Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews...    Sharaz-De Tales from the Arabian Nights A Graphic Novel By   Toppi / Archaia

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3812 -    Today's blog is on the graphic novel titled: 'Sharaz-De: Tales from the Arabian Nights',  by Toppi.  From Archaia Entertainment.

So what's the book about?

Here's the promotional info:

A set of tales inspired by the Arabian Nights by the late European comics master Sergio Toppi, exploring a barbaric society where the supernatural is the only remedy to injustice, as Sharaz-de, captive to a cruel and despotic king, must each night spin tales to entertain her master and save her head from the executioner. Tales filled with evil spirits, treasures, risk, and danger, but with ever at their center the passions of gods and men.

So what's my thoughts on this book?

My first thought when seeing the front cover of this book was... I'll wait and read the other books that had come in for possible review first.

That's because the artwork was just a little bit on the 'strange' side for me.

However, I did see at the bottom right of the book the following words: 'Featuring A Foreword By Walter Simonson', whose artwork I do enjoy, so I made sure I would read it soon.

I've just finished reading this book and wanted to place it in the numerical sequence for blogs to be posted.

That's because this book, 'strange' art and all, is darn good!

First of all, here is (Sergio) Toppi's Wikipedia entry, for those of you like me that didn't know who this guy was.  I say 'was' because Toppi recently passed away, (August of 2012).  The other reason I wasn't aware of his work is because the majority of it is in French.  Which I haven't studied since junior high school.

Upon opening the book, and reading the foreword by Walter Simonson, I plunged in.

And I read chapter after chapter of this book!

The artwork was pretty darn good, and the text, translated from French to English, caught my attention!  I too was hooked on the theme of the book, that of Sharaz-de delivering a story each night to the despotic king, and saving her from the executioner.

I've got to say... That the stories and the art filled me with wonder! 

The majority of the stories are in black & white only, but there are two that are in color.  They seem to be finished in watercolors.

I found that I wanted to take a break after each story to let the story soak in. Thus it has taken me a couple of days to finish the book up.

The fact that the artwork is almost presented like 'Heavy Metal' style makes the reading of the pages a little slower going, because you want to drink in the artistic effects.

I'm going to say that this book is one that you'd like to check out for yourself.

Thus I'm giving this book a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Here is the ordering info for the book:

Reading level: Ages 16 and up
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Archaia Entertainment, LLC (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936393484
ISBN-13: 978-1936393480
Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.8 x 11 inches

If your LCBS doesn't have it in stock... Then you can order it here online: Sharaz-de: Tales from the Arabian Nights.  

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,812 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly differently, sorry about that!  The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:  Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---