Graphic Novel Review: My Boyfriend is a Monster Series

My Boyfriend is a Monster 

graphic novel series published by Graphic Universe

Volume 3: MyBoyfriend Bites

by Dan Jolley  illustrated by Alitha E. Martinez 

ISBN 978-0761370789

Volume 4: Under his Spell

by Marie P. Croall, illustrated by Hyeondo Park

ISBN 978-0761370765

Review by Matthew M. 

The My Boyfriend is a Monster series is an anthology, with each story being standalone, but the basic concept is used for each story. Following a Twilight-style plot, these high school girls Vanessa Shingle (Vol. 3) and Bethany Farmer (Vol. 4) are attracted to Jean-Paul McClellan and Allein, a vampire and a faerie respectively. Afterwards, it turns out that the monsters are going up against other monsters from their worlds. The monster and the girl then team up and take down the other monsters. That’s the basic idea for each story. While it does sound like it borrows from Twilight (I haven’t read Twilight), the stories do belong to the genre of high school romance monster action. The romance parts goes as much as you would expect, with the girls’ being curious about the guys, then finding out, then spend time with each other, the way each story is told is different. Vanessa’s story is different form Bethany’s, with how they are personality wise, and how they deal with the monsters they meet. Besides the romance, there’s plenty of high school wit that won’t exactly make you laugh, but is somewhat clever and gets your attention.

            As comic books, the art is decent. Done in B&W, with a few color pages, the art get’s the job done. The fight scenes are handle well, be it in a classroom or another dimension. The characters are drawn with some detail, even several minor characters, so everyone can be kept track of. With each book being over 100 pages, they can be read in one sitting, or spread out. Handling the concept of teen girls dating monsters with some quality, and decent artwork, the books can only be recommended for comic fans. You don’t have to be a fan of monster romance series to enjoy it. 3/5.

Book Review: Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (March 29, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312624670
• ISBN-13: 978-0312624675
• --publisher info via Amazon.com
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Reviewed by Anneliese G.

Witches, werewolves, vampires and faeries! Oh my! Not to mention ghosts that continue to haunt you every second of the day and three guys who seem to hold some part of your heart. Kylie Galen, the main character, is a strong and kind person who is very honest. Despite this, she is faced with many hardships. Her parents divorcing, getting sent to a camp that was supposed to be for the delinquent-like kids that is actually filled to the brim with mythological creatures that shouldn’t exist, dealing with an ex-boyfriend who wants her back, a pregnant best friend who doesn’t know who the father is, finding out what she is, and dealing with a werewolf from her past and a faerie who reminds her of her old boyfriend. What more could go wrong? In Shadow Falls Camp, everything is not what it seems. For two months, the love triangle between Lucas, the werewolf of Kylie’s past, and Derek, the faerie who doesn’t want his powers, and Kylie Galen, the girl who doesn’t want to be there and doesn’t want to accept that she might be something more than human, rages on and has no sure point as to where it might lead. This was a very good read that I would recommend to every Twilight lover and to anyone who loves paranormal with a little side-serving of romance.