Week ending March 29, 2019

Gaiman, Neil (text) & P. Craig Russell (text & illus.) & Scott Hampton & others (illus.). The Problem of Susan: And Other Stories. Dark Horse. Jan. 2019. 80p. ISBN 9781506705118. $17.99; ebk. ISBN 9781630089733. Rated: Mature. FANTASY
Short fiction and poems from the legendary Gaiman (The Sandman) comprise this four-work collection featuring the titular story,Locks, October in the Chair, and The Day the Saucer Came. There’s a tale for everyone at all stages of life, whether characters are looking back on their experiences and challenging societal norms to find happiness, using storytelling to foster generational connections, commiserating around a campfire about the shadowy mystery of death, or ignoring the impending apocalypse by focusing on the frivolous. Eisner Award–winning artist/adapter Russell (Elric), along with illustrators Hampton (The Upturned Stone), Paul Chadwick (Concrete), and colorist Lovern Kindzierski ( The Shame Trilogy) neatly capture the whimsical as well as the uncanny and terrifying, with distinct artistic styles setting the tone of each piece, although some narratives do leave readers wanting more.
VERDICT An excellent choice for Gaiman fans and those looking for a new graphic novel adaptation of his short works. Recommended for older teens and adults for mature content.—Jackie Watkins, Kennesaw State Univ. Lib., GA

Reid, Adam & others (text & illus.). The Adventures of Barry & Joe: Obama & Biden’s Bromantic Battle for the Soul of America. Dey Street: HarperCollins. Mar. 2019. 224p. ISBN 9780062882905. $26.99. Rated: Teen+. FANTASY/SATIRE/SUPERHEROES
It’s January 20, 2017, and the inauguration of our 45th president is barely over when the shell-shocked Barack Obama and Joe Biden find themselves hustled into an underground bunker. There, a team of celebrity scientists offer them a chance to travel through time and multiverses in search of a greater future—and just maybe they can intervene to make America better. Screenwriter and director Reid (Hello Lonesome) plays out this smorgasbord of outlandish adventures through text, comics, animation plot sketches, and theater script. Overflowing with puns, pop culture send-ups, and celebrity caricatures, episodes both amuse and confuse. Can you change the past? Meet yourself at another age? Among many other heroics, the duo face zombie Democrats, become Rambama and Iron Joe to fight Ugly Americans, and bring down a mecha-universe piloted by a familiar figure. The numerous in-jokes and inventive plotting challenge expectations while making emotional sense. Color art contributions from Titmouse, Inc. (numerous Adult Swim series) and others are skillful and entertaining.
VERDICT Adults and older teens nostalgic for the administrative partnership of President 44 and his veep, especially fans of Andrew Shaffer’s Hope Never Dies, will love this imaginative collection with Obama and Biden as time-traveling action heroes.—Martha Cornog, Philadelphia

Schwab, V.E. (text) & Andrea Olimpieri & others (illus.).Shades of Magic. Vol. 1: The Steel Prince. Titan Comics. Mar. 2019. 112p. ISBN 9781785865879. pap. $16.99. Rated: Teen+. SF/FANTASY
Young and restless Prince Maxim Maresh dreams of leaving his hometown of Arnes in Red London to visit other Londons sealed away by magic. He seeks out an Antari magician who can take him through these worlds, but his secret is soon discovered by his father, who sends him to the dangerous and violent Blood Coast city of Verose as punishment. King Nokil Maresh hopes to teach his son a lesson through exile until deciding the right time for him to return. But Maxim has other plans and intends to prove himself in Verose, where he’ll contend with a lawless band of soldiers, thieves, and the infamous pirate queen Arisa, who has just sailed into port. Visually stunning, this exciting, swashbuckling adventure revisits the enthralling world of Schwab’s best-selling “Shades of Magic” fantasy series (A Darker Shade of Magic; A Gathering of Shadows; A Conjuring of Light), appealing to veteran fans of the trilogy while eliciting interest from new readers. Artists Olimpieri (Dishonored) and Enrica Eren Angiolini ( Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor) add dimension and emotion throughout each panel, with vibrant colors and gorgeous detail.
VERDICT Highly recommended for teens and adults.—Laura McKinley, Huntington P.L., NY