"Batman Incorporated" by Grant Morrison

Book cover, courtesy of DCentertainment.com

"Thanks to Batman Incorporated, I can tell you exactly where Batman is."

"Batman is EVERYWHERE."

                This bold statement by Bruce Wayne, better known as the Batman, manages to summarize what "Batman Incorporated" by Grant Morrison is all about. After been thrown through an interdimensional roller coaster, Batman has returned to Gotham City and has become driven by a vision of the future to expand his war on crime to the entire world by recruiting crime fighters across the globe. An old enemy...and lover...of Batman's is also preparing for a war, this one against the Caped Crusader himself!

                For long-time and hardcore fans of everything Batman, this book is the perfect story. It features Batman fighting alongside other heroes across the globe, solving mysteries, and finding time to visit the ladies. Unfortunately, even as Batman stops evil at every turn, casualties amongst Batman Incorporated members begin to mount as their new enemy, Leviathan, is as dangerous a foe as they have ever battled.

                Readers who are new to Batman or don't like extreme gore will want to avoid "Batman Incorporated." The story relies heavily on the reader knowing what has happened in previous storylines, Batman's interdimensional trip is only given a brief mention when he explains his reasons for founding Batman Incorporated, though there is a helpful character guide at the back of the book explaining who the characters are and how they came to be included in Batman comics. This book is also extremely gory and includes graphic imagery that some readers may want to avoid, such as a man having his hands melted and countless people getting stabbed and impaled.

For good, clean Batman fun, check out the opening to Batman: The Animated Series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5nB2OJnCko

Morrison, Grant, Yanick Paquette, Michel Lacombe, Chris Burnham, Scott Clark, Cameron Stewart, Dave Beaty, Pere Pérez, Nathan Fairbairn, and Bob Kane. Batman, Incorporated. New York: DC Comics, 2012. Print.

"Honey and Clover: Volume 1" by Chika Umiko

Book cover, courtesy of Amazon.com

Have you ever been in love with a loaf of delicious ham?

Neither have the characters in "Honey and Clover: Volume 1" by Chica Umino, but the way Takamoto and his fellow college students behave, you'd be sure it was love at first sight for them.

                When I interviewed students about what sort of graphic novel they enjoyed reading, many of my female respondents were quick to answer, almost unanimously, romance. Sophmore Jenna even went so far as to say that she enjoyed reading Shoujo (romance manga for girls) every day! "Honey and Clover" has romance in spades, though it comes in a very unusual package. Takamoto, an art student, is struggling to find out who he is when a new student arrives. Fresh from high school comes Hanago, whose almost child-like stature instantly attracts Takamoto's attention and that of Takamoto's unusual friend Morita, who instantly (and creepily) begins taking photos of her.

                "Honey and Clover" is an excellent title for readers who prefer drama and budding romance to action. While the book does have some humor (typically involving running gags such as the dorm's love affair with meat and the kickboxing queen Yamada, whose nickname is "Iron Man"), its primary focus is exploring who the characters are and how their lives are being changed by the people around them. With a cast of fun and lovable characters, "Honey and Clover" is sure to please. The book also includes a "study guide" at the back of the book to explain the story's obscure references and Japanese terms, such as System 6 Macs and Koropokkurs, that is sorted by the order in which the references appear.

If you enjoyed "Honey and Clover: Volume 1," be sure to check out the rest of the series. All ten volumes of "Honey and Clover" have been translated and released in the US. 

Umino, Chika, and Akemi Wegmüller. Honey and Clover. San Francisco, CA: Viz Media, 2008. Print.

"Slam Dunk: Volume 1" by Takehiko Inoue

Japanese book cover, courtesy of Wikipedia

  

              When I first picked up Takehiko Inoue "Slam Dunk Volume 1," I was looking for an exciting title like Naruto, which freshman Danica indicated was one of her favorites. On the cover, as seen above, is a confident, strong-looking guy with a basketball in hand and a jersey on, so I thought it was going to be an exciting basketball story.

I was wrong...partially.

                Hanamichi Sakuragi, protagonist of "Slam Dunk," has no luck with the ladies. If they aren't scared off by his reputation as a brawling gang leader (not entirely undeserved), then they're turning him down because he's not an athlete. Just as his friends are celebrating his fiftieth consecutive rejection, he meets Haruko, who greets him in a most unusual manner: she begins examining him from head to toe, remarking on his physique. Immediately, Hanamichi finds himself falling in love and becomes determined to win her affection by becoming a great basketball player. His obstacles? Haruko's brother is the ambitious captain of the basketball team and her crush is an ace basketball player who is almost as tough in a fight as Hanamichi. Not to mention that Hanamichi has never played basketball in his life!

                "Slam Dunk" is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys humor and action in equal parts, especially fans of basketball. Fans of romance would also enjoy reading this title to partake in the triangle of unrequited love between Hanamichi, Haruko, and her crush, Rukawa. A special section highlighting famous basketball player LeBron James also encourages readers to get out by providing a helpful guide on how to perform a slam dunk.

If you enjoyed "Slam Dunk: Volume 1," be sure to check out the rest of the series. Twenty-five of the original thirty-one volumes have been translated.

For more hilarious basketball action, check out Dikembe Motombo's "Four-and-a-half Weeks To Save the World": http://www.oldspicesavestheworld.com/

Inoue, Takehiko, and Kelly Sue. DeConnick. Slam Dunk. San Francisco, CA: VIZ Media, 2008. Print.