bad guys!

Guys Gone Wild: Platinum Edition - Bad Boys
$19.95
This is supposed to be fun. There's only a little footage of guys dancing around followed by a few guys getting naked and playing with themselves. It fails as either a good porn or a good voyeuristic movie.

Gargoyles: Bad Guys Volume 1
$17.95
Gargoyles: Bad Guys Vol. 1 is a spin-off of Slave Labor Graphics' Gargoyles comic, based on the Disney animated series. Due to the show's layered characters and complex fantasy universe (two aspects that made it a cult favorite of animation fans), creator Greg Weisman has had many ideas for expanding the Gargoyles franchise. It is exciting to finally see one of these brought to life.

Bad Guys Vol. 1 focuses on a group of villains and anti-heroes from the show who are seeking to atone for past sins-- former gargoyle killer The Hunter (Robyn Canmore), ex-mercenary Dingo, the nanotech entity Matrix, exiled Japanese gargoyle Yama, and the mutated creature Fang. The group is brought together by a mysterious benefactor and sent on a covert mission, ala DC Comics' Suicide Squad.

Bad Guys is written by Gargoyles' creator Greg Weisman, so the writing maintains the quality of the show, which was known for its mature and nuanced characterizations. It employs a non-linear story that shows our heroes(?) in action, then reveals their recruitment and secrets of their past in flashback. Gargoyles fans will be thrilled by the new information offered about these characters and their world, while newbies to the series are given everything they need to understand these troubled teammates. Particularly intriguing is Yama's sense of honor and self-judgment, Hunter's lingering prejudice, and Dingo's somewhat shocking origin story. Weisman also manages to incorporate references to Shakespeare (another unique element of the show) with the new villain Falstaff and his gang.

Karine Charlebois provides most of the artwork and she admirably captures the look of the show. She also lends a dynamic sense of movement to many of the action sequences, and does nice design work on the new characters. The comic is printed in black and white, which is a bit disappointing at first but thematically logical for a story with many shades of gray.

The collected edition contains the full six issue miniseries, including the final two issues that were not previously printed. SLG has recently suspended publication of Gargoyles due to Disney's increased licensing fees. One hopes that the series and its spin-offs can continue so that we can get more great comics set in this fascinating universe.

Girl All The Bad Guys Want
$0.99

Bible Heroes & Bad Guys
$7.99
Part of the 2:52 collection (based on Luke 2:52), Bible Heroes & Bad Guys offers portraits of 31 characters from the Bible. Old and New Testament "guys" (though the book does feature both men and women of Scripture) receive the full treatment: the good, the bad, the ugly. Each section starts with a bulleted list of character highlights then progresses to a more detailed retelling of that person's story. The "Getting Deeper" section of each chapter offers practical applications for readers, including action steps kids can take to live the lessons learned from that person's life. Finally, a "Bible Supercharge" section provides a verse perfect of memorization.

The chapters are short, just four pages each. Readers will find illustrations, large and small, peppered throughout the text, usually every two to three pages.

The illustrations feature unique perspectives, lots of action and heavy outlines, a style typical of comic books. Except for the cover, all are black and white.

WHAT I LIKE: The series has tremendous appeal for boys! I gave this book to my nephew for his 8th birthday. Within a week he begged his mom to buy him the rest of the books in the series. He loves them! I like that this book is based on solid biblical teaching. References are frequently provided. The format and text makes the Bible interesting to young kids and reminds them of the adventures hidden within Scripture's pages.

WHAT I DISLIKE: The book has a very trendy voice, as if one young kid is talking to another. This makes it more appealing to kids, but can be awkward for parents to read aloud.

OVERALL RATING: Excellent.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review