Marvel Action: Spider-Man #12 – Comic Review

Originally published on Set The Tape

Marvel Action: Spider-Man #12 sees the three spider-heroes fighting alongside Venom one last time as they tangle with the evil Doctor Octopus.

Using the information gathered from the secret lab in the previous issue, Peter, Gwen, and Miles journey to an apparently abandoned building where Doc Ock is supposed to be meeting his mysterious boss, taking Venom along for some added muscle. Unfortunately, Venom proves to be something of a lose cannon, and his breaking into the lab unleashes a horde of murderous robots that swarm the group.

The team are able to beat these ‘Octo-bots’, but when the now costumed Doctor Octopus arrives to fight them with a second wave of robots things become even more dangerous for our heroes. When Venom goes too far, and tries to eat Doctor Octopus, Miles is forced to step in and knock the anti-hero out with his new Venom Blast powers. With Venom under control again, and Doctor Octopus captured, the team are able to find Eddie Brock’s missing phone and laptop, and escape before Doc Ock’s backup arrives.

After their run in with the metal armed villain the heroes are hanging out together on a rooftop when Iron Man arrives, giving the three of them the chance to finally talk to him about what it takes to be a hero; something that they’ve all been working towards since the start of the series.

I have to be honest, the end of this Venom arc feels a little bit lacking compared to some of the other stories, possibly because the team ended up fighting Doctor Octopus once again in a secret lab. In a lot of ways the issue is very similar to the previous one, however, the development with the lead characters manages to stop it feeling like a dull retread.

The three spider-heroes have been trying to find a way to meet Iron-Man since the very first issue, and their places in the Daily Bugle internship have all been a part of this journey. Despite the three of them working together to produce some amazing articles, mostly covering the adventures of their alter-egos, none of them manage to win the competition to interview Tony Stark. Luckily, Stark isn’t just sitting in the background doing nothing, but actively went out of his way to bring the three of them together into a team so that they can help each other.

This conclusion to their journey feels like the perfect end to the the first year of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, as it not only proves that the three of them have gone on to become great heroes in their own rights, but have grown as people as well.

Thankfully, whilst this issue marks the end of both the Venom arc and the first year of the series, the story is far from over, as the heroes once again discover hints of a mysterious ‘Kingpin’ that’s been behind everything that they’ve gone up against so far. Fingers crossed they’ll begin to learn more about this mysterious figure, and possibly even learn more about Miles’ new powers, in the next issue.


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The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman - Book Review

'Uprooted from the city, Violet Saunders doesn’t have much hope of fitting in at her new school in Four Paths, a town almost buried in the woodlands of rural New York. The fact that she’s descended from one of the town’s founders doesn’t help much, either—her new neighbours treat her with distant respect, and something very like fear. When she meets Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper, all children of founder families, and sees the otherworldly destruction they can wreak, she starts to wonder if the townsfolk are right to be afraid.

When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become downright hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes?'

I didn't get the chance to read The Devouring Gray when it first came out, but was instantly drawn to the book when it did. I thought that the cover was very grabbing and atmospheric, with it's surprising mix of vibrant neon pink and moody, almost haunted looking forests. The fact that I also misread the title as 'The Devouring Gay' when I first saw it also grabbed my attention, but that's really just a personal thing that I'm sure no one else would have experienced. Thankfully, the folks at Titan Books offered me a copy to help me get caught up before the release of the second book in the series, The Deck of Omens, comes out in 2020.

The Devouring Gray drops readers into the town of Four Paths much in the same way that lead character Violet is; we're placed in the middle of a town where everyone who lives there knows about the mysterious demon and the prison it occupies, and the fact that several of the town residents have supernatural powers. The book doesn't try to slowly introduce these things to the reader but rather shows us a world where these things are normal for the inhabitants. As such, I was trying to play catch-up at the same time as Violet, trying to learn more about this mysterious town along with her.

This lack of early book explanations, and following Violet as she learnt about her family history and the secrets of Four Paths meant that whilst the book didn't make any big secret about the supernatural existing there was still a lot that was left to uncover, smaller and more personal secrets that the reader got to discover. As such, the story felt a lot more character driven, and focused on the people rather than a big central mystery.

The characters are a fairly interesting and varied group, and none of them are really what they first appear. Violet Saunders is still coming to terms with the death of her, whilst also dealing with having her life turned upside down by having to move to Four Paths. Whilst at first she seems to be incredibly drawn into herself, understandably reluctant to reach out to people because of her grief, there's a brave and powerful young woman hiding beneath.

Isaac Sullivan is presented as cocky, confrontational, and somewhat uncaring. He seems full of himself and knows that he's considered something special by many of the townsfolk because of being part of a founder family. However, over the course of the book we get to see that a lot of this is just surface dressing designed to be armour to protect the incredibly hurt and emotionally damaged young man beneath, one who cares deeply for the people around him.

Justin and May Hawthorne are presented as the most popular people in school, people who command the respect and adoration of those around them. They almost seem like the stereotypical jocks or popular kids in most teen dramas, full of a sense of self entitlement and superiority; but as the narrative unfolds we learn that that's just how others see them, and that they're not only incredibly unsure of who they really are or who they want to be, but are having to battle against the image that the town, and their mother, have made for them.

Finally there's Harper Carlisle, the outcast of the founder children. Having failed in her ritual to unlock her powers she's been cast out by the other founder families, treated as a pariah not worthy of their time or attention. This, coupled with having lost one of her arms, has made Harper into an understandably angry person. She's had to rely on herself, and has channelled the pain that she's been through into a weapon to protect herself. Whilst she comes across as aggressive and uncaring you begin to see that this is all just because of trauma she's been through, and that there's a very vulnerable person beneath it all, though one that you'd never want to cross.

Whilst these teens are the main focus of the story, and their interpersonal dramas and relationships make up a huge part of the story, it never feels like the narrative focuses on this to its detriment. This isn't a teen drama story where the biggest concerns is who's going to go to the homecoming dance with the lead. This is a story about otherworldly forces that are threatening lives, and the book keeps that in mind throughout. All of the teens and their stories are so entwined with the supernatural that it would be impossible to separate them.

Christine Lynn Herman also keeps the ending from feeling cliched or neat by not having the teens come together as friends or a team by the conclusion. There's still drama there, and different personal issues that haven't been resolved. It's not like the first book in a lot of YA series where they learn to put their differences aside and work together and become friends to beat the evil. Instead, it's more like real life, where years of animosity can't just be put aside overnight, and where the emotional damage from previous actions have lasting effects. Because of this I'm more interested in seeing what happens with these character relationships rather than the plot of the demonic forces in the next book, which is a big change for me.

I also loved that Christine Lynn Herman subverts some expectations by not having a romance subplot between Violet and Justin, the lead male and female. Instead, these two are attracted to other people, and thanks to differing circumstances it doesn't even seem obvious that these relationships are guaranteed either. The author has also gone out of her way to include a number of LGBTQ+ characters, with more than one of the teens being bisexual, and even a few of the adults too. Not only is it great that there's more than just one queer character in the book (as many books just have the one token gay), but the revelation that some of the characters were in same sex relationships at some point is treated as if it's nothing out of the usual; which is such a great decision.

The Devouring Gray is a book that I had high hopes for, a book that thanks to the great reviews I'd seen of it, and I'm pleased to say it pretty much met all of them. It's got a cast of characters that are interesting an engaging, that don't become caricatures but have depths. The story has mysteries and secrets that feel natural, and doesn't fall into the trap of trying to fool the reader into thinking that this is a normal town, but presents the unusual up front straight away. The book works brilliantly as the first part of a series, one that draws you in and leaves you happy with the story, yet wanting to read more; whilst also feeling like it would have been a perfectly good stand alone story.

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Transphobic, Islamophobic, Abelist, Antisemitic Tory Candidate Sally-Ann Hart Elected To Parliament

Sally-Ann Hart, the Conservative candidate for Hastings and Rye has been elected to parliament, despite public comments that have been branded as Islamophobic, Abelist, and Transphobic. She received 26,896 votes, beating the Labour candidate, Peter Chowney, who came in second with 22,853.

Ms Hart has faced extensive criticism this month for disgusting views that she has shared publicly. At the start of the month she was called to defend an article she had written in 2017 during a public event, an article in which she claimed that disabled people should be paid less than minimum wage. During the event, which was filmed, she responded that she believes people with learning disabilities should be paid less as she believes 'they don't understand about money'.

She said 'They should be given the opportunity to work because it has to do with the happiness they have about working'. She responded to audience outrage by continuing with this line or argument, 'It's about having a therapeutic exemption and the article was in support of employing people with learning disabilities.'

The very same month, in the build up to the election, she shared a 2017 blog post that claimed Muslim extremists are pushing an agenda to promote LGBTQ+ rights and women's right to chose.

The article, by author and anti-Islam activist Cheri Berens, claimed that the Women's March Movement is a secret front for a hidden 'Muslim agenda'. The article claimed that 'The Muslim Brotherhood' wants women to have abortions in order to weaken non-Muslim populations. It also claimed that it supported the LGBTQ+ community in order to 'weaken' and 'confuse' men.

'They want a young male population that is weakened or with confused female tendancies, whether real or imagined, or transgender.' The article claimed. Sally-Ann Hart, who is now a member of Parliament, branded the article as an 'affecting read', and shared it with the public.

This latest accusation of Islamophobia and Transphobia not only joins her Abelism, but also her investigation for Antisemitism following her sharing a video that claimed billionaire George Soros is controlling the European Union. She has also been found to have liked videos that contain Nazi slogans.

Despite being under investigation for Anti-Semitism she was allowed to continue to stand for election by the Conservative Party, and has now been elected to Parliament.

This is the type of politician that the Tory Party feels best represents their values and views, and that members of the British public have now voted into office. An indication that the Tory Party is a cesspit of hatred, lies, and bigotry.


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The Dark by James Herbert - Book Review

I first read The Dark about fifteen years ago and only got about 100 pages into it, possibly because I was too young for the book. Giving it another go now I found myself drawn into it much more than I was the first time round, and was fascinated with the mystery that Herbert had crafted here.

When paranormal investigator Chris Bishop is hired to investigate a house that a rich family are unable to sell he stumbles across the remains of a mass suicide, with dozens of cult members having murdered each other in horrible, brutal ways. About a year later bizarre incidents begin to happen on the same street, with people attacking and killing each other, dragging Bishop back into a mystery that delves into the very nature of evil itself.

The evil force in the book, the darkness, is a primordial energy that brings out the evil within those it touches. Thanks to the actions of the cult that killed itself their leader has gained control over the darkness from within, fusing his psyche with the evil force. With this new sentience the dark spreads across London, infecting people and causing violence across the capital. Bishop and his allies must try to find a way to not only survive those infected by the dark, but to stop a force that seems almost unstoppable.

The Dark is a book that doesn't pull any punches, and Herbert very quickly lets readers know the kind of thing their in for as his narrative is filled with gruesome and brutal acts of violence. The titular darkness is an otherworldly force that comes out at night, bringing out the darkest desires in those it comes across. Thanks to Herbert spending some time with characters before they fall victim to the dark we get so see how they became affected by it; there's the man who spies on the teenage girl across the street who tries to attack her, the old man who's tormented by youths who decides to kill them, and the nurse who screws her elderly employer to death whilst he's seducing her.

These early acts of horror are shocking, but only hint at the chaos that's to come later in the book, as the dark force sweeps across the city. The capital soon becomes something of a war zone, with people sheltering inside their homes at night with the lights on to ward away the forces outside. Those infected with the dark rise up from the sewers and tunnels beneath the city, desiccated and dying, to kill anyone in their path and sow more terror.

Whilst the central story of Bishop and his allies trying to find a way to stop the dark is exciting and interesting, it's these additions to the narrative, these breaks from the main story that are some of the best parts. Not only do they help to expand the story and show more of how the dark is bringing the city to its knees, they are at times more tense and suspenseful. You expect Bishop to manage to survive the events of the book, so you're not surprised when he survives nearly impossible odds, but when the story follows other characters in these side moments you're never sure if those its following will survive or not.

That's not saying that there's never any risk in the central story, as the main cast get pretty messed up at times. Some of the situations Bishop and the others find themselves in are brilliant action scenes, with them being pursued up tower blocks, in vehicle chases, and laid siege within a glass mansion. Many of these moments play out in exciting ways and feel incredibly cinematic.

The Dark is one of the darker James Herbert books (no pun intended) with some very twisted and disturbing moments, yet also manages to have a grand scope to it that at times feels more like a blockbuster movie. A brilliant horror story that will chill you and excite you in equal measure.

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Eden by Tim Lebbon - Book Review

Climate change is one of the deadliest things humanity has had to face, the changes that we have made to our planet will invariably go on to lead to the extinction of the human race if we don't take action. Eden is set in a world where action has been taken, bold action. Several large areas across the globe have been completely abandoned by humanity, having been handed back to nature in a desperate attempt to repair some of the damage we have done.

These Virgin Zones have become mythical places, shrouded in secrecy. People have tried to get inside in the past, and have lost their lives in the attempts as security forces that defend the do so with deadly force. Despite this, there are still people who try to get inside the zones; including extreme sports fanatics.

Eden follows one of these extreme racing groups, several people who infiltrate Eden, the oldest Virgin Zone, in order to become the first people to travel through the extreme wilderness. However, there are things deep inside Eden that don't want humanity there anymore, that will kill anyone who invades its borders.

Despite being a horror book, Eden spends a good portion of the book establishing its world, and gives a lot of time over to the central cast of characters that the reader follows. Readers are slowly eased into this future world where the planet is fighting back against the damage humanity has caused. The idea of the Virgin Zones are set up as the group travels to Eden, having to avoid security forces and advanced tech in order to get inside the borders. It's clear even without huge amounts of information about the Zones themselves that the feat the group are attempting is by no means an easy one, thanks to the way that Lebbon portrays their journey into Eden. The tension on this journey is palpable; unfortunately for readers, this is one of the least tense parts of the book as things get even worse when the group gets into Eden.

Lebbon manages to make the early parts of the journey, where there's nothing overtly wrong or threatening around the group, feel incredibly tense. Every step further into Eden builds tension as the reader begins to understand that these people aren't just breaking the law, but are entering a world where humans don't belong anymore.

The group gets built up well during these early stages of the book too, with each of them having very different and distinct characters and personalities. They feel unique, with each one bringing their own speciality to the group, as well as their own reasons for being there. There are the older extreme racers who want to tick Eden off their list as 'the big one', the scientist who wants to see what it's like inside, the ambitious youth who wants fame and fortune, and the young woman searching for something deeply personal and important. Despite these differences the group works well together, and Lebbon makes their friendships believable and realistic, and it's easy to see how some of these characters have known each other for years.

The sad part of having such well made characters, however, is that when danger finally reaches the group you don't want anything bad to happen to any of them. Unfortunately, Eden wants to destroy they all. Once the action starts, in a shocking, bloody way, it doesn't stop. The slow, tension building journey into Eden becomes a desperate, non-stop battle for survival. The groups fight to survive becomes the biggest hook of the book, and you'll find it hard to put down once the terror really begins; if you're like me you'll be desperate to see what happens next and if your favourite characters will survive.

Eden reads like a great horror film, a story that knows how to pace itself, how to draw you into the amazing environment and interesting characters before it all goes horribly wrong. Lebbon has had his work made into film before with The Silence, and Eden feels like another story that is ideal for an adaptation, and practically leaps off the page into epic, cinematic visuals as you read it.

Tim Lebbon is a great horror writer, and manages to make all of his stories scary, even those that you wouldn't at first think would be. But what I've found he's the best at is crafting characters that you come to care for a lot, even when you know that not everyone is going to make it out alive. There wasn't a chance that every character was going to survive Eden, but that would have been the only scenario that would have made me the happiest as I loved all of them. Alas, he broke my heart more than once reading this book; but then that's the sign of not just a good writer, but a great writer. If you've never experienced a Tim Lebbon book before Eden is a great place to start, one that will blow you away; and if you have read his work you'll know that you're guaranteed an amazing read.

Eden is published by Titan Books, and scheduled for release April 7th 2020. Pre-order your copy now so that you don't miss out.

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Sherlock Holmes: The Will of the Dead by George Mann - Book Review

'A young man named Peter Maugram appears at the front door of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson’s Baker Street lodgings. Maugram’s uncle is dead and his will has disappeared, leaving the man afraid that he will be left penniless. Holmes agrees to take the case and he and Watson dig deep into the murky past of this complex family.'

Sherlock Holmes: The Will of the Dead is a slightly deceptive book, as it doesn't just contain the one mystery story, but includes some surprise additions to the narrative that take the book in some surprising directions.

The main story follows the Maugram family following the death of their patriarch and uncle. After apparently falling down the stairs to his death, the niece and three nephews of Lord Maugram find themselves facing financial destitution when their uncles will vanishes. Having spent years getting by with the money their uncle has given them, all four of them were needing their inheritance to survive, but with the only copy of the will missing it means that the inheritance won't be shared out equally.

Sherlock Holmes is called in to try to find out what happened to the will to save the family from financial upheaval and infighting. However, Holmes quickly discovers that Maugram's death may not be what it first appears, and concludes that the man was murdered. When a mystery figure arrives on the scene claiming to be the rightful heir to the Maugram estate things take another, deadly turn, as the surviving Maugram family begins to be killed off one by one.

During all of this Inspector Bainbridge, the detective duos contact at Scotland Yard, is not only trying to close the Maugram case, but deal with attacks from 'Iron Men', strange mechanical men that are stealing valuables from the richest homes in London.

As I'd not read any of George Mann's work before I wasn't aware that Bainbridge was actually a character in his own series of steampunk mystery series Newburry and Hobbes. Even though Bainbridge appears in this book and his other series, and the 'Iron Men' feel very steampunk, it never feels forced during the story. The book still stands alone as a Sherlock Holmes story without feeling like it's had another series shoehorned into it.

Whilst it's clear that Mann knows this world well, and is obviously comfortable in this time period and setting it does at times feel more like an exaggerated version of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes and Watson do feel like their characters, but sometimes an extreme version of them. Holmes has always been a bit rude towards people, but there are times here where he feels downright mean and seems to keep things from people just because he can't be bothered with others. Watson too feels like a more extreme version of himself, coming across as very put on and almost dominated by Holes at times. I know that this is sometimes how the characters acted in the original stories, but it does seem to be pushed a little extreme here at times.

Despite this, the characters are still very much the Holmes and Watson that people will know and love, and the mystery is more complex and layered than at first appears, with enough twists and turns in the tale to keep readers guessing right up to the end.

George Mann has told a great historical mystery story here, and one that can definitely act as a great introduction to more of his work thanks to the inclusion of Bainbridge. I certainly want to read more of his work and to see what his other series is about after reading this. A wonderful addition to the ever expanding world of Sherlock Holmes.

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Marvel Action: Black Panther #6 - Comic Review

Originally published on Set The Tape

Vita Ayala and Arianna Florean bring to a close the story of the Wakandan Scientific Conference, showing readers just how much T’Challa and Shuri have grown over a relatively short time.

With the Wakandan Scientific Conference only moments away, the final pieces are being put into place to receive the ambassadors and guests. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned (as these things rarely do) when Shuri’s latest invention, the Matter-To-Data Converter, is stolen before it can be taken to the conference.

The device, which can scan an object down to the individual molecules and convert them to digital data, was made with the intention of using the technology to safely dispose of toxic chemicals and radioactive waste, but could easily be turned to evil ends if falling into the wrong hands.

Luckily, T’Challa and Shuri are able to track down the thieves and a fight ensues in the streets. Whilst they manage to capture one of the thieves the other gets away with the device. Fortunately, they’re able to learn that the Conference is the target, and are able to go after the thieves in order to prevent a huge disaster.

This final issue in the Wakandan Scientific Conference continues with the themes that have been a big part of this story arc, namely that Wakanda isn’t quite the perfect nation that we, and even the royal family, have been led to believe. There are people in the nation that help each other and lift each other up yes, but there are also those that take advantage of those around them and push others down. This has led to some people feeling like they have been abandoned by their rulers and left to fend for themselves.

This not only makes the country itself more interesting, but it means that the heroes are having to go up against villains who aren’t really bad people. They’re people that want something better for themselves and others in similar situations, not something selfish like power and wealth. And this makes it all the more difficult for the heroes as they can’t just go in punching, but have to try and make things actively better.

I’ve loved seeing this side to the Black Panther story, of the wonder nation not quite being as good as it should be, and of a King who thinks his country is a paradise learning that he has to do more for his people than he’s already doing. In a lot of ways it makes the title more interesting than if it was just Black Panther fighting some super villain.

With this arc now over I’m interested to see where the story will go next, whether it will continue to examine these themes further, or if it will begin to feel more like a traditional super hero comic. Hopefully Vita Ayala will be on to continue writing past this story, as I think she has a great grasp of not just the characters, but a varied and interesting idea for how to treat the world too.

I’d also like to see Arianna Florean continue on as artist, as he work has been really exceptional these last few issues, giving characters and environments a real sense of life and energy; something that isn’t easy for a story that doesn’t rely on big splash pages or over the top action sequences. I’d also like to see Shuri continue to use her fairy wing backpack, as her flying around is not only awesome, but the wings might be one of my favourite parts of the comic.


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Follow Him by Craig Stewart - Book Review

'True love doesn't die – it devours. Just outside the sleepy town of Dreury, a mysterious cult known as The Shared Heart has planted its stakes. Its followers are numerous. More join every day. Those who are lost and suffering seem to be drawn to it; a home for the broken. When Jacob finds himself in need of such a home, he abandons his dead name and gives himself over to the will of The Great Collector.

'However, love refuses to let Jacob go so easily; his ex-fiancé, Nina, kidnaps him in the hopes that he can be deprogramed. As she attempts to return Jacob to the life they once had, a terrible fear creeps in: what if there isn't enough of her Jacob left? When The Great Collector learns of his missing follower, the true nature of The Shared Heart is unleashed. Nina discovers what Jacob already knows: that hidden behind the warm songs and soaring bonfires is a terrifying and ancient secret; one that lives and breathes… and hungers. And it's coming for them.'

I have to admit, I thought I knew what to expect of Follow Him for most of the book. Jacob has been taken in by a clearly brutal cult that's not afraid to torture and kill people, and his ex-fiance has to try to get him back from them without getting killed by them in the process. I thought it was going to be a psychological horror with a bit of an 'on-the-run' side to it, with very real human antagonists and threats to deal with. But over the course of the book I began to question some of this, beginning to think that maybe there's something a little more there than meets the eye, but never one hundred percent sure; and this kept my on my toes throughout, never knowing what to expect next.

The horrors of The Shared Heart are subtle to begin with, and at first it seems like most cults that people would be aware of, where a central figure has manipulated people into giving up everything to come and live and work together in a community tucked away from the outside world. Whilst this in itself is a quite disturbing situation to find yourself in, it's not until we begin to see the darkness just below the surface that we realise how dangerous and twisted the group is.

Once Nina has kidnapped Jacob from the cult it's very clear that this isn't a group that's just going to allow him to go, or one that will simply appeal to her good senses or the law to get her to release her prisoner; no, this is a group that will hurt her. Added into the tension of The True Heart finding her is the fact that Jacob is battling her as much as she's trying to break through his brainwashing. She's a woman that doesn't really know what she's doing, fighting desperately to get back the man she loved, and he's torturing her every step of the way.

Jacob, quite clearly, doesn't want to be saved from The True Heart. He doesn't want his old life back, and he doesn't want Nina. Whilst she's using their history together to try and help the man he once was, he's using that same history to hurt her. He brings up old wounds and tears them open, making past pain new and raw. The fact that Jacob is so vicious in his response to Nina and what she's doing is one of the most heart breaking parts of the book. She's trying to save someone she loves, and he's trying to destroy her.

The way in which Jacob fights against her the whole way, and steadfastly stands by The True Heart does make you begin to question whether Nina is really the hero of the story. She's fallen into what one would see as a more classically heroic role, saving a loved one from evil forces, but is she really a good person? She's kidnapped someone who left her when their relationship ended. She attacks him, tortures him, and tries to impose her will on him. If it wasn't for the fact that The True Heart is actually evil and kills people you'd have to question if she was the real villain. If Jacob had ran away and joined an Amish community to get away from the outside world would she still be the good guy for kidnapping him and keeping him tied up? I didn't expect Follow Him to make me think these kinds of questions, but very soon into the book I began to believe that perhaps there were no 'good guys' in this story.

I want to talk about what happens towards the end of the book now, so there will be some major spoilers, so if you don't want to know more but are intrigued I'd definitely say to go and grab a copy, as I've barely covered how good the book is. However, if you've already read it, or don't mind knowing how things end, please carry on, because there's some interesting things to discuss.

So, The True Heart are kind of onto something it seems. They're not just like every other crazy religion or cult that claims to know the truth, but seem to actually be onto things. I say seem to, because despite how the book ends I do have some very slight doubts. You see, when the mass suicides begin to take place and The Great Collector eats the cut out hearts, transforming into a monster this seems to make it quite clear that yes, their belief system was bang on and there is a supernatural entity at work here. However, we only ever see this through Nina, who has already displayed that she has been suffering from nightmarish hallucinations; so perhaps watching dozens of people slaughtering each other has tipped her over the edge into madness?

The fact that I don't know if the end is real or not both infuriates me and leaves me loving it. I want to know if the monster is real, but don't know if I'd be satisfied with knowing. Leaving it the way it does means that those who wanted the cult to be right are happy because there's a huge monster at the end of the book, and those who want a more subtle, psychological horror have an ending where Nina is left broken and mad by the events she's been through.

However you choose to take the ending, I think you'll be like me and be left shocked by the conclusion. I was in no way expecting the brutal and bloody conclusion that Craig Stewart gave us, and was left in a sense of shock from it. I didn't know what to think or feel once I'd finished that final page; and that meant that the book stuck with me. Because of this ending Follow Him will definitely be one of the more memorable books I've read this year, and I'm certainly looking forward to reading it again knowing the conclusion, to see if I can possibly make my mind up about if I believe what Nina's seeing or not.

Follow Him is a book that piles the tension on from the first few pages and doesn't let up once. There's a genuine sense of dread throughout as Nina is hunted by The True Heart. We get to see a character trying desperately to do what they think is right in a scenario that gets ever more and more frightening and out of hand, one that is sure to leave the reader shuddering. I cannot wait to see what more people think of this title, and will certainly be putting more of Craig Stewart's work on my to be read list in the future.

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Other Words For Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin - Book Review

Other Words For Smoke was released earlier this year to much critical acclaim, I myself include it as one of my best books of the year. Last week, on the 21st November, author Sarah Maria Griffin received an annual An Post Irish Book Award for the title, winning the Eason Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year. Here's my review for this wonderful novel in case you missed it earlier this year.

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‘The house at the end of the lane burned down, and Rita Frost and her teenage ward, Bevan, were never seen again. The townspeople never learned what happened. Only Mae and her brother Rossa knew the truth; they spent two summers with Rita and Bevan, two of the strangest summers of their lives… Because nothing in that house was as it seemed: a cat was more than a cat, a dark power called Sweet James that lurked behind the wallpaper, enthralling Bevan with whispers of neon magic and escape.

‘And in the summer heat, Mae became equally as enthralled with Bevan. Desperately in the grips of first love, she’d give the other girl anything. A dangerous offer when all that Sweet James desired was a taste of new flesh…’

In complete honesty, I wasn’t quite sure what to think of Other Words For Smoke when I first began the book. The story begins at the end, before jumping backwards in time a number of years. The narrative flips between third person, and a narrator that puts you in Bevan’s place, not just her telling you how things affected her, but the narrator talking to you as if you are Bevan. Along with this, there are a number of big, fantastical things that are given little explanation, it was all a little confusing.

However, after a short while I began to understand that this was part of the point, that you as the reader are never quite meant to feel comfortable in this strange world of twisted logic and bizarre magic. Even though the book tells the story through three viewpoints, Bevan, Rossa, and Mae, it’s really about Mae, and the mixture of understanding some things whilst still being confused and unsettled mirror her experiences.

In many ways, this confused state, this partial understanding of the world around you, is a perfect metaphor for the journey that Mae and Rossa are going through over the course of the three years the book is set; not their journey into magic and other worlds, but their journey from teens to adults. The book is about growing up, and the two teens go from naive youngsters to young adults who have discovered so much more about themselves, and have had to live through the awfulness of their fractured and hateful home lives.

We get to see Mae go from a shy young girl hidden away in her games and just discovering her sexuality to a young woman who is embracing who she is, the powers that she is starting to tap into, and having to come to terms with how her first love will affect her for the rest of her life. Rossa changes from a boy closed off from the fantastical world around him, content to shy away from the world in his drawings, to a man with a plan, who knows what he wants from life and isn’t afraid to grasp for it, who opens himself up to the magic around him.

Whilst the book is about growing up and discovering the person that you’re going to be, it’s also about addiction. Bevan is addicted to the powers that the mysterious creature in the walls of the house, Sweet James, is willing to give her. At first glance it simply appears that she’s a character who is craving power, and potentially just a very nasty person, but as the book progresses and we see Bevan without the influence of Sweet James for a while it becomes clear that she’s a victim. She discovers this new world full of wonder and wants to learn more about it, as most people would, but it’s twisted for her by the parasitic creature that is luring her in. She becomes a junkie to the powers on offer, willing to lie, steal, hurt, and even kill if need be to get more.

What stands out most about the book however, is how it’s written. Not just jumping through different perspectives, narrative styles, and time periods, the book has a lyrical, almost poetic quality to it. It’s clear that Sarah Maria Griffin spent a great deal of time weaving ideas and themes throughout the tapestry of the book in a way that a lot of writers don’t, and the end result is a book that feels infinitely more than just the sum of its parts. Even come the end there’s mystery and wonder that is never answered, a world left unexplored, and relationships and motivations only partially hinted at. This might bother some, but it feels more real than most books. After all, in life you rarely get all the answers.

Sarah Maria Griffin has crafted a living, breathing world around one house and a handful of characters, a universe that is barely dipped into. She could come back to this time and time again, exploring the wondrous places that she has made, or simply leave it be, forever a mystery. Either scenario would make me happy, as I’d love to spend more time in this universe, but would also be more than happy to let my own imagination fill in these blanks.

It’s not often I finish a book and find myself immediately wanting to return to it and read it again straight away, but Other Words For Smoke had this effect on me. I want to go back and see those connections that I only realised were there at the end, to use the knowledge I gained later on to see if there is more there to be learned. A stunning example of not just a novel, but a work of art that is sure to stick with the reader long after the final page has been read.

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Zyuranger Episode Two: The Revival - Super Sentai Review

The second episode of Super Sentai Zyuranger sees the ancient heroes fighting desperately to free the children captured by the evil witch Bandora, and the return of the Tyrannosaurus Guardian Beast.

Following the surprise appearance of the Dora Titan at the end of the previous episode the ancient heroes have retreated to their temple base to plan their next move against the evil witch and her forces. Dan, Boi, and Mei argue amongst themselves as they worry about the fight ahead and their mission to save the children, whilst Goushi and Geki discuss their past, giving viewers an insight into the civilisation they came from.

At the same time, Bandora has moved her palace from the top of a skyscraper to the moon, a perfect place to hatch her plans whilst staying out of reach of the Zyurangers. Bandora hatches a new plan to use the shrunken space shuttle to lure the rangers into a trap with her latest monster, Dora Skeleton; who is made from living mud and brought to life by Pleprechaun. The shuttle is sent back to Earth, where Bookback uses a remote control to make it chase people around the city.

The Zyurangers arrive on the scene, trying to catch up with the shuttle using their motorcycles, but are suddenly attacked by the Dora Skeleton. The monster brings the warriors to an amusement park, where it attacks the team. The creature manages to destroy their weapons, before transporting them all to another dimension, where the shrunken shuttle sits in a tree. The rangers try to rescue the shuttle, but Dora Skeleton summons his skeleton minions to stop them. Whilst fighting the monsters Bookback arrives and plants a bomb in the tree next to the shuttle.

Geki takes on Dora Skeleton in a sword fight, distracting him so that the rest of the team are able to shoot him with their blasters, blowing him apart. As he attempts to put himself back together Dan grabs his skull and wraps it in his cape, preventing him from putting himself back together. He throws the head to Boi, who tosses it into a firey pit, destroying Dora Skeleton. Geki is now able to grab the shuttle before the bomb goes off.

However, before the rangers can celebrate their victory the Dora Titan breaks through into the dimension and grabs hold of Geki, dragging him out. The rest of the team grab the shuttle as the bomb goes off, which throws them back into the real world. Inside a quarry the Dora Titan tries to crush Geki, but he manages to break free and joins the rest of the team as they head inside a cave for protection.

With no way to fight the giant Dora Titan the team have no idea how they're going to win. Without warning the ground begins to shake and breaks open, revealing the Tyranosaurus Guardian Beast. Geki jumps inside the control room of the Guardian Beast and takes on the Dora Titan in combat. The other Zyurangers get the children out of the shuttle before launching it at the Dora Titan, making the ship blow up in his face. With the Dora Titan reeling from the blast Geki manages to knock it down before unleashing a powerful sonic blast that destroys the monster once-and-for-all. Whilst Bandora complains about her plan having failed the Zyrangers reaffirm their mission to protect the earth and defeat the evil witch.

The second episode of Super Sentai Zyuranger takes on what feels to be a more traditional kind of formula, at least for what I expect as a fan of Power Rangers. Bandora has come up with a new plan and sends a monster against the heroes, which ends in a fight with their Zords. What makes it feel different, however, is that the monster they go up against initially isn't the giant one they have to fight at the end, which subverted my expectations somewhat.

To be honest, I was actually somewhat surprised by the episode to begin with anyway. I was expecting the story to continue where the last episode left off, with the Zyurangers fighting Grifforzor and the Dora Golems whilst the Dora Titan held the shuttle hostage. Instead it seems like there's something of a time jump, with the action having jumped forwards several hours. The rangers have retreated and Bandora has left the city, transferring her palace to the moon. There's isn't really much of an explanation as to why this has happened, and I feel like this was perhaps done in an attempt to establish something of a standard formula for the show of how episodes will play out.

What this break in the action does do, however, is give the show a chance to fill in some more of the backstory that was alluded to in the first episode. Geki and Goushi discuss the history of the ancient human tribes and their fight against Bandora, giving viewers a glimpse at the war they fought in and the imprisonment of the witch and her lieutenants on Planet Nemesis. Whilst this is a great bit of information and is presented in an interesting way with the glimpses of artwork in an ancient book, the fact that two people who lived through it are discussing it like one of them doesn't know about it feels a little silly. It's definitely been written to give the information over to the audience, without possibly thinking about how it comes across in universe. But honestly, this is a fairly minor nitpick.

The first monster to feature in the episode, Dora Skeleton, is one that I'm familiar with, remembering him as Bones from Power Rangers quite well. What blew me away about him was how different he is to the american version, and how much stuff was cut out. He's absolutely terrifying here, especially with his high pitched giggling scream. The fact that he doesn't talk at all and just makes these shrieking noises is really disturbing. His glowing, stick-like sword and skeleton minions are also a lot of fun, and goes towards making this version of the character very memorable. The face that he's killed when his head gets thrown into a crevasse as Boi tells him to 'go to hell' just makes his demise even better too.

I also absolutely loved how once again we didn't get a Megazord, but just had a single Zord/Guardian Beast show up to fight the Dora Titan. As much as I love the Zyuranger Megazord design, getting to see the Tyransaurus given his own moment to shine is great, and really highlights just how good the suit for it is. It's obviously a guy in a suit, but it feels a lot less silly than some of the Megazords do, possibly because its arms move differently and because it has a huge tail. Whatever the reason, I found myself very entertained by the fight, more so than some other Zord fights I've seen over the years. Whether they're going to do this for each individual Zords, or will just introduce the Megazord in episode three, this was a moment that I think will stand out for me.

'The Revival' was definitely more of what I was expecting from Super Sentai, but that doesn't mean that it was ever boring or predictable. The fight sequences and stunt work were great, and the scene where a monster attacked one of the heroes whilst he rode around on a motorcycle was particularly impressive. I can't wait to find out if the show will settle into a similar formula going forward, or if it will continue to subvert my expectations.


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Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula by Loren D. Estleman - Book Review

'A mysterious schooner runs aground in an English harbor. Its cargo is fifty boxes of earth; its only living passenger, a black dog. The captains body is lashed to the wheellifeless, drained of blood. Soon, a rash of bizarre nocturnal crimes terrifies London. It can only be the work of Count Dracula, and only one man can save the city: the worlds greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes.'

If the title of this book alone doesn't grab your attention there's not much I can do to sell you on this concept. Come on people, Holmes going up against the most famous vampire in literature?! What's not to like?

I first read this book more than a decade ago, and found it to be incredibly entertaining, so much so that I never really forgot about it, and decided to pick up a new copy recently. What I really liked about this book compared to some crossover stories is that it exists side-by-side with the original without disrupting that narrative too greatly. The majority of Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula happens outside of the events of Dracula, with Holmes and Watson occasionally drifting into the other books narrative.

The book nicely sidesteps the issues that arise from these brief interaction between characters such as Holmes and Van Helsing quite cleverly before the story even begins. In the preface to the book John Watson feels the need to 'set the record straight' by explaining why he and Holmes don't appear in the pages of Dracula. He claims that this was done by Van Helsing, who requested the removal of Holmes and Watson from the narrative to try and make Van Helsing look better. Watson basically accuses Stoker and Van Helsing of changing the facts of the story to make Van Helsing more of a hero, and to discredit any claims Holmes and Watson might have to the story. Not only does this introduction clear the way for the book to make some small changes to the narrative of Dracula, but also adds a level of humour to proceeding by floating the notion that Bram Stoker was being something of a dick towards them.

The story itself centres around the mystery of the Demeter, a ship that arrives in Whitby. With the crew on board missing except for the captain, who was found tied to the wheel and drained of blood, authorities call in Sherlock Holmes to investigate the mystery. What at first appears to be a strange, but very rational, case soon becomes a fight against the supernatural, as Holmes and Watson come up against a young woman transformed into a vampire, and the deadly Count Dracula himself.

The book presents Holmes' investigation as separate to the events of Dracula, and as such we get to see a version of the Count who is not just battling Van Helsing, but also trying to keep Holmes out of his business on a second front. Whilst this means that Holmes isn't having to face the full force of the vampire, it does make the suggestion that perhaps the reason why Van Helsing was able to finally defeat the monster was because Holmes has been working against Dracula in the background.

There are a lot of stories about Sherlock Holmes, probably more than even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself wrote about him. Not all of them are good, and some of them can go a bit strange when they pit the detective against otherworldly and supernatural forces. But this tale works incredibly well. It might be due to how well Loren D. Estleman crafts their tale, or it could be the fact that it interacts with preexisting events of another novel. Rather than crafting a whole new narrative that would cast aside everything in the original Dracula and face criticism for changing a lot of things, this book works as a companion piece, an add-on to the classic. That makes it feel somehow elevated and secure, because it feels more likely to be real.

I know that comment might seem like nonsense, as both Sherlock Holmes and Dracula are both completely fictional and neither narrative is real, but something about this story feels more grounded than some Sherlock Holmes fiction. Maybe its because Dracula is such a part of popular fiction that it is easier to accept a story like this, but then it could just be me geeking out about the two characters coming together. Either way, this book works when it probably shouldn't.

Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula is a great piece of fiction, drawing together two of the biggest names in fiction to battle it out. The story doesn't tread too much on the toes of the original narrative, and presents a version of events that fans of either franchise will be sure to enjoy. The worlds greatest detective taking on the greatest vampire in a truly brilliant story.

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Ricky Gervais Returns To Host Golden Globes Despite Rampant Transphobia

Comedian Ricky Gervais has been announced to be the host for the upcoming Golden Globes awards, his fifth time hosting the event, despite a history of transphobia.

Gervais previously hosted the event in 2015, where he made remarks about Caitlyn Jenner's transition, deadnaming her in the process. 'I'm going to be nice tonight. I've changed - not as much as [Caitlyn Jenner's deadname]. What a year she's had!' He later defended his choice of a crass and demeaning joke as 'playing with the notions of stereotypes'.

He would go on to make more transphobic comments about Jenner in a stand-up special. During the special he referred to her as an 'it', and misgendered her several times. 'It won a medal. It was on the telly all the time. A big famous man. With huge... I don't know. I would never deadname her, but when she was a man... I'd never deadname her now, but this is like a flashback.'

'She’s always identified as a woman,” he said. “That means she’s a woman. Fine, if that’s the rules. If you feel you’re a woman, you are. I’m not a bigot who thinks having all that done is science going too far.' He added. 'In fact, I don’t think it’s going far enough. ’Cause I’ve always identified as a chimp, right? Well, I am a chimp. If I say I’m a chimp, I am a chimp pre-op. But don’t ever deadname me. Don’t call me Ricky Gervais again. From now on, you call me Bob.'

This was far from the last time that Gervais engaged in transphobic 'humour', as he has continued to make multiple transphobic comments on his social media platforms.

He has also made 'jokes' where he identifies as other animals and objects, such as a 'two-spirit penguin'. He has also said that his pronoun is 'it'.

Just a few weeks ago he received criticism for announcing that he was planning to dress as a trans woman for Halloween. 'I was going to dress up as something weird and creepy for my Halloween party, but I'm bucking the trend this year and I'm going as brave female activist Jessica Yaniv.' He said. 'This also means that I don't have to wax my big hairy balls.'

He has also once claimed to identify as black when he was called out by a woman of colour for racist and privileged comments that he made.

Some people have also pointed out that his being asked to host the awards following his history of attacking minorities is a stark contrast to Kevin Hart, who was removed from hosting the Oscars following previous tweets coming to light in which he made homophobic jokes. Perhaps it's because Hart's targets were gay cis people rather than trans people that made them unacceptable whilst Gervais gets a free pass; or it could be because only one of them is white.

Gervais has also been seen on video laughing at comedian Louis CK using the N word. He has also publicly making jokes about AIDS. Both of these moments received heavy criticism.

Ricky Gervais constantly punches downwards with his 'humour', attacking and mocking minorities to help to increase his own feelings of smug self worth. He has laughed at people who have criticised him and his jokes, yet will appear on social media engaging in harassment of people who disagree with him in a petulant attempt to come off as the winner. He makes comments saying that the only people who complain about him are 'PC' and have 'pronouns in their bios'. This is the person that will be representing the Golden Globes. Disgusting.


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Tory Stripped From Role For Anti-LGBTQ+ Sentiment

Wiltshire Tory councillor Mary Douglas has been stripped from her front-bench role following a statement she made insulting the LGBTQ+ community.

Ms. Douglas refused to give a £1,000 grant that was earmarked for 2020's Salisbury Pride event. When the group organising the event requested the grant she would not issue it to them. It was reported that during a meeting of the Salisbury St Francis and Stafford council on Monday 11th November she made comments that disparaged the community.

'I cannot support this,' she said during the meeting. 'I am not saying I do not accept, or respect, or love people who identify as LGBTQ+, because of course I do. I support completely their right to make choices, however I do not support those choices themselves, nor the ideology and world view they represent.

'These are wonderful people, well-meaning and sincere, but misguided by a powerful ideology. I do not want to be part of promoting this, and I want to be clear this is not just my view, I represent a large number of people, some of who are afraid to say anything.'

Despite her comments she was outvoted during the meeting, and the funds were awarded to the Pride organisers.

Council leader Philip Whitehead told the press that following Ms. Douglas' comments he had 'taken the decision to remove councillor Mary Douglas as portfolio holder for social mobility and skills. I would like to thank her for her work during her time as portfolio holder. She will step down from the role with immediate effect but remains a Wiltshire Council councillor.'

Salisbury deputy mayor, and one of the organisers of Salisbury Pride, Caroline Crobin described Ms. Douglas as 'an embarassment to the public office who is no longer fit for that role'. After it was announced that Douglas lost her position as portfolio holder Ms Corbin said 'You can't represent people that way, so it's right the council has taken the action it has.'

Wiltshire Council has said that it has not received further complaints following the incident. Salisbury Pride is scheduled to take place on June 13th, 2020.


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Marvel Action: Avengers #8 – Comic Review

Originally published on Set The Tape

We finally discover what the Fear Eaters are after months of build-up, but just what is it that they’re after, and why are they manipulating Black Panther?

It seems like every issue up till now has been building towards the reveals that we get here. AIM and the U-Foes, Count Nefaria and the Ruby Egress, they’ve all been part of the bad guys’ plans to prepare for the coming invasion of the Fear Eaters; and now the Avengers finally know about the bigger threat to the Earth.

The issue picks up where the previous one left off, with Captain America face to face with one of the mysterious aliens, and Black Panther apparently fallen victim to their mental manipulation, seeing his deceased father. The U-Foes and Madam Masque walk into this situation, and as per comic book rules they end up fighting the heroes despite being there to help them.

Once the misunderstanding has been sorted out and the fight comes to a close the U-Foes are able to fill in the Avengers, and the readers, about the origins of the Fear Eaters, and their apparent only weakness, Vibranium. The revelation comes as a surprise, as despite the fact that Captain America was able to beat a Fear Eater in combat it’s not obvious that this was because of what his shield was made from; and it explains why the creatures have targeted Black Panther.

It’s still not clear why they’ve made T’Challa their focus. Surely taking him out of the equation would be a better way of preventing him from equipping the Avengers with Vibranium? This does make me think that perhaps there’s more going on than is at first clear, and that perhaps T’Challa isn’t being manipulated by the Fear Eaters. The fact that the issue ends with T’Challa appearing to make some kind of Iron-Man/Black Panther armour makes me think that he might be preparing for the oncoming invasion rather than being used by the aliens. Whatever is happening, it’s sure to cause some twists and turns in the next issue.

The information we’re given in this issue helps to clear up what’s been going on since the title’s launch, and certainly raises the stakes somewhat without giving away too much of what is to come. So far the series has wrapped up each chapter of the story within three issues, and whilst this story might come to a close next issue it could conceivably go on for longer. Whatever path Matthew K. Manning chooses to take the story, I’m sure it’s going to be good.


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Marvel Action: Black Panther #5 – Comic Review

Originally published on Set The Tape

Okay, Vita Ayala might have done one of the best things I can think of for this title, giving Shuri fairy wings. But before I start gushing over how much I enjoyed that, let’s talk quickly about the plot of the issue.

The story begins with Black Panther taking down a gang of bad guys lead by Batroc the Leaper, which results in one of his aides getting hurt and needing medical attention. Rather than electing to use Shuri’s tech to heal himself he chooses to use the expertise of one of the local medicine women. Shuri, being the science nerd that she is, thinks that there’s no place in the modern world of medicine for ancient remedies and insults the healer. When Shuri starts to become the victim of a number of accidents and mishaps she becomes convinced that she has been cursed by the healer, and sets out to find a way to break the spell.

I really enjoyed the focus on Shuri in this issue, and the framing of traditional healing techniques and medicine versus modern science. The story doesn’t so much as pit the two against each other with one clear winner coming out on top, but makes the point that just because something is considered old or outdated doesn’t mean that there isn’t merit to it, or that those with age shouldn’t be listened to. It’s a lesson that Shuri seems to need to be taught, having become so focused on science and technology.

The best thing about the story, however, is the way that her journey to lift her perceived curse feels like something from a Saturday morning cartoon or Disney movie. There’s a princess with fairy wings, albeit products of science, going through jungles and caves searching for rare ingredients, running from traps and scary animals, and picking up a warthog sidekick up along the way.

The art by Ariana Florean really adds to this feeling. Florean takes on a less realistic approach and feels a lot more cartoonish in their work. Characters are bold and look different from each other, with unique body shapes or exaggerated features. Animals have almost human expressions, and feel more alive and full of energy. The whole thing seems to take on a more magical and comical life thanks to this artwork, and really helps the issue feel like a lot of fun.

Whilst this is a stand alone type of story it feels a lot more entertaining than the initial three part story that kicked off the title. The focus on character, along with the lighter tone and fun artwork, means that it doesn’t start to feel drab or dull in any places, and I’d have been happy to have seen this story go on for more than just the single issue.

I was excited to see what Vita Ayala would be bringing to the title, and so far it’s been a great improvement on all factors. I really hope that the title can keep this level of energy and freshness going forward.


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Transgender Teen YouTuber Vows To Continue To Share Transition Despite Death Threats

Hannah Phillips, a 19-year-old trangender girl from the UK, has revealed that despite receiving near daily threats and abuse for her YouTube channel, where she shares her transition, she will continue to create and share content about her journey.

Hannah began her channel four years ago, shortly after coming out as trans, and claims to be the first transgender person to release a video every day. The channel documents her journey as she transitions. However, Hannah has revealed that she is the victim of death threats and abuse because of her content.

'I get negative comments on a daily basis, anything from generic death threats to direct transphobia, but it doesn't bother me. I ignore it and carry on.' She said, speaking to the press on the subject.

'The bad is outweighed by the good, though. I get messages from people's parents who thank me for helping them to understand what their child is going through, and messages from the trans community, thanking me for being so honest about what I've been through.'

Hannah described how she came out to her parents as transgender when she was fifteen, and wrote them a letter explaining her situation and what she wanted to do going forward. 'The next day they spoke to me and told me they supported me and accepted my decision. My brother said exactly the same. As soon as I told them the truth it felt like a burden had been lifted and the final piece of the jigsaw had been added.'

Hannah has had to deal with transphobia in the past, however, as she left school during Year 10 due to transphobic bullying and humiliation from other students. She left the school the next day and enrolled in college to study performing arts.

She has said that despite the abuse she is receiving for producing her videos, she will continue to do so to try to help other teens that experienced similar situations to her.


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X-Men: Mutant Empire Omnibus by Christopher Golden - Book Review

'MAGNETO'S EMPIRE WILL RISE…

'They live as outcasts, hated and feared by the very humanity they protect. They are mutants, born with strange and wonderful powers that set them apart from the rest of the human race. Under the tutelage of Professor Charles Xavier, they are more than mutants. They are - the X-Men.

'Magneto - the X-Men's oldest, deadliest foe - has taken over a top-secret government installation that houses the Sentinels, powerful mutant-hunting robots. The X-Men must fight to keep this deadly technology out of Magneto's hands and stop him from carrying out his grand plan: establishing a global Mutant Empire. The X-Men must join forces with old enemies to stop him - but in Magneto's brave new world, who can they trust?'

X-Men: Mutant Empire Omnibus brings together three classic X-Men novels into one huge paperback edition, that pits the iconic mutant heroes against their greatest foe, Magneto, as he attempts to turn New York City into his own mutant empire.

When the X-Men are spending a rare day to themselves, relaxing in the grounds of the Xavier Institute, a spaceship crashes within the grounds, bringing their festivities to an abrupt end. Thankfully, instead of being an alien invasion it's half of the outlaw pirate group The Starjammers, led by the father of Scott Summers, the X-Man Cyclops. The Starjammers inform the X-Men that Cyclops' father has been captured by the tyrant Deathbird, and faces execution.

At the same time, a military facility in Colorado that houses the deadly Sentinel machines falls under attack by an unknown group. These two missions force the X-Men to split their forces. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Archangel, Rogue, and Gambit leave Earth and travel into deep space to rescue the rest of the Starjammers; whilst Storm, Wolverine, Iceman, Beast, and Bishop try to prevent the Sentinels from falling into the wrong hands.

When the X-Men discover that Magneto and his deadly Acolytes are the ones after the Sentinels the stakes get a lot higher. Unable to stop the theft, the X-Men are shocked when Magneto uses the Sentinels to take over New York, declaring it the start of his new mutant empire and a save haven for all mutants. Now the team must try to fight their way through an army of mutants, and the Sentinels, to stop their oldest foe, hoping that the rest of their team can make it back from space in time to help against the overwhelming odds they face.

X-Men: Mutant Empire is a big story. It seems pretty obvious to say that, considering that it collects together three novels, but it's worth pointing out that so much happens in this book. The whole first third of the book feels like set-up for the rest of the story, and there are so many twists and turns when the X-Men have to assault Magneto's empire that it would be easy to see this as a story that would span a year or more across multiple titles if it were a comic, released as a huge bumper graphic novel.

One of the best things about the book is how it feels like a comic in a lot of ways. The story here was completely original to the book, and didn't happen in the comics, yet has so many connection to past stories and continuities that it feels like it could easily slip into the comics without any real effort. The side adventure with the Starjammers draws upon lots of existing backstory by bringing in the Shi'ar, the Kree, and the Imperial Guard. Though contained only within the first section of the book the space adventure is a lot of fun, and thanks to the inclusion of the Imperial Guard and the Shi'ar, reminds me a lot of the classic X-Men cartoon from the 90's. Maybe it's because of the more fantastical setting and the strange aliens the team faces, but this part of the book stands out as particularly different from the rest of the story.

Despite dealing with fantastical characters and events that are well beyond normal the story feels a lot more grounded when it reaches the streets of Manhattan. The X-Men are reduced to sneaking through the streets and back alleys of the city, getting into fights in bars as they try to locate Magneto and bring an end to his plans. It's strange to see such brightly costumed characters sneaking around a city instead of running straight into battle and being the big heroes, but it adds a sense of realism to the proceedings. Even if they had the whole team with them they'd be up against huge odds, but with half the team in space it's even more stacked against them.

The sense of realism in the novel are one of the best things about the translation from comics to prose for the X-Men, the other is that unlike comics, which focus on action a lot of the time, we get to spend more time with the characters and get to know what's going on in their heads. Readers get the chance to explore the inner workings of Bishops trauma from his experiences in his nightmare future and how this current situation terrifies him. We get a greater understanding of Jean and Scott's relationship and their strong psychic bond. And we have the chance to see how Iceman goes from being the joker of the group to a much fiercer warrior, and the things that drive him to that point.

These quieter moments when the reader can forget about the over the top action and learn more about the characters are some of the best parts of the book, and gives some insight that the comics rarely give. Yes, sometimes it can feel a little repetitive when we're told about Bishops past and his motivations for the third time; but then this would have been in a separate book in it's original format, so it's a little more understandable.

Whilst the bringing together of the three individual books as one is great, there is one drawback to the collected volume. The original books had a combined page count of close to 1000, but X-Men: Mutant Empire Omnibus clocks in at just under 700 pages. In order to achieve this, the font size has been reduced to fit more onto each page. The result of this is that it can at times feel like it takes a lot longer than usual to read, and I a times felt that I'd made little progress through the book despite having read a good portion of it. This is just a personal thing, however, and the real drawback I found to this condensing of the book is that the font size is very small, and I am concerned that readers with sight problems could find it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Despite these small criticisms, however, the book is a great addition to Titan Marvel prose series.

X-Men: Mutant Empire Omnibus is a huge book, filled with great character moments and some brilliant action sequences. Christopher Golden crafts a tale that would be at home on the comic pages just as much as it does here, and knows the world and characters brilliantly. Three books for the bargain price of £9.99, any comic book fan would be a fool to miss out.

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