Flight, Volume Eight

Again, I really enjoy these anthologies for a glimpse at newer, or lesser known authors and illustrators. ( )

Summary: Flight is a series of comics anthologies that feature short pieces, on a variety of subjects but mostly all in the fantasy / sci-fi realm, from a variety of young graphic novel creators. Volume 8 involves flying shoes, imaginary friends, lonely robots, cursed fountains, reluctant ninjas, and endless labyrinths.

Review: This volume was solidly enjoyable, with lots of good-to-very-good stories, but nothing that really blew me out of the water. Favorites from Volume 8 were Kostas Kirikakis's "Encore", which was thematically similar to "Precious Cargo", but which features a chance meeting with an out-of-work circus performer, Cory Godbey's "The Clockmaker's Daughter", which had the same lovely painting style of "Onere and Piccola", and Matthew S. Armstrong's "Periwinkle in Try, Try Again", which features possibly the world's cutest penguin who just wants to fly. 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: The Flight collections are an amazing outpouring of creativity, and well worth picking up whether you're just getting into graphic novels, or if you're an established comics reader who wants a sampling of what's out there. ( )