Tag: Doctor Strange

Posted in Bite-Sized Reviews, Book Reviews, Manga, Marvel Comics, Novels, Personal Blogs

Better Late Than Never: the books I read in 2023 so far

Posted on by elishasbookreview
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I know it’s been awhile since I posted a review or even an update. I have been struggling with writing the blog posts. I would get the spark and type out a couple of paragraphs and as I’m rereading it to check for mistakes I would have negative thoughts about what I just wrote. It’s frustrating and discouraging.

Well I’ve been keeping a notebook full of the books I’ve read, how I rated the books, some brief thoughts, and finally how long it took me to finish the book. Now I would like to share my five star reads of the year so far.

  • The Flintstones: The Deluxe Edition by Mark Russell – this graphic novel gives us a new take on the classic cartoon. I heard about this from one of the YouTubers I watch, and I’m glad I checked this collection out.
  • Black Panther vs. Deadpool by Multiple Authors – I loved the art style of this comic, each panel looked like it came off a storyboard. Black Panther and Deadpool are polar opposites of each other when it comes to their sense of what’s right and wrong. I actually found their philosophy discussions entertaining, but I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
  • Cat Massage Therapy Vol. 2 by Haru Hisakawa – I don’t care that there’s barely any plot in these books, it’s a story about cats who run a massage parlor in Japan and the friends and clients they meet. Even as I’m typing this I have the next volume on my nightstand ready to be devoured.
  • Strange Vol. 1: I Belong to Death by Jed McKay – This is a follow-up to the Death of Doctor Strange story where Doctor Strange’s wife Clea takes over as the Sorcerer Supreme for Earth even though she is already the Sorcerer Supreme for the dark dimension. I loved how relatable Clea is, she is dedicated to her deceased husband’s wishes as well as how protective she is over the areas she’s meant to protect. Can’t wait to read volume 2 which is also on my nightstand.

Well, that’s my list of 5 star reads so far for 2023. I hope to be posting more reviews and updates as the year goes on. Hope you have a great day!

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Posted in Bite-Sized Reviews, Book Reviews, DC comics, Graphic Novels

COMBO REVIEW: Comic Book Edition

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Major Spoilers*

Batman vs Bigby: A Wolf in Gotham by Bill Willingham

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I like the video game, A Wolf Among Us and I think it was interesting to see two great detectives go head to head on a case. Small learning curve is involved because of the video game being mentioned, but I think the comic explains itself pretty well. There are a lot of literary references scattered throughout the story and I enjoyed the Easter Eggs.

The Death of Doctor Strange by Jed Mackay and Lee Garbett

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I like how the comics and movies aren’t carbon copies of each other. The comics and the movies are their own separate universes. But enough about that. I have read different eras of Doctor Strange and I loved the character before I saw Benedict Cumberbatch’s interpretation of the Sorcerer Supreme. After I finished the story, I watched a video that explains the story just to make sure I understood it. The narrator seemed ‘meh’ on the story, but I thought it was fantastic. Not too much of a learning curve if you have basic knowledge of Doctor Strange, and what I didn’t know about the character was explained well in the story itself.

Lady Mechanika Vol 1: The Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse by Joe Benitez

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I received this comic from 2019’s Free Comic Friday, and I never got around to reading the issue at the time. I get easily distracted by other books, so it’s difficult for me to stick to a regiment of reading. Nonetheless, the world of Lady Mechanika is terrifying yet fascinating. In the story, there was a cirque visiting the outskirts of the town, and even though they were involved in the mystery, I would’ve like to see their show.

D.C. Bombshells Vol 1: Enlisted by Marguerite Bennett

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I liked having a women-driven story. Seeing Batwoman play baseball, and deal with haters makes it seem like not much has changed between WWII and today. Learning that in this story Batwoman is Jewish and part of the LGBT+ community made her a relatable character in my opinion. I like how no matter the story, Harley Quinn will always find Poison Ivy, just like how Harley always finds the Joker.

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: Arsenal: Full Metal Superhero (Full Metal Superhero #1) by Jefferey H. Haskell

Posted on by elishasbookreview

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*No Major Spoilers*

Amelia Lockheart can’t walk, but she can fly. As the armored superhero-Arsenal, she has the power of a small army at her disposal. Fourteen years ago her parents disappeared after a horrific wreck which left her wheelchair bound. With thieves salivating to steal her armor, and supervillains trying to kill her, Amelia must learn to trust her new team if she wants to survive long enough to learn the truth.

This novel caught my attention because of the cover, the series name, and the concept. With the Marvel and DC movies battling it out at the theatres, one might hesitate to go into a superhero series without drawing connections to previously established characters. However, I felt that this would have been unique enough to be entertaining on its own two feet.

I felt like Amelia was amazing in the facts that she doesn’t let others tell her what to do just because she’s a handicapped woman. She is brilliant in what she can build and create with just enough imagination and determination.

At first, her thoughts about what really happened to her parents sounded like a coping mechanism. When something tragic happens, you naturally want to blame it on someone or something. Blaming her parents’ disappearance in the company they worked for is logical and reasonable.

As you go through the battles and struggles with Amelia and her new friends you find that there is something more going on than meets the eye. Is someone trying to set them up to fail? Who is really after Amelia’s armor? These questions and more are what drives this story and the over-arching plot forward.

I couldn’t help myself but draw connections between this novel and Marvel superheroes. It never took anything away from the novel, but it was kind of fun to be like “oh this guy sounds like Doctor Strange”. Or “This sounds like a combination of Captain America and The Hulk”. I found that instead of being direct rip-offs, they were their own unique identity.

The final battle shows how determined and how brilliant Amelia truly is and how her cool head and thinking under pressure is more valuable to the team overall. She is able to do just as much when she is Arsenal, and when she’s just Amelia.

I know this was meant to be an adult novel, but for some reason, I couldn’t get the thought of this being a Young Adult novel out of my head. Something about how Amelia is portrayed had me thinking she was a teenager instead of being in her early 20s.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, it was a breath of fresh air to have some new superheroes to read about. I felt like this novel is appropriate for everyone of all ages to enjoy. If you like underdog stories and superheroes, then this book is for you!

Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Marvel Comics

REVIEW: Spider-Man/Doctor Strange: The Way to Dusty Death by Stan Lee

Posted on by elishasbookreview
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*No Major Spoilers*

A saga of life, death and obsession decades in the telling! The sorcerer Xandu is desperate to restore the love of his life to the land of the living – and he needs the Wand of Watoomb! But time and again, Doctor Strange and Spider-Man stand in his way. Xandu’s quest to revive his beloved will involve another arcane artifact – the Crystal of Kadavus – and even drag the Scarlet Witch into the action! But will Xandu’s plan result in all life as we know it crumbling into dusty death?

This graphic novel includes several, complete, and epic stories involving Spider-Man and Doctor Strange teaming-up to fight off the monsters and demons that go bump in the night.

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I enjoyed this collection greatly. The stories were in-depth, and I enjoyed every single one of them! I love Doctor Strange, he is so odd, and yet very kind. His power in the mystic arts is very powerful because he doesn’t use it for personal gains.

The main story I found to be fulfilling and enjoyed the wild ride. The illustration of the other realms was bright, colorful, yet terrifying at the same time. Xandu is a villain who has a reason for being “evil”. His backstory I found to help his character development greatly.

I would recommend this for comic book lovers. I think this is a great start to Doctor Strange, or Spider-Man if you are still unfamiliar with their characters.