Colleen Coover

This is an erotic graphic a novel and it's completely adorable. The premise is a bit odd: the main character, as punishment by her conscious for her constant masturbation, gets shackled with a physical manifestation of her conscious, Nibbil, who turns out to be just as--if not more--sex-crazed than Annie.

I love seeing a sex-positive title where all the all-female cast are okay with sex--joyful about it, in fact. And despite all the very explicit scenes, it still ends up being a adorable show more thanks to Nibbil's happy-go-lucky nature. And it's fairly obvious that despite the sexual focus of the book, the characters all genuinely like or love one another. It's fairly light on plot but heavy on charm. I would have liked some more story though.

I was disappointed that this review copy did not contain the introduction from Kelly Sue DeConnick, though.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. show less

This is the story of Annahnette (Annah) Billips...who may or may not have a missing sister. But there are plenty of things that we do know for sure about her. She dates both boys and girls (she really likes Afros), she's 27 years old, like sushi, hates beer breath...and oh yeah her parent's divorced when she was 9. Annah says that her mad scientist father extracted part of her brain, the part that deals with emotions, and great it into a twin sister. In this novel multiple narrators show more introduce us to who Annah is as we follow her through the city one night on a date.

I love how this story is told. Its just such a unique way of introducing the main character, the various elements of her life, and what we should know about her. The fact that it's presented by multiple different narrators allows us to see Annah from different perspectives and how different people view her and what she says is her life story. It's almost like piecing together a mystery, does she really have a sister? And I love that we never really get told whether she does or not, but the writers present us evidence on both sides so we get to form our own conclusion. Even better for me, is that although its a short book I feel like I know the characters, even the supporting ones that don't really say much. They say enough that you can recognize them as that guy that you know down the block or that waitress that you keep trying to flirt with. The authors do a fantastic job of building the characters so that we feel like we know them. And the story flows smoothly never missing a beat.

I love the artwork in this book. It reminds me a lot of the style that Craig Thompson uses in his book "Blankets." It's a nice flowing line, with good detail in the background without being overwhelming. And they capture the human form so well! I can just picture the people in real life and seeing them because that's how they move. It helps make the characters feel like real people. And the layout of the book is absolutely fantastic and really helps the story flow.

I cannot say enough good things about this book and I'm just completely blown away by the storytelling and the artwork in it. I give it 5 stars out of 5 and highly, highly recommend it. It's picks up for the 20/30 generation where Scott Pilgrim left off. show less

I love Bandette and her joie de vivre. I'm ever so happy when a new adventure of hers makes its way into my hands.

The Six Finger Secret

In the main story, Bandette is one of six thieves trying to get their hands on the painting know as "The Six Finger Secret," which has been used for centuries to pass along secret messages hidden in the many small paintings within the painting. (The image is based on the real painting by Pierre Subleyras entitled "The Artist's Studio.") The action and comedy show more is nonstop, and many members of the vast cast get some quality time and/or development even amidst the introduction of many new characters. (This is not a good jumping-on point for new readers!)

Fun in all the ways that make Bandette so addictive!

Urchin Stories: Freckles in "No Bandette"

Bandette is not often denied that which she wants (usually something sweet), and it's funny to see one of her street agents, Freckles, tell her, "No," again and again.

Monsieur in "Souvenirs"

The gentleman thief -- Bandette's rival/comrade -- gets to have a gentlemanly fling back in the '60s/'70s while making off with a treasure.

Don't Speak Her Name

This illustrated text story is actually my favorite part of the book. An amateur artist is devastated to be victimized by Bandette when she steals all the paintings out his tiny little studio. His grief quikly turns to anger, and he sets out to get revenge. The ending is obvious, but oh so effective.

FOR REFERENCE:

This volume collects issues fourteen through eighteen of the Monkeybrain comic book series Bandette.

Contents: Previously -- Bandette in "The Six Finger Secret" / Paul Tobin, writer; Colleen Coover, illustrator -- Urchin Stories: Freckles in "No Bandette" / Paul Tobin, writer; Sarah Burrini, illustrator -- Urchin Stories: Monsieur in "Souvenirs" / Colleen Coover, writer and illustrator -- Don't Speak Her Name / Paul Tobin, writer; Colleen Coover, illustrator -- What's Bandette Stolen Now? / Colleen Coover, writer; Colleen Coover and Pierre Subleyras, illustrators -- Special Thanks -- About the Authors show less

I didn't expect to like this. I picked it up because books that are not the standard size appeal to me, and this one had a fun pop-art cover. The blurb on the back seemed a little... cliché, but had promise. I expected a kind of sci-fi mystery, about humanity and emotions and twins and connection.

What I got was a kind of vignette about Annah, an emotionally manipulative and stunted young women who might or might not be crazy, told through the eyes of those who love her and those who barely show more know her. And I loved it.

The art is standard; no complaints. I liked the black-and-white and gingerbread palate, and the fact that there are no easy answers. Chili's little concluding speech, where she recounts some of Annah's likes and dislikes, and that she's a good kisser (and totally glosses over the fact that she might or might not have a twin who was extracted from her brain when she was a child) and says that that's "All she knows about Annah" is sublime. show less