Dark Swan: Storm Born

Comic Book #1

Written by: Richelle Mead & Greg Alter

Published by: Sea Lion Books

Review by: Maria G.

Richelle Mead, author of urban fantasy novels for both teens and adult, has penned such fan favorites as The Vampire Academy Series, Bloodlines Series, The Succubus Series and the Dark Swan Series.  The latter is the basis of the Storm Born comic book.

Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who vanquishes spirits and fey who cross into the mortal world, but for a price. But, she has noticed something is off in her recent dalliances with the spirits…. they now know her birth name and they are propositioning her. That coupled with a new case that has her on the hunt to find a missing teenager that is being hidden in the Otherworld has her a bit on edge.

Rather than do what she usually does at night, putting together puzzles of kittens, she decides to throw caution to the wind and hang out at the local bar. That’s when she meets the handsome and mysterious Kiyo.

Now she has to figure out why these demons want her, why this missing girl is being hidden in the Otherworld and what’s the deal with Kiyo?

At first glance, you may be thinking… a comic book? Really? Well, a lot of authors have decided to pursue this new medium to reach a whole new audience. Authors like Diana Gabaldon and Laurell K. Hamilton have successfully transitioned their popular characters and series’ into a comic book format. Richelle Mead, who is currently working on a graphic novel based on the wildly popular Vampire Academy series, is just the latest in a growling list of authors who have jumped on the bandwagon and she should be applauded for her effort.

In Storm Born, Mead has successfully created a comic book series that is both fast-paced and sexy. I have to admit that when you first meet Eugenie… she is a bitter pill to swallow, but as you see her interact with her friends and family (Mom, Stepfather Roland and quirky brother Tim) you will most definitely want to keep reading.

With that stated, I just want to make it known that this is not a comic book that should be left on the coffee table where the kiddies may grab it. You know why? Well, your kid may end up asking you, “Mom? Why are there scratches on her back?” That’s not a fun conversation to be had.

I give this series two thumbs up and I think you should pick it up, click here to find out how to order it.

Remember to mark your calendar for the Vampire Academy graphic novel, which comes out in August.

TVG – What’s up with Sookie and the fairies on True Blood? — Sarah
NATALIE: When the show returns, Sookie will reconnect with some familiar faces in Fairyland. (Watch the first three minutes here if you want to find out who!) But the glowing lumières the fairies offer up as a snack notwithstanding, it won’t be all sweetness and light. Sookie will have a lot of questions for Claudine, her fairy godmother. First up: If she’s supposed to be Sookie’s protector, where the heck has she been all this time?

EXTRATV – Actor Joe Manganiello, who plays werewolf Alcide Herveaux on the hit HBO show “True Blood,” talked with “Extra’s” Adrianna Costa about the upcoming Season 4 — including whether or not Alcide does the deed with Sookie (Anna Paquin).

“Well, I can say that in the season finale of Season 3, Alcide made a pass at Sookie, and we’ll definitely pick up where that left off,” teased Manganiello at the Ford Mustang Boss Workshop, where the actor mentors boys with Type 1 diabetes.

Was it weird to do love scenes with Paquin while her real-life husband, Stephen Moyer (who plays vampire Bill Compton), was on the set? Joe laughed, “I can’t say, because if I answered that question I’d be giving away whether or not we hooked up.”

The hunky actor can say he is excited about marrying his real-life girlfriend, actress Audra Marie, to whom he proposed last year. Manganiello said he was totally involved in picking out the engagement ring. “I made it, I helped design it. It’s one of a kind.”

The search for Jace Wayland is over …

And it’s not Alex Pettyfer …

Sorry …

Deadline is reporting that Jamie Cambell Bower will be joining Lily Collins in the upcoming film based on Cassandra Clare’s bestselling “Mortal Instruments” series.

Kelly

Did you guys watch the trailer for Straw Dogs? That trailer coupled with these pics make Alex seem a little creepy. Love actors who take on roles that stops them from being pigeon-holed.

Kudos to Alex.

Not only is he incredibly handsome, funny and great to his fans, but he has a big heart also!

Recently, Joe Manganiello teamed up with Ford’s iconic Mustang Boss to host an Art of Elysium workshop for children with Type 1 Diabetes.

We tweeted it over the Memorial Day weekend, but here is the info:

Movie #1 - “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” will open on December 14, 2012,

Movie #2 - ”The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” will open on December 13, 2013.

Also, it was announced that Orlando Bloom will be donning the platinum blonde wig that made him famous as he once again plays the elf that we all know and love, Legolas.

According to TV Line, there is Hershel who is a veterinarian — a Wilford Brimley type and with him is a daughter, Maggie. Finally, there’s Otis, the middle-aged ranch foreman who’s such a sweetheart that he all but loses it when he accidentally shoots a fellow survivor.

CB - Lionsgate announced today on Facebook that none other than Canadian legend Donald Sutherland will be stepping in as Snow, the President of the post-apocalyptic country known as Panem, where each year the brutal Hunger Games are held to prove to the populace that they are powerless under the yoke of the mighty Capitol– and, by extension, Snow himself.

In the first book in The Hunger Games trilogy Snow is a fairly minor presence, but his role truly expands in the second two books as he emerges as the primary foe for our heroine Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her band of rebels. Sutherland isn’t exactly the physical description I imagined for Snow, who’s described as a small, almost frail man– Sutherland is 6’4– but surely they brought him in for the talent rather than the perfect physical description. With Sutherland on board they really have completed all the major roles for The Hunger Games, and even though you won’t see much of him in the film when it comes out on March 23 next year, rest assured that if the sequels are made, Sutherland will have plenty to bring to the table.

That’s right, HBO has announced a little special titled, “Digging Up Season 3.” The cast will give us a recap on the Season of the Were.  Keep your fingers crossed and pray to St. Jude that Alan Ball and the cast will give up some info about Season 4,  like is it now the case that all telepaths are fae? Head scratcher….

We’ll be watching and commentating on Twitter….  mark your calendars and join us on June 7th at 8:30 p.m.

XOXO,

~M.