Elmwood Park Library's Adult Services Blog

New Comics!

eppllocalhistory — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:15:45 +0000

The Nightly News, by Jonathan Hickman

Freshly re-released in handsome hardcover, Hickman’s profound and scathing condemnation of the corporate media machine will likely remain relevant for as long as the news is still fit to print, air, or post. Revolving around a mysterious entity known as “the Voice,” the Nightly News follows a group of zealots bent on assassinating as many reporters as they can in an attempt to force the remaining journalists to “stick to the facts.” Not only is the story a thriller as worthy as any page-turner, but the art is a masterclass to the defeat of simile. Hickman melds graphic design, photo-realism, collage, info-graphics, and dialogue into something simply extraordinary; this level of interpretation is rarely seen in the comics world, and for that reason alone this book is worth picking up. If you like suspense, conspiracy, and mind-blowing visuals, this may be for you!

Pogo, Through the Wild Blue Wonder, by Walt Kelly, ed. Carolyn Kelly & Kim Thompson

This daily comic strip, which ran from 1948 to 1973 and beloved by countless fans, has finally received the “complete” archive treatment. Walt Kelly’s Pogo was a strip that began humbly, couched primarily in the slapstick humor of Pogo Possum and friends as they adventured through Okefenokee Swamp. Over time, Pogo began to evolve into something much more, combining a sophisticated wit with social and political satire, allegory, literary whimsy, and a pro-environment message. For over three decades, Kelly’s menagerie seemed lost in the history of the funny pages – until now. This is the first of a planned 12 volume set, collecting the strip in it’s entirety, with full-color Sunday strips painstakingly restored.

New Comics!

eppllocalhistory — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:11:26 +0000

Everything is its Own Reward, by Paul Madonna

An aesthetic powerhouse, this collection of stunning drawings and assorted thoughts, short stories, and vignettes begins in San Fransisco and branches out to Paris, Rome, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo. Madonna combines a careful examination of his subject matter with meditations and ruminations that describe a breathtaking world; the subjective and objective suddenly become hard to separate, and the reader is left the better for it. Not so much a graphic novel as an artistic medium in and of itself, this book sweeps the reader headlong into the sublime. This work is highly recommended!

The Complete Alan Moore Future Shocks, by Alan Moore and various artists

Alan Moore began his storied career in the comics medium in the early 1980s penning tales for a British publication called 2000 A.D. Working with artists such as Alan Davis, Steve Dillon, and Dave Gibbons (with whom he would later collaborate on Watchmen), Moore scripted a bevy of black humored and darkly twisted sci-fi morality stories, appearing weekly in the popular publication under the title, Tharg’s Future Shocks. The column was 2000 A.D.’s chance to experiment with new, upcoming talent, and Moore did not disappoint. Collected here are dozens of complete works, including bonus material, harkening back to the days of Weird Science. This collection is a delight for Moore fans eager to experience the author at the beginning of his career, as well as for fans of science-fiction, time-travel, weirdness, and wonder.

January Computer Classes

eppllocalhistory — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:49:53 +0000

The first Computer Classes of 2012 are open for registration. Please call 708-395-1217 or visit our Calendar page for self-registration.

Beginner’s Week: January 17-20th 2:00

This class is for people who are new to computing. You will learn how to use the mouse and set up an email account.

MS Word: January 21 2:00

Learn how to type documents using this popular word processing program.

Google It: January 23 2:00

Learn to search the web using Google.

MS Excel: January 24 2:00

Learn how to make spreadsheets for your home and business.

Facebook: January 26 2:00

Set up a Facebook page and find your friends.

MS PowerPoint: January 28

Learn how to make eye-catching slideshows.

Upcoming Book Discussion – Swamplandia!

eppllocalhistory — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:41:03 +0000

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

The Elmwood Park Book Club will be discussing Karen Russell’s Swamplandia! on Thursday, December 29th, 7:30pm, in the Korbel Lab! Stop by for a lively conversation about this unique work by a debut novelist, recently named one of the New York Times best books of 2011. Copies are available for checkout at the Circulation Desk, and all copies are due back by December 29th.

New Comics!

eppllocalhistory — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:17:56 +0000

Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth Omnibus, by Jack Kirby.

“His name is KAMANDI! It may seem like a strange name to you — but actually it is a sort of dramatic tribute to the people who once populated COMMAND “D,” the last section of a large underground bunker complex! Now there is only the last old man…and his grandson…who could well be …The Last Boy on Earth!” So begins Kirby’s action-packed saga of survival and discovery, featuring the exploits of it’s titular character as he battles giant insects and tiger-men in a non-stop struggle to seek others like himself in a world coming back from the brink of destruction. This is perhaps one of Kirby’s more beloved creations, filled with energy, humor, and that special brand of comic-book weirdness and wonder that made Kirby a legend in his own time.

Joe the Barbarian, by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy

Nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Limited Series, Joe the Barbarian is a story about a boy named Joe who has the standard range of 13-year-old issues: trouble with bullies at school, a single-parent mom who works hard to keep them afloat, and a serious case of diabetes where a missed meal can mean an insulin coma. He’s miserable, lonely – save for his pet rat, Jack – and in his heart, he yearns for something better. His toys, drawings, and daydreams allow him to escape…transported to a realm of misty mountains, vast kingdoms, and brooding castles, populated with all manner of creatures, warriors, and villains, where he assumes the identity of the Dying Boy, prophesied to overthrow King Death. That could all just be a hallucination brought on by low blood-sugar, however…but it all seems so real. Warm, beautifully captured, and inspiring, this is a tale about a boy that needs to be told.

New Movies Coming Soon!

eppllocalhistory — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:18:19 +0000

Winter Movies Coming Soon!

These movies will be coming to the Library this Winter. You can place your holds in the SWAN online catalog now!

Movies

50/50

Abduction

Anonymous

Contagion

Courageous

Dream House

Drive

Footloose

The Guard

I Don’t Know How She Does It

The Ides of March

In Time

Killer Elite

King of Comedy

Margin Call

Real Steel

Shark Night

Straw Dogs

There Be Dragons

The Thing

Warrior

The Way

What’s Your Number

The Whistleblower

TV Shows

Case Histories

Foyle’s War

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

Documentaries

Becoming Chaz

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Series Spotlight: Okko

eppllocalhistory — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:12:33 +0000

Okko, by Hub.

In the mystical land of Pajan, during a time of uncertainty and violence known as the Age of Mists, a curious group of travelers wander the realm, hunting demons and dispensing their own brand of justice. A secretive ronin, a masked giant, a sake-loving monk, and a young fisherman who hired these strange heroes to seek his missing sister.

That is the essential premise of this series, written as a set of cycles, by the French artist, Hub. Okko is a grand adventure saga, set in a fantastical world inspired by medieval Japan, where myth, magic, and human-operated bunraku (fearsome mechanical puppets) share the landscape with samurai, imperial diplomats, and tradesmen from all walks of life.

Hub has meticulously constructed this world, with art that is simply breathtaking. The detail is exquisite…the colors are achingly vibrant…the composition and draftsmanship reflect an artist at the height of his talent. Three cycles of this masterful work are currently available: Water, Earth, and Air, with more forthcoming. If you enjoy fantasy, folklore, and world-building of the highest order, this series may be for you!

New Comics!

eppllocalhistory — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:20:01 +0000

The Life and Times of Martha Washington in the 21st-Century, by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons.

Dystopian fiction has long been a comic book staple, and it doesn’t get much better than Martha Washington. America is fighting a second civil war, both the government and corporations have descended into mind-boggling levels of corruption, and the streets of major cities have become ravaged, war-torn police-states. Out of this misery rises a young woman who has the courage and integrity to stand up for what’s right, fighting for liberty across the divided nation as well as in the depths of space. Quintessentially Frank Miller, Martha Washington remains one of his personal favorites, and Gibbons’ tremendous pencils rival his work on The Watchmen. If you liked The Hunger Games but want something with a bit more bite, this could certainly satisfy!

The Definitive Irredeemable, by Mark Waid, David Krause, and Diego Baretto

Collecting the first 12 issues of the ongoing series in an over-sized hardcover, The Definitive Irredeemable is a fantastic way to jump into this compelling departure from typical superhero fiction. Author Mark Waid, (Kingdom Come, Empire) frames this yarn with a question: “What if the world’s greatest hero became it’s most savage villain?” The former hero in question, the Plutonian, had been the greatest hero the Earth had ever seen…but something happened that led him into the depths of despair and villainy, re-shaping him into a force concerned only with destruction and vengeance. As the remaining heroes pick up the pieces and attempt to stand against him, they discover that the Plutonian’s numerous and deadly powers may just be too great to combat.

New Christmas Books

eppllocalhistory — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:31:26 +0000

Its almost time to start planning for the holidays. Luckily the Library has some new Christmas books on the way. Here are some highlights…

The Baker’s Field Guide to Christmas Cookies by Dede Wilson.

Who doesn’t like cookies? A Baker’s Field Guide to Christmas Cookies is a collection of more than 75 authentic Christmas cookie recipes from all over the world, set up in field-guide format. Each cookie is photographed in full color, followed by “field notes” on its type (drop, rolled, molded, filled, etc.), habitat (country of origin), description, traditions surrounding it, and recipe. Please note that anyone checking this book out must bring samples in for the staff.

Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas: Crafts, Decorating Tips, and Recipes, 1920s – 1960s by Susan Waggoner

Celebrate Christmas like your Grandma did before the hippies ruined it. Susan Waggoner recreates a tempting array of decorations and provides step-by-step instructions that allow anyone to deck their halls with cellophane wreaths, glittered glass ornament balls, beaded bell garlands, and whimsical, tinsel-bedecked treat cups.

Country Living Merry & Bright: 125 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas by The Editors of Country Living Magazine

The Editors of Country Living Magazine present 125 enchanting ideas for celebrating and sharing the most wonderful time of the year with family and friends.

Christmas Crafting in No Time by Clare Youngs

Don’t waste your time this Christmas, follow these quick and easy instructions for paper crafting, tree ornaments, and handmade gifts from noted craft-enthusiast Clare Youngs.

Debbie Macomber’s Christmas Cookbook by Debbie Macomber

Those of you who have enjoyed Debbie Macomber’s heartwarming Christmas stories might enjoy making some of her favorite holiday recipes.

Quilt a New Christmas with Piece O’Cake Designs: Applied Quilts Embellished Stockings & Perky Partridges for Your Tree by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins

The women behind Piece O’Cake Designs put their own spin on a 210o- plus year old holiday. Half of these new designs give the holiday season a whimsical twist with unexpected fabrics and colors, and the other half are versatile and beautiful quilts that you can use even after the rest of your holiday decorations are packed away.