kyarabereading's reviews
58 reviews

As a fan of Black Panther, I really liked this read! I only know a lot of these characters because of the movies, so it was cool seeing characters like Dr. Doom, Storm, Black Panther, etc. interact in this comic book in a way we've yet to see in the movie adaptations. I think it was kind of disappointing that the cover features Shuri as Black Panther, but we don't get to see her take on the role in this comic book, though I understand it's only the first of the series. It's also equally disappointing to see a comic book so explicitly sexualize these female characters, with those impossible body proportions and seductive poses, but that's same old, same old when it comes to comic books. Compared to other ones I've read, I would say the representation here wasn't half-bad. Some other comic books I've read, especially the older ones,  only included like...one woman, so to see more than one interacting?? Revolutionary, truly lol

Such a fun read! I really liked Static as a character, and I liked learning more about who he is both as a superhero and as a regular teenager. I think he's fun, witty, and smart, and that made him more down-to-earth than some of the other superheroes I've read about. I also appreciate that he not only uses his powers but also his mind to get himself out of tricky situations and defeat the villain, who in this case is Tarmack. Really enjoyed reading this comic book!

This was a very enjoyable read for me. I loved learning about Luke Cage's origin story and past as shown in the comics, and it's interesting to see a Marvel comic book address racism and the issues within the U.S. prison system so directly. Unfortunately, this comic book does depict some stereotypes of Black men that can be quite harmful, and that was pretty disappointing to see. But this comic book is interesting to analyze, focusing on its place in history and comparing it to other depictions of Luke Cage (I'm particularly thinking of the Netflix series). 

It's odd seeing Wonder Woman without the powers that make her who she is, and although I'm not a huge fan of the decision to take her powers away, I still think it's cool seeing her be this incredibly strong fighter without them. It's also really nice seeing a comic book led mainly by women, a comic book that focuses on the importance of and strength in sisterhood. 

This comic book has its issues, of course, but it's interesting analyzing its focus on feminist ideas and issues. I will say that it is a little on the nose, a little obvious about those feminist issues at times, but I am sure that's what was needed in 1972. 

It was really cool reading one of the first comics of one of my favorite superhero teams from Marvel. I also loved getting a look at the character of Namor the Sub-Mariner, especially knowing we will see him on the big screen in Black Panther 2 very soon. 

The comic book does have its issues however, particularly with its characterization of Sue Storm/Invisible Girl. Let’s just say, the sexism was crystal clear here. Despite her superpowers, we see her become a damsel in distress in this comic, and I wish I could have seen her kicking ass alongside the rest of the Fantastic Four. I’m sure later depictions of her character are much better, so I’m hoping to read some more F4 comics soon and see how her character evolved after this first volume.

This was a fun little read, but at the same time, it was quite disappointing. It’s so cool to see a comic book series that focuses specifically on Lois Lane, and we get to see her be the incredibly talented reporter she is known as. Unfortunately, it’s overshadowed by Superman - both Lois’s attempts to get him to fall for her and his constant need to save her. She may be the main character of these stories, but the main hero she is not. It would have been a lot cooler to see her figure her way out of the tricky situations we see her in during this comic book, showing how strong and powerful she can be. Instead, Superman always swoops in to save her, making it seem like she’s jus some silly woman who is way in over her head. The comic book truly treats her like she’s Superman’s girlfriend first, Lois Lane second. 

I wish I could rate this comic book higher, but I simply cannot. It’s interesting learning about Wonder Woman’s backstory and there are a lot of things I think this comic book does right. Moulton being a strong feminist himself, you can see a lot of those feminist values presented in this comic book. Unfortunately, the great things about this comic book are overshadowed by all the racism, sexism, and fatphobia we see here. I’m glad about this comic book’s place in feminist history and the way Wonder Wonder has inspired many generations of girls and women past and present. But I think I’m more glad that Wonder Woman (as a character + as a comic book series) has evolved past the issues we see in this first comic book. Mostly, I think this is an interesting comic book to analyze from a historical point of view, and despite my issues with it, I’m still glad I read it. 

I have been a fan of The Hunger Games series since they came out, but I never got around to reading it until now. I finally got around to doing so, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading book #1 of the series. I am definitely not the target audience for this book, being that I'm in my 20s and this book is catered towards people much younger than me, though I am not saying that you can't enjoy this read if you're older. I clearly did, but the storytelling wasn't as strong as I thought it would be. For one, the pacing was a little awkward at times. Also, Collins' writing style, though I appreciate its simplicity, was uninteresting at times. But where Collins' writing is less creative, less imaginative, she makes up for it with her intriguing world-building and captivating characterization. I loved learning so much about the world + history of Panem and everyone in it. I was almost glad the movies didn't reveal so much from the book, because it gave me something to look forward to. I knew there was still so much to learn, and it made it impossible to put the book down. I also loved seeing the ways the characters interacted with one another, and though none of them were as fleshed out as Katniss, they all seemed very real. Their reactions, decisions, dialogue, and struggles all seemed very real to me. I also loved seeing the way they all grew and developed throughout the story, especially Katniss.

Most impressive, in my opinion, was Collins' ability to write about issues we have seen in human history and current events in such an interesting light. The book dives deeper into the politics and history of Panem, and it is very critical of government, of celebrity, of nepotism, of capitalism, of the 1%, of anything that oppresses the citizens of this nation. It is a reflection of the world we know today, and it is very interesting comparing the sorts of events, issues, thoughts, etc. in this book to what we see in our history books and on TV. I think it made the book that much more impactful to me, because I have seen these things in real life. Collins also reflects the very real struggles of everyday citizens, of how this oppression can impact people's lives. We see how trauma can affect people. We see the choices people make to survive. We see what people have to do to help people they care about. We see what people in power are willing to do to stay in power. And it all felt so incredibly real, to the point that all you can do is sit and be angry at the world because you know it is real. You've seen it and you've felt it and you know Collins didn't just come up with these issues. They already existed - she just moved them decades into the future. But Collins doesn't just show us all the brutality and pain for nothing. It is there to remind us to open our eyes to these issues and to realize that we are more powerful than we know. Book #1 of The Hunger Games shows us that change starts off small but is so impactful, that it's dangerous but so worth it. It reminds me that our voices matter and that if we fight for it, we can make change happen. 

I could go on and on, but I will finish by saying that I really enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series! 

Tbh…I only read this book for the nostalgia. I found it in a pile of books from when I was younger, and I thought it would be nice to read it one last time. 

It was one of my favorite books growing up. I was obsessed with epistolary novels at the time and I really liked the extra details that make this novel much more diary-like (the doodles, photos, letters, etc). Though I will admit some of those photos were a bit uncanny. They looked like AI-generated people…like people who don’t exist. Freaky! 

Anyway, I’m giving it 4 stars to be nice because I wasn’t really invested in the novel. I don’t know how many stars to give it. I was just taking a trip down memory lane lol

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read it at various stages of my life, and the older I get, the more I understand it and the more connected I feel with the characters in the world of Fangirl. Once upon a time, I was a girl who read and wrote fanfiction. Back then, I saw a piece of myself in Cath and I understood her connection to fictional worlds. Now, as a 21-year-old college student, I see myself in Fangirl in a very different way, in more ways than before. The book helped me reflect on the experiences in my own life - on the struggles of growing up, on my familial issues, etc. in a way I hadn't before. It is rare to find a book that makes characters that are so incredibly real and that experience life in a way that is so incredibly real, that I can see myself in it so well. Can real be boring sometimes? Yes, but not to me. Not really, at least. I mean, I am someone who also thoroughly enjoyed Ladybird, which is a movie largely regarded as boring...so...lololol

There is a lot to love about this book. I love the characters - their relationships and interactions with one another, their senses of humor, their distinct personalities, and, of course, how incredibly real they feel. I love that they feel like they have whole lives outside of Cath's. It really makes it feel like they are real, breathing (often imperfect) people. I love Rowell's writing style - simple but honest and clever and witty. I love those lines that made me go "how did she come up with that?" I love the little peeks we got into the world of Simon Snow, even if at times they felt a bit long. I love how they often connected to what was happening in the book itself and how it helped us understand something that is such an important part of Cath's life. I love, I love, I love. 

This book was a lot more reflective for me than I expected. It reminds me that experiences like the ones Cath went through (keeping it as vague as possible) can be universal. It reminds me that I am not alone. And that every experience - whether it is horrible or anxiety-inducing or traumatic - is survivable. It reminds me that life is full of lessons and opportunities to grow, as well as really great moments that make life worth living. I can't wait till my next reread - maybe I will reflect on something new next time...