Graphic Novel Review: Paying For It (May 2011)

 Paying For It 

(A Comic-Strip Memoir About Being a John)

Written and Illustrated by Chester Brown

 Published by Drawn and Quarterly

Few autobiographical novels have made an impact on me mainly because of their boring stories full of self-justification. But Chester Brown's autobiographical novel "Paying For It" is one of those many exceptions.

His intelligent, excuse-free, brutally honest, and thought-provoking defense on the subject of "prostitution" as a viable replacement for romantic love - which he describes as "possessive monogamy" - is certainly going to raise some eyebrows, but at the same time, will make others do a double-take on the very subject of "paid sex" and the people who engage in such arrangements, and maybe, even persuade them to agree with his writing genius.

Comic Book Review: Mouse Guard

Mouse Guard

Written and Illustrated by David Petersen

Published by Archaia Studios Press

An independent comic book about intelligent swashbuckling mice living the medieval era just like real knights if they were human beings. They have they own small mice kingdoms, own towns, cities, and other what nots just like us, only that in their story - there are no human beings. Just mice and other predators that we see in shows like National Geographic and the Discovery Channel.

At first I'm like: Are you fucking kidding me? Yeah because it sounded like a children's story to me, but heck I gave it a try. 

Read Mouse Guard Fall of 1152 (which is the collection of the comic's first 6 issues) in only 30 minutes and damn I was hooked with this amazing story and detailed world of writer/artist David Petersen that focuses on the adventures of the  Mouse Guard - protector of the innocent and lowly mice and valiant defenders of Lockhaven (home of the Guard) - and their struggle to figure out and stop a sinister plot that hopes to bring down their whole kingdom and destroy the legendary Mouse Guards once and for all. Right after that is Mouse Guard Winter of 1152 which is basically the sequel of the first 6 issues and deals with the fallout of the events in the Fall.