“The Sword Volume 1: Fire” by the Luna Brothers (Image, 2008)

Discovered on a recommendation from a friend, Fire is the first volume in the four-volume The Sword collection from the Luna Brothers.  The art style is good but not exceptional, the storytelling interesting in the way that great stories are: an captivating beginning that slowly deals out the details, hooking the reader in as they wonder what will happen next, until the full story is revealed to the reader’s complete and utter surprise.

Dara Brighton is an ordinary girl who has learned to live with being in a wheelchair very well, working her way through college and keeping her eye on the cute boys.  As she enjoys a hearty dinner with her family, three strangers of apparent strength and ability break into their home and accuse her father of hiding a secret sword.  He denies it, so the massacre begins as these strange assailants reveal their unbelievable powers, and Dara soon finds herself fighting for her life.  She ends up deep within the basement of her house; a place she hasn’t really searched before, and buried within it she finds the sword.  As she picks it up she feels the power run through her and miraculously stands up.

The first volume of The Sword series will hook any graphic novel fan, and the Luna Brothers reveal a good amount of explanation and back story at the end of Fire that will make the reader impatient to read the successive three volumes.

Originally written on December 30, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.

To purchase a copy of The Sword: Fire from Amazon, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.

Now That’s What I Call . . . Closing! Volume 3

After the success of Volumes 1 and 2, and a bunch more songs to use, Volume 3 is a little different, as we move away somewhat from the “closing” theme and embody more a sense of the average bookseller in these trying times; the emotions they feel at what is happening . . . but enough diatribe, here is the song list for Volume 3:

1. “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)” by The Byrds
2. “What Do You Want From Me” by Pink Floyd
3. “Don’t Cry” by Guns ‘N’ Roses
4. “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult
5. “Before You Accuse Me” by Eric Clapton
6. “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica
7. “The Thrill Is Gone” by B. B. King
8. “The Show Must Go On” by Queen
9. “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.
10. “This Year” by The Mountain Goats
11. “Always On My Mind” by Pet Shop Boys
12. “Yesterday” by The Beatles
13. “Is It Any Wonder” by Keane
14. “That’s All” by Genesis
15. “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men
16. “Take This Job And Shove It” by Dead Kennedys
17. “The Man Comes Around” by Johnny Cash
18. “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” by Radiohead

Now That’s What I Call Closing! Volume 2

Well, the debut collection Now That’s What I Call . . . Closing Volume 1 has now gone platinum with over ten copies made!  And now we closely follow it with a strong contender in Now That’s What I Call Closing . . . .Volume 2, which some may say equals or possibly surpasses the original volume in its variety and popularity . . . but only time will tell.  With Volume 3 currently in the works, here’s the track list for Volume 2:

1. “Goodbye Blue Sky” by Pink Floyd
2. “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles
3. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash
4. “Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) by Sarah Brighman, featuring Andrea Bocelli
5. “Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel, featuring Kate Bush
6. “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve
7. “Times Like These” by Foo Fighters
8.  “Goodbye to You” by Michelle Branch
9.  “This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore” by Elton John
10. “Ruby Tuesday” by The Rolling Stones
11. “It Was a Very Good Year” by Frank Sinatra
12. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
13. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds
14. “On My Way” by Phil Collins
15. “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac
16. “Sounds of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel
17. “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton
18. “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Mamas and the Papas
19. “In My Life” by The Beatles
20.”Goodbye Cruel World” by Pink Floyd