With cunning, sarcasm, and plenty of research skills, Rex is able to learn how to defeat all the various enemies he faces. The writing is intelligent, although maybe littered with a few too many scientific terminology that sometimes takes away from the plot.

The story is still in its developing stages, so there is really only character introduction in the volume 1. We are introduced to Rex Libris (The Librarian) Circe (a 2000 year old retired witch, now librarian) Simon (Once tried to conquer the world and has since been turned into a bird by Circe) and Hypatia (a newcomer), and the Administrator (the boss). This collection of librarian super-powers work in the Middleton Public Library, which apparently rest on a ley of mystical power, thus enhancing the appearance of fictional characters that can be seen by library patrons. Filtered throughout the story are many library idioms (aways see a librarian before heading out into the stacks, always return your books or we will come after you, etc).

More at: http://thenovelworld.com ( )

A fun story, where immortal agents of a secret order of librarians have to make sure people bring their books back on time, and other important library functions run smoothly. Also fight off barbarian library gatecrasher supernatural invasions, and that sort of thing.

Other than the gun-toting Rex Libris other characters include Circe-as-grandma and a galactic warlord turned into a small bird, who functions as Rex's sidekick.

I found the sameness of the lettering a little tedious.

http://graphicsf.blogspot.com/2008/06... ( )

I have no idea how funny this comic book would be to non-library folks, but it was mighty amusing to me. How could any librarian resist a comic book that begins with Ranganathan's Five Laws? Not to mention all the literary characters popping up in the stacks as "physical manifestations of paranormal emanations extruded from the mental energy captured in the literature on the shelves". Though, as Rex warns one patron, "never ever mention characters you meet who are not yet in the public domain. We live in a very litigious age". Wry humor abounds. Most enjoyable to me were the constant digressions into Rex's past, as well as his conversations with Barry, the comic book publisher who keeps wanting to add Amazons to the stories. Like Laurence Sterne, James Turner makes his book even funnier by frequently pulling back the curtains and exposing it as a book. ( )

The story in this graphic novel is good. I really enjoyed the librarian saves the day by getting the overdue book back part. And the sci-fi aspect was good too. It could make it's own noir-ish novel if given the chance. Or it could be a great movie starring Brenden Fraiser.
But the art is what I didn't really like about this one. The type was too small at times to read. Fix that a bit and it'd be a bit better and easier to read. ( )

The wry adventures of a librarian action hero. It's smart, and I enjoyed the craggy visual style which reminds me of 1930's German Expressionist films. Looking forward to seeing more. ( )