Brand new, classic, and forgotten items from the Kewaskum Public Library
This beautiful/horrifying graphic novel has some of my favorite things: werewolves, teenage monster hunters, and americana. Read it.
Jeffrey Brown’s new book answers the age-old question: What would life be like for the Dark Lord of the Sith if he had raised Leia? It’s funny and cute and poignant. And funny.
From Pitchfork’s review: “Though unnerving, it is familiar, albeit in a style of indie rock that was prominent when Powers was, by his own admission, listening to Bad Boy records Allen might’ve played a part in. Think of the Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Grandaddy, Sparklehorse, Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, all bands who in some way combined a projected naivety with grand designs: adolescent vocals picking at metaphysical mysteries, an insatiable curiosity with the capabilities of the studio.”
Evidently this is about a family of people with beards who do funny things. I’ve never seen it, but my dad likes it, which is rarely a good sign when it comes to television… Anyway, we have seasons 1 and 2! Get ‘em while you can!
The unexpected thing is that there is a Pale Orc boss-level bad guy that serves no purpose. However, it’s a pretty dang beautiful movie. The same sets, costumes, landscape and epic music from the LOTR trilogy return here. Also: Gollum. Although Professor Tolkien would disagree, it’s not terrible, and it could be much worse than it is…
This is a musical, sure, but what they don’t tell you is that there are a total of 30 spoken words in the whole movie. The music is great, though, the singing is meh, but the cinematography is “rich” and “vibrant.” I don’t know why I put those in quotes.
Want to know what’s new in the “handmade” movement? Get some hipster cred and find out about artwork built from cardboard, yarn, felt and other non-digital items. Maybe even be inspired to make your own erotic embroidery! This Juxtapoz collection also features work by Wisconsin-born artist Gregory Euclide (best known for his cover-art on Bon Iver’s Grammy-winning self-titled album).
Winner at Sundance, Cannes, and the Golden Globes, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” is up for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. But what is it all about?
When her tough but loving father Wink (Dwight Henry) succumbs to a mysterious malady, the fierce and determined girl bravely sets out on a journey to the outside world. But Hushpuppy’s quest is hindered by a “busted” universe that melts the ice caps and unleashes an army of prehistoric beasts.
Enjoy!
The last, great hardcore album? Or the continuing evolution of a band that is still at the top of its game after 20 years? I dunno. Rock.
Shaun Tan has made some very strange books. “The Arrival” was his ode to the immigrant experience; a giant, wordless comic strip that told the story of someone trying to fit in to a new place. “The Bird King” shows Tan’s rough-drafts, sketches, and storyboards for all kinds of new ideas.
Fables volume 18 is here! This series has had some great plot twists and turns. The mythos of Fables is all about fairy tale characters and fantasy tropes and quests and the “Cubs” storyline has all of that (plus a talking boat). Pick it up today!
The strangest, most interesting graphic novel of the year comes, not from Fantagraphics, but by way of Image. King City is about a guy who has been trained to use his alien cat as a weapon against a supernatural cabal of Lovecraftian proportions. There are thousands of tiny details in every page and all kinds of weird sight gags and puns. It’s definitely not for kids, but it’s a mind-bogglingly creative and fun piece of work for adult readers. Part Terry Gilliam film, part Adventure Time. Read it.
One of the year’s best non-fiction books is an expose of the “American Dream” by journalist Chris Hedges and writer/illustrator Joe Sacco. Part graphic novel, “Days of Destruction” shows with text and pictures how “the ruthless hunt for profit creates a world where everyone and everything is expendable.” It’s not easy stuff, but nothing worth reading is. In my opinion.
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