Movie Monday - Hellboy

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Writer: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Selma Blair, John Hurt, Karel Roden, Jeffrey Tambor, Rupert Evans

Release: 2004

In the closing days of WWII, the Allied forces discover a mystic ritual to open a portal to another dimension being performed by Axis magicians. While they were able to stop the ritual, something was able to slip through. A small being, like a child, but red and horned – a hell-boy. Sixty years later, Hellboy is a major part of the BPRD (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense) under the direction of his adopted father. Hidden from the world, Hellboy and other members of the BPRD are the first line of defense against the supernatural threats that dangerous underworld forces send to wreak havoc on humanity. However, there is a new danger that has arisen – one that dates back to the reason Hellboy came to Earth in the first place. Hellboy must confront his destiny and choose a path – but will that path be of protection or destruction?

THE SQUEE

• Del Toro has done a fantastic job of adapting the Mike Mignola comic for the big screen. Some of the most iconic elements are present, coupled with a heavy dose of action and splashes of humour. While the film is closer to a standard action film than the gothic style of the comics, it still has the appropriate Hellboy feel of bizarre science mixed with dark magics. The overall tone of the film matches the comics very well, that blend of pulp and wit that make them a joy to read.
• Ron Perlman is amazing. Simply amazing. Even under layers of make up and prosthetics, Perlman is able to give Hellboy incredible amounts of pathos. He captures the character superbly, showing Hellboy's strong belief in humanity and laconic attitude towards the creatures he faces. Perlman was hand chosen for the role by del Toro – in fact, del Toro showed Perlman the comic and said he wanted Perlman for the role before there even was a film.
• The overall design of the film, of the characters and monsters, perfectly fits the Hellboy style. It's not a direct transfer, like Watchmen, but one that captures the right feel of Hellboy. There are fan favourite parts in there, of course, but the film is just as much its own entity as the comics are.

THE SUCK

• If anything, Hellboy is too cool. He saves kittens! It's an amazing scene, but film!Hellboy isn't the world-weary warrior of the comics – he's an action hero up against insurmountable odds which he nevertheless surmounts. The end product is more Indiana Jones meets Van Helsing, rather than the Lovecraftian style Mignola made for the comics. A lot of times, I'm on board with that – despite my love of the comics, there is an air of the inevitable downfall of humankind to all of them. However, there isn't really any doubt to the film, there's no tension as to the eventual victory of Good. One of the best parts of the comics is that ambiguity about whether Hellboy is the eventual saviour or destroyer of mankind, but the film (beyond one brief temptation scene) never really has any doubts that he's the hero.

VERDICT
See this film. Read the books. See other films by this director, because he's OUTSTANDING.

Hellboy vol. 1: Seed of Destruction – 9781593070946 - $32.99 – 128 pages

Sunday Spotlight - Batman: Court of Owls

So how did you all celebrate Batman Day? Personally, I hit up my local Eisner-award winning comic book store! Now, you may be tired of all the stuff about Batman over the last few months, BUT I'M NOT! Let's look at the first appearance of Batman in the New 52 – Batman: the Court of Owls.



Following an attack on Bruce Wayne's life, the wealthy socialite investigates further in the guise of his alter-ego, the vigilante Batman. What he discovers makes no sense to him – the assassin mentioned the 'Court of Owls', a secret organisation that is little more than an urban legend. It's so secret that Batman had investigated the rumour before and found absolutely nothing. But new revelations have emerged and what Batman discovers proves that the shadowy cabal is a real thing – and is currently poised to strike against Gotham City. In the search to unveil their plans, Batman must face his own demons as the Court of Owls challenges the uneasy order that Batman has managed to achieve in Gotham.

Scott Snyder had already established himself as an amazing writer with Batman: the Black Mirror and a lot of what made that great was carried over to Court of Owls. However, instead the of raw art style of Jock, Court of Owls is drawn by Greg Capullo. There's a very different style, fitting the pulp origin of Batman matched with the shadowy gothic feel that has been a part of the character for so long. The collaboration of Snyder and Capullo has been a highlight of the New 52. There's a brutality to a lot of the fight scenes, emphasising the rage that Bruce Wayne releases when he dons the mask of Batman. The more expository scenes still have a lot of action to them; there aren't a great number of these, which is interesting given the overall plot.

The 'dangerous conspiracy' aspect of the story has been incredibly well-developed. There's good explanations for why this has not been seen before and it draws on the history of Batman, as well as Gotham. Most of the focus is on the plot rather than explaining Batman's role in Gotham, which is a good way of introducing the character. It could have been tempting to show what Batman means to the city but instead, the reader is thrown right into the middle of the action with a centuries old conspiracy. There's hints of Batman's origin and elements explaining each character, but it's not straightforward exposition and is more about furthering the characterisation rather than simply explaining why they're there. This all makes for a much more exciting read than other first books and shows why Snyder and Capullo's Batman run has been so successful.

For someone just getting into comics, this is a perfect jumping on point. While it touches on other characters that can then also be read about, reading just this series means you get great adventure and great characters.

Batman vol. 1: the Court of Owls – 9781401235420 - $24.99 – 176 pages

Wednesday Weirdness - Harley Quinn

Wednesday Weirdness is the day when we remember that sometimes, comics are just downright WEIRD! We take individual panels and present them out of context. If you’ve got a panel you’d like to submit, you can do so here.


Harley Quinn Invades Comic-con International San Diego, 2014, Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti (writers), John Timms (artist)

Movie Monday - The Dark Knight Rises

In preparation for Batman Day on Wednesday, we'll finish off the look at the contemporary Batman films with The Dark Knight Rises.



Director: Christopher Nolan

Writer: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer

Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Matthew Modine

Release: 2012

Following the events of The Dark Knight, crime has dramatically reduced in Gotham City. New, stricter laws have meant that criminals face harsh penalties for minor infractions. The Batman, still viewed as a criminal, has not been seen in years. Bruce Wayne has become a recluse after the loss of a close friend. James Gordon, now police commissioner, knows the truth about what occurred but has kept silent in order to keep the city safe. But after attacks from a terrorist known only as Bane begin to rock the city, Bruce Wayne must dust off the cowl and once more protect his city.

THE SQUEE

• The conclusion of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy brings the story of Bruce Wayne to a satisfying close. Without giving too much away, Nolan stays true to the gritty realism that has already been set up in regards to the character. Nolan's Bruce Wayne is incredibly damaged, both mentally and physically, and the focus on what type of society requires vigilante justice, and the response from those outside the law. These films have a clear arc in regards to the character of Wayne, an arc that is resolved in this film. It's well-told and relies heavily on the ideas already established by the other films – the conflict of ideas between Batman and his enemies, with Batman representing the ability of people to change and his foes acting as the old static order.
• OK, so Anne Hathaway is never actually referred to as 'Catwoman' in the film, but she is a cat burglar (and wears a headset with ears at one point) but she's still an amazing choice for the role. In this film, Selina Kyle has her own agenda and is slowly convinced to aid Batman. Hathaway sells the 'out for herself' aspect and Selina's eventual resignation to her decision.
• The use of Bane – as ridiculous as Tom Hardy looks sometimes (and occasionally sounds), Bane is shown to be easily a match for Batman, reflecting his original role in the comics. He's a fanatical monster that matches Batman's devotion to a goal, making him an appropriate opponent that can be believed as someone who can defeat the Dark Knight.

THE SUCK

• Oh so many plotholes. This is a film that has an amazing sense of imagery (think the Bat-symbol on the bridge) and other symbolism, but it means that it suffers too much from the Rule of Cool. Things don't have to make sense when following this rule because they look just so good. However, the old refrigerator problem occurs – hours later, staring at the fridge, something suddenly strikes you and you realise that there was a huge problem with the plot and why does Batman have missiles on his bikes anyway? How did Alfred explain Bruce Wayne's disappearance? How did Blake figure out Bruce Wayne was Batman by looking at his eyes?!?

Overall, it is a great film, well-deserving of its success. It sticks with the dark, brooding grittiness that the Nolan films emphasised but we won't hold that against it. It's strong visually and hits the right notes in regards to the themes already developed by the other films in the series. While it's strongest as the finale of a trilogy, it still stands well on its own merits.

Sunday Spotlight - Words for Pictures

This week a fantastic book is being released – it's not quite a graphic novel (well, not at all, actually) but it's written by a verifiable icon of the comics industry. This week sees the release of Words for Pictures by Brian Michael Bendis, the author of Powers, Ultimate Spider-man, Alias and many other outstanding titles. While Bendis is normally a writer for Marvel, and we normally focus on DC titles, Words for Pictures will be distributed to bookshops (and you folks at home) thanks to Random House.



Words for Pictures is a guide on how to write graphic novels and comics, written by one of the best in the industry. It also includes advice from artists, writers and editors on how to get started and make your stories and pitches stand out from all the others. It features interviews and chapters written by well-known names such as Matt Fraction (Hawkeye, Sex Criminals) and Ed Brubaker (Gotham Central, Catwoman, Captain America) as well as art from talent like Sara Pichelli, Alex Maleev, Jill Thompson, Klaus Janson and Michael Avon Oeming. Put together, it gives the reader an insight into how the world of comics operates and offers advice on how to hone your own craft to gain admittance to that world. There's a whole section on what type of script to use (full script or Marvel style?) as well as FAQs and writing exercises. As a resource for writers, it is invaluable.

Full disclosure – Brian Michael Bendis is a hero of mine (check out his Tumblr!). Bendis is a driving force behind this book, even with the huge number of contributors. This actually ties in with the most important message he has throughout the book – learn to collaborate. Comics and graphic novels are a team effort from both writer and artist. This aspect is touched on repeatedly, not just by Bendis's advice, but from stories from the other writers, the artists and editors. Similarly, there is a message of learning to take advice. There's the suggestion to always be learning your craft, and to learn from every experience, both good and bad. There's not a great deal of sugar-coating in the advice; all the contributors are aware that they have been incredibly fortunate, but they're also aware that they have worked extremely hard to get where they are. While there is advice on the style and craft of writing and art, one of the best pieces of advice is to keep trying and keep creating. It's a book comparable to Stephen King's On Writing and should be vital to anyone – writer or artist – who has considered getting published in the comics industry.

Words for Pictures – 9780770434359 – Brian Michael Bendis - $49.99 – 224 pages

Wednesday Weirdness - Axe Cop

Wednesday Weirdness is the day when we remember that sometimes, comics are just downright WEIRD! We take individual panels and present them out of context. If you’ve got a panel you’d like to submit, you can do so here.


Axe Cop Episode 1, 2010, Malachai Nicolle (age 5 - writer), Ethan Nicolle (age 29 - artist).

Movie Monday - Tank Girl

No special reason for this choice – I just like Tank Girl.



Director: Rachel Talalay

Writer: Tedi Sarafian

Starring: Lori Petty, Naomi Watts, Stacy Linn Ramsower, Malcolm McDowell, Don Harvey, Ice-T, Jeff Kober

Release: 1995

A meteorite struck the Earth, causing a planet-wide desert because...? Who cares, it means there's a water shortage in an apocalyptic wasteland. Rebecca, soon to become Tank Girl, is a member of a group of renegades who steal water from the ruling body of Water & Power (they have the water, they have the power). After a raid on their hideout ends with all the renegades dead and Rebecca's young friend Sam captured, Rebecca vows vengeance on Water & Power. She makes an unlikely ally in the woman only known as Jet Girl but before any escape plans can be put into action, the head of Water & Power, Kesslee, decides to use Rebecca as bait to lure out the half-mythical, all-violent, genetically-modified kangaroos known as Rippers.

THE SQUEE

• I originally saw this prior to reading any comics (way back in the Before DVD Time), which means I came into it with fresh eyes and was immediately was captivated by the world that had been created for the character. Tank Girl's whole theme is this – she has a tank. It's awesome. IT'S AWESOME. TANKS YOU GUYS!
• Lori Petty does a great job as the anti-establishment rogue Tank Girl. She makes an interesting choice of portrayal but I think it works and makes Rebecca's type of comic book insanity come to life.
• Capturing the iconic look of the original comic really drives the point of this film, and it does a superb job of that. It's really well told and has some great story-telling techniques that are marks of a good director.

THE SUCK

• OK, the film in places is utterly ridiculous. There's an entire song and dance number that apparently just happens like the whole film has been a musical all along and is never mentioned again. Rebecca seemingly has an unlimited number of costume changes without any explanation for WHY these things actually exist in the first place (the ICBM shaped bra springs to mind). These are awesome homages to the comic, but for a film just make the whole thing seem bizarre.
• For such great costumes, the Rippers are actually pretty poorly done. The scenes where they talk are fantastic, partly thanks to Ice-T being so grouchy, but it's hard to believe the small band of creatures in awkward costumes are actually a real threat to anyone.
• Despite the valiant attempt to capture the aesthetic of the comics, there are just some things you can't get actors to do (and in some cases are illegal), so it's not an exact adaptation of the comics, which meant it's somewhat watered down from the anarchist style that made the comic so influential.

Tank Girl is a little underrated and does fall into the trap that a lot of 90s comic book movies did – the cardinal sin of “silliness”. There are problems with it and it does seem a little cheesy twenty years later, but it's still a lot of fun. If you're after a fun, action-packed film with great one-liners, this is the one you want.

Sunday Spotlight - Batgirl

With Gail Simone's recent announcement about leaving Batgirl, I thought we might go back to the start of her run on the character.



Barbara Gordon has made a miraculous recovery from her paralysis. She attempts to pick up her life where she left off – and that includes her career as the vigilante crimefighter Batgirl. But Gotham isn't a town that gives second chances easily – there's still masked criminals out there who would like nothing more than to take down one of Gotham's protectors, and there's a new one in town who not just after Batgirl but has his sights set on Barbara Gordon too. Not only that, but she has to prove to her allies that her skills are still just as sharp as they were three years ago.

The return of Barbara Gordon to the role of Batgirl carried with it some controversy as it erased the previous two incumbents to wear the cowl – Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown. While one of these characters has since returned, many fans were very upset about the return of a character who had not been Batgirl for over twenty years. Fortunately, Gail Simone's strong story and Ardian Syaf's amazing art won many people back. Simone found a strong voice for Barbara Gordon, drawing on the experience of writing her as Oracle in the Birds of Prey series prior to the New 52.

One of the major strengths of any of the Bat-family characters is their relationship with the others. Barbara has history both with Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, but her strongest relationship is with her father, James Gordon. There's a heavy focus on family that makes the book all the stronger, a recurring theme that runs through each part of the story and it really makes the book stand above the others that were coming out at the same time.

This is a great series for new readers as it is a new start for the character. I definitely recommend this series, and from what Gail Simone has been saying about the new team on the book, it should remain one of the stand out DC titles.

Batgirl vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection – 9781401238148 – Gail Simone - $29.99 – 144 pages

Wednesday Weirdness - Villains United

Wednesday Weirdness is the day when we remember that sometimes, comics are just downright WEIRD! We take individual panels and present them out of context. If you’ve got a panel you’d like to submit, you can do so here.


Villains United #2, 2005, Gail Simone (writer), Dale Eaglesham & Val Semekis (artists).

Sailor Moon

Fighting evil by moonlight!
Winning love by daylight!
Never running from a real fight!
She is the one called Sailor Moon!

This weekend saw the launch of the rebooted Sailor Moon Crystal anime series, and I, as a child of the 90s, was guaranteed to watch it. So instead of Movie Monday, you get Sailor Moonday! I'll come up with a better name later.



Usagi is an everyday 14 year old girl in Japan. She likes jewellery, boys and sleeping. But after a run in with a magical talking cat and a creepy demon lady, it turns out she's actually the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon!

THE SQUEE

• OK, the first episode of the new series was basically exactly the same as the first one from the original run. The plot was the same, the scenes were pretty much the same, the character design is the same. THIS IS A GREAT THING. It means that you know exactly what you're getting from the show – fun magical girl adventures. DC and Marvel, take note. This is how we like our reboots.
• Usagi is adorable. Sure, she's a bit of a self-admitted crybaby, but that's part of her character. Her flaws are what make her endearing to the audience. The first episode actually gives the audience quite a bit of time to get to know Usagi before unleashing the whole 'Moon Prism Power' thing, so you can get an idea of why she reacts the way she does. She's not a hero straight away – she's just an average teenager suddenly thrown in over her head and discovering that she has these new talents. It's the best start to an arc that a hero could hope for.

THE SUCK

• Obviously, I watched the subtitled version (my Japanese wasn't that good even when I was studying it) and there were one or two translations that were a little off. That's a pretty minor complaint really. Any translation or closed captioning has some errors – that's how humans work.
• IT WAS TOO SHORT. I want more already.

Yeah, that's about it. I'm really excited for this series – not just for the nostalgia element, but also for what it represents. Sailor Moon is one of the most well-known anime that was imported to the English speaking world and it just goes to show how popular a female-driven show can be. For everyone saying that Wonder Woman is 'tricky', Sailor Moon is proof that a magical girl's adventures are not that difficult to do. If people can't see that, well, then,



We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode too. Send an ask or leave a comment!

If you're feeling nostalgic, Kodansha has the manga series available up to volume 12 (see below).

Sailor Moon 12 – 9781612620084 – Naoko Takeuchi - $16.99 – 240 pages

Sunday Spotlight - Earth 2

The idea of alternate worlds is a common one in comics – just look at the number of alternate futures from X-Men alone. It was a great way for writers to explore different avenues for a character without messing with the status quo people love seem to love so much. Sometimes those ideas crossed over into regular stories, sometimes they stayed as one-offs. Probably the most memorable alternate universe of the modern era is the Ultimate range from Marvel, kicked off with Brian Michael Bendis's Ultimate Spider-man in 2001. When it came time to reboot the DC universe, the New 52 also delivered an alternate world, one where heroes other than the Trinity (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman) were dominant. This was Earth 2.



Five years ago, on a world very much like one you'd recognise, a terrible battle against evil waged. The three greatest heroes the world had ever known gave their lives to save the Earth from the menace of Apokolips. However, as the world struggles to rebuild from the destruction wreaked, there are still forces that threaten the planet. Four heroes must answer the call and protect Earth from all menaces, whether alien or domestic. Learning as they go, these 'wonders' must find a way to work together despite differing goals in order to keep the world safe.

Launched with the rest of the New 52, Earth 2 was a world without a Justice League. Writer James Robinson presented a very different world to the one that everyone else was writing about, but one that still had connections to the main universe. It was basically an excuse to reimagine everything in the DC universe, which is a fantastic idea. There was a closer emphasis on the classic Golden Age heroes (minus the Trinity, of course), so the first volume introduces us to the Flash, Green Lantern, the Atom, and Hawkgirl but with new take on each of the characters. Nicola Scott's art on each them is simply gorgeous and clearly one of the best selling points of the series.

The first volume drops the reader right into the action – the first issue is basically explaining what happened to the Trinity in an awesomely heartbreaking sequence of seeing the Big Three heroes die before introducing the new heroes, five years later. They're then quickly called together to combat 'the Grey' – a supernatural force intent on destroying the Earth's power. There's a nice balance between the characters, with Green Lantern and the Flash only just becoming accustomed to their powers while Hawkgirl and the Atom are already familiar with theirs. The reader is given just enough information on each character to sate curiosity (a little bit) while still leaving mysteries for future stories. For new readers, it's a good start to reading comics, as it doesn't require them to read multiple series with numerous crossovers, while still using recognisable characters that can lead to reading their series in the main continuity.

Earth 2 vol. 1: The Gathering – 9781401242817 – James Robinson - $21.99 – 160 pages

Wednesday Weirdness - Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Wednesday Weirdness is the day when we remember that sometimes, comics are just downright WEIRD! We take individual panels and present them out of context. If you’ve got a panel you’d like to submit, you can do so here.


Batman: the Brave and the Bold #13, 2010, Sholly Fisch (writer), Robert Pope (artist), Sal Cipriano (letterer)

July recommendations

Here's the Comics Watchtower recommendations for July!


Larfleeze vol. 1: Revolt of the Orange Lanterns | Keith Giffen | 9781401245214 | Paperback | $29.99

LARFLEEZE! Sole possessor of the Orange Lantern, using the power of greed to claim more and more of the universe for the only person that matters – himself. Imagine if someone gave Daffy Duck phenomenal cosmic power and you get an idea of what Larfleeze(!) is like. This series from long time writer Keith Giffen is much lighter in tone than many of the other titles in the New 52. Beginning as back up stories in the Threshold series, these are now collected as part of Larfleeze’s own title – and he’s not sharing anything with anyone. In this first volume, Larfleeze is chosen as prey by a pan-dimensional hunter who, horror of horrors, DARES TO STEAL FROM LARFLEEZE. With lots of action and humour, Larfleeze was a breakout hit when it was released in single issue form.


Justice League of America vol. 1:The World’s Most Dangerous | Geoff Johns, Jeff Lemire | 9781401246891| Paperback | $29.99

The Justice League has been rocked by scandal and the United States decide that they can no longer rely on the goodwill of the superhero group to protect U.S. interests. With that in mind, Amanda Waller creates her own team of heroes – Green Arrow, Catwoman, Katanna, the Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, a Green Lantern, Stargirl and Vibe, under the leadership of Steve Trevor.  Written by Geoff Johns and Jeff Lemire, the two writers who have done so well with other Justice League titles, this title deals with the idea of a manufactured supergroup. While not the most well-known heroes, the book works well with the relationships between the characters and their place in the DC Universe.


Dead Boy Detectives vol. 1: Schoolboy Terrors | Toby Litt | 9781401248895 | Paperback | $16.99

Originally appearing in the pages of Sandman, the two main characters are young schoolboys who were killed horribly soon after arriving at their boarding school – one in 1916 and the other in the 1990s. When Death never arrived for them, they decided to wander off and solve crime!  In classic teenage detective style, the Dead Boy Detectives are on the case. Edwin and Rowland have a pretty good afterlife existence – until Rowland insists on stepping in and foiling a major art heist, saving the life of the daughter of two performance artists in the process. Intrigued by the two spectres, she enrols in the boarding school the two boys both died in, hoping to learn more. Feeling responsible, Edwin and Rowland must head back to the school that killed them, hoping to protect the young girl from the other things that haunt the halls. Highly enjoyable, this series from Vertigo combines the classic genres of teenage mystery and boarding school stories. It’s perfect for readers who love slightly darker comics but aren’t interested in superheroes.


Injustice: Gods Among Us vol. 1 | Tom Taylor | 9781401248437 | Paperback | $26.99

Ties in with the popular ‘Injustice’ video game. Down into a paperback, this title has topped the New York Times bestselling graphic novel list. In another universe, the Joker had destroyed Metropolis by tricking Superman into attacking his friends and allies, killing millions. His mind broken, Superman tells the other heroes to make a choice – his way, or death. Batman attempts to mount a resistance against the Man of Steel as the world slowly becomes a dictatorship under Superman’s rule.


Injustice: Gods Among Us vol. 2 | Tom Taylor | 9781401246013 | Hardcover | $34.99

Ties in with the popular ‘Injustice’ video game. Tom Taylor is a Melbourne-based writer who’s creator-owned work, The Deep has just been made into an animated series. A rising star in the DC writers stable, he has begun writing the Earth 2 series. This volume continues the battle between the tyrannical Superman and Batman’s Resistance. Which heroes have chosen their side? Who has doubts? And who will fall before the might of Superman’s World Government?


EVE True Stories | Daniel Way | 97816165525725 | Hardcover | $22.99

A fascinating idea that should appeal to video game players everywhere. EVE Online, the massive multiplayer game, has been hugely popular since it’s inception. With a large amount of user-created content, the game experience varies depending on how the player decides to play. This series, created by the game developers and Dark Horse, focuses on some of the incredible events that have occurred in the game universe – events that usually have been initiated and controlled by the players themselves.



Art of Sin City | Frank Miller | 9781616552473 | Paperback | $49.99

One of the most visually striking comic books to date, Sin City combined the shadowy style of film noir with the ultra-violence of Quentin Tarantino. Frank Miller is one of the foremost artist/writers of the 1980s comics scene, delivering outstanding images drawn from the contrast between light and dark. Each page of this collection is amazing, influenced heavily by the original film noir style, which originally drew on German Expressionism. Miller’s stories were always gritty and dark but his art shines, capturing the mood of a scene through stark lines. Often monochrome, occasionally there will be a burst of colour to emphasise something that stands out in the world of gumshoes, private investigators, mobsters and enforcers.



Sherlock Bones 6 | Yuma Ando | 9781612625553 | Paperback | $17.99

Takero and Sherdog are on the case again! The reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes in a small terrier, able to talk to his owner through the means of an antique pipe, is one of the most adorable characters you will ever encounter. A great series aimed at boys 10-14, but also suited for girls who love a good mystery, Sherlock Bones has exciting adventure as well as strong friendship themes.