Guest Post -James M's review of IDW Sonic Issue 38


 







Salutations, Sonic fans. Sorry it took a while, but I'm here to give my thoughts on the latest issue of IDW Sonic and part two of Test Run. Thats right, we're halfway through Evan Stanley's second IDW Sonic story arc and things are really getting good when they really get good.

Where we last left Sonic, Tails and Amy, they got to Eggman's weird tower and got stuck in a maze before Sonic ran around the maze at high speed and smashed through the wall with help from Amy and her hammer, this lead to Sonic and crew falling through a space void. Meanwhile, Tangle and Belle decided to go investigate the situation involving the strange weather off the coast.

Sonic, Amy and Tails manage to get out of the space void only to end up in a creepy abandoned town, which has the same strange space-time properties as the maze they escaped from. The trio enter a house and encounter new Badnik hybrids. Meanwhile, Tangle and Belle break inside Eggman's new base and overhear Orbot and Cubot talking to Eggman. After that, Belle has an encounter with Egg Pawns and its made clear that she's basically a Badnik but Tangle is still cool with her.

Back in the strange Badnik-filled house, Sonic, Amy and Tails are contacted by Eggman, who taunts them and declares they're now his new test dummies for his new Badniks and the issue ends with Sonic and crew preparing to fight Eggman's Badnik hybrids.

I will say, Evan knows how to write a story as much as Ian Flynn does, especially since Evan did read Ian's stuff before becoming part of the Sonic comic staff years ago. The cliffhanger was quite amazing and I look forward to part three of the short story arc as much as I look forward to the future of IDW Sonic going forward during the blue blur's thirtieth anniversary year and beyond.

My score for Issue 38 is a 9.5/10, hope you read and loved this Sonic comic. See you later.


BW13: Sunday's Book Babble - Clio, Daughter of Mnemosyne



Clio, Muse of History

It's book week 13 in our 52 Books quest and this week is all about the daughter of Mnemosyne, Clio, the muse of history. 

I finished reading Thea Harrison's Elder Races series, (except for the novella's) which I thoroughly enjoyed and want to read again.  The setting reminds me of the Guild Hunter series in which the main setting is New York and they live in a high tower, but there aren't any angels involved.  Dragons, Gryphons, Elves, and Vampyres sets it apart. 

  1. Dragon Bound 
  2. Storm's Heart
  3. Serpents Kiss 
  4. Oracle's Moon
  5. Lord's Fall
  6. The Wicked
  7. Kinked
  8. Night's Honour 
  9. Midnight's Kiss 
  10. Shadow's End 

For my historical fiction read this week, I dove into The Duke and I, the first Bridgerton story and thoroughly enjoying it. Will probably continue to read the series. Also watched the first episode of Bridgerton on Netflix which is equally good. 

Took a break from Monte Cristo and will get back into this week. 

BW12: Sunday's Book Babble - A prayer in Spring by Robert Frost

Butterfly Princess by Josephine Walls

 It's book week 12 in our 52 Books Quest and Today is World Poetry Day.  One of my favorite poets is Robert Frost. 

A Prayer In Spring

 By

Robert Frost

(March 26, 1874)


Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.


 Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.


And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.


 For this is love and nothing else is love,

To which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends he will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill.


*********

Books in progress are Count of Monte Cristo, continuing Thea Harrison's Elder series and currently on Night's Honor, and started a sci fi space opera Ancestral Night (#1 White space) by Elizabeth Bear.  

BW11: Sunday's Book Babble - Darn clock jumped forward

 


It's week 11 in our 52 Books Quest and those darn clocks jumped ahead again leaving me feeling a bit forlorn and bedraggled with the loss of that extra hour. However, there's plenty to look forward to with Tea for Two Tuesday, the wearing of the green on St. Patrick's day, and the beautiful blossoming blooms of Spring arriving on the March Equinox.

Last week I  finished The Peculiar Pink Toes of Lady Flora by Jayne Fresina, a historical with a little bit of supernatural thrown in. It's as unique as Lady Flora, heartwarming, as well as amusing, and will leave one guessing in the end whether there will be a HEA.  

Last night I  finished the 2nd book in Thea Harrison's Elder Races series, Storm Heart which was quite good and made me want to go back and read the first book again.

"During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle "Tricks" Periwinkle found sanctuary among the Wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle's death, there are those who don't want to see her ascend to the throne.

Able to wield thunder and lightning, Wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the Wyr's best weapons. And he's sent to protect Tricks when she's almost assassinated in Chicago.

Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them—a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds"

Continuing with # 3 Serpent's Kiss


BW10: Sunday's Book Babble's - 52 Books Bingo Cunning Capers


 

It's week 10 in our 52 Books Quest and the next category in 52 Bingo is Cunning Capers.  In the mood for a sting, a heist, a hold up, perhaps a little breaking and entering and a five fingered discount? Perhaps a cozy mystery that is clever and adventurous, maybe humorous or audacious. 

There seems to be a number of ways to go - with an ensemble cast, a bungling burglar, a devious dog or even a rat, or cat, or two.  Throw in a bank heists, train robberies, book swindling, or perhaps a supernatural, magical or real life event and settle in for the ride.  Oh the drama of it all.  *grin*

 My cunning caper read just coincidently turned out to be the book I just finished - Nora Roberts Three Fates which was supposed to be a reread but I think it was a used book I bought that got lost in the shelves and forgotten and I thought I had read it because I didn't remember a thing about it.  Hee hee!  With the sinking of the Lusitania, a thief, lose, grief, connections, and of course love, Roberts spins an Interesting story with twist and turns about the three silver statues the three fates and how they were stolen, lost, then stolen again. 

Also finished Tea with the Black Dragon which was somewhat convoluted and things that seemed simple were not.

"Martha Macnamara is called west to San Francisco by a message from her daughter Elizabeth, a computer programmer. When she arrives, however, Elizabeth has disappeared. Mayland Long, an Asian gentleman who is skilled in both human and computer languages — and who may be a transformed 2,000-year-old Chinese dragon —aids Martha in her search for her daughter. As they search for clues to Elizabeth's disappearance, they discover hints that Elizabeth is involved in a dangerous crime."

Guest Post -James M's review of IDW Sonic Issue 37

 


Welcome back to IDW Sonic world, folks. Year Three is behind us and now its time for YEAR FOUR, starting with issue 37 and a brand new arc written by Evan Stanley, fresh off from CHAO RACES AND BADNIK BASES! I'll say this, folks. Since we're in 2021 and with Sonic's 30th Anniversary looming, the future is bright for the franchise and the comics have a promising future too...

So, what's the new arc about? Well, Evan did give us a bit of info a couple months back that there would be a storyline where Sonic, Amy and Tails go explore a strange tower set up by Eggman while Tangle and newcomer Belle help out the heroes from behind the scenes. So far, the story has gotten off to a fairly good start and Evan is going all out with this one with no SEGA mandates to stop her.

How are there no SEGA mandates that serve as road-bumps for Evan here, you ask? Well, she's working with characters who are easy to write and Shadow isn't here right now. Huzzah, by not including Shadow in almost everything, the writers are free to write certain characters without being bogged down by tight restrictions as long as they don't do anything that SEGA doesn't approve of.

I'll say this, Evan is great with characterization and character interactions just as Ian is. Well, no big friggin' duh, every writer has done their best to be great with character interactions and characterization despite a few hiccups in the road depending on the situation. Sonic, Amy and Tails have a great dynamic just as Tangle and Belle are getting along well and their dynamic is sweet too.

After reading this issue the day I got it and after thinking about it for a while, I will say that IDW Sonic issue 37 is without a doubt the best issue in the comic series. And so, I strongly give this issue a 9/10 like almost every other issue. May IDW Sonic be strong next to Archie Sonic, also, I think its time for SEGA to ease up on its grip on the comic and lift certain mandates. They've been playing it safe long enough, let the comic cut loose and go all out. Have a good day, folks!

-James. M











Bookish notes - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue


 

I'm completely enamoured with V.E. Scwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.  Having a hard time putting it down.  Started reading it yesterday and for the first time in a long while, took the book to bed until 1:30 or so.   šŸ˜  Good thing I have the day off.  Back to reading this morning all the way through lunch time. Taking a break to get things done.  

"France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name."

 Finished Pratchett's The Colour of Magic which was really good and weird to say the least. The blurb was right. Where ever Rincewind went, chaos followed. How often can you say the character of Death is amusing.