Sunstone's probably my favorite from Stjepan.  You can tell he's really putting in the time and effort to clean up the original webseries he did and go high end.  It's a great story and gorgeous artwork.  As for Death Vigil, that's next on my list...

So I read Sunstone volume 1 and I really want to talk about it.

For those who don't know anything about it, it's a comic written and drawn by Stjepan Šejić, originally under the pseudonym Shiniez as a webcomic/webart when he was suffering from a creative burnout after a long run as the artist on Top Cow's Witchblade (this is all explained in a bit at the end of the first trade).

And it's a book about lesbian bondage...

(Actually that is the same joke one of the two main characters makes to draw the readers interest when she wants to tell her story.) It reminds me of Empowered in its origin; Sunstone started as erotic art and then became a comic when its creator started to flesh out the characters behind the art. In case of Sunstone, fleshing the characters out meant that the original webart no longer fits with the story Šejić is telling.

Is it pornographic? No, unless you use a literal translation (pornography meaning literally "naked drawings" if I remember my ancient Greek correctly. But it was high school, so correct me if I'm wrong). Even with both characters being naked (or mostly naked) for a lot of the story, the focus is far more on their feelings than their physical attributes; the art shows mostly faces and expressions. Definitely still erotica though, so be aware of that.

Personally, I'm absolutely not into BDSM and never saw the attraction, so this book is amazing in that it at least clearly explains to me what attracts people to it. Mostly because it seems completely honest in showing the ups and downs of such a relationship, setting the boundaries, knowing what parts are fantasy/game and what parts are not. Really a shame that Jeffrey Kramer is not part of our community anymore, I would like to see his opinion on this comic.

The story is told mostly from the viewpoint of Lisa, a young writer who is interested in bondage. Her last relationship failed, partly because she was too afraid to share her interests with her partner. She meets Ally, the other main character, through an internet forum. At the start of the story, the two have known each other exclusively through the internet for a long time, but decide to finally meet in person. Both have their insecurities on the whole thing (BDSM is based on trust and Lisa and Ally realise that they don't really know each other) but are willing. Lisa has to deal with finally realising her fantasies, but she also worries about having a relationship with a woman (she never identified as lesbian before). Ally has had these type of relationships before, but currently she lives alone and her only friend is Alan, her ex-boyfriend. Their relationship failed because they are both dominant, but they remain good friends. Alan so far seems to be brutally honest with Ally, making him both comic relief and the one to prod Ally into action at various points.

So overall: well written, great art and often funny. Only caveat is that the subject matter might turn some people off. (It might also turn some people on, but that's a different matter.)

Used up an Amazon gift card and ordered the following:

The Sixth Gun Vol. 3
Southern Bastards Vol. 1
Mercenary Sea Vol. 1
Autumnlands Vol. 1
Wytches Vol. 1

Also put in a pre-order for Five Ghosts Vol. 3

-M

I finally got the trade for Hectic Planet vol 3. (I always had #1 and the Bummer Trilogy and the jump between those two is quite large. I've read #3 and it seems close to the bummer trilogy, but it at least has the crew of the Jersey Devil in it apart from Blue and Halby.) #2 is still in the mail.

I read The Tithe this evening... brilliant. I think I like Matt Hawkins (I liked Wildfire as well)... great story, great message, well developed characters. I hope he sticks with stuff like this and Wildfire, rather than stuff like Tales of Honor (not that I don't love Honor Harrington, mind).

Peeking at my Classic Comics Club list, it's mostly modern non-big two trades.

This One Summer from First Second is a great story of a child's summer at camp with her family, clouded by family drama.

Based on its popularity, I tried Lumberjanes from Boom! I think this is a comic I am glad exists, as it seems to be aimed at young girls, and we need more of those. However, I am not a young girl.

Southern Bastards from Image is a well-told noirish comic about a man returning to the Southern town he grew up in. I'm curious where the series goes. Also from Image is Revival, a different type of zombie story. Again, potential there and I hope to pick up more.

Just placed an order for Southern Bastards Vol. 2 and Five Ghosts Vol. 3, shoudl get them on Wednesday.

-M