Comics Wrap Up - This Ain't a Scene

Film Trailers


So many the teaser trailers for Captain America: Civil War this week guys! SO. MANY. THE TRAILERS.

OK, the people in the next one with the punching and the kicking and the weapons?

STOP HURTING MY BUCKY BEAR!!!!!



Graphic Novels

This week I reviewed Blood Stain, Vol 1 by Linda Šejić.

Dudes, I cannot explain fully in this brief wrap-up the degree of the rockitude of this graphic novel. You'll have to go read my review.

And Linda Šejić? A very cool person, who was totally classy when I accidentally shared the wrong link to Twitter. (I should not be permitted online before coffee. It just doesn't end well.)

I also read and reviewed Echoes by Joshua Hale Fialkov. Creepy, cool, and black-and-white, you can check out my review here.

I read Luna the Vampire, Volume 1: Grumpy Space by Yasmin Sheikh - an uber-wacky set of adventures about a vampire who lives in space. As you do.

My review for Luna the Vampire will probably be up within the next week or so.

Other Stuff

Came across this weird little faux-documentary trailer thingummy as promo for X-Men: Age of Apocalypse:



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AND GERARD WAY HAS A DC IMPRINT!!!!!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!

Gerard Way's DC imprint is Young Animal. And it looks pretty damned cool.

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This week I also spent far too long watching spoofs of superhero movie trailers.

Here're two of my favourites from ArtSpear Entertainment (adult humour, gore, swearing, etc...)



Like this post? Try these:

• Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Blood Stain, Vol 1
• Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Echoes, Vol 1 by Joshua Hale Fialkov
• Comics Wrap Up - Little Frayed Around the Edge

Last updated: 30th Jan 2026

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Echoes, Vol 1 by Joshua Hale Fialkov

**This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links, which allow me to earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.**

**Please only use my affiliate links for .COM purchases, as I do NOT earn from other Amazon sites**

Title: Echoes, Vol 1

Author: Joshua Hale Fialkov

Contributors: Rahsan Ekedal, Troy Peteri, Ryan Cady

Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror, Crime

Series: Echoes (#1-5)

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

This looked both cool and creepy.

To be honest, it doesn't really take more than that to draw me in. Cool? Creepy? Yep, I'll give it a shot.

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Blood Stain, Vol 1

Title: Blood Stain, Volume 1

Author: Linda Šejić

Genre: Graphic Novel

Series: Blood Stain

Release Date: 19 April 2016

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

This looked to be in a similar style to the graphic novels by Linda Šejić's husband, Stjepan.

And since I loved the way that sort of style worked in Death Vigil (UK - US) which I reviewed last year, I thought I'd try this too.

Premise:

Ellie is out of work and out of luck.

So... maybe the scientist's assistant job looks a bit... freaking creepy... but... she needs the work. Right?

Best bits:

I loved, loved, LOVED Ellie's memories of jobs gone wrong, as well as her slightly paranoid mental ramblings and imaginings. It made her a) likeable, b) realistic, and c) laugh-out-loud funny!

The style of artwork that Šejić uses is similar to her husbands style - that same openness of lines, and deft work on facial expressions, can be found here as well as in Stjepan's work.

But Šejić brings her own edge, her own voice, to the book.

Instead of being caught in her husband's shadow, she flourishes in it - using the bits she requires, and binding it with own humour and storytelling.

I think you can probably guess by now - I LOVED this book.

I loved the characters. I loved the situation. I loved Ellie's random scatter-brained thoughts.

Ellie rocks - a character you can sympathise with, empathise with, and laugh at, in equal measure. I love her!

I also absolutely loved the possibilities for further instalments - DAMMIT I NEED MORE!

Not so great bits:

The odd bit of swearing, and some panels that could be conceivably called gory if you squint and turn your head a bit, won't put most people off. But I've told you it's there, so now it's up to you.

I did get slightly discombobulated (love that word!) during one or two of the flashback sessions. Because I didn't understand what we were flashing back to. But I worked it out in the end!

My main problem with this graphic novel though is that THERE WASN'T ENOUGH OF IT!!!!!!

I need to know what happened!!!

We're only just getting started on the juicy stuff - the stuff that is our actual premise, dear book, and now you're going to pop off into the wasteland of between-volumes?!

WHY?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!

Verdict:

If you like relatable, realistic, awesome-sauce female leads, and awesome storytelling in general, read this book.

If you like graphic novels that actually have a brain-cell, and a fab style of artwork t'boot, read this book.

Basically, just READ THIS BOOK. Because man, I loved this book.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

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My Contemporary YA TBR

**This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links, which allow me to earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.**

**Please only use my affiliate links for .COM purchases, as I do NOT earn from other Amazon sites**

I'm not usually much of a contemporary-genre reader, but I've been meaning to read more and more books that fall into that category.

I more than partially blame the bookish community online (you know I love you guys!) because their enthusiasm is uber-infectious.

I guess it's proof that reading is a communicable disease - and one that we need to get out there and spread ;)




This, then, is my contemporary YA TBR (To-Be Read list.)

A lot of people have slightly different definitions of what the contemporary genre actually is.

I basically went with a modern-ish setting and no magic, sci-fi, paranormal, or horror elements.

The rules can probably be bent six ways from Tuesday, but this is my list.

It's pretty damned long, so just be glad that I didn't decide to post my full TBR - we'd be here all day ;)

Nerd Church - Do We Need Segregated Fiction Prizes?

Being honest - and you guys know that I always strive for honesty - I wasn't sure about this week's Nerd Church post.

Not because it's uber-controversial, Lord knows I've blogged about more sensitive topics and lived to tell the tale,  but because I'm really not 100% sure on my feelings with this one.

I'm also not sure you guys will even be interested.

Still, no guts, no glory - so without further ado:



This week saw the release of the 2016 shortlist for the Bailey's Women's Prize For Fiction.


In case you didn't know, this is a literary prize in which ALL of the books being judged are written by women.


The shortlist is as follows, (list is from the announcement on the Prize's website) -


Cynthia Bond: Ruby | Amazon: UK - US

Anne Enright: The Green Road | Amazon: UK - US

Lisa McInerney: The Glorious Heresies | Amazon: UK - US

Elizabeth McKenzie: The Portable Veblen | Amazon: UK - US

Hannah Rothschild: The Improbability of Love | Amazon: UK - US

Hanya Yanagihara: A Little Life | Amazon: UK - US

Now, this post isn't intended to bring down the awesomeness of awesome women having awesome recognition like this.

I totally understand that these women have worked uber-hard, and I'm glad their books have been recognised.

My question is this (and yes, it's one that has been asked many, many, times before,) -



Do we need a literary prize specifically for women?

My knee-jerk reaction was no. Hell no. And no again.

After all, I'm a big believer in books being recognised for their own merit, and not who wrote them.

But then, do women need this prize in order to balance inequality in literature?

Is there inequality in literary fiction? Or, for that matter in other fiction?

(I won't get into the whole literary vs non-literary fiction debate here, because that's a whole other debate.)

Maybe the forces of equality would be better served by an agreement to shortlist the same number of men and women for a prize.

That way women are given a fair and fighting chance, while still proving to the world that they can compete on equal terms with men.

Because really, as it stands, we're not being given the chance to beat their butts in fair combat.

And I think fair combat is the only way to make sure that the best book wins.

Again, that's not to denigrate some kick-a*s female authors, who've worked damned hard on their books.



I'm just saying that my ideal literary prize would be one that shortlists six books written by men, and six books written by women.

The judges (in my ideal li'l book prize,) would not be allowed to know who wrote the book.

That way, they'd be more likely to judge the book, instead of their personal feelings towards the authors.

True, that would probably mean making them judge before publication.

BUT YOU ORGANISE A FREAKING BOOK PRIZE. I'M SURE YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

...Ok, that was a lot of Caps-Locks. Sorry. Little too much coffee. (I regret nothing!)

I guess what I'm saying is, that as far as I'm concerned, segregation of prizes is not the answer.

It doesn't prove that women are just as capable as men. It doesn't prove that we can compete equally at the highest of levels.

But there are things that can be done to even things out.

Getting off your butts and doing some organisation for the sake of equality and fairness?

Big-shot prize people, what the f**k are you waiting for?


Nerd Church is a weekly post that is basically me having a rant about various issues. Feel free to continue the discussion, but please link back here.



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Review Time! - Growing Up by Tricia Sol

Title: Growing Up

Author: Tricia Sol

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult/NA, LGBTQ+, Romance (m/m,) Short Story/Novella

Release Date: 13 April 2016

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publishers, Less Than Three Press, via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

Something about this one caught my eye - I don't know why.

I guess I was interested in where the premise was headed, and whether the author would be able to pull it off without it going wrong somewhere along the lines.

So I requested it for review, and was happy to have my request accepted by the ever interesting Less Than Three Press.

It's quite short: about 74 pages, depending on what e-reader you're using.

And I read it in a day (partly because I wanted to know what happened, dammit!)

This book is in ebook format only.

Premise:

Kelly is back in his hometown, Glenn.

Although it's just a few hours away from his college, he tries not to go back too often - not least because no-one back home knows he's gay.

And then he runs into his former high-school teacher - Mr Bastion.

Except he wants Kelly to call him Luke now. And Kelly has had a crush on him since forever.

But Mr Bastion - Luke - he couldn't be interested in Kelly at all, could he?

Best bits:

Sol got this oh-so-right where it could've gone oh-so-wrong. Kelly is an awesome character - you 100% feel for him, and feel with him.

The awkward moments? The tension? The worry over his unaccepting family? You can totally feel the emotion in those paragraphs.

And those moments are where Sol truly excels - those moments are real.

I also liked the way this was a book about a guy who falls in love - not a book about love and sex that happened to have characters in it.

Kelly has a life outside of Luke - and there's a real sense of him trying to find his way in the world as an individual.

The love-scene is no less steamy for all that (fans self profusely,) but it's sex with real love and intimacy, not just porn for the sake of porn.

The balance of love, everyday life, character, etc. is pretty spot-on. It doesn't get overly-gooey, or overly-trashy. Which is great - and shows a potential for thoughtful plots on the part of Sol.

And the writing? Sol is a debut author, but she clearly has some talent. And I hope she keeps writing.

Not so great bits:

There is explicit sex here. Which isn't going to be to everyone's taste, no matter how well it's done.

There's also some swearing - again, not for everyone.

And there's some domestic violence and threats of sexual violence which may be distressing to some people. I personally, though, thought the subject was handled quite well.

The writing does get clumsy in places. Overall it's fine... but there are moments when it clunks instead of chimes.

Not the end of the world, but it's slightly jarring when you're reading.

I also felt like some places were a bit sketchy on detail. Some points could've been expanded and explored more.

We really could've done with Sol zooming in on the detail - the emotional detail, rather than buttons and carpets - particularly in terms of Kelly's ex, who sometimes feels more like a plot device than a flesh-and-blood character.

And if Kelly could stop going on about how inexperienced in love/sex he is at 21, that would be great.

21 is not old. Sex is not the meaning of life. Get over it.

Verdict:

This could've gone so wrong - it could've come across creepy, or over-sentimental, or overly-trashy.

Instead we have a story with heart and complex characters that I really enjoyed, and managed to give real moments of emotion and the complexities of life.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Tricia Sol's Author Profile

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Friday Fics Fix! - Vegas Baby!

Update 24th September 2017: This fic is no longer available



OK, so this is FrostIron. But we've been through this guys. I ship the ship.

(Fangirl note: Shipping the FrostIron ship means that you really want Tony Stark to kiss and/or do unspeakably cute and/or sexy things to and/or with Loki.

And who wouldn't want that?)

This week's fic is:

What Happens in Vegas... by xXFanGirl23Xx

In which Tony and Loki pull a Ross and Rachel.

via GIPHY

There's some sexual references, but no actual sexy times!

I know! That's the second week in a row that I've tracked down fanfiction with no explicit gay sex! I'm a little worried, actually. Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse?

But you know what? Read the fic. It's actually pretty good, and pretty cute. :)



via GIPHY

And I'll attempt to come up with something non-Loki-related for a change next week ;)

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