Ben Towle

Really interesting historical fantasy adventure set in the Chesapeake Bay and featuring a cameo appearance by Chessie herself! I loved the colors Towle employed for the art, and the oversized format makes the frames a bit more readable than in some graphic novels. (Although the oversized format also makes it a little harder to comfortably read this one in bed, too.)

Definitely a fun read.

Note: I received a hardcover copy of this book from the publisher through the Goodreads First Reads program.… (more)

Interesting subject matter shines through mediocre presentation. Each short chapter is a little vignette or simply a string of factoids about how animals have been used in warfare. The creator gives us mostly surface treatment, focusing on some individually famous animals and sort of glamorizing war rather than delving too much into the ethics of using animals in warfare and skirting around the abuse and cruelty experienced by countless animals during the course of war. Estimates I found online show that upwards of 8 to 9 million horses and other animals died in World War I alone, the vast majority from disease and working conditions, not even enemy fire.

Also, I am confused by the epilogue and prologue framing sequence: I assume it simply means to show that war is hell and that's why it ends so bleakly, but am I meant to feel as badly about the deaths of glowworms as I am the deaths of African American soldiers? Was it meant to show that the glowworm technique used in the prologue was a failure? Did the soldiers do something else wrong? I am completely befuddled by it.… (more)