Gisborne Boys' High School

9,102 pages read and 4,711 team points

Team members

Sean A

7,997 pts

(7,677 pages read)

Ella Diaries - Pony School Showdown

By Costain Meredith

3 stars

Hmmm, there's a lot to like in these stories but the negatives are starting to worry me. The title gives a little away - Pony School Showdown, it's about a conflict. That in itself is not a bad thing, but Ella's attitude is not ideal, perpetuating a rivalry when she seems to be the antagonist. Although those made-up words might be realistic, I am having to explain which words are real or not - I'd rather not have to do that.
Star Wars - The High Republic - Adventures Volume V

By Daniel Jose Older

2 stars

How did it end? The Blight - what Blight? The Nameless? - it was already done. The Battle of Eriadu? - it....ended. No surprises, no great learnings, really just a feeling of nothingness. One feeling I have is gladness - I don't have to worry about this story ever again.
Star Wars - The High Republic - Adventures Volume IV

By Daniel Jose Older & Alyssa Wong

3 stars

Some action at last. Concentrating on the battle of Eriadu there is a modicon of intensity in that we have seen a 'good guys' lose before in this arc - alas, there is no great conclusion...yet.
Star Wars - The High Republic - Adventures - Echoes of Fear

By George Mann

3 stars

Finally, a side quest which only tentatively ties back to the Nihil story line - and it's written by someone different. Like all High Republic story arcs it portrays the Jedi as childishly flawed, which is a bugbear of mine - secretly watching a nd then acting on a Sith holycron, what a juvenile thing for members of such an enlightened and benevolent group to do.
STar Wars - The High Republic - Adventures - Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone

By Daniel Jose Older

2 stars

The continuation of the Nihil arc with the narrative explained through a series of short(ish) stories, each drawn by different artists. My interest in this arc is waning with a lack of interest in the main characters and a story arc that quickly goes nowhere.
Star Wars - Hyperspace Stories - Library Edition Volume 1

By Various

2 stars

It's a strange way to tie 11 different stories together; a stuffed toy. Perhaps it was something to do with target audience as the writing is not to the level found in the main Star Wars stories. The writing is weak, with many out-of-character moments, and there's another problem: the art. With less words than novel it is important that each panel conveys a lot of information. This is harder to achieve when the artwork looks rushed and at a lower-than-ptofessional level.
Star Wars - The High Republic - The Edge of Balance volume 4

By Shima Shinya & Daniel Jose Older

2 stars

Reading this feels like doind a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces don't fit together, and when they do the pictures don't line up. Where's the connection between the Nihil and the Blight? Dealing with The Nameless in this volume is completely at odds with that of Premonition. It's difficult to stay engaged when these disparities exist.
Star Wars - The High Republic - The Edge of Balance - Premonition

By Daniel Jose Older

3 stars

It's hard for me to read Manga, I always associate the artwork with nonsensical storylines. You might think me fears were unfounded when the writer is from the USA however I have experience with this writer and IDW comics and know that his stories can be difficult to follow. Certainly Daniel Jose Older puts his stamp on this work, but the storyline isn't as whacky as it might be and I could (mostly) follow it. Nonetheless I can see why this series is difficult to obtain, it wouldn't appeal to the casual Star Wars fan.
Star Wars - Hyperspace Stories - The Bad Batch - Rogue Agents 1

By Michael Moreci

4 stars

Dark Horse has found a way back into the franchised Star Wars graphic novel providers list by taking a yung reader niche. Here they are pushing the envelope by creating work based on one of the animated series - The Bad Batch. The writer whole-heartedlt captures the zietgeist of The Bad Batch including the lean into serious Star Wars, where the stories are intertwined and even pivotal to the plot of established canon. Had no idea this was on the drawing board - what a great New Year's surprise.
Star Wars - Boba Fett - Black, White & Red 4

By Alyssa Wong

4 stars

It's a strange thing to do, start a series with a weak entry (maybe it wasn't intentional) but there's nothing unusual about ending on a bang. Alyssa Wong is drafted in and she lifts the quality immediately. This isn't just a name-dropping nostalgia call-back, it questions the morals of bounty-hunting and hints at the conflict within for Boba Fett. A much improved entry in the series.
Star Wars - Boba Fett - Black, White & Red 1

By Benjamin Percy

3 stars

Methinks the impressive black, white & red concept (all art is in black & red) is used to oversell underwhelming stories. Nothing particularly grabbed me in this one.
Ella Diaries - Friends Not Forever

By Costain Meredith

3 stars

The message in this one is to not be like Ella. Sure, I can tell my girl to not behave like Ella, but she didn't get that by herself - showing that this could be a risky one to give to a child.
Two Places to Call Home

By Phil Earle

4 stars

A straight-forward message for children from a broken home.
The Spaceman

By Randy Cecil

5 stars

What a surprising book. Is it for kids? yes, but it's something more. It made me think about stopping to smell the roses, making pivotal life choices, and re-evaluating first perceptions.
Mr. Luke's Magic Library - Ocean Adventure

By Luke Springer

3 stars

Okay, it is a classic-format kids book aimed at my girl's age bracket, with rhyming lines that keep a constant metre. You'd think that would mean a good score, but not this time. It's my opinion that this book is below MY 6-year-old's comprehension level. At best it is boring, at worst patronising, I'll be aiming much higher when it comes to selecting library books from now.
The King with Dirty Feet

By Sally Pomme Clayton

5 stars

A moral tale of the invention of shoes which opens the conversation to the stories of King Sheram and the Four Pests Campaign - great entertaining and educational diversions which get young minds thinking.
Star Wars 8

By Alex Segura

5 stars

It seems obvious that the best Star Wars stories, those which have the most complete intertwining of the arcs between the trilogies and other canon, are saved for the titular anthology. Even though Star Wars fandom is divergently opinionated I feel everyone will enjoy the thought and effort the gets invested in this series.
Exactly

By Simon Winchester

5 stars

If I hadn't been recommended this book I wouldn't have read it - 'How precision engineers created the modern world' is not exactly attention grabbing. With my history in compliance the material is interesting, and the author has done a stirling job at building a world around the technological advances: a bit about this person, a bit about this disaster, a bit about what was happening at the time. The real attraction is the way that the author writes. Much akin to H. G. Wells, the book is written with vernacular you don't see nowadays. It's refreshing that I had to stop and consider the words and their meanings (and context). Great evening reader when I was out of town.
Ella Diaries - Wedding Belles

By Meredith Costain

4 stars

Another book guiding my daughter's moral compass. I only wish they didn't use made up words - yes, I know it's written from the perspective of a girl writing in her diary which means it has her spelling ability, however made up words are difficult to explain to a 6-year-old.
Ella and Olivia - Secret Santa Shop

By Yvette Poshoglian

4 stars

I'm liking this series of books. My 6-year old and I take turn reading passages so she can try by herself, then hear any corrections I make when I read it. What really impresses me is the moral side of these stories - they aren't absolutely cookie-cutter morals, the protagonists aren't always right. It leaves the reader to discern what would be the best course of action - it's real world decision making.
Judge Dredd Megazine 487

By Various

4 stars

The Christmas Judge Dredd story nibbles at Judge Dredd's growing humanity. In Judge Anderson, it appears Cassie is fighting an old adversary. Dreadnoughts is filling out all of the dynamics of chnging the legal system to Judges. Megatropolis is being awesome with it's alternative universe Judge Dredd intrigue. Armitage is being too British for me - their judges are more like the current British police. Overall it's a good read making me look forward to the resumptio in stories after the Christmas break (except Rok the God of course)
2000AD 2463

By Various

4 stars

A quaint Judge Dredd story featuring call-backs to The Adventures of Tintin, Asterix the Gaul, and Paddington Bear. A huge one-off for Azimuth, the masterful melding together of Sinister & Dexter and Judge Anderson, with a fantastic bit of reverance to Arthur Ranson. World building of the highest quality a la Boyhood of a Superfiend for Judge Death. An interlude episode for Strontium Dog featuring that relationship dynamic with Sidney (RIP). A strangly satisfying conclusion to Rogue Trooper's Ghost Patrol, managing to dig itself out a hole. A great extra-length introduction to The Discarded - please don't be a 2-episode flash-in-the-pan. Although there were 2 stories of no signifiocance, these others keep my score lofty.
Star Wars - Jedi Knights 10

By Marc Guggenheim

4 stars

A satisfying conclusion shedding light on the master/padawan relationships of Count Dooku/Qui Gon/Obi Wan and building on the enlighteneing back story started in Tales of the Jedi.
The Walking Dead 127

By Robert Kirkman

5 stars

Did The Walking Dead start the new season time jump trope? They certainly executed it well, using it to properly introduce some new characters, allowing the spotlight to linger so there's character buy-in. Leaves you wanting to know more about the new world. The Small Bites mini is a great way to give a different perspective on the same story - I wonder how many skipped it thinking it was a children's version? - their mistake.
Star Wars - Doctor Aphra - Friends and Enemies

By Alyssa Wong, Justina Ireland

4 stars

Doctor Aphra is no Mary Sue. An instant hit amongst fandom, considerable effort has gone into building a backstory and fleshing out a brilliantly designed character. This omnibus is big on building her universe.
Star Wars - Darth Vader - Vader Down

By Keiron Gillen & Jason Aaron

5 stars

When Marvel rebooted the Star Wars series they wisely brought back Doctor Aphra, who is the star of this compilation - bring her to the small screen!
Star Wars - Tales from the Nightlands 3

By Cavan Scott

3 stars

Highbrow mystism in Star Wars form. A weak short story adding unnecessary new lore to canon and featurig the weakest of the sequal series' new characters. At least it is finished now.
Star Wars - Hyperspace Stories - Codebreaker 4 - In The Banshee's Crosshairs

By Ethan Sacks

3 stars

The finale is mildly entertaining, but obviously written for a younger audience, at least that's my take of the 2-dimensional character writing and inexplicable character decisions which serve no purpose but to advance the plot.
2000ad 2462

By Various

4 stars

'Judge Dredd' finishes it's story with anticipation of a major catastrophy arc. A benign 'Future Shock'. 'Deadtown' ends! What a fantastic premise, and scope to expand, why oh why only do 2 parts? 'Rogue Trooper's arc takes another unpredictable turn. The 'Ghost Ship' arc must be about to end as I've seen the compilation advertised for sale.
Star Wars - Han Solo - Hunt for the Falcon 4

By Rodney Barnes

4 stars

This is how you connect the sequel series to canon. There are call backs, but only fleeting, and that's missing the point - those memories are heightening the emotional stakes. Solid writing by an author who understands the characters.
Chopper - Wandering Spirit

By David Baillie, Al Ewing et al

1 stars

The earlier work with Marlon Shakespeare was super-inspired, hell, I had a Garage Project beer with Chopper on the can art! Talk about falling off a cliff, John Wagner, creator of Chopper, has admitted he should have died at Supersurf 11. This compilation is of storylines in Oz and is penned & drawn by Ewing & McCarthy, best suited for the psychedelic wierdness they've produced before. Taking songlines further than the wierdest dreamtime you could ever imagine. A contender for 0 stars.
Ella Diaries: Dreams Come True

By Meredith Costain

4 stars

Got this one from the library for me to read to my 6-year-old , but she read it through by herself over 4 days. I have read it to her over the last few nights, helping her with some of the words she found trickier. Written for 7+ year-olds I found it entertaining, more appropriate for the age group than Adrian Mole.
Essential Judge Dredd - Tour of Duty Book Three

By John Wagner et al

5 stars

Wow. he Hershey/Fransisco/Sinfeld story finally winds up, and how. Magnificent writing from JD creator, John Wagner, he even found a way to weave PJ Maybe into the web. Fantastic.
Essential Judge Dredd - Tour of Duty Book Two

By John Wagner et al

5 stars

It's brilliant how the political drama is interweaved with action arcs. John Wagner proves why he is king at writing Judge Dredd's long-term storylines.
Essential Judge Anderson - Satan

By Alan Grant

3 stars

Only 'Satan' stands out of the stories in this compilation. Gripping as the premise may be, the story falls short due to its lame ending - too much dialogue, and then an ending which is explained away in a sentence a la "somehow, the emperor returned".
Essential Judge Death - My Name Is Death

By John Wagner

5 stars

In the world of Judge Dredd there is no bigger villain than Judge Death. This compilation starts with the fantastic 'Boyhood of a Superfiend' which draws huge parallels with the anti-hero Judge Dredd, but also illicits some sort of empathy for a cold-blooded killer. The introduction of Mrs. Gunderson is almost a show-stealer! It's no small surprise she stars again in subsequent short-stories.
Essential Judge Anderson - Childhood's End

By Alan Grant

4 stars

The injection of Orlok can't imprrove the overly existential 'Childhood's End', and the bi reveal epilogue is pretty lame. Alan Grant proves why John Wagner is the best writer in the Judge Dredd universe. What picks this compilation up are the Judge Death-related short stories.
Devlin Waugh - The Reckoning

By Aleš Kot

2 stars

Initial volumes about Devlin Waugh, the whacky, camp vampire detective of the supernatural, are all about fun fighting evil creatures. They were mildly entertaining. This collection of stories devolves into absolute wierdness, I found my attention wandering and no great amount of satisfaction. If there's another anthology volume I'm not sure I'll read it.
Strontium Dog - Search & Destroy 4

By John Wagner, Alan Grant, et al

5 stars

Plenty of great sci-fi bounty hunter short stories here, but where this volume shines is 'The Moses Incident' which shows us the heart behind the clinical hunter. Emotionally draining from the horrific empathy, Strontium Dog is moving up levels.
Strontium Dog - Search & Destroy 3

By John Wagner, Alan Grant, et al

5 stars

While the short stories are of high quality, the real star is the fantastic 'Portrait of a Mutant'. If Strontium Dog was being made into a TV series then Potrait of a Mutant would be the opening mini-series. Initially I thought the text stories were cheesy, but upgraded my opinion when I realised they are draft stories never developed (and improved) so accepted the flaws.
Sláine Volume 1

By Pat Mills

5 stars

It may come across as two-faced of me to downplay Thistlebone but then rate this fantasy storyline - Slaine, so much higher. Slaine pulls off a sweet mix of comedy, violence, and moral ambivalence. Ukko, who can forget about Ukko!
The Walking Dead Deluxe 126

By Robert Kirkman

5 stars

One of the most significant deviations from the TV series occurs in this episode (rather, where the TV series deviates from the original material) Although the TV version is great, surpassing this content in terms of surprise, the original has a far more satisfying reveal of Dwight's change in heart. The Letters section is awesome, revealingt how fans of the originals reacted, and the Cutting Floor section has soom surprising reveals about what could have been.
Nemesis the Warlock Volume 3 - The Vengeance of Thoth

By Pat Mills

4 stars

Following 'The Trial of Thoth', which conicides with the last artwork of Bryan Talbot on Nemesis, the story tapers off into snippets of inconsistent work. Still, 'The Vengeance of Thoth' is top quality Nemesis. A great place for the casual reader to sign off.
Nemesis the Warlock Volume 2 - The Gothic Empire

By Pat Mills

5 stars

The pinacle of Nemesis is reached in 'The Gothic Empire', when the ABC Warriors become canon, Purity Brown comes into her own, and even Candida becomes a respected character. 1983 and an overtly Steampunk story, 4 years before the word 'Steampunk' is recorded anywhere - did it all come from Nemesis?
Nemesis the Warlock Volume 1

By Pat Mills

4 stars

It is fascinating to watch the evolution of the story from 'Terror Tube' - a one-off sci-fi story that introduced the Termight Empire, to a full-blown story arc of Nemesis the Warlock. Let's be honest though, the antogonist, Torquemada, steals the show even if he embodies all of the worst of the crusades and Spanish inquisition.
Thistlebone Book 3 - The Dule Tree

By T. C. Eglington

2 stars

Another retelling of the same curse, with the outcome well predictable. The premise of a movie being filmed at the tree makes a difference, but when it's the same situation atthe same place for the third time....
Thistlebone Book 2 - Poisoned Roots

By T. C. Eglington

3 stars

A fantasy story which would make a fine TV series, but for who? The Celtic horror theme would have limited appeal, and the convoluted underlying plot would be a detterent. Excellent art, which helps the reading - though I feel I'm only reading it for completion's sake.
Rogue Trooper - The Complete Collection 3

By Gerry Finley-Day, Peter Milligan, Pat Mills, Simon Geller

3 stars

Losing it's way, Rogue Trooper moves offworld and introduces settings which are quickly assigned to non-canon realms. Peter Milligan and Pat Mills assert their styles and take away from the character that we've grown to love.
Ross Taylor: Black & White

By Paul Thomas

4 stars

Although the book is officially a biography, it should be an autobiography as the bulk of the book is direct quotes and slightly changed transcriptions of interviews. Through reading this book I gained a valuable perspective of some of NZ Cricket's most polarising incidents, and affirmed many of the assumptions and opinions I, as an outsider, had formed.
Rogue Trooper - The Complete Collection 2

By Gerry Finley-Day, Alan Moore, Steve Macmanus

3 stars

Adding Venus Bluegenes to the character list was a real positive, but the divergence of storylines from the hunt for the traitor general takes a bit away from the feel of Rogue Trooper.
Rogue Trooper - The Complete Collection 1

By Gerry Finley-Day, Alan Moore

4 stars

What better way to prepare for the upcoming theatrical debut for one of 2000ad's most beloved characters than rereading the stories that started it all. Gerry Finley-Day's magic mix of getting the reader instantly hooked while world building at the same time is potent. Alan Moore's efforts (RIP) fit seamlessly. Genetically engineered super-soldiers in a hell-ish environment, what a premise in the early '80's.
Star Wars - Legacy of Vader 11

By Charles Soule

2 stars

The continuation of a story arc trying to generate buy-in to the sequel trilogy. Fan service may be a legitimate pathway (at times) to success, but this episode manages to snuff out one of the tethers the arc had to the Darth Vader Marvel II storyline.
Greg the Sausage Roll: Wish You Were Here

By Mark & Roxanne Hoyle

3 stars

Greg the Sausage Roll goes on a fanciful adventure. Read as a bedtime story, the book illicited too much excitement which wasn't the best thing for settling a 6 year old.
2000AD prog 2461

By Various

4 stars

The Judge Dredd arc is tying in multiple recent storylines, shaping to be an epic. New story 'Deadtown' immediately hooks with an interesting take on zombies that draws parallels with bigotry. The Rogue Trooper story has lost some direction. Brass Sun's finale leaves me wanting more - an understated cliff-hanger.

2 - 0 - 1

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Gisborne Boys' High School

9,102 pages read and 4,711 team points

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