Chuck's Critiques by Charles LePage

Egg Story
J. Marc Schmidt
SLG Publishing

Egg Story is a HIGHLY recommended short graphic novel. I guarantee you won't look at eggs, or food in general, the same way again. The novel is able to be both sweet and horrifying as it explores the lives of eggs that discover the world doesn't understand they are sentient. As you might expect, they don't appreciate their place on the food pyramid. I don't have anything negative to say about this story, except, where are some new Egg Stories? This is a reprint of a graphic novel that came out years ago, and something of this quality, a book that shows us the heights comics and graphic novels can achieve, demands a sequel. Perhaps some new sales would encourage Mr. Schmidt? So maybe I should just say, buy this now, on Amazon, at http://www.slgcomic.com/, somewhere! You won't regret it!

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Midwest Book Review

The Royal Historian of Oz #1
SLG Publishing
577 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
9781593621949 $1.00 www.slgcomic.com

The first issue of the (extremely inexpensive!) black-and-white comic The Royal Historian of Oz draws readers into a different take on L. Frank Baum's classic fantasy world. In the not-too-distant future of our modern-day nation, young Frank Fizzle is the son of a man who dreams of chronicling more stories about the glorious land of Oz - despite any number of litigious threats made against him! But when Frank's father discovers magical artifacts that allow him access to the closed-off wonderland, he misuses his power to appropriate beings and artifacts, supposedly to aid in his self-driven mission to become the next Royal Historian of Oz. The denizens of Oz itself are rallied to defend their world's secrecy - and their desperate measures may include targeting young Frank Fizzle himself! Expressively drawn and smoothly presented, The Royal Historian of Oz #1 is a treat for any who have grown to love the Oz saga, and more issues in the series are eagerly anticipated!

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Doris Danger Giant Monster Adventures!, published by SLG Publishing, 96 pages, $9.95.

Any true comics fan has at least a passing knowledge of the monster comics published by Timely/Marvel Comics in the late '50's and early '60's. These comics have become famous, and quite admired by some, for their corny, over-the-top drama, goofy monster names and indefinable charm. Very nearly a parody of themselves, they are the definition of "kitsch".

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