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Kara Szamborski recommends Sleepy Hollow #2
Sleepy Hollow is an amazing accompaniment to the stellar TV show. The stories are a supplement to the filmed adventures of Abigail and Ichabod, Witnesses who found each other just in time to fight the impending Apocalypse. Regularly faced with Biblical demons and local legends alike, the protagonists manage to keep their good humour and still kick major butt.
In Sleepy Hollow #2, our heroes have some down time between fighting demons. Ichabod has a song stuck in his head, an earworm that won’t escape—Ich Hab Die Nacht Getraümet, a German folk song (for extra creep factor, listen while reading along!)—but what starts as an innocent tune may be something more sinister.
Marguerite Bennett perfectly captures the warm, witty banter between the Witnesses that fans of the show love, and Jorge Coelho’s art and Tamra Bonvillain’s colors feel like a storybook coming to life, creating a modern world where the fantastic can happen (and happen believably).
The last two pages of the book are a short story from Noelle Stevenson (gingerhaze) that made me laugh out loud. Her addition is welcome—she drew one of the first pieces of Sleepy Hollow fan art I ever saw, and her take on Abbie and Ichabod is absolutely perfect.
For more supernatural stories with heart, check out Lumberjanes to go back to summer camp and maybe fight monsters, or take a stroll through the Boneyard and meet your new undead besties.
[Read Sleepy Hollow #2 on comiXology]
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production Team at comiXology and cohosts its weekly podcast The comiXologist. She thinks Saga would be a really great gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
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Kate, Jen, & Kara recommend Harlequin Comics
Alluring emerald orbs glistening in the moonlight, lustful looks beneath fluttering eyelashes, and unfathomable passion burning in hearts that can’t contain themselves…now get a Japanese manga artist to illustrate all of these feelings, and you will have Harlequin in a rose-scented nutshell. Released weekly in our backlist, Harlequin manga are a hidden treasure chest of desire, chivalry, and—of course—drama. Out of the many titles that make the entire library shine, here are just a few of our personal faves:
Kate recommends The Sheik and the Bought Bride:
While it might sound typical, The Sheik and the Bought Bride is anything but thanks entirely to the strength of its leading lady. After being sold to Prince Kateb by her own father, Victoria, instead of playing the victim, uses the bid as an opportunity to take charge of her own life. As the leader of the prince’s harem, she fights for the rights of the less fortunate and strengthens the economy of their village. Even the romantic aspects of this story are balanced well: Victoria and Kateb discover their feelings organically throughout the story, demonstrating desire fortified with compassion. Despite the story’s whimsical nature, it’s nothing short of brilliantly progressive.
Jen recommends Domesticating Luc:
Julie only has eyes for Primus, the handsome and grey-eyed Italian that captured her heart. Too bad Luc, Primus’ owner, would rather Julie, the dog trainer, threw him a bone instead. It’s going to be a lot of trouble training both Luc the playboy as a pet owner and the oddly contrary Primus as an obedient pet in Domesticating Luc.
Domesticating Luc departs from a lot of typical Harlequin tropes with a focus on humor and a female lead holding the reins (or the leash, in this case). Packed with expressive characters and a spotlight-stealing pooch, it veers towards romantic comedy rather than bodice-ripping romance. There’s underlying heart to the story of a boy, his dog, the loss of his recently deceased grandmother, and the growing love between Julie and Luc, and it makes this tale of puppy love a special treat in Harlequin’s library.
Kara recommends Mistress Bought and Paid For:
Mistress Bought and Paid For is my go-to Harlequin recommendation for both first time readers and long time romance fans. We jump right into the action on the first page: Our heroine is a supermodel who has fallen on hard times and is accused of stealing from the charity she is supposed to be working with, our hero is her billionaire ex-boyfriend seeking revenge for her apparent cuckolding ways. Right off the bat, he offers her a solution to her plight: become his mistress for a year, and get the money to repay her supposed debt to the charity. Their levels of manipulation and miscommunication are only matched by their level of differences. He has a yacht, she’s afraid of the sea—will their love sink or swim?
Harlequin publishes a plethora of stories about philandering princes, scandalous sheiks, beautiful billionaires, and naughty nobles. The drama is unparalleled, and the narratives are as engrossing as they are turbulent. If you like romances, shojo manga, or early-Aughts romcoms, chances are you’ll love what Harlequin has to offer.
Jen Keith and Kate Kasenow are digital editors tasked with preparing Harlequins for comiXology Guided View. Kara Szamborski, supervisor of the International Production team at comiXology, was destined to read them from afar. Despite all obstacles, these three have found their way to one another and have made it their mission to spread the love of Harlequin throughout the universe.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Kara Szamborski recommends Oh Joy Sex Toy
There’s nothing coy about Oh Joy Sex Toy. Artist/co-author Erika Moen (erikamoen) uses the comic medium to have one of the most open and engaging discussions of sexual topics on the Internet. Through her humor and honesty, the cartoonist and her husband Matthew have collaborated to create the ultimate sex re-education book. (Adult readers, please note that this excellent tome is NSFW).
Oh Joy Sex Toy celebrates sexual interests in an informative, inclusive manner—the topics covered range from sex toy reviews to long distance relationships, and the authors use medical terminology and gender-neutral pronouns to keep things professional and free of bias. Guest strips round out this collection by introducing even more tastes and perspectives.
The sex-positive attitude of Oh Joy Sex Toy is most clearly reflected in its level of representation. By including characters of all sizes, colors, orientations, and identities, the artist has created a space where everyone can find a character they identify with represented as a sexual being. These characters show that fun, safe sex is for everyone, not just for the groups typically represented in mainstream media.
If you’re looking for a book that is both entertaining and educational in its approach to sexual topics, look no further than Oh Joy Sex Toy!
[Read Oh Joy Sex Toy on comiXology]
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production team at comiXology. She will be looping Taylor Swift’s new album for the near foreseeable future.
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Kara Szamborki recommends Lobo #1
Sorry, not sorry: this Lobo book is everything I wanted from an ongoing when I first finished reading Justice League 23.2 last year AND MORE. First off, there’s action, because what else are you expecting from a Lobo book? But let’s talk about what’s REALLY important: tantalizing flashbacks and seamless plot setup. So many books try to be complicated right off the bat, but the storytelling in Lobo mirrors the character: You know what you’re signing up for, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be surprises at every turn. The genius of the new Lobo concept is that instead of retconning the Lobo we know and love from the pre-New 52 universe, the twist is that he was lying to us the whole time, the thief of another Czarnian’s identity, one we’re only meeting now—and let me tell you, I’m glad we know more, because holy bastiches this backstory is the last thing I expected.
Let’s be real here: you need to read this book. If you’ve never followed Lobo to the crazy corners of the DCU, this is the perfect time to jump in, and if you’re a long time Lobo fan you’re going to be curious, if only to know more about that flashback and what happened to Czarnia.
If you want more old-school Lobo to tide you over until the next issue, check out Lobo: Portrait of a Bastich or that time he tried to kill Santa Claus or one of his many cameos, from Justice League International to Reign in Hell to the DCU-spanning epic 52. He shows up everywhere and always when you least expect it, because you can’t keep a bad Czarnian down.
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production Team at comiXology and has started reading the original TMNT comics thanks to the latest movie.
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Kara Szamborski recommends The Wicked + The Divine #1
Once a century, gods walk among us. It’s 2014 and the heavenly characters in The Wicked + The Divine are giving the term “rock god” its intended meaning. Their performances are mesmerizing, their skeptics everywhere—but they’d better use their time wisely, for they only have two years until they die.
We barely have time to breathe as we race through the first addictive issue and catch a glimpse of this arresting world. The magic of kierongillen & mckelvie is that you almost believe it all while you’re reading. You believe that today, if divine beings were on Earth, they would be on stages instead of mountains, that they would try to educate and mock and sometimes care for the mortals they encounter.
Luckily, we have a mortal like us, Laura, as a guide just as intrigued and unknowing about these gods as we are. With her, we are enraptured with Amaterasu, we are more curious than afraid of Luci(fer), we are stunned by what should be impossible but is suddenly believable.
Internet-famous for their work on fan-favorite Young Avengers and the musically inclined Phonogram, Gillen & McKelvie pull together a fantastic concept that is sure to delight the casual reader as well as fans of mythology. Reminiscent of the Greek gods’ grand schemes in the latest Wonder Woman series and the Norse twists of Loki: Agent of Asgard, The Wicked + The Divine promises to mix the stories of all known deities into something new and unforgettable.
[Read The Wicked + The Divine #1]
For fans of: female leads, fantasy, mythology
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production team at comiXology. After reading The Wicked + The Divine #1, she got stacks of mythology books out from the library to tide her over until the second issue.
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Kara Szamborski recommends Tiny Titans: Return to the Treehouse #1
Tiny Titans #1: Return to the Treehouse is simply one of the most adorable books on the market. The fun plot and colorful aesthetic are appropriate for all ages, but if you’re a long time fan of the DC Universe, cameos that will delight you abound, and avid TV watchers will spot elements from the original Teen Titans animated series as well as the 1966 Batman show.
In the return issue of the wonderful and widely missed series (read the original run here!) members of the Brainiac Club try to earn their first badge by shrinking and bottling the Tiny Titans’ treehouse—but some of our heroes are trapped inside! The remaining unshrunk Titans turn to Robin for answers, and with the help of some borrowed Bat technology (and canine sidekicks) they search for their missing friends.
If you’re a Titans newbie, you’ll love the fun, non-continuity dependent story, and if you’re a long time Teen Titans fan you’ll appreciate nods to pieces of DC history that span mediums and decades. If you like Baltazar and Franco’s work on Tiny Titans, be sure to check out their creator owned Aw Yeah Comics! or their Superman Family Adventures (published between the original and current runs of Tiny Titans). Their excellent work has never failed to bring a smile to my face, and Tiny Titans #1 is no exception.
[Read Tiny Titans: Return to the Treehouse #1]
For fans of: superheroes, humor, team books
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production team at comiXology. If you’re learning French at school, she thinks you should check out comixologyfrance for some awesome summer reading ideas.
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Kara Szamborski recommends Captain Marvel #3
Superhero comics are modern myths—there are heroes, villains, epic battles, grand quests, and extraordinary deeds. As readers, we are used to these patterns, however unrealistic and stark an interpretation of the world they are. In Captain Marvel #3, our hero gets a serious reality check, and so do we.
Dodging through the space dogfight at the opening of our story, Captain Marvel and the Guardians of the Galaxy (yeah, the guys in the upcoming movie! Learn about ‘em here.) reclaim the Captain’s stolen ship and complete her mission objective—but a larger challenge looms, one that she will not be able to solve alone. She arrives on an alien planet wanting to fix the problems it faces, but the situation is hardly one that requires a sharp catch phrase and a well aimed photon blast. Most problems are complex and require cooperation, communication, and compromise, and cannot be easily solved by one person, superpowered or not.
We are so often treated to the idea that the hero will save the day without realizing that one person’s hero is another person’s nuisance or even unintentional enemy. Kelly Sue DeConnick (kellysue) introduces us to the idea that Captain Marvel is in over her head, and the potential of this idea has me hooked.
The previous Captain Marvel series was mostly set on Earth, but these new adventures look to the skies. I’m pretty new to the Marvel Universe, but I have no doubt that exploring it with Captain Marvel is going to be the best way to go.
[Pick up Captain Marvel #3 here!]
For fans of: cosmic, female leads, superheroes
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production team at comiXology. She thinks the latest She-Hulk series is flawless.
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Kara Szamborski recommends Rat Queens #6 by kurtiswiebe & johnnyrocwell
In just six issues, Rat Queens has become everything I never knew I needed from a story. With the first story arc wrapped, it’s time to assess the damage—their world is wider than we thought, and Dee is actually [spoiler removed so you’re not spoiled, duh]. But there’s no time for the Queens to indulge in their morning after hangover; there are mushroom people to defeat!
If there is a group of characters who embody the hashtag mantra “sorry not sorry,” it’s the Queens. They fight, they party, and they curse a mean streak, but they love each other and their friendship feels real and interesting. Often compared to Skullkickers for its RPG roots, I’ve found the Rat Queens to be more reminiscent of gailsimone’s current run on Red Sonja for their unapologetic, barbarian behavior, and of Lumberjanes for the engaging action and snappy dialogue.
The Rat Queens are that one night stand you still think about, that bar crawl you’ll never forget (or remember), that punch you wish you’d thrown, that time you threw up in your purse after running from the cops. You know these girls; they’re like your friends after someone’s given them swords and a free rein. Betty just wants to see you smile, you wish Dee would enjoy the dang party already, we’re all running from something like Violet, we’re all angry at something like Hannah. You’d hate them if they ran your town, but you’d never, ever be bored. What are you waiting for? Step up and join the Queens.
For fans of: comedy, team books, female leads, diverse characters
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production team at comiXology. She unironically loves the song “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies.