Quick GN Reivews

Tommysaurus Rex
by Doug TenNapel
Tommysaurus Rex is the story of a boy, Ely, and the dinosaur he finds in the woods while visiting his gradfather's farm over the summer. Is the dinosaur the reincarnation of Ely's beloved dog Tommy? Is it a boon or bane to the town? Tommy and the people around him don't seem to much question the mysterious existance of a Tyranosaurus Rex in their midst, but they do struggle with the appropriate role for a giant reptile in a modern rural community. TenNapel's storytelling is strong, though to my eyes his art is a bit too rough for this fable. Though the story ends with a bit of heavy-handed moralizing it still makes for a good read overall.
Rating: 3 (of 5)


The Losers: Double Down
by Andy Diggle, Jock, & Shawn Martinbrough
After opening with a two-part tale (with art by Martinbrough) that finds the Losers making breif connections to their former lives before going off the grid again, Diggle and Jock take the team back to high action mode as they attempt to interfere with a secret military operation at a Caribbean volcano. This second collected volume is a continuation of both the overarching story of betrayal and the energetic storytelling and broad characterization of the series as a whole. The stories may be a bit on the decompressed side, but that makes for good reading in this collected edition. The Losers is the comic book equivalent of an intelligent summer action blockbuster--it may not be an Oscar contender, but it sure is a heck of a ride.
Rating: 3.5 (of 5)