Terry Blas

There's a dark high concept pitch for this book wherein teens cynically take senior citizens to a theme park hoping one will die so the park management will give them lifetime passes to smooth things over. But really it's a slice of life book about being true to yourself and making meaningful friendships instead of shallow ones of convenience. DACA, LGBTQ+ themes, adoption, and grief are also touched upon.

Thanks to the Big Lie at the center -- I hate that trope! -- it's not perfect, but show more there are nice characters who actually grow as people. Thumbs up! show less

Jackie Chavez loves to go to her local theme park—Kingdom Adventure— and is disappointed to learn from her aunt that they will not be able to afford season passes this summer. Kingdom Adventure is where all Jackie’s best memories are, and it’s where she feels safe and happy. This carries even more weight now that Jackie’s parents have been deported and forced to go back to Mexico, leaving Jackie in the United States with her Tía Gina. Jackie and her friends hatch a plot to bring show more seniors from Valley Care Living to the park using a fake volunteer program, with the hopes that one of the residents will croak during their visit. The ruse quickly gets its first volunteer—a feisty resident named Phyllis.

This graphic novel is dark and twisted – where teens cynically take senior citizens to a theme park hoping one will die so the park management will give them lifetime passes to smooth things over. Some have called it dark humor; however, I don’t find it humorous at all, just dark. Also, I like to find at least one character that I like or sets a higher standard, but there isn’t one in this book. While Jackie and Phyllis develop a friendship, the other characters are stereotypes of bad teenage behavior.

The positive parts of the book (diverse cast of characters and great art) are nearly canceled by the awful premise (4 teens taking senior citizens to an amusement park in hopes they will die so the kids can secure lifetime passes?!?!?!). show less

The short stories up front provide a quick and enjoyable run-through of Marvel's LGBTQIA+ characters, but mostly left me wanting more and longer stories instead of some of the questionable reprints that fill out the book. The Northstar coming out story from Alpha Flight #106 is a milestone, sure, but boy is it dreadfully drawn and written. The other reprints are better, but I had read most of them before, and they are from the middle or start of longer stories so they don't exactly satisfy show more on their own. Throw in the essays and there are enough good things to rate a thumbs up.

FOR REFERENCE:


Contents:

Introduction / Steve Orlando

Marvel's Voices Pride (2021) #1
• Introduction / Luciano Vecchio, writer, artist, colorist; Mike O'Sullivan, research
• The Vows / Allan Heinberg, writer; Jim Cheung, artist; Marcelo Maiolo, colorist
• Under the Stars / Mariko Tamaki, writer; Kris Anka, artist; Tamra Bonvillain, colorist
• Something New Everyday / Lilah Sturges, writer; Derek Charm, artist; Brittany Peer, colorist
• When a Black Cat Crosses Your Path, You Give Them the Right-of-way / Leah Williams, writer; Jan Bazaldua, artist; Erick Arciniega, colorist
• Totally Invulnerable / Crystal Frasier, writer; Jethro Morales, artist; Rachelle Rosenberg, colorist
• Colossus / Kieron Gillen, writer; Rye Hickman, artist; Brittany Peer, colorist
• Good Luck / Terry Blas, writer; Paulina Ganucheau, artist; Kendall Goode, colorist
• Early Thaw / Anthony Oliveira, writer; Javier Garron, artist; David Curiel, colorist
• The Man I Know / J.J. Kirby, writer, artist & colorist
• The Grey Ladies / Tini Howard, writer; Samantha Dodge, artist; Brittany Peer, colorist
• You Deserve / Vita Ayala, writer; Brittany L. Williams, Layouts; Joanna Estep, artist; Brittany Peer, colorist
• A Man of His Dreams / Steve Orlando, writer; Claudia Aguirre, artist, colorist; Luciano Vecchio, Somnus Character Design
• Love Is Love / Jacopo Camagni, writer, artist, colorist
• An Interview With Former Associate Editor Chris Cooper / Angélique Roché
• Big Gay Moments

Alpha Flight #106
• Excerpt From Alpha Flight #106 / Scott Lobdell, writer; Mark Pacella, Penciller; Dan Panosian, Inker; Bob Sharen, colorist; Janice Chiang, letterer

Marvel's Voices #1
• Assemble / Luciano Vecchio, writer, artist, colorist; VC's Travis Lanham, letterer

Incredible Hulk (1968) #420
• Lest Darkness Come / Peter David, writers; Gary Frank, Penciler; Cam Smith, Inker; Glynis Oliver, colorist; Joe Rosen, letterer
• Green Mail / Michael Kraiger, Nicholas J. Vance, Barbara Slate, Fred Burke, Jeph Loeb, Joe Rubinstein, Mindy Newell, Chris Cooper, Gary Guzzo, Don H. DeBrandt, Tom A. Tenney, Kelly Corvese, writers

Astonishing X-Men (2004) #51
• [Untitled] / Marjorie Liu, writer; Mike Perkins, Penciler; Mike Perkins, Andrew Hennessy, Inkers; Andy Troy, Jim Charalampidis, Rachelle Rosenberg, colorist; VC's Joe Caramagna, Cory Petit, Clayton Cowles, letterer

King in Black: Wiccan and Hulkling
• In the Name of the Honeymoon / Tini Howard, writer; Luciano Vecchio, artist; Espen Grundetjerm, colorist; VC's Ariana Maher, letterer

America Chavez: Made in the USA #1
• Made in the U.S.A., Part 1 / Kalinda Vazquez, writer; Carlos Gomez, artist; Jesus Aburtov, colorist; VC's Travis Lanham, letterer

The United States of Captain America #1
• Excerpt featuring Aaron Fischer, the Captain America of the Railways / Josh Trujillo, writer, Jan Bazaldua, artist; Matt Milla, colorist; VC's Joe Caramagna, letterer

Marvel's Voices Essays
• Marvel's Voices: Essay / Chris Cooper, writer
• Marvel's Voices: Essay / Terry Blas, writer
• Even an Android Can Cry: Essay / Jasmine Estrada, writer
• Finding Ourselves in the Subtext: Essay / Conner Goldsmith, writer
• Afterword: Ever Forward / Danny Lore, writer

Covers, Variant Covers, and Cover Gallery / Olivier Coipel, Luciano Vecchio, Mark Pacella, Gary Frank, Dustin Weaver & Rachelle Rosenberg, Jim Cheung & Alejandro Sanchez Rodriguez, Sara Pichelli & Tamra Bonvillain, Alex Ross, Paulina Ganucheau, Kris Anka, Russell Dauterman & Matthew Wilson, Enanda Souza, Jeffrey Veregge, Phil Jimenez & Marte Gracia, Phil Jimenez & Federico Blee, artists show less

This was such a fun romp At the start it seemed like a more child friendly version of Locke and Key. However, it is it’s own story, and that is where comparisons stop. This book is about a blended family, and how even broken families can be fixed. Three kids are sent to grandma Lupe’s for the summer. She lives in an old hotel, that has special abilities. Think of it like the door to Narnia, except here, every door opens someplace different. But these worlds are not far apart, and there show more is a secret to traveling in them. It will take every member of the family to make this trip, this mission, a success. There will be a few fights, a few misunderstandings, but mended hearts will win in the end. A great books for kids or adults.
#ReadHarder #OwnVoice
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#NancyDrewChallenge #largeBuildingoncover
#KillYourTBR #Placeintitle show less