Astonishing X-men: Torn

Title
Astonishing X-men: Torn

Library Link
Astonishing X-Men. Vol. 3, Torn / writer, Joss Whedon ; artist, John Cassaday Whedon, Joss, 1964-

10 Second Review
Emma messes with Scott's head, Kitty gets lucky and a powerful alien comes to kill X-men.
Meanwhile Beast gets wild while Logan get civilized.
Strange things are going on and Scott struggles to find answers.
 
Good art and story.  A fun read with some unusual elements.
 
Notes
Why does anyone trust Emma?
 
Learning Curve
Low: Some knowledge of the X-men would be helpful

MockingJay

Title
Mockingjay


Library Link
Mockingjay / Suzanne Collins Collins, Suzanne.


10 Second Review
Katniss' adventures continue in this final book in the 'Hunger Games' series.
A mystery group comes to her aid but she quickly discovers that they have their own agenda.
The Capitol continues with it's old agenda and makes life even more miserable for Katniss.

An excellent book that concludes an excellent series.
The author manages to keep up the pace and suspense of the previous books but some may find the constant conflict tiresome.  Katniss finds herself in the middle of a war so expect lots of violence.

Fans will have to read the book and won't be disappointed.


Notes
Gale or Peeta?

Learning Curve
Low, if read in order
Reading Order 
Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay

Avengers: The Origin

Title

Avengers: The Origin

Library Link
Avengers. The origin / Joe Casey, writer ; Phil Noto, artist ; Richard Starkings, Comicraft's Albert Deschesne, letterers Casey, Joe.

10 Second Review
This book is a retelling of the first Avenger get together.  Hulk, manipulated by Loki (Thor's evil brother), causes a ruckus and some Hulk supporters send out a call to the Fantastic Four.  The call is intercepted by Iron Man, Ant Man and the Wasp.  They have some much fun, they decide to form a team.
 
With crisp, clean art this book should appeal to fans and new readers. 
The story line is based on the original story so it is aimed at a fairly young audience. 

Notes
Includes a reprint of Avengers #1

Learning Curve
Low: Good for new readers

The Art of Mechanical Drawing

Title
The Art of Mechanical Drawing

Library Link
Popular mechanics. The art of mechanical drawing : a practical course for drafting and design / William F. Willard Willard, William Franklin, 1879-

10 Second Review
From the library summary:
"Before our modern age of computer-aided design, apprentice draftsmen perfected their art by hand. Manual drafting was once a lovingly nurtured and prized skill. Now, the editors ofPopular Mechanicshave revived their classic handbook in a compact and beautifully produced new edition."

Basically, this book is a reprint from 1912 that teaches mechanical drawing.
While some of the info is dated (ie mechanical drawing skills are profitable) , the drawing exercises are excellent.
This book will show you how to use all those weird drawing tools and teach you to produce virtually any 3-D shape you can imagine.
Great for the artist looking to add precise detail to their work.

Notes
A drafting table would be helpful when using this book

Learning Curve
Moderate: Some math skills are needed

The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis

Title
The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis

Library Link
The Simpsons Futurama crossover crisis / [Matt Groening] Groening, Matt.

10 Second Review
From Booklist
"How much satire can you pack into a single graphic novel? Well, you’ve got The Simpsons, with its cutting perspective on culture and family life; you’ve got Futurama, which hits pop culture and sci-fi tropes with Groening’s patented scathing wit; and you’ve got cosmic-scale comic-book mega-crossover events that the Big Two (Marvel and DC) churn out nonstop, which this book sends up from start to finish, right down to its hardbound, slipcased format."

Yeah, yeah...but is it funny? 
Not so much. 
While the art is excellent the dialog doesn't seem to transfer very well to the comic medium.
Might appeal to younger teens.

Notes
Includes a separate comic book 'The Amazing Colossal Homer."

Learning Curve
Low: Good for new readers

Incorruptible Volume 1

Title

Incorruptible Volume 1

Library Link
Incorruptible. Volume 1 / created & written by Mark Waid ; artist: Jean Diaz ; inks: Belardino Brabo ; colorist: Andrew Dalhouse ; letterer: Ed Dukeshire ; editor, Matt Gagnon ; design, Brian Latimer
Waid, Mark.

10 Second Review
The world's primary superhero goes rouge and it's up to world's most violent supercriminal to save the day.
The Plutonian can fly and emits flesh melting rays from his eyes.
He used to be the good guy but now he has killed millions and threatens to destroy the Earth.
Max Damage would rather he didn't destroy the planet and sets out to stop the Plutonian.

A clever idea but the first volume doesn't cover much ground.
However, it's a quick and fun read.

Notes
"The flip-side to the smash hit 'Irredeemable'..."

Learning Curve
Low: Good for new readers

Reading Order
Chronological

The Scorch Trials

Title
The Scorch Trials

Library Link
The Scorch trials / James Dashner Dashner, James, 1972-

10 Second Review
The Maze Runner was just the beginning.  This book continues the story of a group of teenagers and the experiments they are forced to endure.  They are moved from the relative safety of the Maze to the desert wasteland of the Scorch.  More trials and tests await plus monsters, Cranks and a second group of teenagers.

This is an excellent sequel to Maze Runner and fans will not be disappointed.
Full of action, mystery and romance this book is hard to put down.
You will love it.
You will hate it.
But you MUST read it!

Notes
A good choice for Hunger Game fans

Learning Curve
Low, if read in order

Reading Order
The Maze Runner
The Scorch Trials
???

Rough Justice

Title

Rough Justice

Library Link
Rough justice : the DC comics sketches of Alex Ross / edited and designed by Chip Kidd ; annotations by Alex Ross Ross, Alex, 1970-

10 Second Review
From the libraries summary:
“Private sketchbooks of the author reveal his pencil and ink drawings of DC Comics characters, nearly all of them appearing in print here for the first time. Includes deleted scenes and altered panels for the epic Kingdom Come saga, proposals for revamping classic properties as Batgirl, Captain Marvel, and an imagined son of Batman named Batboy…”

This book is full of sketches by the comic artist Alex Ross. Lots of unique drawings that will give fans an interesting perspective of the artist. While the written material is likely to only appeal to fans, the art should also appeal to students learning the craft of illustration.

Notes
Ross has been awarded an Eisner

Learning Curve
Low: Good for new readers

Kingdom Come

Title

Kingdom Come

Library Link
Kingdom come / Mark Waid, Alex Ross, with Todd Klein Waid, Mark.


10 Second Review
Set in the DC future, a new breed of violent superheroes has taken over the world and a preacher is having visions of the apocalypse. Wonder Woman tries to convince Superman to come out of his self imposed exile and Batman joins forces with Lex Luthor.

This is an excellent, clever story which is perfectly matched with the art of Alex Ross.
Should appeal to all comic fans.

Notes
Who’s the only mortal that can stand up to Superman?

Learning Curve
Low to Moderate: Should be OK for those fairly new to comics

Wolverine: Old Man Logan

Title

Wolverine: Old Man Logan


Library Link
Old Man Logan / writer, Mark Millar ; artist, Steve McNiven Millar, Mark.

10 Second Review
Like Wolverine? Love a good post- apocalyptic tale?
Well, you’re going to like this.

Set in the future of the Marvel universe, the U.S. has been reduced to a wasteland after the bad guys formed an alliance and defeated the heroes. Villains rule the country with an iron fist and even Wolverine has vowed to never fight again.

This is a fun read with lots of shocks and twist.
Wolverine fans will enjoy and it should be accessible to new readers.

Notes
Earns its Parental Warning for violence

Learning Curve
Low: Should be good for those fairly new to comics.