DB Books and Reviews

Don't call him Batman... A graphic Novel adaptation of the DC ICONS novel by the same name, BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER takes a younger Bruce Wayne and tosses him into a world of maniacs and criminals long before he is ready to don a cape and cowl.  HOW I RATED IT  5/5  Though perhaps a bit slower paced than most Batman fans might expect, the new take on this classic character matched with a strong story structure and simple, yet strong visuals make for a unique read that's suitable for casual readers as well as hardcore fans.  CHARACTERS The obvious place to start here is with Bruce Wayne, who has just turned 18 when the story begins. His age isn't the only thing that sets him apart from the character most are familiar with though. Aside from the obligatory flashback to his parents' murders and some occasional moping, this a far more charming and optimistic version of Mr. Wayne than I think has ever been done before. He's still smart and resourc...

When "God" has been killed... After the conclusion of the first entry in this trilogy, Vin and her friends have to figure out how to bring order to a world that they've thrown into chaos. Note that while there will be no major spoilers for THE WELL OF ASCENSION , elements of THE FINAL EMPIRE 's ending will be discussed. HOW I RATED IT  4/5  Though things start off pretty slow due to a lot of information about the rules of this world and it's magic systems being rehashed, there's still an engaging tale to be told, especially after the first fourth of the book. WORLD/SETTING  The world of  MISTBORN  is again noteworthy enough to be mentioned first. While a lot of elements that made it great carry over from the first book, what makes it feel so special all over again is how much the landscape has changed now that the Lord Ruler has been killed. It's interesting to see how the world tries to put itself back together now that the man that they ca...

A tale of young heroes and their OKRs... There are plenty of books out there that boast being able to help you solve all your business-y problems, but few that actually deliver anything meaningful or at least tangibly actionable - many too entrenched in theory rather than practice. RADICAL FOCUS manages to find a place among those few while also handling the subject in a delightfully surprising way that some may just even describe as radical !  HOW I RATED IT  5/5  Not only is this book clearly written from actual experience, but it also leaves things broad enough for you to have an open mental dialog with the text that helps relate back to how you might be able to use the material AND manages to cover the it all in a fun and engaging manner.  CONTENT / SUBJECT MATTER The book mainly advertises that it is about OKRs which stands for Objectives and Key Results. The idea is that using these can help you better understand how your team and product ...

Lately I've been giving a couple of "bookish" subscription boxes a chance. These are a fun way to get a random, surprise assortment of items that can be a nice little treat at the right price point and delivery cadence.  These are the two different services that I've tried out:  MARVEL COLLECTOR CORPS CULTURE CARTON

Mutants and Marvels... While not really a "bookish" box service, I do enjoy putting Funko's products on a bookshelf as dorky decoration.  WHAT'S INSIDE? Marvel Collector Corps  boxes are produced by Funko so the main attraction with these is always the exclusive Funko Pop figure (those adorable figures of licensed characters with huge heads). The boxes are nice enough on the outside - each fitting their designated theme. For anyone that's been following this service for a while though, it may be worthwhile to note that there's nothing on the inside of them. Older un-boxing and review videos showcase some nice comic artwork on the inner lining of prior boxes, but it seems they've moved away from that based on the two that I've received. It's possible that this is because no one was really paying attention to it - I can't say that I felt like I was missing out. CLASSIC X-MEN The January box I received had a theme of "Classic X-me...

Hold the bath bombs... There are no shortage of box subscriptions out there that contain books and bookish things, but a lot of them are decidedly targeted toward a female audience. Don't get me wrong, I'm not violently opposed to scented candles, frilly packaging, or even romantic YA fiction, that's just not something I'm really looking to subscribe to. Sure there are some options out there that focus on just delivering books, but I kind of wanted little surprise side things too. What I landed on is a service called Culture Carton . WHAT'S INSIDE? Culture Carton puts its focus on delivering both books and assorted items that seek to help subscribers look, feel, and be more cultured. This consists of one book and a variable number of other items. Generally, these other gifts aren't really related to books at all, but each box does have a theme. When I signed up, I actually opted to get a second mystery box from the pool of previously shipped packages (I ...

The Amazing Art Book... I'm a huge fan of Insomniac Games' recent Spider-Man video game for the PlayStation4. I even read and greatly enjoyed the prequel novel . Around the holidays I  received  Marvel's Spider-Man: The Art of the Game  from a secret Santa (as in the identity or identities of said "Santa" remains a secret) and of course immediately began flipping through the pages. While I was instantly impressed, it wasn't till I took the time to really sit down with it that I realized what a treasure trove it is.   HOW I RATED IT  5/5  Not only is the art stunning, but it's also accompanied by interesting and insightful tidbits regarding the creative process that led to what players experienced in the game that I think would honestly be captivating for anyone with a creative mind.  ARTWORK The main attraction in any art book is, of course, the art within it. Each page is brimming with gorgeously depicted paintings, sketches, and some ...