Camp midnight

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest opinion.

Having never been to a summer camp as a child, I love stories about camps. Camp midnight seems to be just like any other camp I read about: strict camp counselors (though this one is an actual witch), big bullies (though here they look especially monstrous), fast friendships (easy to be friends when there are only one other girl who looks remotely human).

The style of drawing is a bit unusual. Everything looks as if it was drawn by a child, in very bright colours. At the same time the characters are very expressive and convey emotions, mood and humour perfectly.

The message might be a little predictive – accept yourself and do not judge people by first impressions, but the story is very fun and doesn’t feel didactic a bit. I hope there will be a sequel!

Loki: Agent of Asgard Volume 1

Your scheme is mad, culturally ignorant and quite possibly sacrilegious. Naturally, I’ll help.

You can’t have too many Lokis, thought Marvel, and sprouted at least four different kinds: normal (evil) Loki, little (cute) Loki, young adult (on the side of good) Loki and girl Loki. I still haven’t figured out if the little Loki grew up into the young adult one. Either way, the latter is the protagomist of “Agent of Asgard”.

This series looks as if they are specially created for movie Loki fangirls. (on the other hand, why “as if?”). Finally Loki is happy and content, he doesn’t try to destroy the world, instead having lots of fun. He is drawn as cute as Marvel ever gets. Still quite ugly compared to manga bishounens, but looks like they are trying.

Overall, it’s a nice light comics with no epic battles or horrible catastrophes. Special thanks for the authors who, when referring to some past events, tell the reader where to find them – another sign that this series are aimed more at the newly initiated movie fans, than at the hard core comic readers. I only wish someone would explain me where Odin disappeared and why we have three Allmothers?

At first the comics is just somewhat amusing, but becomes funnier as the story progresses. Seems that the authors relaxed and just allowed their imagination run free. How else to explain that in the middle of a traditional heroic quest, described in a pseudo-balad style, older version of Loki suddenly is in the possession of a bazuka! And the Asgardian hero Sigurd, the Ever-Glorious is called “Sigurd, the sometimes-glorious”. By the way, when this hero appears in the modern time, the plot is put on hold, while the comic describes in detail Sigurd’s designer clothes.

There are many puns and jokes like that, which nicely distinguish this series from the more serious and full of pathos Marvel stories, such as The Civil war, where someone would make a speech about the great goal and common good on every page. Here we don’t have such drama, just pure fun.