The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book (Kitchen Sink Press Book for Back Bay Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)There's an illustration on the back cover of The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book that perfectly encapsulates the artist's work - it depicts the top of Robert's head exploding, with several of his creations, famous, infamous, and otherwise, leaping out.
That, to me, sums up Crumb's work - this incredibly inventive artist with, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, a head full of ideas that are drivin' him insane.
There are frequent complaints about Crumb's work being too dark, racist, sexist, and/or misogynistic. While I can see where these criticisms come from, I really don't think Crumb is any darker, more racist, sexist, or misogynistic than any of us - he simply is unafraid to - COMPELLED to, almost - lay his cards on the table. Some people find this offensive. Would it be absurd of me to suggest that some of those who are offended by his work have their own issues with sexism, racism, and/or misogyny that they are unwilling to confront?
What I'm trying to get at here, I guess, is that this IS NOT a book for little kids. There's a sticker on the front of my copy of the book that says "FOR ADULT INTELLECTUALS ONLY!", and while I'm not so sure about the "intellectuals" part, this is probably not a book you want your grade-school age child to get ahold of, unless you're okay with said child seeing depictions of graphic (and I do mean GRAPHIC) sex, hard-core drug use, and extreme (albiet cartoonish) violence.
I realize all I've spent all this space talking about Crumb without ever really discussing what I like about his work. I think there's two main things: (1) his unflinching honesty (as I touched upon earlier), and (2) the incredible beauty of his draftsmanship. I think my favotite chapter in the whole book is the one that features his pen-and-ink still-lifes and landscapes. Just beautiful stuff - worth studying for his use of cross-hatching alone.
In conclusion, if you're at all interested in checking out the work of one of the finest artists to ever work in the comics medium, I highly recommend you get this book. It's easily worth the 25 bucks.
Oh, yeah - and it DOES make a wonderful coffee table book. :)

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Punisher MAX Vol. 2: Kitchen Irish Review

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(More customer reviews)As in real-life events, Kitchen Irish starts after In the Beginning.
Ever wonder what how, when or why Hell's Kitchen reveals its ugly site?
This is where Kitchen Irish comes along. To get an average reader
understand the premise of the story, Ennis has used various references from
movies like Gangs of New York and The Devil's Own. In addition, Ennis
has created some of the wonderful supporting characters from real-life
celebrities or fictional characters such as Lucy Lawless, Martin Landau,
Bill the Butcher, Mason Verger and whoever that you see.
The gangs in Hell's Kitchen are fighting over a sum of $10 million - a
will left by the late gang boss Nesbitt. To this end, every gang will
slug it out toe to toe to reach for the prize at all costs, even if it
means of having their members killed or causing a collateral damage
which involves our vigilante. As it goes on and on, it seems that the gangs
will have a hard understanding on Nesbitt's message to them which
involves are harsh and punishing way of saying, "Will You Stop That? " or
"No Rest For The Wicked."
Kitchen Irish was the real opposite in terms of mood and tone depicted
in In The Beginning. Ennis has brought back the black-comedy elements
as seen in the Maxi series. The real highlight in this story arc is not
the story itself but Leandro Fernandez's (Wolverine) art. Clean and
better looking, it's totally different that what Lewis Larosa illustrated
in the previous volume. The colors are brighter and have more variety,
but one problem was that there are some inconsistencies in the
character faces drawn in one frame compared to the previous frame. Nonetheless,
Leandro's art was real good and thus he was brought in by Ennis to work
on the next upcoming story arcs, The Slavers and Up Is Down, Black Is
White.
A lot of people asked of the lack of sex elements in the current
series. One of the parts of the story is the only one moment in the series to
have sex elements. Although the series has the highs on wanton violence
and the language used, the real low was on the sex thing. As you can
see, Frank doesn't do this ever since the family's murder. Another thing
that makes the story fell short compared to In the Beginning is Frank
himself. In here, Frank became more or less a secondary character and
instead the gangs were given the priority first. Not much of the personal
emotions of Frank elicit so often were shown here.
Anyway, it provides a relief to the cold mood in the previous volume.
If you like the laughs, if you are a fan of Leandro's art or even like
The Punisher, it's a good read really. Good but not that great.
[This review posted by my friend Melvin, also from Malaysia!]

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When a bomb explodes in a Hell's Kitchen pub, Frank Castle embarks on a deadly mission that pits him against two rival gangs.One thing is certain: The Punisher won't be pulling his punches!One of comics' most provocative writers takes one of comics' most provocative characters in a new direction - any direction he wants! Collecting PUNISHER #7-12.

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Kitchen Princess 8 Review

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(More customer reviews)This series is the very best. I love each and every one and pre order the next one. It says 13+ but I think all ages will enjoy this story if you like romance, cooking, and of course Manga.

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HIGH TEA SHOWDOWNNajika's world is falling apart. Lavender House, the orphanage where she grew up, is being shut down, and there's only one way she can save it. When Najika is challenged to a High Tea cook-off against Seiya, her nemesis, the scheming director of Seika Academy makes Najika an offer: lose the contest on purpose, and he'll save Lavender House from ruin. Will Najika throw the fight–or will her true self shine through?

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Kitchen Princess 6 Review

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(More customer reviews)I read these two volumes together, so I figured I'd write a joint review. And yes, it will include spoilers, so be warned.
I've liked Kitchen Princess ever since I've picked up the first volume. Even though the drawings weren't that great, the story was warm and inspiring. Cooking is an activity that's often overlooked in today's world. Fine cooking seems to be the domain of expensive restaurants, while home cooking boils down to microwaving a frozen entree. Making deserts at home is usually viewed as something very special and time consuming, when so many of them can be made easily and quickly from scratch.
As Kitchen Princess demonstrates, the magic of cooking lies in creating something that can be shared and enjoyed with people around us. I really liked the fact that there were recipes in the back of each volume. Though simple, they'd make a good starting point for a young reader who's interested in learning how to cook.
In volumes 5 and 6, the story becomes a lot more serious. Najika almost succumbs to occupational hazards (wrist injury) and the pressure of the competition and press articles, but overcoming them is not the end of her troubles. As she loses another beloved person to an accident, she has to regain her sense of taste and her will to cook. While the previous volumes concentrated mostly on Najika's relationships with others, volume 6 is mostly about her coming to terms with all that life brings and deciding that she will go on pursuing her dream.
So, Sora-sempai is not her Flan Prince and if I'm reading the Japanese preview pages correctly, the newcomer, Mizuno, might be. Still, this does not solve the mystery of the spoon. I guess I must keep reading.
I cannot overemphasize the helpfulness of the Japanese preview pages that Del Rey includes at the end of almost all of their volumes. I'm far from being fluent in the language, but can usually make out most of what's being said. It's enough to keep me going until the next volume. Translation notes are also great, offering more details on Japanese culture. More manga publishers should consider including these in their own releases.

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RECIPE FOR DISASTERNajika's dreams are coming true: She's in the finals of a national dessert contest and has found her Flan Prince. But then life goes from sweet to sour as she makes a startling discovery–and loses her sense of taste!

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Kitchen Princess 9 Review

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(More customer reviews)
The story behind "Kitchen Princess" is intriguing. Najiika searches for the identity of the flan prince who saved her from drowning so many years ago. Struggling with her classmates at Seika Academy, she balances her search and studies.
Here we are now. Volume 9 finally discovers the name of her flan prince. However, in her gratitude to make him a fantastic desert, her feeings for her other friends get in the way. The death of Daichi's mother is finally explained, and even an accident leaves scars. Her journey to the discovery is the most interesting part of the book, and the art pulls readers through quickly.
Can't forget the recipes in the book too!
www.delreymanga.com
Tim Lasiuta


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A Prince RevealedNajika finally discovers the true identity of her Flan Prince! But will that change her feelings for Daichi and Seiya? Who will be Najika's true love? And what terrible secret has Daichi himself just stumbled upon?Includes special extras–plus recipes–after the story!

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