Beautiful Darkness

Written by: Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoet

First line: He's coming! He's coming!

Why you should read this book: I am obsessed with this anti-fairy tale about innocent little fairies whose world is turned upside down when they realize they have been living their lives inside a little girl, and that their host has died and is no longer conducive to housing fairies. Thrown out into the wilderness, Princess Aurora does her best to normalize the transition for her subjects, most of whom turn out to be far less altruistic than she. This book offers constant surprises, and while some have criticized the depiction of the fairies as too adorable, their actions and attitudes take the story far from the realm of fairy tale and into the brutish lair of horror. (I have a lot more to say about this book, and my article on the subject is forthcoming at Panels.net.)

Why you shouldn't read this book: You collect Precious Moments figurines or enjoy the comic "Love Is...."

Age of Reptile Omnibus Volume 1

Written by: Ricardo Delgado

First line: [This is a "silent comic" and the story contains no text.]

Why you should read this book: If you like dinosaurs, drama, and vast, sweeping splash pages, you'll love this meaty volume comprising 3 miniseries. The dinosaurs, while mute, exhibit recognizable expressions, motivations, and actions, creating 3 compelling story lines. I discuss this comic, and the strengths of silent comics in general, in more detail in this article.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Can't deal with common carnivorous behaviors like killing and eating your enemies, or just random other creatures that happen to be passing by.