Kindle Edition ONLY!!!

After looking for ages i finally found a way of reading Scott Pilgrim on my iPad. Sadly thou after i got this great book i discovered that the Amazon Kindle app is dreadful for reading images. If you are to do the same as me then don't bother getting it from Amazon in fact.<br /><br />The problem with this version is all the pictures are blury and mostly unreadable, a"kindle version" of a graphic novel shouldn't contain low res. images. That is a stupid idea and i'm pretty disappointed by this.<br /><br />If you want a recommendation, and you own a iphone, ipad or android phone then there is an app that is about 5000% better then this poor attempt for a digital graphic novel. Has animation has currently 3/6 of the books rendered like this and the rest are coming soon. Plus they are all £3.50 so there is nothing to lose.<br /><br />Conclusion: BUY THIS BOOK!!! But not from Amazon's Kindle. Get it on your phone or iPad and enjoy it like i have! But save yourself a little pocket change!

Great... But a slight letdown

It's hard to explain the Scott Pilgrim series to anyone who hasn't read one of the books, all I can do is recommend them with every bone in my body. These books are incredible. However, although this last book packs all the laughs and action that makes the series so great, it doesn't wrap things up quite how you would want, especially if you've become invested in the characters and relationships between them (like I had).<br />Despite this, the book is a solid four stars and is still a great read.

It's great, but...

The first thing I'd like to point out is I did really like this book, which is why I gave it four stars. The dialogue is fantastic, the characters are great, and the style manages to do so much despite being quite simple. If you liked the first volume, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, you'll enjoy this.<br /><br />The problem I have is that what really sticks in my head are the things I didn't like about the book, which I will admit are minor details and may not bother you at all. After reading the first book, I hoped that the next would devote more time to the Evil exes plot, but I still think this particular story still feels underdeveloped; the evil ex in this story just isn't present enough to have any detail to him, which is a real problem when all the other characters are so well written.<br /><br />I suppose my issue here is that the story I expected to be the focus was not, and the focus was instead on the relationships between the characters. This isn't a bad thing when the dialogue is this good, but given that the evil exes story line is the one that I was most aware of, to find it fairly absent through the majority of the book was a little disappointing. I haven't read beyond this volume, so I can't say this is a constant in the Scott Pilgrim series, and the plot may be better developed in the next book.<br /><br />I should say again that the book has great writing and illustration, it's just the story I thought would be the most important is not. I just wanted to say that so that you know what to expect. Otherwise, it's a great little comic.

Time to grow up

Fourth in the series of graphic novels telling the tale of Scott Pilgrim, aimless twenty something who has to fight the seven evil exes of his new love. This is not a good jumping on point, so new readers should start with the first in the series:Scott Pilgrim - Scott's Pilgrim's Precious Little Life: Volume 1.<br /><br />Those who have followed the series all the way will find a handy cast list on the inside front cover of this one, and a story in which Scott has to take his relationship with Ramona to the next level: get a full time job and move out from where he lives.<br /><br />Is he man enough to face up to this kind of responsibility? And to deal with the latest ex? Who is not the only person who's out to get him....<br /><br />The strongest volume in the series so far, because it does an excellent balancing job between the main story of Scott having to make life changing decisions, plus all the other relationships between the ongoing cast of characters. And the usual video game style imagery. The evil ex of this volume isn't quite what you'd expect, and doesn't quite get as much screen time as you might have imagined, but it's still a plot strand that works fine for what it is.<br /><br />An entertaining read with some appealing art and one that moves the whole story along very nicely.

Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness: Volume 3

A series that continues to excel.<br /><br />I thought the ending to the first volume didn't really fit. It just came completely out of nowhere. But volume 2 combined this strange, surreal element with the quirkyness of Scott and his friends very well. It didn't pull it off perfectly, but it was good fun none the less.<br /><br />However, volume 3 is just brilliant. It loses some of the subtlety of the first and second volumes to just go completely bizarre. The manga influences are really coming through in this volume, and it really pays off.<br /><br />The characters are already quite well developed up to this point in the series, but they continue to grow and your fondness/loathing of them is accelerated 10x with the developments in volume 3.<br /><br />I know O'Malley's artwork is sometimes panned, but I think it suits the series' pretty well. Some of the captions in this book are superb.<br /><br />Chances are, if you've already read volumes 1 and 2, and you're looking at this, you've probably already made your mind up to purchase it so don't need me to tell you to. But hopefully this review will be of help to somebody!

Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm twenty four?

Fifth volume [of six] in the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series. <br /><br />If you've not read any go and read Scott Pilgrim - Scott's Pilgrim's Precious Little Life: Volume 1 instead because there's a lot of story and a big cast built up by now and this volume makes no concession to new readers.<br /><br />Those who have followed the series so far will have seen Scott and Ramona end the previous volume by having moved in together. Scott then celebrates his twenty fourth birthday party here. But he still has evil exes of Ramona's to fight. Who come at him via robots.<br /><br />Added to which his relationship with Ramona is about to hit a rocky patch.<br /><br />The main focus of this one is on the relationship between the two of them, and it's all very believable in the way they have to work out how to take their relationhip even further than it has gone before. There are good moments also with Scott's friends that make Kim, in particular, a very believable character.<br /><br />But the video game elements seem to take second place here. This worked fine in volume four but just not so well here. They're fun in the way they're done initially but something that happens which leads to a big cliffhanger - and set up for the final volume - does feel out of place as a result.<br /><br />Still it's an entertaning read which has great moments and it will make you desperate to find how it all turns out. It's just not quite as good as volume four.<br /><br />It ends with an interesting little piece from the creator of the comic as to how it is put together.

"Wasn't easy. Seeing people... happy."

The Walking Dead is up to volume 12 (#67-72 of the comic) & while most writers would be struggling for new ideas by now, Robert Kirkman proves he's still able to pull the rug out from under his readers' feet, as yet again, this series unexpectedly changes direction. Rick & his band of survivors are running low on food as they travel through zombie-infested America towards Washington, in the vain hope that society has not entirely collapsed. They've spent 14 months being tortured, hunted by cannibals & seeing loved ones end up as the living dead & zombie snacks, so the last thing they are expecting to come across is a normal, suburban town full of normal, suburban people!<br /><br />Walled off from the outside world, kids play & women gossip & bake while the walking dead shamble around outside. Their leader certainly seems a lot more friendly than the Governor (although that's not saying much!) but how can they trust him after everything they've been through? And how will they fit in with 'normal' people after everything they've seen & done - particularly in volume 11?!<br /><br />I may be an adult but when my copy arrived from Amazon today, I immediately read it from cover to cover like a kid at Christmas. That's because The Walking Dead still surprises & intrigues, still has great characters, great ideas, excellent art & zombies by the shedload. And in this case, it has a last page that left me desperate to get hold of volume 13! If only they could publish them faster...

Brilliant look at the start of Batman's career

Frank Miller shows his all as he takes readers through Batman's beginnings as a crime fighter. He looks at the establishment of Jim Gordon in the Gotham police department and using both Wayne and Gordon as Central figures brings Gotham to a real world where people make mistakes, and as such there are consequences of these. The gimmicks are minimal and it really gives Batman the face of reality that has made the recent moves so popular.

Batpension.

As someone whom has a more visual then literary frame of mind, <br />I was very impressed by the artwork presented here, <br />and intrigued by an ageing Batman. <br />My only gripe is the political slant is very eighties, <br />and by being so, dates this somewhat. <br />Perhaps the political angle should have been made less prominent. <br />But anyway Batman is still my favourite North American comicbook hero.<br />Four stars for artwork originality.

Marvel surpasses itself with The Dark Tower

Volume Five of Marvel's Dark Tower series is the latest in the series. As an aside, I strongly suggest the buyer invest in the first four volumes all available at Amazon and at reasonable prices. As a collection of hardback graphic novels, Peter David and Robin Furth's interpretation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower can only be described as quite remarkable. Accompanied with artwork from Jae Lee and Richard Isanove the overall presentation of the story is quite outstanding. Fans of Stephen King will find these volumes true to the original story and I suggest they should be read slowly and the artwork appreciated as the story progresses.<br />Unlike some recent graphic novels from Marvel (eg Vampire Tales), this graphic novel retains the original size of the partwork publication and the covers of the mini series are beautifully re-presented at the back of the volume. The book is wrapped in cellophane and has a wonderfully painted dust cover.

Better than the film?

It might just be. The art is fantastically violent and dynamic, and the story in this unaltered form might just work better than the on-screen version. Even having seen the film I found myself drawn in by the plot and unexpecting of some twists. I'm not a fan of the cover, but other than that, this is a fantastic graphic novel.

You can tell that it inspired the Dark Knight.

This book gives the Joker a new goal, to show that everyone in the world is like him. Showing that humanity has no will power what so ever, and that all it takes is one bad day for the sanest man to slip down the road of madness. To prove this he kidnaps respected public figure commissioner Gordon showing him naked pictures of his daughter who the Joker shot in the spine, disabling her. This story is interesting and engaging, provoking thoughts about the human condition. Also to accompany this main plotline is the Joker's back story. A tragic tail of love, and a mans desperate attempts to provide for his family. Another strong point of the book is the Joker constantly pointing out Batman's insanity, and the dialogue between the 2 characters is genius. The relationship between hero and villain is one of the main subjects of book. The fact that Batman effectively creates the Joker adds a nice plot twist. But I could go on for ever about the strong points of the story, so I'll go on to a thing that makes this book a great exception in the graphic novel world. The Artwork. Its brilliant, the combat is well drawn, the characters are given great facial expressions. Also Richard Starkings'es lettering in some panels is masterful. Brian Bolland's art excels brilliance, and Alan Moore proves he is the master is super hero story telling once again.<br /><br />The short story at the end with Bolland as artist and writer is a nicely done as well, with original ideas, and a great character. .

An excellent, thoughtful work on the holocaust

This is an unquestionably brilliant book. It thoroughly deserves every bit of praise heaped on it (and its Pulitzer!) <br /><br />The book traces the authors attempts to write about his parents experiences in concentration camps during the second world war. It also explores his relationship with them and how they lived once the war had finished. Many of the other books I have read on the holocaust focus upon peoples experience during WWII. This I liked for the extra perspective that it gives on the devastating effect that the holocaust had on peoples lives. The way that Spiegelman deals with his mothers suicide is particularly poignant for me. They survive the camps and make a new life for themselves in the US - they were in many ways successful. Yet his mother, having survived the horror and brutality of the concentration camps later takes her life.<br /><br />A towering achievement, everyone should read it.<br /><br />To get other perspectives on the holocaust, I also recommend Life with a Star (Flamingo), Mendelssohn is on the Roof (Jewish lives) (I particularly like this one) and of course, If This Is a Man / The Truce.

Amazing, pure class

Very well drawn, hugely witty and very well paced to actually give little glimpses of narrative as you flick through.<br />Got this for my girlfriend and the absolutely adores it and looks at it all the time even after 6 months.<br />10/10, great for any cat lover.

No other word than Incredible will do!

Truly this is a masterpiece. Where do I begin, firstly the artwork is fantastic, surely you will never see artwork this good for a while. I fell in love with the story, Batman facing all his old foes led by who else other than the Joker set in the confines of Arkham Asylum. Having them draw Batman into the Asylum and then setting them loose to find him. The Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Maxi Zeus, The Mad Hatter, Clayface and more. <br /><br />All the while we have a history of the Asylum by its founder Amadeus Arkham, showing his path into becoming a psychiatrist to eventually becoming one of the inmates himself.<br /><br />I must reserve particular praise for Morrison's portrayal of Two-Face, showing how without his coin he is unable to do things we take for granted as he just cannot decide anymore. To the climax where he has his trusted coin back but chooses to let Batman live. And the final line of the book"Who cares for you? You're nothing but a pack of cards" remains my favourite line ever spoken in a graphic novel.<br /><br />After reading some of Morrison's other work I cannot see how he will top this and I hope I'm not right in thinking that he peaked too soon.

This is the marker by whiuch all serious comics are judged

It's the best. No ifs, no buts, this is to comics what The Republic is to philosophy or Citizen Kane is to film. All great graphic novels are compared to this, judged by the standard it set. I'm shocked that it's Amazon score isn't a perfect 5 stars.<br /><br />Don't believe the anti-hype, you HAVE to read this.

More relevant, not less, than ever

Back in the early days of Thatcher this book tapped into a generational fear left over from WW2 of Nazi death camps and Stasi spies, and melded it with a dose of IRA era terror bombing and right wing and racist backlash to give us a nightmare vision of Britain might be becoming - a country run on fear, obsessed with racial purity, routinely and pervasively surveilled, and run by fascists. Though not actually true of Britain today, V paints a picture that is as damn close to where we could unwittingly slide as back in the early 80s. Many warnings of V hold true today - ID cards, borders authority detention camps, the rise of the BNP, Islamophobia, CCTV, one could go on (and on).<br /><br />V is a text that anyone interested in politics should read as a primer, and the rest of us should read as a constant warning and call to vigilance.