Mariko Tamaki

Activism gentrification, drag queens: elements one doesn't usually expect in a comic book story. Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass is an expertly written tale with gorgeous artwork and a diverse and captivating cast of characters. Will young Harley join Ivy in trying to better her neighborhood through community action? Or will she join Joker, who intends to take down big corporations more explosively? An absolutely enthralling volume, writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Steve Pugh show the heights that sequential art can reach; there's so many more stories to be told beyond fistfights and tights. This is an excellent book.… (more)

It’s Spring Break 2009 and three friends have five days in New York City. Over the course of their time there a fling blossoms between two of them, which causes the long-term friendship to be thrown off-balance.

Don’t know why I’ve found myself in books running around New York City with young adults, but I’m okay with it. It was actually kind of nice reading the graphic novel since it had a few places that were mentioned in my first book so I got to see them that way.

Everybody knows a Fiona - who is literally the worst and sucks the fun out of everything. Which is what drove me nuts about her and Dani’s fling. But, I will give the authors the credit in truly capturing the annoyance of Fiona as a whole.

On top of hating Fiona, I did find the ending just as unsatisfying. I was expecting maybe Fiona acknowledging how shitty she was - or at least giving a thank you for Dani and Zoe helping her out, or more of the group separating at the airport and going their separate ways. I get the symbolism of the ending - but I just wish there had been more.

Overall, it’s a good story about a group of friends on a trip one of them always dreamed of and it is not going exactly as planned. Wonderful depiction of that difference you have with your high school friends after going away to different colleges/universities.… (more)