Bayou Bytes Blog

           It's 1946 in Metropolis and Lois Lane is waiting for Superman to save the day. He shows up, of course, and slays the Atom Man, a Nazi soldier. Like a movie, there's a scene change to a car ride with four passengers: the Lee family.           There's Dr. Lee, who has a new job at the Metropolis Health Department, his wife, who he keeps reminding to speak English instead of Cantonese; and his two kids: Roberta (originally Lan-shin) and Tommy. They're moving from Chinatown, Los Angeles to White suburbia. Upon arrival, they're greeted by a welcoming committee of his new boss, Dr. Wilson, and mildly racist coworker, Dr. William.   Soon, they're harassed by local hate group, the Klan of the Fiery Kross. A whole slew of problems are encountered, but with Superman and a team-effort, Good trumps Evil.          Touching on racism, assimilation, and coming-to-age woes of trying to fit in, Gene Luen...

Let's imagine, for a moment, that you're an innocent bystander in a superhero story.  Sailor Moon: Meme Princess The bad guys have you cornered-- but then, from almost out of nowhere, a superheroine interrupts the action. Whew! What a relief! You're saved! Sort of.  She didn't yank the bad guy away from you with a golden lasso. She doesn't incapacitate anyone with expert martial arts action or sneak up on anyone with world-class stealth.  She doesn't even seem to want to be there. It then starts to dawn on you -- as you watch your superheroine run in terror from the fight she started with the bad guys -- that she doesn't seem like she wants to be a heroine at all.  Oh, well. At least she showed up.  Sailor Moon, or Usagi "Serena" Tsukino, first made her way from Japan to American audiences via the Toonami block on Cartoon Network about 25 years ago. No one-- not even the Powerpuff girls-- defeats the forces of evil with 90s girl power more effecti...

       The beginning of the popularity of the Internet as we  vaguely remember  it: dial-up, cherished cassette tapes, and grunge. It’s the 90’s after all in Matthew Bogart and Jesse Holden’s Young Adult  g raphic  n ovel, Incredible Doom.          As the chapters alternate, so do the POVs. There’s only child Allison,  who’s been forced to be a magician’s assistant for her controlling dad.  Then there’s Richard,  a   new kid in town, struggling to make friends.  Both teens find  solace in the Bullet in Board System (BBS) , a virtual community before the World Wide Web was a thing.  At the time, members joined up with  their local BBS to avoid International-calling fees.   Its local option led   to  Allison meet ing  Samir, and Richard meet ing  Tina, his  defense against bullies.        The authors paint their realistic story ...

 The Zodiac Starforce is a group of elite warriors gifted zodiac themed powers by the goddess Astra. But they're also a group of teens just trying to survive high school! This is exactly what you'd expect from a zodiac-based super hero story and it does not disappoint. Though the series had a short run, and only two volumes were published, it's beloved online. I had no idea the series even existed until I came across a stray tweet that mentioned it and I was compelled to check it out.  The art style here is especially endearing, it's a cute and colorful style that holds up well and suits the story.  I absolutely recommend this graphic novel for fans of magical girl stories and zodiac enthusiasts. If this title interests you, you can find it here . 

 Death has always taken pride in his work, but he has way too many unused vacation days. When HR tells him he needs to take a year off, Death isn't really sure what to do with himself. Thus begins, Death Wins a Goldfish , an odd but lighthearted story, where Death takes the year to learn about himself and try new things.  This is a story told almost entirely in illustration, so it's an incredibly quick read. But that's no reason to overlook it. Being forced to take a year off gives Death time to learn what he really values in life. Though I loved this book when I first read it in 2019, the mandatory shutdowns we've been through this year may lend new light to the story. Many of us found new hobbies and passions when we suddenly found ourselves with more free time when the pandemic began.  If you're interested in Brian Rea's endearing story of Death's year-long vacation, you can find it here !

The Fables  series was originally published in comic book form, which was eventually compiled into graphic novel collections. The first in the series, Legends in Exile , introduces readers to Fabletown. A hidden city within modern-day New York, Fabletown is populated entirely by fairy tale characters who were forced to evacuate their homeland. Though they long for their lost homes, the fables have managed to make a peaceful life for themselves in the human world.  But then Snow White's sister, Rose Red, is murdered. Distraught and furious, Snow White teams up with the Big Bad Wolf (now Sheriff Bigby Wolf) to figure out who's responsible.  This is just the start in a series that spans more than twenty volumes.  What separates Fables  from the rest of the revisited fairytales that have popped up in recent years? It's not a retelling, but rather an entirely new story.  It also weaves in an impressive number of fable characters. Rather than just using well know...

This paranormal fantasy follows Marie Winters, who has just died in an unfortunate chair-related incident. After her death, she is greeted by a peculiar looking alien named Xel. As a social worker at the Department of Spectral Affairs, Xel is tasked with helping ghosts reconcile their pasts and happily pass on. The problem is, Marnie has no particular ties to people or places. With no one to haunt and nowhere to go, Xel pulls some strings at the office and hires Marnie as the Department's new intern. Suddenly Marnie is going on missions, decoding alien languages, and squaring off against terrifying department heads. Riesbeck delivers a sweet and whimsical story, with engaging and beautiful illustrations, but she also delves into heavier topics. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Marine had withdrawn from society because of her depression. And in order to pass on, she'll need to confront it. Though the story stays lighthearted throughout this first volume, Marnie...

I'll be the first to admit I picked this book up because of the cover. I was immediately  sold on the image of a witch and werewolf trying to make mooncakes.     The witch, Nova, lives in a small town with her grandmothers and helps them run the local magic shop. When her friend mentions sightings of a white wolf in the woods, Nova slips into the forest to check it out. She discovers her childhood friend, the werewolf Tam, is back in town. Tam is on the run and needs Nova's help to defeat a powerful demon. Together, with some charming supporting characters, they tackle the evil in the woods.   Mooncakes  is a really casual read with a cute art style and a traditional plot. You already know where the story is going, but the characters make it worth the read. The authors spent more energy designing the characters and their relationships.The story really focuses on the reunion of old friends, with a side of romance. This young adult graphic novel...