Trio?

Collects issues #7-9 of the Marvel Action: Spider-Man series.

Buy now off Amazon

Format: 72 pages, Paperback

Review

What can I say? My son loves Spider-man, so once more, we delve into the Spidy worlds. Unsurprisingly it is fun, easy to follow, enjoyable and not groundbreaking. As we know, all three spiders - Parker, Morales and Stacy, go to the same school, suffer from the same teenage dramas and then fight crime at night.

The whole premise of this book is to teach teamwork and see the trio become a team. Highlights include the fact that this is a stand-alone piece, with no carry-over of earlier stories or the dreaded to-be-continued ending. We see the writer playing up to the friction of Peter and Miles both going by the same name code name, which was good to see, and the "villain," Black Cat, was well thought out and interestingly showcased. As this is kid-friendly, we are given a realistic Black Cat that isn't over-the-top sexual.

An easy, enjoyable read at night. Go in expecting some fun and you can't go wrong.

Comic Review 227 // Spider-man Shock to the System

Does everyone love Spider-man? He seems to be one of those rare Super Heroes I have struggled to find haters for. I am sure they are out there, but for now, in this household, he is the winning hero. We found this title in our local library, and it seems to be volume five in the series but is a complete one-shot tale.

Title: Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Vol. 5: Shock to the System

Author: Brandon Easton

Artist: Fico Ossio

Blurb: Your favourite wall-crawler is back in action, and he's not alone! Middle-grade readers can get tangled up in these all-new adventures of Spider-Man and his amazing friends!

A sinister new villain appears! Miles and Gwen are preparing for the biggest test of their high school careers, but will they stay focused with the team all shaken up over their newest foe, the Shocker? And can they overcome his bad vibes with the exam putting their very futures at stake?

The Marvel Action line from IDW makes the world's most popular superheroes accessible to middle-grade readers through stories emphasizing humour and fun alongside action and super-powered heroics.

Collects issues #1-3 of Marvel Action Spider-Man Vol. Two.

Format: 144 pages, Paperback

Buy now on Amazon

Review

Feels like an age since I've seen Shocker! He always came across as a side character, easily defeated by the hero. But in this tale, Shocker is once again an actual threat. Where the heroes so to discover the villain and work out how to defeat them. I also enjoyed the fact that we see the kids using science to solve the problem rather than a straight-up fistfight. This felt I a true Spiderman story of my 80's childhood. The rest of the story deals with the kid's issues as they stumble through schoolwork and personal life issues. Pretty standard stories of a superhero teenager.

The kids loved the story, but I found it a bit disjointed at times and had to check back to make sure a page wasn't missing. Felt like a panel or two had been deleted but no effort was made to keep the flow smooth, which is weird to read through. The artwork was fine. Pretty simple but added no real worth to the story.

As I said the kids loved it which is a plus, but for me, it was average at best.

Comic Review 210 // Star Wars: Ewoks - Flight to Danger

After every Slaine comic, there needs to be a refresher! And what better than a reissued comic from the Star Wars franchise featuring the 1980s Ewoks.

Title: Star Wars: Ewoks - Flight to Danger

Author: Dave Manak

BUY ON AMAZON.CA

Blurb: Journey to the forest world of Endor for adorable adventures with the Ewoks! Join Wicket Warrick, his friend Teebo, and Chief Chirpa's daughter Princess Kneesaa in colourful capers filled with rainbow bridges and rites of power! Who dares brave the Valley of Evil? Where will the Ewoks land when a mission of honour turns into a flight to danger? And what is the incredible secret of the Terrible Machine? There are dangers, discoveries and deadly games for the Ewoks - but beware, Captain Krag! Fear the perilous laughing spell! And, whatever you do, avoid the Ice Demon's touch of doom! The cuddly stars of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi take center stage in fun-filled stories guaranteed to make you sing Yub Nub! COLLECTING: EWOKS 1-10

Format: Graphic Novel. 240 pages, Paperback (Library find)

Review

Firstly this is no longer a canon piece; instead sent off to the vaults of Legends (like a lot of the good stuff!). This piece is set during the short-lived morning cartoons "The Ewoks," - which is now on Disney+, so watch it. The TV show was silly, fun, and perfect for young children, and this comic continues that theme. In the show, it turns out Endor has many ecosystems and lifeforms - from swamps, deserts and dangerous Lizardmen, Space Pirates and Ogres! It would seem Endor is a death planet full of danger!

As with the TV show, all the action follows Wicket, Teebo and Princess Kneesa as they bounce from danger to adventure and back again. The stories are light-hearted and magical, almost like a fantasy setting than sci-fi. It is an excellent piece of escapism and took me instantly back to my childhood. I'm glad I took the risk and was happy to share it with the children. Now to finish rewatching the cartoons.

Have a great week!

Comic Review 197 // Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 5: Mechanical Mayhem

Need a quick read after Slaine the King last week so grabbed another Star Wars Adventure novel from the library. I know they are designed for kids, but sometimes you learn something.

Title: Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 5: Mechanical Mayhem

Author: John Barber

Art: Chad Thomas

Fluff: These ARE the droids you're looking for! Your favourite dysfunctional droid team, R2-D2 and C-3PO, bumbles through the Star Wars universe in these kid-friendly tales.

First, R2-D2 tries to stop an Imperial spy from revealing a Rebel secret. But will C-3PO help, or just get in the way? Then, in a story set in the time of the Clone Wars, Anakin and Padme are desperate to escape the endless fights, both on the battlefield and on the floor of the Senate. But when their vacation goes haywire, will Artoo and Threepio be able to set things right?

Continuing the family-friendly stories Star Wars Adventures is known for, Volume 5 collects issues #9, 12, and 13.

Review

This had a solid start and faded towards the end. The first short story follows R2D2 and C3PO, with C3PO discovering a droid acting strangely. Leading to the discovery of a spy droid. Though entirely filler, it did showcase C3PO's unique fuss-making skills.

We then dive into the main feature, which stars Anakin and Padme. Still hiding their love, they manage to sneak away on vacation under the guise of a diplomatic retreat. But soon discover an aging actress is more than she seems. A great politics-style story showcases it is not always about the Jedi regarding the dark side.

Then we hit the wall. The Wild Space Tales have been a colossal failure for me, and these continue that trend. It feels like a morals/learn a lesson tale, but I struggled to discover any real meaning with all three. Highlights from these are limited to the cameos seen within the pages, and I recommend skipping these tales altogether.

Overall it's a solid "okay" book. Skip the second half, and you are actually above average. 

As always, I appreciate the viewership. It means a lot. Thank you!

Comic Review 194 // Star Wars Adventures Volume 8 - Defend the Republic!

Back at the Star Wars Comics. I promise I will get back to Slaine, but as these are library loaners, the priority is to finish and bring them back for the next reader to enjoy. Today we dip into the Clone War Era, which I have always wanted more than the OG trilogy.

Title: Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 8: Defend the Republic!

Writing Team: Delilah S. Dawson, Cavan Scott, Nick Brokenshire

Art team: Derek Charm, Mauricet.

Fluff: Join Padmé, Yoda, Jar Jar Binks, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker in these young-reader-friendly tales set during Episodes 1-3!

Padmé Amidala joins Jar Jar Binks on a quest to recover a legendary Gungan artifact, but this one will be very messy! Then, legendary General Obi-Wan Kenobi undertakes a daring operation for the Republic Army during the Clone Wars, guest-starring Captain Rex! And Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Master Yoda embark on an urgent mission, where Anakin's rebellious nature could spell trouble for the Republic.

Collects issues #18-20 of the Star Wars Adventures series.

Buy from Amazon

Paperback, 80 pages

Review

This issue has five stories, all set in the Clone War Era. Like the other books in this set, it is aimed at a younger audience than myself, so I will keep this in mind as I review.

This is an excellent read for a comic aimed at a younger reader, but this is a bit of a miss for me. Stories are slightly too short, lack depth and, at worst pointless and straight-up goofy. We seem to have lost the "adventure" in this adventure series and are now stuck with meh.

Lucky for us, though, Cavan Scott came to the rescue with 'Roger, Roger.' Obi-Wan and Rex are befriending a damaged battle droid who now wishes to side with the Republic! Unlike the other stories, this droid is a very likeable character, and by the end, he is a standout piece of the book (though the bar is not high, sadly). The story is also assisted by the artwork, which was above the other artists' quality.

I am worried the series has turned for me, and maybe I need to give it a rest? Do you ever get burned out on a series? Is that what I face here, or has the series honestly gotten worse as it continues? Let me know if you have read these?

As always, cheers for reading.

Comic 193 // Star Wars Adventures (Vol 4): Smugglers Blues

How many more library finds can I discover before they fully dry up? This week it is the turn of volume 4, Smuggler's blues. With a young Solo and Chewy in trouble once again.

Title: Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 4: Smuggler's Blues

Creative: Cavan Scott, Derek Charm (Illustrator)

 Fluff: Set before the events of Episode IV: A New Hope, join everyone’s favourite stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder on a daring new caper!

Feared bounty hunters Zuckuss and 4-LOM are hot on the heels of the most notorious scoundrels in the galaxy, Han Solo and Chewbacca! Han and Chewie will risk landing on a mysterious planet that somehow shuts down all electronics to evade their pursuers. How will the boys escape with the Millennium Falcon unable to take off?

With a mix of characters from all across the Star Wars film series, Star Wars Adventures is perfect for Jedi and Padawans alike.

Review

As the name suggests, we are getting the stories of smugglers in this volume, with a Han Solo/Chewy adventure, a Lando Calrissian tale and finally, a Jaxxon the green rabbit tale (I am a big fan of Bucky O'Hare, so I better like this one!).

Opening tale is the cover also with Solo and Chewy attempting to flee from the bounty hunting duo of Zuckuss and 4-LOM. After a failed attempt to escape, the duo crash land on a planet that kills all electronic devices. As they are forced to team up, we are faced with double-crosses, killer spiders and blaster action. A great way to start the book off; I really enjoyed it.

The follow-up tale is all about the smooth as butter Lando Calrissian. During his days in Cloud City, he attempts to be an honest man and is contacted by an old friend to help steer a kid from entering a life of crime. Not a sinister tale, also not that thrilling, to be honest. A safe story.

Now I was looking forward to Jaxxon, the green rabbit, in Disney canon! An exciting story that will seem very similar to a Mandalorian tale (which I assume was inspired by this). Jaxxon has been hired to transport a batch of endangered eggs, the last in a long line of a Royal family. Of course, nothing goes to plan, and it is soon discovered to all be a ruse to allow the real eggs to be smuggled away by Hans. A short, sweet tale. I do hope we get more.

Overall a solid outing, not perfect, but when is it? It's nice to see Jaxxon and have an excellent Solo story, so it wins there. It was also interesting to see a bit of Bespin. Overall I would recommend reading if you have a spare evening.

Comic Review 192 // Star Wars Adventures Pomp & Circumstance Vol.7

Punch it, Chewy! We are diving straight into another excellent Library find, as I discovered Vol.7 of the Star Wars adventure series. We have Poe and BB8 flying into danger in their sweet-looking X-Wing so let's not waste time and dive into the details.

Title: Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 7: Pomp and Circumstance (Star Wars Adventures (2017) #7)

Comic Team: John Jackson Miller, John Barber, James Gilarte, Jon Sommariva & Valentina Pinto.

Publisher: Disney

Fluff: Join Chewie, Poe Dameron, BB-8, and Luke Skywalker in these adventures that span the Star Wars universe and the saga's entire history. These young-reader-friendly stories will appeal to Jedi everywhere, Master and Padawan alike!

Chewie is all alone with a perplexing new problem that is a major pain in his hide, and the iconic Wookiee will have to use all of his strength, wits, and patience to overcome this latest danger! Then, when an emergency landing separates BB-8 from Poe Dameron, the astromech droid must make friends with the natives to repair their ship and return to the Resistance.

Plus, welcome to the Resistance! In this all-new adventure before The Force Awakens, follow the fledgling Resistance as it begins to realize the growing threat of the First Order! Based on Star Wars Resistance, an exciting new animated series on Disney Channel! And in the last story, with Leia injured, it's up to Luke to undertake a sensitive diplomatic mission with the easily-irritated Sarkans! What should be a routine meeting soon turns into an action-packed adventure with the galaxy's fate on the line!

Buy now and support me: Amazon.

Review

Plenty of stories in this one. In my opinion, the first and title piece is Mind Your Manners. In this piece, we witness Leia and Luke as diplomats as they attempt to secure a deal for crystals used in laser production. Of course, things go wrong, and treachery threatens to overthrow all their hard work. This is a solid opener; it could have been a better start.

This is followed by a weird day tale in Chewie’s Day Off. Chewie is given some time away to unwind; unfortunately, a bounty hunter has other plans and ruins his relaxing day. Overall a poorly thought out tale as Chewie is never translated, so most of the story is left to the artwork. A bit of a miss for me.

Then we get the Poe and BB8 story Unlikely Friendship. Having landed on a swamp planet, our duo is rescued by a young boy. The trio then facedown the natives and restored the X-Wing for take-off. A relatively short affair, which is good. Easy to forget, but nothing wrong with it, just filler.

I was excited for this All Aces Battle Royale. I am currently working through the Resistance cartoon, so having a comic strip is perfectly timed. Set on the Colossus, we have the Aces attempting to intercept communication that, if allowed to leave, give away their location to the First Order. Really enjoyed this tale. I think this could be a highlight piece for me.

We then end with Sector 7-E. Also, a Resistance story, double fun! In classic Kaz style, he discovers pirates stealing weapons, and with a bit of help, he sets about bringing them down. A very straightforward rescue-style story but rather enjoyable for what it was.

Overall this comic was a middle ground for me. A few hits and a few misses. The Chewie one, for me, was a low point. The Resistance tales were an excellent addition, and I hope we get more, but I can see this being a hit for a younger audience.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Comic Review 190 // Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 1: The Light and the Dark

Back on the library finds with this fantastic Star Wars find. Though aimed at a younger audience, I found the last one enjoyable enough, and I am hoping this will follow suit.

Title: Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 1: The Light and the Dark

Page Count: 144 pages

Format: Paperback

Buy Now: Amazon

Publisher: Disney

Creators: Michael Moreci, Ilias Kyriazis, Megan Levens, Katie Cook, Cara McGee, Nick Brokenshire, Sam Maggs, Davide Tinto, Shane McCarthy, Jordan Clark, Yael Nathan, Casey Gilly, Butch Mapa, and Daniel José Older.

Fluff: Brand-new middle-grade stories featuring all your favourite characters from the far reaches of the Star Wars galaxy, spanning the entire Skywalker Saga and beyond!

Three oversized stories featuring Rey, Finn, and Poe; Qui-Gon Jinn and the mighty Wookies of Kashyyk; and Padmé and Anakin; plus half a dozen short stories including tales of villainy starring Kylo Ren and Darth Vader himself!

First, Poe and Finn take Rey to a remote planet to continue her Jedi training. But they're surprised to find that the First Order's reach extends far and wide. Then, Qui-Gon joins the Wookiees of Kashyyyk for a special Life Day celebration! And after that, Padmé and Anakin face a major predicament as they struggle to navigate the politics of the Republic!

Meanwhile, on the Dark Side, Kylo Ren faces the difficulties of leadership and the politics of fear. And, following the siege of Hoth, Darth Vader explores the secrets of the abandoned Rebel base. All this and new stories of dastardly exploits by Grand Moff Tarkin, Darth Maul, Tobias Beckett and Val, and the sinister Nihil.

Collects the first six issues of the Star Wars Adventures series starting in 2020.

Review

Hmmm, a mixed bag on this one. Nine adventures spanning the Disney films. The book kicks things off with a Rey story titled Obstacle Course. In this adventure, Poe and Finn create an obstacle course for Rey to practice on. Unfortunately for the trio, this out-of-the-way and dangerous world is also home to many pirates who figure out who the trio are in an attempt to capture them for their bounty. Great start to the book and a fun story.

We then hop all the way back to the start with Life Day. Set before Episode One, we get an Obi-wan and Qui Gon story, as they join the Wookies for a cultural event which is ruined by slavers hoping to capture the wookies for the slave markets. A lot shorter story than the first, but action-packed and has a great theme for an adventure. Would love more Qui Gon stories (know any good ones, comment below).

Then we move past Episode 2 with a Padme and Anakin tale. Set on Naboo, it has the duo facing off against a group of pirates looking for payment. Overall an okay story, but it was disappointing to see Anakin unable to handle three pirates solo. This is meant to be the hero of the Clone Wars, and he couldn't defeat three pirates? Lame. Let's move on.

Any idea why these weren't put in chronological order? From roughly episode 2, we jump into episode 5 with Invasion of Echo Base. For this adventure, we join Darth Vader as he leads the assault on Echo Base. Not super thrilling, as we all know what happens, but it is fun to view it from Vaders side.

After this, the stories get short and honestly not that interesting. We get a Kylo Ren tale showing his conflicted nature, but not much else. In the Hostage, Darth Maul slowly builds his criminal empire, but first, he has to take down some of the old guards. Then we got a Beckett story, which surprised me; this was due to the artwork. I did not recognize the title character and was left confused, then it all clicked. Knowing it was a Beckett story wouldn't have improved my opinion by the end. This was followed by another weak tale about Tarkin, a confusing and uninspiring read; just skip and save yourself some time. We then end the book with a story set during the High Republic era. Something I know nothing about, and due to this, I struggled to care, which is a shame as I feel this is definitely heading somewhere?

The book finishes like they all do with a cover gallery of variant covers.

I got to be honest and say a little disappointed. I may not be the target audience, but this missed the mark on many of the titles. The characters were flat and dull; the stories did not grab me beyond the Qui Gon and wookies. A real shame, especially for the opener, Volume one. Would love to hear your thoughts, so hit me up in the comments.

Comic Review 186 // Return to Vader's Castle

I had so much fun last week with Tales from Vader's Castle that I had to dive into the following collection. Cleverly named Return to Vader's Castle.

Title: Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader's Castle

Written by: Cavan Scott

Illustrators: Francesco Francavilla, Megan Levens, Nicoletta Baldari, Kelley Jones & Charles Paul Wilson III.

Fluff: Return to Vader's Castle for a spooky spin on your favourite villains from a galaxy far, far away...

This exciting graphic novel explores the hidden corners of the Star Wars universe. It features a wretched hive of scum and villainy, including Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Jabba the Hutt, Grand Moff Tarkin, Asaji Ventress--all under the shadow of Darth Vader!

Fans will be excited to discover these creepy stories by fan-favourite writer Cavan Scott, with art by the greatest talent from across the galaxy, including Nicoletta Baldari, Nick Brokenshire, Francesco Francavilla, Kelley Jones, Megan Levens, and Charles Paul Wilson III!

Buy Now: Amazon.ca

Format: Paperback, 120 pages

Review

I like that this is a straight-up sequel to Tales from Vader's Castle. It jumps straight into the sideline story of the first and sees us join the Rebel Thom Hudd in a torture chamber, having been captured by Vanee - the servant to Lord Vader.

The artwork is very similar to the first book, which is excellent, and the flow of the stories is also very much the same. This time though, it is mostly Vanee telling them, and they focus on the "bad guys" of the Star Wars universe. I loved that we got Darth Maul, Jabba the Hutt, Asajj Ventress and Tarkin stories. It is nice to see their viewpoints of the war now and again.

Though I understand the formula needed to stay the same, it felt a bit flat in this title. The excitement, I guess for me, had been used up. The thrill of exploring Vader's Castle had disappeared as we instead watched Hudd attempting to flee and the stories themselves lacked a valid link to the plot. A lack of "moral" was missing in the stories' scenarios.

Darth Maul's tale was definitely a standout piece. It was great to see him in his insane spider format in the garbage world. I had only ever witnessed this stage of his character in Clone Wars, so it was great to revisit again. Tarkin's was a close second, though very much revenge of Frankenstein it made a good chase for how ruthless Tarkin is how he will let nothing stand in his way.

Overall an enjoyable read, but just not as good as part one. But maybe that is my fault for going back to back with these titles. Maybe with a gap in reading, I may have had a different opinion. Ah well, power of hindsight.

As always, cheers for reading along!

Comic Review 184 // Tales from Vader's Castle

Continuing on some great finds at the library. Star Wars Adventures is a series that seems aimed at a younger crowd, but it does a great job at storytelling. I found this title recently and had to give it a go. I had heard of Vader's Castle but knew very little about so I am excited to get into this title and the follow-up.

Title: Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle (Star Wars Adventures: Beware Vader's Castle #1)

Authors: Cavan Scott

Illustrations: Derek Charm, Chris Fenoglio, Kelley Jones, Corin Howell

Fluff: How do a band of rebels distract themselves when sneaking into the creepiest place in the galaxy? Tell scary stories, of course!

Follow Lina Graf, Crater, and friends as they sneak--and fight--their way into the terrifying castle of Darth Vader! Along the way, they'll trade spooky stories featuring the most terrifying villains and creatures in the universe! Your favourite characters, like Obi-Wan, Han and Chewie, Hera Syndulla, and the Ewoks, face classic creeps like ghosts, monsters, witches, and more... all with a signature Star Wars twist!

Collects the five-issue series.

Get a Copy: Amazon.ca

Format: Paperback, 120 pages

Review

As mentioned earlier, this is definitely meant for a younger audience. It follows a new bunch of rebels who following some damaged have to make an emergency landing on Mustafar. As they watch their ship sink into the lava, they are left, heading towards an unknown castle guard by Imperial Forces. To help distract themselves from the dire situation, the team tell each other war stories they have heard during the conflict.

These stories are very much like a goosebumps episode, so not really scary. But they are all fun reads, my kids so far have enjoyed them (4 and 2), and I always take that as a good sign. You get a lot of fan favourite characters in the series like Chopper, Count Dooku, Han Solo and even an excellent tale for the Ewoks.

This was actually a real fun read, is it for diehard "adult" fans most likely no, but if you enjoy Star Wars for what it is and going into it wanting a fun read than you will enjoy. The big thing to remember is these are short one shots joined by a sideline story to link them all. This is not an epic tale of adventure, but every short story does have a highlight that brought a smile to my face. The final issue really built up the side story with the arrival of Darth Vader and I can see all ready how the next collection will build of this start.

Standout tales for me include the Chopper story and the Count Dooku. Dooku is a favourite character of mind and to see that story play out was a lot of fun. This collection definitely amused me throughout the read and I can't ask for more than that. A little comedy within a realm of serious action is always a welcome refresh. The artwork though kid friendly was perfectly presented with the side story done in dark shades plenty of Red, Blacks, Blues, whilst the shorts are all different artist bringing a refreshing style change.

You will either enjoy it or pick holes within, I personally full into the enjoyed and I hope a few of you will to.

As always I appreciate you stopping by and reading and join me next week for the next dose.